Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991 TAG: 9102220012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"This is pretty emotional. It's really hard to believe," Shepherd, one of stock car racing's hard-luck drivers, said of his latest bit of good fortune.
At age 49, Shepherd is coming off his most successful year on NASCAR's Winston Cup circuit. He finished fifth in the points and won nearly $667,000. Both are career bests.
He is back for a second season driving Bud Moore's Ford Thunderbirds and once again has solid financial support.
After 20 years of trying to join the elite in stock car racing's big leagues, Shepherd seemed to finally have it all.
Then Betty and James Campbell called Monday from their farm in Downsville, La., and now Shepherd has even more - $200,000 more, to be exact.
"There's no harm can ever come from being nice or doing something for people," Shepherd said.
In this case, Shepherd autographed a jacket for Mrs. Campbell several years ago. He doesn't remember the encounter, but she obviously did.
In addition to driving Winston Cup cars for Moore, Shepherd also has his own Busch Grand National operation.
On Monday, Mrs. Campbell called him at his home in Conover, N.C., and said she wanted to help him with his Grand National efforts.
Shepherd, who already has a primary sponsor for the car, told her there was a smaller sponsorship available in the range of $30,000-$50,000.
"She just kept saying she wanted to do more," he said. "Then when I told her I was bound to my primary sponsor for the whole year, she said, `How about $200,000?' "
Shepherd told the Campbells to meet him Wednesday in Rockingham, N.C., where he would be testing. The excited couple, accompanied by their secretary, showed up Tuesday and waited for him.
Shepherd took them on a tour of his home and racing shop. He asked if they wanted to draw up a contract, but they refused, opting instead to just write him a check.
"No conditions. Nothing. They told me I didn't even have to paint the name of their farm on the car if I didn't want to," he said. "She just told me to use my best judgment and put it to good use."
Shepherd said Mrs. Campbell's father owns 1,300 stores in a chain of discount goods stores.
"She said she had two heroes. One was Clint Eastwood, and the other was me," Shepherd said.
Shepherd will have the name of the Campbells' farm emblazoned on his car when they arrive for Saturday's Pontiac 200 Grand National event at Richmond International Raceway. The race is a support event for Sunday's Winston Cup race, the Pontiac 400.
It seems like a long way from 1984-85, a period when Shepherd drove for eight different car owners, none for more than five races.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB