SBRS: Gurney Sebring Race Report

GURNEY'S CHARGE CUT SHORT IN BARBER DODGE DEBUT

SEBRING, Fla. (March 21, 1998) -- Alex Gurney's charge through the field was cut short when he was bumped off the track on lap four of the Barber Dodge Pro Series season-opener at Sebring International Raceway.

Gurney, of Newport Beach, Calif., qualified his #27 Team KOOL Green Reynard-Dodge 11th and had moved up to ninth place by the end of the first lap. While working the fourth lap, he was nudged off track at the exit of turn 13 by Jamie Menninga. Gurney was able to continue, with a bent wheel and without his left front wing, to finish in 20th place.

"When I looked over, I didn't think he (Menninga) was alongside; I thought he'd back out of it before we turned in," said Gurney. "He didn't, and he slid into me as we exited the corner."

Todd Snyder, of Sheffield, Mass., took the race win by 5.325 seconds over Victor Gonzalez, Jr., of Puerto Rico.

There are four scheduled ESPN2 telecasts of the Sebring Barber Dodge race, with the first airing Sunday, April 5 at 11:00 am ET. The next race on the Barber Dodge Pro Series schedule is May 25th, at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn.