The Winston Open’s starting grid will be set this year by a pair of 25-lap qualifying races to be held Friday, May 15 at CMS. The first race will set the inside-row starters and the outside-row starters will come from the second. Each of the qualifying races, called the No-Bull 25s, will pay $25,000 to its winner. To set the starting order for the qualifying races, NASCAR will use the speeds recorded by its timing and scoring transponders during a Friday afternoon practice session for cars entered in the Open. The driver with the fastest speed will start first in the first race; the driver with the second fastest speed will start first in the second. The rest of the fields will be set in similar alternating fashion. The May 15 schedule also includes qualifying for The Winston. The 19 drivers qualified for that race will run a total of three laps, and during those laps they must come in and have their pit crews change two tires. Total time for the three laps and the pit stop will determine the starting order. The Winston Open winner will then be added to the field in the 20th starting spot.(That’s Racin’)(5-6-98)
