NOTES FROM TUESDAY, APRIL 23 TEST SESSION
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Wallace, Hillin test at Daytona for Talladega and July 6 Pepsi 400

     DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 23) -- NASCAR Winston Cup drivers
Mike Wallace and Bobby Hillin spent the first day of a two-day
test at Daytona International Speedway Tuesday breaking-in a pair
of new Ford Thunderbirds at speeds in the 181-182 mph range for
the April 28 Winston Select 500 at Talladega Superspeedway and
the Saturday, July 6, Pepsi 400 at Daytona.
     Wallace's Donlavey Racing T-bird replaced the car that was
wrecked in the season-opening Daytona 500. Hillin's Jasper
Motorsports car replaced the Ford that was damaged in the first
Gatorade 125-Mile Qualifying Race for the Daytona 500. Hillin
said that car had been converted into one that would be used at
Charlotte Motor Speedway.
     Wallace's team did extensive motor R&D work on Tuesday,
trying three different engines.
     The test will conclude on Wednesday. A section of the
Oldfield Grandstand will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. at no charge with access through the Visitors' Center.
Guided tours of the Speedway will also be offered from 9:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
=20
MIKE WALLACE (No. 90 Heilig-Myers Ford) -- ON THE TEST: The
reason we're here is that we wrecked our speedway car here in
February during the 500.  We just got a new speedway car done and
we don't want to go to Talladega (for April 28 Winston Select
500) without at least running it a few laps.  We finished the car
too late to be able to go to Talladega for testing. The guys got
the car done last week. Then we had to go to Martinsville. That
left us a couple of days where we could come here to Daytona and
get everything all lined up
     It's a totally brand new car from the ground up. It should
be a good car and roll off good. The team took a lot of time
building what is its first complete superspeedway car. This is
the first time I've had a brand new speedway car.  We're hoping
for something special -- a little better than what we had.  We've
run pretty good on the superspeedways -- now we're hoping to win
a race.
     The way things are going anymore there's qualifying and then
there's the race itself. We lease motors from Power Tech Engines
in Concord (N.C.). The engines were good here in February. We had
a top 10 car here in February until we cut a tire and ended up
wrecking off (turn) two.

ON THE SEASON: The biggest change this year is that crew chief
Bob Johnson and myself have had some time to work together
finally. We're understanding each other, I believe, to a certain
degree. We've struggled this year. We've had good runs, but in
the middle of them we've had mechanical problems that have bit
us. We've missed making a couple of short track races and that's
pretty disappointing. We got that problem changed around and went
to Martinsville where we qualified pretty decent. We were running
well when we broke a rear end gear. It seems any time we're
running good and have a shot at gaining a bunch of points
something goes wrong. This is a tough sport and a tough business.
We=FEve just got to work hard and keep on digging on it. =20

BOB JOHNSON (Crew Chief No. 90 Heilig-Myers Ford) -- ON
COMMUNICATION: Good communication between the driver and the crew
chief makes a big difference. It takes a while. It doesn't happen
overnight. It'll take a half a season, really, for things to fall
into place. It's been real good so far.

BOBBY HILLIN (No. 77 Jasper Engines Ford) -- ON THE TEST: We
started out with a set-up where we were trying to get the spoiler
down out of the air and we just kinda messed up. The fenders were
rubbing -- the same problem we had during Speedweeks. We got that
problem fixed but we've only had two chances to make speed runs.
Tomorrow's gonna be our key day to find some speed. Right now
we're not there.
     This car was finished at 1 o'clock last night (Tuesday
morning). The truck driver actually got here the same time we
arrived on the plane. It's been one of those times.

ON THE SEASON: It's been a frustrating year -- up and down
(qualifying for only four of eight races). The spirits on the
team are about as good as you'd expect. We're just trying to get
back to square one, really. We've got two good sponsors, Jasper
and Federal Mogul. They're sticking with us and in the second
half of the season we're hoping to make them proud.
     Talladega (site of his only Winston Cup victory) is a good
place to turn things around but you've got to have a good, fast
car. That's why we're down here. If we can get the car fast I
think we can get to Talladega and do big things.

ON THE STATE OF NASCAR WINSTON CUP RACING: Let me put it this
way: Before the year's out, I believe a provisional starter will
win a race. Ernie (Irvan) was a provisional starter (in the
Goody's Headache Powder 500 at Martinsville) and he finished
second. That'll give you an idea of the competitive level of
Winston Cup. It's never been this way before... We said it three
years ago, two years ago, last year and we continue to say it.
It's tough!