Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 11, 1990 TAG: 9007110034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
After attaching a plate to the bone in Waltrip's left thigh, doctors had indicated that he might be sidelined up to eight weeks. But the prognosis improved Monday.
"Darrell is hoping to at least start the Pocono race and run one lap," said Joe Carver, Waltrip's manager, referring to the AC-Delco 500 on July 22 at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. "He feels he'll make enough progress by late July to then run at Talladega," in the DieHard 500 at the Alabama track.
"Darrell is in a good mood and he feels well. He's up moving about on crutches and a walker," Carver told The Charlotte Observer.
By starting a race, Waltrip would be credited with the points earned by a relief driver. But under NASCAR rules, Waltrip first would have to obtain a medical release.
Driving with a broken leg isn't unprecedented in Winston Cup racing. Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott have done it in recent years, and Elliott won a 500-mile race at Atlanta despite his injury.
Waltrip's injuries prevented him from making the 500th start in a NASCAR Winston Cup career that has produced three national championships, 79 victories and earnings of $10.3 million.
Although he missed the Pepsi 400, the 43-year-old driver is 10th in the driver standings this year, 444 points behind leader Mark Martin.
Team owner Rick Hendrick, crew chief Jeff Hammond and others involved with the operation were to meet Tuesday to choose a replacement driver for Waltrip.
Dr. Albert Gillespie, who performed the five-hour operation on Waltrip's left leg Saturday at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., issued this report Monday through NASCAR:
"Darrell is doing very well. He looks great. He has been moved out of intensive surgical care to a private room on the orthopedic floor.
"There are no unexpected complications. We have removed the dressings from his leg, and the wound looks good.
"Darrell has an excellent range of motion in his left knee, which is important.
"The splint has been removed from his left elbow and he will begin physical therapy on that Tuesday.
"He will be out of bed on crutches today [Monday], and we have upgraded his condition from serious to fair."
by CNB