Jarrett Wins, But Gains Little

Auto racing

Dale Jarrett had said all he could do in his quest for the 1997 Winston Cup championship was to try to win each of the last five races.

The third-place driver took the first step Sunday, coming on strong at the end to win the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

He didn’t gain much on second-place Mark Martin or leader Jeff Gordon, though, because they finished fourth and fifth. Gordon, who came in leading Martin by 135 points and Jarrett by 222, now leads the runner-up by 125 and Jarrett by 197.

But Jarrett, a second-generation NASCAR star, at least kept his title hopes alive with a career-high sixth victory of the season and his 14th overall. It also gave Ford, which has clinched the manufacturers championship, its 18th win this season.

Jarrett, who earned $130,000, averaged 144.323 mph in the race slowed by just four caution flags for a total of 33 laps. He led five times for 85 laps, including the last 58.

“We gained very few (points),” Jarrett said with a shrug. “Those guys are tough to beat, but we did our job; we won the race. Now we have to go win the next four.”

Bobby Labonte dominated several times during the 334-lap race, leading three times for 141 laps before fading after his final pit stop. His Pontiac finished a distant second, 4.142 seconds - about half a straightaway on the 1.5-mile oval - behind Jarrett.

Dale Earnhardt, driving a Chevrolet, was third after two consecutive second-place finishes.

Spokane’s Chad Little finished 23rd and earned $17,190.

Force sets records

John Force, Jim Head, Jim Yates and Matt Hines claimed victories at the 10th annual Pennzoil Nationals at Millington, Tenn.

Force, who established a Funny Car national speed record at 314.35 mph, claimed his fifth victory of the season. Both Yates and Hines collected their seventh.

The $1,476,850 event was the 19th stop on the 22-race, $30-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Head, of Columbus, Ohio, needed every advantage he could muster in the finals against Larry Dixon who was seeking his first win of the season. Head won with a 4.677-second run at 308.53 mph in the Close Call Phone Car dragster to Dixon’s quicker 4.671 at 312.17. Head’s margin of victory was inches.

Force, of Yorba Linda, Calif., collected his third straight victory and moved a step closer to his seventh Winston Funny Car championship this decade.