Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 9, 1994 TAG: 9408090097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``Pizza Hut. May I help you?''
``Yes,'' said Gordon. ``I'd like to order a pizza - thin crust with pepperoni, mushroom and pineapple.''
``OK, sir. That will be about an hour and 45 minute wait.''
``What's taking so long?'' Gordon asked.
``We just had that race over there at the race track,'' the pizza man said.
``Well, will it help any if I'm the winner of that race?'' Gordon asked.
``Hold on a second.''
This was clearly a matter for the supervisor. And when he got on the line, Gordon identified himself. The supervisor said he'd see what he could do.
``That pizza showed up in 25 minutes,'' Gordon said Monday in a teleconference.
And the fellow who brought it didn't even ask for an autograph, Gordon said. ``But I gave him a big tip,'' he added.
Thus, with fresh, hot pizza, Gordon relaxed with his fiancee, Brooke Sealey, and watched the ABC telecast of the race he had just won. (In Indianapolis, it was taped and broadcast Saturday evening).
So if you wondered what kind of lavish celebration the first winner of the Brickyard 400 had on the night of his biggest victory, this was it - pizza and TV in motel room 220.
Later, Mari Hulman George, the speedway's board chairperson, called and invited him to a celebrity-studded party. He politely declined.
``I didn't want to turn her down,'' Gordon said. ``But I was just about ready for bed and Brooke and I were just kind of relaxing and watching the race.''
Gordon's victory in the richest and most-anticipated NASCAR stock car race ever clearly hasn't gone to his head. And he doesn't think it will.
``This is something every important to me - to not get a big head,'' he said. ``I want to make sure I don't ever change. And I've got some real good people around me, especially Brooke, to help me keep my head on straight.''
Gordon was at Disney World on Sunday and Monday, leading parades, riding rides (he especially enjoyed the MGM Studios' new ``Tower of Terror'') and doing public appearances.
``I think that I've been so busy, I haven't been able to think about what's just happened,'' he said. But in the shower Monday morning, it hit him full force. ``Man, I've just won the Brickyard 400,'' he said to himself.
``This first inaugural race was bigger than life as far as I'm concerned,'' he said. ``I feel like right now I'm on top of the world. But we've got Watkins Glen to come back to this weekend and a road course. So we're going to set right back down to reality when we get to Watkins Glen.''
``I feel like in one way my career has taken a huge step, but in another way, I'm no different than I was Friday morning or Saturday morning before that race ever started.''
AWARD WINNERS: Here are the winners of some of the many special awards offered in the Brickyard 400:
As the winner, Gordon received a $200,000 bonus from PPG.
As the leader of the most laps, Gordon got another $25,000.
As the lowest qualifier to lead the race, Harry Gant received $25,000.
As the leader at 100 miles, Ted Musgrave won a $20,000 bonus.
As the leader at 200, 300 and 400 miles, Gordon received three $20,000 bonuses.
As the fastest qualifier who didn't make the race, Joe Ruttman received $5,000.
As the lowest-placed driver still running at the finish, Gant received another $5,000.
As the leader at lap five and lap 78, Gordon received two $5,000 bonuses.
As the driver who logged the most miles between pit stops, Geoff Brabham received $5,000.
As the first driver to attempt to qualify, H.B. Bailey received $5,000.
As the driver who demonstrated ``superior safe-driving skills,'' Gordon received another $5,000. (Note: All of Gordon's bonuses were part of his total winnings of about $613,000.).
by CNB