PAST NEWS JULY 26-AUGUST 1, 1999
(8-1-1999)
- Moore Team Sold? UPDATE Yep: hearing reports that #15 Cup owner Bud Moore has sold his team to Winston West operation that wants to go Cup Racing also see a story on SpeedVision/iRace: Deal could put Bud Moore team back in action(7-30-1999) -- UPDATE: Bud Moore has sold his Spartanburg(SC)-based Bud Moore Engineering race team to Fenley Motorsports, a Stockton, Calif.-based team on NASCAR's Winston West circuit owned by Robert Fenley. The bulk of the deal has been worked out, according to Moore, over the past week. Only the fine details remain to be settled. The team, which will carry the # 62(not Moore's familiar #15) will attempt to qualify at Indy. The driver will be Winston West driver Jeff Davis, and the crew chief will be Joe Snyder, a data acquisition expert who has worked with several Winston Cup teams. Neither Moore nor his son Greg, who has been acting as the #15 team manager, will accompany the Fenley Motorsports crew to Indianapolis, but will act as consultants for the team after Indy. See the rest of the story at: The State by Jim McLaurin(8-1-1999)
- PowerTeam Paint at Indy: 1999 Indianapolis 500 and defending Pep Boys Indy Racing League champion Kenny Brack will serve as the honorary crew chief for Geoffrey Bodine’s Power Team #60 car during the Brickyard 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race next week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Bodine’s car will be painted similar to the A.J. Foyt Power Team Racing Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear driven by Brack(Indy Racing League Notes/Site)(8-1-1999)
- Al Unser Jr to Cup? Hearing rumors that Al Unser Jr may be considering moving from CART to Cup with the Cal Well's Tide team. Unser's contract with Penske is up at the end of the 1999 season. Rumor has Little Al supposedly driving the Cup car and pulling an Indy 500/Coca Cola 600 double, like Andretti and Stewart have done(8-1-1999)
- Earnhardt Paint Scheme UPDATE: Motorsports Direct is listing a diecast car called the "GM Sign Car" in which it says Earnhardt will begin running his new paint scheme at the Brickyard 400 -- UPDATE: NOL has a story posted on this: the hood of the No. 3 Chevrolet will be a replica of the GM Goodwrench Service Plus sign that appears as it does at the local dealerships across the United States. See full stoy at: Earnhardt to sport new look at Indy(8-1-1999)
- Dodson to Return? UPDATE 2: 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/Gaston Gazette) Dodson currently oversee's the #35 Team Amick BGN team(7-21-1999) -- UPDATE: Dodson has be released from the #35 Team Amick BGN operation. Team Owner Bill Amick sites philosophical differences(didn't see eye-to-eye)(WC Scene)(7-30-1999) -- UPDATE 2: TNN's Raceday reports that Dodson will start work at the #30 Bahari-Eel River Racing on Monday(8-1-1999)
(7-31-1999)
- Elliott and McDonald's: Bill Korbus, who directs the McDonald's racing program, says the company believed Elliott was going to retire after next season and it didn't want to be caught short. He also says that if Elliott doesn't retire, McDonald's would be interested in continuing to sponsor him. Two McDonald's cars? "It's certainly not outside the realm of possibility," Korbus says. "Cal was always our life-after-Bill plan." The catch is that Elliott, an owner-driver, plans to continue as an owner after he retires. And McDonald's has no interest in sponsoring an Elliott car with no Elliott inside(USA Today)(7-31-1999)
- Childress Notes: from Chris Economaki's National Speed Sport News weekly column 'Editor's Notebook': concerning Larry McReynolds 3-year deal with RCR as crew chief for the #31 - The 3-year deal can be aborted by Childress if McReynolds later decides he still wants to be a team owner. Childress also noted there are no plans for a third RCR team next year, "Not unless we need one."(NSSN)(7-31-1999)
