Скачать или смотреть Jeff Gordon 1990 Year in Review Episode 4

Jeff Gordon 1990 Year in Review
Episode 4 of 4

As Hugh Connerty had earlier promised Gordon, he began building a team with plans to run three Busch Grand National races before the 1990 season was over. Connerty's father-in-law was Leo Jackson, who was the owner of Harry Gant's #33 Skoal Bandit Oldsmobile Cutlass in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Connerty went to Jackson for help who in turned asked Andy Petree. Petree was Gant's crew chief. Petree did not want to lose focus on Gant, who was currently fourth in points, battling for the Winston Cup championship. Petree then asked Steve and Phil Barkdoll of Hendersonville, NC and Ray Evernham of New Jersey to help. The Barkdolls ran a NASCAR part-time team that only competed in a few races each year. Evernham was an open wheel modified driver in the northeastern United States and a former IROC (International Race of Champions) mechanic and chassis specialist in the 1980s. The Barkdolls and Evernham had all seen Gordon on ESPN in USAC and upon hearing that he would be the driver they immediately agreed to help.

Gordon thought at first that his initial Busch Grand National race would be in September at Darlington but plans changed. Connerty's crew of a handful of members including Crew Chief Evernham and the Barkdolls first went to Charlotte for a open test with Gordon and the #67 Outback Steakhouse Pontiac Grand Prix that had a rented engine. Evernham saw that Gordon was struggling and asked regular Busch Grand National competitor Chuck Bown to get in Gordon's car. Bown went faster in the car which helped Gordon. In October Gordon attempted to qualify at Charlotte but it was rained out which made points determine the starting field. With him having no points he had a second chance by transferring from a qualifying race, but while running in the top four he was spun out by Randy Baker and hit the wall. Randy Baker, Buck Baker's son, was one of Gordon's instructors earlier in the year at the Buck Baker Racing School. The Barkdolls after the qualifying race took the car to KLB Cars in Henderson County, NC who repaired the chassis so it could race again.

Gordon made his second attempt two weeks later and qualified second at Rockingham but wrecked in his first race. During the race Petree also sat on top of the pit box to assist Evernham. On October 27th Gordon was at Martinsville for the last race of the season but qualifying was rained out again. He was third quickest in practice. During the qualifying race he was involved in another incident and ended up breaking a crankshaft failing to transfer. Due to economic instability with the Gulf War beginning Connerty was unable to find funding to continue the team into the 1991 season like he wanted to. The team disbanded, the Barkdolls went back to working on their part-time car and Evernham went back to New Jersey.

Gordon had a flat tire during a heat race in Helmling's #4 Diet Pepsi Beast and failed to transfer into the Turkey Night Grand Prix on November 22nd, the last race ever held at Ascot Park. Brad Noffsinger who made it into the main event and his car owner D. Mike Kelly, let Gordon drive their car instead since he was the points leader. Gordon in the #4x Beast dropped out of the main event early, but ended up the USAC National Midget Series Champion at age 19, the youngest driver ever.

Tragically, 27 year old Billy Vukovich III in the #7 sprint car on Sunday November 25, 1990 died from a crash in turn 3 during C.R.A. practice at Mesa Marin Speedway. Gordon won the feature later that day. Kara Hendrick was also there, standing behind Gordon at 11:16. Hendrick later died in a 1991 USAC midget crash.

1990 C.R.A. #4 Team:
Owner John Bickford

1990 USAC Silver Crown Series:
DNQ
7 starts
5 laps led
3 top five finishes
5 top ten finishes
556 laps completed
Points: 5th

1990 USAC National Sprint Car Series:
4 feature wins
Points: 10th

Career USAC National Sprint Car Series:
5 feature wins
Points: 7th (1989)

1990 USAC National Midget Series:
9 feature wins (Night Before the 500 and Hut Hundred)
Champion

Career USAC National Midget Series:
11 feature wins (2 Night Before the 500 and Hut Hundred)
1990 Champion
1989 Rookie of the Year

1990 C.R.A.:
2 feature starts
60 laps completed
2 feature wins

Career C.R.A.:
4 feature starts
3 feature wins
4 top five finishes

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