ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 9, 1997 TAG: 9703110040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: AUTO RACING NOTES
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA.
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER THE ROANOKE TIMES
The tracks change, but the story remains the same Saturday after Saturday in the NASCAR Busch Grand National series. Mark Martin still is hogging victory lane.
Martin won his third straight Busch race Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway in his typically dominant fashion, leading 135 of the 197 laps of the Stihl 300 before crossing the finish line 3.531 seconds ahead of Elton Sawyer.
This one wasn't quite as boring as the usual Martin runaways because Michael Waltrip gave Martin a challenge. Waltrip took the lead from him, but a late-race problem forced Waltrip to make an unscheduled pit stop. Waltrip finished 15th, one lap down.
Bobby Labonte finished third, followed by Buckshot Jones and Joe Nemechek. Todd Bodine, Tim Fedewa and Phil Parsons also finished on the lead lap.
``Michael Waltrip was giving me a workout,'' Martin said. ``His car was really good for 30 laps. And dang if the caution flag didn't come out in his favor with 30 to go. He was going to give me a run for my money and then he had a flat or something.''
``The tire wasn't flat,'' Waltrip said. ``We went back out and the car was doing the same thing. It had been perfect and all of a sudden I couldn't drive it.''
There were only two yellow flags for minor crashes.
With his sixth-place finish, Todd Bodine took the lead in the Busch championship by 10 points over defending champion Randy LaJoie.
Although his three straight Busch victories ties a record held by three other drivers, he will not go for a new record. He has not entered next weekend's Las Vegas 300.
``I'm going to be on the couch Sunday with the TV on so loud, everybody else will have to go outside,'' he said.
EARNHARDT LEADS SECOND ROUND: After a miserable qualifying effort Friday, Dale Earnhardt and his team seem to be turning things around.
Earnhardt was fastest in Saturday's second round of qualifying with a lap of 183.693 miles per hour in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo. He'll start today's race in 26th, but the lap was 23rd fastest overall.
He was also eighth fastest in the final Winston Cup practice Saturday afternoon.
Perhaps it there was good luck conferred upon him in a Saturday morning fax message to Earnhardt, car owner Richard Childress, crew chief Larry McReynolds and the team from their buddies on the Atlanta Braves.
Thirteen members of the team, including manager Bobby Cox, Jeff Blauser and Fred McGriff, signed a fax that read:
``You guys are in our town. Over the years, we have stockpiled luck in secret places around town to use when we need it. You guys are doing great, and we are all proud of you. However, a little luck never hurts. So when you receive this fax, a huge chunk of luck comes with it. We're pulling for you!''
After the second round, the provisional starting spots went to Steve Grissom, Johnny Benson, Brett Bodine and Joe Nemechek.
Those who failed to make the race were Robert Pressley, Derrike Cope, Bobby Hillin, Wally Dallenbach, Ed Berrier, Dave Marcis and Mike Miller.
MARTIN FASTEST IN PRACTICE: After capturing the Busch race and taking care of all his victory lane duties, Martin hopped into his Winston Cup car and drove the fastest lap in the final Winston Cup practice Saturday, reaching 179.940 mph.
Jeff Gordon was second fastest, followed by Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Hamilton and Michael Waltrip.
Also in the top 10 were Geoff Bodine and Hut Stricklin, both of whom will be using engines that have been worked on by retired drag racer Bob Glidden and his sons, Rusty and Billy.
Waltrip said his appearance near the top of the speed chart this weekend is simply a matter of having the right equipment.
``It's up to the car,'' he said. ``If I've got a car that will go fast, I'll go fast. If I've got a car that's a dog, I don't do much hunting.''
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Charts. 1. Primestar 500. 2. Primestar 500 lineup. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB