Nemechek’s seat in doubt after injuries

Joe Nemechek's participation in the next round of the NASCAR Winston Cup, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte on May 27, is in doubt after he broke his shoulder and elbow in a testing crash earlier this week

May 18, 2001, 1:45 PM

Nemechek sustained the injury at Dover Downs International Speedway while testing his NASCAR Busch Series car. The broken elbow wasn't initially diagnosed, and the 37-year-old will now have to wear a cast for the next two weeks.

"I'm not sure exactly what happened, but the right front tyre went down and I had a ferocious hit at turn three," said Nemechek. "I may have run over something and cut the tyre. Still, I feel fortunate that it wasn't worse. Now I've just got to heal these injuries."

As a result, Nemechek is out of this weekend's non-championship Winston Open event at Charlotte, and his place at Andy Petree Racing will be taken by Bobby Hamilton Jr. Nemechek's Winston Cup seat is now in jeopardy for the round at Charlotte on the following Sunday.

"Our main concern right now is Joe's health," Petree said. "We're still putting all the information together and will make any decisions from there."