Blue Ash native Jeff Fultz tried but failed Thursday night to become the first Greater Cincinnatian to make a NASCAR Winston Cup race in nearly a decade.

        Fultz, 30, made his first career Winston Cup qualifying attempt at Lowe's Motor Speedway Speedway in Concord, N.C., site of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday. Fultz posted the 46th-fastest speed among 49 entrants, but only 43 cars are permitted to start the race.

        Fultz posted a faster qualifying time (179.874 mph) than either Carl Long or Matt Kenseth. Also, Winston points leader Dale Jarrett failed to qualify because he wrecked on the warm-up lap. But Fultz, with no provisional points to fall back on, officially was listed last in the 49-man field.

        Rodney Combs, formerly of Hamilton, was the most recent Greater Cincinnati man to drive in Winston Cup. Combs ran in 55 Winston races over the past two decades and last competed on the circuit in the early 1990s.

        Fultz, a 1987 graduate of Sycamore High School, called his Winston bid “a dream come true.” He has been a standout for years on the NASCAR Gatorade All-Pro regional circuit, having finished second in the 2000 points race. He also raced at Kentucky Speedway last June in the track's inaugural All-Pro event.

        Fultz, who lives in Mooresville, N.C., signed a one-race Winston deal with car owners Gene DeHart and Mike Clark for the Coca-Cola 600. DeHart's father, Gary, is crew chief for Terry Labonte.

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