THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502120210
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER AND DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
The way things have been going at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR might think about looking for sponsorship for a ``cheater-of-the day'' award.
One day after Randy LaJoie's team was fined a total of $35,100 for getting caught with an elaborate hydraulic pump system to lower the rear deck lid, it was Junior Johnson's turn.
NASCAR hit Johnson with a $45,000 fine - the largest anyone could remember in stock-car racing history - after discovering that the engine on Brett Bodine's No. 11 Ford Thunderbird had been assembled improperly.
The violation was found during pre-qualifying inspection, and Bodine was not allowed to make a run for the pole. He will be allowed to run in the second round of time trials Monday.
NASCAR spokesman Kevin Triplett said the team had allowed an insert in the intake manifold of the engine to float free.
``It says on the Daytona 500 entry blank that any internal modifications to the engine must be welded into place,'' Triplett said. ``The inside insert portion of the intake manifold was not welded. It was free.''
Triplett said the insert ``is there to direct air into the intake. By not being welded, it allowed more air into the intake. That increases horsepower, which increases speed.''
Johnson, the car owner, was fined $45,000. Crew chief Mike Beam was fined $100 and put on indefinite probation.
Triplett said the size of the fine was ``a progressive thing.'' He said NASCAR announced last year that planned to increase fines on each successive major infraction until the cheating stopped.
Johnson and Bodine were unavailable and Beam declined comment.
Meanwhile, Joe Nemechek was fined $5,000 after inspectors found that he had cut ridges in the air-cleaner element in an effort to improve air flow. Nemechek's crew chief, Tony Furr, was fined $100 and put on indefinite probation.
THAT WAS SLICK'': Kyle Petty's reaction to the illegal apparatus designed to lower the rear deck lid on LaJoie's car was one of awe more than anger.
``I haven't seen it yet, but that was slick, that really took some engineering,'' Petty said. ``Most of the drivers are impressed, not mad.''
NASCAR levied fines of $25,000 to car owner Bill Davis, $10,000 to LaJoie and $100 and indefinite probation to crew chief Chris Hussey on Friday for putting a driver-operated hydraulic lift in the rear deck of their Pontiac.
In the past, the crew chief has been hit the hardest when such an infraction is discovered, but Petty said you have to look at ownership.
``The driver operated it - and the owner owned it,'' Petty said.
Petty didn't hesitate to admit that he would do anything to gain an adavantage.
`You figure that would give you about 15 to 20 more horsepower,'' Petty said. ``Yes, I'd do it. You do anything you can to get the slightest advantage. It's called the competitive edge.''
EARNHARDT'S INDY SUITORS: It was only a matter of time before Dale Earnhardt started receiving calls to run the Indianapolis 500.
Don Hawk, Earnhardt's business manager, confirmed Saturday that he had received numerous inquiries about Earnhardt running in the world's most famous automobile race.
Hawk wouldn't say just what dollar amount has been presented to Earnhardt. ``But money doesn't buy Dale Earnhardt,'' Hawk said.
Richard Childress, who fields the Goodwrench Chevrolets Earnhardt drives, said he would love to see Earnhardt run the 500. But, ``I haven't gotten any phone calls yet,'' Childress said. ``When they get serious, they'll talk to me.''
Earnhardt will be chasing his eighth Winston Cup championship and his first Daytona 500 victory.
``Pursuit of the eighth championship has to be the focus now,'' Hawk said. ``Winning the Indy 500 would be great; winning the eighth would be better. Winning the Daytona 500 would be better.''
PROVISIONAL RULE: As predicted here, NASCAR has made a further adjustment to its rules on provisional starting spots. It has increased the number of teams eligible to use provisionals from the top 35 in car owner points to the top 40.
CALE AND RCA: Just as quickly as Fingerhut disappeared as the sponsor of Cale Yarborough's Ford, RCA arrived.
Yarborough, who has Jeremy Mayfield as his driver, had a year left (plus a possible option year) on his Fingerhut contract, but Fingerhut reportedly ceased all outside advertising to offset increased costs.
RCA, which had been talking with Yarborough regarding an associate sponsorship, stepped in as primary sponsor in a one-year deal to promote its digital satellite system. by CNB