ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CONCORD, N.C.
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
BOBBY LABONTE outruns Jeff Gordon to capture his second pole of 1996 season.
After winning three races in 1995, Bobby Labonte has found success much harder to come by in the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup season.
But when all else fails, a couple of pole positions can be a pretty nice consolation prize.
Labonte won his second pole in four races Wednesday, winning the top starting spot for Sunday's UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a lap of 184.068 mph in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Labonte beat (who else?) Jeff Gordon, who was second with a speed of 182.574 mph in his Chevy. Labonte was more than two-tenths of a second quicker around the 1.5-mile track than Gordon - a significant amount of time considering that less than seven-tenths of a second separated the top 25 drivers.
``It's real important,'' Labonte said of his recent qualifying success. ``We've talked about how we wanted to end on a high note this year. We're 12th [in Winston Cup points] right now, but we're still in the hunt to finish in the top 10 in points.
``That's confidence in itself that we're able to be a contender for a good qualifying run.''
Jeremy Mayfield was third fastest in a Ford Thunderbird at 182.451 mph, followed by Bobby Hamilton in a Pontiac at 182.272 mph. Hamilton's speed was equaled by Todd Bodine in a surprisingly fast run in the unsponsored No.27 Ford.
Also in the top 10 were Jeff Green in the No. 29 Chevrolet at 182.260 mph, Jeff Burton in a Ford at 182.217 mph, Ricky Craven in a Chevy at 181.947 mph, Ernie Irvan in a Ford at 181.849 mph and teammate Dale Jarrett in a Ford at 181.720 mph.
Among other competitors, newcomer Robby Gordon qualified 13th in a Dale Earnhardt-owned Chevy, while Earnhardt himself was only 33rd fastest.
``I don't know what we're doing wrong,'' Earnhardt said. ``We'd been a lot better than that in practice, and the car felt good, too. I don't understand it.''
Meanwhile, Ron Barfield was called in to qualify for Virginian Rick Mast, who left Charlotte earlier Wednesday after his wife, Sharon, went into labor with twin girls. Barfield qualified a respectable 18th.
``That was about the fourth lap I've made in this car today,'' Barfield said. ``It got a little loose, but hey, if I can help them out, that's what I'm here for.''
Labonte, who won his first pole of 1996 at Dover, took the top starting spot after clocking some of the fastest laps in practice Wednesday afternoon.
``We got it adjusted just a little bit and got it running better on scuffed tires,'' he said. ``As far as the qualifying run, it was awesome.
``I was back on the gas fast in both turns two and four. I think I made up a lot of speed there because I was able to get back in the gas and stay with it. And I didn't overcharge the corners. That might have helped, too. I was able to get off the corners well.''
Forty-eight cars made qualifying runs Wednesday. After today's second round at 1:30 p.m., the field will be whittled to 38 regular starters and up to five provisional starters.
Gary Bradberry is currently 38th fastest, followed by John Andretti, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Joe Nemechek, Robert Pressley, Darrell Waltrip, Robby Faggart, Dave Marcis and Delma Cowart.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Bobby Labonte is all smiles Wednesday afterby CNBcapturing the pole for Sunday's UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte Motor
Speedway. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING