The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 58

if in i' syr1 "iii'ii mm i THt TEN.NEMEAN To day. July 8 14 3C 9 oad to fame started here P3r sons RACING Weekly auto racing update A A By LARRY WOODY Sports Writer Benny Parsons went from a Detroit taxi driver to the winner of 21 Winston Cup races, including the 1975 Daytona 500. Last week, Parsons was one of nine selected for International Motorsports Hall of Fame induction, rmi Parsons' winding road led L' through Nashville and, looking I hnrlr hp cave hp rnlotir nnt have Winston Cup 1 i ,1 u- i yal -aW A 1 made it hadn't been for the late fi Bill Donoho. then president of 71 Nashville Raceway. 1 "Back when I was really strug- ssb -v A I Slln8 Mn iwnoho called me and I 1 asked if I'd like to run some races I Hi.

at Nashville," recalls Parsons, now IH File International Motorsports Hall of Famer Benny Parsons as the Daytona 500 pole-sitter in 1982. PARSONS Jimmy-winning racing commen tator for ESPN. "I said, but there were a few little snags. I didn't have a car, any money to get to Nashville on, or any place to stay if I got there. "Mr.

Donoho said not to worry about it, that he'd take care of it He helped me get a car and let me stay at his house. I didn't make a whole lot of money, but back then a little was a lot to me. "After that I began to get some other breaks and my racing career kinda took off. But I'll always look back on those days at Nashville, and what Mr. Donoho did for me, as the big turning point in my career." Parsons, considered one of the nicest guys in the sport's history, was raised by his grandmother in rural North Carolina.

In his late teens he joined relatives in Detroit, where he landed a job as a taxi driver. "I suppose that's where I got bitten by the racing bug," Parsons says with a chuckle. "Driving in rush-hour traffic in Detroit is about like racing at Talladega. If you slow down you get run over." Parsons eventually grew homesick and returned to the South, where he began to dabble in stock car racing with some friends. "There wasn't a lot of money in it back in those days," Parsons says.

"Mostly we did it for the fun of it But then the money began to get a little better, and we began to take it more seriously. I gradually decided that driving a race car wouldn't be a bad way to make a living, but it was sure tough getting started. "That's about where I stood just trying to get a foothold when Mr. Donoho called me up. I'd been to Nashville to race a time or two, met him, and apparently he liked me.

All I know for sure that he came along at a time when I most needed some help." The fifth annual induction ceremony will be held Dec 11 in Birmingham, Ala. The Motorsports Hall of Fame is located in Talladega, next to Talladega International Speedway. Points leaders lAYTONA BEACH, Ra. (AP) -lop 20 driven In NASCAR Winston points standings through the July 2 si 400 with driver, best finish, home-it, car make and total points: Ernie Irvan, (1st three times), las, Ford 2,424 Dale Earnhardt, (1st three times) napolis, N.C., Chevrolet, 2,336 Rusty Wallace, (1st five times), Louis, Ford, 2,105 Mark Martin, (2nd), BatesvMe, Ford, im Ken Schroder, (2nd), Fenton, Mo, vrolet, 2,000 Morgan Shepherd, (2nd), Conover, Ford, 1,920 Ricky Rudd, (4th), Chesapeake, Ford, 1,858 Michael Waltrlp, (3rd), Owesnooro, Pontiac, 1,844 Jeff Gordon, (1st), Plttsboro, Ind, rrotet, 1JJ15 I Lake Speed, (3rd), Jackson, 1, 1,744 I. Ted Musgrave, (6th), Franklin, Ford, 1,736 Kyle Petty, (4th), Randleman, Pontiac, 1,719 I.

