Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 21, 1994 TAG: 9403210118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Busch Grand National points leader Terry Labonte had little difficulty paving the way to the finish line at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday.
It was locating victory lane that gave him trouble.
Labonte won the 300-lap GN portion of the Miller Genuine Draft 500 stock-car racing doubleheader, holding off pole-sitter David Green's late charge. The win, Labonte's second this year, was achieved at a track record-setting speed of 71.502 mph and earned him $22,400.
Green finished a quarter-second behind, breaking out of a season-long slump. Kenny Wallace, who started 24th, rallied to finish third.
In the five 1994 Grand National events, Labonte has finished no worse than sixth. A Winston Cup circuit veteran who stands fifth in points in that division, Labonte is very familiar with the Martinsville track. He led two segments of Sunday's race, a total of 204 laps.
But after taking the checkered flag, the fourth GN victory of his career, Labonte returned to the finish line, anticipating the standard victory festivities. He quickly realized he was alone.
Martinsville Speedway and NASCAR officials were waiting for him in the infield.
"I know victory lane hasn't been there for the past 15 years," Labonte said. (It was moved last fall.)
Nonetheless, he was glad to have something more to celebrate.
"I'm off to a good start this year," Labonte said. "I thought David had me beat on the outside until the caution came out [on lap 270]. But we were able to beat him back to the flag and then cool our brakes and our tires for a little while."
Green pulled his left-front fender even with Labonte's rear quarter-panel several times during the final 30 laps but never passed.
"I'll run second to Terry Labonte any day," Green said. "I'm just happy to turn it around."
Green's vehicle is owned by Bobby Labonte, Terry's brother. Green's best '94 finish before Sunday was 16th. Sunday's showing moved Green to 11th in the points race, up nine places.
Labonte started in the third position. He assumed the lead on lap 71, when leader Hermie Sadler and Green were entangled in a chain-reaction spin started by Chad Little after a caution period.
"That even made me mad," Labonte said. "You shouldn't spin the leader to try and get a lap back."
Sadler's Chevrolet was severely damaged, and he was out of the race for more than 100 laps. Sadler, who started on the outside and overtook Green before the first lap was complete, finished 28th, dropping to fifth in the points race.
Little received a five-lap penalty for rough driving, developed engine problems and finished 27th.
After the collision, Green stopped briefly. Emerging from the pits in 10th, Green began passing cars. At lap 120, he had climbed to eighth; by lap 140 he was third.
Midway through the race, the leaders pitted, and Wallace found himself in front for 26 laps.
"We qualified so bad, I couldn't believe we were leading the race," Wallace said.
Labonte regained the lead at lap 184. Even as Green closed the gap, Labonte said he never feared a spin-out.
"David's not going to run over somebody to win a race," he said.
Randy LaJoie moved from his 31st starting position to claim fourth, tying his season-best finish at Rockingham three weeks ago.
Doug Heveron was fifth Sunday; his previous best performance this year was 39th at Richmond.
In the second portion of the doubleheader, Chesterfield's Bugs Hairfield won the 200-lap Late Model Stock Car race, capping a miraculous weekend comeback.
In Friday's qualifying, Hairfield placed 32nd. The top 20 positions automatically earned race positions, forcing Hairfield to compete in Saturday's heat races for the remaining spots.
Starting sixth in Saturday's second 50-lap race, Hairfield challenged early but dropped out because of a faulty condenser wire. He qualified only for a provisional spot (based on points) and started Sunday 33rd among 34 racers.
He took advantage of several cautions and moved to third by the 10-minute break after 100 laps.
In the second half, Hairfield overtook Pete Silva and Barry Beggarly, then blew everyone else away. The race was extended to 203 laps because of a late caution period that lasted from laps 193-201. The rules require a green-white-checkered flag finish.
No area drivers fared well. Goode's Darryl Lacks led the contingent, finishing 12th.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB