Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 6, 1994 TAG: 9402060047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Some Busch teams, including Mark Martin's, had to spend precious hours on body work after NASCAR officials told them their cars weren't the proper shape.
And virtually every team had to spend a day or two installing the new roof flaps designed to keep Winston Cup and Grand National cars from becoming airborne during high-speed spins.
The Busch teams did not get their flaps until late January or early February - after the Winston Cup teams - and they had more installation problems, since the flaps were designed to fit the Cup cars.
"If it's a safety issue, I have no problem doing it. Just give me time to do it," said car owner Fred Turner of Greensboro, N.C., who will have Sterling Marlin as his driver in 10 races this year. "Don't throw it on me the week before Daytona."
Turner merely echoed the sentiments of the many GN owners who had to tear up an already-painted roof to install the flaps, repaint the roof and hope they didn't alter the shape of the car to the extent that it would fail NASCAR inspection at Daytona.
Still, Turner, with Kodak sponsorship, is entering 1994 with his best financing ever and looking forward to a strong season.
Elsewhere, there are plenty of new dreams being dreamed throughout the GN ranks.
Half of the top 10 Grand National drivers of 1993 have left for NASCAR's major league, but their replacements - a mixture of old and new - are poised to take over.
"A lot of top drivers in the Busch series have gone Winston Cup racing this year, so I think this is going to be a year, as far as the Busch championship goes, that is pretty much up in the air," said Kyle Petty, who will work the GN pits this year as a reporter for cable TV's ESPN. "There's probably going to be some surprises."
Gone is champion Steve Grissom. Also moving up are Chuck Bown, Joe Nemechek and Ward Burton - fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in points - and Todd Bodine, who was ninth. Jeff Burton, 14th in points, departs as well.
One wonders if any of them have consulted with Kenny Wallace, who was unable to keep his Winston Cup ride after finishing third in the 1993 rookie battle. Wallace returns to Grand National racing to replace Jeff Burton in the Filmar Racing Ford.
Wallace is not the only driver resurfacing in the GN ranks.
Elton Sawyer of Chesapeake returns to the series full-time in the Akins-Sutton Motorsports Ford. And his wife, Patty Moise, also plans to return for a limited schedule.
And former Cup regular Chad Little will campaign a Ford co-owned by Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien.
The core of the new arrivals consists of the "Modified Mafia" - Mike Stefanik, Mike McLaughlin and Doug Heveron - all of whom come from the NASCAR Modified tour in the Northeast. All three plan full-season campaigns. McLaughlin, in the Ford vacated by Todd Bodine, appears to have the best ride.
Kirk Shelmerdine, Dale Earnhardt's former crew chief, also plans to run a limited schedule. Other newcomers include Sportsman veteran Tim Bender; Late Model veteran Dennis Setzer (taking over Robert Pressley's old car); The Nashville Network's outdoor show host, Hank Parker Jr.; and Johnny Benson Jr., best remembered for flipping his car last year at Michigan.
But the champion likely will come from among the five top 10 drivers who remained in the series.
Ricky Craven, who finished second behind Grissom, returns with a new, unproven team - his own.
Green, who finished third, has one of the strongest, best-financed cars - Bobby Labonte's Slim Jim Chevrolet.
Pressley, who was eighth, nailed down his 1995 plans months ago when he was hired to replace retiring Harry Gant in the Winston Cup series. But he was uncertain what he'd be doing in 1994 until recently. Pressley has signed to replace Craven in the J and J Racing Chevrolet out of Danville.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB