THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504090207
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Second-round qualifying Saturday for today's First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway was a futile effort, but the 11 slowest drivers, with nothing to lose, tried it anyway.
None of them was able to crack into the fastest 32.
Saturday's sunshine and warmer temperatures slowed the track, so much so that two non-qualifiers, Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte, who were 33rd and 34th fastest, stood on their Friday speeds and accepted provisional starting spots.
Dave Marcis, who was the fastest second-round qualifier at 116.075 mph in his Chevy (35th fastest overall), also received a provisional starting spot, as did John Andretti, who was 41st fastest.
``Heck, anymore, this is the hardest part of the week,'' Marcis told track reporter Jack Flowers. ``The race is a piece of cake. We were among the fastest cars here yesterday in practice before qualifying. . . . We just don't know where (the speed) went to or what happened.''
Drivers heading home early were Jeremy Mayfield, Jay Hedgecock, Kenny Wallace, Chuck Bown, Randy MacDonald, Jeff Purvis, Davy Jones, Billy Standridge and Steve Kinser.
DILLON WINS 150: Pole-sitter Mike Dillon, who plans to make his Grand National debut next weekend at Hickory, passed Scott Kilby on lap 106 on his way to victory in the Lowe's 150 for late-model stock cars here Saturday.
Dillon, whose father-in-law is Winston Cup car owner Richard Childress, led the first 65 laps before giving way to Kilby.
``When Scott got around me, it showed me a new line around this track,'' Dillon said. Richard was spotting for me, and he radioed and told me to back off and save my tires because I'd need them at the end. And that's what I did. And it did help me win the race.''
Kilby finished third behind Nathan Buttke of Randleman, N.C. Max Prestwood, Jr. of Lenoir, N.C., was fourth, and Jeff Agnew of Floyd, Va., was fifth.
A SENSE OF HUMOR: Although NASCAR is keeping quiet about the results from its wind-tunnel tests to compare the aerodynamics of the Ford, Chevy and Pontiac, you can't accuse the sanctioning body of lacking a sense of humor.
Pinned up on the NASCAR bulletin board Saturday morning was a Richmond Times-Dispatch sports editorial cartoon that showed a Chevy Monte Carlo next to a Ford Model T, with the Ford driver asking, ``Which way to the wind tunnel tests?''
THEY LIKED HIM: David Green, who is standing by today to relieve Bobby Labonte if he needs help, was voted co-employee of the month last month by the Joe Gibbs team for his relief efforts at Bristol.
``It was pretty dad-gum impressive when he qualified fifth at Bristol,'' said crew chief Jimmy Makar. ``We were glad to have him in the car.'' Fabricator Paul Charcutt was the other co-employee of the month.
DALE'S TV DEBUT: Dale Earnhardt, looking a bit sheepish, stood in the garage with a microphone in hand, earphones over his ears and a transmitter on his belt, facing a camera.
Was he making his debut as a broadcaster?
``I tried to put a yellow bumper sticker on him, but he wouldn't let me do it,'' said Steve Waid, editor of Winston Cup Scene, referring to auto racing's traditional rookie indicator.
Actually, Earnhardt was doing a live link-up with his NASCAR truck driver, Ron Hornaday, in Tucson, Ariz.
STREAKING: Terry Labonte may be near the back of the pack for today's race, but it's good enough to help him keep a streak going.
When Labonte starts from the 30th position at North Wilkesboro, it will mark his 482nd consecutive start.
If he can complete the race, he'll raise his string of races he's finished to 16.
He's also the last Winston Cup driver to win from the pole at North Wilkesboro, earning a victory in the 1988 First Union 400.
At the other end, Brett Bodine is trying to erase a five-year winless streak at the .625-mile oval.
PRE-RACE PACE: While he won't be driving the No. 28 Ford Thunderbird today, Ernie Irvan will get in a couple of laps.
Irvan, sidelined after a near-fatal crash last summer at Michigan International Raceway, will be the grand marshal. by CNB