The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 8

8A THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Saturday October 7 1995 8HUP 1 St I tW-' Crash NOBODY BEATS OUR LOW PRICES mp- 1 CMS deaths 1964 Driver Glenn "Fireball" Roberts in July from burns suffered about a month earlier in a World 600 crash 1964 Driver Jimmy Par-due during a tire test in September when his car went over the Turn 4 wall 1965 Driver Harold Kite in a Turn 4 crash in the National 400 in October 1974 Drag racers Reid Jackson and Blaine David Oxendine Jr when a jet-powered car making an exhibition run along pit road crashed in March 1978 Motorcycle racer Thomas DeBlass III in September 1990 Driver David Gaines from head injuries suffered in a crash during Sportsman Division practice in May 1992 Driver Gary Batson from burns suffered in a crash during a Sportsman Division qualifying race 1995 Driver Russell Phillips from massive head injuries suffered in a crash during a Sportsman Division race -W-w IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE REST YOU DESERVE FROM YOUR OLD MATTRESS SET THEN LET OUR FACTORY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS HELP YOU FIND THE IDEAL MATTRESS FROM OUR LARGE SELECTION OF TOP QUALITY NAME BRAND SETS YOU'LL FIND PEACE OF MIND AND A BETTER NIGHT'S SLEEP AT MyMattress emiuirndpecia We're committed to helping you No-risk Satisfaction gljfflM friend said later run the fastest time in qualifying 157444 mph so he started from the pole for the first time in his career Before Friday scored one top-10 finish in a Sportsman race and spent three years racing on short tracks around the Caroli nas Phillips led three laps before the trouble started on lap 17 of the 67-lap race Steven Howard a 21 -year-old from Greer SC who was involved in the multicar wreck saw it unfold like this: saw the 91 car (Bice) and the 83 (Joe Gaita) Howard said spotter told me to go high I know if the 57 car (Phillips) let off I got turned up on my side He hit me in the rear never had nothing like this happen wrecked on short tracks maybe going 70 or 80 miles an hour but nothing like The first person to car waved others away The race was halted while the Oldsmobile was covered with a tarpaulin and it and other wrecked cars and injured drivers were carried away After a delay of 33 minutes five seconds the race resumed Mike Helton NASCAR vice president for competition said he planned to meet with Ed Cox director of the NASCAR Sportsman Division and Gary Nelson director of the Winston Cup Series to what happened and proceed from there" After the 1992 crash that killed Batson Les Richter then a NASCAR vice president said NASCAR officials would down and critique what doing with the Sportsman series" and review all aspects of the accident On Friday Helton say what had become of that review address what was done by NASCAR after the 1992 Helton said was at Talladega (Ala) Superspeedway then and join the NASCAR staff until 1994 look close at the participants and equipment in all our series want to try to guess what happened with the roof of the car in accident We had time to look at the car yet and as of this moment I just T- a SIMMONS hi DELUXE FIRM $39pc 59 uk 79 Experience of drivers in series questioned Continued from page 1A division in general have to run flat out here You need to use your smarts younger drivers are trying to make a name for themselves They want to move on up to the Busch series not willing to take their time You have to be able to use your In many ways Phillips of Mint Hill was just the type of weekend racer for whom Wheeler created the Sportsman Division seven years ago A 1987 graduate of Independence High Phillips worked for his truck equipment company but wanted to race more than anything The Sportsman Division gave him a chance to do that Sportsman cars are far cheaper than stock-car elite division Winston Cup with many but not all of the same safety features Unlike Winston Cup cars they have roof flaps which help keep cars from getting airborne Their speeds are restricted But their drivers have far less experience which is precisely why NASCAR lets them race a few times each year