ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997 TAG: 9703060074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: How does NASCAR figure the monetary winnings for each race? I noticed that although Dale Earnhardt finished 31st at Daytona, he won more than about half the people who finished higher. An even bigger surprise was Rusty Wallace, who ran only 47 laps and still was paid more than some drivers who were still running at the end of the race.
G.A., Roanoke
A: The purse for each race isn't the only source of money for drivers.
Daytona had some interesting quirks in the money column. Earnhardt received $72,545; 16 drivers who finished ahead of him won less.
Eleven drivers who finished the race took in less than Rusty Wallace's $66,605.
Kyle Petty probably took the closest look of anyone at the figures; he finished 14th but won only $62,080 - less than Earnhardt or Wallace.
Briefly, here's how that happens. The explanation comes from NASCAR spokesman Kevin Triplett:
Besides the purse, money goes to the drivers from one of three plans that are based on their performance in previous years.
The first plan is called the Winners' Circle. It consists of 10 drivers who won races last year. Membership in this select group can be worth $200,000 to a driver over the course of a season, Triplett said.
The amount going to a particular driver varies according to the driver's contract, and Triplett indicated Earnhardt, Wallace and Jeff Gordon earn sizable amounts because of Winston Cup points and longevity with their racing teams.
The next category is Plan 1; it, too, can be worth $200,000. Drivers in this group finished in the top 30 in the points race last year.
Plan 1C drivers finished in the top 40, and the money for this category varies widely, Triplett said.
Racing fans may be aware that drivers also earn money from the product decals on the car's fender. Decal money is added to the race purse and is based on the order of finish, so it won't help a driver in 30th place earn more than someone in, say, 12th place.
So, Earnhardt's and Wallace's Daytona winnings were based mostly on what they did in previous years.
O.J. custody
Q: What in California caused O.J. Simpson to lose custody of his children? N.N., Roanoke
A: His incarceration on murder charges led Simpson to sign legal papers in 1994 giving custody of Sydney and Justin Simpson to his ex-wife's parents, Louis and Juditha Brown.
The legal papers stated that "Simpson is entitled to seek termination of this guardianship and resumption of his status as a parent having legal and physical custody upon his release from incarceration.''
After the jury found Simpson not guilty on criminal charges in October 1995, the Browns tried to keep the children. They contested the custody in Orange County, Calif., where they live.
Simpson won the custody battle in December 1996.
For lawyers only
In Tuesday's column, I mentioned Virginia's forthcoming law that will require drivers to use headlights in the rain. I said a driver's failure to turn them on couldn't be argued as negligence.
Del. Creigh Deeds, D-Warm Springs and a sponsor of the bill, points out that a violation will not be negligence per se. That means lawyers in injury cases still can ask a judge to rule that negligence occurred.
Violations such as speeding or reckless driving are primary offenses that are treated as negligence in civil lawsuits. But if headlights remain dark in the rain, the driver won't be presumed negligent if he's sued.
Lawyers still can argue about it, though. I don't know how I could have thought otherwise.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Maybe we can find the answer. Call us at 981-3118. Or, e-mail RAYR@Roanoke.com
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB