Little Suffers Major Setback

Mark Martin rallied to win the Gatorade 200 NASCAR Busch Grand National stock car race at Darlington Raceway.

Meanwhile, the series points battle took a major turn when contender Chad Little was involved in a crash, relegating him to a 40th-place finish. Leader Johnny Benson finished second, gaining 127 points on his rival to lead by 156 with only five races remaining in the 26-event season. Little is from Spokane.

Little, who started 16th, had gained several places when he crashed with Tracy Leslie on lap 10. Little, trying to pass Jeff Green off turn four, collided with Leslie. Little’s Ford impacted the inside retaining wall, suffering irreparable damage.

Little had trailed Benson by 29 points entering the race.

Martin, winner of this event for the third straight year, pitted under the race’s first caution on lap seven for a chassis adjustment. Restarting at the rear, he made his way through the field carefully, then took the lead on lap 51.

Martin gave up the lead on lap 80 when he pitted again, but regained it on lap 98 and led the rest of the way in the 147-lap event.