ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 8, 1996 TAG: 9609090132
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
IGNITION PROBLEMS couldn't keep Ernie Irvan from edging Jeff Gordon in Richmond.
What appeared to be another Jeff Gordon circle-a-thon in the Miller 400 at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night turned into one of the best races of the year - and Ernie Irvan came out on top.
But the finish was uncertain right until the end, and when Irvan crossed the finish line, Gordon was only a half-car length behind, battling furiously to gain those final few feet.
Jeff Burton, who led 113 laps, finished third. Dale Jarrett, although suffering from the effects of fumes and heat, managed to finish fourth. Terry Labonte was fifth, followed by Rusty Wallace and Bobby Hamilton.
``Yes, Johnny!'' Irvan shouted after he crossed the finish line for his second win of 1996, repeating the personal motto that became the watchword during his long recovery after his near-fatal accident two years ago.
``This win, we had to earn it really good,'' Irvan said afterwards. ``We weren't the dominant car all day. This race really compares to the first race I ever won, at Bristol. Me and Rusty just raced our guts out. Here, it was me and Jeff. These are the types of wins that make you feel really good about winning a race.''
Irvan led 88 laps, including the final 19 circuits around this 3/4-mile oval.
With his second-place finish, Gordon moved to within four points of Labonte for the Winston Cup championship lead.
``This is exactly what we needed - a good, strong finish,'' Gordon said.
Irvan, who started 16th, knew he had a strong car almost right from the start. On lap 28, when crew chief Larry McReynolds asked him how things were going, Irvan replied: ``Really, Larry, not bad. I can make it do anything.''
But then Irvan had ignition problems and had to switch to the backup ignition that all Winston Cup cars have.
``The ignition went out right off and we ended up in the back,'' Irvan said. ``I started flipping switches. I don't know which one it was, but the next thing I knew, it started running again. We had to fight our way back.''
On lap 301, Irvan pushed past Gordon, who led 168 laps, and took the lead. Irvan led the next 68 laps. But as the race was winding down, he suddenly found himself challenged by Pontiac driver Johnny Benson. Meanwhile, Gordon was challenging Benson.
Benson took the lead with a quick pit stop on lap 369 during a yellow flag. Irvan dropped back to second.
With 25 laps to go, Gordon suddenly reappeared at the front and battled past Irvan for second place. But Irvan wouldn't sit still for that. Irvan put an inside move on Gordon on lap 380 and took second place back.
``I got by him and the next thing I knew, he drove right back by me on the inside,'' Gordon said.
Then, seemingly emboldened by his battle with Gordon challenge, Irvan dove below Benson going into turn one on lap 382 and took the lead. (Benson finished 10th after suffering handling problems at the end.)
A crash in turn two involving Dick Trickle slowed the proceedings on lap 384.
``You're the boss, now, you're the boss,'' McReynolds told Irvan just before the final restart with 14 laps to go. ``You just gotta be smooth for 14 laps. Just drive that thing smooth for 14 laps.''
With eight laps to go, Gordon cleared a couple of lapped cars and the final showdown began. Gordon was eight car lengths back.
With six laps to go, Irvan's margin was six car lengths. With four to go, Irvan's lead was down to two car lengths.
``Be smooth,'' McReynolds said.
On the last lap, Irvan had a lead of one car length. Gordon took a look to the inside coming out of turn two, right on Irvan's tail. And then he made a final stab coming off turn four, to no avail.
Well after Irvan had arrived in victory lane, McReynolds came on the radio for one last statement. This was directed to the many hundreds of fans who listen in on scanners.
``We appreciate all you fans coming out here and pulling for us,'' McReynolds said.
``It means a lot.''
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB