Sears Point Race Notes, Finish
05/04/97
SONOMA, CA - Lap 50 Mike Wallace loops the SPAN can. so-kay.... We still show Martin in the lead, with Terry Labonte in second, followed by Gordon, Jarrett, Elliott, J Burton and Darrell Waltrip...? Yup Waltrip is in the seventh spot alright.... not bad considering his 26th starting spot. The Iceman (aka Terry Labonte) is just hanging off of Martin waiting for one of those infrequent slips on Martin's part or the last lap.... whichever may come first. CAUTION lap 54 after Kenny Wallace 'left the park' when he crashed entering the carousel (turn 6). He went through a tire barrier and the full coarse caution comes out for the second time today. Wallace just went in too hot. A few come to the pits... The 28, 33 94, 98, 44, 4 and the 46 come in... Elliott sits in the pits on jack stands for some sort of problem.... oppps he's back in the garage with The top spots goto Martin, T Labonte, Gordon, Jarrett and J Burton.... oh and lets not forget DW in the 6th spot. We go green on lap 58.... Martin gets a pretty good jump on the field but he doesn't get too far away from the field. Mayfield spins off the course... he gathers it back up and goes on his way. Gordon peeking around Labonte... Gordon drives it in deep in to turn 4 and gets the spot from Labonte. Martin now has about a 2.5 second lead over Gordon. Robby Gordon has retired for the day. At lap 60 its Martin, Gordon, Terry Labonte, Jarrett and J Burton. Terry Labonte is back up and working on Gordon. With 12 to go Martin holds his lead over Gordo...... Caution lap 63..... Andretti and the 9 car tangle coming out of 11 and SMASH the wall. The leaders stay out.... and they would be..... Martin, Gordon, Terry Labonte, Jarrett, J Burton, DW, Brett Bodine, M Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, and Ted Musgrave. We'll have a single file restart because we will have less then ten to go when the green flies. GREEN Flag lap ... lap 65 Up the hill Martin goes and he opens up a small lead.... Jarrett now starts looking over Labonte... Labonte slips a bit but Jarrett doesn't get by. 8 to go no change in the top 5. DW dives under Burton but Burton slams the door shut.... DW falls in behind Burton. Gordo is now closing in on Martin..... say within a car length. 7 to go Top 5 remains the same. Gordon up and looking but Martin, so far, doesn't get the room he needs to get by....... Jeff Burton slides off the track and drops back out of the top ten.... DW is in the top 5. 6 to go.... Martin is able to hold on to his lead but Gordon is so close he'd best not slip-up much 5 to go.... top 5 are Martin, Gordon, T Labonte, Jarrett and DW. Martin has about a 5 car length lead. 4 to go..... Top 5 unchanged. Martin maintains his 5 car length (average) lead over Gordon. 3 to go Top 5 remain the same..... Martin maybe stretched out a two car lead. Bobby Labonte gets 6th from B Bodine. Bobby spins off the course in turn 3 ... he drives away. With 1 to go Martin still in the lead and has a ten car lead over Gordon. Martin bobbles a touch.... Gordo can't capitalize on it..... It's Martin... Gordon trying around the outside.... Martin slammed it closed.... Martin wins the Save Mart Supermarkets 300 and breaks his long long drought on a visit to victory lane.... he's followed by Gordon, T Labonte, Dale Jarrett and ol' DW (Darrell Waltrip). Mike Snow -- The Auto Channel