THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506010571
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
As Hendrick Motorsports accepted crew chief Ray Evernham's record $60,000 fine without complaint, NASCAR offered no new information Wednesday and no explanation as to why it declined to reveal details about the latest cheating incident on the Winston Cup circuit.
Evernham and Jimmy Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports' general manager, also were not talking.
``I'm not going to make any comment. I might get in trouble,'' Johnson said.
All questions were referred to a Hendrick publicist, Dan Lowasser, who said, ``We accept the fine and there will be no appeal.''
While NASCAR would only say that it had fined Evernham for using an unauthorized suspension part in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lowasser identified the part as a right front wheel hub and said it violated NASCAR rules because it was too light.
``The part was not modified by our team,'' Lowasser said. ``It was a purchased part.''
Lowasser flatly denied speculative reports that the hub was made of titanium, a lighter metal than steel: ``I do know there was not any use of alloy or lightweight material.''
When asked if the hub had anything to do with possible use of a traction-control system, Lowasser said, ``The only advantage, if there was any advantage, was that it was a lighter-than-standard wheel hub.''
Lighter wheel parts take a load off the springs and shocks, thus allowing the car to go faster through the turns.
Lowasser also said that the wheel hub was not related to the mechanical failure in Gordon's right front suspension during the 600. That failure was what prompted NASCAR to inspect the wheel.
But NASCAR's actions in the matter left a number of questions unanswered:
Why did NASCAR wait until late Tuesday afternoon to announce a violation that occurred Sunday?
Why was NASCAR unwilling to reveal the identity of the unauthorized part?
On what basis did NASCAR decide that the violation was serious enough to merit a record fine?
Stay tuned.
A MONSTER LOOMS: The white cliffs of Dover Downs International Speedway are next on the schedule, and Michael Waltrip, for one, is not looking forward to the weekend at ``The Monster Mile.''
``Quite frankly, I was very surprised at the job they did,'' said Waltrip, who tested on the track's new concrete surface last month. ``The only concrete job I know is Bristol, and it's absolutely terrible. At Dover, so far the only compliment I can make is it's not rough. It's really smooth and they did a good job on it, but why anybody would elect to put concrete on a racetrack is beyond me.''
Waltrip said the new asphalt paving jobs at Charlotte and Rockingham have made for great racing at both tracks, but ``you can just forget about that this weekend. It'll be one groove - the same old deal as Bristol - and it's just not good.''
In any event, Waltrip said, his Pontiac and the Fords will be chasing the Chevrolets again.
``I know right now that the best cars on the racetrack are the Monte Carlos,'' he said. ``They're going to be hard to outrun no matter who you are. It's going to be awfully tough to win right now, with the Monte Carlo as dominant as it is.''
Waltrip said the additional spoiler height NASCAR gave the Pontiacs helped him as he drove to a third-place finish in the 600.
``I have to say it helped because I ran better than I've been running, and I didn't do anything different,'' he said. ``But I'm not exaggerating when I tell you the Monte Carlo is still a lot better car than what I've got to race with.''
For the Dover race, the Fords have been allowed to add a quarter-inch to the height of their spoilers, which will make the Fords and the Pontiacs equal at 6.25 inches. The Chevys remain at 5.75 inches.
Qualifying is at 3 p.m. Friday.
ROCK COLLECTING: Charlotte Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith said Wednesday that he wants to buy the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham.
Smith, the second-largest stockholder with 24 percent, told the track's board members that he is willing to pay $10 a share to become the sole stockholder. The track's majority stockholder is the DeWitt family.
``I am prepared to be quite generous and hope they will negotiate with me,'' Smith said.
Just last week, Roger Penske's company, Penske Speedway Inc., bought 50,000 shares. At the time, the primary owners indicated they would be seek out Penske for advice and assistance.
BERNSTEIN LEAVING: Kenny Bernstein will leave his Winston Cup team after this season and will sell the inventory.
Bernstein said the team will fulfill its obligations to sponsor Quaker State and complete the 1995 season. Hut Stricklin drives Bernstein's No. 26 Ford.
After spending 300 days on the road for the past several seasons, Bernstein said he wants to substantially reduce his workload, cut back his travel schedule and ``relax a little.'' by CNB