ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 16, 1997 TAG: 9704160072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: AUTO RACING NOTES
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER THE ROANOKE TIMES
NASCAR on Tuesday fined Geoff Bodine $10,000 for ``actions detrimental to racing'' in the wake of his late-race incidents with Jimmy Spencer in Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
A NASCAR statement said the fine ``was a result of on-track actions and comments made during a post-race interview.''
Bodine became upset after he and Spencer spun when Spencer collided with him while passing on lap 423 of the 500-lap race, which was won by Jeff Gordon. Bodine admitted to running into Spencer's car in retaliation during the ensuing caution period. He hit Spencer again on lap 442, causing a crash that knocked Steve Grissom out of the race and left Grissom with a sore ankle.
Bodine said that crash happened after his steering broke, but NASCAR ordered him to park his car. NASCAR did not specify what part of the fine was assigned to which on-track incidents. As to Bodine's comments, NASCAR took exception to the profanity he used. Bodine has the option to appeal, but he won't.
``It's unfortunate what happened at Bristol,'' Bodine said in a statement released by his team. ``But NASCAR has made a ruling. We're going to abide by that ruling and go on from here.''
A FATAL CRASH: A truck driver's worst fear happened to Carl Simmons, driver of the NASCAR Busch Grand National transporter, just minutes after he pulled out of Bristol Motor Speedway for the haul back to North Carolina.
His transporter was center-punched by a speeding car full of local teenage boys that ran a stop sign on U.S. 19E about four miles south of the track. A 19-year-old boy was killed. Two 17-year-olds were critically injured. The 18-year-old driver was injured, but not as seriously.
The car hit so hard, it was demolished into and through the passenger compartment. Rescuers had to cut the roof off to remove victims, who were airlifted to area hospitals by two helicopters. One of the critically injured victims was hurled out of the car and onto the shoulder of the road.
It was uncertain whether the victims had attended the race, but they were coming from the opposite direction of the track. The use of alcohol was not suspected in the accident, according to the Bristol Herald-Courier.
Simmons, 48, of Mocksville, N.C., was unhurt.
HARM, BUT NO FOUL: Some fans were surprised when Rusty Wallace didn't complain about the tap he received from Jeff Gordon that forced him out of the groove, allowing Gordon to pass, and cost him a win in the Food City 500.
``Yeah, that's racing,'' he said Tuesday during the weekly Winston Cup teleconference. ``If he had crashed me or spun me out, that's one thing. But he just nudged me enough to get my car out of shape. I would have done the same thing, and if he was in my position, he knows that's going to get done to him. That's just the way it is.''
YOUR OWN CUP CAR: Valvoline, Mark Martin's primary Winston Cup sponsor, really does intend to give away one of his race cars as part of a national promotion in connection with his contract extension. The deadline for entries, available at Valvoline retailers, is June 25.
The car will come complete with engine and all the parts it raced with last year. It is valued at $100,000.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB