ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 18, 1996 TAG: 9605200060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CONCORD, N.C.
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER
The IROC race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday was a 67-lap, Mark Martin-led procession interrupted early by a crash that wiped out almost half the field.
Martin never was challenged as he led from flag to flag and won by 2.722 seconds over Johnny Benson. Scott Pruett was third, followed by Rusty Wallace and Jeff Gordon. These were the only drivers on the lead lap.
``It would have been a lot more fun if we'd had a lot more people to race with, but I'll take a win whenever I can get one,'' Martin said. ``We've had such a tough year with the Winston Cup car and the IROC car as well. We were involved in that big, old wreck at Talladega and we were next to last in points. We've had a lot more disappointments than successes.''
The crash occurred in turns 3 and 4 on lap eight. Jeff Gordon was trying to get under Steve Kinser, when Kinser moved down in the turn and the two cars collided. Both spun, and blocked the track.
Dale Earnhardt, coming through the turn behind the crash, T-boned Kinser. Robby Gordon and Sterling Marlin also were knocked out of the race, and Al Unser, Jr., Terry Labonte and Tommy Kendall also were involved.
With one final race left on the schedule on Aug.17 at Michigan, Robby Gordon has the points lead, with 42, followed by Unser at 38, Martin at 37 and Labonte and Earnhardt at 34.
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB