ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602060013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
1 RICK MAST
Age: 38.
Lives: Rockbridge Baths.
Car: Hooters Pontiac Grand Prix.
Owner: Richard Jackson.
Crew chief: Kevin Hamlin.
1996 changes: Team switches from Ford to Pontiac and from Skoal to Hooters.
1995 highlights: Mast slipped from 18th to 21st in points after recording only three top-10 finishes and winning $749,550.
Career highlights: No victories in 185 starts. ... Started racing in 1973. almost $3 million. ... Starting sixth year with Richard Jackson.
Scouting report: Mast is hoping his new Pontiac will let him break into Victory Lane, but he and his team must overcome chronic reliability problems.
2 RUSTY WALLACE
Age: 39.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Miller Racing Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Penske Racing (partnership of Roger Penske, Rusty Wallace and Don Miller).
Crew chief: Robin Pemberton
1996 changes: Car has new paint scheme.
1995 highlights: Won two races (down from eight in 1994) and no poles, finished fifth in Winston Cup points and collected purses totaling $1,642,837.
Career highlights: Has 41 victories in 363 Winston Cup starts, including 10 firsts in 1993. ... 1989 Winston Cup champion and 1988 runner-up, with six victories both years. ... Made Winston Cup debut at Atlanta in 1980, finishing second in a Penske-owned car. ... Came to NASCAR from ASA and USAC racing. ... Winston Cup rookie of the year in 1984, full-time since then. ... Cup earnings exceed $12.75 million.
Scouting report: Wallace had two of Ford's eight victories last year, so he got his share. He should post more victories in 1996 as the team matures under Pemberton's guidance.
3 DALE EARNHARDT
Age: 44.
Lives: Mooresville, N.C.
Car: GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Richard Childress.
Crew chief: David Smith.
1996 changes: Smith replaces Andy Petree as crew chief.
1995 highlights: Earnhardt won five races, including the Brickyard 400, and three poles. He finished second in points and won $3,154,241.
Career highlights: Seven-time Winston Cup champion - 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994. ... Has 68 victories in 511 starts. ... Eleven victories in 1987. ... Total Cup earnings of almost $26 million is tops in U.S. racing. ... First raced in Winston Cup in 1975. ... Full-time since 1979, when he was rookie of the year.
Scouting report: He's hungrier than ever, happy with his new contract and determined to race more aggressively. This may be the year Jeff Gordon really learns about Earnhardt's intimidation.
4 STERLING MARLIN
Age: 38.
Lives: Columbia, Tenn.
Car: Kodak Film Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Morgan-McClure Racing.
Crew chief: Tony Glover.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: In his finest year to date, Marlin won his second consecutive Daytona 500 and two other races, had 19 other top-10 finishes, won one pole, finished third in points and had $2,253,502 in winnings.
Career highlights: Marlin has four victories in 340 races. ... First raced Winston Cup in 1976. ... Rookie of the year in 1983. ... Full-time since 1987.
Scouting report: Considering their steady improvement since 1994, Marlin and his team have to view themselves as top title contender and should deliver another multi-victory year. These guys own the Daytona 500. Three in a row is well within reach.
5 TERRY LABONTE
Age: 39.
Lives: Thomasville, N.C.
Car: Kellogg's Corn Flakes Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Rick Hendrick.
Crew chief: Gary DeHart.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Won three races for the second consecutive year, claimed one pole and finished sixth in points. Winnings totaled $1,558,659.
Career highlights: Won 1984 Winston Cup championship with two victories, six seconds. ... Has 16 victories in 511 starts. ... First raced in Winston Cup in 1979. ... Full-time since 1979. ... First win in 1980. ... Won The Winston in 1988, IROC title in 1989. ... Has won $10.45 million in Cup racing.
Scouting report: This team should be good for several more victories and a top-five finish in points.
6 MARK MARTIN
Age: 37.
Lives: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Car: Valvoline Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Jack Roush.
Crew chief: Steve Hmiel.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Won four races and four poles and had 18 other top-10 finishes. Was fourth in points (top Ford driver) and won $1,893,519.
Career highlights: First ran Winston Cup in 1981, full-time in 1982 before returning to ASA and All-Pro. ... Returned full-time to Winston Cup in 1988 with Roush. ... Has 18 victories in 294 Winston Cup starts, with first victory at Rockingham in October '89. ... Cup earnings of more than $10 million.
Scouting report: With half of Ford's eight victories in 1995, Martin stands as the manufacturer's main man. But unless Ford catches up with Chevy, a title remains a long shot.
7 GEOFF BODINE
Age: 46.
Lives: Julian, N.C.
Car: QVC Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Geoff Bodine.
Crew chief: Paul Andrews.
1996 changes: Bodine loses Exide sponsorship, gains QVC.
1995 highlights: After three victories in Hoosier's 1994 season, Bodine failed to win and had only four top-10 finishes. He was 16th in points and won $1,011,090.
Career highlights: Has 17 victories in 412 starts. ... First ran Winston Cup in 1979. ... Rookie of the year in 1982. ... First victory in 1984. ... Won Daytona 500 in 1986. ... Ran for Rick Hendrick 1984-89. ... Has won $9.4 million in Cup races. ... Was 1987 IROC champion. ... purchased Alan Kulwicki's team after the 1992 Winston Cup champion was killed in a plane crash near Bristol, Tenn., in April 1993.
Scouting report: Bodine had to search until January before landing a sponsor, and this may well affect his team's ability to field a competitive car early. If he has the car, he'll win races.
8 HUT STRICKLIN
Age: 34.
Lives: Calera, Ala.
Car: Stavola Brothers Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Bill and Mickey Stavola.
Crew chief: Phillippe Lopez.
1996 changes: Stricklin replaces Jeff Burton. The team still was without a sponsor in late January.
1995 highlights: Five top-10 finishes in 24 starts and his first pole position, at Rockingham in October. Finished 36th in points and won $486,065.
Career highlights: Runner-up for 1989 rookie of the year. ... Has won $1.58 million on Winston Cup circuit. ... Best finish in 194 races was second at Michigan in 1991. ... The 1986 NASCAR Dash series champion.
Scouting report: With no sponsor well into 1996 and Stricklin new behind the wheel, this team faces a fight for survival in 1996.
9 LAKE SPEED
Age: 48.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Spam Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Harry Melling.
Crew chief: Jim Long
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Speed made every race in 1995, but had only two top-10 finishes. He was 23rd in points and won $529,435.
Career highlights: Won the 1988 TranSouth 500 at Darlington, his only victory in 330 Winston Cup starts. ... Started in go-karts and was the 1978 world karting champion. ... First Cup start was in 1980. ... Finished second in the 1985 Daytona 500. ... Cup earnings of more than $3.3 million.
Scouting report: Speed doesn't have to do too much to improve on 1995. He should do it, but don't expect much more from this team.
10 RICKY RUDD
Age: 39.
Lives: Lake Norman, N.C., and Chesapeake.
Car: Tide Ford Thunderbird.
Owners: Ricky and Linda Rudd.
Crew chief: Richard Broome.
1996 changes: Broome replaces Bill Ingle.
1995 highlights: Won one race, had 15 other top-10 finishes and finished ninth in Winston Cup points. Had winnings of $1,337,703.
Career highlights: Has 16 victories in 531 starts. ... Total Cup earnings of more than $10 million. ... Considered a road-course master, with a third of his victories there. ... Made his Winston Cup debut in 1975. ...
Rookie of the year in 1977. ... Full-time since 1981. ... First victory was in 1983. ... Has won at least one race a year since then. ... Crashed spectacularly in the 1984 Busch Clash, then won two weeks later at Richmond.
Scouting report: Rudd lost key people, filed a lawsuit over it and spent a good bit of the off-season distracted or regrouping. He'll be doing well to get his annual victory, at least early.
11 BRETT BODINE
Age: 37.
Lives: Harrisburg, N.C.
Car: Lowe's Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Brett Bodine.
Crew chief: Donnie Richeson.
1996 changes: Bodine buys the team from Junior Johnson, moves it to Mooresville.
1995 highlights: Finished 20th in points, with two top-10 finishes, in Junior Johnson's final year as a car owner. Won $893,029.
Career highlights: Has one victory in 251 Winston Cup starts. ... Started racing in 1977. ... Drove modifieds in the Northeast from 1977 through 1986. Cup races.
Scouting report: This team has suffered from a lack of direction, but that should change now that Bodine owns it. But he's got a long uphill road. A victory in 1996 would be a surprise.
12 DERRIKE COPE
Age: 37.
Lives: Huntersville, N.C.
Car: Straight Arrow Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Bobby Allison.
Crew chief: Jimmy Fennig.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Cope had a decent 15th-place finish in points in his first full season with Allison, including eight top-10s (second at Phoenix) and $683,075 in winnings.
Career highlights: Has two victories in 248 starts. ... Won the 1990 Daytona 500 and another race at Dover in his first full year on the Winston Cup circuit. ... Cup earnings of more than $3 million. ... Was a catcher in professional baseball, but turned to racing after a knee injury.
Scouting report: Had a nice 1995, but can he improve on it? He'll need to if he wants to keep the ride. Fennig is Allison's secret weapon.
16 TED MUSGRAVE
Age: 40.
Lives: Troutman, N.C.
Car: The Family Channel Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Jack Roush.
Crew chief: Howard Comstock.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: One pole and 13 top-10s to finish a career-best seventh in points, with $1,147,445.
Career highlights: Came to NASCAR from ASA. ... Father raced in USAC series in the 1950s and 1960s. ... Started racing in 1973. ... Raced outlaw stocks from 1983-86, with top-five finishes in 97 percent of his races. ... The 1987 ASA Rookie of the year. ... First Winston Cup race was in 1990. ... No victories in 153 starts. ... Winston Cup earnings of more than $2.9 million.
Scouting report: Quiet, steady progress has marked Musgrave's career since he joined Roush in 1994. This year, it's time to win. He should do it.
17 DARRELL WALTRIP
Age: 49.
Lives: Franklin, Tenn.
Car: Western Auto Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Darrell Waltrip.
Crew chief: Pete Peterson.
1996 changes: Car has new paint scheme.
1995 highlights: One pole and eight top-10 finishes with $850,632 in winnings and a 19th-place finish in points.
Career highlights: Eighty-four victories in 658 starts. ... Tied for third on the all-time victory list with Bobby Allison. ... Winston Cup champion in 1981, 1982 and 1985. ... Twelve victories each in 1981 and 1982. ... The 1989 Daytona 500 winner. ... Winston Cup earnings of more than $14.4 million.
Scouting report: Waltrip is rarin' to go after successful leg surgery and no longer talks about retirement, but there's still time to gracefully bow out. If 1996 is like 1995, 1997 may be his finale.
18 BOBBY LABONTE
Age: 31.
Lives: Trinity, N.C.
Car: Interstate Battery Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Joe Gibbs.
Crew Chief: Jimmy Makar.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Labonte's finest season to date, with three victories - including his first - and two poles. Had 10 other top-10 finishes, was 10th in points and won $1,413,682.
Career highlights: Began racing quarter midgets in 1969 at age 5. ... Started racing karts in 1978. ... Competed in his first Grand National race in 1982 and won $150. ... Became a regular in 1990. ... Won the Grand National title in 1991. ... Seven GN victories. ... Three victories in 94 Cup starts. Winston Cup earnings of more than $2.3 million.
Scouting report: Labonte's success was one of the surprises of 1995. It will be tough for him to duplicate it in 1996, but he should get at least two victories.
19 LOY ALLEN JR.
Age: 29.
Lives: Raleigh, N.C.
Car: Healthsource Ford Thunderbird.
Owners:Mark Smith.
Crew chief: Jeff Hammond.
1996 changes: Hammond joins as crew chief.
1995 highlights:One top-10 finish in 11 starts, good for 41st in points. Won $281,945.
