NASCAR Winston Cup Notes following Goody's Headache Powder 500
25 August 1997
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Goody's Headache Powder 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
August 23, 1997
GRISSOM FLOATING ON AIR AFTER 5TH PLACE FINISH
BRISTOL, TN -
The last time Steve Grissom visited Bristol Motor Speedway in April, he left
with a broken foot after an accident late in the race. This time the team
rolled the dice on a late race pit stop and the Gadsden, AL driver came home
fifth after a dismal 35th-place qualifying effort.
"I limped out of here last time," said an excited Grissom. "It's a lot better
to be able to walk out of here on both feet. Actually, I could probably float
out of here tonight because I'm on cloud nine right now. Anytime you have a
top-five at Bristol, you've had a good day."
Grissom was running fourth, one of nine cars remaining on the lead lap, when
the 12th and final caution flew on lap 471 for oil on the track. Crew chief
Charley Pressley called Grissom in for fresh tires in the hopes of being able
to chase down the leaders. "Charlie made a heck of a call to come in there on
the last caution flag and take on four tires," said the driver of the #41
Kodiak Chevrolet, who was one of three drivers who chose to pit at that time.
"That was our only shot to win and we went for it. We gave up a little track
position by pitting there at the end but that was our only shot to win. After
cautions came out and stuff, our car was better on the long runs."
TRICKLE GIVES NOTICE, "WATCH OUT FOR US, WE'RE COMING"
Dick Trickle, who describes himself as "55 years young" looked fresh as a
daisy after climbing from his #90 Heilig-Meyers Ford having just finished
third and posted his best finish of the season. Not at all bad for a man who
spun out nearly halfway through the event and lost a lap.
After making up his lap and carving his way through the field, Trickle took
advantage of the final caution to have his crew bolt on new tires after
having found the set he was on was not to his liking. On the ensuing restart
on lap 479, he lined up 8th and quickly charged to third before running out
of time when the checkers flew.
"The set of tires on the car didn't feel good from the start," Trickle
explained. "They just weren't gripping. We didn't have nothing to lose. A 25-
or 30-lapper, that's a Saturday night car fight. I said, 'I'll start at the
back of that baby.' I want to share this with all my fans, who have stuck
with us through the years and all the sponsors and my family. This is for
them."
UNHAPPY BIRTHDAY
Kenny Wallace was hoping to celebrate his birthday in Bristol Motor
Speedway's victory lane. Unfortunately for him, it didn't quite work out that
way.
After starting from the pole for the second time this season, Wallace was
bypassed on the first lap by Jarrett but hung on to a top-ten position
through the first 60 laps of the event. On lap 90, Wallace made contact with
Steve Grissom and wiggled coming off of turn four. The #81 Square D Ford hit
the outside wall, came back across the track and collected the #17 Western
Auto Chevrolet driven by Darrell Waltrip who, in turn, hit the inside
retaining wall.
"Steve Grissom ran all over me," said the youngest of the Wallace brothers
who turned 34 on race day. "It's the same old deal at Bristol. I'm clear on
the bottom of the race track and he just ran me up into the wall. It's a
shame. I don't know how I could get any lower to get underneath him, but
coming off of (turn) 4, I just got run into and put into the wall."
"I'm not exactly sure what happened," said Waltrip about the incident. "It
looked like the 18 (Bobby Labonte) and 3 (Dale Earnhardt) were on the
outside and the 81 (Kenny Wallace) got into the wall and came back across
and got me. Waltrip's crew repaired his car and returned him to the race but
Darrell retired the car after completing only 115 laps total. He finished
42nd in the 42-car field.
ROOKIE WOES
It was not a good weekend for Winston Cup rookies.
Robby Gordon was the first to have trouble as he failed to qualify his #40
Coors Light for the race.
After starting 8th, David Green's night ended early when his #96 Caterpillar
Chevrolet was the focal point of a multi-car accident on the frontstretch on
lap 259. The race was red-flagged while Green was removed from his battered
machine and transported to a local hospital suffering from a sore shoulder
and a bump on his head. The preliminary report from Bristol Regional
Medical Center indicated that Green has a broken right scapula. He was
credited with a 40th place finish.
Mike Skinner, pilot of the #31 Lowe's Chevrolet found himself involved in a
turn one melee which resulted in his Monte Carlo slamming hard into the
outside wall. Skinner exited the car under his own power but had to be helped
to the ambulance by safety workers. "It knocked the wind out of me," said
Skinner after leaving the infield care center. "I can't say enough for the
safety equipment. My head hit real hard on the seat, but I'm all right. I
banged my knee on the steering column and it's a little sore. The car was
running good, and I really love this place. I can't wait to come back."
Skinner recorded a 34th-place finish.
The newest member of the rookie class, Jeff Green, had the best showing of
the group in spite of the fact that he was caught up in the accident
involving David Green which red-flagged the event. Green salvaged a
21st-place finish, 8 laps behind the leaders, and was the recipient of the
NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Race award for his efforts.
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