WSS: Disbury Family Racing - Heywood to sit in for Shepard

17 January, 2003 - Former World Series Sprintcar Champion, Brad Heywood will return to the drivers seat of the Disbury Family Racing Eagle this weekend in the final round of this year's World Series Championship at Adelaide's Speedway City.

With their American sensation Jeff Shepard forced to fly home earlier this week the team phoned Heywood on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of him returning to the vacant seat for this weekend's event.

Heywood's answer was simply "I'll do whatever you want me to do, I saw that car run at Parramatta last weekend. Man it was fast!"

The 45-year-old debuted in the Advanced Linemarking/Dave Jack Paving Eagle last November at the same venue with a fine sixth place finish after recovering from a disappointing qualifying effort.

"I qualified bad, I mean bad last time in the car but we made up for it in the heats and the car was great to drive in the races. It had a lot of mumbo and the crew done a superb job setting it up," said Heywood.

"I had a lot of fun when I was in Adelaide last time and can't wait to get back with the team."

While Heywood is driving for the team this weekend team owner Darren Disbury is still hopeful that there is an opportunity for Shepard to reunite with Disbury Family Racing for next week's Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.

"Currently we have had no change from when Jeff first flew home earlier this week, we are taking one day at a time and by early next week we should have a clearer idea about the Classic," commented Disbury.

Upon the announcement that Shepard was forced to fly home earlier this week the team notified the Australian Motorsport Media along with track and series promoters that he would not be in attendance for this weekend's events.

The team apologizes for anyone who may be under the impression that Shepard will be driving at the World Series Final as advertised in the Adelaide Advertiser today (Friday 17 January, 2003) but they did everything in their power to notify event organizers of Shepard's departure on Tuesday.

-dfr-