Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 26, 1994 TAG: 9405260047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CONCORD, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Gordon capitalized on a cooler, nighttime track to post a lap of 181.439 mph in his Chevrolet Lumina, giving the car manufacturer its first pole position of 1994. The speed was an event record, but fell short of the overall track record of 181.519 mph set Friday by Joe Nemechek in Winston Select Open qualifying.
Nemechek, again using Hoosier tires, was second fastest Wednesday in another Chevy at 180.252 mph. Winston Select champion Geoff Bodine was third, also on Hoosiers, at 180.036 mph in a Ford Thunderbird. Completing the top five were Ken Schrader in a Chevy (179.832 mph) and Brett Bodine in a Ford (179.330).
Also in the top 10 were Greg Sacks in a Ford with Hoosier tires (179.253 mph), Rick Mast of Rockbridge Baths in a Ford with Hoosiers (179.241), Ward Burton in a Chevy with Hoosiers (178.660), John Andretti in a Chevy on Goodyears (178.542) and Terry Labonte in a Chevy on Goodyears (178.530).
Andretti has qualified in the top 10 for the Indianapolis 500 (he starts 10th) and the 600 and will have the opportunity to become the first driver to compete in both races on the same day.
Although Gordon won the Busch Clash at Daytona in February and was fourth in the Daytona 500, he hasn't finished better than 15th since the race at Atlanta in mid-March.
"We unloaded this car off the truck and ran one of the fastest laps of the day in practice. That's how good the car felt," Gordon said. "The car was really hooked up. That's something we haven't had all year. Maybe my luck has changed. I hope it has, because we need it.
"The cars have been strong and we've been having good pit stops and running good. But when we get to the front and start to feel like we'll have a top five or top 10 finish, something happens," he said. "A lot of times it's been something we can't control. That gets really frustrating."
As the 43rd of 47 qualifiers, Gordon was able to make his two-lap run after the sun had set. Nemechek was the 35th qualifier.
"I don't feel like the temperature changed a whole lot," Gordon said. "But I felt like the track was as good as it was going to get all night."
At the other end of the qualifying lineup, and in danger of missing the 600, were Bill Elliott (41st fastest), Bobby Hillin in the new Ernie Elliott Ford (42nd) and Kyle Petty (43rd), followed by Jimmy Hensley of Ridgeway, Loy Allen Jr., Jim Sauter and Dave Marcis.
There will be a second round of time trials starting at 2:30 p.m. today.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB