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Swaim Jr. Makes it Three in a Row

11 February 1998

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.--High Point, N.C.'s Mike Swaim Jr. continued his strangle hold on the number one starting position for the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series' Discount Auto Parts "200" presented by ACDelco Rapidfire at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. by putting his No. 28 Pennzoil Pontiac Sunfire on the Bud Pole for the third consecutive year.

The 21-year-old defending NASCAR Goody's Dash Series champion turned a lap of 55.247 sec. at an average speed of 162.905 mph., almost one full mile an hour faster than the 1995 Dash Series champion, David Hutto of Rock Hill, S.C. who qualified second in Friday's 42 car field. Hutto's Irmo Grading sponsored Chevrolet Cavalier navigated the 2.5 mile superspeedway in 55.562 sec. averaging 161.981 mph.

Third fastest in Tuesday's first round of qualifying was the Discount Auto Parts/ACDelco Rapidfire Ford Probe of Rookie contender, Derrick Kelly of Auburndale, Fla. Kelly's time of 55.811 at 161.259 mph. just edged out the second fastest Pontiac in Friday's field, the Great Clips/Elder Jones Sunfire of Christian Elder.

Rounding out the top ten qualifiers for the 200 mile event are Jake Hobgood of Winnsboro, S.C., Scott Weaver of Shelby, N.C., Donnie Neuenberger of Brandywine, Md., Ricky Bryant of Linwood, N.C., Darryl Murray of Fort Lawn, S.C. and George Crenshaw of Lakeland, Fla.

The 20 fastest drivers in today's qualifying are locked into guaranteed starting spots for Friday's Discount Auto Parts "200". Those qualifying outside the top 20 will have an opportunity to either stand on today's times or attempt to better their starting position by re-qualifying Wednesday afternoon in round two.

Friday's Discount Auto Parts "200" presented by ACDelco Rapidfire will roll off at 11:00 am and will, for the first time in the 23 year history of the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series, feature the new six-cylinder power plants challenging the traditional four cylinder engines that have long been the trademark of this unique sub-compact touring series. Qualifying results indicate that the race for superiority is, at least for the moment, extremely equal, with first, third, fifth, sixth and tenth qualifying positions all being held by drivers running the new V-6. While second, fourth, seventh, eighth and ninth spots all belong to the four cylinder brigade. In the battle of the car manufacturers, Pontiac holds a seven to two to one advantage over Ford and Chevrolet, respectively, in today's top ten qualifiers.