PAST NEWS JULY 19-25, 1999
(7-25-1999)
- Pocono Double: Bobby Labonte is the 4th driver to win both Pocono events in the same season, last time it was done was 1986 when Tim Richmond did it. Bill Elliott in 1985 and Allison in 1982(7-25-1999)
- Lepage Leads: #16-Kevin Lepage led a lap for the first time in the 1999 season and his career(7-25-1999)
- Wally's Run: Wally Dallenbach had his first top five in 84 races, since he finished 3rd at Sears Point in 1996(7-25-1999)
- DW Info: Darrell Waltrip was faced with an intriguing situation during 2nd round qualifying. He had one provisional remaining entering this weekend(at Pocono) and his team contemplated withdrawing from the race in order to save his provisional for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, where he is making an announcement of his retirement plans on Aug. 5. Waltrip, who originally qualified in the 36th and final position on speed, elected to take his chances but had to use a provisional when Barrett and Lepage made the field on speed. Waltrip will now have to make the field on speed to run in the Aug. 7 Brickyard 400(That's Racin')(7-25-1999)
- Buckshot Jones: In TNN's Inside NASCAR they interviewed Buckshot Jones, driver of the #00 Pontiac in the Cup and BGN series. The Buckshot Racing team expects to make a decision in the next week or so on it's 2000 plans. Potions include: hiring some experienced Winston Cup personnel and trying Cup full time on 2000, driving for another Cup team, or going back full time to the BGN series and regroup, possibly with a two car effort(7-25-1999)
- Sadler Hurt: Elliott Sadler wrecked during 2nd round qualifying and injured(sprained) his left(clutch) foot. X-rays were negative and Sadler practice the #21 CITGO Ford for most of the Happy Hour practice. Morgan Shepherd practiced for the final 10 minutes and will stand by if relief is needed for Sadler(NOL)(7-25-1999)
(7-24-1999)
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- #91 Sponsor? hearing the #91 LJ Racing team has a deal working with Invinca-Shield for at least a one race deal. It could be at the Brickyard 400(Victory Lane Online)(7-24-1999)
- RCR/Earnhardt: #3 team owner Richard Childress says he continues to talk to Dale Earnhardt about extending the driver's contract through 2003. Earnhardt's contract ends after the 2000 season. Childress says he will announce his plans in regards to a BGN team later this season(News and Record)(7-24-1999)
- Dallenbach/Wells? Unser? Wally Dallenbach said that his plans are now unclear. But he is seen as one of the front-runners for the Tide-sponsored ride with new car owner Cal Wells. According to one top car owner, Wells has opened his wallet in an effort to get his new operation off the ground and is offering as much as $2.5 million to land the right Cup driver. Steve Grissom is reported to be on Wells' list of potential drivers for his new McDonald's sponsored Busch team, which is to be promoted to a full Cup team in 2001(PitNow). Jayski Note: other rumors have Al Unser, Jr, whose CART/Penske contract runs out this year, as a possible driver for Well's Cup deal, but most think he'll stay in CART or go to the IRL and no matter what happens drive in the 2000 Indy 500(7-24-1999)
- Engine Rules: NASCAR officials are watching how a new rule by the BGN series that eliminates qualifying engines works. The rule prohibits teams from using an engine specifically for qualifying and another for the race. Some have said that such a rule in the Cup series could save car owners as much as $1 million a season. The majority of Cup team changes motors after qualifying. Gary Nelson, the Winston Cup Series director, says NASCAR officials want to see how the rule works during the BGN season before deciding if a change is needed in the Cup series(News and Record)(7-24-1999)
(7-23-1999)
