1996 NWC AC Delco 400 Rockingham

[Music] it's the wildest racing on the planet a squadron of type-a personalities get a state-of-the-art fleet of racing machines you either win or you lose and these guys hate to lose the hot ride doesn't you gotta keep your cool live from Phoenix International Raceway it's the NASCAR Winston Cup drew Liu Sunday October 27th - we turned one central on TNN Motorsports [Music] [Music] don't miss the ACDelco 400 from Rockingham on TNN brought to you locally by Huntersville Chevrolet Geo Mooresville Savings Bank Charlotte Motor Speedway Burger King and park Chevrolet geo their soulmate new 97 cars and trucks pick your car take your payment and Rick Hendrick's import outlet pipe must've Concord get ninety seven six two sixes just two twenty nine per month no down paper Honda cars of Concorde get ninety seven Civic just $1.99 per month no down favorite at Toyota of Concord get the new 97 camera just two twenty nine per month to get a car for less you have to buy factory in Iraq it's import outlet racing for you today it's back to Rockingham for the win speak up ACDelco 400 this place has a way of taking this toll on man and machine believe me I know so let's say yous gonna survive and take a chip out of the rock the following is a special presentation of TNN Motorsports they don't make days anime sir than this one the fans are arriving by the thousands and if you like drama with your racing you've come to the right place you're on TNN Motorsports with live coverage today from the rock [Music] it's all everybody's talking about points points who's going to lead the points when we wrap up the ACDelco 403 races remain at three men possibly four still vying for the title through the entire 1996 season the point chase has been closed but a miserable day at Charlotte for Jeff Gordon coupled with a win for Terry Labonte has made the season virtually a dead heat today at the rock only one point separate the two and we all know that the guy that has the one-point lead is this man Jeff Gordon he starts third right behind the pole sitter Dale Jarrett Jeff does that one point differential now change your strategy for this race well I guess if I had a hundred or 200 point lead you know I'd be looking a little bit differently but you know right now through races to go anything can happen basically one point means no point yeah we just got to go out there we're gonna have to race hard we've got to finish and hopefully we can finish up front the only way to make points on these guys these days is to either win or run somewhere in the top five okay thanks Jeff best of luck to you today his luck here at Rockingham hasn't been the best his teammate Terry Labonte has had good luck here at Rockingham let's look back at their past history here in last fall's championship battle the rock rush Jeff Gordon he managed just at 20th place finish terry labonte meanwhile has won here twice including one time in the fall of 1983 but does anyone really have an advantage here although terry labonte is only one point out of the NASCAR Winston Cup championship points lead he does start this race today a little bit of a deficit you have Terry way back here in 19th position I know that's not quite what you wanted you have to be extremely careful when they drop the green flag today well yeah you always got to be a little bit careful but yeah we sure didn't want to be back this far but hey that's where we qualified so we just gotta you know do the best we can and better what's the way to the front okay that's it from Terry Labonte they said the car is very good in practice yesterday he'll be a factor here this afternoon another guy that's gonna be a factor no doubt about it he's already got half of his goal completed he's on the pole and he's standing by with Glen Jeremy what thanks Randy it's been one of my two biggest dreams of my broadcasting life to interview my brother on the pole in the Winston Cup race I get to do that today Dale you had a task ahead of you you guys got off to a great start sitting on the pole what does it look like for today I feel pretty good about it we've changed the engines from yesterday afternoon Robert then the guys weren't exactly happy with what they saw so made a big change there but the chassis is in pretty good shape I believe and we just do what the cars want to do and try to get it adjusted for the end of the race okay good luck to you brother take care out there we will continue this coverage on pit road for you as always here we're gonna go back up top to the booth now here is eli gold all right thanks Clanton folks here you have the story from the pit lane i'm eli gold welcome to the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham let's take a quick look at the points for you brought to you by Texaco and Havilland Formula three motor oil it controls volatility and fights vaporization first second and third place you know the stories even Dale Earnhardt and fourth mathematically still in the hunt and dr. dick Berggren if you go on the basis of past performance we could even see Jarrett with a point lead by the time we wrap up here in about three and a half hours yeah we certainly could because just take a look at the spring race here and in the spring Jeff Gordon lost that engine he was a DNF Labonte lost at engine he was at Jarrid finished second dive you took the same points that they got from that spring race apply them to this race Jarrett would leave here with the point lead now earlier today on our race day show we heard from Dale Earnhardt and Buddy Baker you can identify he told us that tire maintenance and tire planning is going to be the story here today well you know when they first repaid this racetrack any setup would pretty well work but now it's getting back to the old Rockingham the car slides a little in the corner where on the tire is extreme so now you have to balance the car to get around we're so happy you're with us here today just three races remain in the 1996 season two of those events here on TNN and it's the ACDelco 400 coming up on the rock as soon as we return we checked the starting lineup today's exclusive coverage of the ACDelco 400 on TNN is brought to you by Haviland formula 3 motor oil controls volatility and fights vaporization by the Miller Brewing Company proud sponsor of the Miller Racing team we race for beer by the more than 1450 autozone stores across America autozone the best parts in Auto Parts and by Pontiac and your local Pontiac dealer we driving excitement field just now beginning to roll off the starting grid as three warm-up laps are in store let's check out today's Sears diehard starting grid brought to you by the diehard battery now with more power when you need it Dale Jarrett breaking Ricky Rudd's events qualifying record and there is run himself his third Rockingham front row start in the last five races row number two Jeff Gordon by a points he has the NASCAR Winston Cup lead and for Mark Martin 12 straight top-ten finishes here starting in the fifth spot Bobby Labonte and row number three started fifth year the spring race for finished 33rd and John Andretti the sixth race of the number 98 machine for him row number four Robby Gordon in his sixth neste car Winston Cup start and Kenny Wallace the fifth starting grid of starting role as they worked their way around the Speedway Ted Musgrave and Todd Bodine he's aboard the 33 machine for the remainder of the season Kenny Schrader takes over next year Kyle Petty with three winch and Hut Stricklin who likes this racetrack roll number seven that's Jeff bodean and veteran Jimmy Spencer the 8th starting roll Dale Earnhardt he's always at the hunt a year and Bill Elliott he comes into this field starting outside of Rouen ninth starting role Brett Bodine and Rick mast has had some good runs in the last six or seven races this year and the tenth row that's Terry Labonte to Rockingham Williams and the pole here in the spring that's Ernie Irvan to his outside starting rule number 11 Dick Trickle and Jeff Burton driving for Jack Roush Racing row number 12 here today late speed and our broadcast buddy DW Darrell Waltrip outside of row number 12 row number 13 there's Rusty Wallace with five Rockingham wins and Bobby Hamilton we remember back to February he was in position to win here row number 14 derrike cope winding down his association with Bobby Allison motorsports and Sterling Marlin a big story their new crew chief Tony Glover is out he's made his plans for 97 they're starting a pit earlier that he thought they would roll number 15 Ricky Craven and Robert Pressley Presley will be aboard the Cartoon Network machine today and again next year there's Kenny Schrader and Gary Bradbury from Chelsea Alabama he's on row number six teams outside 17th starting spot Mayfield on row 17 Michael Waltrip also number 17 and taking you further back now Billy Standridge Wally Dallenbach they shared the 18th row row number 19 Dave Marcus and Johnny Benson who wrecked here on Friday and to go to a backup car Morgan Shepherd and joe nemecheck will share the 20th row row number 21 Ward Burton and Bobby Hillin jr. field was set to get the one to go signal but they have now waved it off so we'll be at least another couple of laps before this field goes green for the first time so we have a moment to bring you the AutoZone race analysis brought to you by the more than 1450 autozone stores across america autozone the best parts in Auto Parts and they you see the numbers pertaining to today's running of the ACDelco 400 on this racetrack the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham track that measures one point zero one seven miles around the turns are bank twenty two degrees and turns one and two twenty five degrees and turns three and four and there you see all the numbers in this 393 lap 400 mile race Mark Martin carrying onboard cameras for us here today and there he works his way through the banking of turns number three and for the field set to get the one to go signal the next time by also today Morgan Shepherd has camp aboard the remington arms machine from his starting spot way back in 39 that he's got a long way to go to get to the front also onboard cameras today coming your way from the pole sitting machine that's Dale Jarrett Bert credit for to be giving us some now gets the one to go signal hope we can give you some attractive and interesting looks around this 1.01 7 my layout John ends ready also with our onboard cameras today and before we go any further all right now let us say congratulations to one of the members of this broadcast team Buddy Baker I have always looked forward to working with a hall-of-famer in any sport and now I can proudly say that we are inducted this coming year but the announcement made the other day that Buddy Baker among others Richard Petty as well inducted to the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame in Talladega Alabama and our heartfelt congratulations to you buddy Eli thank you very much it's a it's an honor and the people that are going into that International Hall of Fame with me they're heavy hitters I'm just proud to be in and it's ironic I guess and certainly it should be stated that with the Hall of Fame being at Talladega Alabama that's me buddy I always loved that racetrack well we are going green glad you're on board the first of 393 laps 400 miles around the North Carolina Motor Speedway Dale Jarrett brings him to the green flag and we are set for the ACDelco 400 on TNN Motorsports [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] hail charit waiting for nobody he is for car lengths this is the first race that jared has laid [Music] different race he is led here in 1996 as you bringing you along racing down the front straightaway you say Jeff bug going in the corner there Martin Martin Martin taking that spot away for third he works off the banking Jeff Gordon is you see bobby labonte who wears the Dallas Cowboys head here here today as part of his associate sponsorship with the NFL and look at this further back in the field there's Earnhardt on the low side who swirly the mowers brett bodine at 15 16 and [Music] racetrack now you [Music] in the corner to you're able to race-around rock [Music] that's 14th place right there Brett Bodine gets the spot away from at 6:00 on Ricky Revis you watched the battling midway through the pack they did change the engine on Jarrett's car this morning and their decision was turn up the wick they realized that in order to stay in this points race they have got to win here today collects a few others on the low side of the racetrack and caution is on the Speedway Robby Gordon and only his sixth NASCAR Winston Cup event takes a big bite out of a big Mack there on the low side of the racetrack and Bill Elliott gets caught up here and that's how quickly things can happen here at Rockingham all the five laps in were under caution you say Robby Gordon's car there are a lot of damage to the rear of the car Bill Elliott was just involved there a lot of damage just in front of the rear wheel though on the 94 cars we'll take a look at it again and see if we can tell exactly how he broke loose Eli it looked like he just went in there so hard into turn three that's one of the light places where the car the back end of the car really gets light going in the corner looked like he just went in a little too hard lost the back end on the car you see Bell Elliot just about clearing on that didn't quite make it back Auggie will take a look at it again from a second angle and Glenn Jarrett we were all talking about this scenario this morning the fact that Ted Musgrave in this instance was very close behind Gordon and we're starting to see with different spoiler rules now versus when we were here in February it may not have necessarily contributed here but it could be a storyline as the state continues oh absolutely Lyle we've got to keep our eye on particularly the Fords the ports have a total of one half inch less spoiler here at Rockingham than they did in the spring race they lost a quarter of an inch before Charlotte then a quarter of an inch after Charlotte so they it is to make the car loose we saw it in in the bush Cranston race yesterday Dale Jarrett Mark Martin when one of the other we get up on the rear end of that car make it very loose we see the spoiler situation mainly on the fours let's go to under 80 well Robby Gordon sits in the pits here in his first Union automobile and my speculation is he'll probably be done for the day they're taking a hard look at it no question about it rear clip is bent in this car and they're uh yeah he has now shut the motor off so Robbie Gordon his early experience here at Rockingham not very well but he's gonna be around for a long time because I'll take a look at it maybe get in a sixth NASCAR Winston Cup Series race under caution we have gone seven laps already two teams in the garage Bill Elliott and Robby Gordon brought to you by gladiator and universal luxury band the official bands of tracks teams and drivers throughout the NASCAR world call 1-800 for 45 28 25 for a dealer near you the field getting the one to go signal as the folks at der Alou bringing all these fine aerial shots from the rock that is the brand new press box and luxury suite complex brand-new for this weekend here at the North Carolina Motor Speedway Robby Gordon is also brand-new to this racetrack Randy not a good indoctrination was it well he's obviously upset no question about it Robby I know that had to kill you right there what happened ah you know I don't know what happened my dad he just ran in the back of me it's it's unfortunate you know I'm but that's we're here this years to get some experience I was just trying to keep my nose clean and I'm worrying about myself and the spotter told me that he you know that he was he was tough on me but as soon as I listed he just ran the back and spun me out but you know we'll pay our dues this year where we come out for real next year okay that's Robby Gordon goes to show you you can start upfront and still getting these wrecks a lot of times we talk about me and if you start upfront you'll be okay but not always the case and obviously that was the description from Robby and there was tough to tell off the video shots that we had but he's clarification from the Robby Gordon side green is in the air it's still in the garage area by the way if you're just joining us if he doesn't come out this would be only the second race all year that he is not finished there goes red got the lead Jarrett settles in but can he make it stick run yes he can we've seen her heart make that move many of time and that time Ricky rod hangs on to the lead still looking for his first win of the year that streak that has now gone 13 years Ricky's had at least one win a year for the last 13 seasons State Mark Martin given up third spot there to Jeff Gordon down the back straightaway mark had moved all the way up to third and really made a challenge there for the lead meanwhile Dale Earnhardt Kyle Petty they work through the banking now that's back it from 12 spot they are working on Bill Elliott garage apparently is done for the day there's Kyle beneath them there in the 33 and there's the scramble for the lead again [Applause] coming off turn four looking under Rikki right there got a good brought up out of the corner but couldn't quite like the past surprised at running this heart this early especially since the conversation in the garage at about tire management take care of those tires because if we get a long run the drivers who have taken care of their tires early on will be at a real advantage for at the end of those runs but they are running about as hard in an auto race and viscerally the crew chiefs are saying that yesterday when they went out and really made five Banzai laps they saw the tire wear really become hugely significant at lap 20 but if [Music] the tire wear although is so significant that the top off the point little bit on the point system right now car of Jeff Gordon if he could get up there and just leave one background once in the back that would mean a lot to him right now early and would love to get up there right now Ricky Rudd Dale Jarrett here goes Jarrett for the lead he had the lead for the first 10 laps of the day [Music] that's a big time horses on the straightaway going back to one Jarrett's got the lead here goes Gordon he one second boy you got a great drop off the corner there that down Jeff Gordon just Ricky Rudd there now he trying to pick up on let's keep an eye on this guy to mark Parton he has not won yet in 1996 he has a very strong horse here that car has been very fast and practice here at Rockingham too could well be his day yes one here since 1989 in the NASCAR Winston Cup machine though basically owns this racetrack on the NASCAR Busch Series as we saw here yesterday in the ACDelco 200 Dale Jarrett leaves were still very early at the rock we're bad Lana Motor Speedway in Rockingham at his 18th spot on back basically there's a good scramble now to the inside of [Music] maintains fun [Music] stares Rusty Wallace in the Kenny Schrader's zigging and zagging in front of rusty middle of your screen laughs complete 393 makeup the total distance here today well Jimmy Spencer using the hike as we see some guys using the Lo and their straighter beginning to crime the banking just a bit Eli that's what I was talking about last year we were here you just kind of single file through the corner an insider rock it off the floor now you can race the whole racetrack again and Harry in the play again very hot and you get o to Memphis I'm upstairs as Ricky Craven who has been run yesterday he had a good the brand actual rates it Kenny Schrader's now in one of his final ride the rick hendrick okay moving on to Andy Petree racing in the number 33 next year [Applause] [Music] in the 99 in the low side of the racetrack on the number three in position at the to three-time winner here meanwhile on the garage bill Elliot still surveying the damage it's sitting in the car here bills man that is it colleges here the 40 car [Music] an unfortunate incident but that's it from Bill Elliott the right side damage they've got sheet metal out there clear away some of the debris they're going to go ahead and tape and pop rivets and sheet metal on the door which is exposed all the way to the row bar and he'll be out in a few minutes a lot of work to be done as he watched the 27th place battle on the racetrack down a 30 car there that Johnny Benson he had to go the rear because it crashed and qualifying and then head so he's trying to get track position we can tele pretty cool very patient through traffic they went to a backup injured the sporting as well this is riding a Morgan Shepherd now he starts to use that middle to higher groove just a bit to his advantage he's gonna do some showcase work today Eli he still does not have a ride nothing put together from Morgan Shepherd yet for 1997 it at age 54 time's running out he's got to get something going yeah silly season weld for some but others are still trying to thank you what the future holds there's darrell waltrip now Ward Burton new one here a year ago at his pond battling alongside Mayfield that's a good scramble right there that we watch meanwhile 14th place battle on your screen right now Hut Stricklin outside of the QVC machine of Jeff there's darest poked and what they of Bobby Allison kind of death for next year yeah if that's a sponsor out there anywhere get with this guy bobby allison not have a great race burn [Music] you're watching the second-place battle on your screen they are two and two-tenths seconds behind the race leader Dale Jarrett working laughs number 30 couple affords ahead to the first Chevrolet how strong is Dale Jarrett here at Rockingham well in the last eight laps he's gone from 1.7 seconds up to 2.7 seconds up but there's a guy who's running well that's John Andretti in the 98 challenging fifth spot there with Bobby Labonte and making the pass a good one you know what you gotta like as you listen in on John Andretti's radio fact that Mark Martin his car is tight everywhere Dale Jarrett's is loose everywhere everybody's got their own set of problems you know what though I'm watching Jimmy Spencer right in the the camel car there the number 23 look at him on the high side going by Bobby Labonte he picked that howl I'm like he did in the fall we have talked about amusing that offside groove a little while ago there's Jimmy Spencer push the guy in that mix there bobby labonte he is drivers who won last year one this year there's still five of them Mark Martin won last year he has a win this year Bobby Labonte Ward kyle petty mentioned ricky rudd earlier so a lot of guys including the Interstate Batteries machine themselves dialed into these final three races because he's a really interesting strategy developed today in terms of what teams do when they pit for tires and so forth we're 90 and around the 24 here as we're watching your screen look at Jimmy Spencer [Music] and ready down the back straightaway he's got this thing hooked up in that High Line but there is a does not have a groove on it and you're wearing their cash the patient's already dropped off about one second a lap as these fires have begun who where so we'll see some strategy developing terry labonte making his move now he is in tenth position as he watched Jimmy Spencer right now Dale Jarrett the race leader the tire where they were saying 25 laps about 40 how bad is it make that company line half of what they feel like they can run everybody's telling me they think they can get between 70 to 75 left anybody will go that far or at least want to see what to wear here but after about halfway on that run your ride it drops off about a second tell you to drop off as much as to [Music] it really drops off drastically here we're the tire will wear through this blowout it's just a situation that the grip goes out of the tire he's ready the car is tight getting in tighten the metal tight coming off so uh stop says fruity Steve Mills the rear-end gear feels a little funny this is for you feels like there's a little place [Music] well when you're in the power like and you back out and the gear keeps on rolling like that eventually knockout in the gear and also it's not a good thing to have this early and race then again as the gear gets hotter known as fast well anyway you look at the good thing about happening you know what Jimmy Spencer started running that High Line and leaving cars right now except for ricky rudd they're all [Music] everybody's the same feel like yesterday with Ricky Craven yeah and you know what the racetrack is smoother up there that it is downstairs it's a lot more rough downstairs you know how sandpaper comes in different grits this is a sandpaper looking racetrack and it's real coarse downstairs and about medium upstairs there's the leader Jarrett and they you see back to the 10 point seven seconds from the back to the ten we'll take a look overhead as well so you can get an idea of what the clock translates to as far as distance on the racetrack is concerned we wait for ricky rudd you know they said they turned the wick up on the 88 car this morning what he's probably backin off just passive Danny and really getting a knife rolling [Music] start in corner that just free floats down in the corner wonder who has the biggest smile right now and ready or Spencer [Music] they're running them third and fourth and we'll all find out together but there's probably the biggest smile of a lot Dale Jarrett's got a car that's hooked up and getting gone 47 laps complete here in Rockingham we are back at the North Carolina Motor Speedway they Marcus there's the computer dressed for NASCAR online wwm s car comm and by the way folks in addition to all the regular news you can get the NASCAR online this coming Friday at 1:30 Eastern Time and Truck Series drivers Mike Bliss and Dave Rezendes will be on line for a live chat session from Phoenix International Raceway that's Friday at 1:30 Eastern [Music] wwws car.com Eli we're looking at third place car now that Kirra he brought back you see we're riding with john andretti he went by ricky rudd on the hot side and Spencers gaining on him to put in one more spot back top of the racetrack now time's fluctuating for Dale Jared and it dropped under a second now it's back up to one in a tense meanwhile Bobby Labonte Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte they are running in sixth seventh and eighth positions right now making their way up through traffic remember way back today in the 19th position that was Terry now here's Bobby Labonte what Terry so smooth out there he is just I'll tell you what you want to talk about a guy that can drive when tires are an issue there's the guy who can drive when tires are at issue he never bobbles he's always smooth smooth smooth just goes right into those corners gentle on the gas back out again and he is ever so fast and go he didn't win here when we were here remember he led 190 eight laps here in February which interestingly was the sixth time in his career that Terry Labonte has leant over in a race here at the run there you're back again eavesdrop on n pretties radio communications [Applause] like cale yarborough talking they're telling John when the owner they're the 77 but goes down low not a strand of the mayor tail is really high on John that guy that he's really high I John ed ready he knows this guy knows how to push the pedal of course that's the kind of racecar driver that Cale John Andretti said his problems crash and bended up some cars and Cale said I'd much rather have a guy like [Music] make the offer go the other way and kale one here seven times so he knows his way around this track and they see Spencer he's [Music] best performance of the year was fifth back at Martinsville you know I've thinking about kale turn that steering wheel time but he never give up he would fight he was one of the last [Music] Spencer fourth and fifth finally getting around some lap traffic [Music] Jared and Ricky runner thus far if you curious about Mark Martin he is now back slid to the 11th spot and he said his car was just so very tight all over the racetrack a short while ago and then he is now settled in but he was well there we go there's Gary Bradbury going by right now Mark's not up to speed obviously this has trouble handling the race club used to be the cars were all tight here and Goodyear brought a little bit different tires little bit more stagger in them now about an eighth of an inch court has loosened him up a little bit obviously not enough from our carton right now one thing Marvin said his car up to run around the base of the racetrack and halfway around the track right now as you can see he's not to let allowed to run on the bottom the fastest part is up high so until he had just a car he's going to be off just there's 7/8 positions on the screen right now till Avani just passed the bunny the seed statement Ervin's up to 10th spot now the number 28 machine there goes Derek hope there goes Gary Bradbury you were saying three wide buddy they just did it successfully you know while we were watching this great ray come back in the back ready laughs 64 within shouting distance of the first pit stops before too much longer just joining us limiting one caution flag Robby Gordon and Bill Elliott spotted lap number five Elliott has returned to the track he's 45 down as you see a great LaFonte working through the corner content spot on your score side-by-side they goes we look overhead the rock or that 28 the back straightaway there bad news never surprise where's Dale Jarrett is the race leader also out of the Robert Gates tables there you see Dale Jarrett don't want to overlook he has been basically in his own time zone here of late good scramble again Spencer and Dale earnheardt now [Music] mamas you know you can tell spell oh they make a little contact coming out of turn [Music] though he scrambles towards the further having bypass Spencer [Music] able to go as quickly as he was of it earlier apparently he has used up his fire to see Gary Bradbury passing everybody he's three laps down tires so don't want to confuse you there he has just come back out onto the racetrack with brand new good years and you can see how quickly it is making an impact because he's blowing by everybody but Dale Jarrett continues as the race leader we are working lap number 68 at the North Carolina Motor Speedway and Rockingham glad you're with us here on TNN [Music] today's exclusive coverage of the ACDelco 400 on TNN is brought to you by napa auto parts at NAPA we keep America running from high above the North Carolina Motor Speedway folks at dura Lube bringing all of our aerial pictures to you today two and three tenths of a second the advantage that Dale Jarrett has on those gentlemen John Andretti having just made the move around Ricky Rudd the pace of the leaders setting well in the first 71 laps they have already wrapped up to the 27th place car being Brett Bodine now while you were gone Ricky Craven has made a pit stop Todd Bodine has been in Jimmy Spencer has made his pit stops who were on the front end of that win the fellas Randy and telling you somewhere around 70 75 80 in that facility and that number 76 as leaders swing by the start/finish line here at the North Carolina Motor Speedway glad you're with us what a run for John Andretti finished fifth at Martinsville this is his best run 99 Jeff Burton he bobby labonte that's ninth intense spot on your screen and look across the top of the screen how many pretty good teams have already gone laps down now you see the interval of time how much to the race leader 26:27 good cars already a lap down come in right now they're all on used tires they're all wanting to come in but it's a way till Dale Jarrett does something direct go hang on or try to hang on but if they start losing too much time crew chief will say come on in man there you go Dale Jarrett making a move around Geoff Bodine while Sterling Marlin Pitt darrell waltrip pitch here comes Bobby Labonte now he'll make his pit stop at lap number 78 there's Labonte to the attention of Jimmy Makar and the crew Sterling Marlin will be coming back in for a stop and go he was too quick on the pit lane to Hill out they make another stop and go here as it makes his stop now at lap number 79 let's go down to Randy watch out open the trap petrol has become a very busy place in the next lap or so and here comes the leader now here comes Dale Jarrett here comes Ricky Rudd so Andretti takes over as the race leader at lap number 80 when Jarrett is DeMars brothers fence quality care for any [Music] so they don't anticipate many changes right now Ricky Rudd is coming right behind [Music] Thank You Jenny he said no likewise pretty lady four times of you the way well what a stuff 18.75 seconds this rod would easily and will not make any changes on the car other than there is the little slight air pressure adjustment they all like the way the cars feel pretty good they're not as loose running up top there Randy don't wedge or anything for the come-up 7 ladies down to the way as he tries to avoid Jeff Courtney's coming out now Marquez in left side tires I saw the wedge wrench the winds that they made an adjustment there Bobby well meanwhile chef Courtney has brought his [Music] down at the end appear right here the preferred number one spot this also is a four-tire change air pressure adjustment chef Dustin he does not like the the higher crew but there he's just as comfortable running in it stops have been taking place Borden has led a lap he's picked up his five bonus points he led lap 82 Derek Koch leads a lap so he will pick up five bonus points as well as he now makes stops there in the bangkok furniture entry so everything circles back around dale showered is the new leader again so everybody making their stops Dale Jarrett again at the head of the in the ACDelco [Music] back at the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham as Dale Jarrett is the lead don't forget you folks can race on into NASCAR Thunder the official store of NASCAR it's now open at the Gwinnett Place Mall in Atlanta Georgia at the Haynes mall in winston-salem North Carolina opening soon at the West Towne mall and Knoxville Tennessee the Vista Ridge Mall in Dallas Texas they'll be opening a this year and next year I am told 10 to 12 additional stores will be announcing the locations throughout the course of the year NASCAR Thunder the official store of NASCAR Dale Jarrett is the leader let's set the field - those pit stops Jared the leader but a second Terry Labonte is third you've got John in pretty fourth and Dale Earnhardt fifth Jimmy Spencer runs six thirty Ervin is seventh Jeff Gordon goes eight Bobby Labonte is ninth derrike cope is tenth Mark Martin runs 11 Jeff Burton is 12 buck Strickland now in 13th it will pick it up for you there again across the top of the screen as the folks at bring you the complete field rundown throughout the course of this afternoon running of the ACDelco you know Dale Jarrett's a heck of a story here we talked about him running so well realize he is literally he's let three races in rocket in prior to today grand total he realized that he was half of his Winston Cup races just this year this has been by far Dale Jarrett's best career year I'm just thinking about the rates in Charlotte labonte did exactly what he had to do to close up by leading the most left also leading the five one that everything fell into place for him to really close in and Dale Jarrett's doing the same thing here at Rockingham to make this a three-car fight front there he goes around Gary Bradbury and there you see the interval between he Jarrett and the number 10 machine Ricky rod hilt Kuro it into the picture colors there are seven cars between first and second spot right now basically the lane for the back straightaway and again there's that Napa field update and there's your second place runner hopes at NAPA Auto Parts they keep America running and they keep running for you here today well Jeff Gordon picked up his bonus points when he led laughs number 82 so that's one obstacle out of the way got a much bigger obstacle the car is not performing at all the way Jeff wants it right now little bit upset a little bit rattled about [Music] coming down just a little bit just so competitive he doesn't like it when the cars not out of the car on pit road it was nothing ray said they don't thereafter they do not know about it almost 11 say buddy if you probably spook Jeff you know you haven't had good races at a particular track in the past heck he had that bad first two races this year forty second and fortieth toll from the year anybody [Music] or don't have the numbers to put up on the board well that's got to be in the back of your mind you know in racing you have a racetrack that you don't have good left on a lot of times you create your own problems I talked to about exactly at that point yesterday he said I just don't pay any attention at all for statistics he said you know he's got a bunch of tracks that he wasn't so good at Bristol was a good at Bristol all of a sudden he got the hang of it and now he's good at Bristol all the kind it's Charlotte where it seemed as if he could do no wrong and then it fell off he said every race is a race unto itself there's the second-place battle right now Ricky Rudd and Terry Labonte he warned here yesterday and might not have her the potties punch led by crew chief gary DeHart one annual renewal of the unit championship pit crew that's going to be televised and its entirety here at CNN in a couple of there were a lot of penalties handed out yesterday and they did a good job and then to the 24 bunch either that finished second I'd Rick mast screw was next in line and again you'll see it all here on CNN couple of weeks time but our congratulations to the apply well they might have one yesterday but that first pit stop was won by Dale Jarrett's group beats a full straightaway that are fighting for second right now Dale Jarrett had a quake that stopped and he is getting around this racetrack extremely well Jarrett working there you see Jeff Gordon running by his lonesome as well silent racetrack here comes super run for him he's at ninth position right now we Martin in there's trouble trouble and turn to seventy-eight machine as Billy stand bridge spins off the banking and we are under caution just before that happened Eli you could see a puff of smoke come out from underneath Standridge his car he just went high into the corner and bam hit the wall didn't hit it hard there he is he's rolling off now that is the second caution flag of the afternoon Billy stand bridge spinning in turn number two and the leader Dale Jarrett has already taken the caution flag so a caution on the Speedway only one retiree if you're just tuning in Robby Gordon out with an early accident that laughed he and Ted Musgraves got together as port told us on the telecast Bill Elliott who was also involved as 45 laps down but he's back on the racetrack and then you are caught up to date as far as those stats are concerned Dale Jarrett the predominant leader today then Ricky Rudd John Andretti little app Jeff Gordon as little app so - Derek Cote having led a lap and that's been the story of the ACDelco 400 to this point the Unocal challenge on the line for our Bush pole-sitter Dale Jarrett he wins the race from the best seat in the house 121 foul $600 meanwhile here come the leaders Terry Labonte the first one to stop in front of Randy this is a big breather for these crews and handling well it gives them an opportunity not necessarily make a regionally fit stuff but to take the time and make the adjustments they need now it's a four-tire stop for everybody on pit road left side cars already on the Kellogg's cornflakes machine out of the way behind by Chevrolet and again he's down there they had enough not happy at all about the car as I said that time he would cigarette on the racetrack track the high groove in the low groove I think what we're seeing here and we'll watch when we go back to green when the tires are fresh and the grip is good Buddy Baker the fast car should run back down on the bottom again for a few laughs that's what Dale Jarrett was doing and then as the tires get worn they they need to move up just a little bit more on the racetrack so we'll watch them when they go back to green a lot and there you saw Billy stand ridges problem from the in-car camera riding along with Dale Jarrett so that's all that's been taking place everybody in and we've seen some darn good stops including the flying aces that time as Dale Earnhardt is now second only to Dale Jarrett coming right back looking for a great place to take the family how about Opryland USA in the official destination of NASCAR you can call the number you see on the screen for more information that pull line operation and operating monday through friday will give you all the details in there hey I can make up my own words as I go but do check out Opryland USA great vacation destination and some particularly nice displays and good times around the holiday season we're set to go back to green laughs 105 will be coming up on the board and how about some changes Earnhardt a great stop he's third Jeff Gordon was seventh before the pit stop he is now actually in second Borton now running in third after seventh before the stop Derek Pope was ninth before the pit stop he is now in fourth spot look at you do leader I remember that quickly Dale Jarrett yielding the position to earn Heights still plenty of racing to go or at lap little get up here at the North Carolina Motor Speedway or you can tell one day learn art fifty thousand black hats in the air when he come by that started back in 15th position her heart did and you know that's probably a good thing Eli he's won two races this year one of me started an 18th the other one he started an 18th after they you see the progression [Music] have a major player [Music] give me their heart and look to the inside coming off too [Music] got and ready you've got ricky rudd trying to work it three wide that's the scramble back in the middle of the field at eight ninth and tenth spot whoa about ran at a racetrack there really stand which very low he joins Robbie Thornton in the garage I don't think either car has advantage I didn't think [Music] much cleaner than the car running directly behind and right now at theme it's fun Rusty Wallace right behind the knees lead lap force Dale Earnhardt is the race leader interestingly Earnhardt and darrell waltrip the most times land among active drivers in this racetrack they've each led 25 different races here while Mark Martin continuing to run middle-of-the-pack Randy what have they done in his car well in that last pit stop they changed the right-side air pressure mark was as we documented tight all the way around but with frooties female after the stop [Music] about the gear problem I said is that something you guys have to worry about later on [Music] none of us would ever feel it he feels thousands and he fell that and cents not going to be a there's 7/8 places we watch it from on board John Andretti's car my wife right now very high on the racetrack there passed in hand he'll he cannot be happy with the way that car bonnie goes by Jeff Burton tribe yes he is Eli that's because the car is that [Music] gonna go down talk to Ray Evernham thing what they plan to do battle continues [Music] against the racetrack and there you see [Music] happiest of of 40th place finish earlier this year for Boyd I'm happy to see Derek cope havin a good run the big race car through that [Music] see right now if better sponsored racecars at bar he deserves it the bottom and he's another guy that could is close to landing one having a good run for himself this afternoon you know you talk about guys sticking their necks out driving the race red button stuck his neck out when he bought that race team he put up everything he had and he has got to get a sponsor to keep it all remember that first speed weeks in February the car basically burns to a crisp I [Music] that kind of a deal sometime the frets gonna stick it out did you work a monkey said he hopes be a vote on something here very very quickly up front Dale Earnhardt he continues to show the way there you see the separation between he and Jarrett then it is better than two seconds back to the third place as were live in Rockingham the North Carolina Motor Speedway hosting Niecy Delco 400 who was back on lap number five when Robby Gordon had his problems spun collected Bill Elliott Gordon's done for the day Elliott continues and there's Dale Earnhardt taking over the lead about 106 bypassing Dale Jarrett welcome back everybody we are live at the North Carolina Motor Speedway Jeff Gordon having worked his way through traffic but at the same time position the car continues to be awfully awfully loose let's remind you that due to live coverage of today's AC Delco 400 trucks and tractor power will not be seen today but be sure to join us next week at a special time o'clock a.m. Eastern Time for trucks and tractor power mark mine and Ernie Irvan working in one another's tire tracks as that's the battle for fourth place and you're looking at ernie irvan's car Dale Jarrett's car did the first 50 left to this race he is really moving up you see moving in on Martin Martin seems to have a lot of straightaway speed same coming up by the corner there he closes [Music] it's good car ready is here that's the same one he was so fast with that Charlotte and directed in the last practice session before the 500-mile er here just two weeks ago they put her back together again and obviously done a great job [Applause] now that battle goes away fairly quickly enough now the 99 buddy inside of ricky rudd the 10th at seventh and eighth position [Music] much of the day course Ricky as you mentioned with between the season for the last 13 years this track and Nick week Phoenix sir Rachel again be seen here at the sports to really good tracks for Ricky [Music] at the end of this year he surely would like to leave Ricki with that record of 13 14 years in a row Levante third spot there he is [Music] come on car area there where he's not having to deal with race traffic a nice luxury Randy Pemberton [Music] the radio just a few left front tire it even yesterday I missed a national race he meant that is going awry and it was just an air pressure adjustment that got the car bottoming out so there close enough [Music] reported it's very very loose they had the Goodyear engineer up there they think now they may have just gotten a slightly mismatched set of tires Nick Berger said earlier they got an 8 - pretty small stagger that tends to open the rear end up makes it a little bit more loose and they think they just got a little too much staggering that set of tires they're just trying to hang on also to finish up on Ricky Rudd Randy they had a terrible pit stop the last time under closet [Music] just continue you saw Ward Burton go by you saw Todd Bodine go by there goes old DW making the way by so the port continues to backslide there goes Rusty Wallace who started back in 25th position rusty was 14 before the last pit stop than eight on the restart and now this scramble for position as they work in the 18th position I said 18th immensely seventh spot for less they were 18 prior to the pit stop earlier Burton's having a great day for himself India that 99 it has been strong all day long and he had a pretty decent season I mean to do what he's done point wise and to have missed the Atlanta race to boot that says so Eli with any luck at all buddy pair for the great chassis under this race barn you can see right now I'm working on Rusty Wallace down the front straightaway he don't give up anything in the race so with a little bit of luck he could have won three races already before name second was 32nd at this time a year ago did yeah you know what else he's got going for him he's got momentum going for has run so well at the tail end of this year last five races he's got two top-five finishes one of them a third Richmond that's his career-best he knows he's got a good team a good race car and he has great confidence in [Music] how's he faring Earnie running in fifth spot right now there you see the spread to Ernie 2:59 remain let's go [Music] just passed recently by the radio as this routine because he wanted to put the hammer down and said the wear was very very good on that first set of tires and kind of funny the left front tire had the and that is sort of unusual Ernie drives under the 15th I was wearing well you do here at Rockingham though that this place takes a bit of a different setup to try to keep the cars hooked up on the racetrack and left where here is perhaps more than any of the other racetracks I tried to figure out why I shut down with Jimmy Baker a couple of days ago come Jimmy he got about three minutes into it I was so lost I said okay so it's difficult to son of a burning right here he said you got it that's the answer there's the battle for the lead Dale Earnhardt Dale Jarrett it's been pretty steady the separation between those two but Jared closes in yet again through the carlene's be right back [Music] today's exclusive coverage of the ACDelco 400 on TNN is brought to you by Pep Boys 26,000 items at the guaranteed low price tires and service to everything but gas and by RC a changing entertainment again the dural ooh aerial camera taking you overhead the Sandhills region of North Carolina North Carolina Motor Speedway where we have a new leader in the ACDelco 400 he is Dale Jarrett who has already left 96 laps of this day it was at lap number 142 where he made the move around Dale Earnhardt to the inside and took over the top spot there you see the leaders you see Terry Labonte right behind him as a man first to fifth now is just two seconds and let's take you back to lap 142 here's how Jarrett got believed okay you say Jarrett going through turn one he looked on the bottom of Earnhardt as they head towards the back straightaway he makes it look pretty easy goes rattle barn on the bottom side but what disallowed these stars racing side by side like that the [Music] all the way back to four spot fourth place being John Andretti Ernie Irvan is in fifth and again first to fit is just two seconds right now meanwhile Jeff port still having pain let's go the other way instead of taking the back let's go further forward from Dale Jarrett to Jeff Gordon he is not that but going a lap down there's Gordon right there [Music] Jetts already back position right now still on the lead lap yes but not all that far away from seeing the leaders starting to fill up his rear less than a hundred yard [Music] we don't want to be it the way he hears cars handling [Music] so what do you do now if you Ray Evernham call him in put fresh tires on and try to fix that handling problem where does he let the leaders go by what do you do or well you've had two chances already try to fix it I think what they need right now I don't think they're going get at the bugs quite frankly Dale [Music] look at Andretti he's moved in eight wait no Nova how would you how would you down any outdoor down three laughing at point because only two teams are out of the event and at this stage in the afternoon we're still showing on beginning to strategy now becoming a major factor and short bidding could come into play here this afternoon we've seen that a number of times i guess most recently at dover about a year ago Gordon and Bobby Hamilton as memory serves there when Hamilton started short pitting and that forced the hand of the DuPont team so but if you come in a pencil move three laps all lap number 152 on the board you're riding with John Andretti and we are live at the rock on TNN Motorsports welcome everybody looking ahead to 1997 it's been so very popular on the TN exited to motorsports at Opryland is back again for another go-round for all the information this call that number 966 11 and make sure you're set to join us there it's a lot of fun NASCAR NHRA everybody's on hand IndyCar stars all at have a big smile on his face first in second the 88 car the 28 car Ernie Irvan narrating a rotten race back there great racin they're going like it the last 25 laughs Kenny Wallace there on the outside is trying to prevent himself from getting left he had his best finish in 1996 right here in the spring he was seventh he's got a good race car he doesn't want to let those guys go by him but they are faster so look at this the front four are all side-by-side what a race for the front and there goes the lead Ernie Irvan [Music] side of the racetrack he's got it in front of Jarrett they will put the 23rd place man Kenny Wallace a lap down if they can they've got and ready right there sighs I fell with he's in the third [Music] blows racing right down to the bottom of the racetrack you see not using that wide-angle watching come up out of this corner what a great run long for these fathers Patel he's got Jarrett you've got Rudd right behind them side-by-side with Andrew for Ford's battling right there and Jeff Gordon first Chevy is Earnhardt at 5th and Jeff Gordon is about 20 you see right there this is going to be a store has only one Rock finish better than 20th in his seven prior races here or that was a wind that's to watch in February of 95 but the overall average ain't that strong if you like in this stay tuned to tienen because they have just signed rockingham for the year too we're gonna bring you a lot of Racing right here on TNN no Wilson amidst after its work here Chris browning the general manager the track joining in this brand-new press vicinity a new garage area these for the race fans as well the most important folks in the whole equation rock is really something special there you see Gordon [Music] Jeff Gordon go 163 you know he's doing everything he can do trying to not go a lap down but he just couldn't hold them back Bernie Urban is flying [Music] the same thing in the other part the other thing he's going to do right now is to keep for offenders Carly's racecar especially at this racetrack is very tough to handle more than anything he has got to finish today be great to win be great to run up front but there's still two races after this one so he has got to keep that card again next week Phoenix International Raceway we'll have it for you right here on TNN Motorsports and the season finale in Atlanta Georgia therefore second spot we can either pull away just a bit I'll just watch in the 10 car of Ricky Rudd Jarrid as they go down towards back straight away I think the 10 car may be the fastest car on the racetrack but he was he had bad position with a bad pit stop but he is flying around this racetrack he's going it well here kind of touch-tone as we started into a race today one of Ricky Rudd's cars with one that he bought bursting Carlton yeah it's the one that said on the foal here it's the same car that said on the pole here in October of 94 the Oh 4:26 Quaker State entries you might remember make it make it October 95 95 166 Earnhardt in fifth place there's there we go back to her he bypasses if you're following Billy stand bridge he's back from the garage [Music] down standards justic Dale Jarrett right away coke he's on the lead lap has some debris flapping off there's Morgan Shepherd in the remington arms number 75 a high road now derrike copes taking more than that 12 sport Gordon peels off he's had enough he's gone a lap he was then being bypassed by everybody else time to do something a stop at lap number 169 for Jeff Gordon Glenn it's all yours [Music] then to come in as soon as he could because hopefully make up enough time that when the leaders [Music] [Music] now we'll see how the strategy pans out meanwhile on the racetrack day alert hard making some good moves he is bypassed Dale Jarrett also john andretti rubbing the wall here comes Rick bass with a stop we're back in a moment welcome back everybody as we continue live at the North care a Motor Speedway in the middle of green flag pit stops you take a look at the race leader Ernie Irvan in the 28th running behind him in second meanwhile on the pit lane Dale Earnhardt is in there's John Andretti he has just hit the wall he's bent the steering on the RCA and drink update that story for you in a moment as we go into his car and ride with him as he tagged the wall off turn to [Music] just enough to messy lose control gain back ernie irvan's coming down pit road Ernie is in lap 178 Rusty Wallace is in as well Bobby Hamilton that's gonna Randy car owner Robert Yates holds the board stopped Ernie right on the mark [Music] adjustment Caplin forth they're just going to go with four tires two cans of unical fuel already on the left-hand side Doug Yates rolls into left front tire the left rear is on [Music] the way ricky rudd the leader at left 178 he now stops gives derrike cope the lead Derrick takes the lead at lap 179 dr. Glenn the time for dinner on the right side right there and they loose entirely got Hanson checks in Wow I don't pit road he almost got run over by to the left side right now they're pinning a little bit earlier this time they did the last long green flag run just to update you on the rest of the cars Dale Jarrett [Music] after brushing the wall was in 431 seconds they're trying to pull the seat metal off the cloth tough break for Andretti good pit stops for Ruud Jarrett and Earnhardt here comes Derrick cope he will make his stop at lap 181 so he will hand off the lead right here everything's cycling around now all these green flag stops taking place they will beam Bobby Labonte is now the race leader as we look back to those on the lead lap or not yet stopped so bobby labonte is being shown as the race leader then would cycle back around he the last of the regulars who have been who have made a stop but here come the Interstate Batteries fellas ready to service Bobby Labonte so the deism he'll make his pit stop at lap number 182 and that will cycle everything back on around again we'll have Ernie Irvan now Dale Jarrett reassuming the lead at lap number 183 so everything cycles back on around now [Music] on the racetrack as he works off turn number four goes by levanti's on the pit lane and cherith is the new leader so we're big way through here at the North Carolina the ACDelco TNN [Music] today's exclusive coverage of the NCL co 400 on TNN is brought to you by NAPA Auto Parts at NAPA we keep America running and by peerless faucet get more out of your faucet than just water we are live at the North Carolina Motor Speedway there's Dale Jarrett your race leader and the number 88 machine I'm Eli gold with Buddy Baker dick Berggren Randy Pemberton and Glen Jared on the pit lane there you see the 24 of Jeff Gordon he is trying to unlap himself heart is in second spot so at this moment Gordon is a lap plus about eight or nine car lengths from the race leader so as far as where he is in the numbers he is 18th overall as Earnhardt now gets not on the same one they're adjusting on on Jeff Gordon every time they stopped but you can see by the way the three car just went right on by my heart just to have to measure four it's kind of like but no happened he think to be in just as much trouble meanwhile we were bragging on John and ready for so long today he hit the wall once he has done again just a few moments ago there he is in the RCA machine with him on board and see his second shunt with the wall just came by there off the corner and we'll take a look at it again but once he bent the steering it really is made barriers for another hit right there they for a handful he's back in 20 second down he came running out of that quarter absolutely sideways as if it was back in the sprint cars again now good scramble I pay you've got Ricky Craven in the 41 leading that bit of action Todd Bodine in the 33 Kenny Wallace in the ad [Music] he's in fifth place Terry Labonte is and there you see across the top of the screen again we'll keep that going for you so he good idea of where your prey after the pitstops average speed at this moment 130 1.96 6 miles in six-six and that is head of last fall's Meyler here when Ward Burton won first last fall and for that matter this spring we had ten and seven cautions respect and thus far today only two one on the fifth lap for Robby Gordon and Bill Elliott and one on lap number 99 when Billy Standridge spawned in turn two Robby Gordon the only retiree of the answer race leaders day he is currently the race leader Ricky Rudd has left today and Freddie Lent for a lap Jeff Gordon led for a lap Dale Earnhardt five circuits Ernie Irvan is led and cope led a couple of more times and you're up to speed as far as the numbers ACDelco hundred Hilary's catching her heart by stop and drop back he was running super well they're leading the race and he stopped and come out the third you seem coming up on our north this car is incredible [Music] only Ernie's 15th ever started rocking him he sort of think this guy's been absolutely around for let's remember they eat at all in 1995 lost the second race here in 94 this is only the sixth time Ernie Irvan has run this fall race at Rocky Hill we're coming Waypoint the Gatorade frontrunner money $10,000 on the line for that man Dale Jarrett as he puts the halfway flag so we are halfway hole in the ACDelco 400 there's Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin for eighth and ninth right now and course rusty he's got five wins here eight top fives 11 top tens and he's got a car he really likes he calls it a steak that's the one he came after Don Prudhomme and and so what's my cat out of there Rusty Wallace run a game right now or wins here than any other active driver tract extremely so we're just halfway home with today's ACDelco 400 time for the split fire mid race report brought to you by split fire into the performance zone it slipped by performance be sparkplugs eight lead changes this detail goes for you couple of quick cautions that has been the story but the big story Blaziken outstanding racing on the racetrack we've seen a good scrambled who do you think is strongest right now overall I'm guessing Jarrett certainly but you know what her heart was out there who was tough Dale's race to win do you feel a vibe because you have one more adjustment maybe two more just like home car ricky rudd his April of battle he's moving his way back in the convention he's always a factor on the one-mile race traction this is a one point zero one seven mile track here in the sand hills did the sand those begin hitting the windshields of used to something else to have to worry about about guys who can win this afternoon I absolutely would not count out that yellow and red number five car on the right side of your screen he has been strong all year long seven second-place finishes only a couple of wins but he has been strong enough to win a bunch of races and show his to die in that 28 car wouldn't count him out either at his second place right well that's like playing Cephas could run goodd 28 there that thing I'll do a handstand down the straightaway the corner here but I believed [Music] the straightaway look at him pull up on her in the card remember the beginning of the year everybody was saying Ernie are you back 80% have a Katie 5% guess what folks he just went by Earnhardt on the bottom he's also won in for ten seconds behind the race leader Dale Jarrett so let's not get too overdone here because Jared is still the man showing the way Billy Standridge has just parked his car for the day he is out of the ACDelco 400 joining Robby Gordon as the only two drivers of the garage he'll be right back highway transportation provided by the Cedar Ridge RV Center Branchville new jersey featuring Winnebago motorhome call one eight hundred nine eight eight four eight eight four and find out why when a bago is the choice of champions welcome back to the rock and welcome to the battle for eighth place right now Barry Labonte and Mark Martin in their own private battle while Dale Jarrett continues to lead the ACDelco 400 magic number if you will if it can use a baseball term here the magic number is 60 laps that's what Dale Jarrett needs make sure if he leaves the next 60 laps [Music] five-point bonus for leading the most laps today and obviously there are other variables that come into play though down within 60 laps of doling out that that's just another piece of gravy that he's earning here today look at the 10 car come up on the Ernie Irvan there I told you Ricky that's good look at him go in that corner now watch it coming out of the corner of the 28th or pick up [Music] eh drivers have both been running the been working until about this point with a 10-car ricky rudd and dale earnheardt have been going through that turn upstairs have they been closing a little bit on and on Jarett by doing that by running the Jared and urban changed their lining go upstairs and they issue the interval 2.1 eight seconds from back to second place Ricky right carrots is working traffic so very well and actually talked about brute strength and brute force the bay [Music] there's Ricky Rudd battles for second and third spot only retirees Robbie Gordon and Billy Stan rich there's Dale Jarrett again [Applause] interval between the top two what is 2.1 seconds translate - well there's Jarret there's red that's what 2.1 seconds translates to on the racetrack caution on the Speedway caution now has problems for Dick Trickle he has problems in turn number two and caution is on the Speedway for the third time here today it comes out at lap 216 for Dick Trickle as problems coming out of the number-two corner and we are under yellow the caution on the Speedway as far as Jeff Gordon fans are concerned he wasn't in position to make up a lap so he remains a lap down and we'll restart him 17th position there will be 15 cars that will be shown at this juncture on the lead lap with Dale Jarrett showing the way now most of the leaders all pitted around Valley a scramble it up between lap 172 to 180 and so forth the Jared came in at lap 174 though this will be a comfortable time for everybody to make a stop here comes all the leaders down pit road led by Dale Jarrett Garretson Rudd as in Ernie Irvan is in now in front of Randy Pemberton a little tight in the middle they're going to go ahead left-rear already there with the right side tires we're going to take a look and see how long that takes them they get the rubber out of the left rear actually don't see it being pulled at this particular time thirty-five air pressure adjustment on three of Dale's years for tires that they put on I did not see an adjustment on Ricky Rudd so if they made one of us air pressure as well he liked this car red car really strong at the end of a run Dale Earnhardt's car they came in to change four tires as well they're still adjusting on his car his car is very fast at the beginning of the run then fades a little as it gets some laps on the tires and not a good stop for Dale Earnhardt dick well it went fine until he went to take off out of his pit stop Eli he stalled the car they had to push it and get him going let's go to Randy well Ernie Irvan pit-stop I could not even see if they did it so quickly on the left rear but he did indeed get the rubber out so they made their proper adjustment couldn't even see it this one let you know what happened all the lap teams now on the pit lane lap 217 for their stop we are live at the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham just past that way we are back here at the rock field getting the one to go signal but time for us to bring you an innovation in motion brought to you by peerless faucet get more out of your faucet than just water and Winston Cup racing we have the driver to tell us what the car is doing but another good way to know what the car is doing is by reading the tires now obviously the best way to read the tires is with an air pressure gauge the tire pressure has gotten so critical that we have to have a gauge that reads in tenths of a pound but another way we can tell what a car is doing just by the tires is by tire pyrometer we can read the temperature across the tread of the tire the tire that's the hottest is doing the most work the third thing we can do is take a we're reading we use a depth gauge the power comes from Goodyear with holes in the tread and they have a set depth that they're supposed to be we can measure the wear across the tread of the tire the tire that's wore the most is doing the most work if it's not worn evenly across the tread then we don't have the camber set properly we've put all these measurements on a sheet of paper you can find a lot of crew chiefs comparing these things on Saturday afternoon green flag is in the air that's a whole lot more scientific [Music] boredom trying to get I don't believe he's got enough right now jared is fighting him back he does not want him back in three black they fight in every way can alleys working on the low side he's got it but can he hang on to the load race today guys look they're fighting around here every lap if you're looking for ricky rudd though he was second coming in he lost five positions coming off the pit lane he's now seven earned than woody stalled the car meanwhile Derek Koch was sniffing exit waning seconds of the it was a good battle for Gordon Wiley to wage if it is too jaren ain't going backwards the car [Music] Jeff Gordon and he trying to make a point of Hill Club down right now so a dead mouse press but that 28 cars and second spot I'm Darrell Waltrip as you see right there topping your screen running in 26th position Brian has joined us here in the booth if you're watching earlier today you know that the are from Asylum Records sang our national a board could see it and thank you what do you that's my first race ever understand that quite a spectacle I owe ya sauce and I'm very proud to be here the way congratulations on winning the horizon award at the CMAs the other night we were I was watching it over the whole family who sits back and enjoyed it and it was quite a night for you oh yeah it was and I appreciate you saying that thank for you we talk about athletes having good run you have just come into prominence and have