THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 14, 1995 TAG: 9511140233
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA. LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
In the moments before the start of any NASCAR Winston Cup race, many crew chiefs have some final words for their drivers, as if they're embarking on a space mission.
Of course, drivers and crew chiefs can talk by radio any time, and sometimes they're chattering by the time one lap is completed.
But just before the green flag, the last words will often be, ``Godspeed and good luck,'' or ``Be careful,'' or `Take it easy now.''
On Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon all but had his first title wrapped up, and he clinched it when he led the 61st lap of the NAPA 500. Nonetheless, crew chief Ray Evernham's last words before the green flag were solemn, thoughtful and reflective.
``It's been quite a journey from where we started from,'' Evernham told his driver.
``Ten-four, and this is just another start,'' Gordon replied.
Evernham, 38, has seen many more seasons than his 24-year-old driver. He's been behind both the wheel and the wrench. His little boy, Ray, Jr., has battled leukemia. And, of course, he puts in those workaholic hours of a NASCAR crewman.
Evernham, too, was the agonizer on the team. He insisted on taking the blame whenever things went wrong. He stood up to waves of criticism after NASCAR caught him taking his competitive spirit over the line by using an unapproved wheel hub at Charlotte in May. He even beat himself up a little bit for the car's miserable performance Sunday (Gordon finished 32nd, 14 laps down).
It was little surprise, then, in the flush of victory, to hear Evernham say he was speechless. Too much water had passed under the bridge of his racing life to find the proper expression for this accomplishment.
But when Evernham searched for words, he found them.
``There's a lot of emotion,'' he said. ``It's a special day. It's a lifetime. It's changing gears in the dirt at Wall Stadium (in his native New Jersey). It's ups and downs and having to borrow money to get home from races. I really can't believe I'm standing here.
``Jeff and I are close. I'm able to achieve a lot of things I always wanted to achieve and couldn't'' as a driver. ``I achieve them through his eyes. I believe in destiny. We were meant to be together.''
It's ironic that the man responsible for the first meeting between Evernham and Gordon was the crew chief of Dale Earnhardt, who won Sunday's race.
``Andy Petree put us together,'' Evernham said.
It was back at the beginning of the decade, when Gordon was embarking on his Grand National career.
``The first time I ever saw Jeff, he had long hair and half a mustache painted on with eyebrow pencil,'' Evernham said. ``I had worked with the best drivers in the world (as a mechanic in the IROC series) and when I watched him go, he had it.''
When Rick Hendrick snatched Gordon from Ford and Bill Davis, Gordon had a special request. He already had a crew chief he wanted.
``I told Rick that Ray and I had something very special that you don't find very often,'' Gordon said. ``We clicked. I knew he didn't have the background of some crew chiefs, but I felt like that wasn't as important as how well we clicked together.
``I wasn't insisting, but I was pushing pretty hard. I wanted Ray to come along and I'm sure glad Rick Hendrick stuck his neck out for me.''
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ricky Craven edged Robert Pressley for the Winston Cup Rookie of the Year championship by 13 points. Craven finished 30th Sunday while Pressley wound up 41st, assuring Craven of the title and $25,000 bonus. by CNB