Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Friday 16 February 2018

Welcome back, Barney: Owner Visser returns from heart attack

By DAN GELSTON was cleared to participate
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) in some mild celebrations.
— Barney Visser was a few There was a dinner with
weeks removed from a Truex, crew chief Cole
heart attack when the Fur- Pearn and FRR President
niture Row Racing team he Joe Garone. Visser returned
founded was running for to the shop in Denver for
a NASCAR championship the first time Wednesday.
with Martin Truex Jr. That was about it.
Stuck in a bed, the excite- Visser said the heart attack
ment got Visser’s blood caught him by surprise.
pumping. He had a stent put in about
“My heart rate, just sitting six years ago to help treat a
there was running a 140 96-percent blockage of his
beats a minute,” Visser told coronary arteries. He said
The Associated Press on his cholesterol level was
Thursday at Daytona Inter- so low at the time that his
national Speedway. “I had doctors were convinced
to adjust my medications. I Visser would not build up
couldn’t call a doctor. I just plaque in the arteries. But it
did it on my own and got it did — Visser had a 99-per-
slowed down.” cent blockage in one ar-
The 69-year-old Visser tery while the one that was
calmed down as Truex stented was 70-percent
clinched the first Cup ti- blocked.
tle for himself and FRR at “Around the racetrack and
Homestead-Miami Speed- at other times, I had had a
way. sensation of burning lungs,”
Visser missed the champi- he said. “It’s like when you
onship bash — though the step outside in cold air and
trade might have been walk fast, your lungs kind of Barney Visser, center, team owner of Furniture Row Racing, talks with crew members before
worth it. burn. That was the sensa- the first of two qualifying races for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International
“If somebody asks you, tion I was getting. I never Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018.
‘We’ll give you a champi- thought it was my heart.” Associated Press
onship but you can’t be But on Nov. 4, Visser woke
there, would you take it?’ I up with numbness in his left said. “They stopped it so speech,” Truex said. “He fields Truex and the No. 78
guess I would,” Visser said. arm. He couldn’t shake soon that it doesn’t even doesn’t like the spotlight. Toyota this season after
Visser returned to a track it off, refused to ignore register quite as a heart He doesn’t like to get too running a two-car opera-
Thursday for the first time the symptoms and went attack. That was the right much attention thrown on tion last year.
since last season, and said straight to the hospital for thing to do.” him. It kind of all worked “I’m really good with this
he feels as healthy as he an angiogram, a decision Visser caught up with the out for him. Most of all, glad car, with this decision,” Viss-
has in years. that may have saved his team at Daytona and was he’s healthy, doing good, er said. “We had to push
“There’s nothing like get- life. clearly in good spirits. able to come to the race- the guys really hard last
ting new arteries,” he said. “On the way to the angio- “I don’t know if he’s too track and have some fun year and I really don’t think
He was stir-crazy in the gram, I was actually in the sad about missing out on again.” we could have done that a
months since being hospi- hospital and I think I had the banquet because There was still some busi- second year. You can only
talized and only recently the heart attack,” Visser he didn’t have to do a ness for FRR: The team only do that so long.”q

Jin Young Ko takes 1st-round lead at Women's Australian Open

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) Kooyanga, carded a 7-un- among a large group tied line Inglis, and Sweden's ment since September, a
— Jin Young Ko made six der-par 65 to move past for third with 68s, three Caroline Hedwall in the team event.
birdies on the back nine second-place Jiyai Shin, a strokes behind. second tour event of the "I felt really comfortable
in her LPGA Tour debut to fellow South Korean. "I'm happy with where I am year. "It just felt easy play- out there and, if anything,
take a two-stroke lead in Asked about her goals for sitting," Lydia Ko, playing ing golf today," Hedwall I haven't felt adrenaline for
the opening round of the the week, Ko replied: "First her first tournament of the said. Five-time champion a while so the ball was trav-
Women's Australian Open one is make the cut, sec- year, said. Karrie Webb, who says she'll elling a lot further than I was
on Thursday. ond one is enjoy." Among the nine others tied play a part-time schedule anticipating," Webb said.
Ko, playing in one of the Former world No. 1 Lydia with Lydia Ko were Ameri- this year, shot 70. She has Laura Davies and Brooke
final afternoon groups at Ko of New Zealand was cans Mo Martin and Caro- played only one tourna- Henderson each shot 72.q