NASCAR Winston Cup Series Notebook (Pre Hanes 500)
28 September 1997
NASCAR Winston Cup Series Race Day Notebook Hanes 500 Martinsville Speedway September 28, 1997 MARTINSVILLE, VA - THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT Kenny Irwin and Steve Park are getting their feet wet in NASCAR's premiere touring division this season before making the plunge into Winston Cup full-time in 1998 and both have had a decent weekend so far at Martinsville Speedway. After qualifying second at Richmond International Raceway during his Winston Cup debut, Kenny Irwin backed it up with a third-place effort for the Hanes 500. The 28-year old from Indianapolis, IN was just 0.056-second off the time recorded by pole sitter Ward Burton. "We've worked hard to get this qualifying deal down," said Irwin, who will pilot the Robert Yates Racing #28 Texaco Havoline Ford next season. "I think that's the toughest part of everything. The race, you just get out there and you've got 500 laps to race, but in qualifying, you've only got one lap to get the job done. I just wanted to get in the show. Making the top 25 would have been great. Making the top-10 is even better." Steve Park was offered the seat in the #40 Coors Light Chevrolet this weekend when regular driver Robby Gordon was "excused" to participate in the CART race at California Speedway. Park struggled during first round qualifying posting only the 39th fastest time of 45 drivers -- 20.669 seconds (91.615 mph). His Saturday effort, however, was the second fastest during second round time trials at 92.497 mph. That speed during first round would have been quick enough for 20th place and a frontstretch pit stall. Park's fastest Happy Hour lap speed was a tick slower (92.429 mph) but the only other driver who recorded a quicker lap was Kenny Wallace at 92.434 mph. STARTING FROM THE FRONT Hut Stricklin was the only other driver besides pole winner Ward Burton who posted his best qualifying effort of the season. Stricklin's lap was fast enough to secure fourth on the starting grid. The previous best start for the driver of the #8 Circuit City Ford was a fifth at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March. "We made a couple of calculated guesses just before qualifying and it seemed like it paid off for us," said Stricklin. " Ricky Rudd will start 5th, which equals his highest starting position of the season. His other fifth-place start came here at Martinsville in the spring. Rudd drove to a 13th-place finish in that event. ###