THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 6, 1996 TAG: 9607060514
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: 52 lines
Richard Childress made it official Friday: He'll field a second Winston Cup team in 1997 with Mike Skinner behind the wheel and sponsorship from the Lowe's home-improvement chain.
Details of the multiyear agreement were not announced, but there was speculation that the contract was worth as much as $6 million a year.
Skinner, 38, won the championship last year in the inaugural season of the NASCAR truck series.
There were rumors that other drivers were stronger candidates than Skinner for the ride, but Childress said that wasn't true.
``I had a lot of options. I just think we need new names and new faces - and he deserves the chance,'' said Childress, who also owns the Chevrolets driven by Dale Earnhardt.
TEXAS NEWS CONFERENCE: O. Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., said Friday that he'll hold a news conference in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday to announce ``things.''
Smith wouldn't say much more, but he left little doubt that he would be announcing at least one 1997 date for his new track, Texas Motor Speedway, which is being built outside Fort Worth.
The most plausible line of speculation has Smith announcing that the first Texas race would take place in March, occupying the spot normally filled by the race at his track in Atlanta. Atlanta then would take the April date traditionally slated for North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Smith wants a spring race in Texas and would like to have another one, too, although he apparently will get only one Texas race in 1997. But Smith did say he was not eager to have a fall race at the new track because it would compete with football, the No. 1 sport in Texas.
DRIVER TO YOUR CAR: Jeff Gordon was expounding on his pole-winning run in the media center Friday. In the back of the room, Darrell Waltrip and Dale Jarrett were waiting for Gordon to finish so they could start another one, hosted by Darlington Raceway.
Suddenly, on the intercom, a serious-sounding voice spoke up: ``Will Jeff Gordon please report to his car.''
Gordon cut off the interview and, on his way to the garage, passed a laughing Waltrip, who was holding the intercom mike in his hand.
KELLER IN NO. 27: The unsponsored No. 27 Ford Thunderbird owned by Arkansas attorney David Blair will make its return at Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400 with Grand National driver Jason Keller behind the wheel.
Team manager Mike Hill said Keller is signed for Indianapolis and may also attempt to qualify at Michigan, Darlington, Charlotte and Atlanta if there is no conflict with his Grand National responsibilities.
Elton Sawyer started the season in the car, but the team was unable to secure sponsorship and temporarily dropped out of the series after the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May. by CNB