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Notebook Ripken comes through as starter for Dover race
Updated: Monday September 24, 2001 1:36 PM
DOVER, Del. (AP) -- Backed by 140,000 American flags, Cal Ripken Jr. waved the green one that got NASCAR's wheels rolling again. The baseball great handled his duties almost as well as he's performed in the infield during his career with the Baltimore Orioles. With a clean sweep of the flag he sent a field of 43 on its way Sunday, a week after postponement of a race because of the terrorist attacks. Ripken, who retires from baseball next month, said before the race named in his honor at Dover Downs International Speedway that he was concerned about his job as a starter. He planned to get a little advice from NASCAR flagman Rodney Wise. "I'm going to pay attention as close as possible and exhibit the proper fundamentals," said the man who holds the major league record for consecutive games played. Ripken didn't want to consider dropping the flag. "I think that would be called an error in my business," he said. Ripken said he has been too busy in baseball to devote much time to other sports, but was impressed with the enormity of the event and enthusiasm of the NASCAR fans. They, provided with American flags by race sponsor MBNA, waved the red, white and blue as he exhibited the green to start the $3.3 million race. "Who knows?" Ripken said when asked if he would be interested in a role in racing. "This might grow into something. Next month, I'll be a free agent."
Crowd enjoys themeAlthough the crowd was more subdued than the usual NASCAR audience in the hours leading up to the event, it livened up when the prerace festivities began. The track presented a patriotic theme that went beyond the red, white and blue in the grandstand. Lee Greenwood warmed the spirit with God Bless the USA, his hit that became the unofficial anthem of the Gulf War a decade ago. Most of the crowd -- almost silent when the song began -- joined in while others chanted "USA! ... USA! ... USA!" as a group of fans unfurled a giant flag of their own near the finish line. Greenwood left immediately after the start of the race for New York, where he joined other performers in the patriotic celebration at Yankee Stadium. Tanya Tucker followed Greenwood, singing a medley of America the Beautiful and God Bless America, then the national anthem. "That was really exciting hearing Tanya and Lee Greenwood," race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. Drivers and crewmen, many wearing hats in tribute to missing police officers and firefighters, stood at attention on pit road. Each held a flag, and tears appeared in the eyes of many. Then the crowd roared one last time when track vice president Melvin Joseph gave the command, "Gentlemen, start your engines."
Rudd's bad bloodRicky Rudd had led 169 laps and looked like he was about to run away with the MBNA-Cal Ripken Jr. 400 until he was spun out by Rusty Wallace late in the race.Instead of winning for the fifth time at Dover Downs International Speedway, Rudd wound up third and filled will anger. He called Wallace "Rubberhead." Wallace, seen being pushed by Rudd after the race, didn't accept full responsibility even though he conceded he hit the leader while trying to stay on the lead lap. "He ran into me on the back straightaway," Wallace said. "I just stood on the gas and we got into each other in turn 4." Wallace said Rudd hit him last month in Bristol, Tenn. "His memory is pretty short," Wallace said. Aside from calling Wallace a name, Rudd left without further comment. But his crew chief, Michael McSwain, tried to downplay the confrontation. "It was just a couple of guys discussing the situation," he said. "One was happy with what he did and the other didn't like the way he did it." Goodbye DaleDale Jarrett won't win the Winston Cup championship unless points leader Jeff Gordon, Ricky Rudd and Tony Stewart have incredibly bad luck the rest of the season. Jarrett fell 421 points behind Gordon, and even lost the third spot in the standings to Stewart because they tangled on the 388th of 400 laps at Dover Downs. Stewart said Jarrett was trying to protect his position in the race and forced him to brake three times earlier to avoid a collision. Stewart finished fifth and Jarrett wound up 12th. "I really like Dale Jarrett," Stewart said. "He is not a guy I ever want to turn. I don't want to turn anybody."
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