ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996 TAG: 9603030009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: AUTO RACING NOTES
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
Jeff Purvis is emerging as one of the early-season standouts in the NASCAR Busch Grand National series after winning the pole for today's Hardee's 250 - his second pole in three Busch races.
Purvis, who also started on the pole of the season-opening Goody's 300 at Daytona, reached 121.114 mph around the 3/4-mile Richmond International Raceway in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Fifty-three cars battled for 41 starting spots in two qualifying sessions Friday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
With that number of entrants, there were a lot of disappointed non-qualifiers, including Stevie Reeves, Mark Green, Tommy Houston, Nathan Buttke, John Nemechek, Bobby Dotter and Tim Bender.
Purvis was one of the late qualifiers on a cold, partially sunny morning, and ``there's a good chance we might have been a little quicker'' because of his late qualifying time, he said.
Dennis Setzer won the outside pole at 120.811 mph in a Ford. He was followed by Bobby Labonte in a Chevy and Mike Wallace in a Ford, both at 120.692 mph. David Green was fifth fastest at 120.557 mph.
Purvis is now two-for-three in poles this season even though his team is 0-for-1996 in sponsorship.
``We've talked to some people and have had some offers, but they were cheaper offers than what James [Finch, car owner] felt our team was worth,'' Purvis said. ``And he wasn't going to give it out for 25 cents on the dollar. Hopefully we can run good and impress a sponsor.''
The race today starts at 1:15 p.m.
ALLEN STATUS:Loy Allen was still in a Charlotte, N.C., hospital Friday, but doctors were on the verge of releasing him, team spokesman Jeff Baker said.
Allen is recovering from the broken shoulder blade, concussion and neck injury he received in a hard crash at Rockingham last Sunday.
``The doctors are most concerned about tears in the ligaments in the back of his neck,'' Baker said. ``They say that's the injury that will take the longest to heal.''
Baker said Allen wanted to thank all the fans for their cards and letters.
``It looks like a florist shop in there,'' he said.
Dick Trickle, Allen's replacement driver, was 40th fastest in Winston Cup qualifying Friday.
RELIEF, RELIEF: Allen wasn't the only driver who needed help Friday, or at least was thinking about it.
Johnny Benson, who is battling pneumonia, lined up David Green to help practice with his car and to stand by as a possible relief driver on Sunday. Benson was 32nd fastest Friday.
Patty Moise, who smashed her knee and tore a ligament in her left leg in a crash at Rockingham, had husband Elton Sawyer filling in for her. Sawyer qualified 25th for today's race.
``I had it [the knee] drained twice and it's much better,'' she said. ``I think next week we'll be fine, but this week I believe it would give out in the race.''
And Geoff Bodine, still recovering from broken ribs suffered in his Daytona crash, was expected to have younger brother Todd standing by for relief.
``I'm still sore and it still hurts a lot, but I feel sure I'll be able to drive this weekend,'' Geoff said. ``At least, that's my intention right now.''
JUST ANOTHER ROOKIE: Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett is with a new Robert Yates team this year, which means he's just another rookie when it comes to garage perks.
Jarrett's truck is at the far end of the garage, and there's no room for him in the garage. So his team has to work on his car on uneven ground right outside the transporter.
``That's what happens when you're the new kid on the block,'' he said. ``[The 500 victory] doesn't make any difference here. We're at Richmond.''
SPENCER HOT: Jimmy Spencer led 53 laps in last Sunday's race at Rockingham.
That's notable because in the past two years combined (including his two-victory season in 1994), Spencer led only 51 laps.
A NIGHT RACE?: With overnight snow in the forecast, and a possibility of an inch of snow on the ground at dawn today, track officials were making contingency plans Friday.
Track president Paul Sawyer announced Friday afternoon that if need be, he'll run today's Grand National race under the lights.
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP Terry Labonte has won the past two Winston Cupby CNBpoles, including the one for Sunday's race in Richmond.