Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511120016
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA. LENGTH: Medium
Threatened with a bleak off-season with no 1995 success to reflect on, the 48-year-old Waltrip broke out of his slump to win the pole for Sunday's NAPA 500, the last race of the year. (Qualifying in Scoreboard. B6)
His lap of 185.046 mph in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo was slightly better than Ricky Rudd, who held the pole through much of the qualifying session after reaching 184.921 mph in a Ford Thunderbird.
``We've struggled a lot this year at times,'' Waltrip said. ``It was going to be a long, cold winter with nothing to brag about. It's just a pole, and I don't want to make it sound like I've just won the Daytona 500, but it's a big deal for us.''
Bobby Hamilton was third fastest in a Pontiac Grand Prix at 184.777 mph, followed by Dick Trickle in a Ford at 184.690 and Jeremy Mayfield in a Ford at 184.659.
Also in the top 10 were Rusty Wallace in a Ford at 184.379, Michael Waltrip in a Pontiac at 184.286, Jeff Gordon in a Chevy at 184.138, Mark Martin in a Ford at 183.835 and Ricky Craven in a Chevy at 183.798.
A few hours before winning the pole, Waltrip issued a news release announcing that he would undergo major leg surgery next Wednesday at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Surgeons will remove an 18-inch metal plate and 18 screws that were used to repair the femur bone he shattered in an accident at Daytona in 1990.
``They've got to cut the leg open and take the plate out. I've put it off and put it off, and a couple of crashes I had this year aggravated my leg and made my limp worse,'' Waltrip said. ``It's not like I have a problem. It will just be recovering from the surgery.''
Waltrip said he was ``real nervous going out to qualify'' because he knew he had a chance at the pole. His car had been one of the quickest in practice.
``I knew if we beat [Rudd], we probably would be in pretty good shape,'' he said.
When he returned to the garage, his crew members ``were kind of standing there in amazement and disbelief.''
``Ten years ago, if I didn't have the fastest car, I could carry the car. I could carry the team. I can't do that any more.
``When you've been in a slump for a while, you really anguish over whether you're going to be able to win any more. The wins don't come any more and the glory doesn't come any more. That's hard to accept when you've been on top for a long time.
``But folks, it's inevitable. Race drivers don't last forever. Things change. Everybody has an era. At least I had one. But when it goes, it goes fast. When you start slipping down that pole, you'd swear somebody greased it.''
Waltrip said he's not sure when he will retire, but ``I know I want to drive, or at least I think I do, a couple more years. Then I'll be 50. I think as long as I'm able to win a pole now and then, and able to win a race now and then, I'll stick around. It's hard to walk away from this stuff.''
Forty-nine drivers made qualifying runs for the 38 starting positions. Those in danger of failing to qualify include Todd Bodine (39th), Kyle Petty (40th), Robert Pressley (42nd), Steve Grissom (43rd), Jeff Purvis (44th) and Mike Wallace (45th).
The second round of time trials is set for 11 a.m. today.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB