Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 5, 1995 TAG: 9510050040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CONCORD, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
With rain pelting the Southeast and Hurricane Opal churning toward the Florida panhandle, NASCAR officials saw no hope for the same luck they had at Indianapolis when rains subsided and the Brickyard 400 ran after a short delay. So it canceled the 7 p.m. Winston Cup pole-qualifying session.
``There's a clearing in South Carolina, but we don't see much else but rain behind that,'' said Kevin Triplett, a NASCAR spokesman.
It was a bit of a surprise because Winston Cup director Gary Nelson's answer to earlier inquiries had been, ``We have lights.''
Pole qualifying for Sunday's UAW-GM 500 was rescheduled for noon today, with Grand National qualifying to follow at 1:30 p.m. and a 100-mile sportsman race at 4 p.m.
But NASCAR will be lucky indeed if this schedule sticks. The forecast for today called for an 80 percent chance of rain.
``We've all raced here enough that if we didn't get back onto the track until Sunday morning, it wouldn't bother any of us that badly,'' Darrell Waltrip said.
Forty-nine Winston Cup cars have been entered for Sunday's race. A maximum of 43 will start.
PETTY ENTERTAINS: Leave it to Kyle Petty to steal the show at the only quasi-newsworthy event of the day - a UAW-GM ``teamwork'' news conference featuring all of the General Motors drivers.
``Y'all keep talking about teamwork, but I'm the only driver here looking for a team,'' he said. ``We haven't had the greatest year, but you all know about that.
``I'm going to be honest with you; I'm loving this rain. I'm out of provisionals, and if they start by points, it'll be my greatest qualifying effort here in three years.''
Petty has one saving grace - he has won this year, at Dover in June. The same can't be said for Ken Schrader, who has watched his Hendrick Racing teammates, Terry Labonte and Jeff Gordon, rack up 10 victories while he remains winless since 1991.
Schrader, however, has kept his sense of humor.
``We've run the last three weeks and not used a tow truck or an ambulance to finish the day, so we're looking up,'' he said. ``Jeff's won a lot. Terry's won a lot. And I ain't won nothin.' So I've got a little bit more to learn about it.''
EARNHARDT'S `WONDER BOY:' Some weeks ago, when ordon expressed his distaste for the nickname ``Wonder Boy,'' Dale Earnhardt saw an opportunity.
Now Earnhardt rarely misses a chance to use the nickname, and that included Wednesday's news conference, with Gordon sitting right there to hear it.
``We're chasing Wonder Boy,'' Earnhardt said. ``He don't like that. That's why I call him that.''
Gordon said it doesn't bother him anymore.
``He only calls me that when he's in front of you guys,'' Gordon told reporters. ``He doesn't call me that when we're together. He had fun with it. It doesn't bother me at all. He thinks it does, but it doesn't.''
BENSON TO WINSTON CUP: Chuck Rider, owner of the Pennzoil Pontiac Grand Prix, announced this week that Grand National points leader Johnny Benson will replace Michael Waltrip as his driver in 1996.
Rider said Benson, 32, a native of Grand Rapids, Mich., has signed a three-year contract and will run for Winston Cup rookie of the year next season.
Rider is hoping Benson will drive his car to its first victory.
``The name of the game in this sport is winning,'' Benson said in a statement. ``Hopefully, we will achieve that soon.''
JASPER REORGAN-IZATION: Former Winston Cup driver D.K. Ulrich has sold controlling interest in Jasper Motorsports and its Ford Thunderbird to Doug Bawel, president of Jasper Engines and Transmissions, the team has announced.
Driver Bobby Hillin Jr. also is involved in ownership of the team, as is Mark Harrah of Greensboro, a Jasper distributor.
by CNB