Earnhardt Has Mishap

Dale Earnhardt’s stretch of hard luck continued as he crashed during practice for the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The seven-time Winston Cup champion, who ended a string of 11 consecutive races without a top-five finish by taking second place last Sunday at North Wilkesboro Speedway, escaped injury, but did considerable damage to the Chevrolet he qualified 33rd for today’s race.

Richard Childress Racing pulled out a back-up car, which Earnhardt will start from the rear of the field.

At the same site, Mark Martin won the All Pro Bumper To Bumper 300, a race marred by an accident in which David Green was knocked unconscious and lost his Busch Grand National Series points lead to Randy LaJoie.

Green regained consciousness before being airlifted to a Charlotte hospital. He appeared to have only a concussion but was kept overnight for observation.

Spokane driver Chad Little started third and finished fourth to earn $24,075.

Butch Gilliland of Anaheim, Calif., won the NASCAR Winston West race at Sears Point, defeating Jeff Krogh of Kamiah, Idaho. Pappy Pryor of Priest Lake, Idaho, placed 20th.