Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 10, 1991 TAG: 9102070162
SECTION: RACING PAGE: AR3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That much was apparent as we reviewed queries by the dozens after we asked you to give us one question for Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt.
Some of the more than 60 responses were duds, of course. And a few anti-Earnhardt fans were more intent on expressing their opinions. One non-fan railed against "burning up energy that could feed and protect the unfortunate half of the world."
However, most of the questions were good ones and, unfortunately, many could not be used. Those that made the final cut were posed to Earnhardt on Jan. 20 as he signed autographs at the National Motorsports Press Association convention in Charlotte, N.C.
\ What do you think of NASCAR's rule change concerning pit road? - Dick Cundiff, Roanoke.
Earnhardt: "You know, starting off here we're going to have to kind of wait and see what happens. We're still looking at it ourselves. We still haven't got a good idea what we may try strategy-wise. Hopefully, it will make pit road safer. The problems are usually on tight pit roads. I think it's going to be a little more dangerous than they think on that first 20-car pit stop [opportunity] after the green flag. But I think you ought to ask some of those guys who go over pit wall."
\ How did you get started in racing? - Paul Eller, age 5, Salem.
Earnhardt: "I worked around it and my dad raced. I just watched him race all the time and I just got started from that. It's all I ever wanted to do. I've been racing since 1972 - driving on dirt or something - and I've been full time in Winston Cup since 1979."
\ Where was your very first race and what did you drive? - Donald G. Mayberry, Radford.
Earnhardt: "My first race was at Metrolina Speedway in Charlotte - oval track dirt - in 1972 and I was driving a '56 six-cylinder Ford. I finished 10th."
\ How many more NASCAR championships do you see yourself winning? - Gary Deane, Vinton.
Earnhardt: "The opportunity is there to win more. I don't know."
\ If you could be famous in another sport or field, what would it be and why? - Mike Hayslett, Covington.
Earnhardt: "I don't know. I've often thought about that. You know, I've always been around cars and the automotive world. So who knows what I might be doing? I own a dealership, so I might be selling cars."
\ If you could change one rule in Winston Cup racing, what would it be? - Scott Malbon, Christiansburg.
Earnhardt: "Oh, I don't know. I'd have to think about it."
\ I know you're one of the few drivers who doesn't wear a cool suit during hot summer races. Have you ever tried one? - Danny Nichols, Roanoke.
Earnhardt: "Yes, I have two of them and I've ran them at Darlington [S.C.] before and Talladega [Ala.] before. But I've got myself in good enough shape now so I don't use them. They are a little bit aggravating in the cockpit, so that's why I don't go with them."
\ Besides winning four Winston Cup championships, what has been your most memorable accomplishment while driving in the Winston Cup series? - Jerry Johnston, Pearisburg.
Earnhardt: "Well, winning races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Being my hometown track, that's one of the most exciting places we've won at."
\ How will you overcome the pressures and time that the media will require from you because you are the 1990 champion driver? - George W. Puckett, Roanoke.
Earnhardt: "We just take the pressure as it comes and do what we can do - and that's part of the race scene itself. The pressure of racing is always there, too. That's part of why I do it. It's exciting, the pressure to win."
\ If you were in Mark Martin's shoes last year during the last race, how would you feel about (car owner) Jack Roush's decision to use somebody else's frame and motor? - Steve Turman, Elliston.
Earnhardt: "I think I would have come with my own car, the car that brought me where I was at. I'm glad I wasn't in his shoes."
\ Please clear up the matter that all Ford fans are crying about. Do you and other [General Motors] teams use a Ford rear end gear? - Charles Widener, Bland.
Earnhardt: "Well, yeah, we use the Ford design, the '90 Ford ring and pinion gear."
\ Why have you and Richard Childress been so successful together when other owner/driver combinations seem to conflict after years together? - Mark Simpson, Lynchburg.
Earnhardt: "Well, Richard and I have got a lot of things in common. We both are racers and we came up that way. We do what we do from racing and we've done what we've done from racing. And I think we've just got a lot of the same ideas and the same goals."
\ Has the death of Tim Richmond had any effect on your lifestyle and what do you remember most about him? - Richard A. Dilley, Covington.
Earnhardt: "Well, his death hasn't had any effect on my lifestyle, but Tim was a good racer. He was a hard-charger. He was fun to race with when he was in his prime there."
\ Are you as good a deer hunter as you are a great driver? - Meredith Boone Jr., New Castle.
Earnhardt: "I try to be."
\ Do you think that the injury to your wrist during the off-season (in a confrontation with a hunter trespassing on Earnhardt's property) will change your driving style or ability? - Lamont Barber, Galax.
Earnhardt: "Nah. It's already back to 100 percent and we're ready."
\ DALE EARNHARDT Age: 38 Born: Kannapolis, N.C. Lives: Mooresville, N.C. Car: GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Lumina 3 Owner: Richard Childress Crew chief: Kirk Shelmerdine 1991 changes: None 1990 highlights: Winston Cup champion. Won nine races; $3,083,056. Career highlights: Winston Cup champion in 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990. . . . Eleven wins in 1987. . . . Total career earnings of more than $13.3 million is tops in U.S. racing. . . . Forty-eight career wins in 361 starts. . . . First raced in Winston Cup in 1975. . . . Full time since 1979. . . . Rookie of the year in 1979.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB