THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 11, 1996 TAG: 9603110133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA. LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Rick Mast and his wife, Sharon, found out recently that they will be quadrupling the size of their brood at home in Rockbridge Baths, Va.
Sharon is expecting triplets in October. They already have one child, 12-year-old Ricky.
``It's been quite a shock for us,'' Mast said Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway after dropping out of the race with a broken engine. ``We looking for a diapers company as an associate sponsor right now. Just think, we'll have the Hooters Ford with Pampers on the side.''
Hooters is the primary sponsor of Mast's Pontiac Grand Prix.
Mast said Sharon went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for an ultrasound test and it revealed three heads.
``I haven't reacted yet. I'm still thinking about it,'' he said.
As for Sharon, ``She's happy as a lark,'' he said. ``She's tickled to death to stay home and raise a bunch of kids. I think we're all going to go a little nuts. But it's pretty cool.''
TRAVIS ROY VISITS: Travis Roy, the paralyzed Boston University hockey player, was the guest of Ricky Craven this weekend and watched Craven drive his Chevy to a 12th-place finish.
Roy, who helped his father when Lee Roy was Craven's crew chief in the late 1980s, was paralyzed from the neck down during his first college hockey game last October.
``It was wonderful having Travis Roy with us today,'' Craven told Chevy's Ray Cooper. ``His spirit and courage are remarkable.''
NO CRASHES: There were three caution periods in Sunday's race, but not a single car spun or crashed. That led to a race with an average speed of 161.298 mph - and a lot of blown engines.
The drivers with engine problems were Mark Martin, Robert Pressley, Mike Wallace, Mast, Derrike Cope, Rusty Wallace (who led 36 laps), Kenny Wallace, Johnny Benson, Steve Grissom, Chuck Bown and Lake Speed.
A SENSE FOR TIME: Race winner Dale Earnhardt, who used a quick pit stop late in the race to vault into the lead, was asked during his press-box interview if he can feel the difference in a really fast stop and one that is, say, a second slower.
``Yes,'' he replied.
How?
``When they get that right side changed and they drop the jack before I'm finished drinking and it spills all over me,'' he said. ``I know it's time to throw the cup out.''
TUMBLING IN POINTS: Jeff Burton, who failed to qualify for Sunday's race and went home early, dropped from second to 14th in series points.
Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon, who finished third, jumped from 27th to 16th. And Ernie Irvan, who was fourth, went from 34th in points to 19th.
NOT HAPPY: Bobby Hamilton was none too pleased that NASCAR selected and confiscated his Pontiac Grand Prix for wind-tunnel testing today and Tuesday.
``That ain't by our choice,'' he said. ``We were wanting to test the car at Darlington, but they took it and we can't do anything with it.''
Also headng for the Lockheed wind tunnel are Rusty Wallace's Ford and Terry Labonte's Chevy, as well as three Grand National cars: Mark Martin's Ford, Bobby Labonte's Chevy and Ward Burton's Pontiac. by CNB