Motor Racing Roundup : It Takes Only 52 Races for Allison’s $1 Million

Davey Allison, setting a record for the fewest races needed to surpass $1 million in career winnings, took advantage of a blown engine by Ricky Rudd and won Sunday’s Miller 400, the inaugural Winston Cup event at the new Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va.

Allison, who started on the pole in his Ford Thunderbird, averaged 95.770 m.p.h. on the D-shaped track, the only 3/4-mile layout on the Winston Cup circuit.

Allison’s margin of victory was 3.25 seconds over Dale Earnhardt. Terry Labonte was third, followed by Mark Martin and Alan Kulwicki.

Allison, who won $57,800, had entered his 52nd race needing only $5,015 to break the $1-million mark. The old record was 76 races, which Dale Earnhardt reached in 1981.

It was the second victory of the year for Allison, 27, of Hueytown, Ala. He won two races last season when he was named rookie of the year.

Geoff Bodine collided with Rusty Wallace just after they crossed the start-finish line on the second lap. The race was under caution at the time because of a first-lap spin involving Richard Petty.

Wallace’s Pontiac was badly damaged, and after trying to repair it, he had to retire after 18 laps. He finished 35th in the 36-car field.

Bill Elliott, who was seventh, increased his season points total to 3,363, 117 ahead of second-place Earnhardt and 119 ahead of Wallace.

The Ferrari team of Gerhard Berger of Austria and Michele Alboreto of Italy finished 1-2 in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Italy, ending the domination of the powerful McLaren-Honda team.

Brazilian Ayrton Senna, who appeared headed toward a record eighth victory in his McLaren, spun off during the next to last of the 51 laps, missing the chance to clinch the world drivers title in the 12th event of the 16-race series.

Senna was left with 75 points in the world championship standings, and his French teammate Alain Prost, who also withdrew, held the runner-up spot with 72 points.

American Eddie Cheever, in a turbocharged Arrows-Megatron, took third place, 35.5 seconds behind the winner.

Berger, in scoring the fourth Grand Prix victory of his career, averaged 141.687 m.p.h. over the 183.4 miles.

Alboreto, who dedicated the race to Enzo Ferrari, the company founder who died last month, clocked the fastest lap at 146 m.p.h.

Paul Smith upset defending world champion Gene Snow to win the Top Fuel title in the U.S. Open Nationals at Rockingham International Dragway at Rockingham, N.C.

Smith had an elapsed time of 5.397 seconds at 265.80 m.p.h. to edge Snow in the final. Snow smoked his tires off the line and was forced to shut off.

Dale Pulde scored his first victory in two seasons by defeating Jerry Caminito in the Funny Car championship race.

Pulde, a former world champion, recorded a 5.593 elapsed time at 256.04 m.p.h. to defeat Caminito, who ran a 6.71 at 147.17 m.p.h.

Morris Johnson Jr., driving a Pontiac Trans Am, won his first national event by edging Tim Nabors in the Pro Stock final.

Johnson had time of 7.471 seconds at 186.68 m.p.h. Nabors ran a 7.473 at 186.29 m.p.h.