Ward Burton inks deal with Morgan-McClure

COX NEWS SERVICE

Driver Ward Burton will be returning to Nextel Cup competition in 2007.

Burton signed a deal last week to drive the State Industries-sponsored No. 4 Chevrolet for Morgan-McClure Motorsports.

Burton, the 2002 Daytona winner, competed in three races last season for Morgan- McClure, his first Nextel Cup action since 2004.

“There’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Burton, who has five career Nextel Cup victories.

Gordon to be a daddy

Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon announced last week that he is going to be a father. The driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet said he is eagerly preparing for fatherhood with new bride Ingrid Vandebosch. The pair’s first child is due in July.

Gordon announced his engagement to the Belgian model on June 24 at Infineon Raceway, then won the race there the next day. The two were married in a private ceremony Nov. 7 in Mexico.

Gordon said they plan to learn whether it’ll be a girl or a boy next month, and the couple already is kicking around possible names.

Earnhardt project announced

A $600 million Dale Earnhardt race track and entertainment complex will be built on 2,500 acres just north of Mobile, Ala., the track’s investors announced last week.

The four-track motorsports park, to be built near Interstate 65, will include a 5,000-space RV park, a theme park and a 7,000-seat arena, along with hotels, restaurants and theaters.

The facility is expected to be completed sometime in 2010.

Investors in the track include Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.; his brother, Kerry Earnhardt, a driver in the Craftsman Truck Series; and sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge.

Parsons loses use of lung

NASCAR television analyst Benny Parsons has lost the use of his left lung in his battle with cancer.

Parsons’ right lung is healthy, however, and doctors believe his body will adjust to having just one healthy lung.

Parsons had chemotherapy and radiation on a tumor in that lung that forced him to miss several races for TNT and NBC during the 2006 season.