Friday, March 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
HAMPTON, Ga. -- As the Winston Cup series moves to its fastest non-restricted speedway for the Primestar 500 this weekend, controversy about a rules change once again is dominating the circuit.
NASCAR granted Ford an eighth-inch ground-clearance concession for its front ends for Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a change that theoretically will improve the Thunderbirds' flow through air.
The new rules will be in effect for the first time Friday in first-round qualifying for the Primestar 500, the fourth race of the Winston Cup season.
Chevrolet teams wasted no time criticizing the change.
"The way the Fords have been running, it's just hard to justify that," Darrell Waltrip said. "I think things have been as equal as they've been for a while. I know it's only an eighth of an inch, but any time you make changes on the rear spoiler or air dam, it makes a difference."
Chevrolet team owner Felix Sabates said NASCAR "must be seeing a different race from the one I'm seeing. There is no rhyme or reason to the rules change."
Chevrolet won the first two races of the season behind driver Jeff Gordon. Rusty Wallace won race three with his Ford last week at Richmond (Va.). But Ford drivers have led 785 laps to 206 for Chevrolet this season.
NASCAR apparently based the change on poor Ford performance at Charlotte and Atlanta in 1996.
Ford team owner Jack Roush has been lobbying for a more significant rules change.
"Taking away the air dam disparity is one of the ways NASCAR can balance the downforce and drag situation," he said. "But I've asked them for a half-inch variance for the Ford in order to tighten the thing up so we can have a good race."
The change probably won't have a significant impact on qualifying, which will determine the first 25 starters in Sunday's field. The starting grid will be completed in a qualifying round Saturday.
Bobby Labonte set the Atlanta Motor Speedway qualifying record of 185.887 mph last November.
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