
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 20, 1993                   TAG: 9307200030
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.                                LENGTH: Medium

TEAM STILL PONDERING ALLISON'S REPLACEMENT

Robert Yates Racing has not picked a driver for Sunday's DieHard 500 Winston Cup race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, a team spokesman said Monday.

"I can't envision any decision until at least tomorrow," said Brian VanDercook, a spokesman for the late Davey Allison's racing team.

"It is usually midday Thursday when the truck [carrying the No. 28 Ford] would pull out," VanDercook said. "But I'm sure they would want to have a driver before that."

Teams aren't required to register at the track until Friday. Talladega is Allison's home track and a place that has brought great triumph and tragedy to his family.

Allison won three Winston 500s at Talladega. His father, Bobby Allison, won four times there and his uncle, Donnie Allison, posted two victories at the superspeedway, which is not far from their hometown of Hueytown, Ala.

Talladega also is where Davey Allison, 32, was fatally injured last week when the helicopter he was piloting crashed while landing.

Saying team members needed time to grieve, owner Robert Yates decided not to enter the No. 28 car in last Sunday's Champion 500 race at Pocono (Pa.) International Raceway. At an emotional news conference last Wednesday, Yates said the team would attempt to be ready for Talladega.

When Allison was injured last year at Pocono, Yates made excellent decisions in going to Bobby Hillin the next week at Talladega and Dorsey Schroeder the next week at Watkins Glen, VanDercook said.

"Everyone on the team is anxious, just like we are, to know who it will be," he said, adding that any driver selected to run this week won't necessarily have the ride for the rest of the season.

The Charlotte Observer reported Monday that there was speculation at Pocono on Sunday that NASCAR veteran Lake Speed, who runs a limited schedule with a team he owns, will be considered.

Sponsor Texaco Havoline, which has a contract with Robert Yates Racing through the 1994 season, "will have a say in the driver selection," VanDercook said.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB