THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 10, 1995 TAG: 9506100421
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LONG POND, PA. LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
When Ken Schrader won the top starting spot Friday for Sunday's UAW-GM 500 at Pocono International Raceway, he simply added to his record as the most prolific pole winner at this 2.5-mile tri-oval.
Schrader's lap of 163.375 mph in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo gave him his fifth career pole at Pocono, two more than anyone else.
But what he really wants, and needs, is a race victory. And he underscored that Friday when someone asked him what he thought about the $83,600 Unocal bonus he'll win if he captures the race from the top starting spot.
``I would pay $83,000 to win this race,'' he said. ``It's just been way too long without a win. We've just had too many good runs where something has happened.''
Schrader's last Winston Cup victory - 120 races ago - came at Dover four years ago last week.
``Hopefully, this will be the start of a bunch of good stuff,'' Schrader said. ``But I ain't holdin' my breath. We've had too much happen.
``I think a lot of people think I'm just really happy racing in Winston Cup, which I am,'' he said. ``But that ain't enough. I want to win races. The only difference is I'm not going to let it drive me completely crazy, because it's stuff I cannot control.''
Mark Martin won the outside pole in a Ford Thunderbird with a lap of 163.250 mph, while Bobby Hamilton put his Pontiac Grand Prix in the third starting spot with a lap of 162.955 mph. Ricky Rudd was fourth fastest in a Ford at 162.805 mph and Jeff Gordon was fifth in a Chevy at 162.484 mph.
Also in the top 10 were Geoff Bodine in a Ford at 162.244 mph, Darrell Waltrip in a Chevy at 162.200 mph, Rusty Wallace in a Ford at 161.993 mph, Morgan Shepherd in a Ford at 161.647 mph and Bobby Labonte in a Chevy at 161.618 mph.
Martin had the top spot for most of the qualifying session, but Schrader bumped him off late in the afternoon.
``He always does that here,'' Martin told Ford's Wayne Estes. ``He can qualify at this place better than anybody I know. Schrader is just awesome here.''
But Schrader didn't think so, at least during his lap.
``We always talk on the radio while qualifying,'' Schrader said, ``And as I came off the last turn, I told 'em, `It's decent, guys, but it's not good enough.'
``But as I went past the start-finish line, (crew chief) Ken Howes said, `Yes, it is.' ''
Schrader, explaining why he didn't think his lap had won the pole, said: ``This is a place where you can absolutely thrill yourself qualifying. I didn't thrill myself as much as I usually do here.''
Schrader lost the top of his left thumb in a garage mishap last month, but he said it isn't bothering him. ``It's just a little short,'' he said. ``It's no problem. It's an inconvenience. Hard to tie your shoes.''
Drivers who failed to qualify in the top 20 Friday included Dale Earnhardt (24th), Bill Elliott (25th), Terry Labonte (27th) and Steve Grissom (41st), who crashed during morning practice, but not badly enough to require a backup car.
Only 43 cars attempted to qualify, so it does not appear that any regulars will fail to qualify.
SAWYER 3RD IN GN TRIALS: Chesapeake driver Elton Sawyer qualified third Friday for the Carolina Pride-Red Dog 250 Busch Grand National race in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Sawyer, in a Ford, turned a lap of 95.583 mph, behind Jeff Green, brother of '94 series champ David, who went 96.329 mph in a Chevy, and Jason Keller (95.815, Chevy).
Jimmy Horton, in the No. 27 Junior Johnson Ford that Sawyer is driving on the Winston Cup circuit, ran 30th at Pocono Friday. by CNB