Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 4, 1990 TAG: 9005040814
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: TALLADEGA, ALA. LENGTH: Medium
Hut Stricklin, of Calera, Ala., became the newest member of the state's stock car force Thursday when he officially was chosen as the new driver for Allison's first-year team.
"It's a great opportunity for me," said Stricklin, who lost his regular NASCAR ride at the end of the 1989 season.
"I don't really feel like I'm a member of the gang yet, though. I won't feel like I'm a member until I go out there and and prove that I can win races and do well.
"When I lost my ride, it seemed like the end of the world for me. Now, it seems, good things are coming out of what I thought was the end of the world for me."
Stricklin replaces Jeff Purvis, who drove the Allison car Sunday at Martinsville, Va. Purvis had been selected by Allison on Saturday to replace Mike Alexander.
"About 10 minutes after I finished talking with Jeff Purvis, I thought about Hut," Allison said. "It was just an oversight on my part."
Stricklin is married to Allison's niece.
\ NASCAR president Bill France Jr. had both ankles placed in casts Thursday in a Daytona Beach, Fla., hospital as a result of a freak boating accident that occurred eight days ago.
France and his brother, Jim, were testing a new boat when the incident occurred. The boat hit a huge wave, and France, who was standing in the front of the boat, was lifted into the air. As France was coming down, the boat hit another swell and quickly rose back into the air. France landed on both feet, but the force of the rising boat was enough to break both ankles.
NASCAR official Jim Foster reported that France remained in good spirits despite considerable pain.
"I told him Barney Hall [Motor Racing Network anchorman] said, `That's what he gets for trying to walk on water again.' Bill Jr. laughed real big. He got a big kick out of that one."
\ A Honda in the Daytona 500 field?
Don't laugh. It won't happen next year, but it could occur down the road.
"Bill France Jr. has said if there's interest on Honda's part that they would meet the American-made role that we require," said Chip Williams, NASCAR's public relations director.
"But the rub is Honda doesn't have a 358 cubic-inch V-8 motor, which it doesn't currently manufacture. Also, they don't have a passenger car we've seen that will fit our 110-inch wheelbase requirement."
\ In absentia, Indy-car driver Bobby Rahal drew the pole for Saturday's first round of the 1990 International Race of Champions (IROC) series.
Mark Martin, one of five NASCAR competing NASCAR drivers, also will start on the front row.
The rest of the starting lineup, in order, includes Danny Sullivan, Dorsey Schroeder, Rusty Wallace, Emerson Fittipaldi, Geoff Brabham, Al Unser Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Martin Brundle, Darrell Waltrip and defending IROC champion Terry Labonte.
The 38-lap, 101-mile race will take the green at 1 p.m. Saturday. ABC will tape the race for broadcast May 27 at 3:30 p.m.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB