In brief: McGriff, 81, finishes 13th
Ever the gentleman, Hershel McGriff was good-natured about finishing 13th in a national NASCAR series race at age 81.
“My competition was faster,” he deadpanned.
Although he certainly would have taken a victory, McGriff seemed nevertheless pleased with his showing in the Bi-Mart Salute to the Troops 125 on the road course at Portland International Raceway, part of the NASCAR Camping World West Series.
Jim Inglebright of Fairfield, Calif., won the race, which featured a late caution for a green-white-checkered finish. He edged fellow Californian Greg Pursley, who slipped partially off track on the final turn.
McGriff was the defending champion in Portland, winning the only other time the series – then known as Winston West – visited the track in 1986.
The odds were against him before the race started. Although he automatically qualified as one of 26 drivers in a race that had 28 spots, he had to start at the back of the pack and one lap down because of changes he made to the car after the qualifying session. He replaced the carburetor.
“I really didn’t have a lot to lose,” he said. “I did not want to go out there and flop around.”
Associated Press
Woman takes one on head from Texans QB
Sally Capehart learned first hand the dangers of attending a celebrity golf tournament. She was watching from about 10 yards left of the par-3, 17th green bordering Lake Tahoe when the tee shot of Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub hit her on top of her head.
“Are you serious?” Schaub said as he arrived at the green.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea I hit somebody,” he told the woman who lives about 20 miles from Edgewood-Tahoe Golf Course.
Schaub autographed a golf ball for Capehart, who clearly was in pain for several minutes. She told paramedics she thought she was all right but had some ringing in her ears and went to the hospital as a precaution.
“It’s my first golf tournament,” she said, adding that she’d probably come back to another “if I don’t get hit in the head.”
Associated Press