gotten all sorts of rave reviews oh well a lot of great things have been happening this year but I'll tell you what this is definitely one of the highlights of 96 for me and this is cool you think you're standing next to a Hall of Famer this big guy buddy the international motorsport you ever get the interest you'd like to get out there and drive one of these one day well I drove away in the the first time I was real real scared but I think next year I'm gonna hopefully oh if I get lucky I'll get to qualify if I could sing like you I'd wear color now the helmet I'll tell you [Laughter] they seem to scramble involving ricky rudd in the san he's in fourth position then Rusty Wallace in fifth Terry Labonte and sixth in the you're sticking around the top I'll be there tomorrow it's gonna be a good time for the folks who want to get the get out there and say I saw you signing autographs that the tienen salute to motorsports earlier this year no I guess was fan day come to think of it was the motorsport wristband a homes up in the corner Johnny Benson and turn number three to the Speedway here earlier in the week and going to the backup car has problems in the Pennzoil Pontiac in turn number three he was running in 31st position and we're going into caution at lap number 229 see Johnny is okay - a tough weekend for that Pahari racing team and I saw you there a fam day in Nashville and you I mean II could barely breathe you were surrounded by tons of folks most of them young ladies I might add and they're all NASCAR fans I'm sure you there again is the problem Benson hat boy I mean two cars in one week and this car is really bruised up on the left side there the good part was you could see Johnny Benson was out of the car and then good health so that's the main thing they can build more cars how'd you enjoy your visit to the garage today Brian you have a good time meeting some of the fellows yeah it was great I finally got to meet Jeff Gordon today and hung out with him a little bit real nice guy get a couple of autographs from him and as they say in Nashville like earned him a little bit yeah a Brian white thanks for joining us who was great listening to you with the anthem earlier admit I know everybody's going to enjoy her Lucrezia meantime Thank You Bryan white of Asylum Records and we are under caution here as the rock we're coming right back commercial transportation for this broadcast has been provided by rider the official transportation company for Opryland welcome back to the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham we are working under caution the fourth of the day after Johnny Benson spun in the corner time now for an autosome tech back brought to you by the more than 1450 autozone stores across America autozone the best parts in Auto Parts and NASCAR Winston Cup racing we run a different size racetracks driver comfort is very important to performance a driver feels comfortable turning the steering wheel just past a quarter of a turn as the size of the race tracks change we don't want the driver to have to turn the steering world any more or less so what we do is change the ratio of the steering box now what that means is the driver can turn the steering wheel into his comfort zone and the box will adjust the angle of the front wheels short tracks twelve to one steering box super speedways sixteen to one steering box the smaller the track smaller the number the bigger the track the bigger the number now we thank Ray Evernham for that feel getting the wouldn't go signal fellas look back guys over the last seven races here at Rockingham see how the three top point men have done El Dale Jarrett had led nine laps old Dale Jarrett right now is already leading himself close to 200 this afternoon he's doing what he have to do you know we've talked about it why we signed on at 12:30 and we said you know if things go according to previous performance we said Jared could leave here with a point lead that's right now the way it's shaping up Jared has the lead Terry Labonte isn't six and you've got the Jeff Gordon he'll try and get a lap back running at 17 you know we talked about Jeff Burton a while ago there he is in second place he's not out of this thing of course the 88 car being strong but so is Jeff Burton so is the 28 car of Ernie Irvan and you have the 10 car that's made up more position probably in any car out there today read wagon back to the corner last year warnford got the that second right now you see if it could make it a brotherly sweep here [Music] lap number 234 on the board of 393 having a great run today and last year in this same race e-life released v that was his best finish up the whole year last year burton brothers both run this racetrack extremely well what kept Bert got it he got position on the racetrack to run that lower line he was hung on the outside of must race of the trying to make up a lot and they're really scrambled but wrapping up our fourth caution flag of the day in the before Billy stressed and rich and Johnny Benson those are the three retirees this afternoon there's pretty good scramble right there [Music] not a comfortable way to spend a Sunday afternoon in that much traffic got some 12th on back Lake speed is in 12 and there you see the rundown [Applause] front Jeff Burton is caught Dale Jarrett's see what I'm telling you a lie when you're up front there's something about they'll make it [Music] Jarrett who took the lead at 182 carries it through 238 at 239 it'll be chef Burton who takes over the top spot impressive front for Jeff Burton first lead he's ever had at Rockingham in his sixth race at this racetrack the 1990 [Music] his brothers taking the checkered flag and no he's gotta be going man might be my day his car is working very well around the bottom of the race [Music] [Music] Rusty Wallace in the two like their sterling not on the 13 years without team and he is gone he started the weekend working with them and [Music] Sebata Spurs apparently so they decided apart company and I said to what this morning is gonna be doing with a crew chiefing with team owner Larry Macpherson who's calling the shots at the pits today if necessary [Music] toothpick in the corner first mouth looked at me and said well I'll have to clean it up but he said he's a heck we've been at this business 25 years we'll figure it [Music] - that's a team that's got a lot of depth they're gonna miss blubber no question about it he soldiered that team on to a great deal of success and I'm sure that he'll have success where he's headed but this four team is not a team is gonna fall apart because anyone not at all and take a look at the rundown there across the top of your screen and you'll see that the first five are all Ford Thunderbirds for Jarrett Irvin Wallace there your first chevy we're back at a moment [Music] we are back at the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham the ACDelco 400 with a new second-place van ernie irvan's has gotten around Dale Jarrett but it's Jeff Burke leaving the 6th Greece for him this year and he has shored the way at the current moment took the lead about 239 summit 10th laps ago let's remind you that due to the live coverage of today's AC Delco 400 the best of shade-tree mechanic will not be seen today but be sure to join us in two weeks when we return to our regularly scheduled time that shaved tree couple of weeks time here on TNN but update across the top napa auto parts at NAPA we keep America running who does talking about Tony Glover the Kodak films Chevrolet [Music] actually when Jared picks up the story on the pit lane [Music] so he could go start working this the crapper next year so we've quit excited about it the whole team really is will he be working with the 42 car the 40 car he's gonna stick the robber the rest of the year next year okay as we've seen in which we cut racing so many times in silly season drivers chased cars at the end of the year too it started the next year crew chiefs do it just as well so that's the story down on the pit lane meanwhile on the racetrack Ernie Irvan is now the race leader here at BAC bilko hundred takes over at lap 200 and Jeff Gordon still down there you see him not quite still to his liking that racecar [Music] this is the best Jeff Gordon trying as you see right now what we're seeing is [Music] the tires get hotter and [Music] Gordon is running well he is really running well he's able to stay with the leaders without any problem at all seem to be able to seems to be able to run low he has complained about the car pushing now was loosed before now it's pushing a little bit but you can see him in the picture he's hanging right in there they better not touch it I guarantee [Music] there's six 7th and 8th place right now on the racetrack terry labonte [Applause] [Music] 255 laps on the board three time winner is the Motor Speedway band races in a row first time ever word is without a NASCAR Winston anybody butter gnar they wouldn't be that concerned about it but you know uh nard is just a constant running of constant leader and for him to go everybody starts to fall fingers but you got a where he raised her while this year from those two races in a row without you see Jeff Gordon still trying to gain some ground he is not in fourth place Court he is still a lap down in 16th position but trying bit by bit Glen to get back to the front yes he is he line as you got said it's the best of cars looked all day but you're just a little bit freer that rain has been tightening the car up every time they made just general bit Jeff won't it's certainly giving them the speed on the racetrack is much what they were you're right better they better leave a little tighter almost guarantee you they're not going to leave it alone they're still gonna try to make it better those guys just never give up the car is never good to suit the Rainbow Warriors and they will work on it from the next pit stop I'm sure that seventh and eighth place on the racetrack now Rusty Wallace here with five way eat top five eleven top tens in in a second year last fall but 22nd here in the spring and he he terry labonte you now the Cup Series racing terry labonte they you see Mark Martin he and Jimmy Spencer Spencer's intent marks at 11th now they swapped that around work the back straightaway earlier Jimmy was in the top floor [Music] we're one yesterday in the grand out of the last five grand national races held at the ball Speedway absolutely dominating that division in 1996 every time he runs he wins it seems has it won a Winston Cup race though here since 89 Eli look at this scramble right here up front though see right now that they'll [Music] Gordon head run again rather hard down trying to get back up to the lead cars up there to try to get back Robert Gates has to be proud at the same time guys be careful bored for the Exide you can sleep he got that faith alone hey stop back a little bit play those tires for a long [Music] hanging out making the car loose by trying to lead to race for the 15 [Music] first the funny that Buddy Baker is [Music] I've never saved you tire think about Ernie Irvan since he won in Richmond he was 36 that Dover Martin so 36 that will seven foot Charlotte this would be a nice one linearly measure later survival genera yeah right on the bottom ruts not done with us yet either always really strong today so Dale Jarrett is the new leader of the ACDelco 400 takes it at lap 266 good to see you remember we are under caution here at the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham derrike cope and Bobby Hamilton getting together on the back straightaway and we are under caution for the fifth time here today pit stops for the race leaders let's go first to randy Pemberton Jeff Burton the first one to hit pit road so they're gonna catch on fire just [Music] four tires we got a real bad pit stop for ricky rudd to have trouble on the right front Dale Jarrett is in as well Randy he is down in a way of 20 seconds he beats everybody out Rudd spilling the pits are just now getting the jacked up on Ricky's car they have had a miserable miserable day in the pits here today brothers just can't believe it now [Music] Thapa that he will be the last car on the lead lap to get out of the pits and he came in first my goodness derrike cope tried to stop to go to the garage but didn't maybe not having full brake pedal or something and you see him now backing up trailing what remains of the Bobby Allison investments here's what happened on the back straightaway they coat there in the 12 is the Hamilton coming up he tagged him on the left for a corner setting both cars sideways down the back straightaway into the inside wall and just a second you'll see the 12 car goes back across the track and into the outside wall and no further contact but that was certainly enough we'll take a look at it from another angle for you there's Coke the second man in line and he in Bobby Hamilton and caution on the Speedway for the fifth time as both teams have taken their cars to the garage area they're working on Bobby Hamilton's car but here's Derek coke right there in front of Jeff Gordon they're just a big buy on the pit lane as a note Gordon did not get his lap back Randy he gave it a good one run with Ricky Rudd but couldn't get his lap back Eli I'll tell you what my heart was in my throat when I was watching Derek Cooke try to make a left-hand turn into the garage area without any regard at that particular time he backed up right in front of the 24 car he had no brakes and I mean he just barely missed him Glenn Jarrett what Kenny Wallace came by pulled out of his pit Rainey and the crew was he screaming everything huntsmen waving him back you don't he go too far they left lug nuts loose on the left side so he just simply stopped in Jeff Gordon spits and they gladly provided the service for the Rainbow Warriors of banana boy right there for a little bit of help so we work under caution lap 272 that's the story under yellow here at Rockingham we are back under caution here at the North Carolina Motor Speedway again taking a look at what happened with Bobby Hamilton and derrike cope on the back straightaway okay the 12 car on the outside there that that's Derek coat you see the 43 come up out of the corner there boy he's just flying up off the corner you don't know whether derrike cope might have checked up just a little bit but the ground really got hard to handle there if they flattened him in the left for a corner and set both car sliding they're still working on Hamilton's car on the pit lane while Derek hope is in the garage Kenny Wallace on the racetrack finally did lose that loose wheel we'll update you more when we come back welcome back everybody Jeff Gordon on the restart unlap himself let's see if he can stay there though he's on the tail and the lead lap Gordon is he [Music] basically a first guys what one more pit stop huh boy that's a valuable make up there yeah one more stop Eli that's important too good scrambles there Wallace and Earnhardt terry labonte is in the mix Mark Martin in the mix they're all believe laugh [Music] among those battling for the NASCAR Winston Cup point championship all have led at least one lap with the exception of Terry Labonte it picked up a five-point bonus bonus for leading the most laps so that will be 10 points worth of bonuses for him here today [Music] don't think of her from rusting [Music] everything in the top five every restart who knows how much rust [Music] very very cautious racecar driver and it looked like right now he's running quite well [Music] there goes Earnhardt around Jeff bodean [Music] down of 16th position 96 a much much better year five was let a lot more laps that he did in 95 he just done better altogether he had that win at Watkins Glen earlier this year and he is Marcin on his way back [Music] now Jeff Gordon trying to stay on the lead lap again if you're just tuning in that's not for the lead Gordon trying to stay on the lead lap but behind him that is for the lead Alfred and Jarrett I guarantee you that [Music] those two team cars are racing each other right now for the lead and they're just waiting for the right time for Jeff for while Derek Copas just come out of his transporter he's done for the day Randy's with him Derek a frustrating finish to a Barry race car today and very good ways for you well thank it's unfortunate for back on particles we had a good race car today you know I was I was kind of not so good on the starter races with low air pressure but once it built [Music] surely give my shot for but unfortunately didn't work out but all very hard and you know we just we just rotation and I know [Music] what happened on the wreck and then what happened on pit row that was nearly an accident there as well well you know out there I don't know I went on the height and I think I turned down and come off and somebody clipped me from the behind on the left I'm just trying to get in here [Music] great I got right you know I didn't know if they were I thought they'd already pitted so though derrike copes day is done Jeff Gordon's leave laughed run is done but as Dale Jarrett Sneed [Music] yes Ernie Irvan showing the laughs 287 the wheels off that thing trying to keep himself at the tail end of the lead lap just couldn't do it not strong enough for those wards named Jeff Bert also gets by and third spot [Music] earlier brought out the third caution of the day the name of the green [Music] the leaders reports in front no it's amazing [Music] winces this year he stopped to think about a Johnson tried it this year you've got 12 wins among the Hendrick organization 