Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: NASCAR drivers triumph in Nations Cup

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002 | 9:47 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

NASCAR Winston Cup drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson teamed with reigning Superbike world champion Colin Edwards to win the fourth Michelin Race of Champions Nations Cup last weekend in Gran Canaria, Spain.

The ROC Nations Cup features a series of head-to-head, rally style races to determine which country has the fastest drivers. National teams of three are made up of one rally driver, one racing driver and one motorcycle rider.

The USA team eliminated France and Spain before defeating Italy in the final.

The weekend proved to be an interesting one for Gordon, who took a wild ride on Friday while riding with World Rally champion Marcus Gronholm during preparations for the event. During the run, Gronholm clipped a corner and the car flipped several times before landing on its roof.

"I just wanted to learn from Marcus and I found out he was driving deeper into the corner," Gordon said. "He clipped one corner and the next thing I know we're flipping like we were in a sprint car.

"We come to a stop and he asks me if I'm all right. I just start yelling that that was one of the coolest things I've done recently."

Neither Gordon nor Gronholm were injured in the rollover.

Atwood drove in 34 this season in the No. 7 car which was co-owned by Evernham and Jim Smith. Smith replaced Atwood with Jason Keller late in the season, prompting Evernham and Smith to dissolve their partnership.

Todd Berrier, Green's crew chief this season, will remain at RCR to oversee its research and development program.

Beam has served as crew chief for drivers Kyle Petty, Richard Petty, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Sterling Marlin, Elliott Sadler and Craven since 1981 and his drivers have recorded three victories (two with Elliott and one with Craven), 16 poles, 55 top-five and 153 top-10 finishes.

Parker left the Roush Racing team at the end of this season to serve as car chief on the No. 38 Robert Yates Racing Ford, which will be driven by Elliott Sadler.

Busch will be in New York on Friday for the annual Winston Cup banquet, where he will be presented a check for $1,050,000 from series sponsor Winston for his third-place finish in points.