on superspeedways like have a Catch-22 with the Sportsman Wheeler said Friday want somewhere to learn to drive I think the speed the problem in these incidents the last few races been starting them single file to cut down on trouble I know what do now going to have to study it for a Wheeler said much the same in May 1992 after Sportsman driver Gary Batson died from burns suffered in a Sportsman Division wreck at the track: Wheeler said then had 88 entries People want to run on superspeedways If I felt a bunch of guys overreacted feel different about it I just think it was because it was a Sportsman NAMCO ECLIPSE SCIENTIFICALLY TESTED BY UWV TO RELIEVE BACK PAIN THE BACK ACHE 185 224 499 699 TWINEA FULLEA QUEEN KING PC PC SET SET QUEEN EAPC D3 VITA PLUS DELUXE FIRM AFFORDABLE COMFORT AND SUPPORT 68 88 199 TWIN EAPC FULL EAPC QUEEN SET guarantee be satisnea win foe price comfort of your selectmn and that your shopping experience will be pleasant Our Price jSrfcywhere on the same product we II ft rebind the difference plus 10 Valid for 60 JSKSShyourchmce a 30 day trial well gladly give you Ml credit toward another selection TIFFANY 580 INDIVIDUALLY POCKETED COILS THIS MODEL OFFERS A UNIQUE VERY SOFT SURFACE FEEL HEAVY DUTY TORSION BAR MATCHING BOXSPflING 199249 599799 Alixipffk MAXI SUPPORT MAX MAXI COMFORT SUMMONS MAXI VALUE 87 99 249 349 TWIN FULL QUEEN KING EA PC EA PC SET SET QUEEN SET KING SET TWINEA FULLEA PC PC FUTONS STARTING AT 1 69 LS FIRM SAMON8 THE DO NOT DISTURB MATTRESS 99 139 379 499 TWIN FULL EA QUEEN KING EA PC PC SET SET NASCAR sanctions Sportsman races at Pocono Pa and Richmond but speeds there as fast as at Charlotte All three fatalities in the Sportsman Division have occurred at Charlotte: In May 1990 a crash took the life of David Gaines 27 of Gold-ston car had spun in Turn 4 and struck several water barrels before coming to a stop in the middle of the track It was hit broadside by an oncoming car whose driver had never raced on an oval track before Batson died of cardiac arrest and burns the day after a fiery crash during Sportsman practice in May 1992 It was his first race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Phillips had previously started 16 Sportsman races at Charlotte which meant he had more experience on the high banked 15-mile superspeedway than many in race Winston 100 began as the high point of life a Original Royalty A leading Consumer Reports Magazine torture tested 32 mattresses from the maor manufacturers in the US for Durability Comfort and Value The Simmons Beautyrest Original Royalty was rated 1 SPECfAKTURCHAS 229 269 679 949 FULL QUEEN EA PC SET This Week Only-Hurry Ini NO FINANCE CHARGES SEE STORE FOR DETAI FREE REMOVAL YOUR OLD MATTRESS SET WITH DELIVERY ss Racer SOUTH BLVD 554-1914 6233 BLVD AT ARCHDALE STARM0UNT SHOP CTR PINEVILLF 543-4699 PARK SI SHOPPING CENTER PARK RD EXTENSION NEAR HWY 51- BEHIND WENDYS INDEPENDENCE 536-8905 4420 IND NEXT TO OLIVE GARDEN REST NEAR SHARON AMITY CONCORDK ANN APOLIS 785-9023 HWY 29 AT 1-85 EXIT 5S-CL0VERLEAF PLAZA M-S 10-7 Tom 7 sleep better on My Mattress have a hard time taking a lot of he said Tuesday give credit to Paul Campbell the fire chief in the Mint Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service said "Russell was as good a kid as find We know We raised him He came in here when hs was 16 years old as a junior fireman was doing what he wanted to do he loved what he was doing I see Russell today but I promise you he was as happy as ever been in his life" SOME SETS ONLY OPEN M-F 10-8 SAT 10-7 SUN 1-6 CHARGE CAROS PERSONAL CHECKS 1 995 "W1 win xtotoym'aw! 