Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 23, 1993 TAG: 9309230091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Jimmy Hensley, who due to a variety of circumstances has been hopping from one Winston Cup car to another the past couple years, said Thursday at the Roanoke Valley Sports Club that he has some hope that he can land a full-time big-league ride for 1994.
"I have irons in the fire," said Hensley, "but is there a fire?
"Hey, it's a pretty tough business. The outside people coming in is hurting me a little bit. There was one IndyCar driver [John Andretti] who got a car and a couple of Grand National drivers are moving up. If it hadn't been for that, I'd been in pretty good shape. Right now, though, I don't have anything. But, hopefully, we'll get something."
The 47-year-old Ridgeway, Va., native drove last season for Cale Yarborough, becoming the oldest driver in history to capture rookie-of-the-year honors. But when Yarborough couldn't land a sponsor before this season, Hensley was unceremoniously dumped for Derrike Cope.
When Alan Kulwicki was killed in an April plane crash in Bristol, Tenn., Hensley was tabbed to replace the 1992 Winston Cup champion. Hensley drove the late Kulwicki's car until last week, when Geoff Bodine, who bought Kulwicki's team, decided to switch over early from his Bud Moore team.
Hensley said he thought he was going to get the Moore ride for next season. Instead, Moore decided to go with Lake Speed for '94.
"We [Hensley and Bodine] had been talking two months about a switch - me getting the 15 car and him going to the 7 car. That was fine with me. Then when they do switch, Lake Speed gets it.
"Politics? I'm sure it was. It kind of makes you feel like about an inch tall, but we'll survive.
`I was kinda optimistic, but as season goes further and further I'm getting more unoptimistic. There's still two or three cars available."
Hensley, a long-time veteran of the Grand National tour before breaking into Winston Cup, said he wouldn't count out a return to NASCAR's top minor league. But all Winston Cup options would have to weighed first.
"I had a couple Grand National teams talk to me a little bit," he said. "I would be interested in going that route if I couldn't stay up here. Not that I've got anything against [the GN tour], but it's just the kind of deal where I've about done all I could do there. I would just kind of like to finish up in a Winston Cup deal if I could."
Hensley will drive Richard Petty's No. 44 car in Sunday's Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Hensley is replacing the injured Rick Wilson in the Petty car.
"They called on Monday and said Rick was hurt and they wanted me to drive at Martinsville," Hensley said. "As far as I know, it's just a deal for this weekend."
Wally Dallenbach Jr., who was named on Tuesday to replace Wilson in the Petty mount next season, was a late substitute for driver Rick Mast at the meeting. Mast became ill during a testing session at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway on Thursday afternoon and couldn't attend.
"I'm real excited about it," said Dallenbach, who is leaving Jack Roush's second team. "I wish we could get started right away.
"I think Richard really has taken by the hold and really wants to do well. I think they're aware of the things they need, know the areas they have to improve on, and they're doing it right now.
"There might have been some questions in peoples' minds if Richard Petty really wanted to be a car owner. That was a big jump for Richard to step out of the car and become a team owner. I think after racing a season, Richard has stepped back, looked and said, "we really need to run up front."
The sports club will meet again on Oct. 26 at the Salem Civic Center. The guest will be Bobby Cremins, head basketball coach at Georgia Tech.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB