As announced before, Akins-Sutton, who own the #38 BGN Ford driven by Elton Sawyer(great run in Milwaukee), are planning on starting a 2nd BGN team in 1999. Rumors have Jeff Green being considered as the driver for that team. Guess that depends on what happens with Green and the #46 First Union SABCO team. Green was hanging around with the team in Milwaukee this past weekend and when asked someone on the team was asked about the 2nd team driver and they just said, look around.(7-5-98)
The JournalNow reports that VISA plans to sponsor a car next season on the tour, but there is no word yet on which team it might sponsor.(JournalNow)(7-5-98)
I hear that #91 LJ Racing owner Joe Falk is leaning towards putting Andy Hillenburg in the #91 car at Loudon.(Victory Lane Online)(7-5-98)
(7-4-98)
I also hear that Ricky Rudd will not be merging with Robert Yates but will start that 2nd team he has been discussing and that Elton Sawyer may be the driver.(7-4-98)
Another wild one: I hear that Robert Yates wouldn't mind selling his two car operation and just return to building engines.(7-4-98)
The #91 LJ Racing Team will announce who will drive the Chevy at Loudon in the July 12th Jiffy Lube 300.(7-3-98), interesting story on the team at Victory Lane Online.(7-4-98)
(7-3-98)
UPDATE: Remember this story I posted last week: A Jayski Human Interest Story: Stephanie Looney and Patrick Steffen from Montgomery, Alabama are getting married at Daytona on July 3rd at noon, in front of the gardens at Daytona USA. They would like EVERYONE that will be at the speedway to attend! They have friends that will be there from all over, and we would love to have any NASCAR fans that will be at the speedway to join in the excitement! It's not a big wedding, but it will be fun! They have permission from both NASCAR and the Speedway for the wedding. So if you are there check it out.(6-29-98)..........well
Stephanie Looney and Patrick Steffen, ardent race fans who met in an Internet NASCAR "chat room," had planned to wed in front of DAYTONA USA -- the "Ultimate
Motorsports Attraction" located outside the speedway's Turn 4 -- on Friday, then attend the race together on Saturday. With the race postponed until October, Daytona International Speedway allowed the couple to exchange rings in Victory Lane. Congrats to Stephanie and Patrick.(7-3-98)
On Ricky Rudd's NASCAR Online chat Rudd mentioned a few things about his possible two car team:
"Right now we've got a list of about five drivers, and it's really going to be up to the sponsors. It's probably going to be someone up and coming, maybe out of the Busch Series. We're going to know in the next couple weeks, we've got a few irons in the fire. It could go either way, it's probably 50-50 on whether it happens or doesn't." Basically what Rudd has been saying for months, no mention of the Yates rumor.
See the rest of the chat transcript where Ricky talks about his engine woes and the Sears Point incident with Geoff Bodine at NASCAR Online Chat with Ricky Rudd.(7-3-98)
On Thursday, July 2nd, Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart and Cruz Pendragon were to appear on "For Race Fans Only" to promote their new "Small Soliders" paint schemes. Obviously due to the wildfires, QVC's live broadcast was cancelled. Bobby Labonte told the show's host Dan Hughes that the paint scheme would be run on October 17th at the Pepsi 400. Since the car is setup for a superspeedway there was no sense in running it before then. Tony Stewart will still be running his special paint scheme at the Myrtle Beach race.(Jackie)(7-3-98)
Since QVC's live broadcast was cancelled, the host of "For Race Fans Only", Dan Hughes(the QVC host) producer, and assistant were stuck in Daytona Beach without a
way home for the show that QVC was going to put on in West Chester, PA. Apparently someone tipped off Ward Burton, because he offered the use of his privately chartered plane to get them back to West Chester, Pa. After being dropped off in South Boston, VA, Ward told his personal pilot to fly the people to West Chester.(Jackie)(7-3-98)
(7-2-98)
I was told by a very good source that Ricky Rudd told a sportscaster on Wilkes Barre Pa. television he has decided to drive for Robert Yates Racing next year. No word if he will be a replacement or merging with RYR to form a third team or if the Tide Sponsorship comes with Rudd.(or will this happen at all)(7-2-98)
UPDATE: Ricky Craven will test at Atlanta next week.(RPM2Nite)(6-23-98) - Have not heard anything on this(7-2-98)INCORRECT!
Look for Greg Sacks not to return to the #98 Thorn Apple Valley Ford for the remainder of the season. His injuries are healing slowly and he'll probably need a few more months to heal.(RPM2Nite)(7-1-98) - Sacks is scheduled to see a neurosurgeon in New Orleans on July 13. We should know something more concrete on his return then.(7-2-98)
Some BGN News: Kevin Lepage will drive the #40 Channellock Chevy at Milwaukee this week; Ron Hornaday returns to drive the #59 Chevy; Casey Atwood will have a sponsor for three BGN races in 1998, Les Care Kitchen, Inc. will sponsor Atwood and the #28 LAR Motorsports Chevy at Milwaukee, Ricmond(9/11) and Homestead(11/15); Blaise Alexander will have Gordon Gibbs as an acting crew chief this weekend.(NASCAR Online/RPM2Nite)(7-2-98)
When Jeff Gordon won at Sears Point last week, he joined Mark Martin in having won at 16 of the 20 tracks now in use on the Winston Cup circuit. Martin could move back ahead by winning this weekend at Daytona. Here are the tracks where Gordon and Martin have not yet won: Gordon: Las Vegas, Texas, Phoenix and Michigan. Martin: Daytona, Indianapolis, New Hampshire and Pocono.(That's Racin' - Random Thoughts, David Poole)(7-2-98)
(7-1-98)
Time to put this rumor to rest: Dale Earnhardt Inc. announced Tuesday that #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo driver Steve Park will return to NASCAR Winston Cup racing
on Aug. 1 for the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis. At that time, substitute driver Darrell Waltrip will return to Tyler Jet Motorsports #17 team at Indianapolis. Said
Ty Norris, DEI Director of Motorsports: "We explored a variety of opportunities for Steve in the past two weeks, but all of us finally decided that we need to stay focused on a one-car team and stick to our original schedule of bringing Steve back for the Brickyard 400. As much as we would like to, we just can't run two cars.
It's just asking too much from a first-year team just hitting its stride. Our next step is to test at Indy on July 13-14-15 and be 100 percent for the Brickyard."(Pennzoil PR)(7-1-98)
RaceComm Offers New Audio Feature, http://www.racecomm.com, the fastest growing motorsports site on the Internet(next to Jayski.com) has added a new feature in conjunction with http://www.liveracing.com. Mike Calinoff's Audio Report can be heard on Monday mornings, featuring a recap of the weekends NASCAR events. On Thursday, Calinoff will preview the upcoming events and include a commentary.(7-1-98)
It has been a long time with the injured foot but Jimmy Foster is ready to return to drive the Dr Pepper #50, Nicknamed (Charlie Brown) to a good finish this weekend for Washington Erving Motorsports. Jimmy is really looking forward to driving at the Milwaukee Mile. Jimmy said, "Its been 2 1/2 months since I drove and I have learn alot working at the shop with the team and from the other drivers that have filled in for me. It will feel good to back driving the Dr Pepper #50 again. Thank's to all who emailed me, while I was out recovering from my injury."(www.washingtonerving.com - Gerry)(7-1-98)
UPDATE: I hear Ashton Lewis Jr, who drove the #9 BGN car at Watkins Glen this past weekend is being considered for the #91 LJ Racing Chevy ride after Daytona.(6-30-98) - OK, here is the straight scoop on this deal: Ashton Lewis and Joe Falk were on Joe Moore's radio show (Moore is of MRN) and Lewis and Falk are considering teaming up for the Bud at The Glen in August. Lewis admitted that he didn't have enough experience on the ovals, but probabily could do a decent job on the road course.(7-1-98)
NASCAR Winston Cup regular Wally Dallenbach Jr., is scheduled to test an Indy Racing League car for Pennzoil Panther Racing during the upcoming Goodyear Tire Test at Texas on August 4 and 5. If all goes well and schedules permit, Dallenbach will run the second Pennzoil Panther Racing entry during Texas this September.(Oval Track News)(7-1-98)
UPDATE: As to be expected Ron Hutter(Matt Hutter's father) has dropped Team 34 as a customer.(6-30-98) - I hear from a very good source that this is not true and Hutter will still supply engines to Team 34(BGN #'s 30, 34 and 36)(7-1-98)
