Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 12, 1994 TAG: 9411170035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA. LENGTH: Medium
Dave Jensen, 40, a journeyman driver from Grain Valley, Mo., suffered a serious head injury after his Chevy slammed the wall between turns three and four.
He was unconscious and having trouble breathing when rescue workers reached him. After receiving treatment in his car, Jensen was taken to the infield care center and then airlifted to Georgia Baptist Medical Center.
There, doctors determined that he had suffered a minor head injury with a concussion and bruising to his right lung and chest wall. He was listed in stable condition and was under heavy sedation and on a ventilator in the intensive care unit.
``He will need close observation and further testing before any prognosis will be given,'' a speedway statement said.
GANT'S FAREWELL: Sunday's race marks Harry Gant's final Winston Cup event, but he still has another race to run this year.
Next weekend, Gant will be at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway to run a NASCAR All-Pro event. Gant said that will be his final race as a professional driver.
So why run an obscure All-Pro event as his finale?
Gant's answer was typical Gant: ``I didn't realize that would be my last race,'' he said Friday. ``When I scheduled that in July or August, I didn't even think about it.''
Burt Reynolds, who co-owned Gant's car from 1981 through 1988, will be here Sunday to help say farewell. And the Chevy Gant will drive in his final Winston Cup race has been decked out in its 1981 paint scheme.
JARRETT'S NEW DEAL: Dale Jarrett said Friday that one of the reasons he moved to Robert Yates Racing to drive the No.28 Ford Thunderbird is the possibility that he will be able to become a team owner in the future.
``That is one option down the road. That's something Robert came to me with - the possibility of doing that down the road when Ernie [Irvan] is ready to come back,'' Jarrett said.
Jarrett also said Dale Earnhardt was one of the first people he consulted when he was considering whether to make the switch from Joe Gibbs Racing to Yates.
Jarrett wouldn't say what Earnhardt told him, but ``he was very helpful. What he recommended and what he said made a lot of sense.''
Jarrett said he expects to ``run well week in and week out'' next year, win at least three or four races and contend for the championship.
And he said he doesn't expect any problems working with Irvan, who is actively helping the team, but still recovering from the life-threatening injuries he received in August at Michigan.
by CNB