CALIFORNIA 500 DRIVER PROFILES : (1) JERRY NADEAU.Hometown: Denver, N.C. '97 rank, points: Not ranked 1996 Winston Cup finish: Did not run Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: R&L Carriers/Cruisin America Car: Pontiac Grand Prix The Pontiac Grand Prix is an automobile produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. First introduced as part of Pontiac's full-size model offering for the 1962 model year, the Grand Prix name has also been applied to cars in the personal luxury car market segment and the Biography: Rookie driver runs for owner Richard Jackson Richard Jackson may refer to the following people:
(2) RUSTY WALLACE Russell William "Rusty" Wallace (born August 14, 1956 in Fenton, Missouri) is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Busch Series car owner, and television broadcaster with ESPN and ESPN on ABC. Wallace had his first live broadcast of the Indy 500 on May 28, 2006. Hometown: St. Louis, Mo. '97 rank, points: 15th, 1,481 1996 Winston Cup finish: 7th Career Winston Cup wins: 46 Team: Miller Lite Miller Lite is the name of a popular pilsner beer sold by Miller Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a 4.2% ABV. Sibling beers include Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life. Car: Ford Thunderbird The Ford Thunderbird was a car manufactured in the United States by the Ford Motor Company. It entered production for the 1955 Ford Thunderbird model year as a two-seater sporty car but, unlike the similar Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was never sold as a full-blown sports Biography: It's been an erratic season for Wallace, the 1989 points champion and one of the icons of the sport. He won the Pontiac 400 at Richmond, Va. and was second at the Food City 500 after winning the pole. He was also second at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C. Unfortunately, he also has two finishes in the 40s and four in the 30s, mostly due to blown engines. If his motor holds up, he's tough. (3) DALE EARNHARDT This article is about the elder Dale Earnhardt. For his son, see Dale Earnhardt, Jr.. For the racing team he founded, see Dale Earnhardt, Inc.. Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Hometown: Kannapolis, N.C. '97 rank, points: 6th, 1,833 1996 Winston Cup finish: 4th Career Winston Cup wins: 70 Team: GM Goodrich Service Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (môNtā` kärlō`), town (1982 pop. 13,150), principality of Monaco, on the Mediterranean Sea and the French Riviera. Biography: The top money winner all-time in any form of racing with over $29 million in earnings, Earnhardt has been struggling - for him - of late. Though he has seven top-10 finishes this season, the seven-time Winston Cup season champion (1980, '86, '87, '90, '91, '93, '94) has not won in 41 races. His best finish this year was a second at the Winston 500. (4) STERLING MARLIN Sterling Marlin (born June 30, 1957 in Columbia, Tennessee) is a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver who drove the #14 Waste Management Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Ginn Racing until being replaced by Regan Smith July 17, 2007. His future plans are uncertain at this time. Hometown: Columbia, Tenn. '97 rank, points: 17th, 1,433 1996 Winston Cup finish: 8th Career Winston Cup wins: 6 Team: Kodak Film Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: It's been a disappointing year so far for Marlin, who finished fifth at the Daytona 500 and ninth at the Goodwrench 500 in Rockingham, N.C., but hasn't been that high again. He has finished lower than he started in his last seven races. The Kodak team changed crew chiefs this week in an effort to get things back on track. Marlin won the Daytona 500 in 1994 and 1995. (5) TERRY LABONTE Terrance Lee Labonte (born November 16, 1956, in Corpus Christi, Texas) is a former NASCAR driver. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had worked on racecars as a hobby for his friends. Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas Corpus Christi is a coastal city and the county seat of Nueces CountyGR6 in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the region known as South Texas. '97 rank, points: 3, 2,001 1996 Winston Cup finish: 1st Career Winston Cup wins: 18 Team: Kellogg's Corn Flakes corn flakes pl.n. A crisp, flaky, commercially prepared cold cereal made from coarse cornmeal. Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: The defending Winston Cup season champ will make his 552nd consecutive Cup start, a series record. Labonte, older brother of Bobby, also won the series title in 1984 and has finished in the top 10 in 14 of his 19 seasons. Has not won a race this year, but has finished out of the top 10 just four times. Is coming off his worst race, a 39th at Michigan. (6) MARK MARTIN Hometown: Batesville, Ark. '97 rank, points: 2nd, 2,064 1996 Winston Cup finish: 5th Career Winston Cup wins: 20 Team: Valvoline Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: One of the most consistent racers on the Winston Cup circuit, Martin has been in the top 10 11 times so far this season, including wins at Sears Point Sears Point is a prominent landform jutting into the historic reaches of San Pablo Bay in Sonoma County, California, USA. This hill is the southernmost peak of the Sonoma Mountains and forms the southwestern ridge above Tolay Lake. and Talladega, Ala. He is riding a streak of nine straight top-10 finishes and trails Jeff Gordon Jeffery Michael Gordon (born August 4, 1971) is a professional American race car driver. He was born in Vallejo, California, raised in Pittsboro, Indiana, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. for the Winston Cup season lead by just 46 points. Martin likes to keep busy, mixing in Busch Grand National races when he has time. He won six Busch meetings in 1996. (7) GEOFF BODINE Geoffrey Bodine (born April 18, 1949 in Chemung, New York) is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers (Brett Bodine and Todd Bodine) who are all NASCAR drivers. Geoff currently lives in Cornelius, North Carolina. Hometown: Chemung, N.Y. '97 rank, points: 29, 1,182 1996 Winston Cup finish: 17th Career Winston Cup wins: 18 Team: QVC QVC Quality Value Convenience QVC Question Valid Command Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: The 48-year-old veteran is struggling this season, both on the track and financially. Contrasting his four top 10 runs - a second at the Pontiac 400 was his best - are six races in which he has not finished, second in frustration only to Rusty Wallace's seven. With his sponsorship declining, Bodine put his team up for sale this week. (8) HUT STRICKLIN Wayman "Hut" Stricklin was a NASCAR race car driver. Stricklin was born on June 24, 1961, in Calera, Alabama. He married Pam Allison, the daughter of NASCAR legend Donnie Allison after they were introduced by her cousin Davey. Hut was the last member of the Alabama Gang. Hometown: Calara, Ala. '97 rank, points: 32nd, 1,141 1996 Winston Cup finish: 22nd Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Circuit City Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Stricklin was the runner-up for Winston Cup Rookie of the Year Rookie of the Year may refer to:
(9) LAKE SPEED Hometown: Jackson, Miss. '97 rank, points: 33rd, 1,067 1996 Winston Cup finish: 23rd Career Winston Cup wins: off 1 Team: University of Nebraska Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Speed has struggled this year, failing to qualify three times, going out in accidents twice and with a broken transmission once. His best finish came last week, an 11th place at Michigan. His only victory came in 1988 in the TransSouth 500. (10) RICKY RUDD Ricky Rudd (born September 12, 1956 in Norfolk County, Virginia, now Chesapeake) is a NASCAR driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and Busch Series driver Jason Rudd. Hometown: Chesapeake, Va. '97 rank, points: 8th, 1,710 1996 Winston Cup finish: 6th Career Winston Cup wins: 18 Team: Tide Car: Ford Thunderbird iography: Rudd is another consistent Winston Cup driver, having won at least one Cup race each year for the past 15 years. This year's win came in the Miller 500. Has finished in the top 10 in season points every year but one (an 11th) since 1981. Two of his early victories came at Riverside in 1983 and 1985. (11) BRETT BODINE Brett Bodine (born January 11, 1959, in Chemung, New York), is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and is the current driver of the pace car in NEXTEL Cup events. Brett is employed by NASCAR as Director of Cost and Research. Hometown: Chemung, N.Y. '97 rank, points: 21, 1,366 1996 Winston Cup finish: 24th Career Winston Cup wins: 1 Team: Close Call Phone Card Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: The younger brother Wiki is aware of the following uses of "'Younger Brother":
Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. . His best finish this season has been a sixth at the SavMart Supermarkets 300 at Sears Point. Has a degree in mechanical engineering. (16) TED MUSGRAVE Ted Musgrave was born on December 18, 1955 in Waukegan, Illinois . He drives the #9 Team ASE Toyota in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Germain Racing. Pre-NASCAR Musgrave fell in love with racing as his father, Elmer, was a famous short-track racer in the Midwest. Hometown: Franklin, Wisc. '97 rank, points: 12th, 1,558 1996 Winston Cup finish: 16th Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: The Family Channel/Primestar Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Musgrave came very close to his first Winston Cup win last week in Michigan, leading more laps than any other driver before falling behind Ernie Irvan Ernie Irvan (born January 13, 1959 in Salinas, California) is a former race driver in NASCAR. Early beginnings Irvan began his racing career in California at the age of nine driving go-carts, winning the California Championship at the age of 15. in a pit stop and finishing fourth. He has two other top-10 finishes so far, a second at the TransSouth Financial 500 and a sixth at the Pocono 500. Many feel Musgrave's first win is not far off. (17) DARRELL WALTRIP Darrell Lee Waltrip (born February 5, 1947 in Owensboro, Kentucky) is a three-time former NASCAR Winston Cup champion, the 1989 Daytona 500 winner, and current television race commentator with Fox Broadcasting Company. Hometown: Franklin, Tenn. '97 rank, points: 16th, 1,479 1996 Winston Cup finish: 29th Career Winston Cup wins: 84 Team: Western Auto Western Auto Supply Company was a chain of automobile parts stores. It was started in 1909 in Kansas City, Missouri, by George Pepperdine, who later founded Pepperdine University. Western Auto originally started as a mail order business for replacement auto parts. Parts America Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: Waltrip has more wins than any active driver, but suffered the worst of his 25 Winston Cup seasons last year. He has five top-10 finishes this year, his best a fifth at the Save Mart 300 at Sears Point. Nonetheless, the 50-year-old Waltrip is winless since 1992. (18) BOBBY LABONTE Robert Alan Labonte (born May 8, 1964) is an American race car driver and drives the #43 Cheerios Dodge Charger for the Petty Enterprises NASCAR Racing Team in the Nextel Cup Series and the #77 Dollar General Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Kevin Harvick Incorporated in the Busch Series. Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas '97 rank, points: 7th, 1,745 1996 Winston Cup finish: 11th Career Winston Cup wins: 4 Team: Interstate Batteries Interstate Battery System of America, Inc., a.k.a. Interstate Batteries, is a privately-owned company that markets automotive batteries manufactured by Johnson Controls through nearly 300 independent distributors. The company is based in Houston, Texas. Car: Pontiac Grand Prix Biography: The switch from Chevy to Pontiac this year has been good for Labonte and team owner Joe Gibbs
This biographical article or section needs additional references for verification. Please help [ to improve this article] by adding additional sources. . Labonte won the pole at the Miller 500 at Dover, has finished every race and scored eight top-10 finishes. His best Winston Cup runs were a pair of thirds at the Interstate Batteries 500 and the Winston 500. Was second to Jeff Gordon for 1993 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. (21) MICHAEL WALTRIP Michael Curtis Waltrip (born April 30, 1963 in Owensboro, Kentucky) is a professional race car driver and owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. He is the younger brother of Darrell Waltrip, a three-time NASCAR champion (now retired). Hometown: Owensboro, Ky. '97 rank, points: 9th, 1,623 1996 Winston Cup finish: 14th Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Citgo Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Waltrip, the younger brother of Darrell, has five top-10 finishes this season, but is still seeking his first win of his career. He has been hampered this season by mediocre qualifying positions and will start 18th today. Has finished second once and third four times in his 12-year Winston Cup career. (22) WARD BURTON Ward Burton (born October 25, 1961) is an American NASCAR auto racer, who has a total of five career NEXTEL Cup wins. He is currently the driver of the #4 State Water Heaters Chevrolet Impala SS for Morgan-McClure Motorsports. Hometown: South Boston, Va. '97 rank, points: 23rd, 1,331 1996 Winston Cup finish: 33rd Career Winston Cup wins: 1 Team: MBNA MBNA Monument Builders of North America MBNA Mercedes-Benz North America MBNA Maryland Bank, National Association MBNA Maryland Bank North America MBNA Mount Baker Nurses Association (Bellingham, Washington) Car: Pontiac Grand Prix Biography: Burton, older brother of Jeff Burton Jeffery Brian Burton (born June 29, 1967 in South Boston, Virginia) also sometimes referred to as "JB" is a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver. He drives the #31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. , has