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AP NASCAR Notes

Waltrip's rebirth fueled by new car, new number

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Posted: Sunday August 02, 1998 05:19 PM

Waltrip: "It's good for me to be back out there racing the way I want to." David Taylor/Allsport

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Darrell Waltrip's rebirth is in full swing these days.

The 51-year-old Waltrip, a three-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion, appeared to be on the way out as a driver earlier this season. Always loquacious, Waltrip was talking constantly about retirement and how he was going to end his long, successful career.

But the rebirth began when Waltrip was forced by economic pressures to sell the team he had owned since 1991. The new owner, Texas businessman Tim Beverly, promised Waltrip would remain in the Car, but temporarily closed down the team operation long enough to begin a major rebuilding process.

In the meantime, Waltrip was asked by longtime rival Dale Earnhardt to fill in for injured rookie Steve Park. Moving to the No. 1 car somehow reinvigorated Waltrip, who suddenly was like a young colt on the race track. He was competitive again, coming up with two top-10 finishes and often running among the leaders.

When it came time to move back to his old No. 17 car -- admittedly with an almost completely new crew, new cars and new owner -- Waltrip initially sounded unhappy about leaving the improving group at Earnhardt's team.

But, by the time he arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to begin preparations for Saturday's Brickyard 400, Waltrip was his usual smiling self.

"It's good for me to be back out there racing the way I want to," Waltrip said. "It's time to go back to my old car. People made it sound like a negative, but that's not my old car, that's Tim Beverly's car."

A big step for the team came when Beverly struck a deal with fellow owner Bob Hancher to combine their teams. In doing so, Beverly also got the big-dollar sponsorship he had been seeking. Tabasco, which was on Hancher's No. 35 Chevrolet, now graces the sides of Waltrip's car.

"They've changed the whole program," Waltrip said. "We talked and decided maybe we should change the number on the car so people don't think I'm back in the old car."

"We're taking the best part of both teams," Beverly said. "Bob Hancher will be the director of motor sports and will have an ownership position in the team."

Beverly said the deal with Tabasco runs through 1999, with an option for 2000, and includes Waltrip.

"That's fine with me," Waltrip said. "I'm not ready for retirement just yet."

New commish

Charles D. Strang has been named commissioner for NASCAR, succeeding Semon E. "Bunky" Knudsen, who died July 6.

Although his services are only rarely needed, the NASCAR commissioner is the final authority for any appeals regarding rules violations, specifications, entry blank items or discipline.

Strang made his mark in the marine industry during a career that spanned four decades and includes such accomplishments as the invention of the modern day stern drive power system and the evolution of the higher horsepower outboard motors.

His connection with NASCAR began in the early '50s when he met Bill France Sr. through his position as chief engineer for Kiekhaefer Corp., manufacturer of Mercury outboard motors. At the time, Carl Kiekhaefer owned one of the top teams on NASCAR's Winston Cup circuit.

Intimidator on screen

Dale Earnhardt plays a cameo role in the "BASEketball," a feature film which premiered Friday.

The movie is produced and directed by David Zucker, who gained notoriety from his comedy films, "Airplane" and "Naked Gun."

The new movie is a comedy about professional sports and also includes appearances by Bob Costas and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In his role, Earnhardt is featured as a washed-up race car driver who now drives a taxicab for a living. Earnhardt drives actress Yasmin Bleeth, formerly of the TV series "Baywatch," and a dozen children through the streets of Los Angeles.

The scene was filmed in February the week after the seven-time Winston Cup champion won the Daytona 500.

"When we first arrived on the set, the crew stopped what they were doing and started applauding and congratulating me on the win," Earnhardt said. "I guess they all got together on Sunday and watched the race. It was very flattering."

Just another race?

Everyone agrees that the Brickyard 400 is something special, with the biggest purse in NASCAR (expected to top $5 million) and being run at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

But despite all that, for some of the drivers, the fifth running of the event was more like just another race on the 33-car schedule.

"I think most of the drivers have run two or three races here, so it's kind of a natural deal now," Jeremy Mayfield said. "It's not like we still get overwhelmed with it because it's one of the tracks on the circuit now.

"I think we pretty much treat it as serious as any other race that we go to, but not any more. When we were in Pocono last week, we were just as focused and serious to win and run good as we are at Indy this week. You've got to be focused week-in and week-out.

"But it is pretty awesome to run at Indy because of that history that it has."

STAT OF THE WEEK

Prior to Saturday's race at Indy, Bill Elliott was the only driver who had finished among the top 10 in each of the first four Brickyard 400s. The former Winston Cup champion had finished third, fourth, 10th and eighth.  

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