THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 16, 1995 TAG: 9509160394
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STAN CREEKMORE, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: DOVER, DEL. LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
The agonizing wait is over. NASCAR has given Ernie Irvan the word that he can race again.
``He has been cleared to compete, period,'' said Brian Vandercook, publicist for Robert Yates Racing.
Irvan, who received the good news Wednesday, will not return to competition immediately, meaning he will not run in the MBNA 500 on Sunday at Dover Downs.
A news conference is scheduled for Tuesday, when Irvan is expected to name the races he intends to enter on NASCAR's SuperTruck and Winston Cup series. Speculation in the garage area is that Irvan will try to qualify for next week's races in both series at Martinsville.
Irvan suffered critical head injuries almost 13 months ago during a practice session at Michigan International Speedway. Doctors said at the time that his chances of survival were less than 10 percent. But Irvan battled back, fueled by a goal to return to racing.
NASCAR was cautious in making the decision.
``We've talked to some of the best doctors in the world on this matter,'' NASCAR spokesman Kevin Triplett said. ``We've talked to doctors to interpret the language supplied by Irvan's doctors to NASCAR.'' by CNB