10 cook couple to terry labonte you've got six wins among the gates organization as you watch second place now Jeff Burton make inside of day place finish you've got 18 races this year but one wife team cars but you know what the difference is he like they're doing the team fires differently now than they ever did the before it used to be you had to separate garages decrees and they were truly separate teams and rick hendrick has really shown the way and trying to get everybody together and sharing technology sharing information but yesterday was asked about do you think that the Hendrick guys were going to eh guys and try to mess up their chances for championship and Jared said let me tell you what when you get on the racetrack it's every man for himself [Music] Burton two-second Gerardus third dick trickles on the pitlane let's see what happened up there in the corner there he is on the low side hook should be the high side of the racetrack oh they went open but he went up in front of Presley there in the Cartoon Network Park when he had a problem before that you can see the back of the car kind of wiggling around and frankly Presley just run right in the back lost momentum Rick mast has taken his car to the garage area now as the hooters entry is the most recent retiree Randy's got the story you wanted to while you were running in the garage area what happened again something happened you know we're real bad at one point had a bad set of tires I said what matched right gets called real loose they lost a lap so then we're just trying to concentrate on being the lead car over in the first car one lap the race was the we're getting new things new more chances for Rick mast of course he'll be go into a new ride in 90 so he's got Phoenix in Atlanta this thickness garbage on the butch Mach Motorsports next year the Remington Arms team thought it might be a better day for Pontiac - they had one dime in the last 17 races here Ward Burton won here last year at the Pontiac but the standings right now your first Pontiac give the rundown so you never know a trick man was their best one the as far as on track numbers nice in the garage now you could see just now with in-car camera started the glare going into turn one is beginning to be a factor this is one of those racetrack lately afternoon whoo trouble in turn four oh yeah go if cars get together that's the Cartoon Network entry link speed also spins around as things got tight off the corner and we are under caution about 286 Lake was running in 13th position and Robert 20th here comes Gordon now he's not going to get his lap back he got by Jarrett but was nowhere near early you see urban ahead of him there Gort couldn't do it link speed already fires up the spam car that takes it to the garage area he is the sixth retiree and Robert Pressley you see him moving around there and they to keep pit road closed right now because he's near the entrance to the pit lane but take a look what happened you can see him sideways there and like tried to go to the hot side and collected him up there both cars have a lot of damage to him Robert Pressley traveling 29 the in that car next year will you yeah I was just one of those deals where there was simply no room at all and Lake either is gonna hit the wall or hit Presley he tried to squeeze between the two of them and it didn't work out you hear the story about the painted up a mocking car you know lake is gonna be sponsored by the University of Nebraska next year they paid they had this designer paint up a buck car to show to the University of Nebraska to show them what the car would look like next year for them to sign off on the design and it looked great except they used the University of Oklahoma color by accident they used the wrong red and the guy just about had a conniption when they showed him the car and he said no that's not gonna cut it so they they've gone back to get the right color Cornhusker red but dead yeah they showed up with oklahoma sooners red i'm on that race car pit road is still closed because Robert Presley's car is near the entrance to the pit lane and that's where a lot of safety crews are you see it right there that's you see just as the guys turn onto the pit road so for the moment the pit lane remains closed as we work caution for the sixth time here this afternoon at the North Carolina Motor Speedway you know one of the big questions now is there a car out there that can go the distance if they had to go right now on this last pit stop every time they go around here and the pit lane is closed it's really adding to the drama as far as whether you can stretch it all the way to the finish well you'll be looking at roughly 93 laps as of this moment about 95 miles it's gonna be close for coming right back you are back just in time for the pit road to open they have cleared Robert Presley's car and here come the pit stops we are at this point 95 miles of the finish Randy fuel shouldn't be a problem [Music] although crew chief Larry McReynolds told Ernie Irvan please sir you will under caution and when we get back on the green I've got one better than that he said coming into the pits when you leave make sure you conserve these tires don't spin them when we leave pit road they're out on the left-hand side now get see a birdie Spencer Becky does a lot what he repeats about again [Music] four times he beats on the urban out the ricky rudd pit guys we've got a situation here that I've never seen I remember I told you all day about how bad their pit stops weren't well they've got another one they went down and recruited Bobby Allison's two tire changes to change tires this time because they would have so much trouble with their own guys they had a problem here as well this has just been a total disastrous day for the Ricky Rudd team as far as pit stops go the two tire changes that were there are sitting up on the toolbox with crew chief Richard broom Guardsmen Richard Rubin I guess split mentioned it earlier won't be back next year Jim lon who's currently with Lake speed goes over as the crew chief there's Jeff Gordon and couldn't get his lap back he is running in 14th position one lap down to the race leaders of course the big story here again is is going to be the tire wear on an abrasive racing surface yeah they could go 95 miles on fuel that's gonna be skeet just a bit up that when they get there well it's gonna favor the good chassis and the good violent cars out there and we've already watched the 88 car of Dale Jarrett he seems to run very well on all fronts a 10 car Ricky Rudd the 28 car those guys have shed a lot of muscle but don't forget for us to wallet think you have water race car and they they're still sitting there with a good chance he's in fifth spot right now we're coming back the ACDelco 400 with in its final 90 laps we're back with more in a moment we are back and we're set for the green let's see if Jeff Gordon can get back on the lead lap oil Ford says hold it down Green is in the air here we go Supt the total lap count today we're at 306 good restarts and top everything else [Music] the smoke there between the 24 and the 88 oh my foot 28 three wide going into the third turn Ernie goes hi that's Jeff Burt and now sterling marlin he see position he wants to get a lap back he is just a lap down in a position if he can during what the Kodak team was doing there he wants to get his lap back but he's [Music] cause everybody else Jared it has rocketed off you get a terrific start on just fill side-by-sides of Jarrett's check it out riding with Mark Martin these are the ten [Music] just joining us Jarrett has already picked up the bonus [Music] Terry Labonte has he seemed to picked up faith just a little bit and yeah Bernard took right on the rear quarter panel and they go down toward to the number three corner that's second place [Music] well that Club there you are [Music] the Ponte is of the five the race today it sure has best friends ever run through the duration of this event first day Oh Garrett he a race he like looking at the five car there he's just watching everything that's going on right now afraid look at the five car here look at this scramble whoo yeah those guys all battling for positions nine thought back Hut Stricklin we've talked little about him in the circuit city car he's on the lead lap at 9,000 a good run said this morning he thought he was just going to be so so but he just okay than that michael waltrip he's on the lead lap at Ted driving for the Wood Brothers there he is just to the left of Park Park and that's part accomplishment he is pitting out at the back that room here at Rockingham for everybody out front and hitting on the back only one guy has ever even won from the Walter but his crew have done a terrific job today only 30 pit stalls here on the main straightaway everybody else's dick says pitting on the backstretch Peggy clap you've been out there you've driven those restarts of guys are trying to give and somebody was the meat in the sandwich there was a heck of a battle oh absolutely and I was always the guy that had to give cuz I had the slower car just calling about six right left there not have we got a car in the world one into one problems up in the corner as Bobby Hill Oh has problems along comes while he dialed back who tags a third car on the low side of the racetrack and we are under caution 3:14 the Kmart machine they're on the low side of the racetrack with Jeremy Mayfield first blush he seemed to be the innocent bystander there I'll be healing in the 77th little fire underneath there I can't wait to see the replays because directly in the Sun and it's hard to see these usually hiland get now the car seems to be okay we'll take a look at it again Jeremy Mayfield was involved here comes darling back watch wall-e there the 1500 Mayfield came back up the banking there nothing while he could have done for the record Sterling Marlin did not get his lap back Gordon was not in a position to try and do so but there was no change up front say Jeremy Mayfield get now deeds in the black and white suit there he seemed to be just fine we saw him climb out they're gonna walk to the ambulance they make you go to the infield care center if you hit the wall here that's mandatory you don't really have a choice you have to go and have a check over the times you're still stunned and you don't realize you have an injury for just a little while and all of a sudden you realize you're really hurt so they make you go to the infield care center unless you can drive the car off you can hit the wall if you can drive the car away when you're hungry he'll have just did he drives that car away I tell you what you can have my spot over here on the right all right watch the strategy now Randy what are you hearing we're at lap 316 of 393 we know fuels not a problem you wouldn't think what's the story oh absolutely not a problem on fuel I'm down here in the 28 pits these guys are ready Larry McReynolds currently talking to Ernie has said he keeps telling the conserve fuel but pit if the leaders pit and they will come in and get four tires so they're just kind of waiting it's gonna be monkey-see monkey-do so I guess the 88 is the leaders so he'll determine that Ernie says the car starts a little bit tight for the first 10 laps the radius pit road open right now no fellas it's really not because the fact pets are still that's what I thought accident yeah we're seeing the cars that still go by so the main monkey number 88 stayed after because they had to Hey right now they say that they're coming in they're not going to take any chances whatsoever and rabies absolutely right if they do come in I think everybody else will Ricky right on the other side of Dale Jarrett's pit here there already everybody standing on the wall with the tires the air guns ready so I think we're gonna see them in here I wonder who's gonna be the first guy to tell Dale what Glenn just called him on television we are under caution lap 316 here at the North Carolina Motor Speedway we appreciate you folks looking on we're come [Music] next weekend Lots coming up here on TNN Motorsports and it all begins on Saturday NHRA but wiser Top Fuel classic the season finale out in Pomona California then race talk on the air at a special time next week chemic Pok p.m. eastern time will be live at two leaves out of Phoenix Arizona and of course on Sunday NHRA today that will be five from Pomona at one o'clock Eastern time and we'll all be on hand at Phoenix for the dural ooh 500 next to the last race to the best car Winston Cup teams that'll be at two o'clock Eastern had at Phoenix fed the NHRA Winston Finals 7:30 Eastern Time all right here on TNN Motorsports hope you can make your plans to join us talk about a jam-packed weekend that's what we got coming up for you next weekend well the pits are still closed field coming down off turn number 4 and again the back pits are not able to be opened hence they can't open the front pit area earlier this week finally tire testing taking place at one of NASCAR's newest racetracks let's take you to Texas there used to be nothing at the intersection of Texas Highway 114 and 35 W but Mark Martin was at that intersection on Monday and Tuesday for entire test at Texas International Raceway oh it's a beautiful facility it's like nothing I've ever seen before it's really exciting the racetrack is going to be a challenge for a good year and I think it's going to be a challenge for the competitors the banking going into the corner seems to be seems to start later than it does at Charlotte and the cars are kind of the cars kind of uncomfortable entering the corners so you know we're gonna we got our work cut out for us but it sure is gonna be spectacular Mark Martin talking about NASCAR's newest track while we are at the North Carolina Motor Speedway which opened in the fall of 1965 who became the fifth Super Speedway to get a permanent spot on the schedule well track cleanup has continued it's now clear enough for the teams to make their way into the pit lane and here comes everybody first stop lap 320 let's go to Glenn Jarrett this should be their last that's what the hope for this thing you go make the little chassis adjustment they're going to put a half around a pipe into the right rear Rusty Wallace took home gas only he goes by everybody going out first let's go to randy Pemberton four-tire stop we speculated we might see some different strategy [Music] just watching the 10 car did not choose to make a pit stop yet I just wonder if since they were having bad stops I think it might have been a bad gamble there was so many laps left in the race but he's rolling the dice right now he's doing what he thinks yes so Ricky Rudd is the race leader at 3:20 here comes some of the other lapped machines Glenn Jarrett let chef Curtin's coming down to pit road two guys the reason that run didn't pit is because they have had such terrible pit stops all day they didn't want to take a chance of giving up the track position there's only a few laps on his fire so he really didn't have anything to gain Gordon comes in he's way down pit right there this will be a four-tire change back the top Fuel on everybody making their stops and we are going to stop as well for just a moment then come back in time for the green we are at lap 321 393 make up the distance in these Delco 400 well we are back looking from high overhead the North Carolina Motor Speedway this is gonna be interesting right here this restart ricky rudd did not stop you had a two-tire stop for Rusty Wallace a two-tire stop for Hut Stricklin before you get to Dale Jarrett and the rest of the fellas who came in for full stops so that means that Jeff Gordon and Sterling Marlin now have a golden opportunity here the two dick well yeah they do but you know Gordon as well has had a very tough time with Dale Jarrett let's see what he can now do with Ricky Rudd on these restarts Gordon did take on two tires we'll see if it was enough right now ricky rudd got a great job down the back straightaway [Music] Wallace is on the lead lap Rudd as the leader there Sterling Marlin he is a lap down here comes Rusty Wallace down the front straightaway if they had them to turn one Eva get that lap back all day long he's been trying to get that lap back that's all he's down one lap and to get back in contention again all he had beat somebody Sharon were running a restart he hasn't been able to get her done well those lap cars are also running for position now guys Gordon's 13 Marlin his 14th Geoff Bodine is 15 so while we watched the overall big picture trying to get back on the lead lap for position amongst themselves question right now there was only a few laps run when ricky rudd if they Rusty Wallace infected there he did take off [Music] all the guys who put forth they're faster than some of the cars in front of them and there is indeed a scramble quite a jam up behind benign you see up front there in the 99 Burton Ward Burton came by Lucas oh he was having an overheating problem limps out of my eye at the MBNA Pontiac overheating problem [Applause] [Music] like michael waltrip scrubbed the wall coming out of turn number two moments ago get loose early on we work towards the finish Hut Stricklin there you they just a little bit very safe city park life tries to work on him all that a superweapon and all the success mark Barton has had this year it just seems hard to believe he's gotten this deep into the season without a Winston Cup with my Rockland IROC champion truck win 7 wins the grand national cars hasn't won and wisdom couple hey could have got my money [Music] Preston spec Preston set off marks got it he's real strong today keep an eye on that six car where we have been he's absent decent runs at Phoenix Oh part of our storyline next weekend I'm sure I've had a great run in Darlington now I have a chance to win just before Gordon got lined with a few laughs we can see he's losing ground now Motors off in the distance Bobby Labonte is in that they are 18 to be their eighth ninth tenth respectively with Hut Stricklin as well here comes Earnhardt [Music] much quicker on the bottom Stricklen got together there remember here in February and Bobby Hamilton had their much-ballyhooed tango here that's the same car that one in February get Earnhardt brought here today [Music] there's Jeff Burt he's just gotten around Rusty Wallace for second spot now behind Ricky Rudd the race leader [Music] from Ricky back to second places one in for 10 seconds Sterling Marlin they're trying to get his rap back he told you start looks pretty good rested something if he had all those problems on his pit stops sup using pitch strategy to win the [Music] choose not to take Tara's in Charlotte one type of Jeff Gordon and it just was the thing that he needs it to end erase it right now what do you have to do [Music] no I'm not coming in I've had [Music] between the two up may have read on that way back into yeah running along there super well right now and [Music] but no watch on his supper tended into this thing and he didn't want to see a caution flag this time he got it he got a mismatch set of tires the car just has not hooked up to the racetrack again so they'd like to see another costume they're not happy at all first time today we've seen long faces down here in the 8080 v he just took over third from Rusty Wallace but he's really going to have to pedal hard to catch the 99 and again particularly as good on long run the cars that they put it in racing Dale Jarrett meanwhile Jeff Burton was one in 4/10 seconds behind nine tenths of a second behind now he's just eight tenths of a second back so Burton is beginning to systematically cut down the lead of Ricky Rudd he very close they track is the same runner the racetrack just as he goes through there you can see the 99 [Music] Sterling Marlin and sets in sight on the 10 car Vicki [Music] if you just joining us Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace sixth and seventh place as we ride with mark [Music] 25 degrees of banking in turns three and four 22 degrees at the other end of the racetrack turns one and two Bobby Hillin with a water pump problem as the aftermath of the accident earlier he's gone to the garage 10 retirees the spark Robby Horton Billy stand rich Johnny Benson and erich koch Rick mast is out Lake speed Robert Pressley Jeremy Mayfield wolly doddle back at Bobby Hillin we decide [Music] givanni as it goes just barely by Rusty Wallace now he'd run a very conservative race so far but he is able to move up in the standings so if we talk [Music] Jeff Burton beginning to creep there's the separation first is a second 3:41 of 393 to the rock today's exclusive coverage of the ACDelco 400 on TNN is brought to you by the more than 1450 autozone stores across america autozone the best parts in auto parts and by the UN aw International Union and General Motors Corporation assembly line to finish line teamwork win welcome back everybody these aerial shots from the rock being brought to you by our friends at DU levant our aerial camp we thank them so much for their involvement they are bringing you some five five shots of this battle for the leave that has been I'm to 252 the only time he has led here today to give it right back he'll have a driver to changing their line almost every corner right now looking for some advantage you'll see Burton karthick Oireachtas very how they come off almost variation in the line as they go into net for Court what's this Ricky's right up the decision Anning right really and pretty he's giving us these pictures from the RCA Ford he's been in the wall a couple of times today and pretty [Music] we listen in to john andretti being updated on where he is in the standings and on the race track course rarely do you see anybody going full now 400 miles the old fiber mild without experimenting with different grooves at this racetrack I can't remember any guy just finding the groove and getting the or you change the line get ready to go somewhere what happened to Sun on one side you get the racetrack itself [Music] all of a sudden everybody all day long your now obviously we're spending a lot of time concentrating on the front two teams for you two and a half seconds back is where Dale Jarrett is running he's in third with Ernie Irvan and Terry Labonte it's two and a half seconds behind these guys too third place team [Music] two great stories ricky rudd needs a win to keep the streak going as that are simply abysmal day on pit road and then you've got Jeff Burton let's six races this year look two points after failing to qualify and then of course you got Jared who were riding now it and they all have in common that none of them have ever won here at Rockingham Beck rut statistics are incredible the last four starts he's got three fourth place finishes here at Rockingham he's been second three separate times never won what a story would be if he could win today after all the trouble he has had on pit road [Music] little bit here um the 10 down maybe he did do tires up a little more than he talked about fibers [Music] right away which [Music] yes but Jeff Burton is learning he's learning how to run up front he's learning how to he just said to his French looks like we have the 88 covered right now guys I'm just riding it feels good he thinks that if I don't catch another caution he's going to go to Victory Lane [Music] we'll have to wait and see there you see the Ernie Urban 28 machine are in the picture Sterling Marlin not all believe 14th spot a lap down [Music] with that left machine [Music] early and hasn't been able to make it back up again story is several the best part one just below the for car mr. Lee Marlon write-up there's Terry Labonte also making up some valuable points on Jeff Gordon right now so far the way this race has gone there's not any big shape after the boy standing this whole thing is perfectly liable to go right back to Phoenix next week there's a tenth place battle right there oh hi Jimmy they've been around the lead all day our second display that for Jimmy as in it they a little bit coming out of the corner just second ago that don't bother either one of those guys competition anybody who learned how to rage by trying to pass red farmer on the outside no trouble dealing with Jimmy Spencer as broad as elements of excitement to the racetrack there's a spread again between the body the Ernie Irvan point standings as of this very second of course the race isn't over nor is the season but that's how things are stacking up the fiscal Ricky Rudd's showing the way just 34 laps to settle the ACDelco 400 [Music] Ricky run is the leader you'll get the recap of this race in all of the racing news of the weekend ten o'clock on the PM edition of race day Rick Benjamin will be standing by to bring you up to speed that's tonight 10:00 p.m. Eastern race day here on TNN glad you're with us Eli gold dick Berggren Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett Randi Pemberton the entire tienen crew on hand watching Ricky Rudd trying to go from lap 300 to the finish no problem on fuel but making those tires last Eli he's stretching the lead right now he's running a hot line around the racetrack he's not leaning on the tire thank you well the tower law quick I think ricky rudd figured this thing out if they don't have a costume he's on his way there he goes around Kenny Schrader's now back to the second place battle of Dale Jarrett [Music] poured it on his two-way radio earlier that he had Jared covers that obviously has changed just [Music] back slit Jarret has caught him II meant for the moment I think it's certainly not right now because the [Music] just getting a tired back where they suited you Lake speed has returned he is 68 laps down on the race track but he is back nevertheless on that span buddy parrot good look at him [Music] panic in the race calls the shots for Jeff Burton our congratulations to him and the folks at Weston auto make a donation to a creepy face so that each and every week the Weston auto mechanic of the race buddy parents their second that was quick enough Randy young guys they learn he's got a good race car when he said he might have him cover that's something that he can put in his cap and he can remember for future races it might be there in left but you gotta go Oh tyrunt [Music] but he did not have tails here now though the story is can't ricky rudd hold on to the does he have fresh enough tires to get the job done there is Ricky working into the corner his advantage on second place 3 and 1/10 second we're back in a moment another big thank you to the folks in Dewar loo but they're helping out on the aerial camera and their coverage of the ACDelco 400 here motor speedway rockingham nobody has left their seats because we've got a great story developing here ricky rudd we've said time and again trying to keep his personal streak alive of winning at least one race in a roll over the last number of years thirteen years in succession thus far but again pit stops were so much a problem for that team earlier they finally said the heck with it we're not stopping any more and as smart as that decision was you know it's incredible Richard broom doesn't know where he's going next year he just knows that he is leaving Ricky Rudd's team he's been 13 years in Winston Cup he's been racing 33 years he's talked about maybe starting a drag racing team he's not really sure where he's going to go but he certainly is sure that he is tired from the amount of pressure that Winston Cup racing brings I'll bet this invigorates himself [Music] you see just 16 remaining we're talking about Ricky right on Navy mission right now but he [Music] be really careful not to give this race away by mistake let's analyze this another step further guys everyone laughs 300 Ricky took on tires at that everybody else pitted of laughs didn't take on tires but there were so many commercial break amongst ourselves here are so many caution laps in that interval they I remember they had to wait for the pit lane to open because of traffic an accident cars on the low side of the racetrack how much extra wear and tear really might there be in those 20 laps well be not as much of it sound it was 10 green and 10 cost where tears all you do is just make laps so he was apparently it was the right decision we can't second-guess anything to put him this far in the lead lake speeds called it a day does 14 laps from the finish she came out made a few more laps after being 68 down and now he's parked it for the let's also give some credit to the driver of that number 10 car Ricky Rudd remember the gears when they said that he was absolutely the master of the road courses well you have to be smooth and you have to have good rhythm to do that and all the tire guys the Goodyear building were saying that's what was necessary in order to run well here smooth have rhythm here's a guy that can drive with both lap but it surely has paid off today or charities backing up a bit it's now 3 and 7/10 second from first place back to second largest lead rookies enjoyed all afternoon Eli when you're in the lead like that of course when you go by the flag his work in telling lead cars coming [Music] get the Passover flap fly half-laughs or so and for Jared he's having to pick his way through traffic getting the addition of the fragment [Music] riki red showing the way better than a three and a half second lead and he told us yesterday how much he wanted to keep his personal winning streak alive at the strait that not many people can we'd love to keep it going working awful hard you know we roll into every racetrack trying to win every they just come up short all year we've got a couple of second-place finishes they got a third but that's about the best we've done all year so it's getting that time of year that and I'd love to keep it alive we're working off a hard got three chances at it right now meaning today weaken Phoenix and the season finale but dating back to 1983 when a 1/4 Richard Childress and every year that he drove for but more for Bernstein every season he drove for rick hendrick there were four of those and now the last two years and this being 96 is third year driving for his own performance Motorsports team he's got a great streak going and is within shouting distance just seven laps of keeping that streak alive it would be his 17th career win as he goes by last year's winner here in the fall Ward Burton [Music] as you can see what ran across kind of slipped a little bit everybody checked up and that was the chain reaction that you could say there [Music] Museum much to the drivers chagrin at 2nd and 5th at his seventh with the car that he won with here in addition to that win there's third place if we have five laps to go there is your third-place battle like terry labonte six Mark Martin seventh Rusty Wallace eighth earn hardest night Jimmy Spencer is ten Hut Stricklin as 11 that Jeff ordinance well that list you've got all the fellas battling for the NASCAR Winston Cup championship third place scramble here here comes the Iceman boy they also write up for [Music] of course one more position closer to the front up near the top of the finishing order in each race the points drop off by five from one position to the next around seventh place and the point started dropping off a position that eventually they dropped down breakdown [Music] shouldn't being shown in 12th spot [Music] is clear race ends right now relinquish the point we that's the only thing we're sure of that's how it looks at this very second [Music] you know every race has something you were ricky rudd did not make in with the e without he didn't have to come in even have any mistakes to be made other than great track position yeah white flag is in the air there he is he comes across the stripe the 1.01 seven-mile by Motor Speedway be interesting to hear what Ricky asked to stay in victory lane 14 years in 20 Coffey his 17th the tenth win of the season for for Ricky back in victory lane for the 14th year in and what an unpredictable and unusual day as Tara finishes second labonte third fourth Jeff Burton bobby labonte six Ricky Rudd's kept his streak alive at least one NASCAR Winston Cup race we'll talk to them as soon as we return and lots more yet to come from the North Carolina Motor Speedway you never know in this business that's why we run them on Sunday we're coming right back welcome back everybody the checkers in the air and it is all over Ricki riders in victory lane here at the North Carolina Motor Speedway when we were with you at Pocono back in June here on TNN you saw Ricky finished second that day and that was his best finish of the season prior to this victory and yeah I knew we'd see a smile about a mile wide 14 years in a row Ricky Rudd has managed to make himself a fixture in a NASCAR Winston Cup victory lane three point three nine seven seconds is the margin of victory and that'll be the 15th win for Ford at the ROK Ford and Chevy were tied to the most wins each to 14 coming in but Ford now with 15 and let's go down to Glenn Jarrett he's in the middle of the celebration it's the big celebration Eli giving high fives to the crew with all the trouble they had this has been a great finish through what started out kind of a bad day first of all Ricky had to explain to his wife Linda why couldn't get to Victory Lane you know how it is with husbands and wives on hook when husbands get lost they just can't describe to the wise what they've been trying to do Ricky what a great day and at the end what a great decision not to pit best pit stop you never made well we had trouble all days the guys were just struggling at an all day in the pits and we didn't really didn't have a choice you know we knew we had a real fast car as Todd Ford but really fly late in a run take about halfway through a gas stop maybe just take off and I knew if the race went green long enough that it would be maybe a chance for it be our day and as it turns out it was a long green we got track position by staying out Richard Danny Morris / and all the guys made that call and gosh she gave us some clear sailing and was off we went well you're 1 for 39 at Rockingham now 39 starts your first victory here but most importantly you kept that streak alive I know that was on your mind boy it sure is a lot of pressure off going to Phoenix knowing we don't have to go out there and kind of pressure to go out there and do it again out there year later but we're gonna go out there we're still we're still trying this team's digging hard Richard Bruns giving us a good job and just can't say enough about this tag Bunch well again congratulations to Ricky Rudd Richard broom for the call he's gonna celebrate with son Landon and wife Linda here let's go to Randy well Terry Levani is discussing the finish of this race with car owner Rick Hendrick step in here Rick Terry great run for you guys you got a thirty two point lead the chase for the championship well our Kellogg's Chevy ran good today we weren't quite good enough to win but it was a good solid run for us and the guys did a great job in the pits and you know we salvaged the third-place finish so we'll take that and go on to the next - hey rick hendrick talk about going on to the next - the 24 car didn't have the day they wanted today well they came back from 20th spot to finish 12th and you know Terry we were kind of racing a points championship race here today and it really turned out to be great they did a good stops good day that's what we got to do to finish this year out exactly what happened today congratulations on a good effort for the five team in that 24 car we'll be back next week in Phoenix I'm sure you know that is gonna be the 19th top-five finish of 1996 for Terry Labonte today's RC a pit strategy award brought to you by RCA changing entertainment again and the tide Ford gets the top honor today meanwhile the pit crew of the race award brought to you by the Miller Brewing Company proud sponsor of the Miller racing team we race for beer let's go back to Glenn well thanks Eli this is Richard Broome the man that made that call not to pit you won the RCA strategy award and now we're here to present you with the Miller crew of the race award you guys did a great job overcoming that adversity Richard well grant I appreciate the plaque here at all and I think it was uh it was a team call in other words we were just struggling in the pits we're having trouble all day and I saw a choice we had we just roll the dice that paid off for us absolutely it paid off now let's go to randy permit is standing by with Dale Jarrett well Dale Jarrett not the victor today you had them covered almost the whole way but didn't end up a victory bill not when it counts you know and that's what you have to do and credit Ricky you know that was awesome and one congratulate him that's quite a string he kept going there and you know getting down this close to the end you know I know he felt a lot of pressure so we want to congratulate him and his guys they did a terrific job and I really thought was maybe 20 or 25 to go his car would start fading on those older tires but they got it dialed in at the end and this set of tires for me just didn't stink what as well I couldn't really find a place that it wanted to run and run fast and so uh you know it's unfortunate but we'll take you we did everything we had to do except win quickly I had an awesome year looking at the Phoenix force looking forward to it I mean you know we've cut it down to I think 76 points here go out there and have another good day same race car that we just raced here so we're excited and going to Atlanta and see if we can have a run at the championship okay great date today go home get some rest you like and just like Terry Labonte that was the 19th top five of the year for Dale Jarrett good run today from Mark Martin comes home seventh his 13th straight top-10 finish we'll be right back [Music] we're back at the North Carolina Motor Speedway a big day for Ford they take top two spots and eight of the top ten positions meanwhile down in the garage area another Ford driver with a good day that is Jeff Burton well he's got a smile on his face Jeff congratulations on a good effort but I know it just kills you you want to go to Victory Lane so badly well we do and this was one of the chances that we thought we could put the Exide forward in victory lane because this is a place that I run well and this team's always done well as far as Roush Racing and I don't feel like we can get away from this but we sure had the opportunity if we could have taken advantage of it it sure would have been nice how much do you learn there at the end cuz I heard you come over the radio and you said I think we got the 88 covered in that I thought maybe you were speculating that maybe if I sat here and ride behind Rudd I might be able to go to Victory Lane today but then as that run went on the 88 came and got you well the 32 go I had rode until 30 to go well 30 to go I said okay let's see if we can go and I couldn't go what I was running is all I could run the minute I tried to go faster I just couldn't go faster so we just need to I need to get better at learning what we need to do as the race progresses and I don't know we just guessed wrong I didn't think that we'd have an 80 lap run to be honest and I didn't ask for enough changes but there's been several times this year that if we would have been good on the short run versus on a long run we could have won we just haven't guessed right yet Jeff another great run don't feel so bad you're going to Victory Lane real soon thank you good run for Jeff Burton today as you take a look at a beautiful sky overhead the North Carolina Motor Speedway here in Rockingham so Ricky Rudd gets the win Dale Jarrett comes open second let's take you all the way back there you see the smattering of Chevrolet's up there among the top ten good run for Jimmy Spencer hung around the top five early in the top ten all day long taking you a little bit further back now positions 11 through 20 Hut Stricklin great run for all women today Jeff Gordon comes home in 12th fuldheim brothers here's Ward Burton in 17th spot well DW in 21st position today Morgan Shepherd carried one of our onboard cameras came home in 29th spot and now you get some of the fellas who had problems bill Elliot involved in that lap five accident the others who were involved in accidents or at the drop out early Billy Standridge and Robby Gordon first out of the event let's go back to the garage area Randy Pemberton well one of only two Chevrolet's to finish in the top eight Bobby Labonte one of them a good run disappointed are you happy with that well you know we last practice we had a good fast lap but we didn't have a good long run so we worked on it last night and got the interstate car was even better really but how we needed just a little bit more and uh you know the tracks gotten wore out and I couldn't really find a groove that I needed to run in but the car was decent just uh just chased it all day but I learned a lot made all the laps which we didn't do that last time so hey we'll we'll take it and go home from here your speak when Jimmy make our Jimmy come in here for a second what did you learn today as a crew chief you guys were discussing after this race anything that you guys talked about that you could apply for maybe next year are you gonna be in a Pontiac this time yeah so it'll be a few things different next year but basically just talk about how the track changed from the last race and then during the race that the track changed for us quite a bit and about some of the changes we made to the car and and you know and all like Bobby said was a good day for us we you know we had a top five car we thought and didn't quite finish the top five but a solid run and right now this time yeah that's what we're looking for you know obviously we like to win a race but we need these good strong runs to work in the next year okay great effort today good luck next week in Phoenix Glenn Jarrett well standing by with Ernie Irvan he knew we were standing out here wait so he came out without his shoes on he's putting his no fear foot gear on there right now Ernie good run all day the car was really strong through most of the race but looks like maybe a mismatch set of tires on that last stop I mean I'm not so sure about that um you know the tires were really good good you're brought a great tire and the most consistent part was is none blew out and we're really concerned about that so we were really fortunate we had a a great race car and um we just ended up fourth with a with a run like that you've got a lot of a lot of momentum going into the end of the year going out to Phoenix where you ran so well last year going out there next week you got to be thinking you get this thing in victory lane well I mean I wrote things so I mean I think the next three races that we're going to which obviously one of them is here we really thought we had a good shot at went in another one you know you know I think we do we have a great race team and great sponsors at excellent Haviland and you know Ford Motor Company so I'm it's really exciting I'm you know this this whole Roberts race team we've really grouped together and um you know heck second and fourth ain't all that bad no sir it's not his daughter Jordan has joined him how Jordan say hello to everybody and that's Jordan seller we'll go back up top to Eli all right Glenn very very shy young lady we're coming right back to wrap things up for the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham Ricky Rudd's at Victory Lane for the 14th successive year when the NHRA drag racers are in town just across the street from where we sit there you see their NHRA Winston Invitational track but when the NASCAR Gentry is in town it serves as a very convenient airport as you just walk right across highway 1 from here at the North Carolina Motor Speedway some do name a lie I don't live with a driving distance either Glenn Jarrett saved me here I'll try he loved it I don't know but he's pretty big guy and I'm standing beside another big guy who had a really good run today Jimmy Spencer your ninth top 10 of the year came home in 10th place but you really thought you had a better car than that I really dig plenty in the beginning the races the high groove started working again for us and just like in the spring you know we really were we're working real good and moved up to the top 5 but just never could get the handle the way it needed to be with one time we were a little tight next time we were a little loose and we're off a little bit somewhere and who will take the top tennis Booker Joe's guys been working hard that's been one of our goals all year long stop tens and you know we're not quite as good as Terry and Omega I think I close to 20 top 10 so they're doubling ours so we need to got a lot of work to do to catch it for next year but we're excited about it everything's the same for next year Donny promotors I'm coming back we're looking we're looking forward to it well Jimmy every time I talk to you it seems like I want to compliment you on the way you guys have turned this thing around you get more and more consistent Jimmy Spencer makes drives good smart races all day long now you guys have really turned the corner thanks Glen I appreciate that you know the guys are doing a great job in the shop all the fabricators and just constantly building good cars and you can see the difference between my cars this year versus last year because when I bring them home and they're not all tore up with tire marks and stuff the guy seemed to be more excited to polish it and saying well let's let's cut the slide off this and see if we can get this car to be faster and it it's a tribute to those guys Barton and all those guys back in the shop really Cecil does a great job for us too and can't say enough about Donny well good job again by Jimmy Spencer if you've been seeing these people getting the camera here folks those are all Spencer's there's too many of them down here we can't get y'all on camera today sorry guys we're going sort of like Jarrett's right there there are a lot of Spencer's and yes a lot of racing Jarrett's as well moon over Rockingham [Music] we are back with you the ACDelco 400 in the books ricky rudd is in victory lane as he keeps his personal streak alive and now let's check out the point standings guys and see how it finally does shake down hit the Phoenix next week it's still gonna be tight still competitive for the win on this deal Levon he's gonna have the lead Gordon just 32 back never did make up his lap all day today Jarrett's so fast couldn't win all three of those guys are in contention for the Winston Cup points championship so that's how the numbers stack up heading to the final two season of final two races of the season meanwhile Bobby Hamilton had all sorts of high hopes today but came home in a disappointing 28th spot there he is having changed into his civvies Glen he's saying I should have interrupted him he was doing something important there Bobby you guys were looking into this race with high hopes I know you wanted to come back and run strong but just one of those days didn't work out did it we was looking at this race for high hopes we're looking at Phoenix we just always run good here we know we do but we always get bit so it didn't really surprise it's none the car if they kept working on the car and the car is actually real fast right there with me and Eric had our accident but you know you can't when that happens your jump but uh we still felt pretty good about the end of the day right there I'm definitely probably not a winning car but I think it's pretty close to being a top five car that time thanks Bobby they're definitely looking forward to going to Phoenix because that is another great racetrack for Bobby Hamilton Eli it is a great racetrack you know the action might be done for the day on the track but you folks and keep it going right in your living room with a brand new TNN Motorsports video game that is coming this fall Randy Pemberton was spending time at the controls yesterday it's called TNN Motorsports hardcore 4x4 and to the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn system and you really have to see it to believe it we have to work hard to get the boy back behind the microphone CNN Motorsports hardcore 4x4 coming to the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn this fall a great Christmas gift idea check it out we'll be right back [Music] today's exclusive coverage of the ACDelco 400 on TNN has been brought to you by Texaco clean system 3 gasoline add more life to your car take it to the store by the Miller Brewing Company proud sponsor of the Miller racing team we race for beers and by Nick at roll six weeks one step take control with Nick at roll we are back at the rock fans heading home but we didn't want to leave the air before we had a chance to chat with Jeff Gordon who came home in 12 spot today and let's go down to Randy Jeff 12th place finish for a lot of guys that'd be a happy day for but that was a struggle for you guys today well we're kind of happy about at the end of the day because at one time I was about 25th or maybe even further back I don't know you know got behind it one time and boy we just we lost a lot didn't know why I didn't know how but we fought really hard to get the positions back and we actually had a decent car pretty much all day long except for that one time I don't know what what went wrong but you know well I think we learned a lot we really fought back that was probably the hardest race I've had to run in a long time because you just can't give up when you get down like that and I think it paid off for us to get back to 12 points are critical now obviously you're 32 down you're going to a good track for you Phoenix look ahead for still next week well you know we trailed most year maybe that's where we need to be so that we can getting some back Terry is is running strong Dale Jarrett's running strong you know we just we just really need to go and you know we're gonna have to step it up I feel good about Phoenix we we did a tire test there got some laps and we got tests coming up in Atlanta so we're gonna have to work real hard to win this thing but who knows what's gonna happen that's dementia you got a special on TNN coming up Tuesday night yeah that's the Hat man I had to throw the hat in there yeah Jeff Gordon's wide open so it's it's really just a special it's really neat watch it on Tuesday teen and eight o'clock okay congratulations on a good effort I'm sure it'll be a little bit for you in Phoenix yeah okay you like that's gonna be good show on Tuesday following Jeff at the track at home everywhere in between eight o'clock Eastern Time Tuesday evening here on TNN I got a quick look at the rundown for you as Ricky Rudd picked up the victory here today Dale Jarrett comes home in the second spot Terry Labonte Ernie Irvan Jeff Burton Bobby Labonte Mark Martin and on down the list you'll see how your favorites finished today but a good solid one a very entertaining race here today guys it was I mean when you saw Ricky Rudd having all those problems when anybody saw that who would have bet a dollar against 500 that he could have wanted what a story Eli was never a runaway there was always at least five cars running for the lead all the time and it was just to have the best balanced car at that particular time in the race don't forget folks coming up next weekend Saturday the NHRA live from Pomona California then race talk at 10:00 o'clock Eastern Time a special start next Saturday then on Sunday one week from today alive an HRA today from the Pomona finals of the NHRA season will be in Phoenix to the Dewar loop 500 flash car Winston Cup teams from the NHRA Winston Finals live again from Pomona 7:30 Eastern Time next Sunday don't forget tonight the p.m. edition of race day Rick Benjamin will be along 10 o'clock Eastern time this evening a recap at all right here bring up to speed and all the racing news from across America motor television comes up next then ready for the road followed by Steve Evans and the fellas on NHRA today that's all coming up here on TNN Motorsports our thanks to dr. dick Berggren to Buddy Baker Randy Pemberton and Glenn Jarrett our congratulations to Ricky Rudd he's kept that streak alive

Channel: jinjabreadman46

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Keywords: 1996, NASCAR, Winston, Cup, Series, NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NWC, AC Delco, AC, Delco, 400, North Carolina, Motor, Speedway, NCMS, North, Carolina, Rockingham, Race, 29 of 31

Id: fMqyCUlzYxA

Length: 177min 36sec (10656 seconds)

Published: Fri Oct 13 2017