Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 20, 1993 TAG: 9307200060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Malcolm Fink, a New River Valley Speedway driver in the Late Model division, suffered a heart attack Saturday night during a race.
He underwent surgery to open a blocked artery Sunday night at Roanoke Memorial Hospital and was listed in critical condition Monday afternoon.
Fink, 45, of Roanoke, pulled out halfway through the 200-lap Late Model Stock Car feature in Radford with chest pains. Racing was stopped temporarily so Fink could leave the track with the Pulaski County Life Saving Crew. He was taken immediately to Radford Community Hospital.
Fink was transfered to Roanoke Memorial Hospital on Sunday afternoon. He is in the coronary care unit at the hospital.
"He had a pretty serious heart attack," said Fink's son, Marvin. "He almost died. The whole right side of his heart is damaged. He's alive, but he's not good."
Marvin Fink said his father had been suffering pain in his chest and left arm for the past month.
"He had told us Saturday morning the pain wasn't bothering him as bad as it had been, so he decided to race," Marvin Fink said. "He will pull through this. It's just gonna take some time.
"As far as we know, he's out of the woods as far as more surgery goes, but at any moment he could slip back in."
Malcolm Fink also owns M.E. Fink Auto Repair on Campbell Avenue. He has been racing competitively for 16 years.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB