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By KEVIN KELLY
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 28, 2001
Some will stay home, go the beach or relax on their boats.
But at least a handful of Winston Cup drivers will spend their last off-weekend of the season at the racetrack.
Rather than recharge for what promises to be a brutal 20-race stretch that begins with the Pepsi 400 on July 7 at Daytona and ends with the NAPA 500 on Nov. 18 at Atlanta, rookie Kurt Busch, who drives the No. 97 Ford for Jack Roush, will return to the Craftsman Truck series. He races Saturday at Milwaukee to help Roush understand why the Fords aren't winning more. Bobby Hamilton also will drive in the event.
"It's just another opportunity to go race another race car, to help out with Jack Roush's situation," Busch said. "He's given me more opportunities than anybody else has in my career, and it's wonderful to give back and help out and be part of this program."
NEW CHALLENGES: The SunTrust Indy Challenge on Saturday at Richmond International Raceway presents new challenges to IRL drivers.
Not only is it the series' inaugural event at the .75-mile oval, it's the IRL's first 250-lap race.
"Focus and conditioning are extremely important because if you do 999 corners right and miss on that 1,000th corner, those first 999 don't mean anything," said Eliseo Salazar, second in the points standings. "We haven't tested there ... but I understand that the track is tight and there is no time to relax."
Richmond marks the halfway point of the season and is one of six new tracks remaining on the schedule.
"I like that because it puts a premium on every factor of the racing team," Salazar said. "You have to learn fast and adapt quickly."
SPEEDY RECOVERY: IRL driver Robby McGehee, who broke his left leg in a crash June 9 at Texas Motor Speedway, wants to return in time for the July 8 race at Kansas Speedway.
"Everything is healing well," McGehee said. "I just got a new brace, one that will fit under my (driving) suit."
McGehee's rehabilitation has included stretching, leg lifts, strengthening and exercises in a swimming pool.
"I'm just trying to get out and move around every day," McGehee said. "I'm trying to exercise my (quadriceps) to make sure I don't wither away."
Davey Hamilton, who was hurt in the same race, has had a series of surgeries to repair injuries to his two broken legs and feet.
DAYTONA TESTING: Haas-Carter Motorsports was the only Winston Cup team that tested Monday and Tuesday at Daytona.
But neither Jimmy Spencer nor Todd Bodine were behind the wheel of the No. 46 Ford. Kirk Shelmerdine, a former crew chief for Dale Earnhardt now driving in ARCA, tested instead.
Owner Travis Carter is not sure whether he will try to run a third entry in the Pepsi 400.
"We want to run it sometime, but I doubt it would be ready for the Pepsi race," Carter said. "Perhaps Talladega (in October)."
If Carter decides to field a third car this year, Shelmerdine might not be its driver. Three-time Winston Cup champ Darrell Waltrip, who finished his career with the team last season, has been mentioned. Waltrip is available now that Fox's portion of the NASCAR broadcast schedule is over.
ODDS AND ENDS: Defending NHRA Pro Stock Bike champion Angelle Savoie has 17 career wins, one shy of Shirley Muldowney for the most by a female in the NHRA. ... CART points leader Kenny Brack started 15th and finished second in the Cleveland Grand Prix last season. He has yet to win on a road course. ... Michael Andretti, third in the CART standings, has one win and three seconds in 16 Cleveland races. ... Phoenix International Raceway hopes Outback Steakhouse will take over sponsorship of its Oct. 28 Winston Cup race. Dura Lube, which paid $3-million in 1999 to sponsor the race for three years, pulled out recently and will be get out of racing.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.