Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 13, 1995 TAG: 9504130066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Irvan drove the Robert Yates Ford that he ran at Watkins Glen last August, while Dale Jarrett was in the car that Irvan drove to victory at Sears Point last May. The drivers tested Monday and Tuesday.
``Our Winston Cup cars aren't really geared up to race at Road Atlanta, but it's a good place to test,'' Irvan said. ``We did some background testing here last year, and that gives us an opportunity to compare. It's something of an advantage to have two guys working at the same time.''
Irvan, who is recovering from near-fatal injuries from a crash during practice at Michigan last August, plans to return to racing in a NASCAR truck.
He said he also wants to return to Winston Cup racing this year.
``But we don't really know when that will be,'' he said. ``Hopefully in another month or so, I'll run the SuperTruck, and I could run it another five times, maybe another 15 times, this year just to polish my skills.''
Irvan's left eye still has not healed completely, and he is continuing his comeback with the intention of learning how to race with vision in just one eye.
BIG PLANS: After buying 25 percent of North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham last week, entrepreneur O. Bruton Smith broke ground Tuesday on Texas World Speedway and said he'll have crews work around the clock to build the $60 million track by next year.
The new 1.5-mile lighted track, which is expected to seat 150,000 fans and have 200 luxury sky boxes, will be located on land purchased from Ross Perot Jr. at the intersection of Interstate 35 West and Texas Highway 114 just north of Fort Worth.
Smith apparently now has the edge over Texas businessman Billy Meyer, whose own proposal has become mired in political squabbling. ``In November, we announced we were coming to this market,'' Smith said at a groundbreaking ceremony. ``In February, we announced we had chosen a site for the speedway.
``Today, we break ground and will begin construction in earnest. We do what we say we will do.''
Smith, who was joined at the groundbreaking by NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Terry and Bobby Labonte, said he is still working to obtain financing for the track and ``to secure dates on the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule.'' He said the track should be finished in nine to 12 months.
Smith's publicly held Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which also owns the Atlanta and Charlotte tracks, last week purchased 25 percent of North Carolina Motor Speedway from Horace DeWitt, brother of the late L.G. DeWitt, founder of the one-mile track at Rockingham.
BENEFIT DINNER: Dedicated Wood Brothers fans have a rare opportunity to spend the evening with the famous Stuart car owners when they are saluted at a benefit dinner on April 21 at the Dutch Inn in Martinsville.
Former drivers of the No. 21 Ford, including Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty, David Pearson and Buddy Baker, and current driver Morgan Shepherd also will join in the tribute to Leonard and Glen Wood. ESPN racing pit reporter John Kernan of Roanoke will be master of ceremonies.
The dinner, a benefit for the Muscular Distrophy Association, is being put on by team sponsor Citgo and area distributor Abercrombie Oil Co. to recognize Citgo's 10th anniversary.
A limited number of tickets are available for $125 each. For more information, contact Randy Cobb or Stella Allison at 1-800-627-0298.
by CNB