Coca-Cola 600 Notebook

Craven laments failure to make Coca-Cola 600 field

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Posted: Friday May 28, 1999 07:21 PM

Craven's craving: Ricky Craven will be watching the Coca-Cola 600 from home after sub-par qualifying times: Jamie Squire/Allsport

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Ricky Craven succeeded in his first 115 attempts to qualify for Winston Cup races. His streak came to an end this week at the Coca-Cola 600.

Craven, whose run of qualifying successes included the first 11 races of the 1999 season, did not go fast enough in either round of time trials at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte. Because he is driving for a new team this year, he was not eligible for a provisional starting spot this weekend, so his crew had to pack up their equipment and head home to get ready for next week's event in Dover, Del.

"Nothing prepares you for missing a race," said Craven, the 1995 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. "This is the first time I've missed a race, but the pain is equal throughout the team."

Craven has no finishes better than 19th this year and is 41st in the points standings.

"There are a lot of things that have put us at a deficit -- primarily time," he said. "If we had been able to get started earlier, it certainly would have made a difference. I believe that, but I don't think preventing this from happening again will come as a result of making excuses. It's going to come as a result of preparing ourselves to be a better team. We'll get better."

Michael Waltrip rebounds

Michael Waltrip led Friday's second-round qualifying for the Carquest Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Grand National race at Charlotte on Saturday.

Waltrip's fast lap of 174.205 mph earned him the 26th starting spot in Saturday's race. David Green won the pole Thursday with a lap of 176.569.

Twenty-four cars took part in the second round of time trials. The drivers who didn't make the field included Winston Cup regulars Terry Labonte and Geoffrey Bodine.

Second-round qualifying and practice time for the Grand National cars were the only items on the track's schedule Friday. Winston Cup teams were given the day off.

Eury family loses patriarch

Ralph Eury, father of Tony Eury Sr., crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr., died Friday morning. He was 71.

The elder Eury competed against the late Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Jr.'s grandfather, on North Carolina dirt tracks.

The association between the families continued with Dale Earnhardt hiring Tony Eury in 1982 to be the crew chief for his Grand National car.

It continues today with Dale Jr. and Tony Eury Sr. and Tony Eury Jr., who also helps prepare the defending Grand National champion's cars.

The next generation of Labontes

Justin Labonte, 18-year-old son of two-time Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte, has a busy summer planned after his graduation from Trinity (N.C.) High School next Wednesday.

Justin plans to drive his father's Chevrolet in Grand National races beginning June 12 at South Boston, Va., and continuing through the Aug. 6 event at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

The elder Labonte will drive the car this week at Charlotte and next weekend in Dover, Del.

 

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