
DATE: Wednesday, September 3, 1997          TAG: 9709030662

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   86 lines

EARNHARDT UNDERGOING MORE TESTS WHETHER HE'LL DRIVE AT RICHMOND THIS WEEK ISN'T KNOWN.

More details emerged Tuesday about Dale Earnhardt's harrowing sleep-driving experience in Sunday's Southern 500 as he went to an undisclosed hospital for more tests. No decision was immediately made as to whether he will drive this weekend at Richmond.

Don Hawk, Earnhardt's business manager, said it still hasn't been determined what caused Earnhardt to lose touch with reality and drive two laps around Darlington Raceway Sunday without remembering a thing.

``Obviously, we all want to know what caused it,'' Hawk said Tuesday on the weekly Winston Cup tele-conference. ``So he's gone to a hospital this morning. When the tests are completed, two of the finest medical institutions in America are going to take a look at the results. We're going to have more than one opinion.''

Hawk would not say what tests were being done, other than ``some things they weren't able to do at McLeod Medical Center'' in Florence, S.C.

Earnhardt was released from McLeod Monday and announced that he was ready to race. Hawk said Earnhardt returned home Monday ``ready to tackle the world.''

But his return at Richmond is contingent on the further tests, Hawk said. NASCAR spokesman Kevin Triplett said NASCAR will require a doctor's release in this matter.

``We're not going to put anybody at risk,'' Hawk said. ``The number-one thing here is that NASCAR, car owner Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt have to get a clear doctor's opinion and they all have to agree. Hawk said he and Childress had discussed possible relief or substitute drivers, but candidly admitted, ``There's been no one brave enough to discuss that with Dale at this point.''

One of the greatest concerns is Earnhardt's heart. His father, Ralph, died of a heart attack at age 45. Earnhardt is 46.

``I would not be telling you the truth to tell you that's not a concern, but Dale does not live in fear. . . . I've seen that concern only a few times, and this is one of those times.''

Hawk said Earnhardt appeared normal right up to the point when his wife Teresa kissed him as he sat in his driver's seat.

``He actually nodded off a little before the race and that didn't strike us as extremely uncommon,'' Hawk said. ``It's not unusual for Dale to doze off before a race or under a red flag condition.''

But Earnhardt dozed off a second time as the crew told him to start the engine. ``Right there, I saw something I'd never seen before,'' Hawk said. Earnhardt only spoke once during the three pace laps, heightening the concern in the pits.

``His voice was very unclear,'' Hawk said. ``Richard sensed the same thing I did. Richard was trying to get my attention to see if we could somehow get another pace lap . . . or just try to pull Dale in to get him out of the car.''

As they tried to do something, however, the green flag flew. Earnhardt, who started 36th, lagged back and then ran into the first turn wall instead of making the turn. He hit the second turn wall and continued slowly around the track.

``We had next to no communication with him until the second time he went by us on the backstretch,'' Hawk said. ``Finally, Richard screamed out and said, `Dale, park the car now! Stop the car!' ''

He said, `I'm sorry. I saw two race tracks.''

Hawk said he took Earnhardt's pulse as they took him out of the car and it was normal, but ``he was pretty limp.''

Earnhardt later said he remembered nothing about his time on the track. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos

ASSOCIATED PRESS

At Darlington, Dale Earnhardt ran into the first turn wall. He hit

the second turn wall and continued slowly around the track. He later

said he remembered nothing about his time on the track.

Dale Earnhardt

Graphic

WHAT HAPPENED

Dale Earnhardt fell asleep twice before the beginning of the

Southern 500 at Darlington on Sunday. He hit the wall twice on the