NASCAR Winston Cup Series Testing in Atlanta (11/15/97)

6 November 1997

HAMPTON, GA - Defending Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte recorded the 
fastest lap during Wednesday's test session at Atlanta Motor Speedway 
circling the newly configured 1.54-mile track at a speed of 192.166 mph. 
Todd Bodine's Team Tabasco Pontiac was second-quickest at 192.097 mph. 

"This is a tough track, and it's going to take some time to get used to it," 
said Labonte. "Right now, with the new asphalt, it's real fast. And, right 
now, everybody's running down at the bottom. After the ARCA race on Saturday 
and the last Winston Cup practice that day, you should be able to pass fairly 
easily in the race."

Three-time ARCA champion Tim Steele crashed the Bud Moore Engineering Ford 
into the fourth turn wall during the session. Steele was unconscious for a 
brief period and had to be extricated from the car by safety workers. He was 
transported to Southern Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, GA where he 
underwent a CAT scan, which was negative, and was treated for a sprained left 
ankle before being released shortly after 6 p.m.

"I really don't know what happened," Steele said after leaving the hospital. 
"I'm not sure I want to know, but I'm OK. My ankle is a little sore, but I'm 
fine." 

November 5, 1997 test times at Atlanta Motor Speedway:  
          
Ps.No.  Driver                 Sponsor                   Make Lap Time M.P.H.
-- ---- ----------------------------------------------------- -------- -------
 1   5  Terry Labonte          Kellogg's Corn Flakes     Chev 0:28.850 192.166
 2  35  Todd Bodine            Tabasco                   Pont 0:28.860 192.097
 3  90  Dick Trickle           Heilig-Meyers/Simmons     Ford 0:28.870 192.033
 4  22  Ward Burton            MBNA                      Pont 0:28.880 191.966
 5  15  Tim Steele             Bud Moore Engineering     Ford 0:28.900 191.834
 6  44  Kyle Petty             Hot Wheels                Pont 0:29.110 190.450
 7   2  Rusty Wallace          Miller Lite               Ford 0:29.120 190.385
 8  43  Bobby Hamilton         STP                       Pont 0:29.140 190.254
 9  10  Ricky Rudd             Tide                      Ford 0:29.200 189.863
10  17  Darrell Waltrip        Western Auto              Chev 0:29.230 189.668
11  37  Jeremy Mayfield        KMart/RCA Cola            Ford 0:29.390 188.635
12   1  Morgan Shepherd        R&L Carriers              Pont 0:29.410 188.507
13  77  Robert Pressley        Jasper Engines            Ford 0:29.430 188.379
14  78  Gary Bradberry         Hanes                     Ford 0:29.460 188.187
15  41  Steve Grissom          Kodiak                    Chev 0:29.480 188.060
16  91  Kevin Lepage           LJ Racing                 Chev 0:29.570 187.487
17  71  Dave Marcis            RealTree                  Chev 0:29.690 186.729
18  95  Ed Berrier             Sadler Racing             Chev 0:29.930 185.232
19      Mike Miller                                      Chev 0:30.230 183.394
    
Track Length      :  1.5400 Miles