Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 20, 1995 TAG: 9506210052
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``We don't have to deal with [fighting] very often and we don't want to get to the point where we have to,'' said NASCAR spokesman Kevin Triplett, explaining the size of Waltrip's fine.
Waltrip, who smacked Speed on his helmeted head following the race as payback for an on-track encounter, said he would appeal.
``I agree I deserve to be fined, but I think this fine is a little steep,'' Waltrip said in a statement.
Two months ago, NASCAR fined Rudd's crew chief, Bill Ingle, $250 for punching Ted Musgrave in the face while he sat strapped in his car after the Martinsville race, leaving Musgrave bloodied and with a black eye.
``It may be the perception of some people'' that there is a huge disparity between the two fines, Triplett acknowledged, but he said, ``Each case is separate. This didn't appear to be a spontaneous action.'' He wouldn't comment on Ingle's punch.
Waltrip didn't injure Speed, but his timing was horrible. Waltrip threw his two punches in front of a live national network television audience.
Waltrip's car owner, Chuck Rider, said Sunday that he'd howl in protest if Waltrip's fine was more than $250.
``Can you believe that?'' Rider said Monday of the $10,000 fine. But he declined further comment, saying, ``Actually, this is between Michael and Lake Speed and NASCAR. It's Michael's situation.'' And payment of the fine, Rider said, will be Waltrip's responsibility.
Meanwhile, Rudd headed to his shop to work Monday, less than 24 hours after he was knocked out in a hard crash into the first turn wall at Michigan.
``I just had a little nap Sunday,'' Rudd said. He was airlifted to a Jackson, Mich., hospital, but released after an examination. He flew home Sunday evening.
``I'm bruised and it banged both of my feet, but I'm not bad, really,'' Rudd said. ``It knocked me silly. They said I got out of the car, stood up and they helped me to the ambulance, but I don't remember that. The first thing I remember was being put on the helicopter. Now I know what a boxer feels like when he gets knocked down.'' ``I'm upset because we had a car that could have won that race. And the sad thing is, we lost a real good car. It's history.''
The entire chassis was bent beyond repair, Rudd said, as was his seat. His helmet had scratches and dents, but both seat and helmet did their jobs. Rudd said he does remember putting his head back against the headrest just before impact.
``Probably by doing that, it kept my head from hitting the fence, because the roll cage was flattened in about an inch.'' He said his head apparently did hit a sheet metal part of the roll cage, putting a dent in the metal.
Rudd was supposed to test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Monday through Wednesday, and he said he may still try to get there for a Wednesday-Thursday session.
Before Sunday's race, Rudd said he'll make a decision in seven to 10 days on whether to switch to the new Pontiac Grand Prixs in 1996.
Pontiac has made Rudd a key target of their recruiting program, but Ford officials, reportedly determined to try to keep Rudd in the Thunderbird, were seen in force around his transporter this weekend.``I think I'll know something probably around the 25th,'' Rudd said Sunday morning.
``The biggest thing about Pontiac is I've got the opportunity to be the number one team,'' he said. ``It's tough over here at Ford even if I outperform everyone. With Roush and Penske at Ford, it's hard to compete with the Roush and Penske names. With Pontiac, things are more open.''Rudd said he didn't want to comment about whether Ford officials are putting on a full-court press to keep him.
Rudd's partner in pain Monday, Dale Earnhardt, was ``sore, but on his way to the Bahamas to loosen up,'' business manager Don Hawk said.
Earnhardt had the wind knocked out of him in his Sunday crash. On Monday, the leftover hurts included bruised shoulders where his body slammed into his seat belts, a knot on his left leg just below the knee and a sore right ankle.
In other news, Greg Sacks was officially released as driver of the No. 40 Pontiac owned by Dick Brooks and Felix Sabates. Rich Bickle and Jimmy Hensley of Horsepasture were said to be prime candidates to replace him.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB