Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 28, 1990 TAG: 9004280147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
If Fridays' qualifying round is any indication, most of the action Sunday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway could happen right in the laps of the folks jamming the H. Clay Earles Tower.
"I'd say if you bought tickets for over there [turn two] that you're going to be in a prime spot," driver Dale Jarrett said.
He should know. He was just one of numerous victims whose car was sucked in by the slick and slippery turn on Friday.
Jarrett got off light, though. His car just spun.
For Mike Alexander and Dave Marcis, the damage bill was much more severe. Both drivers crashed their cars in separate incidents in turn two and had to send for replacement parts from their home shops.
"That corner is really slick and I just got in there too hard," said Alexander, who lost control of his Buick in practice and backed it into the outside wall.
"I should have known better. Dick Trickle had just blown an engine and there was oil all over the place."
Marcis blamed his accident on NASCAR instead of a slick track. Marcis slammed into Brett Bodine's car, which had stalled after spinning coming out of turn two, when NASCAR failed to throw the yellow flag.
"I never saw a caution," Marcis said.
Bodine, whose car suffered front-end sheet metal damage and a burst radiator, said: "I had been sitting there for a long time. Six or seven cars already had passed and here comes Marcis."
In time trials, where spins occur about as often as lunar eclipses, Trickle and Harry Gant, two veterans with a combined 60-plus years of racing experience, both looped their cars in turn two.
"Could be a rough day Sunday," snorted Trickle, who didn't seem to mind the impromptu dose of excitement.
The drivers refused to blame Goodyear's radials, being used at Martinsville for the first time, for sparking all the extra-curricular activity. Most contended the turn was simply bumpier and slicker than normal. The extreme hot temperatures didn't help matters, either.
"I think we would be having the same problem with the bias-ply tires," Jarrett said. "You've just got to stay low on the concrete and try not to get up into the asphalt."
Pole-winner Geoff Bodine, who knows Martinsville as well as anyone, said the turn-two situation is a "serious problem."
"It's awful rough coming off two down on the bottom of the track where everybody likes to run here," he said. "They need to bring a grinder in here and smooth it out. That would help, I think."
Alexander was in a downcast mood as his team loaded his mangled Buick onto the hauler. In fact, he talked like a driver about to lose or possibly give up his ride with the first-year team owned by NASCAR great Bobby Allison.
"I hate putting so much grief on these guys," Alexander said. "I have really made things tough on them. I really hate that I haven't done them a good enough job. They really deserve better than this. I'd love to continue, but if they think somebody else can do a better job, I won't stand in the way.
"Really, I'm starting all over again in Winston Cup and that's not fair to them. These guys are my friends, and I'm worried about my friends. I'm just going to play with the cards that are dealt me and be happy."
Alexander, who said he still can't remember things due to critical head injuries he received in a Dec. 1988 crash in Pensacola, Fla., hasn't finished better than 14th in seven 1990 races and ranks 24th in the Winston Cup point standings.
Rumors persist that Hut Stricklin may be in line to replace Alexander.
Jarrett, subbing for amnesia-stricken Neil Bonnett, said he will drive the Wood Brothers Ford at Talladega, Ala., next week. If Bonnett returns for the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, N.C., Jarrett said he will drive a second Woods car.
Jarrett said Phil Parsons, who lost his Morgan-McClure ride after three races to Ernie Irvan, is contemplating driving a car owned by Charlotte's Gary Bechtol in the 600. Jarrett was to get the Bechtol ride until being asked by the Woods to fill in for Bonnett.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB