Final Winston Cup Fling Set in Japan

BY HORACE BILLINGS
SALISBURY POST

RACING 'ROUND:

It's the last fling for the Winston Cup drivers.

Their regular season is over. Jeff Gordon is champion for the second straight year - and third time in the past four years.

But one last event is still on tap for some of the Winston Cupper - and it is in faraway Japan.

A number of the regulars are getting set for an exhibition over a 1.5-mile track at Motegi at 12:30 Japanese time on Sunday. But because of the difference in the time zones, it will take place on Saturday night USA time, starting at 10:30 p. m. (Salisbury time) and it will be televised by TBS beginning at 10.

It the final event on a three-year deal with the Japanese promoters.

Among those expected to race are this year's three NASCAR series champs: Gordon of Winston Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr. of the Busch Grand National and Ron Hornaday Jr. of the Craftsman Truck.

Also in the field will be Dale Earnhardt Sr., racing for the first time against his son.

Thirty-one cars will start the race, their starting positions to be determined by qualifying runs on Saturday.

Notably absent will be Dale Jarrett, who will be home recuperating from recent gall bladder surgery.

Driving the familiar No. 88 will be Darrell Waltrip.

TRAVELING MEN

NASCAR appears to be interested in staging Winston Cup exhibitions in foreign land in the future.

It has been mentioned that the Winston Cup drivers might go to South America for an event in the near future. A trip to Europe also has been discussed.

Stock car racing seems to be booming all over the world.

THE BIG STORY

What was the big story of the Winston Cup racing season?

Jeff Gordon might be the answer. The 27-year-old Chevrolet driver won the Winston Cup championship for the second straight time, matched King Richard Petty's 13 victories in a single season, and earned over $7 million, including two $1 million bonuses.

Dale Earnhardt Sr., could offer a big challenge with his first victory in the Daytona 500 at the start of the season.

Earnhardt, a seven-time Winston Cup champion, had tried for years - 20 to be exact - to win the big race. He had come close on occasions. In fact, he was in sight of victory a couple of times when things went bad for him.

But last January, the Kannapolis native drove his Chevrolet to victory, snapping a 59-race winless streak at the same time.

"This is for all of the fans who said, 'Dale this is your year.' The Daytona 500 is yours," said Dale Jr. at the time.

Earnhardt added, "We proved wo could win it. That question when am I going to win it will not be asked any more."

RACES TO REMEMBER

Two events to remember will be Ricky Rudd's victory in the boiling sun at Martinsville and Dale Jarrett's performance in the AC Delco 400 at Rockingham after suffering a gall bladder attack and spending four days in a hospital.

Rudd turned in one of the most courageous performances with his Martinsville win. He went the distance and almost had to pulled out of the car at the finish. He was exhausted. Rudd kept alive his winning streak of at least one race in 16 straight seasons.

Jarrett also had a performance to remember. He suffered a gall bladder attack during a race at Phoenix. He was taken from his racer and moved to a hospital for treatment.

Four days later, he left the hospital to go to Rockingham for the race. He came close to victory. He finished second to Jeff Gordon after leading 349 of the 393 laps.

He might have won if it had not been for a late caution flag. He was leading at the time and pitted with other contenders. Gordon beat him out of the pits and went on to win the race.

MARTIN RELIEVED

Mark Martin will not need surgery to correct a herniated disc in his back. He was scheduled to undergo surgery for that problem Wednesday.

A new MRI revealed that swelling of the disc had subsided enough to correct it without surgery.

"I was shocked when doctors told me I didn't need surgery," said Martin, who enjoyed a banner Winston Cup season in spite of the ailment. "I have some pain but it is not as severe as it was earlier this year. I hope it continues to improve so I'll be as good as new by February." That's when the new Winston Cup season begins.