Sockwell in off-track accident

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NASCAR GOODY'S DASH SERIES

FEBRUARY 28, 1997

SOCKWELL RECOVERING FROM OFF-TRACK ACCIDENT

NASCAR Goody's Dash Series driver Brian Sockwell, of Brown Summit, NC, just one week after winning the Discount Auto Parts 200 at Daytona International Speedway, took a nasty spill off of his four wheeler Sunday, Feb. 23 in an off-road accident. As a result of the tumble, Sockwell broke three bones in the middle of his right hand and spent two nights in Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, NC so that doctors could attend to his injury.

Recounting the incident in a telephone interview from his home in North Carolina, Sockwell indicated that he was thrown from his vehicle when the rear wheels of the four-wheeler dropped into a drainage ditch that had recently been opened. "Actually I was pretty lucky," said Sockwell, "It could have been a lot worse." "When the rear wheels dropped in, I went over the front. I don't know if I got my hand caught between the throttle grip and the brake lever, or if I broke the bones when I put my hand out to break my fall. The funny thing is, I was taking it easy and trying to be real careful."

A steel plate had to be used to repair one bone that was crushed in the incident. The other bones had to have screws inserted to help them heal. Doctors attending to the driver indicated that Sockwell would be in a cast for a minimum of three to four weeks.

When asked what effect the injury would have on his driving ability Sockwell said, "It's going to be a little more difficult". "Shifting is going to be the biggest problem. I use my left hand mostly when it comes to, actually, steering the car and they can fit me with one of those Terry Labonte type casts so I can grip the wheel, but we'll have to work something out as far as being able to shift. The fortunate thing about all this is, I've got about three weeks to heal before Homestead. By then, the swelling should be gone and it shouldn't hurt as much. We'll be alright, it's just going to take some adjusting. We will be at Homestead and I will be in the car."

Further X-rays will be taken Wednesday morning to make sure everything is healing correctly. Until that time, no firm decisions will be made as to what direction the team will take to allow the Series point leader to compete. #####

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: NASCAR Public Relations, Tim Myers 919-552-5823 or P.O. Box 504, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526.

tm 2-28-97