ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 22, 1996 TAG: 9609230076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-12 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
No one understands the nuances of NASCAR truck racing like Mike Skinner, and Saturday afternoon, the California resident proved it once again.
Skinner captured the Hanes 250 Craftsman Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway, claiming a first-place check of $33,625. The win was Skinner's seventh victory of the season, and 15th (out of 39 events) in series history.
Starting from the 16th position, Skinner systematically advanced his way through the field, and climbed into the lead on lap 147. He wasn't seriously challenged thereafter.
Skinner finished 1.04 seconds ahead of Butch Miller, with an average speed of 64.425 mph. The relatively slow speed was a result of 15 caution flags, the most ever in a Truck Series event.
The final caution - on lap 248 - occurred when Dave Rezendes, fighting for position, spun out on turn 2. As a result, the race was extended to 255 laps, with the last two laps a green-white-checkered flag finish.
``We used our stock car shocks today,'' said Skinner, who attributed the win to the performance of his Chevrolet during restarts. ``Our racing team is the strongest in the Truck Series.''
``I think we had the second best truck today,'' said Miller, who won $20,275, plus a $1,000 bonus from Gatorade for leading at the halfway point. ``Skinner really was good. I didn't know what to do with him at the end.''
Jack Sprague finished third, Ron Hornaday placed fourth and Darrell Waltrip was fifth.
Waltrip qualified second, but was forced to start at the back of the pack (36th), because during post-qualifying inspection on Friday, it was determined that his fuel did not meet NASCAR specifications.
``I have to apologize for my mistake,'' Waltrip said. ``The day didn't start off very good, and I had to drive real hard to get it back where I finished.''
Pole-sitter Bobby Hamilton, who also will start on the pole for today's Winston Cup Hanes 500 stock car race, held the lead for nearly half of Saturday's race, until he was overtaken on lap 117 by Miller.
Hamilton, who was making his first appearance in the Truck Series, saw his Chevrolet develop steering problems, and dropped out on lap 143. He finished 31st.
Horsepasture resident Jimmy Hensley challenged Hamilton for the lead several times early, and ran in the second spot for about 50 laps, but finished ninth.
``We thought we had an ignition box problem, but I switched it and it really didn't help,'' Hensley said. ``It may have been a fuel pressure problem. The truck was dead coming off of the corner. A top 10, that's about all I had today.''
A 10-minute break after lap 126 allowed drivers to change tires and make minor adjustments to their trucks.
Skinner, second in the points race, closed within 131 points of leader Hornaday. ``It was a good victory for us; all we can do is hammer on [Hornaday's lead],'' Skinner said.
Skinner was coming off a 27th-place finish at New Hampshire on Sept.8, his worst performance of the season.
Five events remain on the schedule.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL/Staff. Mike Skinner (bottom) takes the leadby CNBfrom Butch Miller during the Hanes 250 Craftsman Truck Series at
Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. Skinner won, while Miller claimed
second place. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING