Bonnett Wins; Rudd May Have Been Counted Out

Neil Bonnett charged from two laps down, took the lead with 48 laps left and drove to a disputed victory over Ricky Rudd in Sunday’s Pontiac 400, the last NASCAR Winston Cup event at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway.

Rudd complained to NASCAR officials that Bonnett was actually one lap behind at the end of the 400-lap race on the .542-mile oval. Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip, who finished third and fourth, respectively, echoed Rudd’s concerns.

NASCAR officials met with Kenny Bernstein, Rudd’s team owner, and explained their scoring that gave Bonnett the victory.

Bonnett was leading on the 193rd lap when Dale Earnhardt passed him. Fifteen laps later, Bonnett’s Pontiac fell off the pace and Bonnett pitted under green on lap 228 to change all four tires, losing two laps in the process.

Bonnett got one lap back by passing Earnhardt when the two-time defending Winston Cup champion was leading on lap 243, and Bonnett said he got back on the lead lap on the 302nd lap, just before Earnhardt had to pit under green for right-side tires.

But Rudd said: “I won the race and Richard Petty ran second. That’s all I know. It’s too bad the crew is getting cheated out of the Victory Lane ceremony.”

The victory was the 17th of Bonnett’s career and helped the Bessemer, Ala., driver continue a comeback from an October crash at Charlotte, N.C., that left him with a broken leg and a plate in his hip.

“I was down and out and almost ready to quit,” said Bonnett, who ended a 29-race winless drought. “This is great.”

Bonnett, who finished fourth at last week’s season-opening Daytona 500, collected $45,900 for Sunday’s victory.

With Rudd chasing him, Bonnett got caught in lapped traffic with five laps left and bounced off the second-turn guardrail. He was able to straighten out the car and hold off Rudd by 1 1/2 car lengths.

Sterling Marlin finished fifth, followed by Lake Speed, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Hillin, Terry Labonte and Earnhardt.

Seven cars were on the lead lap at the end of the race, which began with temperatures in the mid-30s and gusting winds up to 25 m.p.h.

The aging facility is being replaced with a 3/4-mile track with a concrete retaining wall, expanded seating and added infield amenities. Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway officials say the new track will be ready in time for a race in September.