THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996 TAG: 9603020386
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Jeff Purvis is emerging as one of the early-season standouts in the Busch Grand National series after winning the pole for today's Hardee's 250 - his second in three weeks.
Purvis, who also started on the pole of the season-opening Goody's 300 at Daytona, circled the 3/4-mile Richmond International Raceway in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo at 121.114 mph.
Fifty-three cars battled for 41 starting spots in two qualifying sessions Friday. With that many entrants, there were a lot of disappointed nonqualifiers, including Stevie Reeves, Mark Green, Tommy Houston, Nathan Buttke, John Nemechek, Bobby Dotter and Tim Bender.
Purvis was one of the late qualifiers on a cold, partly sunny morning, and ``there's a good chance we might have been a little quicker'' because of a late qualifying time, he said.
Dennis Setzer won the outside pole at 120.811 mph in a Ford. He was followed by Bobby Labonte in a Chevy and Mike Wallace in a Ford, both at 120.692 mph. David Green was fifth-fastest at 120.557 mph in a Chevy.
Purvis is now 2 for 3 in poles this season even though his team is 0 for '96 in sponsorship.
``We've talked to some people and have had some offers, but they were cheaper offers than what James (Finch, the car owner) felt our team was worth,'' Purvis said. ``And he wasn't going to give it out for 25 cents on the dollar. Hopefully, we can run good and impress a sponsor.''
Today's race starts at 1:15 p.m.; TV coverage begins at 1 on ESPN2.
ALLEN STATUS: Loy Allen Jr. was still in a Charlotte hospital Friday, but doctors were on the verge of releasing him, team spokesman Jeff Baker said.
Allen suffered a broken shoulder blade, a concussion and a neck injury in a hard crash at Rockingham last Sunday.
``The doctors are most concerned about tears in the ligaments in the back of his neck,'' Baker said. ``They say that's the injury that will take the longest to heal.''
Baker said Allen wanted to thank all the fans for their cars and letters.
``It looks like a florist shop in there,'' he said.
Dick Trickle, Allen's replacement driver, was 40th-fastest in Winston Cup qualifying Friday.
RELIEF: Backup drivers were in heavy demand Friday.
Johnny Benson Jr., who is battling pneumonia, lined up David Green as a possible relief driver for Sunday's Winston Cup race. Benson was 32nd-fastest Friday.
Patty Moise, who smashed her knee and tore a ligament in her left leg in a crash at Rockingham, had husband Elton Sawyer filling in for her. Sawyer qualified 25th-fastest for today's Busch race.
``I had it drained twice and it's much better,'' Moise said of her knee. ``I think next week we'll be fine. But this week, I believe it would give out in the race.''
And Geoff Bodine, still recovering from broken ribs suffered in his crash at Daytona, was expected to have younger brother Todd standing by.
``I'm still sore and it still hurts a lot, but I feel sure I'll be able to drive this weekend,'' he said. ``At least, that's my intention right now.''
JUST ANOTHER ROOKIE: Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett is with a newly formed team this year, which means he's just another rookie when it comes to garage perks.
Jarrett's truck is at the far end of the garage, and there's no room for it under the garage roof. Thus, his team has had to work on his car on uneven ground just outside the transporter.
``That's what happens when you're the new kid on the block,'' he said. ``(The 500 victory) doesn't make any difference here.''
SPENCER HOT: Jimmy Spencer led 53 laps last week at Rockingham. That's notable because in the previous two seasons combined, including his two-victory year of 1994, Spencer led only 51 laps.
A NIGHT RACE? With snow in the overnight forecast and a possibility of an inch on the ground at dawn today, track officials were making contingency plans Friday.
Track president Paul Sawyer announced Friday afternoon that if need be, he'll run today's Grand National race under the lights. by CNB