For Third Straight Week, Neil Bonnett Finishes First

Neil Bonnett is establishing some personal firsts this season in NASCAR.

Not only is he leading the Winston Cup series for the first time in his career, but the 41-year-old driver has won three straight races for the first time.

“We’ve just got everything working for us right now,” Bonnett said after holding off Lake Speed over the last 20 laps Sunday to win the Goodwrench 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway.

Bonnett won a Winston Cup race two weeks ago at Richmond, Va., and followed with a victory last Sunday in an all-star event in Australia.

On Sunday, Sterling Marlin held off Alan Kulwicki to take third place, and two-time defending Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt was fifth.

Bonnett averaged 120.159 m.p.h. in picking up his 18th career Winston Cup victory. He won $44,800.

The race drew a record Rockingham crowd estimated at 53,600 despite cool temperatures and overcast skies.

The first caution flag of the race came out on lap 18 when Richard Petty bumped Rick Wilson and Petty’s car skidded up into the concrete wall in turn one. Petty, 50, who escaped serious injury in a spectacular crash in the season-opening Daytona 500, then finished third at Richmond, Va., walked away without injury again on Sunday.

There were only six more caution periods in the 492-lap race, with long stretches of green-flag racing between yellows. Only 38 laps were run under caution.

None of accidents were serious and no injuries were reported.