Earnhardt Wins, Earns $222,000
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Dale Earnhardt became the first three-time winner of NASCAR’s $1.1-million The Winston before about 144,000 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., on Saturday night.
A caution period caused by a blown engine on Terry Labonte’s car two laps from the finish of the final 10-lap shootout bunched the field and set up a showdown between Earnhardt and Mark Martin. The latter made a daring inside move on the first lap to take the lead from Rick Mast, who won Saturday’s second 30-lap leg.
Earnhardt, who won in 1987 and 1990 and spun out in a final-lap battle with Davey Allison and Kyle Petty last year, outraced Martin, who was in a Ford, to win by 0.16 seconds. He earned about $222,000.
Ernie Irvan dominated the first 30-lap leg from the pole position, pushing his lead to as much as 10 car lengths to win $50,000.
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