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 Sunday, February 27
Fords aren't so tough at Rockingham
 
Associated Press

 ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Although the competition was considerably closer on Sunday in the Dura-Lube/Kmart 400 than it was the previous week in Daytona, the teams say the jury is still out on how even the three makes of cars are.

"I think it's too early to tell yet, honestly, for all the makes," said Ford driver Rusty Wallace, who started from the pole and finished 11th at North Carolina Speedway after taking fourth in Daytona.

Dura-Lube/KMart 400
Kenny Irwin spins as Jeff Fuller drives high to avoid him and Chad Little gets squeezed by Ted Musgrave (top) and Robert Pressley.
Fords swept the top five positions in the Daytona 500, raising an outcry from the General Motors teams that the Taurus has an aerodynamic advantage, particularly in producing downforce -- the air pressure that holds the car to the track in the turns.

But Bobby Labonte's Pontiac led a sweep of the first four positions Sunday that included Dale Earnhardt's Monte Carlo in second. Dale Jarrett, who won in Daytona, was the top Ford finisher in fifth.

"The chassis has a lot to do with what goes on here," Wallace said. "Aerodynamics isn't everything."

Jimmy Makar, Labonte's crew chief agreed, saying, "It's obvious nobody's got a big advantage right now. We had great racing today. All three manufacturers finished up front."

Earnhardt, the leading complainer in Daytona, still wasn't totally happy, despite his strong showing in Rockingham.

"They introduced the Taurus (in Daytona) and the Taurus beat us bad," The Intimidator said. "I think this is a racetrack where downforce works, but also I think if you've got a car that's handling, you can overcome some of that."

For the second week in a row, NASCAR impounded three cars after the race to take to the wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga. After Daytona, it was the No. 88 of Jarrett, the No. 31 Chevy of Mike Skinner and the No. 22 Pontiac of Ward Burton. This time, NASCAR took the 88, Earnhardt's No. 3 and Labonte's No. 18.

Before Sunday's race, Gary Nelson, NASCAR's Winston Cup director, said, "Every race is critical. But, in the scheme of things, we still have to continue to digest all the information we've been collecting.

"When we feel like we have enough to be convinced and understand what an issue is, and feel like we also have enough information to know what reaction we can make ... we'll do that."

Ford still waiting for No. 400
Ford remained at 399 Winston Cup victories following Sunday's race.

But, considering that the Roush Racing Fords of Mark Martin and Jeff Burton have won the first two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the manufacturer could easily get its prized 400th win next Sunday at the Nevada track.

Pit fire burns crewman
A crewman for Wally Dallenbach Jr. was burned when gasoline spilled during a pit stop caught fire.

Joe Karasinski was treated in the infield medical center for burns to the left side of his face and neck. He was then sent home and was scheduled to see his own doctor for follow-up treatments.

Bodine undergoes wrist surgery
Geoffrey Bodine, injured in a spectacular, fiery crash on Feb. 18 during the truck race in Daytona, underwent surgery Sunday in Charlotte, N.C., to repair his fractured right wrist.

Four pins were inserted into Bodine's wrist and Dr. Michael Bosse said the surgery was successful. The driver returned home Sunday in time to watch the race on television.

Ted Musgrave, filling in for Bodine until he can return to the car, finished 16th, three laps behind the winner.

Spark plugs ...
Bobby Labonte has now won at least one race in six straight years. He moved into a three-way tie for 40th on the career winner's list with 13, joining Dick Rathmann and Tim Richmond. ... Dale Earnhardt Jr. was three laps down in 19th, but was the highest finishing of five rookies in the race. ... Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett finished fifth, giving him nine straight top-seven finishes in Rockingham. ... The winner's share of Sunday's $2.2 million purse was $131,385.		 


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