SPENCER OK AFTER DARLINGTON ACCIDENT

 
DARLINGTON, S.C. (March 18, 2002) - Jimmy Spencer, driver of the No. 41
Target Dodge, was having one of his best days ever at the 1.3-mile
Darlington Raceway.  The "Lady in Black" however, claimed another victim.
Spencer was running comfortably in the top-5 all day and appeared to have a
car to challenge for the win before he was involved in a multi-car accident
that ended his day.
 
Spencer started the race in the seventh position and was slowly making his
way to front of the field.  By lap 90, Spencer found himself in second place
and had a car to contend for the victory.  On lap 225, leader Tony Stewart
was passing a lapped car and the two cars began spinning on the track in
front of Spencer, who had no where to go. 
 
"Somebody lost it and took Tony Stewart up into the wall," Spencer said.
"We all slowed down as much as we could, but that track is so narrow,
there's no room there.  We were just too close too avoid it.  I had a top-5
car here at Darlington and it's just too bad a lapped car got into the
leader.  That's as hard as I've hit in a long time.  I want to thank my guys
at the shop for the head restraints and the way they mount everything.  I'm
a little sore from stepping on the brake pedal so hard.  I hope that Tony is
going to be OK too."
 
Team Target was unable to repair the car to get it back on the track and had
to settle for a 36th place finish.  Jimmy Spencer is currently 33rd in
NASCAR Winston Cup championship points.
 
The Target Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team will travel to
Bristol, TN next week for the Food City 500.  The race can be seen live on
FOX beginning at 1 p.m.