
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 7, 1993                   TAG: 9311070209
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: E2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

AUTO RACING-BOBBY LABONTE CAPTURES POLE WITH RECORD RUN

At Hickory, N.C., Bobby Labonte shattered the track record at Hickory Motor Speedway to take the pole for The Pantry 300 NASCAR Busch Grand National race.

Labonte, a former Busch Series champion before he moved up to the Winston Cup circuit this year, turned a lap of 90.990 mph in a Chevrolet. The former track record of 89.354 was set by Steve Grissom in April 1992.

Labonte, driving older brother Terry's car, beat two rookie drivers for the pole. Dennis Setzer, a former track champion at Hickory, will start second after going 90.180, with 1993 American Speed Association champion Johnny Benson starting third with a speed of 90.174.

David Green, who trails Grissom by 162 points in the battle for the series championship, will start fourth today, filling out the first two rows with Chevrolets. Green's race team is owned by Bobby Labonte, who won the Grand National championship in 1991 and was three points shy of repeating last year.

Grissom, the series points leader for most of the second half of the season, will start 18th today.

by CNB