'xntow jufletmemwi aJ1ii I iWifc it 1-mnr ritrin i where smart SHOPPERS start The (Hiarlotte gathered in a circle at Phillips' older brother house and prayed said the Rev Mike Lawing of Wilson Grove Baptist Church John Phillips was the only family member at the track Friday we had the circle prayer his parents said a peace came over them" Lawing said said he lived what he Lawing said members of youth class went to the church Friday after they heard about the crash all called each other when they heard They all prayed they rallied around They said go on and make the youth group even better" Phillips raced six years in the Sportsman Division an entry-level series for drivers with limited racing experience on big tracks This was the first time he led qualifying He never won a race In an interview Tuesday he said the only places he raced were at Charlotte and once in a while at Concord and Anderson SC Phillips raced 17 times at Charlotte Motor Speedway with one top 10 finish Tuesday Phillips talked about a wreck in a Sportsman race here three years ago that completely tore his car up He also talked about his faith Volunteer firefighter church youth director Continued from page 1A top of the world" He is survived by his wife Jennifer They had been married about two years Phillips worked for a truck equipment company his father owns He was a Mint Hill volunteer firefighter and a youth director for Wilson Grove Baptist Church working with teenagers Sunday mornings and nights and Wednesday nights He drove with the words by the holy inside his car and had rededicated his life to the church recently Sunday he stood up in his church and gave testimony speaking about the youth group and about his faith had one of the sweetest testimonies ever heard" said Margaret Cochrane a church member for more than 40 years and a family friend said the youth had meant so much to him He said he knew what the Lord wanted him to do hearing him Sunday we know where he is Friday night about 60 people Audiovox 400 Hand Held Phone Featuring over 70 minutes of Talk Time 89 alphanumeric memory locations one touch speed dialing last 3 number recall and much more in a tiny package weighing only 92 oz Retail Price: 199 Nokia 1X12 Transportable Phone Perfect for the road with 3 Watts of power Alpha Memory Search Speed Dialing and Call Timers Retail Price: 149 Ladies Shoe Warehouse $I995 Motorola Tele TAC 200 Hand Held Phone Features include Talk PAK battery 9 memory locations one-touch emergency dialing and 100 minutes of talk time Retail Price: 185 3500 Trydan Dr (off Clanton Rd between South Blvd Tryon) OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK (OFJHElCAROllNAANTHERSj Brand Names Current Styles igoo off with $2500 purchase! or more MOBILE Customers who purchase a mobile phono are responsible for a $69 Installation too Customer is responsible tor oross receipts surcharge Sole prices and special otters apply to new octivations only Airtime promotion good on new additional activations only Requires one yeor service agreement with ALUfcL Mobile Activations ore subjed to credit approval Activation fee required at purchase Certain restrictions apply Offer good while supplies lost See store for details 60 minutes free airtime available on ail rate plans except basic rote plan Personal Communication Solutions Sgoo Off with $2500 purchase or more Present coupon at time of purchase Not valid with other special offers Expires 103195 Present coupon at time of purchase Not valid with other special offers Expires 111595 Charlotte NC 7128 Independence Blvd 704)532-4466 Hours: 8 7 Sat 10 -4 Charlotte NC Highland Pari Commerce Center 734 TyvoJa Rd (704) 529-8U1 Hours: 8 6 Sat 10 -4 Chodotte NC The Arboretum 8206 1400 Providence Rd 704 541-9494 Hours: 9 7 Sat 10 -4 522-1165 SfcwyNC ThoMorUfaM Geffooy 1537 fUdfc 18031 487-89 I 18031 48-89 Cower NC 34 CoMwrtwtdlkl (7041 784 4444 Houn M-F8-6 Sol 10 4 IflKMtWX 1248 im Canto (803) 286-08 IS Hours Mf 8 6 Sol 10-4 i NC 1 786 Brood Aw mo SutoCC (9101 997-7099 Houn AA 8 4 Set 10- 4 Upton Ckartoto NC Om indnwtonto Conto 101 tryon St Sweioo (704) 358 2600 Hewn AA 8 6 Baker Suit 38 Hours M-F9-7 Set 10-6 NC Canto Pant Hq 720 H-y 2427 CoS 704 983-2255 Hours M-F 9-6 Sol 10-4 304 fronUrM $u7 (704)861-3000 Hours -f 9 7 Sol 10-4 NOW OPEN: ftobrNC 1850 tou Own Slid (704)4807400 Han M-f 8-6 Sot 10 -4 9105 Am MoMirm toad (7041 543-6503 Horn 9-7 Sal 10-4 NOW OPEN: Anson SftMon 1009 Casl (704) 694-7050 Hours M-M0-7 Sat 10-4 lock Ml 699 Nort Ancbrm 803 324-7729 Hours M-F8-4 Sol 10-4 OwttoK 1803) 581-5505 NOW OPEN: Mowei'i'fc NC Mocmmlo faind 3935 Hoy ISO Wat (704)662-8444 Hours M-F9-6 Sol 10-4 2092 SmmyA Hud 1704 638-0080 Hours F9-4 Set 10- 4 NC 1704)732-8611 I I I.