- McReynolds stays at RCR: Larry McReynolds ended speculation of becoming a team owner next season when he signed a contract extension with Richard Childress Racing to remain as the crew chief of the Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Racing team through the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. McReynolds, 40, has been the crew chief for Mike Skinner and the #31 Team Lowe's Racing Chevrolet since August 1998, when he came across the street from Richard Childress Racing's other Winston Cup program with driver Dale Earnhardt. Prior to that, he had been with Robert Yates Racing since 1991. He has 23 NASCAR Winston Cup victories and 18 pole positions since first becoming a crew chief in 1985. His victories include two Daytona 500s, with Davey Allison (1992)(not Irvan in 94, sorry) and Earnhardt (1998), and consecutive wins in The Winston (1991, '92) with the late Davey Allison(Cotter Group PR) also That's Racin' has an article at McReynolds extends deal with Childress(7-23-1999)
- Mellings Plans: Despite Adversity, Melling Team Stays Positive. Despite the death of owner Harry Melling, despite the departure of driver Jerry Nadeau at seasons end, and despite being 33rd in points, Melling Racing is not ready to throw in the towel. The year 2000 will usher in the 21st century, the 21st year of Melling's
involvement in NASCAR, a new Ford Taurus, and a new chapter in Melling Racing's history. A chapter that will include a new driver. No decision has been made yet on a new driver, but the team is looking at experienced CTS, BGN and Cup drivers. It is that commitment that led Mark Melling, president of Melling Racing Enterprises, to build the team's new 20,000 square foot facility in Concord, NC. The building houses the teams' administrative offices, show car program, fabrication shop, chassis shop, body shop and assembly shop. Pro Motor Engineering in Mooresville, NC handles the teams motors. The team is building new cars, adding depth, stepping up their pit stop practice schedule and gearing up to start their development of the 2000 Taurus(in part from a Melling PR)(7-23-1999)
- Donlavey News: Junie Donlavey has a four race deal in place with Hills Bros. Coffee. The firm has agreed to sponsor Stanton Barrett in the #90 Taurus in the upcoming races at Indianapolis, Michigan, Richmond and Talladega. Donlavey will run the sponsor's logo at Pocono as well this weekend as a bonus race. Donlavey, commenting on his team's recent struggles, said the situation was much like that of a first year team. His team has had such a dramatic turnover in personnel, that it is taking them some time, much like a start-up team, to get used to working together. He thinks he has a very promising young driver in Barrett and sees brighter days ahead for his re-energized group(Inside Motorsports)(7-23-1999)
- Nice Stuff: Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Caterpillar and Ward Burton are hosting 10-year-old Todd Branas this weekend at Pocono International Raceway. Branas is a Make-A-Wish child whose wish was to drive heavy machinery.
Caterpillar hosted him at its Peoria, IL, world headquarters a few weeks ago. There, Todd saw a Caterpillar Pontiac show car and recognized Ward Burton's name when he was told Burton was the driver. Burton called Todd on the telephone a few days later, and the two chatted for 15 minutes. Burton suggested Todd attend a race at some point. Todd contacted Burton and asked about the Pocono event. Caterpillar jumped on board and arranged and paid for motel accommodations in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., for the race, as well as making arrangements with NASCAR for a pit and garage tour. Mattioli has delivered race tickets for use by Todd and his parents, Mike and Renee Branas. Burton will meet the Branas Saturday morning and spend some time with them(Williams Company)(7-23-1999)
- Pocono Repeat? The last driver to sweep both Pocono races in the same season was Tim Richmond in 1986. Of the other 11 tracks with two Winston Cup races, Daytona is the only other one that has waited longer for a season sweep(Bobby Allison won both Daytona races in '82). Since Pocono gained its second race in 1982, only two other drivers have managed to complete the sweep -- Bill Elliott in 1986 and Allison in 1982(Times-Dispatch)(7-23-1999)
- Pole/Pocono: Six of all the 43 Pocono races have been won by the pole starter - 14%. Last Pennsylvania 500 won by the pole winner: 1994, by Geoffrey Bodine(TNN Stats)(7-23-1999)
- Musgrave News: Ted Musgrave was on SpeedVisions 'This Week in NASCAR' show Thursday and he mentioned the #75 Butch Mock team will run seven different paint schemes in the remaining races this year, and that team owner Butch Mock will be making a big announcement at Indy concerning the 2000 season and sponsor(thanks Wide Freakin' Open)(7-23-1999)
(7-22-1999)
- Sad News: Former Winston Cup team owner, Harry Ranier passed away Wednesday morning of a massive heart attack. Ranier was 62. The viewing will take place in Kentucky on Saturday and the funeral there as well on Sunday. Ranier owned cars that Bobby and Davey Allison drove for and sold the team to present team owner Robert Yates before the 1988 season. His team won three Daytona 500's and he was looking into forming a BGN team in 2000. Harry is the father of Lorin who is a consultant and spotter for Bill Elliott. Condolences go out to the Ranier family(in part from RPM2Nite and RaceComm) and now NOL has a story up - Former team owner Ranier passes(7-21-1999) -- UPDATE: Mike Calinoff will be Bill Elliott's spotter this week at Pocono, filling in for Lorin Ranier. Calinoff is the regular spotter for Ricky Craven who is not entered at Pocono(7-22-1999)
- RJR Hire: from a Press Release - Richard M. Sanders has been named president of Sports Marketing Enterprises and vice-president of marketing for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Sanders replaces G. Clifton “Cliff” Pennell who will remain as senior vice president of marketing for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. In addition to maintaining oversight accountability for Sports Marketing Enterprises, Pennell will assume additional responsibilities within RJR. Sanders will report to Pennell(7-22-1999)
- Terry Labonte - Hendrick - 2003: Terry Labonte will remain with Hendrick Motorsports banner at least through 2003 under a three-year contract extension signed by the two-time Winston Cup champion. See full AP story at the WRAL site: Terry Labonte Extends Contract With Hendrick Through 2003 (7-22-1999)
- Required Reading: thought this was pretty neat - This fall Dr. Dan Pierce, is offering a course at the University of North Carolina - Asheville entitled "Stockcars and Southern Culture." The class has almost filled in preregistration. One of the course requirements will be for students to check the Jayski page at least once a week and write a summary of significant articles they find there.(geez..who would have thought) -- Also: The Atlanta History Center is gearing up for a major exhibit on the history of stockcar racing in the South. Pete Daniel of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History will be guest curator(7-22-1999)
- Roush to buy Track? CORRECTION(s): Heard that Jack Roush(owner of the #'s 6,16,26,97,99 Cup teams) may buy the Concord (NC) Motorsport Park Speedway, close it down(for Sat. night racing), and use it for shops and a test track. Riush was recently turned down for zoning where he wanted to build mega race shops and a test track at some property he owns near Lowes Motor Speedway -- CORRECTION: I am told by the folks at the Concord Motorsport Park that the track is not being sold and to correct the info on the Roush Shops - from June 10th: Roush Racing's new headquarters may not be coming to Concord, after the company Tuesday withdrew a controversial rezoning request to build its new facility and test track there. The $75 million proj-ect drew opposition from hundreds of Concord residents who live near the proposed 106-acre facility on U.S. 29. The residents feared the test track would generate too much noise. See the rest of the Charlotte Observer article at: Roush Racing abandons rezoning effort, Concord site.(7-22-1999)
(7-21-1999)
- Hendrick/Atwood? UPDATE: heard that Hendrick Motorsports holds some sort of 'first right of refusal' when Casey Atwoods current contract is up at Brewco where he drives the #27 Castrol Oil BGN Chevy -- UPDATE: A very well placed source tells me that it is not true that Hendrick holds any form of contract with Atwood or the Brewco team(7-21-1999)
- Spencer Chat: in part from a question at the NOL Jimmy Spencer Chat: Asked about his plans and the #23 sponsor - "Sponsorship looks good. We are talking about next year and there's still some opportunities out there that I'm persuing. I have not made my decision where I'm going to stay. I have a meeting with Travis and some other car owners. My heart's with Travis. I think we need to make some changes to make ourselves a championship caliber team and hopefully it will be worked out in the next few weeks." See full chat at Jimmy Spencer Chat Transcript(7-21-1999)