Career highlights: Winner of the 1994 Daytona 500 pole - the first rookie to do so. ... No victories in 35 Cup starts. ... Cup earnings of more than $400,000. ... Won the 1992 ARCA race at Talladega. ... Has one victory in 15 ARCA starts. ... Started in karting in 1980. ... Raced National Dirt Racers Association late models and wedge cars for six years, winning 53 races.
Scouting report: A reasonable goal for this team in 1996 would be to make all the races, but even that may be a long shot.
21 MICHAEL WALTRIP
Age: 32.
Lives: Lake Norman, N.C.
Car: Citgo Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Glen Wood.
Crew chiefs: Eddie and Len Wood
1996 changes: Waltrip replaces Morgan Shepherd.
1995 highlights: Eight top-10 finishes and 12th in points driving the Pennzoil Pontiac. Earned $898,338.
Career highlights: Still looking for a victory after 299 starts. ... Has won more than $4 million in Winston Cup events. ... First raced Winston Cup in 1985. ... Full-time since 1986. ... Runner-up for 1986 rookie of the year.
Scouting report: Waltrip and the Woods need a lift. Can they give it to each other? Stranger things have happened.
22 WARD BURTON
Age: 34.
Lives: South Boston.
Car: MBNA Pontiac Grand Prix.
Owner: Bill Davis.
Crew chief: Chris Hussey.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Eight races after joining Davis last year, Burton recorded his first victory, at Rockingham in October. He had six top-10 finishes in 29 events to finish 22nd in points and win $634,655.
Career highlights: Older brother of Jeff Burton. ... Graduated to Grand National series in 1990 after checkered career in weekly Winston Racing Series at Virginia and N.C. short tracks. ... Has four GN victories and one victory in 55 Cup starts. ... Cup winnings of almost $1 million.
Scouting report: This team builds good equipment and Burton proved he can drive. If the new Grand Prix is good, he'll be back in Victory Lane.
23 JIMMY SPENCER
Age: 38.
Lives: Mooresville, N.C.
Car: Smokin' Joe's Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Travis Carter.
Crew chief: Donnie Wingo.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Four top-10 finishes in 29 starts. Twenty-sixth in points, with winnings of $507,210.
Career highlights: Has two victories in 172 starts. ... Won at Daytona and Talladega in July 1994. ... Has won almost $3 million in Winston Cup. ... Two-time NASCAR national modified champ (1986-87). ... Won two Grand
National races in 1992.
Scouting report: Spencer may be competitive at the superspeedways, but probably nowhere else.
24 JEFF GORDON
Age: 24.
Lives: Huntersville, N.C.
Car: DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Rick Hendrick.
Crew Chief: Ray Evernham.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Winston Cup champion, with seven victories, 16 other top-10 finishes and eight poles. Winnings of $4,347,343.
Career highlights: At 24, Gordon reached the top of NASCAR racing with his first championship. ... He already has nine victories in 93 starts. ... Before joining the Winston Cup series, he had more than 600 victories in 15 seasons of racing. ... Won the 1990 USAC midget championship at 19. ... Won the 1991 USAC Silver Crown championship. ... Was 1991 Grand National rookie of the year. ... Has three GN victories.
Scouting report: Two things that could keep Gordon from winning the title again: A relentless Earnhardt and a distracted Evernham, who has more Hendrick Motorsports responsibilities than he did last year.
25 KEN SCHRADER
Age: 40.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Kodiak Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Rick Hendrick.
Crew chief: Phil Hammer.
1996 changes: Hammer replaces Ken Howes as crew chief.
1995 highlights: No victories, but 10 top-10 finishes and $886,566 in winnings. Finished 17th in points.
Career highlights: Has four victories in 328 starts. ... Total winnings of more than $7.6 million. ... Started racing in 1971. ... The 1983 USAC national sprint car champ. ... Ran his first Winston Cup race in 1984. ... Rookie of the year in 1985. ... Won his first Winston Cup race at Talladega in 1988. ... Won the Daytona 500 pole in 1988, 1989, 1990.
Scouting report: Schrader is the pet reclamation project at Hendrick Motorsports in 1996. If he doesn't win this year, he probably won't win again.
27 ELTON SAWYER
Age: 36.
Lives: Greensboro, N.C.
Car: Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: David Blair.
Crew chief: Mike Hill.
1996 changes: Blair takes over as owner.
1995 highlights: Best finish in 20 starts was 14th place. Finished 38th in points and won $416,490.
Career highlights: Made his Winston Cup debut by qualifying ninth at Martinsville in April 1995. ... Began racing as a senior in high school at Langley Speedway near his hometown of Chesapeake. ... Won 82 features at Langley. ... Recorded his first Grand National victory at Myrtle Beach in 1994.
Scouting report: The big problem here is the lack of a sponsor. No Winston Cup team can do much without one.
28 ERNIE IRVAN
Age: 37.
Lives: Rockwell, N.C.
Car: Texaco Havoline Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Robert Yates.
Crew chief: Larry McReynolds.
1996 changes: Irvan, back from near-fatal injuries, takes over from Dale Jarrett.
1995 highlights: For Irvan, simply being able to return was the highlight of 1995. He raced three times, led some laps had two top-10 finishes to prove he still could do it.
Career highlights: Won 1991 Daytona 500 and finished fifth in Winston Cup points that year. ... Began racing in 1974. ... Ran his first Winston Cup race in 1987. ... Joined Morgan-McClure team, replacing Phil Parsons, in early 1990. ... First victory was at Bristol in August 1990. ... Runner-up for 1988 rookie of the year. ... Has 12 victories in 199 starts. ... Total Cup earnings of $5.6 million.
Scouting report: He's baaaaack! And he appears to be ready to win again.
29 STEVE GRISSOM
Age: 32.
Lives: Liberty, N.C.
Car: Cartoon Network Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Gary Bechtel.
Crew chief: Bill Ingle.
1996 changes: New crew chief and sponsor.
1995 highlights: Four top-10 finishes in 29 starts, good for 27th place in points and $511,647 in winnings.
Career highlights: The 1994 Winston Cup rookie of the year. ... No victories in 59 Cup starts. ... Began racing in 1979 at Talladega Short Track. The 1993 Grand National champion. ... Full-time Grand National driver from 1988-92, with eight victories. ...
Scouting report: Lots of changes here, but Ingle is a solid crew chief who should help Grissom move closer to a victory.
30 JOHNNY BENSON JR.
Age: 32.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Pennzoil Pontiac Grand Prix.
Owners: Chuck Rider and Lowrance Harry.
Crew chief: Doug Hewitt.
1996 changes: Benson replaces Michael Waltrip.
1995 highlights: The 1995 Busch Grand National champion, winning two races and recording 19 top-10 finishes.
Career highlights: Has yet to make his first Winston Cup start. ... Former ASA champion. ... Grand National rookie of the year in 1994. ... First GN victory was at Dover in '94. ... Began his GN career with four starts in 1993.
Scouting report: Benson is a hot prospect, but he must pay his dues just like anyone else. This will be a building year for this team.
33 ROBERT PRESSLEY
Age: 36.
Lives: Asheville, N.C.
Car: Skoal Bandit Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Leo Jackson.
Crew chief: Andy Petree.
1996 changes: Petree returns as crew chief.
1995 highlights: One top-10 finish in 31 starts. Finished 29th in points and won $698,425.
Career highlights: Has 34 Cup starts. ... Has 10 Grand National victories. County Speedway. ... Graduate of the Winston Racing Series. ... First
Grand National start was at Charlotte in 1984.
Scouting report: The learning curve was steep for Pressley in his rookie year. He needs more top-10 finishes this year and should get them.
37 JOHN ANDRETTI
Age: 32.
Lives: Indianapolis, Ind.
Car Kmart Little Caesars Ford Thunderbird.
Owners: Michael Kranefuss and Carl Haas.
Crew chief: Tim Brewer.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Won the pole for the Southern 500 and had five top-10 finishes. He was 18th in points and won $593,542.
Career highlights: One pole in 64 starts. ... As a son of Mario Andretti's twin brother, Aldo, he started racing at age 9. ... Drove USAC midgets, sprints and Silver Crown from 1983-85. ... Won the IMSA GTP Watkins Glen race in 1986. ... Won the Australia Indy-car race and finished fifth in the Indy 500 in 1991. ... Made his first Cup start at North Wilkesboro in 1993. ... First to drive in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, doing it in 1994.
Scouting report: There was tension on this team last year because of the relative lack of success. So far, Andretti's move from Richard Petty's car to this one hasn't paid off as well as expected.
41 RICKY CRAVEN
Age: 29.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Kodiak Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Larry Hedrick.
Crew chief: Pending.
1996 changes: Waddell Wilson resigned as team manager in January.
1995 highlights: The Winston Cup rookie of the year, with four top-10s after making all 31 races. Finished 24th in points and won $597,054.
Career highlights: Graduate of the New England stock car ranks. ... The 1991 Busch Grand National North champ. ... The 1992 Busch Grand National rookie of the year. ... Finished second in the 1993 and 1994 GN title chases.
Scouting report: The sudden loss of Wilson in January is a major blow to this still-learning team. Don't expect much progress.
42 KYLE PETTY
Age: 35.
Lives: High Point, N.C.
Car: Coors Light Pontiac Grand Prix.
Owner: Felix Sabates.
Crew chief: Billy Woodruff.
1996 changes: New crew chief, personnel.
1995 highlights: One unlikely but hard-fought victory at Dover and four other top-10 finishes in 30 events (he missed one), good for 30th in points. Won $698,875.
Career highlights: Has eight victories in 441 starts. ... Total earnings of more than $7.1 million. ... Made his Winston Cup debut in 1979. ... Full-time since 1981. ... With his first victory in 1986, became the first third-generation driver to win a Winston Cup race.
Scouting report: This will be the year we find out whether money buys happiness and success in the Winston Cup series. Sabates bought the help and Petty can drive, but will it come together?
43 BOBBY HAMILTON
Age: 38.
Lives: Nashville, Tenn.
Car: STP Pontiac Grand Prix.
Owner: Richard Petty.
Crew chief: Robbie Loomis.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Ten top-10 finishes and 14th in points - his best season ever. Winnings of $804,505.
Career highlights: Still looking for his first victory after 137 starts. Winston Cup race in Phoenix in 1989 before dropping out. ... Started
racing GN cars in 1988 and won at Richmond in the fall. ... The 1991 Winston Cup rookie of the year.
Scouting report: This team is coming on. If the new Pontiac is a decent race car, Hamilton should win his first race in 1996.
71 DAVE MARCIS
Age: 54.
Lives: Avery's Creek, N.C.
Car: Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Dave Marcis.
Crew chief: Terry Shirley..
1996 changes: None. Looking once again for sponsorship.
1995 highlights: Although he had no top-10 finishes, Marcis made 28 of 31 races, finished 35th in points and won $337,853.
Career highlights: Has five victories in 788 starts. ... Started in Winston Cup racing in 1968 (then called Grand National) with his own car. ... Has driven for many owners, including Roger Penske, but mostly fielded his own cars. ... Finished second in points in 1975 and won three races in 1976.
Scouting report: Marcis keeps hanging on with help from Richard Childress, but it's been years since he should have hung it up.
75 MORGAN SHEPHERD
Age: 54.
Lives: Conover, N.C.
Car: Remington Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Butch Mock.
Crew chief: Troy Selberg.
1996 changes: Shepherd replaces Todd Bodine.
1995 highlights: Finished 11th in Winston Cup points driving the Wood Brothers Ford, with 10 top-10 finishes and winnings of $966,374.
Career highlights: Has four victories in 414 starts. ... Ran his first Winston Cup race in 1970... A Winston Cup regular since 1981; had his first victory that year. ... Drove for five teams in 1986. ... Total earnings of more than $6.5 million.
Scouting report: Shepherd hasn't won since 1993, and his prospects appear dim with an often-underfinanced team.
77 BOBBY HILLIN JR.
Age: 31.
Lives: Charlotte, N.C.
Car: USAir/Jasper Engines Ford Thunderbird.
Owners: Doug Bawel, Mark Wallace, Mark Harrah and Hillin.
Crew chief: Paul Wise.
1996 changes: D.K Ulrich no longer car owner.
1995 highlights: In 24 starts, Hillin had five top-10 finishes and was 37th in points. He earned $244,270.
Career highlights: Has one victory in 297 starts. ... Total earnings of almost $3 million. ... Was the youngest driver to win a superspeedway race when he took the 1986 Talladega 500. ... Made his Winston Cup debut as 17-year-old high school student in 1982. ... Started racing in 1977. ... Has two Grand National victories.
Scouting report: There's nothing to suggest Hillin will do any better than he already has in the Winston Cup series.
81 KENNY WALLACE
Age: 32.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: TIC Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Filbert Martocci.
Crew chief: Gil Martin.
1996 changes: None.
1995 highlights: Best finish in 11 starts was 18th. Was 42nd in points, with $151,700 in winnings. Won the Richmond GN race in the spring.
Career highlights: Best finish in 59 starts is fourth at Martinsville in 1994. ... Cup earnings of almost $800,000. ... Brother of Mike and Rusty. ... Started racing in go-karts and moved up to ASA. ... The 1986 ASA rookie of the year. ... The 1989 Busch Grand National rookie of the year. ... Runner-up for the GN title in 1991.
Scouting report: This team keeps clawing away, but with a best finish of 18th in 1995, there's plenty of room for improvement.
87 JOE NEMECHEK
Age: 32.
Lives: Mooresville, N.C.
Car: Burger King Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Joe Nemechek.
Crew chief: Jeff Buice.
1996 changes: New crew chief.
1995 highlights: Four top-10 finishes in 29 starts to finish 28th in points and win $428,925.
Career highlights: Best finish in 63 starts is third. ... Cup earnings of almost $900,000. ... The 1992 Busch Grand National champion. ... Has two GN victories. ... Earned four consecutive rookie of the year awards 1987-1991 in different series, culminating with the GN. ... Began racing at age 13 in motocross. ... Started stock car racing in 1986.
Scouting report: Stubbornly going at it on his own as a relative newcomer, Nemechek began qualifying well late in 1995 and seems capable of stepping it up in '96.
88 DALE JARRETT
Age: 39.
Lives: Hickory, N.C.
Car: Ford Quality Care Thunderbird.
Owner: Robert Yates.
Crew chief: Todd Parrott.
1996 changes: New team.
1995 highlights: As Ernie Irvan's replacement driver, Jarrett struggled, but won a race, had 13 other top-10s, was 13th in points and won $1,363,158.
Career highlights: Has four victories in 259 starts. ... Started racing in 1979. ... First raced in Winston Cup in 1986. ... A regular since 1987. ... Cup earnings of almost $5 million. ... Beat Davey Allison by eight inches to earn his first victory, at Michigan in 1991.
Scouting report: He's got his own Yates car now and a top-notch crew. It's time to shine.
90 MIKE WALLACE
Age: 36.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Heilig-Meyers Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Junie Donlavey.
Crew chief: Bob Johnson.
1996 changes: New crew chief.
1995 highlights: One top-10 finish in 26 starts to finish 34th in points, with $420,006.
Career highlights: Best finish is a fifth place in 57 Cup starts....Has won about $750,000....Brother of Rusty and Kenny....Started racing at age 16....Won more than 300 Midwest short-track races during the 1970s and '80s....won the 1994 Daytoona ARCA 200.
Scouting report: This team's first goal will be to make more races. It's a long road.<
LENGTH: Long : 657 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff Rick Mast (1) finds himself in theby CNBmiddle of a Martinsville Speedway tangle involving Morgan Shepherd
(21), Terry Labonte (next to Shepherd's car), Dale Earnhardt (3) and
Sterling Marlin (4) during the 1995 Winston Cup season. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING