1995 Past News and Sources
October
October 1, 1995
Craven Now Part-Owner Of Statesville-Based Team
Mike Owens - Statesville Record
On Friday, it was announced here that 29-year-old Ricky Craven, who is in his inaugural season as driver of the #41 Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet, has now become a part-owner of the Statesville-based team.
The team is sponsored currently by Kodiak smokeless tobacco.
“It is our desire to have Ricky Craven as our driver for the remainder of his career in Winston Cup racing. In the year he has been with our team, he has proven his unique talents as a race car driver, and he has demonstrated strong leadership and organizational abilities as well. He is determined to succeed,” Hedrick said.
“We want to use his talents not only as a driver but as a car owner as well. His keen knowledge of the ownership side of the business will be welcomed and very valuable in our efforts to achieve success in this sport,” Hedrick added.
“I appreciate the confidence Larry and Sue Hedrick have shown in me. This provides me with a great opportunity to focus my efforts in one direction in our attempt to become highly successful in Winston Cup racing,” Craven said.
“In order for me to get to the Winston Cup level, I have had to concentrate on learning all aspects of the sport, not only on driving and honing my skills on tracks, but also on the mechanical and business aspects. I want to utilize that knowledge, and any other skills I have learned, to help the #41 Kodiak Team improve and become a highly-competitive, top-notch championship caliber team,” Craven added.
While he now assumes his duties as part owner of Larry Hedrick Motorsports, Craven, a native of Newburgh, Maine., will continue to operate and maintain his own Busch Grand National team, which is based in Concord.
October 3, 1995
Successful Petree ready for new challenge
Mark Stein - Concord Tribune
If you list some of the best crew chiefs in stock car racing right now, one of the first to probably come up would be Andy Petree — and rightfully so.
After all, Petree has played an integral role in helping Dale Earnhardt wrap up the last two Winston Cup championships and at least a shot at stock car racing immortality.
But starting next year, Petree will embark on a new and unfamiliar journey. After months of soul-searching, Petree announced in August he was leaving Richard Childress Racing to pursue his dream of someday owning his own race team.
Thanks to some in-depth negotiations with Leo Jackson, owner of the Skoal Bandit Chevrolet driven by rookie Robert Pressley, Petree inked a deal that would have him assume crew chief duties for a limited time. After a couple of years, Jackson agreed to teach Petree the business of owning a team. Ultimately, Petree, once ready, will buy Jackson’s team and take over.
“It’s been one of my goals all along,” said Petree, who will officially step down as Earnhardt’s crew chief after the last race of the year in Atlanta. “I’ve always wanted to try and put something together to own my own team.
“This just happened to come up a little sooner than I expected. I expected to go another year or two, but the opportunity came up now and I couldn’t afford not to take it.”
Petree’s departure definitely was a surprise, especially when you consider the success he’s had fine-tuning Earnhardt’s quest to overtake the legendary Richard Petty for the series’ all-time mark in championships.
Earnhardt and Petty are tied with seven titles apiece.
Early in the year, it appeared The Intimidator was headed for magical No. 8. But that optimism has since faded with a series of unlucky breaks and the emergence of Jeff Gordon, who holds a commanding lead heading into Sunday’s UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Although things haven’t gone as well as he’d hoped, Petree is quick to end speculation that his announcement played a part in Earnhardt’s disappointing season.
“We haven’t let this get in the way of what we’ve tried to do,” Petree said. “This is something that’s going to happen next year. We’re focused on trying to win a few of the remaining races and the championship.”
Petree said the reason why he made his future intentions known so early was to give Earnhardt and Childress ample time to hire a replacement before the start of next season.
“It was announced early to give Dale and Richard some time to react to it so they wouldn’t be in a panic,” he said.
“As soon as it was clear I was going to do it, I felt like it was fair to tell Dale and Richard. I didn’t want to show up at the end of November and tell ’em I was leaving.
“That would’ve put them in a quandary. This way, it gives them a little time to react to it and not be in a panic over it. They were both very supportive.”
When Petree signed on with Childress, he said he made no secrets of his intentions of owning a team in the future.
“When I interviewed with Richard and Dale to take this job, we were up front about what our goals in racing were,” Petree said. “Naturally, theirs were to wins races and championships. Mine too. One of my goals was to win a championship as a crew chief, that was my reason in coming here.
“From there on, I told them my goal was to become a car owner.”
Petree says his focus right now is catching Gordon in the driver standings. But even he admits he’s running through the possibilities about his future endeavor.
“This is in the early stages and we haven’t decided on anything about how we’re going to structure the team yet,” Petree said. “He (Pressley) is coming along pretty good. He’s got a lot of talent. I’ve raced against him myself on the short tracks.
“I know what kind of talent he’s got. He won a lot of races on the Busch Series, and he’s learning these Winston Cup cars. He’s learning how to adapt. I think he’s going to be one of the up and comers in this sport.
“You can’t get any better experience on how to win the championship than with the Richard Childress organization. This has been very valuable to me. And I think that’ll be one of the key things I’ll take with me.”
October 5, 1995
Jasper Reorganization
The Roanoke Times
Former Winston Cup driver D.K. Ulrich has sold controlling interest in Jasper Motorsports and its Ford Thunderbird to Doug Bawel, president of Jasper Engines and Transmissions, the team has announced.
Driver Bobby Hillin Jr. also is involved in ownership of the team, as is Mark Harrah of Greensboro, a Jasper distributor.
October 6, 1995
Mayfield Stays at Yarborough
Tom Higgins - Charlotte Observer
Cale Yarborough revealed at the Charlotte track Thursday that he has signed driver Jeremy Mayfield to a long-term contract.
“Jeremy has proven himself to me,” Yarborough said. “He has progressed rapidly. Jeremy and crew chief Tony Furr are the future of Cale Yarborough Motorsports.”
Yarborough and RCA executive Joseph P. Clayton also divulged that the electronics company will continue as sponsor of the racing team’s Fords next season.
October 7, 1995
Veteran Crew Chief to swap racing teams
Hickory Daily Record
Friday was a good day for Bill Ingle.
The veteran crew chief helped current boss Ricky Rudd win the pole for Sunday’s UAW-GM Quality 500 shortly after the announcement that he will join Diamond Ridge Motorsports and driver Steve Grissom in 1996.
Ingle, who had previously said he would be leaving after two years with owner-driver Rudd to pursue other opportunities, will become manager of race operations and crew chief for his new team, as well as getting a chance to compete as a driver in selected NASCAR SuperTruck and Busch Grand National events.
It also was announced that the relationship between Diamond Ridge and Hendrick Motorsports has been expanded. In addition to its Winston Cup engine program, Hendrick will now supply assistance to Diamond Ridge in chassis building, testing and engineering support.
October 9, 1995
Johnson May not sell team
Mike Mulhern - Winston-Salem Journal
Meanwhile, Junior Johnson may not be selling his race team, but he may be willing to sell part of it…in stock, to brett bodine, according to sources close to Johnson.
And Johnson may be looking to move his Wilkes County team to another location. Johnson has ran the Wilkes County team out of shops behind his old homestead, which he began racing in the early 1950’s.
October 13, 1995
Broome moving to Rudd team, Veteran crew chief succeeds Bill Ingle
Tom Higgins - Charlotte Observer
NASCAR veteran Richard Broome, as anticipated, will join the Winston Cup Series team owned by driver Ricky Rudd at the end of this season, which has three races remaining.
Rudd said Thursday that Broome, 51, will become general manager/crew chief of the Mooresville-based Ford operation, succeeding Bill Ingle. Ingle is moving to the Diamond Ridge team and driver Steve Grissom.
Both Rudd and Broome are “alumni” of Hendrick Motorsports, although they weren’t on the same teams. Rudd’s crew chief was Gary DeHart. Broome led the team of Ken Schrader.
“Richard has been in racing a long time, is very respected and has a lot of knowledge,” said Rudd, the pole winner and fourth-place finisher in the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“I was … impressed with the job he did in a difficult situation at the start of this season at King Racing.”
The King Racing team, owned by Kenny Bernstein, began the 1995 tour with sprint car racing champion Steve Kinser as driver. Kinser didn’t adapt to the heavier Winston Cup cars, returned to the sprints and Hut Stricklin was brought in to drive Bernstein’s Fords, which became solidly competitive as Broome held the team together.
Bernstein’s operation is for sale.
Said Broome, a Charlotte native: “Ricky already has got a super team. I think I can add to that.”
October 15, 1995
Foyt to make run at Phoenix, eyes IndyCar, IRL, truck and Cup teams
Mike Harris - AP
A.J. Foyt is like one of those trick birthday candles. Every time you think you’ve finally blown it out, the flame pops up again.
The 60-year-old Foyt, who tried to come out of a somewhat tentative retirement and race in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis in August, fell short in qualifying, but is going to try again in two weeks at Phoenix.
The last of his 128 Winston Cup starts came in the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indy in 1994, when he started 40th and finished 30th. He has raced only five times since 1990.
He supposedly retired from competition in 1992 with a slow, tearful lap around his beloved Indianapolis Motor Speedway during qualifying for the Indy 500, a race he won four times.
But Foyt, who spends most of his time running his IndyCar team and sitting on a variety of boards in his many business interests, can’t seem to cool his racing itch.
“It’s just something I’ve wanted to do for a long time now,” Foyt said of getting back into a race car.
This week, Foyt took a couple of his 1995 Indy cars, a Ford Thunderbird, a SuperTruck and youthful drivers Frederick Ekblom of Sweden and Tony Stewart to Phoenix International Raceway for some testing and some question answering.
“I ran quite a few laps in the truck yesterday and it felt real good until I busted the oil tank and hit the damn wall,” Foyt said. “Actually, I didn’t hit it too hard. I just touched it. Didn’t do much damage at all and we were just a little off the track record.”
That incident hardly slowed the burly Foyt.
After going way too slow to qualify for this year’s Brickyard race in the first round of time trials — the second round was rained out — Foyt decided he might need some serious help to get the car prepared the right way for his next effort.
“We kind of got caught with our britches down at Indianapolis,” Foyt said. “I just hadn’t been keeping up with it and didn’t know about the tire rules. It was nobody’s fault but my own, but I’m not going to let that happen again.”
This time, Foyt called upon longtime friend Barry Dodson, who recently left Kyle Petty’s Sabco Racing team, to work as his crew chief for the Phoenix race.
“He flew out yesterday and my Indy crew and him are getting acquainted and working on the cars and the truck,” Foyt said. “Barry will get us some stock car guys to work on the car in the race because we need to have experienced people.”
Whatever happens at Phoenix, Super Tex, who is getting some sponsorship help from Motorola in his latest effort, is determined to do some more racing.
“We’re trying to put together a deal for a few of the major races next year,” he said. “We’d like to race at Daytona, Talladega, Charlotte, Atlanta, all the big ones.”
Meanwhile, on the Indy-car front, Foyt says he is trying to remain neutral in the battle between the established IndyCar PPG Cup series and the Indy Racing League, formed by Foyt’s godson, Tony George, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“We’re planning to run a car on both circuits,” said Foyt, who probably will run Ekblom in IndyCar and Stewart in the IRL.
Asked if a peace treaty between the open-wheel sanctioning groups is still a possibility, Foyt said, “Right now, I think it’s beyond the point of resolving it. There’s too much friction both ways.”
As for the 500, which is a major bone of contention between two warring groups, Foyt said, “I think they’ll all be at Indy.
“I know we’ll be there.”
October 17, 1995
Spam powers Selberg to join Speed racing
Sun Journal - New bern
Much sought Troy Selberg, currently the crew chief for driver Todd Bodine at Butch Mock Motorsports, apparently has an appetite for Spam.
Lake Speed, driver and team manager for Melling Racing, revealed Monday that Selberg will join the Ford operation that’s fed by Spam sponsorship at the end of this season, which has three races to go starting with the AC Delco 400 on Sunday at N.C. Motor Speedway.
Speed and Selberg previously worked together in the 1992 and 1993 seasons, when Speed fielded his own cars before joining the Melling outfit. Selberg is a 17-year NASCAR veteran.
“Troy was the guy we felt could come in and enhance what we have built to now,” said Speed, in his first year with Melling, which previously fielded Thunderbirds for former Winston Cup champion Bill Elliott. “Peter Sospenzo and Michael McSwain and all the guys have done a remarkable job getting us to where we are. Troy will take us to the next step.”
Speed, winner of the TranSouth 500 in 1988, lists two top 10s in 28 starts this season.
“I believe Lake can win more than a few races,” said Selberg. “My role will be to bring more organization and systems for them to work in and continue to improve. I expect this team to finish in the top 10 (in the Winston Cup point standings) next year.”
Going into the 400 at “The Rock” near Rockingham, Speed is 22nd in the standings.
October 20, 1995
Bodine almost an owner - Johnson says no deal “yet” to sell team
Mike Mulhern - Winston-Salem Journal
The fate of Junior Johnson’s Wilkes County race team is still up in the air as the NASCAR tour heads to the Sandhills for this weekend’s AC-Delco 400, the long-awaited first 400-mile race at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham.
Johnson insists that there is no “done deal” to sell his team to Brett Bodine, his driver.
But sources close to the situation say otherwise — that Bodine is far enough along in the negotiations to buy the team, that he has even had the locks changed on the shop’s doors and that the crew has to wait for Bodine to unlock the shop each morning and then leave promptly at 5 every afternoon.
If Bodine does wind up with the team, he is expected to move the equipment to another location, possibly a shop of his own in Mooresville. Bodine would then try to sell the shop itself and the land. Sources close to Johnson said yesterday that Bodine is already negotiating to sell the shop and the property to another race team. Bodine declined to comment yesterday.
The questions about Johnson’s operation have been heard around the garage for the past several months. Each time when pressed about the issue, Johnson, 64, has insisted that he is not selling his race team and not retiring from the sport.
Benson to Cup with Bahari
Mike Owens - Statesville Record
It was made official at the track here this week that Johnny Benson, a 32-year-old from Grand Rapids, Mich., will be driving the Mooresville based Bahari Racing Pennzoil Pontiacs next season. Benson is within striking distance of winning the Busch Series championship this year and will replace Michael Waltrip in the #30. Waltrip previously announced that he would be moving over to the Wood Brothers team next season.
October 21, 1995
Team Sale may deal Johnson Out of Racing
Tom Higgins - Charlotte Observer
Negotiations are underway on a deal that could take legendary Junior Johnson out of NASCAR racing for the first time in almost half a century.
Driver Brett Bodine confirmed Friday at N.C. Motor Speedway that he is discussing buying the No. 11 Ford team from Johnson.
Johnson, a hall of famer as a driver and among the most successful car owners the past 25 years, also plans to sell his No. 27 team to Bob Brooks of Hooters, who then would lease it to driver Elton Sawyer and crew chief Mike Hill.
Bodine, in his first season driving for Johnson, denied that he and Johnson have an agreement.
“The situation is that Junior and I are discussing some possibilities and talking about what our options are as far as the 1996 season and beyond,” Bodine said. “We are looking at all the possibilities and trying to do the right thing. It’s not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination. It’s something I’d like to do, and if it doesn’t happen, I’ll probably continue to search out other possibilities.”
Johnson’s No. 11 team is based at shops in Ingles Hollow in Wilkes County. Bodine owns a shop building in the Mooresville area.
If the deal goes through, where would Bodine base the operation?
“We have not totally addressed that situation yet, because we’re not to that stage,” he said. “But it is an issue that will need to be addressed.”
Johnson was at N.C. Motor Speedway briefly Friday, when rain forced postponement of all track activities, but left before he could be asked to comment on the possible deal.
Johnson was quoted in the Winston-Salem Journal on Thursday as saying he wanted to sell “the whole operation or nothing.”
Officials of the team’s sponsor, Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers, are also thought to be involved in the negotiations.
Earnhardt’s new Crew chief named…
Tom Higgins - Charlotte Observer
Richard Childress has promoted from within to fill the crew chief’s position on the team led by seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion driver Dale Earnhardt.
David Smith, a veteran of 14 years with Childress’ Chevrolet operation, is the new crew leader. Childress divulged his decision Friday at N.C. Motor Speedway, where rain disrupted activities leading to the AC Delco 200/400 doubleheader today and Sunday.
Smith, who has been an all-star jackman and also a mechanic, succeeds Andy Petree.
Petree is returning to the team owned by Leo Jackson that he served prior to joining Childress in 1993. Jackson fields Chevys for driver Robert Pressley.
“There were a lot of applicants for the job, and we interviewed many of them,” Childress said. “We decided we had the people in the shop to do the job — David and Bobby Hutchens.”
Hutchens, the team’s engineer, will continue to oversee operations at the shop and also take a more active position at the race tracks.
Smith will oversee activities at the speedways, including in the pits.
Smith and Hutchens have each been with Childress for all six of the Winston Cup titles Earnhardt has won with the team.
Earnhardt took his first championship with an outfit owned by Rod Osterlund.
Jimmy Spencer Returns to Travis Carter for 1995…
Tom Higgins - Charlotte Observer
Driver Jimmy Spencer will return to the Winston Cup team fielded by Travis Carter in 1996 and the operation will continue to be sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., through its Smokin’ Joe’s logo.
Spencer had been mentioned in some rumors as headed to other teams.
“We’ve struggled at times this season, but I believe we’ve turned a corner and will be more successful next year,” said Carter, who fields Fords from a shop in Yadkin County.
Carter said the team will switch to another engine-builder, Peter Guild of Pro-Motor, who also provides power plants for the teams of drivers Ricky Rudd, John Andretti and Todd Bodine.
“We’ve shown we have potential,” said Spencer, a two-time winner in 1994. “Now we need to turn it into some victories.”
Jackson Team, Mast, Going to Pontiac
Tom Higgins - Charlotte Observer
Team owner Richard Jackson and driver Rick Mast confirmed Friday what has been known for months — they will switch from Fords to Pontiacs for the ’96 Winston Cup season.
Pontiac is producing a sleek new Grand Prix model and Mast tested it recently at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“I’m pretty excited about the car,” Mast said.
“But we’re not where we need to be with it yet. There’s worked to be done, but we know the direction to go.”
Both Mast and Jackson said the switch mainly was made in order to get a long-term deal with a manufacturer.
“The new car presently has got too much drag,” said Mast, adding with a smile, “I’m whining, but you sometimes get help from NASCAR that way.”
Bud Moore Shutting down???
Mike Harris - AP
Another pillar of NASCAR racing, Bud Moore is considering ending his involvement in the sport.
Moore, whose current sponsor, Ford Quality Care, will move to Robert Yates Racing next year, says if a new sponsor is not forthcoming by December 1st, he will shut the doors of his race shop. Moore already has told current driver Dick Trickle he will not be back next season.
“You can’t survive anymore in racing without a sponsor,” Moore said. “We’ve got some possibilities, but if they don’t develop, well, I’ve told the guys on the team that I’ll close it down Dec. 1. I don’t want to, but ...”
The departure of Johnson and Moore would leave only Petty Enterprises and the Wood Brothers as links to NASCAR’s pre-modern era — before the schedule was condensed in 1972 — among the 1996 teams.
October 22, 1995
Hooters Buys One of Johnson’s Team
Goldsboro News-American
This weekend, Hooter of America, Inc., chairman Bob Brooks can exercise an option to purchase the No. 27 team from Junior Johnson & Associates, and, then sell the Ford Thunderbird team from Junior Johnson & Associates, and, then, sell the Ford Thunderbird team. The team’s current manager, Mike Hill, and driver, Elton Sawyer are among those interested in negotiating to purchase the team. Hooters is expected to concentrate its racing efforts in the American Speed Association (ASA).
All this will leave Junior Johnson only with his No. 11 Lowe’s Home Improvement Ford Team since the owners of the number 23 Smoking Joe’s Camel team with Jimmy Spencer are pulling out of Johnson’s shop with their own location.
October 23, 1995
Labonte Re-signs with Hendrick
Mike Mulhern - Winston-Salem Journal
Rick Hendrick has signed Terry Labonte to a new deal that lasts until 2000.
Lopez to crew cheif Stricklin
Mike Mulhern - Winston-Salem Journal
PHILLIPPE LOPEZ will be Hut Stricklin’s new crew chief on the Stavola brothers team, replacing Donnie Richeson. Mark Smith will be the new engine man for Stricklin and the Stavolas, replacing Dewey Livengood. Smith will also continue building motors for the Mike Hill-Elton Sawyer-David Booth team.
October 25, 1995
Bodine Hits financial Snag?
Mike Mulhern - Winston-Salem Journal
BRETT BODINE’S plans to buy Junior Johnson’s Wilkes County team have hit a major financial snag, say sources close to the negotiations. The dealings, whichever way things turn out, have certainly inspired the Johnson crew, and perhaps even Johnson himself.
Dean Combs, Johnson’s crew chief, says: “I feel like Junior’s been trying to bring the motivation back to the shop this year. The guys in the shop are more motivated. People are talking to Junior, ‘Hey, Junior, let’s do this, or that.’
“If the car doesn’t run well one week, we don’t just bring it back the next week. We cut it or try to find whatever we need to race with. I think Junior’s enjoying it. We’ve got Junior’s interests up in this:
“This stuff hasn’t really changed. It’s still the same, just more fine-tuned and computerized. It still takes the same things to get a car around the race track. Sure, I’m a new crew chief, but I’ve worked for Junior for years, and any time I’ve ever needed advice, Junior’s always given me a hand.”
Smokin’ Joe’s, Spencer stay put
Mark stein - Concord Tribune
Travis Carter’s No. 23 Ford Thunderbird will again be sponsored by Smokin’ Joe’s Racing during the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup season, with Jimmy Spencer returning as the driver, the veteran crew chief announced last week.
“We’re very happy that R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.’s Camel cigarette brand and Smokin’ Joe’s will be back with us next year,” Carter said.
“And we’re equally pleased that Jimmy Spencer will continue to drive our Ford Thunderbirds in ’96 as well. “We struggled at times this season, but we fully believe we’ve turned the corner with this team that we’ll enjoy considerably more success next year.”
Carter said that Pro-Motor Engines will furnish engines for Smokin’ Joe’s during next year’s campaign.
“I’ve kept my on (engine builder) Peter Guild and Pro-Motor for the past few years,” Carter said. “They do an outstanding job building engines and we’re looking forward to becoming of of their clients next year.”
Spencer, a two-time winner on stock car racing’s premier circuit, echoed Carter’s excitement.
“I’m thrilled to continue my association with Travis Carter, Reynolds Tobacco and the entire Smokin’ Joe’s team,” the 38-year-old Spencer said. “This team has made tremendous improvement since the first Talladega race this year. We’ve shown that we have potential as a race team. Now, our task is to take that potential and turn it into some victories. The next step is to become more consistent.”
Carter said that the Smokin’ Joe’s team will return mostly intact, though there could be a few personnel changes.
“We’re reviewing our entire program right now,” he said. “I foresee some changes from a personnel standpoint, but it’s too early to determine what changes that might be.”
October 29, 1995
READY OR NOT: Todd Parrott splits with Wallace for a shot at crew chief
Mike Mulhurn - Winston-Salem Journal
Todd Parrott leaving Rusty Wallace after 10 years has been one of the year’s biggest shockers on the NASCAR tour … and it has been a very emotional separation for the two.
“Ten years. It’s like getting a divorce,” Parrott said yesterday, sitting in the back of his new rig next to Ernie Irvan, his new driver. “Me and Rusty have been together longer than me and my wife. I’ve been with him, probably over the last 10 years, more than I’ve been with my mother and father. It’s been tough.”
So why leave to be Irvan’s crew chief this season and Dale Jarrett’s next season?
“Because there just comes a time in your life when you feel like you’ve got to do something different,” Parrott said. “My mind told me I needed to stay, but my heart told me I had to go do something else.
“I’m 31 years old, and I’ve got the rest of my life to do this. My dad (Buddy) is 55. I guess I’ve done pretty good the last few years, but I just wasn’t in any hurry. I know how this sport is: It will chew you up and spit you out in a hurry. I loved my job; I could have stayed there the rest of my life. I had security.
“But there was something inside that just wasn’t happy. I didn’t have that peace of mind. And I had an opportunity knocking at the door. There’s not but about four or five places I would have gone.”
One of those was Buddy Parrott’s new operation, owned by Jack Roush, with driver Jeff Burton. “Dad wanted me to go to work for him,” Todd said.
But Todd would have still been working in Buddy’s shadow.
