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NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series Report: Five Flags Event

16 September 1997

 
               YOUNG INHERITS NASCAR SLIM JIM ALL PRO WIN



PENSACOLA, FL - Although he led 111 of 200 laps, including the final
77, Eddie Mercer was relegated to a 32nd place finishing position in
Saturday night's NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro 200 at Five Flags Speedway in
Pensacola, FL.

His Chevrolet failed to pass the event's post race inspection, after
having a carburetor that did not conform to NASCAR specifications, per
Section 5.10.1 in the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series Rule Book. As a
result, Conyers, GA's Ron Young inherited the win and $7,975 in cash
and contingency awards from the $43,950 purse.

It was Young's second win of 1997 and sixth of his career. Mercer
earned the Busch Pole Award for the second year in a row as he toured
the 0.500-mile oval in a time of 17.753 seconds equating to a speed of
101.391 mph. The driver of the Eddie Mercer Automotive Super
Center/Phoenix Construction Chevrolet became the 11th different pole
winner in 1997 and notched his fourth career pole award.

Mercer took full advantage of his top starting spot by grabbing the
lead at the start of the race, with outside polesitter Steven
Christian quickly positioning his BellSouth Chevrolet behind
Mercer's. The two ran single file for many laps while Naples, FL's
Billy Bigley, Jr. had his Budweiser Chevrolet on the move, overtaking
Christian for the second position on lap 34, then overhauling Mercer
for the lead with a pass on the outside on lap 35. Bigley maintained
the top position before and after the race's first caution, which
occurred on lap 45 as a result of a single car spin by Ken Alexander.

A brief caution ensued and when the green flag waved again on lap 49
Bigley, Mercer, Christian, Scott Sutherland and Ron Young occupied the
top five positions.

Several minor single car spins on laps 60 and 66 deprived Bigley of
getting away from his pursuers, as did a multicar incident in turn one
on lap 80, with the latter incident collecting the lead lap cars of
Hal Goodson, Scott Sutherland and Robert Burroughs, along with several
lapped contestants. This multicar incident triggered pit stops for
several lead lap cars, including those of points leader Jeff Fultz and
Goodson who is his closest points pursuer.

On lap 95 Bigley the fifth caution period of the event occurred for
another multicar incident, which included Fultz and Goodson who had
pitted just a few laps earlier. The two points leaders both received
minor body damage but were able to keep going and maintain their lead
lap status. Most of the leaders pitted during this slow go period and
Bigley relinquished the top spot to Laurel, MS's Robert
Burroughs. Burroughs paced the field until lap 108, albeit on worn
tires, when Goodson moved his Greased Lightning Cleaner Degreaser
Chevrolet into the lead, with Young in hot pursuit.

All the while Mercer was working his way back up to the front as well
and regained the top spot on lap 124. From that point forward Mercer
was able to hold off Young and Goodson through three brief additional
cautions to cross the finish line first. Young and Goodson shadowed
Mercer closely at the stripe with Larry Raines and Bigley
trailing. Christian, Hank Parker, Jr., Fultz, David Jude, making his
first ever NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series start at the wheel of the
Porter Cable Power Tools Chevrolet normally piloted by Wayne Anderson
and Burroughs formed the then unofficial top 10.
     
Fultz continues to lead the series point standings with Goodson now
just 49 points back in second and Young only two points behind
Goodson. Reutimann continues to maintain his fourth place position
while Parker jumps into the fifth spot. The balance of the top 10
consists of Mike Harmon, Christian, Nipper Alsup, Gilchrist and Larry
Raines.

Having made a prior commitment to run in a NASCAR Busch North Series
event at Loudon, NH, Anderson drops from 10th to 13th in the current
series standings.

As a result of his 12th place finish, Roxboro, NC's Carl Long earned
the $400 Port City Racing Rookie of the Race Award, his fourth such
honor this season.  Concord, NC's Sean Studer earned Rookie of the
Race Runner-Up honors after finishing 13th.

Along with Young's inheritance of the top position, his crew chief
Larry Rapp received a similar elevation to the top spot and picked up
the $300 check from Jasper Engines and Transmissions as the Crew Chief
of the Race for the second time this year. Rapp increased his lead in
the season long crew chief points chase.  He now leads Steven
Christian's crew chief, Sammy Shumate, by 18 points.

The next event for the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series will take place
at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, IN. The $83,725 Roger Holdeman
Memorial/28th Annual Winchester 400 is scheduled for Sunday afternoon,
September 28, and represents the 17th of 20 races on the 1997
schedule.

By NASCAR Public Relations