(6-30-98)
UPDATE: Hate to bring bad new but an update on the Dover accident: "Second dead from electrical accident at Dover Downs" - A second person has died from the electrical accident which occurred May, 28 at a campground set up for the NASCAR races at Dover Downs. Eugene Everitt Jr., 34, of Shermansdale, Pa., was pronounced dead Friday at Chester-Crozer Burn Center. The accident occurred when electricity arced into a flagpole, which a group of campers were trying to sep up. John T. Pease, 32, of Bloxom, Va., was killed on the night of the accident.(Delaware State News)(6-23-98) - Diane Everitt was released from Crozer Chester Burn Center on June 20. Joseph F. Mensack 41, of Salisbury, Ms. also suffered third degree burns and is still in critical condition at Crozier. Jeffrey S. Picard, of Virginia, had been transferred the night of the fire to St. Agnes Hospital Burn Center in Philadelphia, PA. According to Joann Cuddy, a staff nurse at St. Agnes, Picard was transferred on Monday afternoon to a rehabilitation center in Salisbury, MD in stable condition.(Dover Post)(6-30-98)
UPDATE: Speculation continues about the future of the Bob Hancher-Todd Bodine team, which again failed to make the field at Sears Point. The first-year team has made only eight of the 16 races. Several car owners report talking with Bodine during the past 24 hours about driving their cars, including Falk. However, team officials insist that Bodine has not been released.(JournalNow); If Bodine indeed exits this week, look for Loy Allen to drive the car at Daytona.(Richmond News-Dispatch - Skip Wood)(6-29-98) - The #35 Team Tabasco has announced that Loy Allen, Jr will drive the car at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona in a one race deal(#35 engine builder Mark Smith used to own a team that Loy Allen drove for in 1996-97). Reports are that Bodine could return to the team after Daytona, RPM2Nite reports that rumors thru the garage were that it was not Bodines fault but that the team has inferior equipment.(RPM2Nite)(6-30-98)
Ward Burton is under contract thru 1999 at Bill Davis Racing and is actively
working toward a contract extension that would run concurrently with the new
incoming sponsor to replace MBNA on the #22 Pontiac. Also Amoco is already in place
with a three-year contract thru 2000 at Bill Davis Racing with BGN driver Dave Blaney, growing their program gradually through his Busch Series acclimation toward a full WC budget in 2000. So Burton won't be going anywhere.(6-30-98)
Getting many questions about whether Bobby Labonte led a lap at Sears Point, my answer: NASCAR Online has the OFFICIAL Results of the Save Mart/Kragen 350k and does not have Bobby Labonte leading a lap. Results that came out right after the race indicate that Labonte had led a lap. All points standing I have seen now have Bobby having 2070 points not the 2075 points he had before, so I can only assume that he did not lead a lap. The WRAL site has two sets of results up and the latest does bot have Labonte leading a lap. Not looking for any speculation or explanations on this.(6-30-98)
This is interesting: I hear that Darrell Waltrip and Steve Park may run DEI cars one with the regular paint scheme and the other with a reverse Pennzoil paint scheme. No idea who would be in what, what # the 'other' car would be, who would crew the second car or who would pay for it.(6-30-98)(WRONG)
INCORRECT: Geoff Smith now says they may be able to keep Ted Musgrave in the #16 Primestar Ford for the remainder of the season. Things are still up in the air with Musgrave and Kevin Lepage. Rumor and speculation lean toward LaPage taking over as driver sometime in July.(6-29-98) - Both Winston Cup Today and NASCAR Today Radio shows report that Musgrave will likely be out of the #16 Primestar Ford by mid-July. Lepage is meeting with Roush officials to map out a testing plan.(6-30-98)
(6-29-98)
UPDATED: I hear that Morgan-McClure is ready to start that two car team for 1999 and that it's virtually a done deal for Land-Air Transport Corp. Headquaters in Greeneville TN that either Land-Air or Forward-Air, or both, will be the sponsors of a second Morgan McClure team for 1999. If so, other teams looking at or are starting two-car teams for 1999 include: #9 - Melling(planning, see below story); #10 - Rudd Performance Motorsports(possibly); #11 - Team Scandia(possibly); #15 - Moore-Robinson Motorsports(planning); #18 - Joe Gibbs Racing(for sure - Tony Stewart); #21 - Wood Brothers(for sure with Roush); #23 - Travis Carter(possibly); #30 - Bahari Racing(maybe); #33 - Andy Petree(for sure - unknown driver); #41 - Larry Hedrick Racing(maybe); other teams including the #1 - DEI; #22 - Bill Davis Racing and #17 - Tyler Jet Motorsports looking to join the multi-car ranks in 2000. Plus Richard Childress is considering a third team and rumors have Hendrick starting a fourth and Roush?? who knows.(6-29-98)
Ted Musgrave confirmed yesterday he'll be leaving Jack Roush in the next few weeks and he said he doesn't know where he'll end up. Musgrave could end up in the #91 LJ Racing Chevy(a virtual swap with Kevin Lepage, expected to get the #16 ride) or possible in a 2nd Bahari Racing (#30 Pontiac) car.(JournalNow), Another possible landing spot for Musgrave could be in the Richard Childress-owned car now driven by Mike Skinner, whose days there may be numbered.(Richmond News-Dispatch - Skip Wood)(6-29-98)
Jerry Nadeau was treated and released from a nearby hospital after tests for a possible concussion were negative. Nadeau, who started from the second position, was injured early in the race after losing control of his car and crashing.(Richmond News-Dispatch - Skip Wood)(6-29-98)
Buckshot Jones tested at Indy on Tuesday(6-30), Wednesday and Thursday and that the Stavola Brothers is re-organize and building all new cars. I hear there will some sort of press release this week.(6-29-98)
Adam Petty won his first American Speed Association race last night at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Mo., and made a cell phone call to his pop, Winston Cup driver Kyle Petty, from victory lane.(Richmond News-Dispatch - Skip Wood)(6-29-98)
Per NASCAR Online in part from Sunday's Notebook: Kyle Petty said he was weighing the possibility of running Adam in some NASCAR events in the fall, since the 22-race ASA schedule ends in September. "I'm tickled to death." Kyle said. "I told him as bad as I've been doing in this thing (the Hot Wheels Pontiac), he was going to have to change my luck or he may get my Winston Cup ride from me. He's definitely the next one in line for it, I will say that."(NASCAR Online)(6-29-98)
Per RPM2Nite, Rick "Nigel" Mast, driver of the #75 Remington Ford, came down with a case of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning during a flight San Francisco to Atlanta on Monday morning. The aircraft was diverted to Denver where Mast was checked out and released to go later in the day. Mast was interviewed by John Kernan and is fine now.(RPM2Nite) - the Nigel part was a joke by his crew where they had Nigel Mast painted on the car instead of Rick Mast since Mast went to road racing course recently. Nigel comes from the F1 great Nigel Mansell.(6-29-98)
Ricky Craven finished ninth at Watkins Glen in the Lysol 200 BGN event and seemed to be happy with how he felt after the race. Look for him to return in the Cup race in New Hampshire, July 12th.(6-29-98)
Dale Earnhardt has been selected as the first-quarter nominee for the National Motorsports Press Association Spirit Award. The NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award is designed to recognize sportsmanship, determination, extraordinary performance in the face of adversity, consideration of others and promotion of motorsports.(NASCAR Online)(6-29-98)
CHRYSLER NEWS/RUMORS
Chrysler Corp. officials deny any plans to begin fielding cars for the NASCAR
Winston Cup series next season. See the story at That's Racin': Chrysler denies it will enter Winston Cup anytime soon.(That's Racin')(6-30-98)
Like many of you we are hearing about Chrysler returning to NASCAR Winston Cup racing. In an era of body configuration benevolence Chrysler might be tempted but there is nothing to indicate they will show up on-track any time soon. These rumors seem to surface every third year or so and have as yet to produce anything but print.
