Skinner still optimistic about future with RCR
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
July 28, 2001
4:30 PM EDT (2030 GMT)
LONG POND, Pa. -- Mike Skinner's recovery from multiple injuries suffered earlier this month in a crash at Chicagoland Speedway continues -- and so does uncertainty about his future with Richard Childress Racing.
Skinner spoke from his home in Daytona Beach, Fla. while the NASCAR Winston Cup Series was at Pocono Raceway preparing for Sunday's Pennsylvania 500. It will be the second straight race in which Robby Gordon has replaced Skinner in the No. 31 Lowe's Chevrolet.
Skinner had surgery July 18 to repair a fractured left ankle suffered in a vicious accident in the July 15 Tropicana 400. He also is nursing a severe left ankle sprain and injuries to his left knee that include, he said, damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament.
Those injuries could be the least of his worries before the season is through. Lowe's relationship with RCR has been stormy at times, and it appears from Skinner's comments and team sources that the company would like someone else in the No. 31 Monte Carlo.
Childress has repeatedly said he has contracts for 2002 with both Lowe's and Skinner, but has deferred making a definitive statement about his intentions.
"As far as I know, Richard and I are still planning on making a decision about the 2002 season within the next few weeks," Skinner said. "I think Richard is trying really hard to make it work between the two of us.
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Mike Skinner has just one top-10 finish in 2001.
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"Richard is in the racing business and whether he wants me to drive the Lowe's Chevrolet or not, he has to have the sponsor's support for me as the driver. Richard is a businessman and has 200 employees to take care of. I totally understand if we can't put something together."
Skinner won the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship for Childress in 1995 and moved to the Winston Cup Series full-time in 1997, where he won the rookie of the year title. While he has had success in special events for RCR, winning no less than three of them, he has yet to win in 162 starts.
"I really, really want to work things out at RCR," Skinner said. "I'm very happy that Richard wants me to drive the Lowe's Chevy and that my race team and everyone at RCR have supported me. That gives me a great feeling. But the bottom line is that someone has to write the check and give Richard the funds to keep the race car on the track and keep us competitive."
Skinner has had a hard time this season displaying competitive results. After going from 30th in 1997 to 21st to 10th in the standings in 1999, Skinner slipped to 12th in 2000 and is currently 30th after missing last weekend's New England 300. His best finish and his only top-10 this season is ninth at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
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Robby Gordon is driving the No. 31 Chevy at Pocono this weekend.
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Skinner's average start in 18 races is 25th, with a best of third at Michigan. Gordon, since replacing him has started 36th and finished 25th at New Hampshire and will start 36th Sunday.
"I'm just frustrated at the way the season has gone," Skinner said. "The Lowe's team has been very competitive at many tracks but has gotten knocked out of contention for some reason or another."
So for now, Skinner is only looking ahead to his return to the 31's seat at Michigan International Speedway for practice on Aug. 17. He doesn't plan on going to a race track before that.
"I'm a lot better and I'm getting better each day," Skinner said, adding that his ankle is the critical injury delaying his return. "It makes me mad that I can't race but I'm in this for the long haul and I want to be 100 percent recovered when I come back -- I don't want to have an ailing ankle for the rest of my life. I think that Richard and I have made a good decision for me to rest for one month.
"When I go back to the race track, I want to go to the track to drive the Lowe's Chevrolet, not to hobble around the garage."
Skinner said he does not plan to have knee surgery at this time.
"To have the knee reconstructed would require four to six months of recovery," Skinner said. "Driving race cars for a living doesn't feasibly allow four to six months of recovery at any time of the year. I'm going to try to live with my knee the way it is, but if it affects my performance in the Lowe's Chevrolet, I'll find six months to take off and have the procedure.
"I've been living without a healthy ACL for a while now and I don't think it's going to affect my performance when I get back in the (car). I just won't be trying out for a basketball team. Right now, I don't have any plans to have surgery during the off-season or at any point.
"The doctor said I really didn't need to put myself through another knee surgery and all the rehab required if I'm not going to have the knee completely reconstructed, which is what it really needs."
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