DATE: Wednesday, October 1, 1997            TAG: 9710010632

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: FROM STAFF, WIRE REPORTS

                                            LENGTH:   73 lines

NASCAR REPORT

Burton's Martinsville win gives Ford 1997 manufacturer's title

Preston Miller, Ford's NASCAR motorsports manager, breezed through the infield at Martinsville Speedway after the Hanes 500 Monday, wearing a new T-shirt that proclaimed Ford as the 1997 manufacturer's champion.

``I love it whenever a plan comes together,'' he said gleefully, ``whatever the hell it was.''

Ford driver Jeff Burton's victory clinched Ford's third title in six years Monday. And if Burton hadn't done it, Rusty Wallace seemed destined to do it before the controversial penalty that took him out of the lead.

Seven different Ford drivers have won 17 races this year, while one Chevy driver, Jeff Gordon, has won 10. Although five races remain, Ford has an insurmountable lead.

Dale Jarrett could race against his son Jason

Dale Jarrett may have the opportunity to race with his son Jason for the first time in competition if they both qualify for the All Pro 300 Grand National race on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Jason Jarrett, 21, already has three Grand National races under his belt (Hickory, New Hampshire and Myrtle Beach) as he attempts to qualify the Caradco Ford Thunderbird.

``It may turn out it's easier to race with him than to watch him race,'' Dale said Tuesday on a teleconference. ``The couple of races I watched him was definitely a different feeling and I gained a new respect for what my dad (Ned) goes through.''

Said Jason: ``I've always wondered about whether I was going to get to race against my dad and I'm thankful for him giving me this opportunity.''

``It's not something that was pushed on Jason,'' said Dale, ``just like it wasn't pushed on me. Four years ago he knew basically nothing about a race car. Now he builds his own cars and maintains them.''

Rain reduces turnaround time for Charlotte race

The postponement of the Hanes 500 from Sunday to Monday reduced the turnaround time for the UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to one day, given that pole qualifying is tonight at 7. But since no heavy travel was involved, most teams seem to be having no problem.

``This week brought on a little different situation, but we're in pretty good shape,'' said Robbie Loomis, crew chief for Bobby Hamilton and Richard Petty's No. 43 STP Pontiac Grand Prix. ``They're doing the final setup on the stuff right now and they should have it loaded this evening.'

Entries for the Winston Cup race at Charlotte include Todd Bodone, who will attempt to make his first Cup race in a Pontiac sponsored by Tabasco pepper sauce.

Chesapeake auto dealer Joe Falk and L J Racing also return to action with Kevin Lepage in the No. 91 Chevrolet Monte Carlo sponsored by Pionite. Falk will call the shots this weekend with assistance from veteran crewman Clyde Booth.

And Bud Moore Engineering and the venerable No. 15 Ford Thunderbird also will return to action with driver Greg Sacks and sponsorship from Daytona USA.

Robby Gordon cut from Team Sabco by Sabates

Team Sabco, owned and operated by Charlotte businessman Felix Sabates, announced Tuesday that driver Robby Gordon has been released from the NASCAR Winston Cup team, effective immediately.

A prepared statement from the team said both parties agreed that ending the relationship ``at this date and on an amicable note would be in the best interests of both parties.''

Gordon, a former Indy-car star and a Winston Cup rookie, already knew he was being replaced in the Sabco Chevrolet at the end of the season. The 28-year-old racer was given permission last week to skip the NASCAR race in Martinsville, Va., to take part in CART's season-ending race at Fontana, Calif., where he finished eighth.

Sabates will announce Saturday that two-time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin will drive the No. 40 car next season. Meanwhile, Elliott Sadler, a regular in the Busch Grand National series, will replace Gordon in Charlotte.

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