ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 13, 1996 TAG: 9604150039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C.
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
THE WINSTON CUP driver wins the pole position for his historic start on Sunday.
Elton Sawyer was doing a nice job of looking unruffled Friday afternoon during qualifying at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but the tension was still evident.
Only seven cars stood between Sawyer and his first pole position in the Winston Cup series. Not only would winning the top starting spot be a tremendous accomplishment for the second-year driver from Chesapeake, Va., but it would give his unsponsored team two days of badly-needed exposure leading up to Sunday's First Union 400.
But Terry Labonte was on the track, qualifying for his record-tying 513th consecutive start in a Winston Cup race.
Labonte had his own agenda, and he had a fast Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Sawyer took a deep breath as Labonte took the checkered flag. A moment later, announcer Benny Parsons gave Sawyer the bad news: Labonte had swiped the pole position with a lap of 116.659 mph.
``What's wrong with him?'' Sawyer said good-naturedly. ``He's won enough races to know better than to do that.''
And just as quick as you can click a stopwatch, the spotlight jumped from the young, struggling driver to the veteran that everyone in NASCAR has taken to calling `The Ironman.`
Sawyer will start from the outside pole after a lap of 116.159 mph in his Ford. Mark Martin was third fastest at 116.141 mph in a Ford, followed by Bobby Hamilton at 116.129 mph in a Pontiac and Ken Schrader at 116.087 mph in a Chevy.
``We were pretty good in practice, but I really didn't think we had a chance to win the pole,'' Labonte said. ``But at the end of practice, we made some changes. And [crew chief] Gary DeHart said, `Trust me, it's going to stick.'''
And if the car didn't stick in the turns, DeHart told him, don't sweat it. The backup car in the truck was even better.
So Labonte cut it loose and came back to the pits with a nice prize to commemorate his record-tying race. And he did it in a special steel-gray `Ironman' Chevy.
Next weekend at Martinsville Speedway, Labonte will break the record set by Richard Petty between 1971 and 1989. Labonte's streak started Jan.14, 1979.
``I think it's attracted a little bit more attention than maybe I thought it would,'' Labonte said. ``And it's attracted a little more attention than maybe it deserves. But I guess when you think about it and look around, there's not too many big stories right now. But it's a neat deal.
``I watched the baseball game where [Cal Ripken] broke the record'' for consecutive baseball games played. ``And he knocked a home run. I thought maybe if I could win a race or something, it would be nice.
``The thing that's excited me most about the record is this is the best team I've ever been with. And I felt like when we got to these events, I had a chance to qualify well and a chance to win the race.''
So Sawyer will have to wait for his chance to shine.
``That's OK,'' Sawyer said. ``There will be many, many more chances. And we're in great shape for Sunday.''
Ted Musgrave was sixth fastest in a Ford at 115.949 mph, followed by Ricky Craven in a Chevy at 115.896 mph, Sterling Marlin in a Chevy at 115.759 mph, Jeff Burton in a Ford at 115.759 mph and Jeremy Mayfield in a Ford at 115.723 mph.
Among those who failed to qualify were Dale Earnhardt (26th), Geoff Bodine (27th), Bobby Labonte (28th), Dale Jarrett (29th), Bill Elliott (36th), Ward Burton (40th), and Ricky Rudd (41st).
A second round of time trials is scheduled for noon today. No more than 37 cars (32 regular starters and up to five provisional starters) will start Sunday's race. Forty-two cars made qualifying runs Friday. At the moment, Hut Stricklin (38th), Mike Wallace, Burton, Rudd and Bobby Hillin are not among the top 37.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Terry Labonte will tie Richard Petty's record ofby CNBconsecutive starts with his 513th on Sunday in North Wilkesboro,
N.C. color. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING