Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9408050032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``It looks like a greenhouse in this place,'' Rudd said Tuesday. ``I've won races before but never had this much attention.''
As welcome as the flowers were, Rudd's victory Sunday in the Slick 50 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway has yielded more than that.
He will most likely qualify for the 1995 NASCAR Winner's Circle program, which will give him somewhere between $6,000 and $8,500 per race just for showing up and qualifying.
There are 11 spots in the program, and all are currently filled, the last having been taken by Jeff Gordon for winning at Charlotte.
Rudd's victory comes as he ponders whether to switch in 1995 from Ford to Pontiac.
``I really haven't decided,'' he said. ``It's a big decision.''
Although Rudd won't discuss figures, it is clear Pontiac has made him a generous offer. And he's tempted to take it.
``I think Pontiac can win races,'' he said. ``There's really not anybody leading the way on the Pontiac deal. I think the cars can go. I'm looking at how our team can become a powerhouse.''
On the other hand, ``I really enjoy working with the Ford people,'' Rudd said. ``We have a great relationship, and hopefully, it will continue.''
The biggest drawback for switching in 1995, as Rudd readily agrees, is that he would have to switch car bodies again in 1996 when Pontiac begins using its new Grand Prix.
GM TESTS AT INDY: The Chevrolet and Pontiac teams completed a three-day General Motors test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Wednesday in preparation for the inaugural Brickyard 400 on Aug. 6.
Michael Waltrip was the quickest through the first two days, reaching a speed of 169.405 miles per hour on Tuesday. Bobby Labonte was at 168.401 mph, and Jeff Gordon reach 168.385 mph in the private session. Ford driver Ernie Irvan reached 172.1 mph in a recent test, and Rusty Wallace was above 170.
``It's been a pretty good test so far,'' Waltrip said. ``We feel like there's more speed left in [the car].''
Nearly all of the Chevy drivers were there except Dale Earnhardt and Sterling Marlin, who will test at Indy next week. And all of the Pontiac drivers were there except Wally Dallenbach, who, contrary to speculation, was not released by Richard Petty and remains the driver of the No. 43 Pontiac.
A SEAT SWAP: Cale Yarborough's firing of Derrike Cope and hiring of Jeremy Mayfield Monday to drive his No. 98 Ford Thunderbird has turned into a seat swap.
Mayfield's old car owner, T.W. Taylor, said Wednesday he has hired Cope, at least for the next few races.
HENDRICK IN TROUBLE?: Rick Hendrick, the Charlotte automobile mega-dealer who owns the Winston Cup cars driven by Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon and Ken Schrader, was profiled Sunday by the New York Times in a story and picture that spread over two-thirds of the business front page.
And it wasn't the kind of story Hendrick would have preferred. It said some of the 44-year-old Hendrick's 64 car and truck dealerships are part of an investigation by the U.S Justice Department into suspected payments by dealers of $10 million in bribes and kickbacks to American Honda officials in the 1980s for favored treatment in getting new franchises and hard-to-get cars.
The article said 15 former Honda officials have been charged in the scandal and 12 others have pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges.
Hendrick made a $250,000 home loan to one of the officials who has been charged and for more than a decade employed the son of another top official who has been charged, the article said. In addition, a third former Honda official admitted to federal prosecutors that she was paid $120,000 over the course of a decade by Hendrick's brother, John, for increasing the allotment of Hondas in the Honda-scarce 1980s to a North Carolina dealership co-owned by the brothers.
Both brothers deny any wrongdoing. John Hendrick's lawyer told the paper his client paid the $120,000, but only after he was told by an American Honda executive that it was the only way to ensure car shipments.
And Rick Hendrick told the Times: ``I have never compensated any employee of Honda or any other manufacturer for any franchise or cars.''
by CNB