And I hear from some readers that the Oct 25 Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a story: “ANGRY IRVAN TRADES JABS WITH IRWIN, YATES by Tom McCollister, Staff Writer
Rockingham, NC – “It’s been an interesting few days for Robert Yates, who’s had to balance the bruised egos of departing veteran Ernie Irvan and incoming rookie Kenny Irwin. Things reached a boiling point Sunday on the final lap of the Craftsman Truck No Fear Challenge and ensuing cool-down lap at California Superspeedway. The two drivers raced hard, door to door, bouncing off each other with smoke visible from contact. They took the checkered flag with Irwin half a truck ahead. Words were exchanged. “I gave him room every time that he got in front of us,” Irwin said. “Every time I’d get my truck’s nose under him, he had to get out of it [and back off the gas]. Evidently, he didn’t like it.” Irvan’s only comment was, “I’m not real happy about Kenny Irwin.” Feelings escalated during testing at Atlanta Motor Speedway early this week when Irwin knocked off the week’s fastest lap of just over 193 mph.
Irvan cut short his session and told Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Richard Sowers he was leaving, adding, according to others on hand, that the track was too fast and he would ask Yates to fire him at Atlanta so he wouldn’t have to race it. Yates viewed that as a tongue-in-cheek comment. “Ernie’s fine. He’s cool,” Yates said. Irvan had no comment.”(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) could not find story at their website, iRace also has some notes about the situation(10-25-97)
