Nelson Rumor Revisited:Circle Racing Online NASCAR sources say the current garage talk about the future of Gary Nelson as Winston Cup Series Director is heating up, yet again. We first got a rippling of a possible “promotion up and out” for Nelson at last year’s Phoenix Winston Cup race. Supposedly, his days were numbered until February of 2001. Well, it’s at tribute to his staying power (or the general infidelity of vile garage talk rumors) that it’s months later and Nelson still stands at the highest position in the Competition section of NASCAR’s staff. But that was before Dale Earnhardt’s death at this year’s Daytona 500. The resulting public relations debacle for NASCAR has lately revived talk of Nelson’s movement to a different position. The latest “best-case” version is that Nelson may head up NASCAR’s new safety R&D facility in Hickory, NC, and that other BGN Director John Darby will move up to take his place. Darby’s vacant BGN position would then be filled by current CTS Director Wayne Auton(Circle Racing Online)(5-15-2001)
