ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9607010133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
Jimmy Hensley continued his mastery of Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway on Saturday, outqualifying Rusty Wallace and four other NASCAR Winston Cup drivers to win the pole for the $286,925 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 truck race.
Hensley, driving a Dodge Ram, toured the one-mile superspeedway at 128.027 mph to become the seventh driver to win a pole for a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. The Horsepasture native won the pole for a 1991 NASCAR Busch Grand National race at Nazareth Speedway and counts a victory and three more top-10 finishes in four Busch Series starts here.
Hensley, 50, who hadn't been one of the practice speed leaders, edged Jack Sprague's Chevrolet for the top spot in today's race. Sprague's 127.932 mph lap held the provisional pole until Hensley made his run, late in the qualifying order.
``Well, I wouldn't say it came out of nowhere, `cause I'm never the fastest in practice,'' said Hensley, whose truck was 13th fastest in the morning practice. ``I always save my best for what you call a `suicide' lap, you know.''
Winning the pole, he said, is just the beginning of the battle as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series makes its first appearance at the low-banked, five-turn oval. ``It'll be nose-to-tail the whole race,'' Hensley predicted. ``There are a lot of trucks running well. We've got to be one of 'em.''
Ron Hornaday Jr. took the No.3 starting position at 127.303 in a Chevrolet and Mike Bliss was fourth in a Ford at 127.190. Johnny Benson, third in a Busch race here in 1995, completed the top five at 127.105 in another Chevrolet.
Wallace, who won last weekend's Miller 400 at Brooklyn, Mich., qualified seventh in a Ford. Other Winston Cup drivers who qualified for today's 200-lap event were Benson; Ken Schrader, ninth; Geoff Bodine, 11th; and Jeff Burton, 16th.
Current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points leader Mike Skinner will start 12th, one position ahead of Rick Carelli, winner of the most recent series event in Bristol, Tenn. Both drive Chevrolets.
In other NASCAR news:
BUSCH GN: David Green, the most prolific pole winner in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series the past three years, did it again Saturday, pulling a surprise to lead qualifying for the Lysol 200 at Watkins Glen International.
Green, driving a Chevrolet, shattered the 2.45-mile road course track qualifying record with a lap of 115.995 mph, besting the previous record of 115.309 that was set last year by Terry Labonte. The race is the only road course event on the NASCAR Grand National schedule.
Labonte, winner of the last two runnings of the event and three of the five that have been run, was a heavy favorite in qualifying, but could only manage 115.259, ninth fastest.
``This is one of the most important poles I've ever won, personally,'' said Green, who won his fourth pole of the season. It was also the 18th pole of his career, moving him into a tie for third place with Tommy Houston on the series' career poles list.
``Most of my poles have been on short tracks,'' he said. ``To win the pole here on a road course, with the little bit of road course experience I have, I personally think it's good to accomplish.''
Joe Nemechek, also in a Chevrolet, was second at 115.841, with Ricky Craven third at 115.657 in a Chevrolet. Road racing specialist Butch Leitzinger, driving a Ford, was fourth at 115.648, and Hermie Sadler was fifth in a Chevrolet at 115.572.
Rounding out the top 10 were Michael Waltrip, Kenny Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Labonte and Mike McLaughlin.
Green, the series points leader and winner of last weekend's event at Myrtle Beach, S.C., enters the event with a 106-point lead over Randy LaJoie. LaJoie crashed his car in turn one on his qualifying lap and will start 36th in today's race in a backup car.
LaJoie was not injured in the crash.
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. David Green (left) jokes with fellow driver Rickyby CNBCraven after winning the Lysol 200 Busch Grand National pole on
Saturday in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Green set a course record with a
speed of 115.995 mph. Craven was third at 115.657. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING