Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 14, 1992 TAG: 9201140035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
NASCAR WATCHDOG PASSES 1ST INSPECTION
There's no way to measure it, but few who work in the stock-car racing shops around here would take issue with the suggestion that Gary Nelson, NASCAR's new chief inspector, has caused a big increase in the use of headache powders."Right now, for the past month, he's probably been our worst nightmare," Larry McReynolds, crew chief for Davey Allison, said Monday at Charlotte Motor Speedway's 10th annual preseason media tour. "He has flat out put us to work this winter."
Nelson, 38, a former crew chief renowned for his ability to dodge and weave around NASCAR rules, has become Mr. Straight Arrow since he was selected NASCAR's technical director last November.
Nelson has all but made it a personal crusade to save the last thing that is really "stock" in a Nelson so-called stock car: the shape of the body.
So, when McReynolds is driving home after midnight again at the end of another long, ghastly day at his shop, Nelson is the guy sitting in the cross hairs of his irritability.
Try to imagine how it would feel to spend dozens and dozens of man-hours building a race car only to discover you're going to have to tear the whole shell off and rebuild it - all because the new templates that Nelson is using to inspect the shape of the car failed to fit by a half of an inch here or there.
This has happened to three or four of Allison's cars this winter and to many others as well.
But McReynolds had his revenge Monday at a media tour news conference. He's a mild-mannered fellow with a sense of humor honed razor sharp by the rigors of Nelson's inquisition.
McReynolds merrily revealed that Allison's car owner, Robert Yates told NASCAR President Bill France Jr. in New York: "You've cleaned up 80 percent of the cheating in NASCAR racing. You've hired him."
That line got such a big laugh, McReynolds paused to consider the potential consequences.
"We'll probably never get through inspection now," he said.
But a moment later, McReynolds was back at it: "Like they say, if you're going to rob a bank, you wouldn't hire a preacher. Hire a crook."
McReynolds was quick to turn serious again and sing Nelson's praises. McReynolds is no dummy. But in truth, as a man obsessed with attention to detail, McReynolds appreciates that Nelson has made 10 or 12 visits to his shop to provide personal direction as he cracks the rules whip.
From what McReynolds has seen, Nelson will be strict but fair and, most importantly, consistent. Inconsistency in rules enforcement over the years is part of the lore and legend of the sport.
"He's been in crew-chief shoes for a long, long time," McReynolds said. "He knows what it is to deal with inconsistency in inspections."
Yates couldn't make it to Monday's session. He had to finish an engine for the four-day Ford test session that begins today at Daytona International Speedway.
Allison is ready to roll with his momentum from 1991 - his finest Winston Cup season.
"It's nice to be in a position to be looked at" as a leading contender for the 1992 title, Allison said. "I feel very confident going to Daytona that we can win down there."
Although Allison won the pole for last year's 500, his practice speeds have been a couple of miles per hour shy of the fastest Fords. McReynolds said the team has been concentrating on set-ups and will work on speed runs later.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING