ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, September 21, 1996           TAG: 9609230121
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
COLUMN: AUTO RACING NOTES
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE 
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER

PRESSLEY JOINING NEW TEAM IN `97

Another piece of the puzzle for the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup lineup fell into place Friday with car owner Gary Bechtel's announcement that Robert Pressley will drive his No.29 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Pressley said he took the ride because Bechtel and crew chief Bill Ingle ``were concerned about the whole package instead of one person to make the whole thing work. I think this is a big move.''

Pressley made a name for himself in the Grand National series, but he's struggled in Winston Cup.

``We've had a few deals going on this year that weren't real good,'' he said. ``I think it took away from our performance.''

Ingle outlined the team's goals for 1997: ``If we can keep running in the top 15 every week on a consistent basis, and qualify in the first round every time - that's a big thing. And we'd like to end the season next year being in the top 15 in points and have a pole.''

``What we want to do is be around during those last 100 laps next year,'' Pressley said.

The team will continue to be sponsored by The Cartoon Network.

``My kids are tickled to death,'' said Pressley, who has a 7-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl.

Chad Little is currently driving the car. He was 36th fastest in the first round of qualifying Friday.

In other auto racing news:

RUDD'S NEW CREW CHIEF: Ricky Rudd has been his usual consistent self this season in the NASCAR Winston Cup series and is currently sixth in points.

But he has only led 53 laps and has not been in contention in many races.

And that deficiency has prompted Rudd to change crew chiefs for the 1997 season.

Rudd has dismissed veteran Richard Broome and hired Jim Long to fill the position. Long is currently Lake Speed's crew chief.

``It was just kind of a mutual agreement,'' Rudd said. ``It was a good parting of ways. Richard and I are still friends. He's going to work for us the rest of the year. But we've been trying everything, building a lot of cars, spending a lot of money and we still can't seem to get the cars the way we want them.

``Our working relationship is fine, but the chemistry between us has never quite clicked to the level of performance you need to win and challenge for a points title on a consistent basis.''

This is Long's first year as a crew chief, but he's worked under veterans such as Barry Dodson, Gary Nelson and Robin Pemberton.

Rudd said his only question about Long was his leadership ability, ``but I stood back and watched him this year and he's done a great job getting Lake's team organized. They haven't got a lot of good finishes, but they've been competitive on the race track.''

Long will join the team after the season finale in Atlanta on Nov.10.

``We will probably go test at a track where we don't run after the season is over to get used to each other and learn how each of us does things,'' Long said.

LAST-MINUTE POLE: Just three days ago, Bobby Hamilton's pole-winning NASCAR truck was sitting in a shop in Nashville, Tenn., without an engine.

But he and his makeshift team put the engine in on Wednesday and hauled the truck themselves to Martinsville on an all-night drive, taking turns behind the wheel.

``We pulled into Clarence's [Steak House outside Martinsville] at five after eight Thursday morning and had tenderloin and eggs and coffee,'' Hamilton said.

And on Friday afternoon, Hamilton won the pole for today's Hanes 250 with a lap of 92.101 mph in his STP Chevrolet truck. Another Tennessee veteran, Darrell Waltrip, won the outside pole with a lap of 91.758 in a Chevy.

Rich Bickle was third fastest, followed by Jimmy Hensley and Nathan Buttke. Points leader Ron Hornaday Jr. qualified seventh. Champion Mike Skinner was 16th.

The 36-truck field gets the green flag at 2 p.m. today.

LENGTH: Medium:   81 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:   DON PETERSEN STAFF Rusty Wallace qualified second with 
          a lap of 93.882 mph in his Ford on Friday for Sunday's Hanes 500 in 
          Martinsville. Wallace is seeking his sixth win in eight races at the
          track.