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The Kokomo Tribune from Kokomo, Indiana • Page 15

Location:
Kokomo, Indiana
Issue Date:
Page:
15
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

KOKOMO TRIBUNE NASCAR SATURDAY, FEB. 7,1998 B3 HIS WEEK On TV Lost Drive-In: Fireball 500 11 p.m. Saturday SV Motor Trend Television 4:30 p.m. Sunday TNN UPCOMING EVENT WHAT: The Bud Shootout WHERE: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile tri- oval), Daytona Beach, Fla. WHEN: Sunday, Feb.

8. CHANGES: The Bud Shootout was formerly known as the Busch Clash. As before, it matches pole winners from the previous year in an all-star race. Formerly the event was 20 laps, but it has been extended to 25 laps, and all must be run under green flag (caution laps do not count). In the past, one starter was selected from a drawing made up of the leading second-round qualifiers from each event.

Now all of those drivers are eligible to compete in a 25-lap race of their own on Saturday, with the winner advancing into the Shootout field. DEFENDING CHAMPION: Jeff Gordon. THE PRELIMINARY: In the 15-car field for the undercard will be six-time Clash winner Dale Earnhardt, three-time runner-up Sterling Marlin and 1981 winner Darrell Waltrip. TELEVISION COVERAGE: The preliminary race will be shown by ESPN on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Bud Shootout will be on CBS at noon on Sunday.

ALSO AT THE SPEEDWAY: Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 will be held on Saturday. Following the Bud Shootout on Sunday, the Automobile Racing Club of America will hold its annual ARCA 200 (approximately 1:15 p.m.). Updated Guide to Winston Cup Off-Season Changes Car No. 1 2 4 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 23 26 28 29 30 36 37 40 43 47 50 77 91 97 98 Change Driver Ownership Driver Paint Sponsor Car Sponsor Sponsor New team New team Number Return Colors Sponsor Sponsor New team Driver Sponsor Driver Driver Ownership Driver Driver Sponsor Number Driver Driver Car Driver Information Steve Park to drive for Dale Earnhardt, Ina; formerly No. 14.

Multi-car team; merger with Kranefuss-Haas. Bobby Hamilton replaces Sterling Marlin. Still red, white and blue; radical splash design. No longer QVC; Geoff Bodine still looking for replacement. Chevrolet Monte Carlo replaces Ford Thunderbird.

Cartoon Network comes on board. Paychex comes on board. Washington Erving Motorsports; may not be ready for Daytona. Jerry Nadeau will drive for Bill Elliott, Dan Marino and FirstPlus Financial. Loy Allen to drive for Richard Jackson at Daytona; formerly No.

1 Bud Steele team postpones debut until June or July. Predominantly blue and gold. Square-Hechingers comes on board. Winston replaces Smokin' Joe's. Johnny Benson will drive Fords for Jack Roush and Cheerios.

Kenny Irwin replaces Ernie Irvan. No longer Cartoon Network; replacement sought. Derrike Cope replaces Johnny Benson. Ernie Irvan replaces Derrike Cope. Multi-car team; merger with Penske Racing South.

Sterling Marlin replaces Robby Gordon. John Andretti replaces Bobby Hamilton. Billy Standridge aligns with FCR (Fans Can Race). Ricky Craven switches from 25 to 50. Robert Pressley comes on board full-time.

Kevin Lepage comes on board full-time. Ford Taurus replaces Pontiac Grand Prix. Greg Sacks replaces John Andretti. hipf TrlWk THE WINSTON CUP CIRCUIT THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT BILL ELLIOTT He and Jeff Gordon are the only drivers to win the Winston Million bonus, His only victory on a road course (Riverside, 1983) was the first victory of his career. Beginning his fourth season as driver-car owner.

Added Jerry Nadeau as driver of a second car, co-owned by Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino. When he won the championship in 1988, he became the first Ford driver to claim Winston Cup title since David Pearson in 1969. Pearson and Jody Ridley were his racing heroes. Turned the fastest official lap in Winston Cup history, 212.809 mph at Talladega in 1987,: Started five Winston Cup races in 1976 but never competed in every race until 1983. Won six races during his championship season but finished second to Darrell Waltrip in point standings despite 11 victories in 1985.

Elliott Took current number, 94, from short-track number of his late nephew, Casey. Recently moved into shops in Statesville, N.C., but his engine and research operations remain situated in Dawsonville, Ga. Selected American Driver of the Year in 1985 and 1988. Has finished in top 10 in point standings five times in last six years. Last victory was at Darlington Raceway in 1994.

Finished fourth in each of four Winston Million races last Had been elected Most Popular Driver by fans a record 12 times. PROFILE John Andretti John Gazette John Andretti will again be driving in Richard Petty's Pontiac beginning in Daytona. By Monte Dutton NASCAR This Week In 1994, the matchup of two great racing families, the Pettys and the Andrettis, seemed like a natural fit. But after 11 races in Richard Petty's No. 43, John Andretti decided to sign with rival team owner Michael Kranefuss instead.

He moved from there to Cale Yarborough's No. 98 at the end of 1996, and that move culminated in Andretti's first Winston Cup victory in July, 1997, at Daytona. Oddly enough, Daytona was the scene of his uncle Mario's lone Winston Cup victory in 1967. Now, the match made in heaven is alive again. Andretti replaces Bobby Hamilton in Petty's Pontiac beginning with the Daytona 500.

Hamilton won single races in both 1. Who collected four top-10 finishes in a row for the first time in his career during the summer of 1996? 2. Who married the daughter of ex-driver Donnie Allison? 3. What driver won the first two poles of his career in 1997? '2 jeouedg Awwjp (. SU3MSNV 1996 and 1997 while driving for Petty.

AGE: 34 WIFE: Nancy. CHILDREN: Jarett (5), Olivia (2). CAR: No. 43 STP Pontiac Grand Prix, owned by Richard Petty. CAREER RECORD: 126 starts, 1 win, 2 poles, almost $2 million in earnings.

II WHAT IS IT LIKE DRIVING FOR FORMER GREAT DRIVERS LIKE RICHARD PETTY AND CALE YARBOROUGH? "I think the King (Petty) understands racing, and so does Cale. They know how tough it is sitting there while someone is telling you you're supposed to win races. It's kind of ridiculous. If you don't know that, you probably should have a lobotomy. Why state the obvious? Here it's, 'What can we do for When you're with a good team and you say something like, 'If we were just a little better right it's like, bam, they're working it.

There's never a question about it." WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS TEAM? "Any time you put a driver in a new situation, they ask, 'Can he still win I'd like to think so. I think, in the last three years, they've gotten better and I've gotten better. But most of the other guys in the garage area have, too, so the mark keeps moving." ARE YOU MORE CONFIDENT BECAUSE OF WINNING AT DAYTONA? "I've been working hard on them (the Petty team), because when I first came here (crew chief Robbie Loomis') first comment was, 'Our season kind of starts at I said, 'No, it doesn't. The season starts from the first race Whether we're capable of winning it or not, we need the points." ON THE MARKET "Davey Allison; A Celebration of Life" is a picture book authored by the late driver's widow Liz, The 144-page book, which includes more than 150 color photos and a foreword by Benny Parsons, is on sale in hardcover at $34,95. For more information, write Howell 1147 River Road, Suite 2, Charlottesville, Va.

22901-4172, or call toll-free 1-800-868-4512. AROUND THE GARAGE FROM THE ARCHIVES: 1 Ricky Craven to test drive Pontiac Grand Prix at Atlanta The rich history of NASCAR David Pearson won 105 Winston Cup races, second only to Richard Petty, but one aspect of Pearson's career is more remarkable than the rest. Pearson, a native of Spartanburg, S.C., was never seriously injured while driving a race car, and he drove during a period in which injuries were commonplace. The three-time champion drove in 574 races between 1960 and 1986, not even counting his starts in other divisions besides Winston Cup, and never missed a race due to injury. By Monte Dutton NASCAR This Week A Pontiac Grand Prix may be in Ricky Craven's future.

Team Hendrick is constructing a Grand Prix for Craven to test at Atlanta Motor Speedway. According to crew chief Tony Furr, Craven may compete in the Pontiac at the Primestar 500 on March 8. "Those guys (Pontiac) have gotten awful competitive lately," said Furr. "We don't want to leave anything on the table, so that's why we've done this. We're just looking into it right now.

We're just going to take a look at it and see what happens. We're going to see if we can gain anything by it, and then we'll go over the results after the test." Pontiacs won two of the last three races last season, but those were the only Pontiac wins of the entire season. Fords won 19 races, Chevrolets 11. Team Hendrick provides engines for the Pontiac team of Ernie Irvan. NO MOORE: Bud Moore, one of NASCAR's most familiar names, has had to postpone the return of his No.

15 Ford team due to lingering medical prob- lems with driver Tim Steele. Three-time ARCA champion Steele injured ribs and suffered a concussion while testing Moore's Ford Thunderbird last fall at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Recently Steele suffered dizziness and rib pain while testing the car at Daytona. According to the car owner's son and team manager, Greg Moore, it could be July before Steele returns. Bud Moore Engineering did not compete on the Winston Cup Series last year, although the team attempted to make starting fields twice.

STRONG WORDS: According Dan Davis, director of Ford Special Vehicle Operations, the Winston Cup switch from Thunderbird to Taurus is the biggest challenge ever faced by the carmaker in North American motorsporls. "At least in my limited experience in motorsports in the United States, I would say that this would be the biggest challenge," said Davis. "I would say that in some of our other venues, we have faced similar challenges, but this certainly is the biggest one in North America." READERS ASK THE QUESTIONS Dear NASCAR This Week, I am a big fan of Dale Earnhardt. Although I am only 15, I am very interested in NASCAR racing and have been most of my life. I have been hearing news of Dale quitting and having Steve Park drive for him.

I would like to know if this is true. I hope this is not true because I think he still has a lot of years in him. Bret H. Massey Anderson, Ind. Dear Bret, You are confusing stories.

Earnhardt will continue to drive the No. 3 Chevrolet owned by Richard Childress. Steve Park will drive a No. 1 Chevrolet that Earnhardt and wife Teresa own. Earnhardt drives for one team and owns another.

Earnhardt has said on several occasions that he plans to drive at least through the year 2000. Dear NASCAR This Week, I was wondering if you could tell me if Coo Coo Marlin is Sterling Marlin's father? What else could you tell me about Coo Coo Marlin and his car and records? MJM Burns, Tenn. Dear NASCAR Fan, Yes, Sterling is the son of Clifton "Coo Coo" Marlin. Coo Coo never won a Winston Cup race but did win an unofficial race in one of Daytona's 125-mile qualifying races, in 1973. Overall, the elder Marlin competed in 165, with a career-best finish of third (on three occasions).

He led 23 races, however, and earned $328,912 in his career. Coo Coo Marlin turned 66 on Jan. 3. Dear NASCAR This Week, How can I get a picture of Dale Jarrett's '98 Ford Taurus? I want to put it in my yard in lights Christmas 1998. Ray Landis DuQuoin, 111.

Dear Ray, Finding a photograph large enough for this endeavor might be difficult. We have several suggestions. First, try your local Ford dealer. Quality Credit, Jarrett's sponsor, is closely aligned with dealerships, many of which offer Jarrett souvenirs. Also, several Jarrett souvenir trailers are on hand at all Winston Cup events, and many also make trips to other motorsports- related functions like auto shows, Jarrett personal appearances, etc.

Or you may want to write Robert Yates Racing at 115 Dwelle Charlotte, N.C. 28208. Good luck. If you've got a question or a comment, write: NASCAR This Week, Your Turn, The Gaston Gazette, 2500 E. Franklin Gastonia, N.C.

28054 RACING ON THE WEB RACING ON THE WEB MOTORSPORT INTERNATIONAL www. motorsport.com/issues/ 13181.html Strong points: We recommend this site in general, but this particular Web address will allow you to dial up an article on Bobby Allison written by Ellen Siska. The story features quite a bit of illumination into ali the tragedies faced by the ex- champion driver, based on an exclusive interview conducted in York, Pa. in late January. Weak points: None.

Fine story..

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About The Kokomo Tribune Archive

Pages Available:
579,711
Years Available:
1868-1999