Deborah Renshaw underwent surgery Tuesday to correct problems from an earlier operation on a broken foot. She will miss next week’s ARCA race at Atlanta. ”It’s been difficult, but I’m trying to keep my sprits up,” Renshaw said. ”It seems like I encounter one obstacle after another.” Renshaw suffered seven broken bones in her right foot in a crash last October at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Three permanent metal screws were implanted in her foot, but later the screws began causing her pain. ”Some of my hardware came loose,” said Renshaw, managing a joke. ”The doctor decided the screws had to be replaced.” The surgery was performed Tuesday at University Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., where Renshaw’s original operation was done. Renshaw will wear a soft ”ski boot” cast for two weeks. The crash that sent Renshaw to the hospital with a shattered foot and concussion also claimed the life of fellow driver Eric Martin. The 26-year-old Renshaw was devastated by the tragedy. She spent the offseason recuperating, both psychically and psychologically, and returned to racing Feb. 8 at Daytona. She was scheduled to drive next Saturday in Atlanta, the second stop on the ARCA circuit, but her doctor recommended she skip the race while recuperating from her latest surgery. Renshaw said she hopes to be mended in time for the April 11 ARCA race at Nashville Superspeedway, the third stop on the ARCA tour. Renshaw made national news last summer when several male drivers at Fairgrounds Speedway plotted to get her car disqualified. In the wake of the publicity Renshaw was signed to a full-time Busch Series ride this season, but that deal felt through following her October crash. Now she is unsure what her future holds. ”I’m looking at some different options,” said Renshaw, who is attending this weekend’s races in Las Vegas. ”Right now I’m not sure what direction I may go in.”(Tennessean)(2-27-2003)