three top-10 finishes this season, the best being a seventh in the Winston Cup race won by Jeff. His only Winston Cup win came in 1995 at the AC Delco 400 in Rockingham, N.C. Is trying to rebound from a terrible second half of 1996, where he finished in the bottom half of the field in 11 of 12 races. (23) JIMMY SPENCER For the professional football player-coach, see . Jimmy Spencer (born February 15, 1957 in Berwick, Pennsylvania) is an American NASCAR driver and commentator. During his days racing modifieds, he was nicknamed "Mr. Excitement" for his sometimes aggressive racing style. Hometown: Berwick, Pa. '97 rank, points: 22nd, 1,358 1996 Winston Cup finish: 15th Career Winston Cup wins: 2 Team: Camel Cigarettes Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Spencer used to have a reputation of going out too hard, but decided to be more patient in 1996 and wound up 15th in season points. He has struggled a bit this season and has just one top 10 finish, a seventh in the Winston 500. Qualified his car seventh for the Daytona 500, but fell to 35th. (24) JEFF GORDON Hometown: Pittsboro, Ind. '97 rank, points: 1st, 2,110 1996 Winston Cup finish: 2nd Career Winston Cup wins: 16 Team: DuPont Refinishes Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: Just 25 years old, Gordon already has a Winston Cup series title (1995) and 16 victories to his credit and may already be the biggest name on the circuit. He has won six of this year's 14 races and finished in the top five 11 times. He leads in the points as well as the money with earnings of $1,730,269 this season. (25) RICKY CRAVEN Ricky Craven is a NASCAR driver. He last drove in the NEXTEL Cup in 2004 and raced in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2005. He does not have a racing job at this time. He is currently a NASCAR analyst for Yahoo! Sports. Hometown: Newburgh, Maine Newburgh is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,394 at the 2000 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 80.2 km² (31.0 mi²). 80.0 km² (30.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0. '97 rank, points: 28th, 1,182 1996 Winston Cup finish: 20th Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Budweiser Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: The 1995 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year was third at the Daytona 500 and fifth at the Goodwrench 400 in North Carolina, the first two races of the season. He has struggled since, having two accidents, missing two races and breaking down once. Joined the Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports is a group of NASCAR racing teams started by Rick Hendrick in 1984 under the name "All Star Racing", racing only Chevrolets, racing in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series circuits. Budweiser team this year. (28) ERNIE IRVAN Hometown: Salinas Salinas, city, United States Salinas (səlē`nəs), city (1990 pop. 108,777), seat of Monterey co., W Calif.; inc. 1874. It is the shipping and processing center of a fertile valley famous for its grain and lettuce. '97 rank, points: 18th, 1,326 1996 Winston Cup finish: 10th Career Winston Cup wins: 15 Team: Texico Havoline Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Irvan's first win of the season came just last week, ironically at Michigan Speedway, where he nearly died in a crash in 1995. Has four other top-10 finishes and will next to pole-sitter Joe Nemechek Joseph Frank Nemechek III (born September 26, 1963) in Lakeland, Florida is a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver and owner of NEMCO Motorsports. He won the 1992 Busch Series championship. . Has had trouble with consistency this year. Along with his five top-10 finishes are five finishes of 30th or lower. (29) JEFF GREEN Jeff Green may refer to:
Hometown: Owensboro, Ky. '97 rank, points: Not ranked 1996 Winston Cup finish: Fourth in Busch series The NASCAR Busch Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR. It is NASCAR's "minor league" circuit (often compared to Triple-A baseball), and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big league" circuit, the Nextel Cup. points Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Cartoon Network For Cartoon Network outside of the United States, see . Cartoon Network is a cable television network created by Turner Broadcasting which primarily shows animated programming. Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: Has run four Winston Cup races this season, his best finish a 22nd at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. Races mostly on the Busch circuit, where he finished fourth last year behind leader Randy Lajoie Randy LaJoie (b. August 28 1961, Norwalk, Connecticut) is a driver in the NASCAR Busch Series, where he is a two-time champion. Presently, he does not have a full-time ride. He is the father of racers Casey and Corey LaJoie. and runner-up David Green, Jeff's brother. Another brother, Mark, is also driving the Busch circuit this season. (30) JOHNNY BENSON Johnny Benson (born June 27, 1963 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a NASCAR driver and the son of former Michigan modified driver John Benson Sr. His career highlighs include 1993 American Speed Association AC-Delco Challenge series championship in 1993, The 1995 Busch Series Hometown: Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, city (1990 pop. 189,126), seat of Kent co., SW central Mich., on the Grand River; inc. 1850. The second largest city in the state, it is a distribution, wholesale, and industrial center for an area that yields fruit, dairy products, farm produce, , Mich. '97 rank, points: 14th, 1,501 1996 Winston Cup finish: 21st Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Pennzoil Car: Pontiac Grand Prix Biography: The 1996 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year has had a steady if unspectacular season so far with four top-10 finishes, but none in the top 5. Benson's best finishes were a pair of ninths at the Pontiac 400 in Richmond, Va., and the Winston 500 in Alabama. Benson grew up in a racing family. His father owns Benson Speed Equipment, a race-car manufacturing company. (31) MIKE SKINNER Hometown: Susanville, Calif. '97 rank, points: 26th, 1,226 1996 Winston Cup finish: Did not run Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: The 1995 NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Craftsman Truck series champ is taking a run a the Winston Cup Series this year. He will start in the 14th row at No. 28. Skinner's best finish this year was a ninth at the Miller 500. (33) KEN SCHRADER Hometown: Fenton, Mo. '97 rank, points: 19th, 1,418 1996 Winston Cup finish: 12th Career Winston Cup wins: 4 Team: SkoalBandit Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: Schrader has been a top-10 driver seven of his 13 years on the circuit. His best race this season came in the Miller 500, where he was sixth. He finished eighth at both the TransSouth Financial 400 and the Winston Open. His last victory came in 1991 at Dover, Del. (36) DERRIKE COPE Hometown: Spanaway, Wash. '97 rank, points: 25, 1,252 1996 Winston Cup finish: 35th Career Winston Cup wins: 2 Team: Skittles skittles English ninepin bowling game played with a wooden disk or ball. The pins are set in a diamond formation; the player who knocks down all the pins in the fewest throws wins. Skittles has been played for centuries in public houses and clubs. Car: Pontiac Grand Prix Biography: Cope's two victories include a prestigous victory in the 1990 Daytona 500. He has just one top-10 finish this season, an eighth last weekend at the Miller 400 at the Michigan Speedway. Has been running Winston Cup races since 1982 and his best season finish came in 1995 when he was 15th. (37) JEREMY MAYFIELD Hometown: Owensboro, Ky. '97 rank, points: 11th, 1,599 1996 Winston Cup finish: 26th Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Kmart/RC Cola Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Mayfield has had some strong runs in 1997, finishing fourth in the Miller 500, fifth in the Pocono 500 and sixth at Daytona. Consistency has been a problem however, as he has bounced as low as 37th, too. Mayfield is in his first full year with owners Michael Kranefuss and Carl Haas after switching teams at the end of 1996. (40) GREG SACKS Hometown: Mattituck, N.Y. '97 rank, points: Not ranked 1996 Winston Cup finish: Not ranked Career Winston p victories: 0 Team: Coors Light Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: Sacks was driving in the Busch Series until Robby Gordon was injured at Indianapolis. He qualified Gordon's car at the Pocono 500 but was involved in an accident on the eighth lap. Set a track record - but remember, it's a new track - in qualifying and will start 26th. (41) STEVE GRISSOM Hometown: Gadsden, Ala. '97 rank, points: 31st, 1,161 1996 Winston Cup finish: 39th Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Kodiak Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: Grissom is still waiting for a breakthough on the Winston Cup circuit after finishing the runner-up to Jeff Burton for 1994 Rookie of the Year. He has just one top-10 finish this season, a 10th at the Interstate Batteries 500 at Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas, 18th-largest city in the United States[1], and voted one of "America’s Most Livable Communities. . Won the Busch circuit championship in 1993. (42) JOE NEMECHEK Hometown: Lakeland, Fla. '97 rank, points: 36th, 950 1996 Winston Cup finish: 34th Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Bell South Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: On the pole, Nemechek's challenge today will be to hold his position. He has qualified in the top seven in four of the past five races, but slipped once the racing began. His best finish has been 15th at the Miller 500 in Dover, Del. (43) BOBBY HAMILTON Hometown: Nashville, Tenn. '97 rank, points: 18th, 1,427 1996 Winston Cup finish: 9th Career Winston Cup victories: 1 Team: STP STP or standard temperature and pressure, standard conditions for measurement of the properties of matter. The standard temperature is the freezing point of pure water, 0°C; or 273.15°K;. Car: Pontiac Grand Prix Biography: Hamilton's ninth series finish last year was his best since winning Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honors in 1991. His best finishes have been a runner-up at the Goody's 500 and a fifth at the Pontiac 400. He won the pole at the Pocono 500, but was sidelined by an accident after 129 laps. Hamilton's team is owned by NASCAR great Richard Petty. (44) KYLE PETTY Hometown: Randdleman, N.C. '97 rank, points: 20th, 1,374 1996 Winston Cup finish: 27th Career Winston Cup wins: 8 Team: Mattel Hot Wheels Car: Pontiac Grand Prix Biography: Petty is having modest success in his first season of fielding his own team. He was fifth at the Miller 500 and 10th at the Pontiac Excitement 400, but otherwise had run in the middle of the pack. Is trying to regain the form that made him a top-10 driver from 1985-87 and in 1992 and 1993. His father, Winston Cup legend Richard Petty, is co-owner of team. (46) WALLY DALLENBACH Hometown: Basalt basalt (bəsôlt`, băs`ôlt), fine-grained rock of volcanic origin, dark gray, dark green, brown, reddish, or black in color. Basalt is an igneous rock, i.e., one that has congealed from a molten state. , Colo. '97 rank, points: not ranked 1996 Winston Cup finish: 25th Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: First Union Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: After running just part-time as the third car in Felix Sabates three-car team, Dallenbach will be running full-time the rest of the season. In 123 Winston Cup races since 1991, Dallenbach's best results have been two seconds. His father, Wally Sr., is a former driver and the chief steward for the CART open-wheel series. (71) DAVE MARCIS Hometown: Wausau, Wisc. '97 rank, points: 37th, 866 1996 Winston Cup finish: 38th Career Winston Cup wins: 5 Team: Marcis Racing Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: A career that began in 1968 goes on as the 56-year-old veteran runs his 30th season on the Winston Cup Circuit. Marcis was runner-up to Richard Petty for the season points title in 1975, but hasn't finished higher than 29th the past six years. Has not finished in the top 10 so far this season. (75) RICK MAST Hometown: Lexington, Va. '97 rank, points: 30th, 1,167 1996 Winston Cup finish: 18th Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Remington Arms Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Mast's best finish so far this season has been a 12th at the Miller 500 in Dover, Del. His best career finish was a second in 1994. Started racing at age 16. Traded a cow for his first race car. (77) MORGAN SHEPHERD Hometown: Conover, N.C. '97 rank, points: 24th, 1,261 1996 Winston Cup finish: 19th Career Winston Cup wins: 4 Team: PrecisioBn Products Car: Pontiac Grand Prix Biography: The 55-year-old Shepherd has been on the Winston Cup circuit as a regular since 1981 and has finished in the top 10 in season points four times, his best a fifth in 1990. Three of his four Cup wins have been at Atlanta, the most recent in 1993. Tells people he could take apart and put together a car when he was 11. (88) DALE JARRETT Hometown: Hickory, N.C. '97 rank, points: 4th, 1,976 1996 Winston Cup finish: 3rd Career Winston Cup wins: 10 Team: Quality Care/Ford Credit Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Jarrett has already won twice this season and has nine top-10 finishes after just 14 races. The wins were in the TransSouth Financial 400 and the Interstate Batteries 500. Has also been second twice and third twice this season. (90) DICK TRICKLE Hometown: Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. '97 rank, points: 35th, 1,032 1996 Winston Cup finish: 36th Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Heilig-Meyers Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: The 55-year-old veteran has been running Winston Cup races since 1970 and has never won. He has four thirds in his long career, his best efforts. Is well known in the Midwest where he is esteemed for his short-track performances. (94) BILL ELLIOTT Hometown: Dawsonville, Ga. '97 rank, points: 10th, 1,612 1996 Winston Cup finish: 30th Career Winston Cup wins: 40 Team: McDonalds Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Elliott's second-place finish last week in Michigan was his best race since breaking a leg in April of 1996 in a frightening crash at Talladega, Ala. The 11-time winner of NASCAR's fan-chosen most popular driver award, Elliott has made the top five three times this season and may be close to his 41st victory. His first Winston Cup win was in 1983 at Riverside International Raceway. (96) DAVID GREEN Hometown: Owensboro, Ky. '97 rank, points: 38th, 777 1996 Winston Cup finish: Was BBusch series runner-up Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: Caterpillar Car: Chevy Monte Carlo Biography: Green has qualifyied for 10 of the 14 races this season, his rookie campaign on the Winston Cup circuit. Best finish so far was 16th in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. He was voted the most popular driver on the Busch tour last year and won the Busch season championship in 1994. Between 1994-1996, he won the pole position 17 times on the Busch series. (97) CHAD LITTLE Hometown: Spokane, Wash. '97 rank, points: 39th, 732 1996 Winston Cup finish: Did not run Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: John Deere Car: Pontiac Grand Prix Biography: Has been a part-time Winston Cup participant since 1986, finishing in the top 10 just three times in his 106 career races. Best finish this year was eighth at the Food City 500 in Bristol, Tenn. Team is part-owned by NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga quarterback Mark Rypien. Earned a law degree from Gonzaga. (98) JOHN ANDRETTI Indianapolis, Ind.: '97 rank, points: 27th, 1,209 1996 Winston Cup finish: 31st Career Winston Cup wins: 0 Team: RCA See RCA connector and video/TV history. Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: Andretti is the nephew of racing legend Mario Andretti and a cousin to CART driver Michael Andretti. The 34-year-old veteran won the pole position at the Winston 500 at Talladega, Ala., and finished fourth, his only top 5 finish this season. Has raced a variety of events from drag races to stocks cars to Indy cars. (99) JEFF BURTON Hometown: South Boston, Va. '97 rank, points: 5th, 1,898 1996 Winston Cup finish: 13th Career Winston Cup wins: 1 Team: Exide Batteries Car: Ford Thunderbird Biography: The 1994 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year won his Winston race this season, the Winston Cup at Texas Motor Speedway Texas Motor Speedway is a superspeedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas -- the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track layout is very similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway (formerly Charlotte Motor . The 30-year-old driver had made the top 10 in nine of the season's 14 races, and has been in the top five seven times. Burton began his racing career as a child racing go-kaBrts. TODAY'S LINEUP With car number in parentheses See parenthesis. parentheses - See left parenthesis, right parenthesis. and qualifying speed in mph: 1. (42) Joe Nemechek 183.015. 2. (28) Ernie Irvan 182.927. 3. (24) Jeff Gordon 182.894. 4. (46) Wally Dallenbach Jr. 182.755. 5. (33) Ken Schrader 182.553. 6. (7) Geoff Bodine 182.482. 7. (29) Jeff Green 182.283. 8. (17) Darrell Waltrip 182.209. 9. (88) Dale Jarrett 182.163. 10. (5) Terry Labonte 181.915. 11. (25) Ricky Craven 181.823. 12. (6) Mark Martin 181.653. 13. (30) Johnny Benson Jr. 181.607. 14. (3) Dale Earnhardt 181.493. 15. (18) Bobby Labonte 181.493. 16. (94) Bill Elliott 181.410. 17. (2) Rusty Wallace 181.383. 18. (21) Michael Waltrip 181.018. 19. (36) Derrike Cope 180.991. 20. (23) Jimmy Spencer 180.900. 21. (16) Ted Musgrave 180.814. 22. (37) Jeremy Mayfield 180.795. 23. (9) Lake Speed 180.764. 24. (97) Chad Little 180.655. 25. (99) Jeff Burton 180.614. 26. (40) Greg Sacks 183.753. 27. (8) Hut Stricklin 183.458. 28. (31) Mike Skinner 183.383. 29. (4) Sterling Marlin 183.071. 30. (43) Bobby Hamilton 182.727. 31. (77) Morgan Shepherd 182.537. 32. (71) Dave Marcis 182.436. 33. (1) Jerry Nadeau 182.288. 34. (96) David Green 182.232. 35. (98) John Andretti 182.168. 36. (11) Brett Bodine 182.108. 37. (75) Rick Mast 182.048. 38. (44) Kyle Petty 181.974. Provisional Starters 39. (10) Ricky Rudd 40. (22) Ward Burton 41. (41) Steve Grissom 42. (90) Dick Trickle CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Jeff Gordon |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion