LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Feb. 5, 2001) Legendary driver Hershel McGriff made his return to full-time competition in the NASCAR Winston West Series in the season-opening NAPA Auto Parts NASCAR Winter Heat presented by Bosch at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday. McGriff started the grid in 23rd position and finished 14th in his No. 04 MBNA/Park Corp. Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
McGriff, who won the series championship in 1986, was hoping for a top five finish in the 150-lap race. After a disappointing 23rd place qualifying effort, the team, led by crew chief Chuck Carruthers, made some adjustments and was able to pick up the pace to tenth fastest in the final Happy Hour.
“We kept working on the car and we finally ended up with a combination here in the last practice session that was really working,” said McGriff. “We picked up our time and were running with the fast guys. I feel good about the car.”
In the race, McGriff moved to ninth on lap 49, and held strong in that position until a pit stop mishap on lap 118, when McGriff missed his pits and had to circle around the 1-mile track again. Upon the restart, McGriff was in 14th position, where he finished.
“We need to work on our pit stops a little bit,” said Carruthers. “We had the car too free in the first half of the race. But, all in all we had a pretty good day. Hershel was remarkably fresh at the end of the race.”
Back-to-back championship team owner Bill McAnally has hired McGriff, who turned 73 in December, to compete full time in the 2001 NASCAR Winston West Series for Orleans Racing.
“Hershel did a good job,” said McAnally. “This team came together late to make a February race, but we were able to put it together in time. We now have a great crew, a great driver, a great sponsor and have the equipment to be a championship contender. With the experience we have on the team, I know it will come quickly; we just need to keep working to gel the team. We’re looking forward to this season.”
The NAPA Auto Parts NASCAR Winter Heat presented by Bosch is slated to be televised on Fox Sports Net on a tape-delay basis.
