Portland observer., January 28, 1998, Page 21, Image 21

AftOUND TH< TRACK
B O U N C IN G BACK: Felix Giles, recuperating in San Jose,
Calif, from a nasty accident earlier this year, is staging a comeback.
Giles, a.k.a. “ The Night Hawk, was injured in January in a
NASCAR truck series race in Homestead,
Fla. when another driver got on the in­
side of his car while he was going into a
turn. The two made contact and Giles
hit a wall at 135 mph. “It was a rookie
mistake (letting the other driver get in­
side)," says Giles, 46, who suffered cracked
ribs, a cracked neck bone, and bruised in­
testines and kidneys.
Now the racer is back behind the wheel,
brushing up on his driving, and looking for
a new sponsor. He has a short-term, tempo­
rary deal with Panasonic. “After my injury,
nobody would touch me,” says Giles.
The Night Hawk is now assembling a new
outfit, and may be close to signing with a new
sponsor. Details are sketchy, but Giles insists
that he will compete in the last five races of the
NASCAR truck series starting in Xlesa Marin,
Calif, on Oct. 12, and ending in Las Vegas o n _____
Nov. 9, 1997. After the NASCAR series, he will
drive in the Baja 1000, Nov. 12 in Baja, Mexico,
competing for Panasonic.
Giles says his new outfit will include the “best crew chief’ in
NASCAR, adding that the chief has worked with everybody from
“Labonte to Petty.” His new agent is Dwight McGee of American
Express Sports Marketing.
56
AFRICAN AMERICANS O N W HEELS
LO O KING FOR GOO D DRIVERS: O n the East Coast. Len
Miller, owner of Miller Racing Group, is look­
ing for aspiring black drivers. To advance to the
next level of NASCAR. Miller says his team
needs a driver with a “Jackie Robinson de­
meanor.” Over the years. Miller has trained
nine black drivers.
Currently, Miller is checking out two pros­
pects. The most promising is David W hite of
Sumnter, S.C. Miller says W hite caught his
eye because “he could compete in the worst
NASCAR starter stock equipment and still
display a good deal of ability.” But, Miller
warns. W hite needs practice.
Another candidate: Troy Adams, of Riv­
erside, Calif. His father, Tim, owns one of
the largest and best go-kart tracks in the
country. The younger Adams grew up
around racing which. Miller says, is a plus,
if not a must. Besides experience Adams,
too, has talent. Miller says when Adams
was tested against Chris Woods, Miller’s
former driver, Adams performed better
around the track.
TH E RACING CIRCUIT: Back in California, Dave Mills,
32, of Mills Sport Racing, is rounding out the National Auto
Sport Association’s (NASA) Camaro Mustang Challenge (CMC)
series sixth in the point standings for his division. Mills, who
drives a late model Camaro, was scheduled to race in the Valvoline
Runoffs at Mid-Ohio in Lexington, Ohio in October.