Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507110005
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LOUDON, N.H. LENGTH: Medium
As Mark Martin posted a record speed to win the top starting spot for Sunday's Slick 50 300 Winston Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway, Jeff Gordon's bid for his eighth pole in 16 races ended against the turn-2 wall Friday.
Martin couldn't believe his lap around this one-mile speedway was the fastest ever for a Winston Cup car because the track was surprisingly slick.
But with the clock timing his run, Martin reached 128.815 miles per hour in his Jack Roush Ford Thunderbird, beating the record of 128.005 mph set here last year by Bill Elliott. Rookie Robert Pressley won the outside pole in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo at 128.212 mph, a speed that also beat Elliott's record.
``I don't understand how the speeds are so high,'' Martin said. ``The race track seems to be extremely slick. My car is sliding around an awful lot out there, but it still goes fast.''
Joe Nemechek, who qualified third at 128.048 mph in a Chevy, echoed Martin's sentiments.
``I just can't imagine we're running faster than we did last year with Hoosier and the tire war,'' Nemechek said.
Gordon, meanwhile, had the slowest speed of all 40 drivers who made qualifying runs, posting a lap of 123.759 mph after grazing the turn-2 wall on his lap.
Gordon went straight from his car to the lounge of his team's transporter after the run and did not appear eager to talk about it.
But crew chief Ray Evernham told Chevy's Ray Coopersaid: ``Jeff didn't say too much about his lap. It just got loose and he lost it.
``It'll take a lot of body work and the rear-end housing is messed up, but we'll fix it. We'll find out what we're made of now. You can't have it perfect every week. When you can do what the [No.]3 car does - come from the back and get a good finish - then you're in good shape. I don't know if we can do it or now, but we'll see. It'll be a good test for us.''
One driver did have a worse time of it than Gordon.
Jimmy Spencer nearly spun his car in turn 4 during his qualifying run and did not complete the lap. And this was his backup car, since Spencer crashed his primary car in the same turn during practice.
Behind Martin, Pressley and Nemechek, Bill Elliott won the fourth spot in a Ford at 127.692 mph, followed by Bobby Labonte in a Chevy at 127.594 mph.
Also in the top 10 were Virginian Rick Mast in a Ford at 127.594 mph, Ricky Rudd in a Ford at 127.461, Kyle Petty in the fastest Pontiac Grand Prix at 127.414, Michael Waltrip in a Pontiac at 127.393 and Ken Schrader in a Chevy at 127.389.
Since only 41 cars made qualifying attempts for a 42-car field, virtually all the regulars will make the race.
Among the slower cars Friday, however, were driven by Sterling Marlin (33rd), Derrike Cope (34th), Brett Bodine (35th), Lake Speed (37th) and, of course, Gordon and Spencer.
The threat of rain, as well as the 4 p.m. start time for qualifying, prompted NASCAR to run one of its fastest sessions ever. As one car took the checkered flag, the next car was on the backstretch preparing to take the green. As a result, it took only 41 minutes to complete the session.
by CNB