Wallace wins twice, wants big one

Dick Brinster

Sunday, Sept. 19, 1999 | 10:53 a.m.

LOUDON, N.H. - Rusty Wallace came to New Hampshire International Speedway hoping for his second victory of the season, and his performance in qualifying Saturday did nothing to discourage that notion.

Wallace's Ford was the class of the field - the fastest in practice and qualifying for Sunday's $2 million Dura Lube 300.

"Every time you go out it's like a race, that's how big it's gotten," Wallace said after posting an event-record speed of 129.820 mph. "I've won the first practice and I've won qualifying, so now I've got to win the big one."

Wallace hasn't done that at NHIS since taking the New England inaugural in 1993. Although the pole run - eclipsing Ken Schrader's 1997 event mark of 129.182 but falling short of Jeff Gordon's two-month-old track record of 131.171 - resulted in Wallace's second front-row start this year on the track, he knows the competition will be tough.

"You've got to look at (Tony) Stewart and at the 43 (John Andretti) car," Wallace said. "They were really strong last time."

Indeed, but both ran out of gas in the final laps, giving the Jiffy Lube 300 in July to Jeff Burton for the third year in a row. And, if Wallace needs any further incentive Sunday, he can get it by looking immediately to his right.

Winston Cup points leader Dale Jarrett will start there in his Ford after a qualifying effort of 129.213. Still, Wallace thinks his biggest obstacle might be nowhere near the front when the green flag falls.

"That 99 car of Jeff Burton is always strong here, so if you take those guys right there, I think you've got who you've got to shoot for," he said.

The pole was the third this year and 25th of Wallace's career, but he's more interested in getting his milestone 50th career victory.

"I'd trade those three poles for three wins," said Wallace, who sometimes has trouble finding the right combination. "I used to qualify not good and run really good in the race. Now, I'm qualifying really good and struggling in my long runs."

That's in stark contrast to Burton, whose victory two months ago came from the 38th position on the grid. He starts 37th Sunday in his bid to break a tie with Gordon and become the first four-time winner at the track.

"That's just disgusting," Burton said after again making the field only on a points provisional. "We're just doing something real wrong."

July polesitter Gordon didn't do so well in his run, either. In fact, his placement of 19th on the grid is the low-water mark this year for the two-time defending race champion.

"That's the worst lap I've run all day long," said Gordon, who had trouble in turn 2 on the 1.058-mile oval. "I let it drift up a little too much in the middle."

So did Jarrett, who holds a 270-point lead over Mark Martin after 25 of 34 races. In fact, he brushed the wall exiting the low-banked fourth turn, but still wound up second with a speed of 129.213.

His standing was a surprise because Jarrett was the fourth of 46 drivers to try a lap. Those who went early in the session - postponed to Saturday morning because of the remnants of Hurricane Floyd - dealt with a cool track that offered less grip.

But Jarrett didn't use that as an alibi for scraping the wall or failing to beat Wallace, who went out 27th on a warmer track.

"I'm thrilled to be second," Jarrett said. "I think Rusty had the car to beat all day."

But Jarrett would have preferred to start third - on the inside of the second row - because the curb lane is the fast way around this track. But Schrader, whose Chevrolet went 129.094, says he'll give way to Jarrett - who offered dinner as a bribe - should it be appropriate.

"Driving down into turn 1 at the start of the race underneath the man that's running for the championship, it would be stupid for me to worry about that spot at that time," Schrader said.

Fourth on the grid Sunday will be the Ford of Kevin Lepage, which got around in 128.837. Stewart put his Pontiac on the grid in fifth position.

Mike Skinner, Bobby Labonte, Wally Dallenbach, Bobby Hamilton and Kyle Petty completed the top 10.

Martin starts 25th.