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NASCAR-BGN: Sawyer's Accident Costs Him Spot in Points

21 October 1998

MADISON, Ill. - Barbasol Racing driver Elton Sawyer finished 38th in Saturday's CarQuest Auto Parts 250 at Gateway International Raceway after his involvement in an accident mid-way through the 200-lap race.

Sawyer, who started 24th, tangled with Joe Bessey, who was re-entering the race from pit road. Elton spun and hit the outside wall.

"I tried to give Joe enough room when he was coming out of the pits," Sawyer said. "Either I didn't give him enough room or he didn't give enough room, but we got the bad end of this deal."

Sawyer drove the car to pit road without brakes, and the Barbasol crew pushed the car back to the garage. The team worked feverishly to get the car back out on the track, and by lap 116 Sawyer was back on the track 22 laps down.

The mishap cost Sawyer one position in the points race.. Sawyer is fifth (3,257), Elliott Sadler is sixth (3,173/-84), Phil Parsons is seventh (3,168/-89) and Tim Fedewa is eighth (3,161/-96). Randy Lajoie, who finished seventh on Saturday, occupies fourth place, 35 points ahead of Sawyer.

Prior to the accident, the Barbasol car was in good form, as Sawyer moved from 24th to 17th with the first 22 laps. Sawyer was as high as 15th at the first pit stop on lap 78.

The next race for the NASCAR Busch Series is Saturday, Oct. 31, at the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, N.C.