- No Sprague in Cup: the rumor that #24 CTS driver, Jack Sprague would move up to Winston Cup were apparently false. NOL reports that Sprague will return to the #24 GMAC Hendrick Motorsports truck in 2000, well actually Rick Hendrick says GMAC and the team will return truck next year and he "hopes Jack's the driver"(NOL)(7-21-1999)
- Dodson to Return? Barry Dodson was the mastermind behind Rusty Wallace’s 1989 championship, yet is not presently involved in Winston Cup racing. That may soon change. There has always been a market for Dodson’s services. He has spent the last few years working for Busch and truck teams primarily because he wanted to get away from the high pressure of NASCAR’s premier division and recover from the loss of two teen-aged children in an automobile accident(Monte Dutton/Gazette) Dodson currently oversee's the #35 Team Amick BGN team(7-21-1999)
- #90 News: Stanton Barrett will attempt to make the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono in the #90 Donlavey Ford with Hills Brothers coffee as the sponsor(Williams Company)(7-21-1999)
(7-20-1999)
- Taurus and Fans: The fourth annual Ford Fan Appreciation Day in Indianapolis will offer fans two exciting opportunities this year -- a chance to meet their favorite Ford Winston Cup drivers, and a chance to witness the worldwide introduction of the 2000 NASCAR Taurus race car on August 4, 1999, at the RCA Dome. Top Ford NASCAR Drivers and First Look at 2000 NASCAR Taurus Highlight Annual Indianapolis Ford Fan Appreciation Day(Yahoo/Prn News)(7-20-1999)
- LJ Racing News: Veteran Winston Cup Driver Morgan Shepherd will drive the LJ Racing Chevrolet this weekend at Pocono Raceway on July 25, 1999, for the Pennsylvania 500. Dick Trickle is unable to occupy the driver's seat of the #91 Chevy because of a prior commitment to participate in the BGN at Pikes Peak. Trickle will be back with LJ Racing for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 7, 1999. LJ Racing is still in pursuit of a full time primary sponsor, and will run selective events for the remaining 1999 season(LJ Racing PR/Site)(7-20-1999)
- Hendrick News UPDATE: There will be a Hendrick Motorsports Press Conference to announce a new partner in their racing program on Monday, July 19, 1999, at the Hendrick Motorsports Museum in Harrisburg, N.C. Will also be a 1:45pm/et teleconference of the event(Cotter Group PR)(7-14-1999) -- UPDATE: this should be the Press Conference where they announce Jerry Nadeau as the driver and Michael Holigans Homes as the sponsor -- UPDATE: From the www.michaelholigan.com / Michael Holigans site: MichaelHoligan.com is entering the most competitive and action-packed sport in the world, NASCAR Winston Cup Racing! Starting in February 2000 at the Daytona 500, MichaelHoligan.com will be the primary sponsor of the #25 team from Hendrick Motorsports. See images of the car and the Press Release at: Michael Holigans Homes PR(7-19-1999) -- see press release at: Catchfence(7-20-1999)
(7-19-1999)
- Evernham: I get many rumors on what the #24 crew chief, Ray Evernham will do after the end of the season. Everything from leaving the sport to staying right where he is. The truth is probably somewhere in between. There is a Ray Evernham fan page that has many of the transcripts of Evernham's Interviews, the latest being July 8th with Alan Bestwick. Check it out at: This Week In NASCAR - July 8, 1999, it's pretty candid(Sue's ADNASCAR Newsletter/Desiree's Ray Evernham Page)(7-19-1999)
- Hendrick Wind Tunnel: Plans for an aerodynamic wind tunnel on the grounds at Hendrick Motorsports have been put on hold until the return of team owner Rick Hendrick. Hendrick is currently in the remission stage of a fight against a rare form of leukemia. After a season out of Winston Cup racing as part of a legal settlement, Hendrick made his return to the garage area for events leading up to the Daytona 500 in February. But as the season-opener neared, media interviews and a busy schedule had already taken their toll. See full story at Hendrick wind tunnel on hold. Jayski Note: te story mentions that the Hendrick team has won three straight Winston Cup titles, they have won four(Gordon 1995,97,98 and Labonte 1996)(7-19-1999)