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Japanese driver fulfills promise made to Earnhardt by racing at Dover
By JIM PEDLEY
The Kansas City Star
DOVER, Del. - Two things brought Japanese driver Hideo Fukuyama to Dover Downs International Speedway this weekend. OK, three if you count the airplane.
The first, obviously, was to learn about NASCAR and compete in the Winston Cup race.
The second was to fulfill a promise.
"I came here to make good on a promise to the late Mr. Dale Earnhardt," Fukuyama said through an interpreter Friday.
Fukuyama and Earnhardt met in 1996 when the Winston Cup series traveled to Japan to hold an exhibition race at the Suzuka Circuit.
Earnhardt saw Fukuyama drive and was apparently impressed -- so impressed that Earnhardt told the Japanese driver that he should come to America and drive some day.
Fukuyama said he would do that. And Friday was the day.
"My regret is it has taken so long to do this," he said.
Fukuyama will be driving a car owned by Haas/Carter Motorsports. He is scheduled to drive it twice more this season -- in late October at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and in early November at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C.
Travis Carter, co-owner of the team, said he liked what he saw in Fukuyama when he first saw him years ago.
Fukuyama will start last in Sunday's race. He was 42nd fastest out of the 46 drivers who tried to qualify Friday and got into the field on the final owner's provisional.
"I am very, very, very happy that I am finally qualified," said Fukuyama, who has the vast majority of his racing experience on road circuits. "We finished faster than four other drivers."
Carter had to petition NASCAR to get his new driver a series license. NASCAR granted the license but requested that Fukuyama not yet race on any track longer than 1 mile.
Fukuyama has raced in Japan for 25 years, but has actually raced a car on an oval track just three times -- twice at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan and once at Pikes Peak International Raceway near Colorado Springs, Colo.
He tested earlier this year at Dover for Haas/Carter.
Fukuyama didn't sound really confident after Friday morning's practice session.
When asked how he liked like Dover, he said: "It is a very, very difficult track and I have never experienced a more difficult track in my career."
Carter and Fukuyama say they would love to pair up again next year, with a big "if" being the determining factor -- if money can be found.
"We'd like to try to do something if funding can be raised for that," Carter said. "I think this guy can do the job."
Sounds like Fukuyama thinks so, too.
He said he would like to take a run at being rookie of the year next season.
"I'm glad there is no age limit on being rookie of the year," said Fukuyama, 47.
By JIM PEDLEY
The Kansas City Star
DOVER, Del. - Two things brought Japanese driver Hideo Fukuyama to Dover Downs International Speedway this weekend. OK, three if you count the airplane.
The first, obviously, was to learn about NASCAR and compete in the Winston Cup race.
The second was to fulfill a promise.
"I came here to make good on a promise to the late Mr. Dale Earnhardt," Fukuyama said through an interpreter Friday.
Fukuyama and Earnhardt met in 1996 when the Winston Cup series traveled to Japan to hold an exhibition race at the Suzuka Circuit.
Earnhardt saw Fukuyama drive and was apparently impressed -- so impressed that Earnhardt told the Japanese driver that he should come to America and drive some day.
Fukuyama said he would do that. And Friday was the day.
"My regret is it has taken so long to do this," he said.
Fukuyama will be driving a car owned by Haas/Carter Motorsports. He is scheduled to drive it twice more this season -- in late October at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and in early November at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C.
Travis Carter, co-owner of the team, said he liked what he saw in Fukuyama when he first saw him years ago.
Fukuyama will start last in Sunday's race. He was 42nd fastest out of the 46 drivers who tried to qualify Friday and got into the field on the final owner's provisional.
"I am very, very, very happy that I am finally qualified," said Fukuyama, who has the vast majority of his racing experience on road circuits. "We finished faster than four other drivers."
Carter had to petition NASCAR to get his new driver a series license. NASCAR granted the license but requested that Fukuyama not yet race on any track longer than 1 mile.
Fukuyama has raced in Japan for 25 years, but has actually raced a car on an oval track just three times -- twice at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan and once at Pikes Peak International Raceway near Colorado Springs, Colo.
He tested earlier this year at Dover for Haas/Carter.
Fukuyama didn't sound really confident after Friday morning's practice session.
When asked how he liked like Dover, he said: "It is a very, very difficult track and I have never experienced a more difficult track in my career."
Carter and Fukuyama say they would love to pair up again next year, with a big "if" being the determining factor -- if money can be found.
"We'd like to try to do something if funding can be raised for that," Carter said. "I think this guy can do the job."
Sounds like Fukuyama thinks so, too.
He said he would like to take a run at being rookie of the year next season.
"I'm glad there is no age limit on being rookie of the year," said Fukuyama, 47.
