Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 16, 1990 TAG: 9007160230
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOUDON, N.H. LENGTH: Medium
Ellis, one of the all-time victory leaders on the NASCAR Grand National circuit, had been stymied since winning at Hickory, N.C., last July. He's been confounded by a series of mechanical problems and plain bad luck.
Ellis' frustration peaked last month when he led at Myrtle Beach, S.C., on the final lap, but ran out of gas and lost to Mark Martin, the points leader in NASCAR's Winston Cup series.
"It's just been one problem after another," Ellis said.
On Sunday, all that changed.
Ellis held off a charging Harry Gant to win the first feature race at the new one-mile oval.
"It's the greatest win I've ever had," said Ellis, a two-time Grand National champion who has won 23 times.
Ellis, driving a Buick, averaged 85.797 mph in an accident-filled race that was stopped for 15 minutes by a red flag after an eight-car pile-up.
Ellis, one of 12 drivers to lead, held the top spot three different times. He took the lead for good when he passed Mike McLaughlin on the 244th lap and wasn't challenged until the last lap.
Gant, also in a Buick, cut Ellis' lead from 10 car-lengths to three by the third turn of the final lap, but could get no closer.
Gant, one of several Winston Cup racers who came to New Hampshire because there was no race this week on NASCAR's top circuit, made the field only on a promoter's option. He started from 45th place after failing to qualify on Saturday, and methodically moved toward the front.
"The last 25 laps, I think I had better tires than Tommy, but his car turned quicker than mine. I give Tommy credit," Gant said.
Chuck Bown of Ridgeway, Va., Grand National points leader this season with five victories, finished third, with Morgan Shepherd fourth and Rick Mast fifth.
Polesitter Jimmy Hensley finished 15th. McLaughlin ended up sixth.
Bobby Labonte, second in Grand National points going into the race, was involved in the eight-car accident and didn't finish. His car rolled over several times before landing upright.
Labonte walked away from the accident, but did complain of a sore right leg.
Ellis said he felt confident after practicing on the track last week.
"I really, really liked the track," he said. "It's similar to smaller tracks that I've been successful on in the past.
"I had the fastest practice time. I was disappointed I didn't sit on the pole."
Several drivers had expressed concern that the newness of the track might cause problems and it apparently did, with only 25 of the 46 starters running at the end.
Two drivers were slightly injured during the race. Bobby Hamilton suffered a bruised chest in a two-car accident, and Bobby Moon was checked for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Both were treated at Concord Hospital.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB