NASCAR Winston Cup Series ACDelco 400: Friday notes
26 October 1997
NASCAR Winston Cup Series Friday Notebook ACDelco 400 North Carolina Motor Speedway October 24, 1997 NEW PAINT FOR NEMECHEK ROCKINGHAM, NC - Joe Nemechek's No. 42 Pontiac is sporting a new paint job beginning this weekend as a promotion for primary sponsor BellSouth's 1-800-BELLSOUTH campaign. The Team SABCO Grand Prix's regular blue and neon-striped coat has been changed to black with blue and purple-striped accents. "There's something about a black car that excites race fans and intimidates competitors," said Nemechek, who is seeking his first career victory. "It has a sort of stigma surrounding it. Maybe other drivers will see me coming and in their mirror and think I'm Earnhardt. Who knows? It may work." PONTIACS UP FRONT AT THE ROCK Pontiac was well-represented in the top five following first round qualifying with three drivers, including pole winner Bobby Labonte, piloting Grand Prixs. Ward Burton, who won this event in 1995 to record his first Winston Cup victory, will start the No. 22 MBNA Pontiac third on the grid. "I probably left a little bit on the table in (turns) one and two," said Burton of his effort. "I'm kind of disappointed, but I'm at one of those tracks where I know I can do really good. Last time I won this race I qualified in the top-five, so maybe that will be a good omen for us Sunday." Kyle Petty's fifth-place starting position is his best since starting third at Dover Downs International Speedway in June. "That's the best I've gotten through (turns) one and two," said Petty, who has posted three of Pontiac's ten victories at The Rock. "When you get through one corner good you think you can get through the other corner good and you can't. You never can. I got into three too hard and washed up in the middle of the race track. It was all motor from there on out."
