The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • C5

Filename: C5-SPORTS-AJCD0712-AJCD created: Jul 11 2005 Username: SPEED7 AJCD0712 Tuesday, Jul 12, 2005 SPORTS 5 AJCD 5 5 4 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday, July 12, 2005 C5 Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Black AJCD Filename: C5-SPORTS-AJCD0712-AJCD Owner returns to female driver By KENT MITCHELL For the Journal-Constitution Multi-team owner Don Schumacher chose Melanie Troxel to drive the Torco Gear Top Fuel Dragster for his racing beginning with this NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Colo. released last week as a developmental driver from Don Prudhomme is in her second term with Schumacher Racing. In 10 starts in Troxel was runner-up reached the twice and the seven times. has a tremendous presence and popularity in this and is an outstanding driver. Melanie did an excellent job for us in 2000 and delighted to have her return to our Schumacher said.

kind of funny how things come said Troxel. almost exactly years from the time that I talked to Don. When I came to work for DSR in 2000 I talked about what a great high- caliber team it and I feel the same and even more Crew chief Richard Hogan also joined team. He had worked the half of the year for David Powers Racing. Kite does it all Stockbridge driver Jimmy Kite is in a class by himself after becoming the man in auto racing history to NASCAR-sanctioned and Indy Racing League IndyCar Series- sanctioned events at the same track over the Fourth of July weekend.

He drove his Chevrolet Silverado to a 22nd-place in the Auto Parts 250 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Kite then drove his Toyota-Dallara to 19th in the Argent Mortgage Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway. NASCAR Craftsman Truck program is going real well with the MRD guys. ished every race started with them this and that is pretty major accomplishment when you think about the competition out Kite said. the IndyCar made a lot of changes over the last few races.

all for the but it will take some time to sort them out Yates gets No. 3 Yoshimura Aaron Yates took his third AMA Superstock win of the season Sunday in a close at Laguna Seca. Yates took advantage of a nasty spill by then-leader and Kawasaki rider Tommy Hayden with only three laps left to the front. Yates held off a late charge by Jason DiSalvo to increase his points lead to ten points with just three races remaining. Yates also third in the Superbike race.

MOTORSPORTS NASCAR four Cup crew chiefs By RICK MINTER Four Nextel Cup crew chiefs were on Monday after being caught trying the typical trickery that occurs at restrictor-plate tracks such as Daytona International site of the latest round of infractions. Joel crew chief of the No. 09 Dodge driven by Johnny is now on version of habitual violator status. His for an unapproved upper rear coil spring mount included another because he already was on probation for running an unapproved carburetor at Texas earlier in the season. Dan Morgan crew also was caught with an unapproved spring mount and even though Shepherd withdrew his No.

89 Dodge be fore qualifying. Harold Holly was for having an unapproved oil tank cover on Bobby Hamilton No. 32 and Glenn crew chief on Kevin No. 37 was assessed for having unapproved foam in his fuel cell. Missing the prerace crew chief meeting cost Tony Eury crew chief for Michael $500.

Players talk up Classic By GUY CURTRIGHT Detroit Some players are concerned about the timing of the World Baseball Classic. So are their major league teams. But Andruw Jones was introduced Monday wearing a uniform of the Netherlands and John Smoltz the other All- Star Game representative indicated he would like to play for the United States in the 16-team tournament next March. afraid that there is no perfect time to have but I think a neat Smoltz said. love to compete for my think it will be very good for said who is from in the Netherlands Antilles.

Major league players will have to take time off from spring training to with the championship game March 20. Invited nations have been divided into four groups of four with games expected to be played in Puerto Rico and Tokyo. The single-elimination and title game will be held in major league stadiums. The early favorites are the U.S.@ the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Cuba has not yet accepted its invitation and Japan still needs an agreement with its players association.

just hope I make the Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis said. in the Dominican are going to be really excited to see all our players on one Baltimore shortstop Miguel Tejada said. For the it will be an opportunity to boost interest in which will be dropped from the Olympic Games after 2008. am looking forward to Jones said. The Netherlands will play in Puerto Rico.

Team round games are in Arizona. There will be pitch limits to assure that pitchers overworked. think it will be a Smoltz said. just have to get ready to pitch added Willis. Each team will play three round with the top two countries in each group advancing.

Each will play three more games in the second starting March 13. The are March 18 the championship game two days later. Future tournaments are scheduled for 2009 and then every four years. BASEBALL The year they went for 40 By THOMAS STINSON Pounding on Babe door as the weeks of the 1973 season played Henry Aaron found himself in the midst of a separate home run struggle in his own clubhouse that no one worth his Baseball Encyclopedia could have imagined. rising home run king was being out-bopped by a couple of interlopers on his own team.

And unlike the Ruth which had taken on a life of its this one was almost fun. time go to the Aaron would look over and you playing today? Because if not playing I might be able to hit one home run and get ahead of While baseball had not seen a home run hitter like Aaron in some 40 the game had never seen three players hit 40 homers for the same a curio more than a but a bona accomplishment in an era when 35 homers would lead the league. Johnson and Darrell Evans were game to if Aaron would only cooperate. Eleven previous two teammates had reached 40 homers Ruth and Lou Gehrig did it three times between 1927 and 1931 but no club had come close to three. Cincinnati had tried hardest in 1970 after Johnny Bench (45) and Tony Perez the Reds fell short behind Lee May (34).

The Braves were not believed to own such a second baseman acquired the previous winter from had never hit more than 18 home runs for the who coveted him more for his three Gold Gloves than his bat. then was in his second full major league season but had a modest 31 homers in his 791 major league at-bats. know much about Aaron said. I thought Darrell Evans had a chance to be the type of ball player he would be offensively. I know how many home runs but I know he was very impressive.

I was one of the guys that went to Luman and some of the others and talked to them that he should have a chance to once Clete Boyer had gone They all came out blasting and entered the last month with a solid chance. On Sept. 19 in Los Johnson hit his 43rd breaking Rogers 36-year-old record for second basemen. Johnson sheepishly admitted that until just two months always thought Hornsby was a shortstop. On Sept.

Evans hit his crediting Braves Hall of Fame third baseman Eddie Mathews for teaching him to become an effective pull hitter. But as the weekend rolled Aaron was stuck at 39 homers and the historical implication of one more swat was not lost upon Evans. the only way get in the Hall of he said during the week. In Game Aaron came hitting No. 40 (and career shot 513) in a 7-0 win against Jerry Reuss.

The event was celebrated but was soon dwarfed by pursuit of Ruth and faded into the annals of trivia. In the feat was but the Colorado Rockies used all of their mile- high elevation to do it. Andres Galarraga Ellis Burks (40) and Vinny Castilla (who hit No. 40 on the last day of the season) equaled the feat and then did it again in with Larry Walker Galarraga (41) and Castilla (40). But that was a high-pro power club swinging in thin air.

Aaron last week was weighing the unlikelihood of the 1973 Braves team. It would be his last of eight 40-homer seasons while who posted career-highs in almost every offensive category as the Comeback Player of the never came close to duplicating his numbers. all stayed pretty close the team Aaron said. forget who won Davey Johnson (43) can tell you. Photos by BUD SKINNER Staff Henry Aaron (top) needed no introduction to baseball enmeshed in the pursuit of all-time home run leader Babe Ruth.

But teammates Davey Johnson (left) and Darrell Evans were virtual unknowns when it came to power numbers. Unlikely chase 3 SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 404-522-4141 or ajcdelivers.com Saturdays got more in store for you. SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 404-522-4141 or ajcdelivers.com.