Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 8, 1995 TAG: 9502080043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Age: 31.
Lives: Harrisburg, N.C.
Car: Filmar Racing Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Filbert Martocci.
Crew chief: Gil Martin.
1995 changes: New team with TIC Financial sponsorship.
1994 highlights: Finished fourth in Grand National series, with three victories and 15 top-10 finishes in 28 starts. Won $307,017.
Career highlights: Began career in 1986 competing in ASA series and was rookie of the year. ... Joined Grand National circuit in 1989, finishing second in 1991. ... Ran first Winston Cup races in 1991, subbing for injured Kyle Petty. ... Ran full Cup season in 1993. ... Filled in for injured Ernie Irvan in last third of 1994 Cup season and had two top-10 finishes, including a career-best fourth at Martinsville.
Scouting report: Gulp. Wallace tries again, this time with a new team, but the 1995 competition is even meaner than in 1993. You hate to see a good guy like Kenny Wallace suffer. If he can make 29 races, he'll be doing just fine.
87 JOE NEMECHEK
Age: 31.
Lives: Mooresville, N.C.
Car: Burger King Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Owner: Joe Nemechek.
Crew chief: Tony Furr.
1995 change: Nemechek starts own team.
1994 highlights: Finished 27th in Winston Cup points in rookie season, with three top-10 finishes, including a third at Pocono. Won $386,315.
Career highlights: The 1992 Busch Grand National champion ... Has two GN victories ... Earned four consecutive rookie of the year awards 1987-1991 in different series, culminating in GN series. ... Began racing at age 13 in motocross. ... Started stock car racing in 1986. ... Ran first Cup race in 1993.
Scouting report: Like Lake Speed, Nemechek left a solid team to strike out on his own. He'll be lucky to match his rookie season.
90 MIKE WALLACE
Age: 35.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Heilig-Meyers Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Junie Donlavey.
Crew chief: Freddy Fryar.
1995 changes: None.
1994 highlights: Ran in 22 events after replacing Bobby Hillin. Had one top-10 finish - fifth at Atlanta in the fall race. Finished 33rd in points and won $265,115.
Career highlights: Started racing at 16 and won more than 300 short-track events in the Midwest in the 1970s and '80s. ... Made first Winston Cup start in 1991. ... Finished sixth in first Grand National start at Martinsville in 1990. ... Won 1994 ARCA Daytona race.
Scouting report: Sibling question of the year: Who will finish second among the three Wallaces? If Mike doesn't, he's in trouble.
94 BILL ELLIOTT
Age: 39.
Lives: Blairsville, Ga.
Car: McDonald's Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Elliott-Hardy Racing.
Crew chief: Tony Gibson.
1995 changes: New team.
1994 highlights: One victory, one pole and 12 top-10 finishes, good for 10th in points. Won $951,679.
Career highlights: Has 40 victories in 439 Cup starts. ... Won Winston Cup in 1988 with six victories. ... Won 11 races and Winston Million in 1985. ... Won Daytona 500 in 1985 and 1987. ... Began Winston Cup racing in 1976. ... First victory in 1983. ... Most popular driver 1984-88 and 1991-94. ... Total Cup earnings of $14.54 million.
Scouting report: It's a whole new ballgame for Bill Elliott. Look for a top 10 in points and a victory or two, but you can't expect this new team to run for the title.
98 JEREMY MAYFIELD
Age: 25.
Lives: Nashville, Tenn.
Car: Fingerhut Ford Thunderbird.
Owner: Cale Yarborough.
Crew chief: Steve May.
1995 changes: None.
1994 highlights: No top-10 finishes in 20 starts. Finished 37th in points and won $226,265.
Career highlights: Started in Go Karts in the 1980s in his native Kentucky. ... Ran Late Model Stocks at Nashville Motor Raceway in 1991-92. ... Joined ARCA series in 1993 and was rookie of the year. ... Ran first Cup race in 1993. ... Drove three cars in 1994.
Scouting report: Mayfield looked like a comer until he joined the moribund Yarborough team. If he can make this car go in 1995, he'll be one hot prospect.
Note: These scouting reports were omitted from Sunday's Winston Cup preview section.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB