| | Associated Press
LONG POND, Pa. -- Driver Robert Pressley and crew chief Ryan
Pemberton consider themselves lone wolves of a sort on the Winston
Cup circuit, where virtually every car is partnered with another.
"The numbers are against us," said Pemberton, who in his first
season with the Jasper Motorsports team has given Pressley new life
on the track. "We would like to be able to join forces or start
another team, but it's not that easy to do."
But it's necessary if a team expects to win. The last 58 races
have been won by multicar operations.
That streak nearly ended in June at Michigan Speedway, when
Pressley held the lead when the race was halted for rain with 16
laps remaining. But it resumed, and Tony Stewart was the winner.
Pressley finished a season-best fifth, part of the team's upward
move in the standings. Last season, Pressley finished 39th in
points.
He also would like an alliance with another car, one that would
yield twice as much information from testing. But Pressley is
cautious about such arrangements.
"I think it would be good having a two-car team here if you had
a true two-car team," he said. "You know, there's some two-car
teams out there that are not sharing everything."
Ironman's relief
Ailing Terry Labonte will extend his record
for consecutive Winston Cup starts to 655 Sunday when he goes from
the 22nd spot on the grid in the Pennsylvania 500.
But Labonte, 43, won't be
around long. Still recovering from a broken right shin bone, Labonte
will give way to relief driver Rich Bickle the first time the
caution flag flies at Pocono International Raceway.
"Terry just needs some extra time to rest and recuperate,"
said John Hendrick, president of Hendrick Motorsports. "He's a
warrior, and we just wanted to find him some extra rest without
jeopardizing his record for consecutive starts."
Labonte was hurt three weeks ago in a crash at Daytona
International Speedway, and aggravated the injury in a wreck a week
later in Loudon, N.H.
Pit stops
One of three drivers can collect a record $180,000
bonus Sunday from series sponsor Winston should they leave Pocono
with a victory and the points lead. Bobby Labonte, who won both
Pocono races last year, has the best chance because he has a
45-point lead. Dale Earnhardt is second. Series champion Jarrett is
68 points behind. The biggest payout for the bonus -- which
increases by $10,000 each race, was $160,000 in 1996. ... Starting
near the front counts heavily at Pocono International Raceway. Cars
that began races in the first two rows have won 26 of 45 previous
races on the track. ... Tony Stewart's car is only the second
Pontiac to start from the pole this season. Fords, led by Rusty
Wallace's series-leading seven poles, have gone from the point 12
times. Chevrolets have won five poles. | |
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