ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, April 19, 1997               TAG: 9704210132
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: NASHVILLE, TENN. 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUSCH QUALIFYING A RACE FOR TOP SPOT MCLAUGHLIN PREVAILS IN NASHVILLE

The Grand National field for today's race appears to be evenly matched.

Mike McLaughlin came out on top of one of the tightest qualifying fields for a NASCAR Busch Series race this season, taking the pole position Friday for the BellSouth Mobility-Oprylands USA 320.

McLaughlin, driving a Chevrolet, turned a lap of 109.935 mph around the season and second of his career.

Only .305 seconds, or less than 1.7 mph, separated the top 25 qualifiers for today's race, which will start as many as 43 cars after the second round of qualifying fills the field.

Chevrolet drivers swept the top 10 starting spots, with Kevin Lepage second at 109.783 mph.

``We were just a fraction off the pole,'' Lepage said, ``but that's what this business is all about, fractions.''

Wisconsin short-track racer Matt Kenseth, subbing for injured Tim Bender, qualified a surprising third at 109.766 mph, followed by Hermie Sadler, the pole winner last week at Bristol (109.755 mph) and Tim Fedewa (109.615 mph).

LENGTH: Short :   35 lines
KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING