Watkins Glen preview notes

CRAIG T. NELSON SETS AUTOGRAPH SESSION

Racer/actor Craig T. Nelson will hold an autograph session on Friday, June 23, at the Watkins Glen International Pyramid souvenir store. Nelson, the star of the popular ABC Television series "Coach," is the owner/driver for Screaming Eagles Racing, and will make his Watkins Glen International debut driving the Screaming Eagles Racing Lexus Spice in Saturday's Glen Continental.

On sale in the Pyramid will be Screaming Eagles Racing merchandise, including T-shirts, hats, polo shirts and Henley shirts.

Nelson is coming off his best finish of the season, ninth at Lime Rock.

DEREK JOHN HILL LEADS FERRARI CHALLENGE

Derek John Hill, racing's latest second generation sensation, will be one of the drivers to watch in the newest race at Watkins Glen International, the IMSA Ferrari Challenge.

The 20-year-old son of 1961 Formula 1 champion Phil Hill, Derek John Hill won Class B honors driving a Ferrari 348 in the May 30 Ferrari Challenge race at Elkhart Lake, Wis., in only his fourth race ever.

With no Class A Ferrari 355s entered at the Glen, Hill will be battling for overall honors. George Robinson, a Texan with plenty of Watkins Glen experience in Trans-Am and IMSA GTU, is expected to offer his toughest competition.

MANY SECOND GENERATION DRIVERS TO COMPETE

Derek John Hill is one of many second generation drivers expected for the June 23-25 NASCAR/IMSA weekend. Several of them have become champions, including Larry Pearson, a two-time Busch Grand National champion who is son of three-time Winston Cup champ David Pearson; David Donohue, the defending IMSA Supercar champ who is son of former Indy 500 winner and Can-Am and Trans-Am champ Mark Donohue; and Butch Leitzinger, who followed his father Bob Leitzinger as IMSA GTU titlist.

Other second generation drivers include NASCAR's Johnny Benson Jr. and Jimmy Spencer, whose fathers were both short track stars; Barber Dodge driver Jaki Scheckter, son of Formula 1 driver Ian Scheckter and nephew of world champion Jody Scheckter; Jim Bown, son of 14-time Winston West race winner Dick Bown; and Street Stock driver Burnell Cochran, son of Pennsylvania hill climb star Bernie Cochran.

While stock car racings two most famous second generation drivers are not expected at the Glen, both Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt have cars entered in the Lysol 200, both bearing their trademarked numbers and paint schemes. Petty, a seven-time Winston Cup champ and son of three-time champ Lee Petty, will field the #43 Richard Petty Pit Tour Pontiac for Rodney Combs. Earnhardt, also a seven-time champion and son of the late short track star Ralph Earnhardt, will have the black #3 GM Goodwrench Service Chevy for Jeff Green.

NATIONAL CHAMP FLIP GROGGINS SET FOR DOUBLE DUTY

Phillip "Flip" Groggins, the defending SCCA GT-1 National Champion, is set for double duty at Watkins Glen. The Fincastle, Va., driver will drive his Groggins Plastic Olds Cutlass Supreme in Saturday's IMSA Glen Continental, competing in the Exxon GTS-1 class.

Groggins will then switch to the other side of the garage, driving the Brown Racing Chevrolet in Sunday's Lysol 200 NASCAR Busch Grand National race.

Butch Leitzinger will also do double duty in the Glen Continental and Lysol 200. J.J. O'Malley/Watkins Glen International