Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003091823
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Off to what he categorized as a "horrible" start on the 1990 NASCAR Busch Grand National tour, Ellis claimed he found the bright light he's been searching for Thursday at Martinsville Speedway.
"Man, this is a big boost for me and this team," said Ellis, after steering his Buick to the pole position for Sunday's Busch Grand National portion of the Miller 500 tripleheader.
"Winning this pole is the only thing we've done right all year. Honestly, we have not had one good thing happen this year until today.
"Fellas, we needed this. I needed it. The team needed it. And my wife [Brenda] will be glad to hear it, too. Who knows? Maybe she'll start talking to me again now."
Ellis' heavy right foot did all the talking Thursday. The 41-year-old Richmond driver pushed his Buick around Martinsville's .526-mile oval at 91.522 mph. Some 35 minutes later, when it became apparent he had won the pole, Ellis traded a season-long scowl for a huge grin.
"We're ready to start the season now," said a beaming Ellis.
Of course, the GN season officially began three races ago in Daytona Beach, Fla. Ellis finished 35th, something he'd like to forget.
"We went to Daytona with the best car I've ever had," he said. "I think I could have won the [Goody's 300]. Then, I got sucked into that big [27-car] wreck early in the race. Daytona was probably the biggest letdown I've ever had.
"The next week at Richmond, we had a bunch of tire problems and finished 10th. Again, I thought we could have won the race.
"Then, we go to Rockingham [N.C.] last week, and everything was OK until the final pit stop. We stripped a lug, had problems changing a tire and had to settle for sixth place."
But when he walked into Martinsville's cozy oval early Thursday morning, Ellis said he had a feeling his ill fortunes might change.
"Last year, this is where we started the season when we won the race," he said. "So I was kind of hoping we might do it again here. Looks darn good so far."
On Thursday, it was too good for the rest.
"I didn't think I had a chance after I ran," said Ellis, who went out fourth among the 39 qualifiers. "There were too many fast cars left to beat. But a funny thing happened. Everybody else slowed down when the track got colder."
Local favorite Jimmy Hensley, who runs Martinsville as if he owns it, came up just short of yet another home pole. Hensley's Oldsmobile turned 91.416 mph.
"I screwed up," said Hensley, who lives in nearby Horsepasture. "I just got into the corners too hard on both laps. I thought we had a good shot at the pole."
Robert Pressley, Kenny Wallace and Bobby Hamilton completed the top five.
Ridgeway's Chuck Bown, whose Pontiac was quick in morning practice, qualified eighth at 90.802 mph. Other notables making the top 20 were Tommy Houston (10th), Harry Gant (13th), Chesapeake's Elton Sawyer (14th), L.D. Ottinger (17th) and Rockbridge Baths' Rick Mast (19th).
Surprising rookie Bobby Labonte and Dale Jarrett, who rank 2-3 on the GN points list, both failed to make the top 20. Labonte will begin 22nd and Jarrett 24th through provisional starts.
The final six spots in Sunday's 30-car field will be established in two 25-lap qualifying races Saturday.
Mike Stefanik will begin 1990 at the same place he finished in 1989 - on top.
Stefanik, the defending Modified national champion, launched his bid to repeat Thursday by capturing the pole for Sunday's 200-lap season opener.
"It's a great way to start the season," said Stefanik, after posting a lap of 97.162 mph in a Chevrolet. "It's awfully nice to hit it right the first time out."
Northerners Jan Leaty, Carl Pasteryak, Rick Fuller were second through fourth, respectively. Don "Satch" Worley, of Rocky Mount, was fifth.
Stefanik said his car owner, Jack Koszela, would be pleased with the news.
"I was under instructions to come down here and win the pole," he said. "He should be happy."
Stefanik certainly was.
"This sets a nice tone for the weekend," he said. "Now, I can go to `Aw, Shucks' [a popular Martinsville watering hole] tonight. Then, on Saturday, I can eat chicken and drink Gatorade and watch those boys run those qualifying races."
by CNB