Wednesday, August 07, 2002
Unser to return for Belterra 300
IRL star has missed 3 weeks for rehab
By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Kelley Racing and IRL officials confirmed Tuesday that Al Unser Jr. would return from alcohol rehabilitation to race in Sunday's Belterra 300 at Kentucky Speedway.
When reached Tuesday afternoon, Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Cassis had yet to be officially informed of the decision, but he was elated nonetheless.
“If that's the case, that would be terrific,” Cassis said. “From a competitive standpoint, it's a great addition, and we would love to have him back in the race.”
IRL spokesman Ron Green said Kelley Racing completed the paperwork Tuesday morning to put Unser back in the No.7 car, and that Kentucky Speedway officials would be notified by the close of business Tuesday.
Unser, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, will not be available for comment until Thursday afternoon at a news conference at the speedway, but the Kelley Racing team expects him to perform well despite missing three weeks.
“I don't anticipate any fall-off whatsoever,” said Kelley Racing general manager Jim Freudenberg. “With such a big burden off his shoulders, he may go out and kick everybody's butt.”
Unser, 40, rejoined the team Monday after voluntarily entering an undisclosed alcohol rehab clinic July 18. That followed a July 9 incident in which he was arrested after his girlfriend said he hit her in the face while drunk. Prosecutors chose not to file charges based on a lack of evidence.
“We didn't force him to go into rehab,” Freudenberg said. “He went in on his own, and we promised him we'd have a car for him when he was ready.”
Kelley Racing will put three drivers into the field Sunday, including Scott Sharp and rookie Tony Renna, who had filled in for Unser.
Unser's addition gives Kentucky Speedway one of the largest fields in the IRL series, Cassis said, and provides fans a chance to see one of the most popular drivers in any league.
“We could be approaching 27, 28 cars now,” Cassis said. “Plus he's one of the bobbleheads. We've got to have him here.”
The speedway will give out 15,000 bobbleheads Sunday of Unser, Sam Hornish Jr. and Buddy Lazier, the two-time defending Belterra 300 champion.
Sports Stories
Rockies 7, Reds 6
Reds Box, Runs
Reds will get help, Selig says
Boone thinks labor deal can be done
Mets co-owner says Selig inflated losses
Hamilton replaces ailing Dessens
Reds Notebook: Casey to test swing in Louisville
Bonds hits 599th homer
Braves 4, Diamondbacks 3
Phillies 5, Padres 4
Pirates 3, Dodgers 1
Rockies' Stark flourishes in Coors
Schott released from hospital
Indianapolis 8, Louisville 6
Dorsch gets new kicking orders
Bengals Notebook: Dugans catches break
NFL Notebook: Run-it-up Redskins irk 49ers
Unser to return for Belterra 300
