Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508280084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BRISTOL, TENN. LENGTH: Medium
It was the first - and last - time a tire was changed on a NASCAR stock car using an air wrench with a portable air supply.
``Last night, we had a team change a tire with a scuba diving tank as the air supply,'' Nelson said during the Winston Cup driver's meeting Saturday. ``As soon as I saw it, I made a note for next year's rule book.
``But it's already in the rule book - at least the one I carry,'' Nelson said.
Nelson told teams they shouldn't even bother with experimenting with it because it won't be allowed.
The tank was used by a crew member on Jason Keller's team. It was actually a high pressure, high capacity tank developed for military aviation. The team put out a news release on the system, but did not issue it until 8 p.m. Friday - after the race started - for fear that NASCAR would get wind of it and ban it before they had a chance to use it.
PETTY GOES HOME: Kyle Petty failed to qualify for Saturday night's race, missing an event for the first time since he missed 11 races in 1991 after breaking his arm.
Elton Sawyer, Kenny Wallace, Todd Bodine, Joe Ruttman, Jimmy Hensley and Bobby Hillin also failed to make the race.
Petty was 31st fastest after Friday's pole qualifying, but paid the price when he elected to stand on his time and skip the second round. Greg Sacks and Dave Marcis beat Petty's time and earned their way into the 36-car field.
Sacks was 21st fastest; Marcis was 32nd fastest. Neither had a provisional starting spot available to them.
For Petty, there was no hesitation on whether to requalify or stand on his Friday speed.
``It wasn't a question for us,'' he said. ``We couldn't run any faster. That's the same speed we run yesterday all during practice. That's the same speed we run when we qualified. So when we tried this morning to run faster, we didn't. We got caught with our pants down when Sacks and Marcis ran faster.''
Petty still has a provisional starting spot to use, but the provisionals went to Brett Bodine, Lake Speed, Dick Trickle and John Andretti, whose car owners had more points than Petty's.
``I'm going home,'' said Petty. ``Although this is a good race to watch, it's a better race to watch on TV,'' he said.
ENGINE MEETING: During a Saturday morning meeting with engine builders, NASCAR announced changes in engine specifications for next year's Daytona and Talladega races.
The engines for the 1996 Daytona and Talladega races will be built to a 14:1 compression ratio, NASCAR announced, and the carburetor restrictor plates for those power plants may be a different size.
Also, an insert in the intake manifold will be eliminated and teams will not be allowed to use more than one oil pump for the engine. The size of the pump also will be restricted to 9.5 inches long.
The moves are designed to bring speeds at NASCAR's fastest tracks back under 190 mph and to reduce costs.
``I think they're just trying to tighten the competition up and in the long run save money,'' said car owner Richard Childress, who had no complaints about the changes.
ON THE FENCE: Dale Jarrett said Saturday he still hasn't decided whether to form his own team or join another car owner.
He originally had planned to decide on whether to start his own team by Monday, but ``if anything's changed, I've extended my deadline by one week,'' he said.
If Jarrett decides against forming his own team, he is rumored to be under consideration for the Bud Moore Ford and the Wood Brothers Ford.
by CNB