ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9512010043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: SPORTS EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: AUTO RACING NOTES
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
When the future of NASCAR racing is discussed among its officials, one of the most common questions is: ``Will stock car racing ever have a Japanese connection?''
That question was answered affirmatively Thursday at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel with the announcement of a demonstration NASCAR race at the Suzuka circuit on Nov. 24, 1996.
The exhibition event, also scheduled for 1997 and 1998, will be run on the eastern segment of the track, a 1.4-mile road course that's basically an oval.
Suzuka, which is home to the Japanese Grand Prix, is about 400 kilometers from Tokyo and about 50 kilometers from Nagoya.
``It will not be a Winston Cup points race,'' NASCAR President Bill France said. ``The drivers will come from Winston Cup, the Busch series and Winston West.''
He said NASCAR would invite approximately 30 drivers and their Fords, Chevys and Pontiacs.
``It will be an unforgettable page in the history of motor racing in Japan,'' said Suzuka Circuitland President Takashi Matsuda.
France said he hasn't seriously considered adding a Japanese race to the regular Winston Cup schedule, nor has he thought of incorporating Japanese cars into NASCAR racing. That will come down the road, he said.
``Right now, we're doing the best we can to get the rules worked out for the United States in 1996,'' France said.
Race sponsors and broadcasters also haven't been determined, although NASCAR expects a world-wide television broadcast. France said he expected some tire tests at the track ``during the first part of the year.''
France said the move, which will add yet another date to a race schedulethat already fills 33 weekends a year, is to expand NASCAR and promote the American automobile industry in Japan.
``Anything we can do to expand the awareness of NASCAR throughout the world is something we want to do,'' France said. ``As the world shrinks, we want to stay right there on top of it.''
Former Vice President Walter Mondale, who is the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said in a videotaped statement that he thought a NASCAR race in Japan would help the American auto industry.
``These are, after all, American cars, and American parts in those cars,'' Mondale said.
``I never thought it would happen this soon,'' said Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon.
``It's going to introduce us to the world,'' said Dale Earnhardt, who already markets his merchandise in 12 foreign countries.
AWARDS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Although the Japanese race was the big announcement of the annual NASCAR news conference, there were a number of other announcements and awards.
For the 10th time, Bill Elliott was voted the most popular driver of the year. Elliott, however, was not present to accept. His wife, Cindy Elliott, gave birth Tuesday to their first child, William Clyde Elliott Jr.
Former driver, car owner and car builder Banjo Matthews, who is in failing health, was named the recipient of the 1995 Buddy Shuman award for extraordinary service to NASCAR racing over a long period of time.
Ray Evernham, Gordon's crew chief, was the winner of the $50,000 UAW-GM Teamwork of Excellence Award and Andy Petree, Earnhardt's crew chief in 1995, was the winner of the $50,000 RCA pit strategy award.
Veteran Dave Marcis was selected in a blind draw as the wild-card entrant in the 1996 Busch Clash at Daytona International Speedway on Feb.11.
NEW SCHEDULE: The 1996 schedule was released and there are no significant changes. The Daytona 500 starts the Winston Cup championship season Feb.18 and the NAPA 500 at Atlanta concludes it Nov.10.
Perhaps most notable is that fans will have 14 straight weekends - three solid months - of Winston Cup racing in the summer and fall. The long stretch begins July 6 with the Pepsi 400 at Daytona and continues through the UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte on Oct.6.
SPORTSMAN FATE UNCERTAIN: Although the controversial NASCAR Sportsman division has been dropped at Charlotte Motor Speedway, France said no decision has been made about its future.
``We're still reviewing it,'' he said.
LENGTH: Medium: 85 linesby CNB