THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 23, 1995 TAG: 9505230382
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Race-car driver Bert Culpepper is going out a champion, but it isn't his idea.
The veteran dirt-track driver from Chesapeake confirmed Monday that he is ending a 19-year career on area tracks because of a heart problem that forced him to cut short his last two starts at Southampton Speedway, near Capron.
Culpepper is the defending Late Model Sportsman champion at the track, where he won the last race he completed.
``I push a lot of things to a certain limit, but I ain't crazy,'' Culpepper said. ``I hate to quit, because I still enjoy racing and I haven't lost the edge. But I got to do it.''
Culpepper, 53, missed most of the 1993 season after suffering a heart attack during a preseason test at Southampton.
He resisted the wishes of his wife, Carol, and returned to racing last year to win the Late Model Sportsman title by 12 points over Mike Shearin. He was looking forward to making another run at the championship until the heart problem arose.
Culpepper said his heart rate accelerated from 70 to 170 beats per minute when his adrenalin began pumping just before restarts during caution periods, and he felt some pain for a few seconds.
``It really started in the first race of the season,'' Culpepper said, ``but we didn't have many cautions during the first few races. Then, in the next race, we had a couple of real quick cautions and it just seemed I was a little more intense than I had been. I decided I had better get off the track before I had the `big one.' ''
Culpepper sat out the next three races before attempting to return last Saturday night. His doctor had hoped to solve the problem by doubling his medication, but it did not work. Culpepper dropped out after 17 laps when the problem reappeared.
``I could have another catheterization, but I am not sure it is worth doing that,'' Culpepper said. ``The only time that I have a problem is when the race car gets my adrenalin pumping. It doesn't happen when I am exercising, lifting weights or playing golf. If it was bothering me when I was doing other things, I would go in for a catheterization.''
Culpepper learned his dirt-track skills by racing around his family's farm fields while a youngster, but he did not begin racing professionally until he was 34. He soon developed a reputation as one of the area's top drivers as he won races at Dixieland, Saluda and other dirt tracks. He won the Dixieland championship in 1988.
Culpepper said he would remain active with his team, adding that a possible replacement in the car is his son, Bert III.
``My wife is not crazy about that idea, but I think he would make a good driver,'' Culpepper said. ``He won the second race he ever drove in at Dixieland, but he hasn't been in a race car in five years.'' by CNB