Darren Waltrlp, (3rd), Franklin, Chevrolet, 1,43 Sterling Marim, (1st), Columbia, Chevrolet, 1,621 i. Terry Labonte, (1st), Corpus sti, Chevrolet, 122 i Dale Jarrett, (4th), Hickory, N.C., n-oW, 104 Bit Elliott, (3rd), DawsonvHe, 1,584 I Geoff Bodme, (2nd), Chemung, Ford, 1,564 Rick Mast, (3rd), Rockbridge Ford, 1,542 i Bobby Labonte, (6th), Corpus ttl, Tex, Pontiac, U75. Money leaders YTONA BEACH, Fta. (AP) op 20 leaders NASCAR Winston noney winnings through the July 2 400 with driver and money: rnle Irvan 1974,400 usty Wallace 1885,985 ate Earnhardt 1788,870 iff Gordon 1660,875 erllng Marti (653,900 eoff Bodine 1628,080 (ark Martin (506,167 en Schrader 1476,820 erry Labonte 1463,390 organ Shepherd $437,735 ale Jarrett $391,930 rte Petty 1377,931 ike Speed 1373,310 II Elliott 1333,500 MToH Waltrlp 1322,460 Icheel Waltrlp $319,920 ft Burton $294,530 vft Bodine $288,430 id Musgrave $285,205 Ck Mast $264,220 Rookie leaders YTONA BEACH, Fta. (AP) -994 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie I Year points standings following Cop races so he can help teen-agers take it slow Grand National Points leaders 1.

Ricky Craven, (1st twice), New-burgh, Maine, Chevrolet, 2,115 I David Green, (1st), Owensboro, Ky Chevrolet, 2,102 1 Hermle Sadler, (1st), Emporia, Chevrolet, 1,984 4. Kenny Wallace, (2nd twice), St. Louts, Ford, 1,979 i Bobby Dotter, (2nd twice), Chicago, Chevrolet, 1,945 6. Robert Pressley, (4th), AshevUe, N.C., Chevrolet, 1,906 7. Chad Utile, (3rd), Spokane, Ford, 1JJ99 I.

Larry Pearson, (2nd twice), Spartanburg, S.C, Chevrolet, 1,891 9. Tracy Leslie, (3rd), Ml. Clemens, Chevrolet, 1,858 10. Tim Fedewa, (6th), Holt, Ford, ljeiS Schedule Jury 16 South Boston 300, South Boston, Va. July 23 Fram Fitter 500K, Talladega, Ala.

Nashville Raceway Schedule (LMSC-Late Model Stock Car; LS-Llmited Sportsman; MM-Minl Modified; SM-Street Modified; WSM-Women's Street Modified; SAS-Southern All-Stars). Saturday: 50 LMSC, 30 LS, 30 MM, 25 SM, 20 WSM July Ifc 50 LMSC, 30 LS, 30 MM, 25 SM, 20 WSM. July 23: 50 LMSC, 30 LS, 30 MM, 25 SM, 20 WSM. Jury 30: 200 LMSC, 30 LS, 30 MM, 25 SM, 20 WSM. Aug.

fc 50 LMSC, 30 LS, 30 MM, 25 SM, 20 WSM. Aug. 13: 100 SAS, 50 LMSC, 30 MM, 30 SM, 20 WSM. Aug. 50 LMSC, LS, 30 MM, 30 SM, 20 WSM.

Aug. 27: 50 LMSC, 30 LS, 30 MM, 25, 25 SM, 20 WSM. Sept 3: State Fair. Sept W-17 State Fair. Sept 125 LMSC, 50 LS, 50 MM, 25 SM, 20 WSM.

Oct 14-16 AK-American 400 (race on Oct. 16). Point standings Thru July 3 Street MscMeft John Blanks 491; David Matheny 459; Greg Taylor 432; Wayne Bass 430; J.R. West 417; Mark Montgomery 414; John Nix 391; Craig Wilson 393; Steve Barnes 367. Women's Street MooWed: Jane Anne Bass 526; Amy Whitehurst 521; Cheryl Addlngton 511; Beverly Patterson 481; Tammy Smith 451; Carol Hacked 428; Darlene Earheart 425; Suzanne Hessev 397; Marsha Ragland 391; Felisa Benton 362.

