THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 10, 1994 TAG: 9409100403
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Ted Musgrave is glad the NASCAR Winston Cup series comes to Richmond International Raceway.
Qualifying for tonight's Miller 400, the 38-year-old Wisconsin native won his second career pole Friday evening at a track record of 124.052 miles per hour, breaking his own mark, which he set in winning the pole here in March. The fastest eight cars broke Musgrave's old record.
``This is my only two poles in NASCAR racing,'' Musgrave said. ``If Richmond wasn't here, I'd still be a nobody.''
Musgrave's run was particularly notable because he was the first driver in the qualifying order, which is usually a disadvantage because the track is hotter and slower.
``Being first on the bill, I told my crew, `We have an excellent car here, but the luck of the draw may hold us back.' I didn't think (the speed) would hold up. I thought for sure somebody would be a little quicker.
``But we knew in practice we were running good,'' Musgrave said. ``Right off the bat the car was fast. I think I ran a total of six laps in practice and each of them was fast. I told the guys, `I don't really know what to do with this' '' to make it better.
Musgrave said his Ford was ``pretty much'' the same car he had here in March. ``The front geometry is a little different,'' he said. ``We had a pretty quick car here in the spring, but I think this one is just a little bit better.''
Hut Stricklin won the outside pole at 123.808 mph in his Ford, which was the biggest surprise of the first round of qualifying. Stricklin failed to qualify here in March. And his best effort before Friday was 14th at North Wilkesboro in April.
``We were good right from the start,'' Stricklin said. ``We kind of got to chasing the race track a little bit and finally (car owner) Travis Carter and I got together and said, `To heck with it, We should just put it back to the way we had it when we got here.' That's what we did. It turned out real good for us.''
Bill Elliott, meanwhile, was unable to practice or qualify Friday after being sidelined by a huge cyst that developed over his right eye Thursday.
Elliott, the winner of last weekend's Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, was treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs at St. Mary's Hospital Friday morning and returned to his hotel room.
Doctors said they believe Elliott will be able to race tonight, but car owner Junior Johnson had Tommy Houston practice and qualify Friday.
Houston was 32nd fastest in the first round of time trials.
Behind Musgrave and Stricklin, the Labonte brothers won the second row. Terry starts third in the fastest Chevy after a run at 123.740 mph, while Bobby had the fastest Pontiac at 123.700 mph. Rusty Wallace was fifth-fastest in a Ford at 123.649 mph.
All five of the fastest qualifiers were on Goodyear tires, but Hoosier drivers won positions six through nine. Greg Sacks will start sixth in a Ford after a run of 123.604 mph.
Bobby Hamilton was seventh fastest in a Pontiac at 123.598 mph, followed by Steve Grissom in a Chevy at 123.513 mph and Geoff Bodine in a Ford at 123.338 mph. Ken Schrader, driving a Chevy on Goodyear tires, was 10th fastest at 123.299 mph.
At the other end of the lineup, Lake Speed is once again having qualifying troubles. He was 41st fastest for the 36-car field. At least a half-dozen drivers will go home early, because there are 44 cars vying for the 36 regular starting spots and two provisionals.
Drivers who are currently outside the top 36 are Loy Allen (37th), Phil Parsons, Jeremy Mayfield, Billy Standridge, Speed, Brad Teague, Joe Ruttman and Dirk Stephens. by CNB