THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 28, 1995 TAG: 9511280441
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: STATESVILLE, N.C. LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
An Iredell County Superior Court judge Monday agreed to issue a preliminary injunction for NASCAR driver/owner Ricky Rudd to prevent his former team engineer from working for car owner Felix Sabates in 1996, Rudd's attorney said.
But the engineer, David Charpentier, said there is still a question as to how broad the injunction will be. Charpentier said his attorneys are trying to prevent it from including all forms of racing work.
Rudd sued Charpentier and Sabates when Charpentier made plans to leave Rudd and join Sabates despite reaching an agreement on a contract to work for Rudd in 1996.
Judge Douglas Albright indicated that the order would enjoin Charpentier from providing engineering support ``to any Winston Cup team or any person in 1996,'' said Jim Walsh, one of Rudd's Richmond-based attorneys.
No trial date has been set.
The case has generated interest because it's almost unheard of for NASCAR drivers and owners to take their disputes to court. But Rudd became fed up with what he perceives to be rampant team-raiding among Winston Cup operations.
Charpentier, who was an independent contractor as opposed to a full-time Rudd employee, said he worked with many other race teams on other projects while also providing engineering support to Rudd in 1995. Charpentier said his attorneys are fighting to allow him to continue that kind of work. by CNB