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NASCAR SJAPS: NSJAPS Event #16, Winchester Preview

22 September 1998

Winchester Next Up For Slim Jim All Pro Series

Daytona Beach, Fla. - For most of the drivers in the Slim Jim All Pro Series, part of NASCAR's Touring Division, it's a long haul to Winchester, Ind. And the 29th Annual Snap-On Tools/Roger Holdeman Memorial Winchester 400 is a long race. But the prestige that goes with winning this historic race more than makes up for the miles logged on and off the track.

This race has been a part of the annual Slim Jim All Pro Series schedule since 1992. Tim Steele, Mike Cope, Scot Walters and Hank Parker, Jr. have all visited victory lane during this stretch, with Cope securing consecutive wins from 1993 through 1995.

It won't be determined who wins this year's race until late in the afternoon on Sunday afternoon. After 400 grueling laps on the high-banked half mile oval only one driver will emerge victorious and add his name to the list of winners.

A tight points battle will only increase the intensity of the event as series points leader Hal Goodson continues to hold off Freddie Query. Goodson, driver of the Nortel/Northern Telecom Chevrolet leads Query by just 21 points. Darlington, S.C.'s Goodson picked up the win in the most recent series event, the Kroger/Greased Lightning 100, at Memphis Motorsports Park on September 13. Query, pilot of the Greased Lightning Cleaner Degreaser Chevrolet, finished third in that event, but leads the series with seven victories in 1998.

Goodson has just one tip five finish in this race, having finished second to Cope in 1995. Mooresville, N.C.'s Query served as a consultant to Hank Parker, Jr. in 1997, and helped propel Parker to victory last year. Now Query returns as a driver looking to overtake Goodson for the points lead.

Obviously this is not the only story that will be played out on Sunday. Parker will return in an attempt to defend his race title while track record holder Wayne Anderson is also expected. Parker is making one of his infrequent 1998 starts in the series as he prepares for a full NASCAR Busch Series-Grand National Division schedule in 1999. Anderson will be piloting a family-owned Porter Cable Power Tools Chevrolet Monte Carlo and will be looking to snag his second win of 1998. Anderson appeared to be on his way to victory last year when he was caught up in an accident late in the race.

Activities begin on Friday with practice getting underway at 11:30 a.m., followed by Bud Pole qualifying, to determine the top 20 starting spots, at 3:30 p.m. On Saturday a one hour practice session will get underway at 10:15 a.m. followed by second round qualifying to determine the balance of the 30-car starting field at 2:30 p.m. The Winchester 400 will take the green flag on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. CDT.