(Stock Car Racing Magazine Site.(6-23-98)
At least one national magazine, followed by countless wire and online services,
have concluded, based on rather sketchy information, that Chrysler is preparing
to jump into Winston Cup racing, very possibly as early as 1999. iRACE has been at the forefront of the Chrysler-in-Cup rumors this past year, and we stick by what we've been saying: Chrysler is considering a return to Winston Cup racing. It could happen in 2000. It should happen in 2001, at the latest. It will not happen in 1999. See the rest of the story on iRace by Steve Smith at Journalists jumping the gun on Chrysler's plans.(6-22-98)
The return of Chrysler - There's been a lot of talk and print on the subject
for the last few days. It started the begining of last week when Autoweek's Al Pearce broke the story that Chrysler was indeed interested in returning to the elite touring division for stock cars - aka NASCAR's Winston Cup. The talk, as far as we can tell, is extremely premature and appears to be originating from NASCAR itself rather than from the Chrysler Corporation. The talk is very well intentioned and appears to be an effort to get all the U.S. based car manufacturers involved in America's fastest
growing sport. See the rest of Mike Snow's story at GoRacing - Chrysler's Return to NASCAR?.(6-21-98)
NASCAR's Mike Helton says if Chrysler does come to Winston Cup racing it almost certainly won't be in 1999, and Helton said that NASCAR's talks with Chrysler so far have been very preliminary. Sources close to the situation indicate that NASCAR may be more interested in Chrysler coming into NASCAR than Chrysler is interested. Chrysler does field trucks for NASCAR's Truck tour, but has steadfastly refused to consider a Winston Cup effort. Detroit sources say that Chrysler has broken at least one planned meeting with NASCAR's Bill France during the past month.(6-20-98)(JournalNow)(6-20-98)
UPDATE: Heard from a reader that this was in a Newport News, VA newspaper written by Al Pearce: "Two strong rumors are making the rounds: 1). Chrysler plans to return to NASCAR next year with an Intrepid team, Chrysler may have an announcement in the next few days about it plans. No Mopar has been in Winston Cup since 1985, when Phil Good and Maurice Randall drove Chryslers at Dover. All told Chrysler products won 411 races between 1949 and 1977. 2). Watkins Glenn is for sale." (had this a few weeks ago on the site)(6-17-98) - A reader found a link to the story for me at the Chrysler planning a return to NASCAR, Automaker could have cars in '99 by AL Pearce. NASCAR president Bill France confirmed Tuesday that his staff was to have huddled with Chrysler execs last weekend, but time ran out. Motors will be the big problem they face.(Daily Press, VA)(thanks Mike)(6-18-98) - NOTE - Same story that is in Autoweek, same author and Speedworld has a good story by Tony Johns: Still Dodging the Question.(6-19-98)
