THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507080017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LOUDON, N.H. LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
As Mark Martin posted a record speed to win the top starting spot for Sunday's Slick 50 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway, Jeff Gordon's bid for his eighth pole in 16 races ended against the turn two wall Friday.
Martin couldn't believe his lap around this one-mile speedway was the fastest ever for a Winston Cup car, saying that the the track was slick. But he turned a lap at an average of 128.815 mph in his Jack Roush Ford Thunderbird, beating the record of 128.005 mph set here last year by Bill Elliott.
Rookie Robert Pressley won the outside pole in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo at 128.212 mph, a speed that also beat Elliott's record.
``I don't understand how the speeds are so high,'' Martin said. ``The race track seems to be extremely slick. My car is sliding around an awful lot out there, but it still goes fast.''
Joe Nemechek, who qualified third at 128.048 mph in a Chevy, agreed. ``I just can't imagine we're running faster than we did last year with Hoosier and the tire war,'' he said.
Gordon, meanwhile, had the slowest speed of all 40 drivers who made qualifying runs, posting a lap of 123.759 mph after grazing the turn two wall on his lap.
Gordon went straight from his car to the lounge of his team's transporter after the run and did not appear eager to talk about it.
``It'll take a lot of body work and the rear-end housing is messed up, but we'll fix it,'' crew chief Ray Evernham said.``You can't have it perfect every week. When you can do what the 3 car does - come from the back and get a good finish - then you're in good shape. I don't know if we can do it or now, but we'll see. It'll be a good test for us.''
One driver did have a worse time of it than Gordon.
Jimmy Spencer nearly spun his car in turn four during his qualifying run and did not complete the lap. And this was his backup car, since Spencer crashed his primary car in the same turn during practice.
Behind Martin, Pressley and Nemechek, Bill Elliott won the fourth starting spot in a Ford at 127.692 mph, followed by Bobby Labonte in a Chevy at 127.594 mph.
Also in the top 10 were Rick Mast in a Ford at 127.594 mph, Ricky Rudd in a Ford at 127.461, Kyle Petty in the fastest Pontiac Grand Prix at 127.414 mph, Michael Waltrip in a Pontiac at 127.393 mph and Ken Schrader in a Chevy at 127.389 mph.
Since only 41 cars made qualifying attempts for a 42-car field, the Winston Cup regulars are in good shape to make the race.
Among the slower cars Friday, however, were Marlin (33rd), Derrike Cope (34th), Brett Bodine (35th) and Lake Speed (37th).
The threat of rain, as well as the 4 p.m. start time for qualifying, prompted NASCAR to run one of its fastest sessions ever - 41 minutes. As one car took the checkered flag, the next car was on the backstretch preparing to take the green. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Jeff Gordon, left, pulls off a Gatorade hat that fellow driver Dale
Earnhardt had playfully placed on his head during a photo session.
by CNB