Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510310024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PHOENIX LENGTH: Medium
Sawyer said an Arkansas attorney, David Blair, has purchased the team from Hooters owner Robert Brooks and the sale ``will be in effect the Monday after Atlanta [Nov.13]. So we've crossed one hurdle there and we just need to cross another and get sponsorship.
``We're in negotiations with people now and there is some interest, but nothing is definite,'' he said.
Sawyer said neither he nor Hill will be involved in ownership of the team. And he said he won't be running any Grand National races next year, choosing instead to concentrate on the Winston Cup series.
``There's a lot of talent on this team,'' he said. ``It's just my inexperience right now that we're trying to overcome.''
While Sawyer is not an owner of his Cup team, he and wife Patty Moise have formed Moise-Sawyer Motorsports, Sawyer said, and Patty will drive the full Grand National season next year with sponsorship from Dial/Purex.
Although Sawyer has struggled in the past few races, finishing no better than 28th in his past seven, he did well in qualifying Friday, capturing the 24th starting spot for Sunday's Dura Lube 500 with a speed of 128.306 mph in his Ford Thunderbird.
WHAT GORDON NEEDS: Jeff Gordon can average a 19th place finish in Sunday's race and the Nov.12 finale in Atlanta, and he will win the championship no matter what second-place holder Dale Earnhardt does.
Earnhardt, on the other hand, must gain more than 11 points on Gordon here Sunday or Gordon clinches the title simply by starting the Atlanta race.
MESSAGE OF SUPPORT: Ricky Craven will carry a ``No.24'' decal on his car Sunday in support of a former crew member and Boston University hockey player, Travis Roy, who was paralyzed from the neck down when he crashed into the boards in the first game of the season last weekend.
Roy's father, Lee, was Craven's crew chief when Craven ran the American/Canadian Tour Series in 1988 and 1989. Roy himself served as a crew member.
``I was absolutely stunned and shocked when I heard the news about Travis' accident,'' Craven said.
by CNB