ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 9, 1997 TAG: 9702070015
SECTION: AUTO RACING PAGE: 30 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
The NASCAR Busch Grand National series, conceived to remain east of the Mississippi River, adds four big new events in 1997. And all four are west of the Mississippi.
The stakes and the rewards will be greater this year, with rich new events in Texas, California, Illinois and Nevada.
Randy Lajoie will return to defend his championship, and while David Green and Chad Little have moved up to Winston Cup, a host of challengers and some new faces will try to snatch the title.
Among Lajoie's main challengers will be Steve Park, making his debut in Dale Earnhardt's Chevrolet; Todd Bodine and Mike McLaughlin, teammates with Cicci-Welliver; Jeff Green, driving for Gary Bechtel; Jeff Fuller; Elton Sawyer; Stevie Reeves; and a handful of others.
And the usual contingent of Winston Cup stars will be cherry-picking on the circuit, especially where the Busch series holds companion events with the sport`s major league.
``It's getting tougher and tougher to make the field,'' said Jason Keller, who will drive a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. ``One little slip and you go home. A lot of the Cup drivers are going to run 16, 18 races, and they know how to qualify. So, I see it to be a lot tougher this year.''
Despite the interest in the new NASCAR Craftsman Truck series, the Grand National series seems healthier and more competitive than ever. It was common in 1996 for 10 or more nonqualifiers to depart early, and it should be just as tough this year.
The first big new date for the series is March 16, with a 500-kilometer race planned at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile oval. On April 5, the Grand National drivers will be the first to race on the new 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway track in Roanoke, Texas. On July 26, NASCAR will run the Gateway 300, a 240-lap GN race on the 1.25-mile oval at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., just across the river from St.Louis. And on Oct.19, California Speedway in Fontana will be the site for a 300-mile race on the new two-mile oval.
``I think if we drivers are going to make the step to Winston Cup, you have to hone your skills on the big tracks,'' Keller said. ``Sure, you wreck harder when you wreck at places like that, but when they are paying those kinds of purses, it makes it easier to go to the bank on Monday morning.''
In the NASCAR truck series, Ron Hornaday has returned to defend his championship as the third-year series also visits bigger tracks.
The trucks debut on the 1.5-mile oval at Texas Motor Speedway on June 6, and also are scheduled to race on the two-mile California Speedway track on Oct.18.
But Hornaday already has his work cut out for him after injuring several ribs in a crash during the season-opening race at Walt Disney World in January. Twenty-three trucks went home early after failing to qualify for the 36-truck field in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - a good indicator of the growing popularity of the series.
Jay Sauter has replaced Mike Skinner in Richard Childress' truck and is expected to be one of Hornaday's strongest challengers. Jack Sprague, who snatched second in the championship race from Skinner in the final event of 1996, also is a top contender.
Others to watch include Jimmy Hensley of Horsepasture, Dave Rezendes, Rich Bickle, Mike Bliss and Kenny Irwin Jr., who is driving a truck owned by former NBA star Brad Daugherty, a big racing fan.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Charts by staff: 1. NASCAR Busch GN Series. 2. NASCARby CNBCraftsman Truck series KEYWORDS: MGR