Monday, May 26, 2003
Diversity is goal for owner Gibbs, White
NASCAR notebook
Enquirer news services
NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs and ex-NFL star Reggie White are looking for a few good men. Specifically, young, talented, African-Americans who want to become NASCAR drivers.
Gibbs recently added a Late Model division to his Winston Cup and Busch Series organization. He and White have set about to identify, audition, and employ drivers for their Late Model teams. They didn't say whites and Hispanics need not apply, but his inference was clear.
"We're looking for a few 16- to 18-year-olds to start in Late Models around here," he said. "That's the right level to start and we think some candidates are out there. We're not closing the door to non-minorities, but we'd prefer that African-Americans be our main push."
MAYFIELD'S WOES: A vote of confidence from car owner Ray Evernham was of little help to star-crossed Jeremy Mayfield in the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday night. Mayfield wrecked on the first turn of the 127th lap, crumpling the right front side of his car against the wall and finishing last.
"It hasn't been a good couple of weeks for the Dodge cars," said Evernham, whose driver Bill Elliot competed Sunday with a broken foot following a crash last week. "Jeremy is OK. He doesn't have any broken bones. ... It was a hard hit. The car is pretty torn up."
Mayfield was 30th in the points standings coming into this weekend and has not finished in the top 10 this year.
NADEAU UPDATE: Jerry Nadeau recently regained consciousness and began talking with his family and members of his No. 01 Pontiac team. Sources close to Nadeau say he'll likely be moved from Richmond within the next week or so to a rehab facility closer to his home near Charlotte.