Diamond Ridge sweeps front row for Busch race

Friday, March 14, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Green will from the first spot on the grid in the NASCAR Busch Grand National race Sunday as a result of lap at 159.311 mph in a Chevrolet. Sadler's speed for his lap at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was 158.651.

"I think your going to see both white Diamond Ridge cars up front all day on Sunday," Green predicted. "I knew Elliott was going to be hard to beat. He's always qualifies great."

Sadler sat on the pole most of qualifying until Green, who went third-to-last, took it away.

"I didn't think we were going to run that fast," Sadler said. "We made a lot of adjustments to the car before qualifying. If I had to get bumped from the pole, I'm glad it was by Jeff."

Third-fastest was Winston Cup regular Joe Nemechek, whose speed was 158.586. He was followed by Sadler's brother, Hermie, who made it four Chevys up front with a lap at 158.390.

The first non-Chevy was the Pontiac of Buckshot Jones, who went 517.512.

Defending series champion Randy LaJoie was among several drivers who crashed either in qualifying or practice, and will have to try to make the field Saturday in second-round qualifying.

Last week's pole sitter at Atlanta, Tim Bender, hit the wall in the final practice before qualifying and did not try to qualify.

Winston West driver Joe Bean, attempting to make his debut in the Busch series, sustained a compound fracture of his left leg and was transported to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where surgery will be performed on his leg.

Bean was listed in good condition.