ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 21, 1996 TAG: 9609230119
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
NASCAR Winston Cup car owner Richard Petty and his driver, Bobby Hamilton, both spent a good bit of time this week explaining why they were in such a hurry.
But Hamilton surely had more fun talking about his pole-winning run at Martinsville Speedway on Friday than Petty had talking about a highway incident on Sept. 11 in which he bumped another car he was trying to pass.
Hamilton put his Pontiac Grand Prix on the pole for Sunday's Hanes 500 with a lap of 94.120 mph, edging Ford driver Rusty Wallace, who is on the outside pole with a lap of 93.882.
``I really thought we had a good shot at the pole and I thought Rusty had a shot to beat us,'' Hamilton said. ``I really thought he was going to get us.''
When asked whether Petty's highway incident had any impact on his run for the pole, Hamilton said, ``Well, I just didn't want to start behind someone. I was afraid I'd hit 'em.''
Petty left the track before qualifying - on his motorcycle.
``He told me the reason he rode his motorcycle is because [wife] Lynda wouldn't let him have a car. His motorcycle doesn't have a bumper on it.''
Petty was charged with hit-and-run after bumping the back of another car he was trying to pass in the left lane on Interstate 85 near Concord, N.C.
On Thursday, Petty paid $65 in court costs after pleading guilty to a lesser charge of following too closely. Petty, having left the track early Friday, wasn't around to see what turned out to be one of the biggest days of Hamilton's career.
After winning the Winston Cup pole, Hamilton hopped in a NASCAR truck that had been hastily assembled for this event and won the pole for today's Hanes 250 race.
``The first time I ever sat in one of these trucks was Thursday,'' Hamilton said. ``It was just a fun thing to come here and do this thing. We just throwed this team together. It's fun.''
Although Hamilton put his Pontiac on the Winston Cup pole, Ford drivers dominated the top 10. Behind Wallace, the next four positions also went to Ford drivers.
Mark Martin was third fastest at 93.770 mph, followed by Dale Jarrett at 93.488, John Andretti at 93.318 and Morgan Shepherd, who had the same speed as Andretti.
Kyle Petty qualified seventh in a Pontiac at 93.285 mph, followed by Dick Trickle in a Ford at 93.258 and Bill Elliott in a Ford at 93.249. Jeff Gordon qualified 10th in the fastest Chevy at 93.161.
Ernie Irvan qualified 18th and earned the 18th and last pit position on the front stretch. Dale Earnhardt was 19th and will have to pit on the back stretch along with everyone below him.
At the bottom of the lineup, a half-dozen drivers faced the prospect of failing to make the 36-car field (32 regular starting spots plus four provisional starting spots.)
Chad Little was 36th fastest Friday, followed by Bobby Hillin, Ricky Craven, Michael Waltrip, Joe Nemechek, Billy Standridge and Gary Bradberry.
The second round of qualifying, which is more crucial and nerve-wracking at Martinsville than any other track, is at 12:30 p.m. today.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN STAFF Bobby Hamilton emerges from hisby CNBPontiac Grand Prix after winning the pole for Sunday's Hanes 500.
color KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING