Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508280156
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BRISTOL, TENN. LENGTH: Medium
Sacks, who turned a lap of 123.507 mph, was one of only two drivers able to break into the lineup with their second-round speeds. He earned the 21st starting spot in the 36-car lineup, while Dave Marcis, who qualified at 122.529, earned the 32nd position.
The top 20 qualifiers, led by pole-winner Mark Martin, locked in their starting positions on Friday night in the first round of time trials. Drivers who held positions 21 through 32 stood on their first-round qualifying laps on Saturday, with most of them making the field.
Brett Bodine and Lake Speed stood on their times and were bumped out, but made the lineup as provisional starters based on season points. Kyle Petty wasn't as lucky, being bumped and not eligible for a provisional.
Dick Trickle and John Andretti got the other two provisional spots.
Others who made qualifying attempts on Saturday and failed to make the field included Kenny Wallace, Todd Bodine, Joe Ruttman, Jimmy Hensley, Elton Sawyer and Bobby Hillin Jr.
Burton, in his first race for Bill Davis, qualified 17th.
TOWN & COUNTRY: John Andretti, a relative newcomer to the South and southern culture, spent Thursday in Nashville, Tenn., making appearances on two programs televised by The Nashville Network cable channel - The Ralph Emery Show and Music City Tonight.
The nephew of longtime Indy-car star Mario Andretti and born and raised in the North, Andretti admitted he didn't know much about the country music scene, but said, ``I knew Porter Wagoner when I met him.''
Besides meeting several country music stars, Andretti was to have singer Martina McBride as a guest in his pits for Saturday night's race.
FORD CONTENDER: The pole victory Friday night by Mark Martin was only the seventh of the season for a Ford Thunderbird, with Chevrolet's dominating Monte Carlos winning 21 poles already this year.
Thunderbirds have been on the pole for the Daytona 500 (Dale Jarrett), both Bristol races, New Hampshire and Watkins Glen (Martin), Sears Point (Ricky Rudd) and the second Pocono race (Bill Elliott).
Chevys also have won 16 of 21 races this season, with four Ford victories and one by a Pontiac Grand Prix.
TUMMY RUMBLE: Steve Grissom's hard-earned victory in Friday night's Food City 250 left him sick to his stomach.
The burly former football player was taken to the infield care center, where he was given oxygen and antacids. He was later cleared to drive in Saturday night's race and did not plan to have a relief driver standing by.
``I usually eat something in between the Winston Cup qualifying and the Busch Series drivers' meeting,'' Grissom said. ``Normally, something like a Powerbar or something like that. Instead, I drank some of this performance drink.
``About 30 laps into the race, every time I'd go into the corners, my stomach would get queasy. The heat wasn't a problem - just trying to keep that down was the problem. They kind of went to extremes last night with that oxygen. But the Maalox helped.''
BIG TOP: Several Winston Cup teams have small tent covers to give their cars and crews some protection from the sun or inclement weather, but Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports went a step further Saturday.
When rain showers began following the final practice session for Saturday night's Goody's 500, the Childress team spread out a huge tarpaulin that completely covered both its own work area and the adjoining area of series point leader Jeff Gordon.
The bottom of the tarp was held in place by various cans and boxes.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB