Bodine Wins Photo Finish

Todd Bodine won by the nose of his Chevrolet in a three-way photo finish in the crash-filled AC-Delco 200 Busch Grand National stock car race at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, N.C.

Bodine was third halfway through the final lap around the 1.017-mile oval, trailing leader Mike Wallace and Johnny Benson. But as the leaders neared the third turn, Benson pulled alongside Wallace on the outside of the banking and Bodine dove to the inside lane.

As the cars sped off the fourth turn three-wide, Benson and Wallace bumped twice, giving Bodine a slight advantage that he turned into his eighth Grand National victory by less than a foot. He is the 15th winner in 25 Busch Series races this season.

Spokane’s Chad Little finished 35th after crashing on lap 132.

Also in Rockingham, Hut Stricklin won his first Winston Cup pole and Ernie Irvan’s comeback was dealt a blow when he failed to qualify for today’s AC-Delco 400 at North Carolina Motor Speedway.

Qualifying was accomplished in one session after rain wiped out time trials scheduled Friday. The rainout also forced the teams to qualify after only an hour of practice on the 1.017-mile oval.