Green's title hopes dim, but future bright

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- As racing careers go, David Green was stuck in park. He was 44 and unemployed, trying desperately to break back into a domain he once called home, but had since been overtaken by youth.

	David Green finished ninth in Saturday's Ford 300. Credit: Autostock

His credentials were sparkling -- former Busch Series champion, former Winston Cup Series regular and pole-winner, proven talent, wily veteran -- but no one would even listen.

Rather than sulk, Green decided to use that knowledge and help out youngster Ricky Hendrick, who had resources and talent, but needed grooming. Green spotted for him, coached him.

And when Hendrick decided last fall that he no longer belonged in a race car, that his conscience had finally conquered his ego, he made sure the wheel was passed to Green.

Green hopped in the seat with six races remaining in the season and immediately became a mainstay of the top five. During that span, he finished in the top five three times, the top 10 four, and in doing so proved he still had it.

Folks took notice, including Busch Series owner Clarence Brewer. Brewer was in need of a driver after Jeff Purvis was seriously injured at Nazareth midway through the season. Green was in need of a ride after Hendrick Motorsports tabbed Brian Vickers as their driver of the future.

Perfect. But this perfect?

Green entered the 2003 Busch Series finale Saturday with three victories to his credit and 22 points behind Vickers. On the verge of a championship, he started the event in 12th position, six spots behind Vickers.

His fortunes quickly soured. On the race's first lap, Jon Wood wrecked teammate Scott Riggs to eliminate Riggs from the championship hunt. During the melee, Green ran over debris and cut a right rear tire.

	David Green

He was forced to pit under green and lost two laps, then lost another lap after being assessed a stop-and-go penalty for failing to use the proper entrance to pit road. All was said and done, he ended up three laps down to the leaders and assumed his chance at a championship was gone.

"It was so disappointing at the beginning to get a flat tire, and I had to get into the pits and subsequently got a penalty," Green said. "I just about come within an inch of giving up. I almost said, 'It's all over right now.'"

Not even.

With some 85 laps remaining, Green regained two laps by staying out on the track while others pitted. And when pole-sitter Greg Biffle cut a right front tire on lap 140, Green pitted for his final fuel stop.

Biffle's misfortune also enabled Vickers to return to the lead lap via the lapped-car rule, leaving Green as the first car a lap down. But seven laps later, Green also benefited from the same rule when David Stremme wrecked in Turn 1, and the scene was set for a championship shootout.

Following a string of cautions -- one thrown when leader Jamie McMurray cut a tire down with 36-laps remaining -- Green passed Vickers for the final time and set sail on a trio of cars ahead of him.

Attempting to pass Casey Mears and Ashton Lewis, Green attempted every racing line the track had to offer, but he was unable to make the pass and finished just two positions ahead of Vickers.

Vickers won the title by 14 points, making him the youngest champion in Busch Series history.

"Yeah, a couple positions are hard to swallow, but we raced hard, and (Vickers) did what he had to do, and if I can't win it, that's the kid I wanted to win it," Green said. "Brian and those guys -- he's a great kid, a star and the Busch champion now.

"I'd have liked to have beat him, but he knew we were here and we'll get after them again next year. We are disappointed, but we have an awesome race team. Two thousand three has been a year when Brewco put me back on the map.

"Nobody would even give me a shot last year except (Hendrick). That was the beginning, and Clarence Brewer stood behind me. It's hard to swallow, but we've had an awesome year. This team exemplifies a championship team. It's good to be on top again, even though we're second best."