Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 7, 1993 TAG: 9308070106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium
"I'm not talking to someone who runs his mouth like he did," Irvan said. "My lawyer will talk to his lawyer."
McClure declined to comment.
Irvan was speaking from a position of some strength, since he has been negotiating to take over the late Davey Allison's Ford Thunderbird, owned by Robert Yates. He and Yates went to Houston last week to meet with officials of Texaco, which sponsors the car.
Irvan, however, has another year remaining on his five-year contract. He has asked to be released from the agreement. The issue is whether the team will try to force him to honor the contract.
Irvan says McClure is doing just that - doing it publicly - and that's why Irvan is so upset.
"He was saying that he owned me. The closest thing I know to anyone owning me is my wife," Irvan said.
The dispute started over money. Irvan has said he believes he is significantly underpaid. Since taking over the ride in early 1990 and winning his first race (and Morgan-McClure's first race), Irvan has won six times, including this year's Winston 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
But Irvan does not receive a salary. He is paid 40 percent of his winnings. Since his total 1992 winnings from purses were $996,885, he made about $400,000 from racing last year.
"Don't get me wrong, I make good money," Irvan said. But he added that he is "by far" the lowest paid of the upper echelon of Winston Cup drivers. Other drivers command salaries of $400,000 to $600,000 and more, plus a percentage of the purses, in some cases as much as 50 percent.
"It all revolves around taking care of your people," Irvan said. "If you don't take care of your people, you can't expect them to stay."
Irvan said he was "never offered anything" in terms of a raise, but McClure said Irvan never asked.
In any case, as Irvan said, "It's not a matter of money now." As for the contract, "I think there's no way he can hold me to it."
\ RUDD'S POSSIBILITIES: The dispute between Irvan and the Morgan-McClure team has had other repercussions.
McClure reportedly approached Ricky Rudd about replacing Irvan, even though Rudd is starting his own team in 1994.
The Chesapeake driver wouldn't confirm it and didn't want to say much about it.
But he did say, "There certainly were some opportunities that popped up. But I'm committed to doing what I'm doing. I don't want to turn back. I don't have any regrets with what I'm doing. Everything couldn't be going along better."
Rudd said he already has chassis for three cars and a temporary shop. He is using Lake Speed's shop, and crew, while Speed takes over Allison's car for the rest of the year. Rudd said he also has lined up engines for next year (from Pro Motor Co.), and on Monday he will break ground on a new shop in Mooresville, N.C.
Rudd doesn't have a crew chief yet, but "the longer I wait, the better picks I get. People get unhappy. Why rush?"
\ 1994 DEVELOPMENTS: John Andretti will take over the Billy Hagan-owned Chevrolet Lumina that Terry Labonte has been driving. Andretti reportedly will run a full Winston Cup schedule, but he also will try to squeeze the Indianapolis 500 into his schedule. The team doesn't have a sponsor, because Labonte is taking the Kellogg's Corn Flakes sponsorship with him to Hendrick Motorsports, where he is replacing Rudd.
Team owner Jack Roush on Tuesday gave Wally Dallenbach Jr. the release he had sought from his contract. Dallenbach is talking with several car owners. Bud Moore and his Ford Thunderbird team appear to be in the forefront.
Ted Musgrave had been mentioned as the likely driver of Moore's car, but the talk is that he may replace Dallenbach in Roush's car.
Grand National driver Robert Pressley apparently will replace Phil Parsons in the Chevrolet Lumina owned by Larry Hedrick.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB