Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 29, 1995 TAG: 9506010014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CONCORD, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Labonte capitalized on late-race engine problems by Ken Schrader and cruised to a 6.27-second victory over his older brother, 1984 Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte, in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
It was the first Winston Cup victory for Labonte, 31, who like Gordon, 23, is in his third full season on the circuit.
Gordon has taken the series by storm, winning five poles and three races in 1995 to overshadow what's been a solid start by Labonte in his first year driving for former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Labonte came to Charlotte with one pole and three top-five finishes this year.
Labonte, who started on the outside of the front row, right alongside Gordon in the 600-mile race, led six times for 85 laps, including the final 43. (Race statistics in Scoreboard. B10)
The victory came in what was easily the year's most competitive race, featuring 32 lead changes among 12 drivers. The previous high for lead changes in 1995 was 24 last month at Talladega, Ala., but by the halfway point of the 600 there already had been 21.
Gordon had dominated at Charlotte eight days earlier, winning all three stages and $300,000 in The Winston Select, the circuit's annual all-star race. He also won the pole for the 600 with a speed that was more than 1.1 mph faster than anyone else, leading many of his competitors to grumble in the days leading up to the event that they would be racing for second place.
But Gordon was eliminated from contention less than one-fourth of the way through the race when his right front wheel snapped off, necessitating a lengthy stay behind the wall for repairs.
Schrader, Gordon's teammate, appeared to have the strongest car in the second half of the race. Schrader led nine times for 169 laps, and he was about three seconds up on the field when his Chevrolet Monte Carlo slowed dramatically while going down the backstretch on the 358th of 400 laps.
By the time Schrader reached the third turn on the 1.5-mile trioval, he already had taken down his window net, conceding that his night was over. Schrader coasted slowly back to pit road and made a hard left into the garage area, his race ended by a blown engine.
``It blew up real bad,'' said Schrader, whose winless streak has grown to 119 races dating to Dover, Del., in June 1991.
Schrader's misfortunes handed the lead to Labonte, who at that point enjoyed an edge of nearly six seconds over Dale Earnhardt.
All Labonte had to do the rest of the way was run smooth, consistent laps in his Chevrolet. While he did that, the jockeying continued behind him, with several would-be contenders having to pit in the final 10 laps for a splash of gas.
Labonte had no such problems, and he wound up about 400 yards ahead of his older brother.
Michael Waltrip and Sterling Marlin were the only other drivers on the lead lap at the finish.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB