| | Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. -- Ray Evernham was back at the track for Saturday night's Chevrolet 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
Not only that, he was in the pits, on the radio and running the show as Casey Atwood -- the 20-year-old driver he picked to drive for his team when Dodge returns to racing next year -- made his Winston Cup debut.
"It feels good. I love the people here," Evernham said during a break from working on the Ford that Atwood drove Saturday night. "I have a lot of friends in the garage area, a lot of familiar faces. You don't feel like you're part of it when you're away from it. It's great to be back."
Evernham won three Winston Cup championships as the crew chief for Jeff Gordon before leaving last year to work on the Dodge program. He'll also field a second team next season with Bill Elliott as the driver.
"It's good working on the car," he said. "It's like playing golf for me. This is my mental relaxation. I don't have to worry about the business. I don't have to worry about the travel. I don't have to worry about this or that. I can have fun doing what I like to do."
Atwood, in his second year in the Busch series, said he was a little nervous before qualifying, but more relaxed after making the race.
"I've got a lot of learning to do," he said.
Atwood started 35th and finished 19th, two laps down.
War of words
Jack Roush isn't one to absorb a pot-shot without returning fire, and he put his bull's-eye on Dave Marcis on Saturday.
During a news conference called to explain a device he's developing, the "Roush Ignition Interrupter System," Roush took exception to remarks made by Marcis and distributed by Chevrolet's public relations machine.
On the widely distributed quote sheet, Marcis said a brake switch Roush is developing is not new, and that drivers in Marcis' home state of Wisconsin had had access to something very similar 15 years ago.
"Why in the hell does Jack Roush think he's come up with the latest and greatest again?" the 33-year veteran said. "I'm sure Dick Trickle used those things when he was racing in Wisconsin. They didn't have 'em when I was racing up there, but my nephew used 'em in the mid-80s."
Roush's system measures pressure inside the car and shuts the engine down automatically if it senses the driver of the car has lost control.
"Dave is pretty much a loose cannon on and off the track," said Roush, the owner of five Cup teams. "I don't know if he'll be in the event. We'll likely have a better event if here's not here based on the way he's been running into people lately."
Marcis, the second-slowest among 47 cars in first-round qualifying, failed to make the field in the second round and went home. It was the 17th time in 25 races this season that he didn't make the 43-car field.
D.W. misses the show
Darrell Waltrip's farewell tour had another abbreviated stop on the Winston Cup circuit when the longtime NASCAR star failed to make Saturday night's Chevrolet 400 at Richmond.
Waltrip, who is retiring, was 45th of 47 cars in qualifying and had no provisionals. It's the fifth race he's failed to make this season.
Waltrip has six career victories at Richmond, tied for third
among all drivers, but hasn't won here since the fall race in 1985.
Overall, he has 84 career victories, but none in 243 starts since
1992 at Darlington.
Also missing the race were Robby Gordon and Mike Bliss.
And a short night for Michael
Michael Waltrip saved a bunch of cars from being lapped by Jeff Burton without intending to, only 30 laps into the Chevrolet 400.
Racing into the first turn, Waltrip lost control of his Chevrolet and slammed into the wall, bringing out the first caution of the race.
The car was towed away 10 laps later, finished for the night.
The race was the 453rd of Waltrip's career. He's never won.
"I was passing Wally (Dallenbach) and he pinched me down, but it's not his fault," he said. "I had such a great car. We had started about last and passed 10 or 12 cars. It's fun when your car will go like that."
Spark plugs ...
Pole-sitter Jeff Burton started first for only the second time in 214 career starts, but he's won 13 times. Brother Ward Burton has started first six times in 205 career races, but he's taken just one checkered flag.
Geoffrey Bodine started 24th in his 550th career Winston Cup race. He finished 41st after crashing 57 laps in when he was nudged from behind by John
Andretti. "He just turned me around and wrecked me," Bodine said.
"NASCAR didn't do a thing about it." | |
ALSO SEE
Gordon shines in lights, as Cup contenders struggle
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Ray Evernham praises his new team.
wav: 113 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Casey Atwood was happy to escape with a top 20 finish.
wav: 143 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
