ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 1, 1996 TAG: 9606030056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DOVER, DEL.
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
THE DEFENDING WINSTON CUP champion improved on his track record in qualifying at Dover.
Sometimes it's hard even for NASCAR Winston Cup drivers to know whether their qualifying laps are quick.
Jeff Gordon's record-breaking, pole-winning lap of 154.785 mph Friday for Sunday's Miller 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway was so smooth, he was afraid he didn't drive hard enough.
``Sometimes when it's that smooth, it's not a good lap,'' he said after winning his second straight pole and his second pole of the year. ``But when we came across the line, I was pretty optimistic. I had to wait and see what the crowd reaction was.''
The crowd reaction told Gordon what he wanted to know, and his team told him a few minutes later that not only had he won the top starting spot, but he had driven around this one-mile ribbon of high-banked concrete faster than any NASCAR driver ever.
Of course, the record holder had been Gordon himself. He set it here one year ago with a lap of 153.669 mph.
``I knew the track record was going to be broken today,'' Gordon said.
``I figured if anybody was going to break it, it might as well me. Goodyear has had more time for tire testing here, and they've come up with a good tire.''
``That's probably one of the smoothest laps I've ever had around Dover,'' Gordon said. ``The car didn't bobble one bit and I was wide open from the middle of the corner off it. I think we're starting to reach the tracks that suit us a little better. We haven't had a pole all year long, and now we've got two in a row.''
Dick Trickle was a surprise in the second starting spot, reaching 153.912 mph in a Ford Thunderbird.
``That was the fastest lap we'd run all day here,'' Trickle said. ``I drove it in there pretty good and the car shook a little bit before I brought it up the track.''
Ward Burton was third fastest in a Pontiac Grand Prix to complete NASCAR's favorite trifecta - a Chevy, a Ford and a Pontiac starting one-two-three.
Burton reached 153.899 mph followed by Terry Labonte in a Chevy at 153.662. Hut Stricklin was fifth fastest in a Ford at 153.446.
Also in the top 10 were Dale Jarrett in a Ford at 153.211, followed by Bobby Labonte in a Chevy 153.198, Rusty Wallace in a Ford at 153.172, Kenny Wallace in a Ford at 153.159 and Rick Mast in a Pontiac at 153.100.
None of the regulars will have any trouble making the race this weekend, since there are 42 entrants vying for 42 starting spots.
Among those outside the top 38 who may need a provisional starting spot are Wally Dallenbach and Jeremy Mayfield.
A largely meaningless second round of time trials will be at 11:30 a.m. today. By then, most of the field will be hard at work on race setups, and trying to determine how much racing to expect on this concrete track, which usually has been limited to single-groove racing in the turns.
``There's still only about a groove or a groove and a half, but hopefully we can move the groove up the track a little bit during the weekend,'' Gordon said. ``But I think the track is actually a little bit smoother than last year. There's just a couple of little bumps.''
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Jeff Gordon climbs out of his car after completing aby CNBtrack-record lap of 154.785 mph at Dover Downs International
Speedway on Friday. color. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING