RAHMAN AND YATES TIED FOR POINT LEAD
By Dave Westerman

The Classic Auto Racing Series heads back to the high banks of New Smyrna Speedway this Saturday night for what is expected to be a crowd-pleasing show that will include the Winged Outlaw Sprints of the TBARA.

Clermont driver Jim Rahman's win last week at Orlando has put him in a tie for the Classic Auto Racing Series points lead with consistent Ed Yates of Orlando. Yates was second at Speedworld and has finished no worse than fourth so far this year.

Bud Spencer and Mike Albert remain third and fourth in points despite a late-race tangle by the two at Orlando that dropped Albert to ninth in the race, just ahead of Spencer. Spencer is now 38 markers in back of the point leaders while Albert is just two points behind Spencer.

The Orlando race really heated up the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Year challenge. Patrick Sanders, who led the rookie standings and was fifth in overall points, had problems and finished 17th last week. Meanwhile, Harvey Ewing had his best-ever run in the Series finishing fifth at Speedworld, taking over the rookie point lead and moving to fifth overall as well. Groveland's Keith Roberts also had a good run and moved to second in rookie points and sixth overall. Roberts is eight points behind Ewing in the Door Operating Systems rookie chase with Sanders still not far behind... just three points back of Roberts and seventh overall.

Roberts will have some extra help at the New Smyrna race in the form of his new sponsor, Bobby Jack Windham, better known to pro wrestling fans as Blackjack Mulligan.

The 59-year-old Mulligan, in his trademark black trunks, cowboy boots, hat, and glove, was one of the top wrestlers in the United States in the 70's and 80's.

When a broken leg derailed his pro football career with the New York Jets, the CEO of Madison Square Garden Corp. suggested he try pro wrestling. Two years later, his persona of Blackjack Mulligan was headlining main events in the WWWF.

Mulligan held several titles over the years in various organizations from Florida to New York to his home state of Texas, including the NWA World Tag Team title with Ric Flair.

His legendary battles with the likes of Bobo Brazil, Big John Studd, Wahoo McDaniel, King Kong Mosca, and Dory Funk, Jr. are well documented and he is known for his signature "clawhold" that he used to win most of his matches.

Mulligan's oldest son, Barry Windham, went on to become a wrestling superstar himself and his other son Kendall also enjoyed a decent pro wrestling career as well.

Mulligan will be at New Smyrna Speedway Saturday night to cheer on Keith Roberts and the other Classic Auto Racing Series drivers and looks forward to meeting fans of both racing and wrestling.

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CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES - TOP TEN IN POINTS - AS OF 4/19/02:
1) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5 218 (1 win)
Ed Yates, Orlando #74 218
3) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7 180
4) Mike Albert, Winter Springs #24 178
5) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17 164
6) Keith Roberts, Groveland #31 156
7) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8 153
8) E.T. McGhee, Deland #3G's 152
9) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 147
10) Eddie Thornton, Orlando #4 146

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