Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Race only matters on track for Adams

Friday, May 4, 2001 | 9:39 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand's motor sports notebook appears Friday. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Troy Adams may be the only black driver in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series, but the 32-year-old Southern California resident said he sees himself as just another up-and-coming driver.

"I don't see myself really as any different than any other driver -- other than the color of my skin," Adams said as he prepared for Sunday's StarNursery.com 250 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"But I do think my skill level in marketing and some of the other attributes our team is able to put forth may allow us to rise above the rest. I will not get involved in the race game because I don't think it's warranted; I just think there are these tremendous opportunities out there for a lot of drivers like myself."

Adams, who holds a degree in marketing from Cal State San Bernardino, began his racing career in kart racing as a result of his parents' ownership of the Adams Kart Track in Riverside. Although his early interest was in open-wheel racing, Adams said he believes there are more opportunities for minority drivers in the NASCAR ranks.

"As far as the marketing opportunities, I think in the past it may have been a tough way for minorities -- whether it be black, Hispanic or women -- to go into NASCAR," Adams said. "But I think NASCAR has seen the wave as far as financial gain and has opened up the door for us to actually play.

"My background is marketing and we're starting to partner and work with companies like NAPA, Grease Monkey, Prolong ... and their bottom line is exposure and return on investment. Since we're able to deliver that to a different market than most traditional racers, I think there's an opportunity here for a lot of different minority drivers."

Adams said team owner Clarence Broussard of Sylmar, Calif., intends to step up to the NASCAR Winston Cup level within five years and Adams wants to stay aboard for the ride.

"Mr. Broussard's dream is to be in Winston Cup within five years and he has started putting forth the steps to attain his goal," Adams said. "He has already stated he's going with or without me, so my plan is to stick right there in the driver's seat and go right along with him."

Adams said he likes his chances in Sunday's 250-lap race at the 3/8-mile Bullring after a successful test here last week in his CBA Motorsports Chevrolet.

"We had a very good test up there," Adams said. "We're a young team but it's coming along very quickly. Last year we went out to Vegas and qualified 16th out of 60-some odd cars ... and we're looking at Vegas to be a very promising event for us.

"Our goal from the beginning was to win Rookie of the Year this year ... and next year our goal is to go out and win the (Southwest) tour. I think (winning a race this season) is a realistic goal. I think there's always that opportunity to win ... and I would never count us out as far as a win. Never."

Gaughan, who finished third in his only other truck race this season in Bakersfield, Calif., had not planned on running this weekend's race until his father, Michael, purchased a Dodge truck from TKO Motorsports of Fort Worth, Texas.

"I'm really jazzed about this upcoming race," said Gaughan, who finished 11th last year at Gateway in a Chevy truck. "We're working with Todd Myers and TKO Motorsports. Todd and I have known each other for a long time. In fact, he was my crew chief for my very first pavement race.

"I'm also excited about being back in a Dodge truck; that was my vehicle in all of my off-road endeavors and we scored a lot of wins."

"I have probably run more miles at Nazareth than any other track on the CART schedule, and I've had a lot of good results there," said Tracy, who won the event in 1994 and 1997. It would be great to get Team KOOL Green's first win at Nazareth and at the same time win the last CART race there.

"We would score some big points and it would give us tremendous momentum heading into the race in Japan. We've got these three ovals in a row (Milwaukee follows Japan) and it's important to do well at each of them if you're going to contend for the championship." ...

Another Las Vegas resident, Jimmy Vasser, owns a victory at Nazareth in 1998 and has scored championship points in five of seven career starts there, including finishes of fifth in 1997, seventh in 1996 and 2000 and 11th in 1999.

Vasser has scored championship points in eight of his past nine FedEx Championship Series starts and stands fifth in the 2001 points standings.

"I was talking to Richard at Talladega and asked him if he wanted to be my partner in the second car at Indy this year." Foyt said. "Richard and I have been friends for many, many years and I know he has enjoyed coming to Indy in the past so I figured I'd give him a reason to come again. The difference is he'll be a team owner this year."

"Being involved in some way in the Indy 500 is something I've always wanted to do," Childress said. "A.J. and I have been friends for a long time and there isn't anyone else I'd rather be a co-owner with for that race.

"We have both been fortunate enough to get to Victory Lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and I think we have a real shot at getting there together this year with Robby, who is a very talented driver."

Childress won the Brickyard 400 in 1995 with the late Dale Earnhardt.

Eliseo Salazar is driving Foyt's No. 14 Harrah's entry in this year's 500.

Greg Anderson captured his first national-event Pro Stock victory by defeating two-time Winston champion Jim Yates in the Marnell & Black Pontiac Firebird.

Anderson, a former crew chief for five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson, was competing in his fourth career final round.

"My Firebird ran flawlessly all weekend," Anderson said. "I have never had a car that performed like this, but I couldn't cut a light worth a hill of beans (Sunday).

"When I got the win light I couldn't believe it; I was in shock. But I won, it's my first victory and there's nothing like it in the world."

Carmichael, who clinched the 250cc title two weeks ago in Texas, won his 13th race of the season last weekend in Salt Lake City and can tie Jeremy McGrath's records for most wins in a season (14) and most consecutive wins (13) with a victory in Las Vegas.

Pits will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and racing starts at 7 p.m. The event also will be shown live on pay-per-view. ...

The Goodguys Vintage Drag Racing Association will visit The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday and Sunday for its first of two appearances this year. Featuring more than 400 1972-and-older drag racing vehicles, the inaugural "Spring Nitro Classic" is the third stop of the five-race 2001 Goodguys West Coast Championship Series.

In addition to Top Fuel, racing will include Pro-Supercharged, A/Fuel, Junior Fuel, A/GAS, Nostalgia Eliminator and other popular classes. Qualifying will be held all day Saturday, with Pro classes scheduled to qualify at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday's final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m.