Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 3, 1993                   TAG: 9308030021
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BIRMINGHAM, ALA.                                LENGTH: Short

DRIVER HURT AT TALLADEGA IMPROVING

David Smitherman, spokesman for Carraway Methodist Medical Center, said Smith's condition was upgraded over the weekend from critical to guarded.

"He continues to be able to eat a little food," Smitherman said. "He's been up and even out of the bed a little bit over the weekend."

Smith has been in the neuro-intensive care unit since he was injured in a seven-car pileup during the NASCAR Winston Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. The 43-year-old driver fractured his skull and has paralysis on his right side.

"He is conscious right now," Smitherman said. "He understands what happened and where he is. He still has some paralysis . . . and the therapists are continuing to work with him on that."

Smith was injured in his first Winston Cup race of the year. He has competed sporadically on stock car racing's biggest circuit since 1990.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.