The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 32

6C Friday, April 21, 2000 THE TENNESSEAN www tennessean com SPORTS: AUTO RACING Stewart at WL Noted racing junkie Tony Stewart can't get away from the sport even when the Winston Cup cars have a weekend off. So, tomorrow in Las Vegas, he'll be the crew chief for Jack Miller in the Vegas Indy 300. It's not a new role for Stewart, the 1997 IRL champion and 1999 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. "I'll be doing the same thing that I was doing back at the IRL season-opener in Orlando: owner, crew chief, engineer you name said Stewart, co-owner of Tri-Star Motorsports. Stewart, who worked with Rob-by Unser three months ago at Walt Disney World Speedway, said calling the shots gives him a greater appreciation for the work of Winston Cup crew chief Greg Zpadel-li.

"When I went to Orlando, I saw things the way he sees Stewart said. "It makes me respect him even more than I already did. It makes me think about things from a different perspective." Marathon man: NASCAR driver under the rain-or-shine policy instituted last year for road-course races in the three national divisions. In its 51-plus years, NASCAR has never run a touring division points race in the rain. Preparing for rain in a city well known for it, teams have added windshield wipers, defoggers and rear brake lights to their trucks.

Last year, on separate weekends in Watkins Glen, N.Y, Craftsman Truck and Winston Cup drivers practiced on Goodyear all-weather tires, but qualified and raced in dry conditions. Winston Cup drivers also qualified on a wet track for a 1997 exhibition race in Japan. Arena on track: Developers in Pittsburgh could begin construe- tion on the first indoor speedway as soon as July. Findlay Township has approved rezoning of 217 acres for the $390 million facility adjacent to Pittsburgh International Airport. The 1-mile oval will be housed in a 2.6-million-square-foot building.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS The 36-year-old driver was out of 17813 entrants. Off to England: Johnny Benson is taking advantage of the break in the Winston Cup schedule to attend the British Grand Prix in Sil-verstone, England. "I get to be a fan this weekend Benson said. "I went to Spain two years ago and had so much fun that I wanted to go back." Formula One is the only form of racing Winston Cup drivers regularly watch because most events are televised on Sunday mornings, the only dead time in a NASCAR weekend. "Those cars are amazingr Benson said.

"What I couldn't believe the last time we were there is how a Formula One car can go from almost 200 mph down to almost a complete stop in less than a Racing in the rake NASCAR is prepared to run tomorrow's Line-X 225K Craftsman Truck Series in wet conditions in Portland, Ore. The event at Portland International Raceway will be contested CrsftsRsn bucks WnatUne-X225K Site: Pwfland, Ore. Schedule: Today, qualifying, 6 p.m.; tomorrow, race (ESPN, 2 p.m.) Track Portland International Raceway (permanent road course, 1.95 miles, nine turns). Race distance: 142.35 miles, 73 laps. Last year's winner Greg Birds.

Next race: Ram Tough 200, May 7, Madison, HI. IRL What Vegas Indy 300 Site: Las Vegas. Schedule: Today, qualifying, 3 p.m. (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m., tape); tomorrow, race (ABC, 2:30 p.m.) Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (tri-oval, 1.5 miles, 12 degrees banking In turns). Race distance: 312 miles, 208 laps.

Last year's winner Sam Schmidt. Next race: Indianapolis 500, May 28. Formula One What British Grand Prix Site: Silverstone, England. Schedule: Tomorrow, qualifying, 6 Sunday, race, 7 am (Fox Sports Net, 9 a.m., tape). Track: Silverstone Circuit (road course, 3.196 miles, 14 turns), Race distance: 191.76 miles, 60 laps.

Last year's winner. David Coulthard. Next race: Spanish Grand Prix, May 7 Barcelona Winston Cup Next race: NAPA Auto Parts 500, April 30, Fbntana, Calif. Busch Next race: Auto Club 300, April 29, Fontana, Calif. CART Next race: Rio 200, April 30, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

FILE Michael Waltrip finished Boston Marathon out of 17,813. Michael Waltrip ran in the Boston Marathon on Monday, finishing in 4 hours, 42 minutes, 20 seconds. "It's kind of like getting the chance to play Augusta National or something like that" Waltrip said. "If you get that kind of an opportunity, you have to do it. "I just did it for the experience of it, to see what it's like to run through where all of those college kids are screaming and to come in at the end in front of all of the New speedway Ms changes A 788 for $10? Those numbers are working for me! -v Irs if V- I 1 Av Gtm 1)096 fcxJD SfflfflCoGBo on Adelphia, GEC struction project underway." Kohler, a vetern racing official, will be joined by Bob Harmon in overseeing Nashville's weekly racing program.

Harmon announced his retirement last year but after a brief laying he returned to assist in the track operatioa In addition to the Saturday races, the track hosts two more major events this season the Aug. 12 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and the Nov. 5 All-American 400. Those two races, along with the NASCAR Busch race, will be moved to the new superspeedway next seasoa The Fairgrounds track will continue to host the weekly racing progiam for two or three more years, while a new short track is being completed as part of the Wilson County complex. "Cliff will have overall responsibility and make sure all bases are covered," McGlynn said, "but primarily he will coordinate the superspeedvyayl McGlynn said he will have Hawks travel to events at the company's tracks at Memphis, St.

Louis, Dover and Long Beach, "to get up to speed on what racing's all about" "I'm anxious to get started," Hawks said. "My wife is from Johnson City, which is big racing country. And of course I've followed the sport closely since living in Nashville. I'm amazed at its growth and excited about its future potential. "This is a very exciting time for motorsports in Middle Tennessee and I'm thrilled over the chance to be a part of it" Enough races Ward Burton is among the majority of Winston Cup drivers who feel the schedule can't be expanded.

i tmnK we re maxed out," said Burton, who made a public relations appearance Bellevue Center. not opposed to going to some new tracks in new areas; I think it would be good for the sport But if we do, I think we have to move some existing races from some tracks that currently have two races a year. I won't name the tracks because I don't want make anybody mad, but there are some tracks were we could move a race." Burton said expanding the current 34-race schedule "would really make it tough on our crews. Right now they hardly get a day off. We race on Sunday and they're in the shop on Monday morning, getting the car ready to haul to the track on Thursday." "We race February through November, which makes our season longer than any other sport And we spend a lot of the offseason in practice sessions and public relations responsibilities.

I think we've got about all we can handle." The Winston Cup schedule has its first open date in 10 weeks this weekend, and Burton said he plans to take advantage of it "I did some practicing at Richmond at the first of the week, and had the Nashville PR appearance, and then I'm done," he said. "I'm going to go turkey hunting and take my kids camping." I 03 CD Hawks has worked Cliff Hawks, who helped guide the successful development and marketing of Adelphia Coliseum and Gaylord Entertainment Center, hopes to do the same for new Nashville Superspeedway. "My goal is to follow the examples of Adelphia and Gaylord and make the speedway their equal as it relates to motorsports," says Hawks, who last week was named vice president and general manager of Nashville Speedway. Im excited for NASCAR fans locally and all around the state. They are going to think they are in heaven when they walk into the new facility." Hawks, executive director of the Nashville Racing Insider Larry Woody Sports Authority, will step down to assume his new duties on June 1.

Hawks will turn the day-to-day operation of existing Nashville Speedway over to Dave Kohler, race operations manager, and devote most of his attention to the $125 million Nashville Superspeed-way under construction in Wilson County. The track is scheduled to open next April. When completed, the giant facility will contain five different tracks and represent perhaps the most diverse motorsports complex in the country. It will be evolve under the direction of Hawks. Hawks, 31, is a native of Humboldt and a graduate of David Lipscomb University.

He said he is a racing fan, having attended Winston Cup events at Bristol, but admits he is still feeling his way into the sport "I think what I bring to the table is a knowledge of sports marketing," he said. "My goal in the coming months is to introduce the new motorsports facility to the public. "It is a tremendous project, ranking right up there with Adel-phia Coliseum and the Gaylord Center, and I'm excited to be part of it" Hawks was brought aboard by Denis McGlynn, president of Dover Downs Entertainment, which owns Nashville Speedway and is building the new racing complex. "We were looking for someone familiar with major sports marketing in Middle Tennessee," McGlynn said, "and Cliff was recommended to us by Dye Van Mol the track's public relations firm. "We were told what a fantastic job he has done with the football stadium and the downtown arena, and after meeting with him we realized Cliff is exactly who we need working with us." Hawks replaces Joe Earnest as the Speedway's general manager.

The move caught Earnest and the Speedway staff by surprise. Earnest declined to comment on his abrupt departure except to say: "I enjoyed my association with the Speedway. It was a wonderful experience. I also apprecite the work by our staff. They did a great job." Earnest said he is exploring other career opportunities in Nashville.

"Joe did a grxxi job and made a solid contribution to the Nashville operatioa" McGlynn said. "We are grateful for his hard work in helping us through a transition, while ill -if lJm -4 Finally a digital wireless phone that everyone can afford with no activation fee or other hidden costs. Plus, SunCom service plans will keep the savings going throughout the year. For example, enjoy 150 minutes of talk time a month for just $24.95. With no roaming or long distance charges throughout the state.

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