NASCAR approves Wallace engine

Tuesday, March 4, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Four hours after finishing Sunday's race at Richmond International Raceway, Wallace's victory was put on hold as officials said Wallace's Ford Thunderbird engine had failed tests measuring compression ratio.

NASCAR kept the engine overnight, completed its evaluation Monday and said the engine met NASCAR rules, which were expanded this year to require the 14:1 compression ratio on all tracks, instead of just superspeedways.

Richmond, a three-quarter-mile track, was the first short track on the schedule this year. The track also has a 400-lap race in the fall.

Wallace blew past Dale Jarrett at the start of a three-lap sprint to the finish Sunday.

Wallace beat Geoff Bodine across the line by 0.441 seconds for his first victory this season, his sixth at Richmond and 47th of his career.

archive