Harry Melling.....
Harry Melling, 54, became president of Melling Tool Company, the worlds largest independent oil pump supplier, in 1975. He started his 20 year involvement in Winston Cup in 1979 as an associate sponsor for Benny Parsons, and purchased his race team, Melling Racing, from the Elliott family of Dawsonville, Ga, at the end of the 1981 season.
Melling Racing, with driver Bill Elliott, had great success from 1982 until Bill left to drive for Junior Johnson at the end of the 1991 season. While driving for Melling Racing, Elliott set the all time Winston Cup qualifying record of 212.908 MPH at Talledega Superspeedway in 1987. He became the Winston Cup Champion in 1989. While with Melling, Elliott won 34 races, including 11 in 1985 along with the first Winston Million.
The current Melling Racing entry is the Cartoon Network No. 9 Ford, driven by Jerry Nadeau. The team elected to race at the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte in tribute to their fallen owner. They wore black arm bands, and had decals on the race car in memory of Melling. Melling is survived by his wife Christine; daughter Michelle, 30; sons Mark, 28; and Matthew, 27. Mark is the vice president and general manager of Melling Racing, and will probably continue running the team. This man's passing is truly a great loss to NASCAR, and to the fans of Winston Cup racing.
Last year they ground the track to make it smoother in anticipation of the open wheel IRL cars coming to the track, this year they did the same thing, plus used a new tire compound. Bobby Labonte smoked the track at 22.596 seconds, a 159.320 MPH average for the one mile track. This was his forth pole this season, and the 17th of his career. Out of those who attempted to qualify, 32 drivers beat the old track record set by Mark Martin last September, 155.966 MPH. Labonte said that the change in spoiler and air dam rules for this season played a major factor in the increased speeds. Labonte's 1st starting spot is followed by Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Kenny wallace, and Kevin Lepage in the top five. Kyle Petty, Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, and Mike Skinner round out the top ten starting spots respectively.
Some top teams were struggling, including Dale Earnhardt, starting 34th; Terry Labonte, starting 38th with a provisional; Jeff Burton, starting 37th with a provisional; Jimmy Spencer, starting 39th with a provisional, and his teammate Darrell Waltrip, who missed the race altogether, with Buckshot Jones and Hut Strickland. Darrell has been doing real good of late, and it's surprising to see him miss a race. Even the up and coming Tony Stewart started 24th, and Jeff Gordon started 14th, his worst start at Dover in six years.
Legendary Winston Cup team owner victim of fatal heart attack.
The Monster Mile....... NBNA Platinum 400
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