“Exactly. But now I’m not a glory seeker; I just want to win,” Todd said. “If you’ve got a big ego, well, from what I’ve seen in the last few years, the guys with the big egos are the ones who are scratching and pawing at the fence right now.
“When I told Dad I wasn’t going to take his deal, he could tell in my voice I was up to something. He asked me what I was going to do. I told him I had a few things to think about.”
Parrott said he woke up at 3 a.m. the night before the Charlotte race. He told Wallace he was leaving the next Monday.
“It was really weird, like I was having a dream,” he said. “The good Lord told me, ‘You’re making the right decision. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.’
“So I went in Sunday to Charlotte knowing what I was going to do. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, waiting. It ate at me all day long. I tried to wait for the right time to tell Rusty … but there was no right time. You know how Rusty is, and me and him are such good friends.”
It was barely five weeks ago that Parrott began considering leaving Wallace, just after Ricky Rudd began his search for a crew chief. It quickly became clear there was a shortage of top-caliber crew chiefs on the circuit.
“This deal surprised a lot of people,” Parrott said. “What made it so hard was we were running so good.
“However, sometimes winning isn’t everything. I know in this sport winning is supposed to be everything, but there comes a time when you have to live, too. You’ve got to live a life. And there are some things that have bothered me, though nothing really major.
“When Dad left the team (at the end of ’94), Rusty and Don Miller sat me down and asked me what I wanted to do, if I wanted the job as chief. But I told them, ‘I’m not ready.’ I just wasn’t ready; I didn’t feel I’d get the respect from the other guys.”
Todd Parrott has long been known as one of the best No. 2 guys on the tour — quiet, hardworking and talented. Now he’s a No. 1 guy, and he will be in the spotlight every weekend.
“I guess the biggest asset I have is that I’ve had the opportunity to work with somebody like Rusty Wallace, to teach me everything he’s taught me about a car,” Parrott said. “It goes back to when my dad first gave me the opportunity to work on the chassis back in 1992. I’d been doing tires since 1984, when I graduated from high school, for Richard Petty, Tim Richmond and then Rusty. I’ve had some good teachers — Jimmy Makar, Barry Dodson, Harold Elliott — some of the best in the sport.”
Parrott’s first job is to get Irvan through the last few weeks of the season, then help the Robert Yates team set up its new shop and begin working with Jarrett.
“Atlanta will be a lot more of a test for Ernie, because he hasn’t run at those high speeds,” Parrott said. “So we’re going to test next week, and that will tell us a lot.”
Buddy Parrott is one of the best at calling races, so rivals will be watching to see how conservative or how gambling Todd is. His father is known for bold moves during the race, moves he hopes will force the competition to react.
“All I can tell you is I’ve had some good teachers and I’ve learned a lot,” Todd said. “And this is a two-team operation, and we’ll work close together.”
Irvan is confident Parrott can make the transition.
“Todd will work out great,” he said. “He fit in here right away, instantly. Larry Mac is a great No. 1 guy, and Larry will only be one radio channel away if Todd has any questions. So Todd knows he’s got someone to rely on that won’t give him any bull.”
Irvan himself is bursting with confidence about his chances today in Phoenix.
“The last time here I ran second to Mark Martin with this same car,” he said. “And we still have something to prove to ourselves and to everyone else. But we’re getting back in the swing of it, though we only have one race under our belts.
“I’m going to do the same things in this race I always try to do — get to the finish and then try to win. Yes, we could win; we had a shot to win North Wilkesboro, but we just missed the setup a little because I was a little rusty.”
There hasn’t been the hoopla surrounding Irvan as there was at North Wilkesboro.
“That was the comeback,” Irvan said, “and it’s done. But now I’m sure they’ll be waiting to see how we do at Atlanta, ‘Because he hasn’t run on a superspeedway yet.’ But with these mirrors, I haven’t lost any of my peripheral vision … though the depth perception is a little different because I don’t see as well out of the left eye.”
Irvan is glad the media hasn’t been as hard on him as he worried they might be: “The press could have taken this thing (his comeback) and run with it bad, but they didn’t. But this sport needs its race-car drivers, and if something like this has happened to anyone else, well, now I’ve shown you can come back.”