Untried Sportsman: Jerry Underwood 520; Allen Carter 514; Ricky Bokten 492; Dwayne Hudson 480; Tommy Cllmer 459; Cecil Chum 433; Jeff Hlgdon 425; Gary Moore 411; Paul Cummings 396; Jim France 375. Lata Modal Stock: AW. Kfrby 504; Joe Buford 493; Mike Reynolds 461; Jerry Coble 434; Mark Blaslnglm 400; Tony Formosa, Jr. 389; Scott Henderson 373; Mark Harrison 372; Dean Howard 369; Mark Green 366. Mini MooMe Bobby Dixon 506; Johnny Thonl, Jr.

495; Rodger Garmon 487; Jerry Blackwel 461; Sam Robinson 413; Bennle Hamlett 398; Brad Corcoran 397; Jimbo Vance 368; James Forbes, Jr. 365; Robert White 362. Lilt Saturday nmffs Women's Street Modftecfc 1, Cheryl Addinglon; 2, Tammy Smith; 3, Jane Anne Bass; 4, Beverly Patterson; 5, Suzanne Hessev; 6, Darlene Earheart; 7, Denise Johnson; 8, Pam Parrlsh; 9, Marsha Ragland; 10, Melba Kestner. Highland Rim Schedule Saturday: Regular schedule. July 16: Regular schedule.

Jury 30: Regular schedule. Aug. 6: No events. Aug. 13: Kroger 100 late models; regular schedule.

Aug. 20t Regular schedule. Aug. 27: Regular schedule. Sept i Regular schedule; bike races.

Sept 10: Cunningham 100; regular schedule. Sept 17: Tennessee asphalt championship 200-lap late model race; regular schedule. Sept 2 Regular schedule. Oct Regular schedule; 50-lap 4-cyl-Inder. Oct 50-lap late model; regular schedule.

Oct IS: Regular schedule. Oct 21-22: Fan Classic 40O. of the sport and the time involved. Earlier this year the Police Athletic League decided to sponsor a drag racer, and Cruz was asked if he was interested in working with the project "I jumped at the chance," he says. "I didnt know much about drag racing, but I knew something about race cars, so I signed on." Cruz and fellow officer Charles Shannon maintain the car and race it on Fridays and Saturdays at Music City Raceway (formerly Union Hill Raceway) near Joelton.

"We spend more time showing the car and making speeches than we do racing," says Cruz, who yesterday appeared at the Music City Sheraton and on Saturday will be at Nashville Raceway. "We've found that the race car is a good way to get kids' attention. Then, after we've got it we can talk to them about the dangers of speeding, drinking or using drugs. I think the program has been real successful. "If we can make just one kid stop and think, it might save his or her life.

What could be more important?" "When I saw that we weren't going to be able to stop the fire, I went in and pulled the kid out He didnt seem to be hurt too bad, mostly just bruises and scrapes. But if somebody hadnt been there he'd have been in serious trouble." Cruz said that experience made him even more determined to get his message across. "What we tell kids wherever we go is, 'If you're going to drive fast do it on a racetrack, not on the "I know what I'm talking about because when I was a kid I used to drag race on the streets. "My uncle got me interested in real racing, and I began to hang out at the track and started taking an interest in race cars. Looking back, that was what kept me out of trouble.

"Now I'd like to try to help keep some other kids; kids who might not have a dad or an uncle to help them the way my uncle helped me." Cruz raced stock cars at Nashville Raceway from 1980 to 1991. He won the track championship in 1986. A few years later he retired because of the soaring cost jy 2 Pepsi ago: i Burton re Grlssom Nemechek Andrew Wallace rd Burton tmv Mayfleld 1 Standridge Manufacturer's standings mm' Lease a lot for less. By LARRY WOODY Sports Writer Ricky Cruz, a former Nashville Raceway track champion and 13-year veteran of the Metro Police department today is putting his driving experience to a different use. Cruz pilots a dragster sponsored by the Police Athletic League, and in between races travels around the area and lectures to youngsters on the dangers of speeding or driving while drinking.

Recently he saw a frightening example of what he is trying to prevent "We had been to Ripley, Tennessee, for a car show and speech," Cruz says, "and that night as we were headed home a car darted across the road in front of us and hit a tree. It was going about 100 miles an hour. "The driver, a teen-ager, was knocked unconscious and the car began to burn. I and the officers with me, Ray Walden and Danny Gentry, rushed over and tried to use fire extenguishers to put out the flames but we weren't having much luck. Spencer, Irvan show they have matured DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.

(GNS) For most of the final 12 laps of Saturday's Pepsi 400 at Daytona, Dale Earnhardt seemed content with riding in third place 100 yards behind Jimmy Spencer and Ernie Irvan stock car racing's two most-recent troublemakers. "I thought something might happen in front of me," he said. What Earnhardt witnessed may have been the maturing process of two drivers who failed to provide a crash but had the most thrilling finish of the year. Spencer and Irvan raced door handle-to-door handle for the final two miles, bumping each other at least four times at 190 mph in a frantic stretch drive. Spencer finally won by a bumper.

The final lap on the 2.5-mile raceway will be remembered more by the two's determination to race hard, but not dirty. There were no harsh words afterward from either side. "Spencer drove a great race today," Irvan said. "He had too much for me." After starting multicar crashes two years ago, Irvan apologized to his fellow drivers during a driver's meeting. By then many competitors already were calling him "Swervln' Irvan." Spencer admitted hitting Terry Labonte at Talladega this year to trigger a 13-car pileup.

He also was penalized five laps at North Wilkesboro, N.C, for a "temper tantrum" involving a run-in with driver Ken Schrader. And just a week ago, he rear-ended Jimmy Hensley on the first lap at Michigan International Speedway to put him out of the race. His nickname is "Mr. Excitement" "That's all behind me," Spencer said. "You had two hard-chargers up there.

It was man-to-man, one-on-one. We raced hard, but we raced cleaa" YTONA BEACH, FL (AP) -994 NASCAR Winston Cup Maimer's Points standings following the 1 Pepsi 400 with points and wins in Iheses: (9) 117 ivrolet (6) IM iliac (0) 60 Schedule 10 Slk 50 300, New Hamp-i International Speedway, Loudon, ity 17 Miner Genuine Draff 500, no International Raceway, Long Pa. ity 24 DleHard 500, Talladega rspeedway, Talladega, Ala. jo. 6 Brickyard 400, Indianapolis ir Speedway.

Indianapolis jg. 14 The Bud at the Glen, kins Glen International, Watkins N.Y. jg. 21 GM Goodwrench Dealer Michigan International Speedway, My, Mich. jg.

27 Goody's 500, Bristol Internal Raceway, Bristol, Term, (it. 4 Mountain Dew Southern Darlington Inlernatlonal Raceway ck When Prices Phone ihville Saturday $8 726-1818 lashville Raceway hosts "Crime and Safety Aware-s" night, 7:30 p.m. 50-LMSC. Admission: adults $8, tents $5, and 11-under free. Season tickets: $100.

hlandRim Saturday $6 643-8725 Ridgetop, feature event is 50-lap super et. Adults $6, children (6-12) $3 and Five and under i. Gates open at 4 p.m. and race starts at 7:30 p.m. adega July 23 $35-up 205-362-9064 Lily 23 Fram Filter 500 $35, July 24 Die-Hard 500 Race starts 7:30 p.m.

itol Aug. 26 $28 615-764-1161 ug. 27 NASCAR Winston Cup race is sold out. ie tickets remain for the Aug. 26 Busch race, nission: $28 apiece.

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