ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, August 19, 1996 TAG: 9608190161
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: AUTO RACING NOTES
DATELINE: BROOKLYN, MICH.
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
The GM Goodwrench 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday seemed to be the race that Dale Earnhardt's Talladega injuries finally caught up with him.
He did not lead a lap, spun out after colliding with Ken Schrader on lap 186 and finally finished 17th, exhausted and sore.
``I made it through the day, that's all I can say,'' Earnhardt said as he walked to his car for a quick exit from the track. ``It didn't suit me too good, but I stayed in there all day and run all day.''
After colliding with Schrader as they raced side-by-side down the frontstretch, Earnhardt made one complete spin and gathered it back up without hitting any walls.
``A lapped car on the outside caused that more than me and Schrader,'' Earnhardt said. ``I don't think it hurt our car much, but it cost us a decent finish. I'm hurting. My shoulder hurts more than it did last week, but everything's going to be all right.''
MORE CHEVY GRIEF: His Chevys finished third (Terry Labonte) and fifth (Jeff Gordon) on Sunday, but car owner Rick Hendrick was decidedly unhappy after watching the Ford-dominated race.
``I can't believe [NASCAR] is not doing something with as much horsepower difference as there is,'' Hendrick said. ``They've got a 35-horsepower advantage and we've got new engine parts we want to use and we can't run them. We've had a new cylinder head since October of last year, but they won't approve it.
``When Ford whines, they listen. When we have a problem, it's just wait until whenever.''
On another topic, Hendrick declined to say whether Ken Schrader would return to his No.25 Chevy next year.
``Right now, it's just rumors'' that he won't return, Hendrick said.
TITLE CHASE: There was no change in the first six positions in the Winston Cup championship points standings after Sunday's race.
Terry Labonte leads by 134 points over Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, who are tied for second. Race winner Dale Jarrett is in fourth, 137 points behind Labonte.
MIXED BAG: Pole-winner Jeff Burton had a rough day, but managed to salvage a ninth-place finish.
``We said all along that sitting on the pole did not guarantee success on Sunday,'' Burton said. ``We had a little carburetor problem. At one point we took a 35th-place car and we brought it into the top 10. Not that we're happy with it, but when you have a bad day and you finish in the top 10, I think that shows the strength of this team.''
WALLACE OUT EARLY: Rusty Wallace's up-and-down season hit a down note when his engine broke after only 77 laps.
``I think it broke a rod,'' Wallace said. ``It's either a broken piston or a rod or something like that. Points to me are not important right now. I want to win some more races.''
Wallace's poor finish dropped him from eighth to 10th in the points race.
HAMILTON STICKS WITH PETTY: Bobby Hamilton, who finished 13th, said he'll be returning to drive Richard Petty's No. 43 Pontiac Grand Prix next year.
``Richard and I have done our deal for next year and we just want to go after them now,'' Hamilton said. ``Richard and I settled up Saturday night. We're happy with things and ready to win a race.''
ROBBY GORDON SIGNS: After finishing second in the IROC championship here Saturday, Indy-car driver Robby Gordon signed a contract to drive Felix Sabates' No.42 Pontiac Grand Prix next year in the NASCAR Winston Cup series.
``I really enjoy Indy-car racing, but I have a good time racing and now I can race a lot more,'' Gordon said, acknowledging that ``it may be an up-and-down season.''
Sabates said Gordon has a three-year contract with a three-year option and plans to move to North Carolina.
SALVAGING A FINISH: After experiencing severe handling problems all weekend, Rick Mast managed to finish on the lead lap in 16th place.
``We finally started to get the car better late in the race,'' Mast said. ``I lost some spots at the end we shouldn't have lost. It just got too tight and it pushed.''
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP Lake Speed (9) is tagged by Sterling Marlin (4)by CNBafter spinning on lap 167 of the GM Goodwrench 400 on Sunday.