Wally Wins, well sort of: NASCAR driver and broadcaster Wally Dallenbach won an $11.3 million court judgment Wednesday against his former race team owner in a breach-of-contract lawsuit. Dallenbach sued Darwin Oordt, head of Galaxy Motorsports, in Mecklenburg Superior Court last year, accusing the Tennessee-based team owner of reneging on a multimillion-dollar racing contract. Superior Court Judge Susan Taylor issued the $11.3million judgment against Oordt on Wednesday after he failed to show up Monday for a one-day bench trial. “I’m glad it’s over,” Dallenbach said. “I think the judgment speaks for itself.” Oordt didn’t immediately return a message left at the Murfreesboro, Tenn., number listed in his name. His lawyer, Wilbur Linton Jr. of High Point, issued a statement. “Mr. Oordt chose not to defend the case based upon financial reasons,” the statement said. “It would not matter if it was $1million or $11million. Not a penny will be paid.” It wasn’t clear how Oordt intended to avoid payment. “We intend to vigorously pursue collection efforts,” said Dallenbach’s attorney, John Buric of Charlotte. “Literally at the 11th hour the defendant decided not to come to court. It’s indicative of the way this man has conducted his personal life.” Dallenbach said he signed a three-year guaranteed contract in 1999 with Galaxy Motorsports worth at least $3.6million. Oordt stopped paying him his monthly installments in January 2001, the suit said. Oordt, who bought the team in 1999, suspended his Winston Cup operation last year after failing to find a sponsor. Dallenbach did race commentary for NBC and TNT for the second half of last season. Buric argued that the driver could have signed on with other teams, but that Oordt led him to believe new sponsors were lined up. “You can’t give somebody a three-year dream and after a year shut the doors and say everybody go home,” Dallenbach said. “They didn’t do their homework, and the rest of the team and I paid for it.” Dallenbach said he is still hoping to return to racing, but NASCAR’s youth movement makes it difficult for a 38-year-old driver to get a ride.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(5-23-2002)
