Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505080099
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SONOMA, CA. LENGTH: Medium
Team spokesman Brian VanDercook said the operation, which was performed Friday, had two objectives: to cure a psuedo-aneurism located below Irvan's brain at the base of his skull; and to preserve the left carotid artery.
The surgery was unrelated to the vision problem in Irvan's left eye. ``It's just too early to predict'' whether there will be other benefits, said VanDercook.
VanDercook said he doubted the operation would deter Irvan from returning to racing, ``but it may change the pace of it,'' he said. ``If anything, it may have cleared the path to a more complete recovery.''
VanDercook said Irvan might be released soon enough to attend today's race, but may also stay in the hospital through the weekend.
``I can tell you Ernie is in excellent spirits,'' VanDercook said. ``He's wise-cracking a bunch and I think that's usually the litmus test for Ernie.''
SAWYER GOES HOME: The ax finally dropped on Elton Sawyer in his ongoing debut in the Winston Cup series.
After qualifying for the short track race at Martinsville and the superspeedway race at Talladega, Sawyer came up short during the second round of time trials for today's Save Mart 300 on the 2.52-mile road course at Sears Point International Raceway.
``We spun off turn 7,'' crew chief and team manager Mike Hill said. ``It's the toughest race track to go to when you're a rookie.''
Sawyer was 49th fastest among the 50 cars that made qualifying runs Friday or Saturday.
``We did all we could to accelerate the learning curve as fast as we could,'' Saywer said.
There was quite a bit of shuffling in the bottom of the 43-car lineup after the second round. Greg Sacks and Jeremy Mayfield also failed to make the race, chiefly because two Winston West drivers managed to go fast enough to make it on their speeds.
Provisional starting spots went to Bobby Labonte, Ricky Craven, Rick Mast and Dick Trickle. The latter three stood on their Friday speeds, only to find themselves outside the top 37 once the round was over. The field for this race consists of 37 qualifiers, four Winston Cup provisional starters and two Winston West provisional starters.
ROUSH'S TRUCK PLANS: Winston Cup car owner Jack Roush revealed Saturday that he will not only have Todd Bodine in a Roush-prepared NASCAR truck for seven races this year, but he will debut a second truck in 1996.
``We'll have a `Gong Show'' contest to select a driver for a full program in 1996,'' Roush said.
A `Gong Show' contest?
``It's a lot like putting a half-dozen homeless cats in a room with one piece of fish and turning the lights off,'' he said.
Roush said the auditions would involve about six candidates and would last two or three days.
He said he selected Bodine rather than one of his current drivers because Mark Martin's schedule already is full and Ted Musgrave will begin racing in some Grand National events soon.
TESTING AT DOVER: Derrike Cope, who has participated in two separate Goodyear tire tests at the new concrete track at Dover Downs International Speedway, said Goodyear seems to be getting a better handle on the new surface.
In the first test, which occurred several weeks ago, the tires were worn to the cord after only about 15 laps, he said.
But last Wednesday, the second test ``went pretty well,'' Cope said. ``We ran 50 laps and still had tire left.''
Cope said track officials still need to grind a few rough spots, but expects conditions to be better by the time the series arrives for the June 4 race.
by CNB