ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 30, 1996 TAG: 9604010126
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: AUTO RACING NOTES
DATELINE: BRISTOL, TENN.
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
Mark Martin was well enough to win the pole for Sunday's Food City 500, but the rumor mill had him pegged as a doomed man when he arrived Friday morning at Bristol International Raceway. The story was that Martin had cancer, and he was asked about it by more than a dozen different people when he arrived at the track. There is no truth to the rumor, he said.
``I haven't been to a doctor in I don't know how many years,'' Martin said. ``But I am flattered that they're talking about me.''
This type of wild rumor is a fairly common occurrence in the Winston Cup series. ``It's one of those `Earnhardt-falling-out-of-a-tree' things,'' NASCAR Winston Cup spokesman Kevin Triplett said. ``When I was working with Earnhardt [as his public relations specialist], he passed away three times and broke both legs. I don't know where that stuff gets started.''
A SECOND TEAM: Richard Childress unveiled the sponsor for his second Winston Cup team, which will run six races this year with NASCAR truck champion Mike Skinner as driver.
The car, the No.31 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, will be sponsored by outdoorsman Bill Jordan's Realtree company, which manufactures camouflage products for hunters.
NEW RULES: Look for a new rule prohibiting drivers from using their teammates' pits for emergency pit stops.
NASCAR is expected to announce Sunday a clarification of the rules that address that subject. The review comes in the wake of the pit stop Dale Jarrett made in teammate Ernie Irvan's pit after he ran out of gas with two laps to go in last weekend's race at Darlington, S.C.
``What we need to do is define the interpretation of what the rule book says,'' Triplett said.
ALLEN ON THE MEND: Loy Allen, Jr., badly injured a month ago in a crash at Rockingham, continues to recover at his home in Raleigh, N.C. He has begun working out on a treadmill and stationary bike and attending physical therapy sessions three times a week to increase the strength and mobility in his neck and shoulder.
Meanwhile, in the wake of crew chief Jeff Hammond's departure to rejoin Darrell Waltrip, team owner Mark Smith appointed team member Peter Sospenzo to the position.
BASEBALL STAR: Terry Labonte will throw out the first pitch when the Baltimore Orioles meet the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards in Baltimore on April 16.
Labonte will have the opportunity to meet Cal Ripken, Jr., who broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak last year. Labonte is set to break Richard Petty's consecutive race streak of 513 at Martinsville Speedway next month.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 linesby CNB