THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 1, 1996 TAG: 9606010367
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DOVER, DEL. LENGTH: 67 lines
Sometimes it's hard even for Winston Cup drivers to know whether their qualifying laps are quick.
Jeff Gordon's record-breaking, pole-winning lap of 154.785 mph Friday at Dover Downs International Raceway was so smooth, he was afraid he didn't drive hard enough.
``Sometimes when it's that smooth, it's not a good lap,'' he said after winning his second straight pole. ``But when we came across the line, I was pretty optimistic. I had to wait and see what the crowd reaction was.''
The crowd told Gordon what he wanted to know, and his team told him a few minutes later that not only had he won the top starting spot, but he also had driven around this 1-mile ribbon of high-banked concrete faster than any NASCAR driver ever.
Of course, the previous record-holder was Gordon himself. He set it a year ago with a lap of 153.669 mph.
``I knew the track record was going to be broken today,'' Gordon said. ``I figured if anybody was going to break it, it might as well be me. Goodyear has had more time for tire testing here, and they've come up with a good tire.''
Dick Trickle was a surprise in the second starting spot, reaching 153.912 mph in a Ford Thunderbird. Ward Burton was third-fastest in a Pontiac Grand Prix to complete NASCAR's favorite trifecta - a Chevy, Ford and Pontiac starting 1-2-3. Burton reached 153.899 mph, followed by Terry Labonte in a Chevy at 153.662. Hut Stricklin was fifth-fastest in a Ford at 153.446.
None of the regulars will have any trouble making the race this weekend, as there are only 42 entrants vying for 42 starting spots.
PAINT IT BLACK: Felix Sabates made a statement with a new, black-and-white Pontiac Grand Prix he provided for Kyle Petty at Dover, but the quixotic car owner didn't show up to talk about it.
That left team members in the awkward position of trying to explain their owner's latest display of emotion. And they were none too pleased about it.
``The boss told us to do that,'' team manager Ty Norris said. ``The man said paint it black, and now it's black. That's all I'm going to say.''
Petty's Pontiac is normally red, blue and yellow, but Sabates ordered it changed to black and white, which made it a clone of Dale Earnhardt's Chevy.
Sabates also left a message - printed in Spanish - on the side of the car. It reads: ``Todo Es Justo En Amor U Carreras,'' or ``All's Fair in Love and Racing.''
Obviously, Sabates hasn't gotten over the seven-lap penalty NASCAR assessed Petty during the Coca-Cola 600 last Sunday at Charlotte. Petty was docked five laps for rough driving after triggering a major crash during the 600. The additional two-lap penalty came after NASCAR took offense to Sabates' language a two-way radio.
BUSCH POLE: Bobby Labonte won the pole for today's GM 200 Busch Grand National race with a record lap of 149.963 mph. Labonte's run broke the record of 149.638 mph, set by Harry Gant in September 1994.
Chevys took the first four starting spots, with Mike McLaughlin second-fastest at 149.757 mph, followed by Bobby's brother, Terry, at 149.701, and Ricky Craven at 149.607. Kenny Wallace was fifth-fastest in a Ford at 149.371.
TOO TOUGH TO STOP: He's sore on top of sore, but Ricky Craven isn't letting the aches and pains of hard crashes at Talladega and Charlotte get in the way of running both races this weekend at NASCAR's most grueling track.
Craven qualified fourth for today's Grand National race, and he was 26th-fastest for Sunday's Miller 500.
``I'm sore, but I feel pretty good,'' Craven said. by CNB