NASCAR notes: Racing's family tree sprouts limb

Web posted June 21, 1998

Associated Press

LONG POND, Pa. -- Bobby Hamilton had a different perspective of a race on Father's Day weekend.

A day before he strapped himself into his Winston Cup car for the Pocono 500, Hamilton found another seat. He was perched atop the crew chief's platform, calling the shots for his 20-year-old son, who debuted in an ARCA event at Pocono International Raceway.

It was the first of several ARCA starts for Bobby Jr., who wound up fifth in a Chevrolet. The younger Hamilton also plans to race some in NASCAR's truck series.

His 41-year-old father had said he was excited over the prospect of being top wrench, but the race driver in him never lingered far below the surface.

``Bobby Jr.'s ARCA car was some fun, and it helped us learn a little bit for the race Sunday,'' said the elder Hamilton, who seeks the fourth victory of his Winston Cup career.

But one thing probably won't change. Father Hamilton won't come away feeling any better about the flat, 2 1/2 -mile Pocono layout.

That flies in the face of logic, considering he won the pole for this race a year ago and that two of his three career victories are on similar racing surfaces.

``I've always liked the high-banked tracks and always kind of disliked the flat ones,'' he said. ``It figures I'd have a better record at the flat tracks, doesn't it?''

Hamilton will start 16th today in the Pocono 500.

NUMBERS GAME: The top five drivers in the season standings are separated by only 68 points, by far the smallest number in five years. Last year at this point, the top five were 212 points apart. In 1996, it was 307; 1995 was 121, and 1994 was 319.

But the distance between first and second this season, 26 points from Jeremy Mayfield to Jeff Gordon, is only the third closest in that period. Sterling Marlin led by just six points in 1995 and Dale Earnhardt by 15 in 1996.

SHORT CHUTES: Pocono has not been a good track for Pontiac, a winner just three times in 40 races since stock cars began running on the triangle in 1974. Chevys have won 16 races, Fords 12. Makes no longer campaigned have the other nine victories. ... Led by three Bodines -- Geoff, Brett and Todd -- there will be five sets of siblings in the field Sunday. The other brothers are Ward and Jeff Burton, Terry and Bobby Labonte, Rusty and Kenny Wallace, and Darrell and Michael Waltrip. All told, 11 brothers held spots in the 43-car field. ... Three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip hasn't been to the winner's circle since September of 1992, a span of 176 races. ... Ken Schrader is without a victory since June of 1991, 216 losses ago.