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Auto Racing briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 21, 2000

Mayfield grabs pole, with points leader in second spot

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- As happy as Jeremy Mayfield was to win the pole for Sunday's Pop Secret Popcorn 400, the biggest smiles in the North Carolina Speedway garage belonged to Bobby Labonte and his Joe Gibbs Racing team.

Mayfield recorded a fast lap of 157.342 mph. Labonte, closing in on his first Winston Cup championship, drew an early qualifying spot and slid quietly into the second spot at 157.248.

"We're having a good time," Labonte said. "I'm a little calmer, maybe, than in years past, and that's probably just experience."

Labonte leads Dale Earnhardt by 210 points. If he finishes 10th or better in each of the four races left, Labonte will join older brother Terry, a two-time series winner, as a champ.

Earnhardt, who needs to win races and have Labonte falter if he is to have any chance, was 27th at 155.090.

The February race at this track came down to Labonte and Earnhardt, with Labonte barely holding off the seven-time series champ.

Mayfield, driving a Ford, earned his fourth pole of the season and the sixth of his career.

"It's just one of those days everything went right for us," Mayfield said. "Today I just tried to make good laps and be smooth."

ROCKINGHAM 200: Career Busch Grand National victory leader Mark Martin earned the pole for today's BGN race.

Martin, who has announced that this will be his last year in the series, turned a lap of 154.162 mph to hold off Casey Atwood in qualifying for the 200-mile race.

Also, driver Mike Wallace was injured in a practice crash. He was transported to a hospital for precautionary X-rays of his right shoulder and shoulder blade.

MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX: Mika Hakkinen led practice for the season-ending Formula One race at 123 mph in Sepang. The McLaren-Mercedes driver, after losing his two-year hold on the world title, had newly-crowned champion Michael Schumacher of Ferrari right behind him in hot and humid conditions.

O'REILLY FALL NATIONALS: Qualifying for the NHRA event at Ennis, Texas, was rained out. Cars will make two qualifying runs today.

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Gary Shelton