THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 10, 1996 TAG: 9601100783
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress, unwilling to tamper with a wildly successful relationship, announced Tuesday that Earnhardt will continue to drive Childress' black No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo through the year 2000.
The agreement also includes sponsorship by GM Goodwrench, which has been affiliated with Childress in one form or another for 16 years.
``That's a long relationship,'' Childress said. ``That's lasted longer than a lot of marriages.''
Said Earnhardt, ``I've really not been much for change through the years,'' especially with a partnership that has produced six of his seven Winston Cup championships.
``We've got such a foundation and background together, I don't see any reason for changing,'' he added during a press conference at the Childress shop in Welcome.
All parties seemed relieved to have completed the negotiations, which began last February.
Earnhardt, who has driven for Childress since 1984, said he told Childress that before he signed another contract, ``I'd like to have some things happen, and he made them happen.''
Earnhardt and Childress wouldn't elaborate, but Earnhardt's business manager, Don Hawk, said it wasn't money.
Hawk said Earnhardt ``wanted GM to step up and do something'' to help sponsor his own team after he retires, and GM agreed.
Earnhardt's contract to drive for Childress was set to expire at the end of the 1996 season. That prompted talk that Earnhardt, who turns 45 in April, would make this his last year as a driver, freeing him to turn his efforts to becoming a Winston Cup car owner.
Earnhardt will still field a Grand National car, driven by Jeff Green, from his new shop in Mooresville this year, as well as a SuperTruck driven by Ron Hornaday.
Meanwhile, Earnhardt and Childress were scheduled to fly today to Japan, where they will take part in a fan appreciation day at the track where NASCAR will have a demonstration race this November.
PONTIAC HAPPY, SO FAR: The first two stops on Charlotte Motor Speedway's annual media tour on Tuesday were at the Pontiac shops of drivers Johnny Benson Jr. and Kyle Petty, and much of the discussion was about the new Grand Prix.
NASCAR this week granted Pontiac two changes it had been seeking for its new model - a 6.25-inch spoiler height and 3.5-inch ground clearance for the front air dam - and the Pontiac teams think that will help their cars.
``I'm hoping the new Pontiac is better than the (Chevrolet) Monte Carlo, but I don't know,'' Billy Woodruff, Petty's new crew chief, told reporters. ``We're at least equal to the Monte Carlo. It's great to know Pontiac is not No. 3. That title belongs to Ford now.''
But there's still a level of uncertainty. ``As much time as we've spent in the wind tunnel with the Grand Prix, you're never sure where you are until you get on the track,'' said Don Taylor, GM's NASCAR manager.
OL' D.W.: When the media tour stopped by Darrell Waltrip's shop next to the Charlotte speedway, the old veteran was as entertaining as ever, and feeling better than he has in years.
Just after the 1995 season ended, Waltrip had surgery to remove a foot-long titanium rod from the leg he broke so badly in a crash at Daytona in 1990.
``I got that restrictor plate out of my leg,'' he said. ``I don't limp anymore. And I can do the `Ickey Shuffle' again.''
Waltrip said he doesn't want to hear any retirement questions: He'll be driving for at least two more years and perhaps until 2000.
FORD DAYTONA TESTING: Only three Fords showed up for the first day of a three-day Winston Cup Ford practice at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday.
Dale Jarrett was quickest at 186.093 mph, followed by Wally Dallenbach in Bud Moore's No. 15 Ford at 183.337 and Bill Elliott at 182.775. Terry Labonte reached 187.669 in a Chevy last week. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Dale Earnhardt will drive for Richard Childress through the year
2000.
by CNB