The Winston will no longer be open to non-winners. The rules have now been altered to include only winners in the field. That includes drivers and car-owners who have won races in the previous year and the current year, past Winston Cup champions, winners of The Winston for the last five years, and the winner of that night’s Winston Open. So far, those who have made the field are Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Dale Earnhardt, Sterling Marlin, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Ernie Irvan, Geoff Bodine, Bill Elliott, Bobby Hamilton, Bobby Labonte, Darrell Waltrip and 1996 The Winston winner Michael Waltrip. That leaves six spots to fill. If it reverts back to winners in previous seasons, those eligible would include 1995 winners Mark Martin, Kyle Petty and Ward Burton, 1994 winner Jimmy Spencer and 1993 winner Morgan Shepherd.(1-18-97). This story appears in Winston Cup Scene(1-16-97), National Speed Sport News(1-15-97) and at Nando Net , the third story from the top
