Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508070121
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium
And it was a good sign for NASCAR as well, which managed to set the table and serve the dinner for another memorable Earnhardt victory in the face of ex-Hurricane Erin and one of the bleakest weather days in NASCAR history.
In the end, it was a three-car duel to the checkered flag, with Earnhardt crossing the finish line about three car lengths (.37 seconds) ahead of Rusty Wallace, who was about the same distance ahead of charging Dale Jarrett. Bill Elliott was fourth, followed by Mark Martin, Gordon, Sterling Marlin, Rick Mast, Bobby Labonte and Morgan Shepherd.
``This is pretty much right there with the biggest [victory], if not the biggest,'' Earnhardt said. ``This place - it's had that feeling from the time I came here several years ago. To go out and win here today sort of reassured that feeling and brought it to the surface. It was a tremendous feeling.''
It was a tremendous feeling for NASCAR president Bill France and speedway president Tony George just to get this race in.
``We couldn't get the weather to slide to the south and the east'' until mid-afternoon Saturday, France said. ``But I had what I consider my lucky raincoat. I slid that on. And that's happened about three times now.''
Although dark clouds hovered just to the south and east of Indianapolis, the skies cleared, the asphalt dried and suddenly, at 5:25 p.m. - more than four hours past the scheduled start - it was time to race.
Gordon led the first 31 laps and looked unbeatable. But by the halfway point, as the rainbow appeared over the southeast turn, he had done his most effective work. He led only four more laps after those first 31, and the race evolved into a dandy competition.
Marlin got past Gordon and led 15 laps, and then Elliott passed Marlin on lap 51. Elliott eventually led the most laps - 47 - but had brake problems.
``Between laps 80 and 100, the brake pedal stuck down to the floor and I had to take my foot and get it under the pedal to get it back up,'' Elliott said. ``It was pretty hard but it worked out pretty good.''
Wallace took over on lap 109 and was cruising along more than three seconds ahead of Earnhardt when he came in for his final pit stop on lap 128.
That was his downfall.
As Wallace left the pits, Joe Nemechek and Rick Bickle tangled in front of him. He had to slow to avoid them, and then slow again to avoid a renegade tire.
``I just didn't count on the accident in the pits,'' Wallace said. ``Lead all that, get locked up on pit road and lose the race,'' Wallace said. ``The crash in pit lane hurt me.''
After they left the pits, Earnhardt caught Wallace and passed him going into turn 3. And after John Andretti completed the round of pit stops, Earnhardt took over on lap 133 and led the rest of the way.
There was only one yellow flag, for Jeff Burton's crash on the backstretch, and that came on lap 132.
``The last pit stop was the key,'' Earnhardt said. ``And after we restarted up front, we had clean air to run in. I think that was the key to beating Rusty. I was going to drive my line and keep my line and not worry about him.''
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB