Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003092402
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
In an unexpected development Thursday, 49-year-old Winston Cup great Buddy Baker came out of retirement and agreed to drive the remainder of the 1990 Winston Cup season for longtime Richmond car owner Junie Donlavey.
"Of course, I'm excited," Baker said. "I walked into that shop and it was like I had been racing with those guys for five years. I can't wait to get going again."
Baker, a 19-time winner on NASCAR's ovals since 1959, hasn't driven competitively since the Talladega 500 in July 1988.
Two weeks later, at Watkins Glen, N.Y., Baker blacked out while practicing. Soon after, doctors discovered Baker had a blood clot on the brain, the result of a crash in May 1988 at Charlotte, N.C.
Baker, who eventually underwent brain surgery, then hung up his helmet to concentrate on running his team with business partner Danny Schiff. But the Baker-Schiff team failed to jell, then lost its primary sponsor, Crisco, at the end of the 1989 season.
Unable to secure major financial backing for 1990, Baker and Schiff closed the doors to their shop in January. In mid-February, they sold the team's shop and equipment to Charlotte businessman Bill Edwards.
Donlavey said Baker called him Wednesday after hearing that Californian Ernie Irvan was leaving the Richmond team to replace Phil Parsons as driver for the Abingdon-based Morgan-McClure operation.
"He feels like he needs to come back," Donlavey said of Baker. "This is his life. He wants to go at it."
Donlavey, whose operation has no major sponsor, said he hopes Baker can help lure much-needed financial backing for the team.
Donlavey said Baker would make his debut in the car on March 25 at Atlanta. He said the team will use an engine supplied by Jack Roush, owner of Mark Martin's team.
\ LUGNUTS: Irvan tested the Morgan-McClure car Thursday at Atlanta, but reportedly has yet to sign a contract with team owners Larry McClure and Tim Morgan. Dale Jarrett said Thursday at Martinsville that McClure also contacted him about the ride, but he has not heard anything more. . . . Steve Bird has been ousted as crew chief for Rob Moroso's first-year Winston Cup team. Bird is working for Grand National driver Steve Grissom's team this week at Martinsville Speedway. . . . NASCAR's Late Model Stock Car division will dominate today's action at Martinsville Speedway. Time trials begin at 1 p.m.
by CNB