 | | David Green is helping Robert Yates' inexperienced drivers by spotting for them during races. Credit: Autostock |
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
September 25, 2006
12:10 PM EDT (16:10 GMT)
DOVER, Del. -- For the second time in his career, former Busch Series champion David Green is using the NASCAR spotter's stand as a way back into the driver's seat, the same way he did in 2002 when he spotted for Dale Jarrett at Robert Yates Racing. At Dover International Speedway this past weekend Green worked for Yates again, spotting for Stephen Leicht in the Busch Series' Dover 200 and David Gilliland in Sunday's Nextel Cup Dover 400.  |  | | David Green won nine poles in his championship year of 1994. Credit: Autostock |
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| Inside the Numbers |
| David Green's Busch career |
| Year |
No. |
W |
T-5 |
T-10 |
| 1989 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1990 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1991 |
29 |
1 |
6 |
9 |
| 1993 |
28 |
0 |
6 |
16 |
| 1994 |
28 |
1 |
10 |
14 |
| 1995 |
26 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
| 1996 |
26 |
2 |
13 |
18 |
| 1998 |
19 |
0 |
7 |
8 |
| 1999 |
17 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
| 2000 |
32 |
0 |
2 |
11 |
| 2001 |
33 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| 2002 |
12 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
| 2003 |
32 |
3 |
11 |
21 |
| 2004 |
34 |
0 |
6 |
16 |
| 2005 |
35 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
| 2006 |
27 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Totals |
383 |
9 |
72 |
144 |
|
|
The previous weekend, thanks to a call from Ford Motor Company, he also worked with Craftsman Truck Series rookie Bobby East from Wood Brothers/JTG Racing at New Hampshire International Speedway. Green was released from his ride in the No. 27 Brewco Motorsports Ford in the Busch Series following Race 27, at California Speedway. He wasn't off the scene for long. And while he's anxious to get back behind the wheel, he appreciates the opportunity to be at the racetracks. And he said there's no question he's looking for another driving job. "Absolutely," Green said. "Looking back at '02, when I spotted for D.J. in those 13 or 15 races, and then when little Ricky [Hendrick] retired from his car, the rest was history." Green stepped into Hendrick Motorsports' No. 5 Busch car for the balance of 2002 and went to work for Clarence Brewer in 2003, where he won two poles, three races and finished second in the championship that season. Now, Green doesn't want to be forgotten. "Unlike a Ward Burton, and for the life of me I don't understand why Ward doesn't come to the track," Green said. "He's a talented driver and in this sport we've seen it's out of sight, out of mind. "I just want to make sure that everyone knows I'm not through, I'm still very interested in driving and the fire is still as hot as it ever has been -- and I think it shows with me just being here and hanging out and spotting. "People might not think that's a very big job but it is important. And being able to work with Todd Parrott again at Robert's and obviously David Gilliland and Stephen Leicht and Cully [Barraclough, Busch crew chief] and all the guys on Robert's team helps me learn things while I'm not driving, so I'll be better when I do get back in the car." Green plans to be at Kansas Speedway this weekend working with Yates' drivers, then he'll work with Gilliland and East at Talladega Superspeedway the following weekend when the Cup and Truck Series run in conjunction with each other. "Robert sent word that he wanted to talk to me," Green said. "Robert not only understood the situation I was in, and where I wanted to go -- but he also appreciated what I'd done in '02 when I stepped in to help him out. "His first words to me were, 'You're a driver and you need to be driving, but if I can help you out, so be it.' And that's the kind of guy you want to associate yourself with. "So working together previously probably helped, but if I can help the young guys -- even David, who's not a young, young kid but he doesn't have a lot of experience in Nextel Cup -- then it's been a good day for us. "And I have confidence this will lead to a bigger and better opportunity for us." | 
