Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 10, 1991 TAG: 9102070110
SECTION: RACING PAGE: AR4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The old-timer, 54-year-old Jack Ingram of Asheville, N.C., will drive in 16 of the 31 Grand National races this year in a "farewell tour" to conclude his 29-year career. Ingram, a five-time national champion, is the most successful driver in the history of NASCAR's triple-A tour. He plans to become a car owner after leaving the cockpit.
"I've been thinking about this for a couple of years," Ingram said. "I'm stepping down because I no longer have a total desire to go to every race track and win every time I go. And, to be quite frank, a driver my age can't outperform drivers who are in their 30s."
How about drivers in their 20s, such as 27-year-old Kenny Wallace, Rusty's little brother?
Kenny Wallace still is looking for his first Busch Grand National victory, but he drives for a well-financed team owned by his brother and he has a new shop in the Charlotte Motor Speedway Industrial Park. Wallace has three cars ready and a fourth being built, and he had the second-fastest test speed at Daytona during the January sessions.
"I say we're going to win the championship," Wallace said. "If I told you we couldn't win it, then I'm not Kenny Wallace.
"I feel more relaxed. I think I'll do a better job this year because of my crew chief."
Wallace's new crew chief is Steve Bird, who guided the late Rob Moroso to the 1989 Grand National championship.
However, Wallace lacks one thing Bown, 36, and many of the other contenders have - the experience of winning. Bown is returning full time to the Grand National series to defend his championship while seeking sponsorship to run a few Winston Cup races.
Bown ranks a number of drivers, including Wallace, as legitimate contenders for the crown. Among them are Ridgeway's Jimmy Hensley, who finished second in the championship last year; Steve Grissom, who won four races; Bobby Labonte, the series' most popular driver; Tommy Ellis; Tom Peck; Dave Rezendes, and Robert Pressley.
"It's always a good, competitive series," said Bown, who lives in Asheboro, N.C., but has his team based in Ridgeway. "A lot of that is due to the length of the races."
Among the new young drivers who seek to make their mark in the Busch series is Todd Bodine, the 26-year-old little brother of Winston Cuppers Geoff and Brett, and rookie David Green, who clocked the fourth-fastest time during January tests at Daytona.
The entire Busch Grand National series gets a big boost this year from The Nashville Network, which plans live telecasts of 12 Busch Grand National races, including events from South Boston Speedway, Florida's Volusia County Speedway and Lanier Raceway in Gainesville, Ga.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB