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Aikman bids for checkered flag at Texas Motor Speedway By Kathryn Hansen Aikman, who started at the back of the pack in the 14th slot, explained his pole position before the race. "I want to make it clear that we didn't have pre-race qualifying. This was strictly a random draw," he said. Aikman finished the race in eighth place. Former Olympic gymnast Bart Conner claimed the checkered flag. Dallas sportscaster George Riba placed second, and Dallas Cowboys tightend Jay Novacek placed third. The 25-lap race was held on the quarter-mile oval in front of the grandstands at the TMS. The Legends track uses part of the front stretch and part of the pit road. Aikman, a skilled yet intense driver, ran an aggressive race, quickly making up for his poor starting position. Aikman was clearly the crowd favorite, and drew cheers each time he overtook another driver. Early in the race Dallas Cowboys tightend Eric Bjornson drew the first yellow flag after spinning out in turn one. Aikman, who had worked his way up to ninth place, skillfully avoided a collision. Prior to the race Bjornson had quipped, "I just want to get out of this thing alive." By the third yellow flag, drawn when Dallas Mavericks co-owner Ross Perot, Jr. spun out, Aikman was in seventh. That was the highest position he reached in the race. Aikman himself drew the fourth yellow flag when he spun out in turn three, after being clipped by Dallas Cowboys running back Herschel Walker. Aikman found himself once more at the back of the pack. He put the pedal to the metal and began to reclaim his lost position. His bid for the checkered flag hit another roadblock when Dallas Cowboys safety Bill Bates slammed into the wall in the front stretch, drawing the fifth yellow flag of the race. Aikman avoided colliding with Bates, but was unable to miss one of Bates' tires that was bouncing across the track. Aikman hit the tire and spun out, but quickly recovered. Bates, who had lead the pack for most of the race, emerged from his car uninjured. After the race Dallas Cowboys Special Teams Coach Joe Avezzano said, "For 14 years Bill Bates has been going to the ballpark and running into anything that moved. Tonight was just another night at the ballpark." Aikman poured on the speed and had worked his way back to seventh position when Perot once again spun out, drawing the seventh yellow flag of the evening. It was evident in the turns that Aikman sensed he was running out of time. The rear end of his Legends car appeared loose several times, indicating that he was taking the turns too fast. At the end of the race Aikman spun out in turn three, and was hit by Fort Worth sportscaster Tim Matthews. Aikman recovered to finish the race in eighth place. Aikman quipped, "I thought I'd do okay after we got Bates off the track." Legends race cars are 5/8 scale replicas of early modified NASCAR racers (body types of 1937 and 1940 Chevy and Ford coupes and flat-back sedans). The maximum dimensions of these racers are width: 60 inches / height: 46 inches / and length: 10 feet, 6 inches. They are powered by a 125 horse power, 1200 cc New Yamaha FJ motorcycle engine, and reach speeds of 90-100 mph. The race, which was held prior to the inaugural Indy Car race at the track, benefitted the Troy Aikman Foundation and the Speedway Children's Charities.  The Legends cars line up at the starting line. Photo ©1997 Kathryn Hansen 
Aikman, in car # 8, takes turn two at the start of the race. Photo ©1997 Kathryn Hansen  Aikman overtakes Dallas/Fort Worth sportscaster Scott Murray in the back straightaway. Photo ©1997 Kathryn Hansen 
Aikman overtakes Herschel Walker in the # 34 car going into turn three. Moments later Walker clipped Aikman's car, sending Aikman into a spin.
Photo ©1997 Kathryn Hansen  Aikman finds himself off the track momentarily after a collision with Dallas /Fort Worth sportscaster Tim Matthews. Photo ©1997 Kathryn Hansen
OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS
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