THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 3, 1995 TAG: 9506030200
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
NASCAR announced Friday that it would reveal more information about the cheating incident on Jeff Gordon's car sometime this weekend, after it completes its investigation.
NASCAR spokesman Andy Hall said Winston Cup director Gary Nelson also plans to display the ``cheater'' suspension part that led to a record $60,000 fine for Gordon's crew chief, Ray Evernham.
Evernham, meanwhile, said there was no mystery to the incident - he was simply caught with a part that was not approved by NASCAR.
Evernham said the part, which NASCAR still hasn't identified, was a steel wheel hub. He said it was not approved and he knew it, but he thought there was room for doubt.
``It was a regular old hub, period. It was definitely a steel hub. It was good quality aircraft steel. The way the hub is built, it has some scalloped pieces in it. It had less `face' '' than an approved one, Evernham said.
``We did not drill it, we did not lighten it, we did not touch it,'' Evernham said. ``We bought it from a manufacturer that is not approved by NASCAR and put it on the car.''
Evernham said he used the part as part of a broader program to try to remove weight from the car. ``We didn't do it in trying to break a rule,'' he said.
JONES OUT, HILLIN IN: Davy Jones has stepped out of the No. 77 Ford Thunderbird, sort of, and Bobby Hillin has stepped in.
Car owner D.K. Ulrich said Jones needs more experience and ``we're going to adjust his schedule to include either Busch or SuperTruck races or perhaps a combination of both,'' he said in a statement. Jones will also race in ``selected'' Cup events this year.
``I think this is the best decision for me as well as the entire team,'' Jones said in the statement. ``We're not where we need to be at this stage of the season.''
Hillin was 24th-fastest in pole qualifying in Dover Friday.
WALTRIP, GREEN SPELL PAIN: Both Darrell Waltrip and David Green are still feeling the pain of Charlotte.
Green broke his shoulder in the Red Dog 300 Grand National race on May 27 and Waltrip cracked three ribs in the Winston Select a week earlier.
Green was dismayed Friday when he learned that to be eligible for the champion's provisional in the Goodwrench 200, he had to attempt to qualify. He ran 43rd of 44.
Green said his broken shoulder bone, which has two cracks in it, is still ``sore, real sore.'' He said he'll start the race and ``go as long as I can'' before letting car owner Bobby Labonte take over.
Waltrip, meanwhile, has Jimmy Hensley back as his relief driver and expects to let Hensley take over during the first caution period. Hensley, who was nearly overcome by fumes at Charlotte, will have a new helmet that forces fresh air to him during the race.
Waltrip was 41st-fastest Friday in Winston Cup qualifying. by CNB