Gibbs flips opponent in match race

It may have been just for fun, but NASCAR team owner and Hall-of-Fame coach Joe Gibbs made good on his promise to refuse to lose in Friday night's Arena Racing match race at the Hampton Coliseum.

Gibbs started second in the one-on-one 10-lap race against friend and longtime team sponsor Norm Miller, chairman of Interstate Batteries. Gibbs fell back slightly at first, then caught Miller and bumped him a few times to the delight of the crowd of an estimated 4,000 fans -- many wearing Washington Redskins gear.

With about 2 laps remaining, Gibbs cut low in Turn 3 and smacked the left fender of Miller's car. Miller flipped.

Gibbs drove by and crossed the finish line first. Miller was unhurt and jovial after the race.

The Arena Racing half-scale stock cars compete on a 1/10-mile aluminum track, reaching speeds of up to 50 mph.

The founder of Arena Racing USA is Richmonder Ricky Dennis, a former stock car racer and son of Bill Dennis, who was a NASCAR standout. Bill Dennis was 1970 Cup series Rookie of the Year.

For three straight years (1972, 1973, 1974), Bill Dennis won the biggest race in what has become NASCAR's Nationwide series -- the 300-mile event at the Daytona International Speedway run the day before the Daytona 500.

The only other drivers to win that 300-mile race three straight years are the Earnhardts -- Dale Sr. and Dale Jr.