Southern 500 - Jimmy Spencer Notes

"Free Jimmy" Comeback Tour Begins at Darlington
Team SIRIUS Advance -- Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 28, 2003) -- Let's be honest, Jimmy Spencer's had better weeks --- weeks where he didn't have the cops called on him, weeks where he didn't have a weeklong suspension levied against him, and weeks where he didn't have to watch the Bristol night race from the comfort of his couch. (The seat in chassis No. 052 is much more to his liking.)

But his week wasn't completely dreadful either. Aside from spending time with family and friends, Spencer learned that his trackside souvenir sales increased 40 percent over the three-day Bristol weekend as fans swarmed the Team SIRIUS souvenir location to buy Mongo T-shirts, hats and banners. If that wasn't enough to prove the public's affection, the deafening cheers of 165,000 people at Bristol Motor Speedway when the No. 7 SIRIUS Dodge rolled out was. Only problem, Spencer wasn't there to see it.

This weekend, however, he will be.

The "Free Jimmy" Comeback Tour will kick off Friday when Spencer strolls into the tradition-soaked garage at Darlington Raceway for a day of practice and Bud Pole Qualifying. On Sunday, Mr. Excitement will race the No. 7 SIRIUS Dodge in the Mountain Dew Southern 500 (12:30 p.m. EDT on NBC), where all eyes will be on the man who has overwhelmingly struck a chord with millions of NASCAR fans. What's more is he's done so without saying a word --- no press conferences, no exaggerations and certainly no blame pointed toward the media.

As Spencer prepares to strap back into the No. 7 SIRIUS Dodge, he sits down and gives the interview we've all been waiting for. God's answer to boredom speaketh again:

Jimmy Spencer quote book --

With all that's been going on, Jimmy, how has this week been different from other weeks?
"Other than receiving a lot of mail and phone calls, it hasn't been any different. Usually I do a lot of yard work, but it's been too hot to work in the yard. That's OK, because the guys from Totally NASCAR (Steve Byrnes and Sean Pragano from Fox Sports Net) are coming over to work in the yard with me next week. I'm going to put those boys to work! They say they're bringing a cameraman. I'll put him to work, too!"

"Really all I've done this week is visit a good friend of mine who's in the hospital up in Winston-Salem (N.C.). She has cancer, and it really bothers me. We've been up there three times, and it really puts things into perspective for me. It makes you realize that all this other stuff really isn't important."

Do you feel like your return to racing this week will be a distraction?
"No, I'm not going to let it be a distraction. What happened in Michigan is in the past. We're moving forward with this team. We've got the potential for a strong weekend, and we're coming up on some tracks that should be good for us. We're looking for a sponsor right now, and that's something you don't take lightly. We've got to get some good, consistent finishes and hopefully attract a sponsor for the next three years."

Do sponsorship searches affect in any way the focus of a team?
"I think (crew chief) Tommy Baldwin has done a good job keeping everybody focused. Of course you always want to know what the future holds, but in this sport you rarely do. This team has so much potential, and we've only seen glimpses of it this year. Tommy and Jimmy Smith are just laying the groundwork, and we're already contending for wins. We've had more success this year than this team has ever had, so we really need to get a sponsor locked down so we can put all our focus into racing. I think we'll find one soon."

By the way, inquiring minds want to know what your feelings were when Robby Gordon said he'd help pay your fine.
(Laughing) "I'm holding him to it. I have it on tape. As we've learned this week, the tape doesn't lie."

I heard you tried to bargain with Mike Helton on your suspension. Do you care to reveal?
"I told him if he'd let me serve my suspension Darlington week instead of Bristol week, I'd sit out two races next year --- Sears Point and Watkins Glen. Ya know, kind of a 3-for-1 deal. He said 'Yeah, I bet you would' and laughed. But I wasn't kidding."

Should NASCAR work hand-in-hand with law enforcement officials in regulating the garage and track areas?
"I think NASCAR does a great job policing this sport by itself, and I don't see why that has to change. When we race we know we have to adhere to the rules NASCAR sets before us. And if we don't adhere to them, then we know we'll have to face a punishment by NASCAR. That's the way it should be. That's the way it is in every sport when rules are broken. I doubt Roger Clemons feels like he has to worry about an assault charge every time he plants a 100 mile-per-hour fastball in the middle of some guy's back."

Did you get yourself a "Free Jimmy" T-shirt? I hear they're selling like hotcakes right now.
"I've received a lot of stuff in the mail from fans, but I haven't gone through it all. One lady sent me a stress-reliever ball with a note that advised me to 'use this instead.' I thought that was pretty cool."

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