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

DATE: FRIDAY, March 25, 1994                   TAG: 9403250100
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-12   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DARLINGTON, S.C.                                LENGTH: Short

DARLINGTON GN RACE HAS MARTIN ON POLE

Mark Martin set a Darlington record and led the fastest field in race history into the Mark III Vans Busch Grand National event Thursday.

Martin will sit on the pole for Saturday's race after a lap of 161.011 mph in his Ford Thunderbird on the 1.366-mile oval. The speed was much faster than the 1992 track record of 159.652.

The first eight drivers eclipsed the previous record.

Qualifying determined the first 25 starters. Positions 26-40 will be filled through time trials today. As many as three provisional starters could swell the field to 43.

Hermie Sadler will start next to Martin after qualifying at 160.911 mph. Harry Gant, competing in his final NASCAR season, was third at 160.580 mph, and Ricky Craven was fourth at 160.167 mph.

- Associated Press

Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.

by CNB