Racing notes: Nemechek win won’t give Sabates second thoughts

Mike Harris

Friday, Sept. 24, 1999 | 9:41 a.m.

Just as team owner Felix Sabates and Joe Nemechek prepare to part ways, the driver is starting to turn things around.

Too late, though. This season will be their last together.

Nemechek, who came to Sabco Racing in 1997, earned his first victory in 180 Winston Cup starts last Sunday in New Hampshire. It was also the first win for Sabates since Kyle Petty's victory in 1995 in Dover, Del.

"We made a decision and you can't look back on the decision you make," said Sabates, whose team also fields stock cars for Sterling Marlin. "I made a decision based on what I thought was best for my race team long term and Joe Nemechek long term. I'm not saying it did or didn't, but maybe that put a spark in Joe, a desire in him.

"I never had any question about Joe's ability. It's just that things were not meshing the way they should have been. ... All of a sudden we made the changes and he finished sixth at Darlington and he won at New Hampshire. I hope he wins two or three more this year. That would make for a great story."

Sabates watched the race on television in a suite at the Carolina Panthers game. Even though he wasn't there to celebrate with Nemechek, Sabates plans to reward the driver, who turns 36 on Sunday.

"He's got a big bonus coming," the free-spending Sabates said. "I don't know what it is yet. I gave Kyle a Rolls Royce and a motorcycle. I gave (then-crew chief) Gary Nelson a '57 T-Bird. I gave the crew a boat.

"Every time we win a pole or race, somebody in the race shop gets a watch. This year I've given away three Rolexes."

Although he says Nemechek and Marlin have a decent chance to win on Sunday in Dover, the outspoken Sabates will not be there.

"I'd rather drink a bottle of laxative than go to Dover," he said. "I don't like that place. I've won there before, and we always run good there. But it's too long a race. You go out and wear out tires and have a lot of wrecks and the purse pays nothing. They should cut it to 200 laps."

LONG ROAD: The Winston Cup competitors will find a new pit road waiting for them when they arrive in Rockingham, N.C., for the Oct. 24 race.

Construction expanding the pit road on the front stretch of the 1.017-mile oval to accommodate all 43 starters has been completed, eliminating the need to use the pit road on the backstretch.

"We feel that giving the drivers the opportunity to pit on the same pit road will add to the competitiveness of our events," said Joe DeWitt Wilson, president and CEO of the Rockingham track.

The new pit road has 45 pit stalls and is 1,436 feet long.

TEMPER, TEMPER: Sensational rookie Tony Stewart has proven to be quick on the racetrack and quick with his temper.

Several times this year, Stewart has become difficult or simply ducked out of interviews after having problems during a race.

"I always get in trouble when I lose, whether I blow an engine or get crashed or whatever," he said. "That's when I stick my foot in my mouth. Then everybody seems to be like a vulture flying over my head."

But Stewart, who is fourth in the season points after a victory and a second-place finish in his last two starts, isn't about to apologize for his actions.

"If I accepted losing, why would you want me to drive your race car?" he said. "There are times I get sick of being politically correct. I got into Winston Cup because I wanted to be a race car driver. If I wanted to be a politician, I would be in Washington."

STAT OF THE WEEK: Dale Jarrett, who heads into Dover leading runner-up Bobby Labonte by 254 points in the championship race, has found his stride on Dover's Monster Mile. After only three top-10 finishes in his first 19 Dover starts, Jarrett has now finished seventh or better, including one victory, in five of the last six Delaware races.