MOTOR RACING ROUNDUP : Davey Allison Skips a Pit Stop, Defeats Martin

Davey Allison’s Ford Thunderbird beat that of Mark Martin in a photo finish Sunday to win the NASCAR stock car Winston Cup Series race at Bristol, Tenn., International Raceway.

Allison took the lead for the first and only time on the 392nd lap of the 500-lap race when he decided to skip a pit stop while the leaders went to the pits under a caution flag.

On the final lap, Martin ducked low in the fourth turn and to pull even with Allison as they raced toward the finish line.

It was difficult to tell who had won, but after viewing video tapes, NASCAR officials ruled that Allison had crossed the finish line first, giving the winning margin of the 250-mile race as six inches.

“I knew if I stayed in my line it would be tough for him to pass,” said Allison, who averaged 87.257 m.p.h. “He got a real good run off the four corner and I didn’t. I think I was trying to protect my line more than get to the checkered flag.

“I almost let him get by me. But I did what I had to do. I didn’t cut him off. I gave him racing room and we beat him.”

It was Allison’s first Winston Cup victory since the Pepsi 400 at Daytona last season. He won $50,100. Ricky Rudd finished third.

Joe Amato edged top qualifier Darrell Gwynn in the top-fuel final to earn the $25,000 winner’s check in the $300,000 NHRA Winston Invitational at Rockingham, N.C.

Amato clocked a 5.049-second elapsed time for the quarter-mile to Gwynn’s 5.022, but reached the finish line first. The win denied Gwynn a chance to complete a sweep of drivers winning both the Goody’s top qualifier bonus and Winston Invitational purse.

Top qualifier John Force won the funny car competition, giving him $35,000 for the weekend--$25,000 for the victory and $10,000 for the Goody’s top qualifier award. Jerry Eckman also swept both awards in pro stock, earning $16,000 for the victory and $10,000 from Goody’s.

Force beat Mark Oswald in the funny car final in a close 5.438-5.432 race. Eckman won when 1989 Winston Invitational champion Larry Morgan left the starting line too soon.