kat
09-01-2000, 07:05 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with Mike and his family! :(
Burton to sub for McLaughlin at Darlington
HIGH POINT, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2000)
Ward Burton will add to his duties at Darlington Raceway this weekend by substituting in the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division car normally driven by Mike McLaughlin, whose father is battling health problems.
"Mike's father has been very ill for some time and Mike needed to be with him in New York," George deBidart, owner of McLaughlin's No. 48 Goulds Pumps Chevrolet, said Thursday. "Everyone at Innovative Motorsports and Goulds Pumps are very appreciative that Ward is stepping in and helping us out. It is a difficult time for Mike, and hopefully with Ward filling in for him, he'll have one less thing to worry about."
Burton had originally planned to race in just the Pepsi Southern 500 on Sunday, driving his No. 22 Caterpillar Pontiac. But becase of his long friendship with deBidart, Burton agreed to also drive in Saturday's Dura Lube 200 at Darlington.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike, his father and his family," Burton said. "He needs to be there with them and make sure they are taken care of. I hope by me driving his Busch car that he can focus on what's really important -- his family."
Burton to sub for McLaughlin at Darlington
HIGH POINT, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2000)
Ward Burton will add to his duties at Darlington Raceway this weekend by substituting in the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division car normally driven by Mike McLaughlin, whose father is battling health problems.
"Mike's father has been very ill for some time and Mike needed to be with him in New York," George deBidart, owner of McLaughlin's No. 48 Goulds Pumps Chevrolet, said Thursday. "Everyone at Innovative Motorsports and Goulds Pumps are very appreciative that Ward is stepping in and helping us out. It is a difficult time for Mike, and hopefully with Ward filling in for him, he'll have one less thing to worry about."
Burton had originally planned to race in just the Pepsi Southern 500 on Sunday, driving his No. 22 Caterpillar Pontiac. But becase of his long friendship with deBidart, Burton agreed to also drive in Saturday's Dura Lube 200 at Darlington.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike, his father and his family," Burton said. "He needs to be there with them and make sure they are taken care of. I hope by me driving his Busch car that he can focus on what's really important -- his family."