ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604150103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRUCE STANTON STAFF WRITER
The Goody's 500 could be billed as ``Record-setting Sunday'' at Martinsville Speedway.
Consider:
* Terry Labonte will break Richard Petty's record for the most consecutive Winston Cup starts with 514.
* Martinsville will set an attendance record - approximately 66,000 fans - with the addition of 7,000 new seats in turns 3 and 4.
* The largest purse in Martinsville's 49-year history - $1,169,566 - will be up for grabs.
* If Rusty Wallace wins, it will be his fourth straight spring race victory, tying Petty for the most spring or fall race victories in a row.
First and foremost, though, is the record that will be set by Labonte. He will become stock-car racing's Cal Ripken on Sunday. In fact, a pre-race phone conversation between Labonte and the Baltimore Orioles' All-Star shortstop is trying to be worked out.
Other pre-race festivities include several awards presentations for Labonte and a lap around the track in a convertible for the 1984 Winston Cup champion.
Labonte's streak started on Jan.14, 1979.
``It's a major feat for anyone to start that many races without missing one,'' speedway president Clay Campbell said.
Another major feat would be if Wallace could win four straight spring races at Martinsville. Petty won four consecutive fall races there from 1966-70. Petty also is the leading overall winner at Martinsville with 15 victories.
Lately, Wallace has been the driver to beat at the 1/2-mile track. He has won four of the past five races overall, and in the race he didn't win - the 1995 Goody's 500 fall race - he placed third.
``Nowadays, that's a great accomplishment,'' Campbell said of Wallace's streak. ``Not taking anything away from when Richard did his deal, but competition is so stiff now. It's a major feat if Rusty pulls it off.''
Dick Thompson, Martinsville's vice president of media relations, said drivers have been known to pull off streaks similar to Wallace's at the speedway. Among those he mentioned were Darrell Waltrip (11 Martinsville wins), Fred Lorenzen (five) and Petty.
``Sometimes, it looks like a guy just can't lose at Martinsville,'' Thompson said. ``Rusty will be tough, but there have been some really good times in testing here.''
While Wallace tries to continue his dominance, Stacy Compton of Hurt will be trying to qualify for his first Winston Cup start. The former South Boston Speedway track champion plans to make qualifying attempts at a few Winston Cup races this season before competing for the rookie of the year award next season.
In other weekend racing action, the Allison Legacy cars will run a 30-lap race on Friday afternoon, and the All Pro cars will compete in a 200-lap race on Saturday.
The Legacy Cars - five-eighths versions of Winston Cup cars - will be making their second appearance at Martinsville. Campbell plans to race in the 30-car field and said he will compete in seven or eight other Legacy Car races this year.
The All Pro drivers will be competing for a $53,900 purse in their 1 p.m. race. The race will be covered by ESPN, which will provide tape-delay coverage at 12:30 a.m. on April 21 and 3:30 a.m. on April 25.
Several reserved seats still are available for the Goody's 500, and 8,000 unreserved seats will go on sale April 21 at 7:30 a.m.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Rusty Wallace has won three straight spring racesby CNBand four of the past five overall at Martinsville Speedway. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING