Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 21, 1993 TAG: 9307210026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Scheduling conflicts prevent the 24-year-old California native, who is eighth in the Indy-car driver standings, from running in other NASCAR races this season.
"I'm excited that they're taking a chance with me," said Gordon, who never has seen the Talladega track. "I know it's a big risk.
"Davey was one of my favorite NASCAR drivers. I'm not replacing him. It just happens that I have an off weekend and I'll do the best I can."
Team owner Robert Yates said he chose Gordon because he has raced in a Winston Cup event, the 1991 Daytona 500, and is highly regarded by NASCAR experts. Gordon ran as high as fifth at Daytona before spinning to avoid an accident, and he finished 18th.
"We're going to put Robby in the car for one race," Yates said. "As far as the future, we're going to look down the list. All we've been doing is answering the phone. A lot of people want to get in the seat of the No. 28 car."
The process was an agonizing one for Yates and the rest of the team because it involves choosing a replacement for popular Allison at his home track.
Talladega also is the place where the 32-year-old stock car driver crashed his helicopter last week and received fatal head injuries.
"It's tough because we're going back to Talladega," team spokesman Brian VanDercook said. "All of Davey's extended family will be there."
Allison won three Winston 500s at Talladega, which is located not far from his hometown of Hueytown, Ala. His father, Bobby Allison, won four times there and his uncle, Donnie Allison, won twice.
Yates decided not to enter last Sunday's race at Pocono, Pa., saying the team needed time to come to grips with Davey Allison's death.
At the time, he said the team would attempt to be ready for Talladega.
"Had Talladega been the first weekend, we would have missed it," he said Tuesday. "This is our livelihood. This race team is prepared to go there and win this race."
As difficult as it has been, VanDercook said, the team has been bolstered by thoughts of how Davey Allison responded after his younger brother, Clifford, was killed in a wreck during practice several days before a Winston Cup race last year at Michigan.
"We know this is what he would want us to be doing," VanDercook said. "We saw him go through it."
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB