ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 11, 1996 TAG: 9603110067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: PUROLATOR 500 NOTES
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA.
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
Rick Mast and his wife, Sharon, found out recently that they will be quadrupling the size of their brood at home in Rockbridge Baths, Va. Sharon is expecting triplets in October. They already have one child, 12-year-old Ricky.
``It's been quite a shock for us,'' Mast said Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway after dropping out of the race with a broken engine. ``We're looking for a diapers company as an associate sponsor right now.
``Just think, we'll have the Hooters Ford with Pampers on the side.'' Hooters is the primary sponsor of Mast's Pontiac Grand Prix.
Mast said his wife went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for an ultrasound test and it revealed three heads.
``I haven't reacted yet. I'm still thinking about it,'' he said.
As for Sharon, ``she's happy as a lark,'' he said. ``She's tickled to death to stay home and raise a bunch of kids. I think we're all going to go a little nuts. But it's pretty cool.''
As for the race Sunday, ``something broke in the motor,'' he said. ``We started off real bad, but on one run we had the car real good. Then it went bad again. Then the motor went sour and finally broke.''
Mast finished 34th in a day that soured for all five Pontiac teams. Ward Burton did the best, finishing 15th.
Mast said the Pontiacs suffered from too much downforce at Atlanta. ``I know if we get it worked out, we'll have a great car,'' he said.
TRAVIS ROY VISITS: Travis Roy, the paralyzed Boston University ice hockey player, made his first public appearance since his accident when he was the guest of Ricky Craven. Roy watched Craven drive his Chevy to a 12th-place finish.
Roy, who used to help his father when he was Craven's crew chief in the late 1980s, was paralyzed from the neck down during his first hockey game for the university last October.
``It was wonderful having Travis Roy with us today,'' said Craven, who put Travis' No.23 on his Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the beginning of the season. ``His spirit and courage are remarkable.''
YARBOROUGH RECORD SNAPPED: Cale Yarborough lost a record at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but learned that, as he suspected, his racing team has a fine young driver.
Dale Earnhardt's victory gave him eight at the track, one more than Yarborough, who retired as a driver in 1988.
NO CRASHES: There were three caution periods in the race, but not a single car spun or crashed. That led to a race with an average speed of 161.298 miles per hour - and a lot of blown engines.
The drivers with engine problems were Mark Martin, Robert Pressley, Mike Wallace, Mast, Derrike Cope, Rusty Wallace (who led 36 laps), Kenny Wallace, Johnny Benson, Steve Grissom, Chuck Bown and Lake Speed.
A SENSE FOR TIME: Earnhardt, who used a quick pit stop late in the race to vault into the lead, was asked if he can feel the difference in a really fast stop and one that is, say, a second slower.
``Yes,'' he replied.
How?
``When they get that right side changed and they drop the jack before I'm finished drinking and it spills all over me,'' he said. ``I know it's time to throw the cup out.''
TUMBLING IN POINTS: Jeff Burton, who failed to qualify for the race and went home early, dropped from second in Winston Cup points to 14th.
Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon, who finished third, jumped from 27th to 16th. And Ernie Irvan, who was fourth, went from 34th in points to 19th.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Roy. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB