ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 9, 1997 TAG: 9702070084
SECTION: AUTO RACING PAGE: 26 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER
MEMO: NOTE: Please see microfilm for rest of text
No.1 Morgan Shepherd
Age: 55.
Lives: Conover, N.C.
Car: Delco-Remy Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Richard Jackson.
Crew chief: TBA.
New for 1997: Shepherd replaces Rick Mast as driver.
1996 highlights: Shepherd finished 19th in Winston Cup points driving Butch Mock's Ford, with five top-10 finishes and winnings of $719,059.
Career highlights: Has four victories in 444 starts. ... Ran first Winston Cup race in 1970 and has been a regular since 1981, when he posted his first victory. ... Career earnings exceed $7.4 million.
Scouting report: Delco-Remy is a one-race sponsorship, so far. Shepherd hasn't won since 1993 and this team, winless since 1988, is struggling to survive.
No.2 Rusty Wallace
Age: 40.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Miller Racing Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Penske Racing (Roger Penske, Rusty Wallace, Don Miller)
New for 1997: None.
Crew chief: Robin Pemberton.
1996 highlights: Won five races (up from two in 1994), but no poles, finished seventh in Winston Cup points and collected purses totaling $1.66 million. Also won the inaugural exhibition race in Japan.
Career highlights: Has 46 victories in 394 Winston Cup starts, including 10 wins in 1993. ... The 1989 Winston Cup champion and 1988 runner-up, with six victories both years. ... Winston Cup's rookie of the year in 1984 and has driven full-time since then. ... Winston Cup earnings exceed $14.4 million.
Scouting report: Wallace always gets his share of victories, and this year should be no different. His challenge is to be something better than awful at Daytona and Talladega.
No.3 Dale Earnhardt
Age: 45.
Lives: Mooresville, N.C.
Car: GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Richard Childress.
Crew chief: Larry McReynolds.
New for 1997: McReynolds replaces David Smith as crew chief.
1996 highlights: Earnhardt won two races, as well as two poles, including the Daytona 500 pole, and finished fourth in points despite breaking his sternum and a shoulder in a wreck at Talladega in July. Won $2.3 million.
Career highlights: A seven-time Winston Cup champion, he has 70 victories in 542 starts. ... Eleven wins in 1987. ... Total earnings of more than $28.2 million are tops on any U.S. racing circuit. ... Made his Winston Cup debut in 1975 and has run full-time since 1979, when he was rookie of the year.
Scouting report: Will the congenial, sensitive McReynolds get along with ``Ironhead?'' That's the $64,000 question. If they do, Earnhardt will be in contention for an eighth title.
No.4 Sterling Marlin
Age: 39.
Lives: Columbia, Tenn.
Car: Kodak Film Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Morgan-McClure Racing.
Crew chief: Tim Brewer.
New for 1997: Brewer replaces Tony Glover.
1996 highlights: Marlin won two races - the Pepsi 400 and the Winston Select 500, had eight other top-10 finishes, and was eighth in points. Won $1.6 million.
Career highlights: Marlin has six victories in 371 races. ... First raced Winston Cup in 1976, was rookie of the year in 1983 and has been a full-timer since 1987. ... Won back-to-back Daytona 500s in '94 and '95. ... Has more than $8.9 million in Winston Cup earnings.
Scouting report: Losing Tony Glover probably won't hurt this team at Daytona and Talladega, where engine-builder Runt Pittman reigns supreme. But will Brewer mesh with Marlin and the rest of the team?
No.5 Terry Labonte
Age: 40.
Lives: Thomasville, N.C.
Car: Kellogg's Corn Flakes Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Rick Hendrick.
Crew chief: Gary DeHart.
New for 1997: None.
1996 highlights: Won the Winston Cup championship, with two victories and 22 other top-10 finishes, including seven seconds. Also won four poles. Winnings totaled $4 million.
Career highlights: Also won the 1984 Winston Cup championship, with two victories and six seconds. ... Has 18 victories in 542 starts. ... First Winston Cup race was in 1979, full-time since 1979. ... Has won more than $14.4 million in Winston Cup.
Scouting report: Labonte may not win often, but he almost never crashes and almost always finishes. That's why no one is in a better position than he is to win the 1997 title.
No.6 Mark Martin
Age: 38.
Lives: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Car: Valvoline Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Jack Roush.
Crew chief: Jimmy Fennig.
New for 1997: Fennig becomes crew chief; Steve Hmiel becomes team manager.
1996 highlights: Failed to win a race for the first time since 1989, but had four poles, 23 top-10s and finished fifth in points. He won $1.89 million.
Career highlights: First ran Winston Cup in 1981, full-time in 1982, before returning to ASA and All-Pro series. ... Returned to Winston Cup full-time in 1988 with Roush. ... Has 18 victories in 325 Winston Cup starts. ... Total career earnings of more than $11.8 million.
Scouting report: No one in the Winston Cup series is hungrier for a victory and more piqued, at least privately, that he hasn't won recently. All the ingredients are there. He should begin winning again soon.
No.7 Geoff Bodine
Age: 47.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: QVC Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Geoff Bodine.
Crew chief: Pat Tryson.
New for 1997: Tryson replaces Paul Andrews as crew chief.
1996 highlights: Had one victory - the Bud at The Glen - but only five other top-10s to finish 17th in points. Lowest-ranking millionaire in the series, with winnings of $1,031,762.
Career highlights: Has 18 victories in 443 starts. ... First ran Winston Cup in 1979 and was rookie of the year three years later. ... First victory came in 1984, and won the Daytona 500 in 1986. ... Has won more than $10.4 million in his Cup career. ... Was the 1987 IROC champion. ... Purchased Alan Kulwicki's team after the 1992 Cup champion died in a plane crash in April 1993.
Scouting report: Promises of a better season in 1997 seem to ring true here, because Bodine has freed himself from managing the business of team ownership by hiring Lee Morse, the capable ex-motorsports guru at Ford.
No.8 Hut Stricklin
Age: 35.
Lives: Calera, Ala.
Car: Stavola Brothers Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Bill and Mickey Stavola.
Crew chief: Phillippe Lopez.
New for 1997: None.
1996 highlights: One top-10 finish in 31 starts - his startling second-place finish in the Southern 500. Was 22nd in points and won $631,055.
Career highlights: Runner-up for 1989 rookie of the year. ... Has won more than $3 million on the Winston Cup circuit. ... Best finish in 225 races was second at Michigan in 1991 and Darlington in 1996.
Scouting report: Stricklin made all the races in 1996 and ran with the best at Darlington, but there are nagging doubts about whether this team can rise above mediocrity. The Stavola Brothers have not won since Bobby Allison drove for them in 1988.
No.9 Lake Speed
Age: 49.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Melling Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Harry Melling.
Crew chief: Jeff Buice.
New for 1997: Begins season without a sponsor.
1996 highlights: As in 1995, Speed made every race, but he had only two top-10 finishes in '96 and finished 23rd in points. He won $817,175.
Career highlights: Won the 1988 TranSouth 500 at Darlington, his only victory in 361 Winston Cup starts. ... Finished second in 1985 Daytona 500.
Scouting report: With two stable but unimpressive seasons under his belt, Speed enters 1997 facing uncertainty. His University of Nebraska sponsorship deal fell through. Even if he finds another sponsor, Speed will be fortunate to make all 31 races.
No.10 Ricky Rudd
Age: 40.
Lives: Lake Norman, N.C.
Car: Tide Ford Thunderbird.
Owners: Ricky and Linda Rudd.
Crew chief: Jim Long.
New for 1997: Long replaces Richard Broome.
1996 highlights: Won one race, had 15 other top-10 finishes and finished sixth in Winston Cup points. Had winnings of $1,503,025.
Career highlights: Has 17 victories in 562 starts. ... Total Cup career winnings of more than $11.5 million. ... Considered a road-course master, with a third of his victories coming on road courses. ... Made his Winston Cup debut in 1975 and was rookie of the year in 1977. ... Full-time on the circuit since 1981. ... First victory came in 1983, and he's won at least one race a year since then.
Scouting report: Rudd gets his victory every year, and 1997 should be no different. He may not have what it takes to contend for the title, but look for another consistent year and another strong finish in the points standings.
No.11 Brett Bodine
Age: 38.
Lives: Davidson, N.C.
Car: Close Call Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Brett Bodine.
Crew chief: Donnie Richeson.
New for 1997: Close Call replaces Lowe's as sponsor.
1996 highlights: Finished 24th in points, with one top-10 finish in 30 starts. Won $767,716.
Career highlights: Has one victory in 281 Winston Cup starts. ... Started racing in 1977, driving Modifieds in the Northeast from 1977 through 1986. ... Joined his brother, Geoff, on the Winston Cup circuit with his debut at the World 600 in 1986. ... A full-time Winston Cup driver since 1988. ... Has won more than $5 million in Cup racing.
Scouting report: With only that 1990 victory under his belt, and not even a top-five finish in two years, Bodine has folks wondering if he has what it takes to win on the track. He's a great sponsor rep, though.
No.16 Ted Musgrave
Age: 41.
Lives: Troutman, N.C.
Car: The Family Channel Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Jack Roush.
Crew chief: James Ince.
New for 1997: None since the late-1996 crew chief change.
1996 highlights: One pole and seven top-10s to finish 16th in points, with $961,512 in winnings.
Career highlights:Started racing in 1973. ... Raced Outlaw stocks from 1983-86, with top-five finishes in 97 percent of races run. ... The 1987 ASA rookie of the year. ... First Winston Cup race was in 1990, but has no victories in 184 starts. ... Career winnings of more than $3.8 million.
Scouting report: Musgrave slipped in 1996 and still hasn't won after three years with Roush. You have to think things will improve in 1997 or heads will roll.
No.17 Darrell Waltrip
Age: 50.
Lives: Franklin, Tenn.
Car: Western Auto Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Darrell Waltrip.
Crew chief: Jeff Hammond.
New for 1997: Silver anniversary cars.
1996 highlights: Waltrip is coming off his worst season ever. He was 29th in points and won $740,185, which was less than he made in 1982.
Career highlights: Eighty-four victories in 689 starts. ... Tied for third on the all-time victories list with Bobby Allison. ... Winston Cup champion in 1981, 1982 and 1985, with 12 victories each in 1981 and 1982. ... The 1989 Daytona 500 winner. ... Career earnings of more than $15.1 million.
Scouting report: Here's to ol' DW in his silver anniversary year. Godspeed, and let's pray he makes it through in one piece. Darrell, you had a great career. You've done all the winning you're going to do, and we love you. The broadcast booth beckons, and once this season is over, it's time to retire.
No.18 Bobby Labonte
Age: 32.
Lives: Trinity, N.C.
Car: Interstate Batteries Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Joe Gibbs.
Crew chief: Jimmy Makar.
New for 1997: None.
1996 highlights: A victory at the season-ending Atlanta race, as well as four late-season poles and 13 other top-10s. Finished 11th in points and won $1,475,196.
Career highlights: Competed in his first Grand National race in 1982 and won $150. ... Became a regular in 1990. ... Won the Grand National title in 1991 and has seven GN victories to go with four victories in 125 Cup starts. Career winnings top $3.8 million.
Scouting report: How about a brother-to-brother battle for the championship? With a little more consistency from this team, it could be the year.
No.19 Loy Allen Jr.
Age: 30.
Lives: Raleigh, N.C.
Car: Tri-Star Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Mark Smith.
Crew chief: Peter Sospenzo.
New for 1997: Sospenzo takes over as crew chief.
1996 highlights: Injuries at Rockingham in February short-circuited Allen's season. Nine starts, zero top-10s, 45th in points and $130,667 in winnings.
Career highlights: Winner of the 1994 Daytona 500 pole as a rookie. ... No victories in 44 Winston Cup starts. ... Career winnings of more than $560,000.
Scouting report: The question here is whether Allen can come back from two bad crashes in 1996 to consistently clear the biggest hurdle - qualifying.
No.21 Michael Waltrip
Age: 33.
Lives: Sherrills Ford, N.C.
Car: Citgo Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Glen Wood.
Crew chiefs: Eddie and Len Wood
New for 1997: None.
1996 highlights: A victory in The Winston Select and 11 top-10s to finish 14th in points. Won $1,182,811.
Career highlights: Waltrip's Winston Select victory was a NASCAR ``major,'' but in the official stats, he's still looking for his first victory after 330 starts. ... Has won more than $5.3 million in his Cup career. ... First raced Winston Cup in 1985 and has been full-time since 1986.
Scouting report: Waltrip and the Wood brothers improved from 1995 to 1996, even while slipping slightly in points (12th to 14th).
No.22 Ward Burton
Age: 35.
Lives: South Boston, Va.
Car: MBNA Pontiac Grand Prix.
Owner: Bill Davis.
Crew chief: Chris Hussey.
New for 1997: None.
1996 highlights: After a victory in late 1995, Burton failed to make four events in 1996, earning four top-10s in 27 starts. He won the pole at Darlington in April. He finished 33rd in points and won $873,619.
Career highlights: Older brother of Jeff Burton. ... Graduated to Grand National series in 1990 after a career in the weekly Winston Racing Series at Virginia and North Carolina short tracks. ... Cup winnings of more than $1.8 million.
Scouting report: Davis has shown he can build a car and direct a team, and Burton has shown he can win, so the big slump here is puzzling. It may take time for Burton to get rolling after sinus surgery in January.
No.23 Jimmy Spencer
Age: 40.
Lives: Huntersville, N.C.
Car: Smokin' Joe's Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Travis Carter.
Crew chief: Donnie Wingo.
New for 1997: None.
1996 highlights: Nine top-10 finishes. Only five other drivers completed more miles. Was 15th in points and won nearly $1.1 million.
Career highlights: Has two victories in 203 starts: at Daytona and Talladega in July 1994. ... Has won more than $3.5 million in Winston Cup racing. ... Two-time NASCAR national modified champ (1986-87).
Scouting report: Despite a memorable televised temper tantrum at Dover, Spencer showed unprecedented consistency and maturity in 1996. If he stays on this track, he can improve more in 1997.
No.24 Jeff Gordon
Age: 25.
Lives: Davidson, N.C.
Car: DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Rick Hendrick.
Crew chief: Ray Evernham.
New for 1997: None.
1996 highlights: Won nearly one-third of the races, with 10 victories in 31 starts. Also won five poles, finished second in the Winston Cup championship, had 24 top-10 finishes and won $3,428,485.
Career highlights: At 24, Gordon reached the top of NASCAR racing with his first championship in 1995. ... Already has 19 victories in 124 starts. ... Before joining Winston Cup, won more than 600 events in 15 seasons of racing, dating to his childhood. ... Won the 1990 USAC midget championship at 19. ... Won the 1991 USAC Silver Crown championship and also was 1991 Grand National rookie of the year. ... Has three GN victories.
Scouting report: Even Gordon may not be a match for teammate Terry Labonte's relentless consistency, but he will contend for the title. Have no doubt about that. Barring injury, he certainly will be a force.
No.25 Ricky Craven
Age: 30.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Joe Hendrick.
Crew chief: Phil Hammer.
New for 1997: Craven replaces Ken Schrader.
1996 highlights: After a fast start, had five top-10 finishes in 31 races driving the Larry Hedrick-owned Kodiak Chevrolet. Won two poles, finished 20th in points and earned $941,959.
Career highlights: Graduate of the New England stock car ranks. ... Was 1991 Busch Grand National North champ and the 1992 Busch Grand National rookie of the year. ... The 1995 Winston Cup rookie of the year, with four top-10s after making all 31 races. ... Career winnings of more than $1.5 million.
Scouting report: Craven is a focused and determined young man who was shining in Hedrick's car until his big Talladega crash. He may be the medicine this team needs. Three Hendrick cars in the top five? It could happen.
No.28 Ernie Irvan
Age: 38.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Texaco Havoline Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Robert Yates.
Crew chief: Marc Reno.
New for 1997: Marc Reno replaces Larry McReynolds as crew chief.
1996 highlights: Two victories, 16 top-10 finishes and a pole. Finished 10th in points and won $1,683,313.
Career highlights: Won the 1991 Daytona 500 and finished fifth in points that year. ... Began racing in 1974 and ran his first Winston Cup race in 1987. ... Joined the Morgan-McClure team, replacing Phil Parsons, in early 1990. ... First victory was at Bristol in August 1990. ... Runner-up for rookie of the year in 1988. ... Has 14 victories in 230 starts. ... Total Cup winnings of more than $7.3 million.
Scouting report: Irvan had a few too many crashes late in the 1996 season. If he can curb that tendency, and things work out with Reno, he could be a contender.
No.29 Robert Pressley
Age: 37.
Lives: Asheville, N.C.
Car: Cartoon Network Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Gary Bechtel.
Crew chief: Bill Ingle.
New for 1997: Pressley becomes Bechtel's driver.
1996 highlights: Three top-10 finishes (two top-fives) in 30 starts. Was 32nd in points, with $690,465 in winnings - about $8,000 less than 1995.
Career highlights: Has 64 Cup starts. ... Winner of 10 Grand National races. ... Was the first GN driver to win in his rookie season, with a 1989 victory at Orange County Speedway.
Scouting report: This team did not jell with Steve Grissom in the driver's seat, and Pressley did not make it happen in Harry Gant's car. So the odds of it working here are rather long. It all depends on how well Ingle and Pressley connect.
No.30 Johnny Benson
Age: 33.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Pennzoil Pontiac Grand Prix.
Owners: Chuck Rider and Lowrance Harry.
Crew chief: Doug Hewitt.
1997 changes: None.
1996 highlights: Six top-10 finishes in 30 starts. Pole winner at Atlanta in March. Finished 21st in points, and won $947,080.
Career highlights: First start was at Daytona in February 1996. ... Former ASA champion. ... Grand National rookie of the year in 1994. ... First GN victory came at Dover in '94.
Scouting report: Benson and his team may not have what it takes to win yet, but a few more top-10s and a top-15 finish in the championship seems likely.
No.31 Mike Skinner
Age: 39.
Lives: Sophia, N.C.
Car: Lowe's Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Richard Childress.
Crew chief: Kevin Hamlin.
New for 1997: New team.
1996 highlights: Skinner finished third in the NASCAR truck series points standings, with eight victories. He competed in five Winston Cup races, with a best finish of 12th at Rockingham.
Career highlights: Winner of the inaugural NASCAR truck championship in 1995, with eight victories and 10 poles. ... Won the first truck race, at Phoenix in 1995, and collected more than $1 million in two seasons of truck racing. ... A native of California, he won three track championships and 66 races while competing in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series on the West Coast.
Scouting report: Skinner has his hands full competing for rookie of the year against Robby Gordon and David Green, but with the resources and know-how of Childress behind him, he should prevail.
No.33 Ken Schrader
Age: 41.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Skoal Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Andy Petree.
Crew chief: Petree.
New for 1997: Schrader replaces Robert Pressley.
1996 highlights: Ten top-10s in 31 starts and a 12th-place finish in points. Winnings of $1,089,603.
Career highlights: Has four victories in 359 starts. ... Total career winnings of more than $8.7 million. ... First Winston Cup race was in 1984, and was rookie of the year in 1985. ... Won first Winston Cup race at Talladega in 1988. ... Won the Daytona 500 pole in 1988, 1989 and 1990.
Scouting report: After nine years and out at Hendrick Motorsports, Schrader is rarin' to go with Andy Petree and always is fast at Daytona. But it's a long season and this outfit has a long, uphill road.
No.36 Derrike Cope
Age: 38.
Lives: Huntersville, N.C.
Car: Skittles Pontiac Grand Prix.
Owners: Nelson Bowers, Tom Beard and Reed Morton Jr.
Crew chief: Ryan Pemberton.
New for 1997: New team.
1996 highlights: Driving Bobby Allison's Ford, Cope finished 35th in points, with three top-10 finishes in 29 starts and $675,781 in winnings.
Career highlights: Has two victories in 277 starts. ... Won the 1990 Daytona 500 and another race at Dover in his first full year on the Winston Cup circuit. ... Career winnings of more than $3.6 million.
Scouting report: This is a new team in uncharted waters, but Cope is one of the fastest Pontiacs at Daytona. Given the number of new teams, this outfit will have a great year if it simply qualifies for all of the races.
No.37 Jeremy Mayfield
Age: 27.
Lives: Davidson, N.C.
Car: Kmart Ford Thunderbird.
Owners: Michael Kranefuss and Carl Haas.
Crew chief: Paul Andrews.
New for 1997: Andrews becomes crew chief.
1996 highlights: Two top-five finishes in 30 starts to finish 26th in points, with $592,853 in winnings.
Career highlights: Three top-10 finishes in 78 Cup starts. ... Has won about $1.2 million in Cup racing. ... Started stock car racing in 1987 in Kentucky. ... Was ARCA's 1993 rookie of the year.
Scouting report: This team still is in the sorting-out-and-building stage. Like Cope, Mayfield will do well to make all the races.
No.40 Robby Gordon
Age: 28.
Lives: Cornelius, N.C.
Car: Coors Light Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Felix Sabates.
Crew chief: Tony Glover.
New for 1997: New team.
1996 highlights: Was a class champion in the SCORE off-road truck series. Competed in three Winston Cup series races. Finished second in the IROC series, and was 18th in the CART series.
Career highlights: A veteran of many forms of racing, Gordon won two Indy-car events in 1995. ... Winner of more than 20 off-road events from 1985-1990. ... Four-time winner in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Scouting report: A brilliant driver, but he must avoid becoming ``Crash'' Gordon. A victory over Skinner and Childress in the rookie battle would be big. But with the right stuff, he could win a race, as well. Was fast at Daytona in January.
No.41 Steve Grissom
Age: 33.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Kodiak Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Larry Hedrick.
Crew chief: Charlie Pressley.
New for 1997: Grissom replaces Ricky Craven.
1996 highlights: Two top-10 finishes in 13 starts, with winnings of $314,983. Finished 39th in points. Won the Busch Grand National race at Daytona in February.
Career highlights: The 1994 Winston Cup rookie of the year, but has yet to win in 72 Cup starts. ... Began racing in 1979 at Talladega Short Track. ... Won the 1993 Grand National championship. ... Full-time GN driver from 1988-1992, with eight victories.
Scouting report: Craven showed promise in this car; Grissom needs to do the same. This one is shaky, though. Grissom didn't last half a season with Bechtel last year and didn't race a lot after being released.
No.42 Joe Nemechek
Age: 33.
Lives: Mooresville, N.C.
Car: BellSouth Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Felix Sabates.
Crew chief: Mike Hillman.
New for 1997: Sabates buys out Nemechek, who owned the team; Hillman becomes crew chief; the No.42 is switched to Nemechek.
1996 highlights: Slipping from 1995, Nemechek had two top-10s (down from four) in 29 starts and finished 34th in points, with winnings of $666,247.
Career highlights: Best finish in 92 starts is third. ... Career Cup winnings exceed $1.5 million. ... Was 1992 Busch Grand National champ. ... Has three GN victories. ... Won four consecutive rookie-of-the-year awards from 1987-1991 in different series, culminating with the GN honor.
Scouting report: Nemechek is another driver who will have a good season if he just makes all the races.
No.43 Bobby Hamilton
Age: 39.
Lives: Nashville, Tenn.
Car: STP Pontiac Grand Prix.
Owner: Richard Petty.
Crew chief: Robbie Loomis.
1997 changes: None.
1996 highlights: Scored his first career victory at Phoenix. Had 10 other top-10 finishes and was ninth in points for his best season ever. Winnings topped $1.15 million.
Career highlights: One victory in 168 Cup starts. ... Began racing Late Model stocks in the Nashville area. ... Led his first Winston Cup race in Phoenix in 1989 before dropping out. ... Started racing Grand National cars in 1988 and won at Richmond that fall. ... Was the 1991 Winston Cup rookie of the year.
Scouting report: We predicted his first victory here last year. He should be good for at least another victory this year and another top-10 finish in points.
No.44 Kyle Petty
Age: 36.
Lives: High Point, N.C.
Car: Mattel Hot Wheels Pontiac Grand Prix
Owner: Kyle Petty, Richard Petty, David Evans.
Crew chief: Bobby Kennedy.
New for 1997: New team.
1996 highlights: Not a good year for Petty, with two top-10s and only 28 starts. He finished 27th in points and won $689,041.
Career highlights: Has eight victories in 469 starts. ... Career winnings of more than $7.8 million. ... Made his Winston Cup debut in 1979 and has been on the circuit full-time since 1981. ... With a victory in 1986, he became the first third-generation driver to win a Winston Cup race.
Scouting report: Kyle was struggling at Daytona in January testing, and this may continue. This team still is trying to sort out the basics.
No.71 Dave Marcis
Age: 55.
Lives: Avery's Creek, N.C.
Car: Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Dave Marcis.
Crew chief: TBA.
New for 1997: Looking for sponsorship.
1996 highlights: Another year just being out there. Finished 38th in points and won $435,177.
Career highlights: Has five victories in 815 Winston Cup starts. ... Started in Winston Cup (then called Grand National) in 1968 with his own car. his own cars. ... Finished second in points in 1975 and won thr Hn
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