Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 12, 1993 TAG: 9306120187
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LONG POND, PA. LENGTH: Medium
"I can't even give you a clue right now, because I don't want anything to fall through," Rudd said at Pocono International Raceway, just before qualifying for Sunday's Champion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race. "In the very, very, very near future I'll have something to say, but not right now."
Contrary to a report in the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, which revealed the possible Rudd-Newman connection, Rudd said he did not plan to make an announcement Friday.
But the Chesapeake driver acknowledged he will be forming his own team, adding, "There's a lot of things going on. I haven't been this excited in a long time."
Meanwhile, Terry Labonte denied reports he has agreed to replace Rudd on one of the three Winston Cup teams owned by Charlotte businessman Rick Hendrick. "I haven't talked to Hendrick," he said.
\ ALLISON OPTIMISTIC: Davey Allison has a good feeling about this weekend, even though it marks his first visit here since his violent crash in July.
"We're here to win, and I have a good feeling," he told Ford's Wayne Estes on Friday. "What we did here last year - not the wreck, but how we were running before the wreck - and what I saw at the engine shop this week, it's all got me feeling good about coming here.
"If you want to think about that crash, about how bad it was . . . It was the worst wreck I've ever had, granted, but I survived it. I'm still doing my job, so I can't look at it as how bad it was."
Allison qualified seventh for Sunday's race.
\ ON THE POLE: Kirk Shelmerdine, Dale Earnhardt's former crew chief, starts on the pole for the 150-mile sportsman race at 11 a.m. today after qualifying Thursday at 140.126 mph.
Shelmerdine, who has been a part-time driver in sportsman and ARCA cars this year, said he is "just having fun" and at this point does not aspire to a career as a Grand National or Winston Cup driver.
"I really don't have any plans," he said. "I'm going to have to do something someday. I can't retire. But as long as I don't have to worry about it, I won't.
"I don't expect to be a driver, and I don't expect to be a crew chief," he added.
Shelmerdine said one possibility is becoming more involved in chassis design. "But until the time when I have to, I'm not making any decisions," he said.
The 60-lap sportsman race will be televised live on cable by Prime Network.
Today's schedule also includes the Champion 150 for ARCA cars at 1:30 p.m. Jeff Purvis is on the pole for that race, which also is 60 laps on the 2.5-mile tri-oval.
The ARCA race will be televised by ESPN at 5:30 p.m. today.
\ FAMILY MATTERS: After qualifying 18th on Friday, Jimmy Hensley promptly left the track and headed home to Ridgeway.
The oldest of his three daughters, Karen, is graduating from Magna Vista High School at 10 a.m. today. Hensley hopes to make it back here in time for the final Winston Cup practice this afternoon.
\ HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company, all of the Ford Thunderbird Winston Cup cars in Sunday's race will carry a birthday decal on the rear bumper.
Although company founder Henry Ford drove and won one of America's first auto races at Gross Pointe, Mich., in 1901, the company has been in and out of racing a number of times since it was founded in 1903.
by CNB