- Henry's Rumblings: from the Stock Car Fans Newsletter(www.stockcarfans.com) - "Here we are 19 races into the season and we've still got one spot open on the Winner's Circle program. Now, I realize nobody is in this sport for the money (some of the numbers being thrown around in these new sponsor deals are staggering), but there was a time when being on the Winner's Circle plan made the difference in profit and loss for a big-time Cup team or two. I guess $300-$350K just doesn't buy what it used to. Anyway, the next race winner not already on the plan will be eligible. We filled the program last year by Martinsville in April with Bobby Hamilton's victory. John Andretti claimed the first wild card spot this season with his victory in that same event." By the way, I have a page with the Winner Circle Program rules and standings, current and for the last two years at Winners Circle Program (7-31-1999)
- More from Henry: Of the last 43 races, only one winner has been from a single-car program. Ricky Rudd's victory at Martinsville last September stands alone.....and when you look at the single car operations left, it's hard to predict that we could see a winner emerge from any of those in the near future. Thus far this year, we've only got 5 Top-5's (5.3%) and 33 Top-10's (17.4%) recorded by single car teams(7-31-1999)
(7-30-1999)
- Spoiler Change? UPDATE: Not in the angle but I hear NASCAR will issue a bulletin on how the braces on the rear spoilers are placed. Basically it tells the teams where the support braces go, how many, and exactly where to put them. From what I understand, teams could put them at angles or more than three per side so the tool used by NASCAR could only be hung on the spoiler where the team wanted it, usually in the center. Then they would turn the corners back a couple of degrees. Less downforce(7-29-1999) -- UPDATE: will be effective as of October 13th, 1999(before Talladega). An addition to the rule book covering the Rear Spoliers, concerning the Spoiler Braces. There can be a maximum of six, three per side, evenly spaced(7-30-1999)
- DW Paint: Darrell Waltrip's #66 Route 66/Big Kmart Ford Taurus will have a special paint scheme for the Brickyard 400. It will be the debut of the paint scheme Waltrip will run in selected races next year. The paint scheme will be unveiled during next Thursday's(Aug 5th) morning press conference(7-30-1999)
- Furr back in 2000: #25 Hendrick Motorsports Crew Chief, Tony Furr says he will return as the crew chief in 2000 and work with new 2000 driver Jerry Nadeau(WC Scene Magazine)(7-30-1999)
- CART Moore news: Greg Moore and Al Unser Jr., who both become free agents at the end of this season, have at times expressed interest in giving stock cars a try. Moore, 24, a Canadian, has been the hotter topic of late and seems in no hurry to dispel the rumors who says he has two or three opportunities 'over there'(NASCAR). Moore, who can command a multimillion-dollar deal in CART, confirmed with USA Today that he has talked with Wells. See full story at: Moore confirms NASCAR talks(TSN)...but in a WC Scene story about Cal Wells, Wells states that he was talking to a CART driver but that the deal fell through(7-30-1999)
- Wells down to 3: Cal Wells, who is starting BGN and Cup teams for the 2000 season, has narrowed his choice to BGN drivers for his McDonald's BGN team down to three(no names mentioned) but is not close to a Cup driver for his Tide operation yet(WC Today Radio and WC Scene) Hopes are for Wells to have his BGN driver run a few BGN races later in the 1999 season so the driver is eligible for all the tracks in 2000(7-30-1999)
- Bickle/TylerJet news: Rich Bickle was on RPM2Nite Thursday and alluded to a contact extension with the #45 TylerJet Team, well.....from NOL - Tyler Jet Motorsports team owner Tim Beverley announced Wednesday driver Rich Bickle has agreed to a multi-year agreement with the NASCAR Winston Cup Series organization(NOL)(7-30-1999)
- Lepage/Roush: Kevin Lepage was on RPM2Nite Thursday and said while TV Guide has not signed for the 2000 season yet, he felt that things are looking better in negotiations with the magazine. From a Tennessean/NY Times story: Lepage's primary sponsor was purchased by a competitor earlier this year and pulled out. Roush got TV Guide as a replacement, but now it looks as if TV Guide will leave at the end of the year, and there is the possibility Lepage's team may fold, leaving him looking for a ride(Tennessean)(7-30-1999)
- Shepherd News: an update on Morgan Shepherds plans for Indy. Shepherd will have a mixed crew, with some of his guys and some of Richard Jackson's guys(his old car owner, #1/14). Larry Gunselman, a NASCAR Winston West Driver, is in charge of the car set-up and preparation for the upcoming race. A qualifying engine will be leased from Dennis Fisher, an engine builder in Mooresville, NC(who also does the #60 engines). Shepherd and Jackson are going to Indy together in a joint venture, the car will be Morgan's #05 Pontiac(Morgan Shepherd Site)(7-30-1999)
- Carter Sponsor: Travis Carter, owner of the #23 and #66 Cup teams, says he has a primary sponsor to replace Winston, who is leaving the #23 team at the end of the 1999 season. Nothing has been signed yet but Carter says he has a solid verbal agreement. He expects to make an announcement in the next two months. As for his driver, Jimmy Spencer, he and Carter plan to talk soon but neither know what is going on driverwise for the 2000 season yet. Spencer hopes to have a decision in place by the beginning of September(WC Scene Magazine)(7-30-1999)
- Jeff Gordon Boulevard: On Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999, Jeff Gordon will celebrate his 28th birthday with a few thousand of his closest friends. County Road 275 East, which runs approximately one-mile on both sides of I-74, will be appropriately renamed "Jeff Gordon Boulevard." The ceremony will begin at 5:15pm at Dr. Malcolm Scamahorn Community Park located east of downtown Pittsboro, 10 miles west of Indianapolis, on Hwy 136(JGnewsletter/MNI)(7-30-1999)
- Grissom: NASCAR Today Radio reports that Steve Grissom is seriously talking to a few Cup owners about driving for them in the 2000 season(7-30-1999)
(7-29-1999)
- #30 SOLD UPDATE PR: Am hearing all kinds of reports that something is going on with the #30 team today, what?? not sure, could be the sale of the team?? Shut down?? Sponsor gone?? one thing I hear is that owner Chuck Rider has sold to the Barry Dodson group. Apparently, this was finalized today. Team keeps going. Not sure on sponsor or driver -- UPDATE PR: Bahari’ Racing owner Chuck Rider announced today that he has sold the team to Eel River Racing, LLC, a newly formed team owned by Boston businessman Jack Birmingham. Birmingham said 1990 Daytona 500 champion Derrike Cope will remain as the driver of the team for the remainder of the season, but the team and Cope are free to contract with others for the 2000 season. Jimmy Dean, Bryan Foods, State Fair Brand Corn Dogs and Rudy’s Farm will continue to serve as rotating sponsors on the #30 Pontiac Grand Prixs. Rider has agreed to be an officer of the newly formed team, which will be known as Bahari’-Eel River Racing. Birmingham, 57, is a native of Boston, and has homes in Osterville, Mass., and Vero Beach, Fla. Eel River flows through Osterville where Birmingham resides during the summer months. Rider formed Bahari’ Racing in 1987. His teams have earned 16 top-five and 69 top-10 finishes over that span, accumulating more than $7.5 million in earnings. Cope said his goal is to have a competitive rebirth during the remainder of the season. Bob Tomlinson, who served as Cale Yarborough Motorsports’ team manger when Cope was the driver from 1993-94, will serve in the same capacity at Bahari-Eel River Racing. Devin Birmingham, a marketing expert employed at Kellogg Co., will be part of the management team(Bahari PR)(7-28-1999) -- UPDATE: full story at That's Racin': Rider announces sale of Bahari' Racing by David Poole and from SpeedNet: Cope was in the 2nd year of a three-year commitment with Bahari' Racing, but with the circumstances the way they are, he has been able to come to terms on being released from any 2000 commitment(SpeedNet)(7-29-1999)
- Schrader #100: Ken Schrader will make his 100th BGN series start this week at St. Louis(That's Racin')(7-29-1999)
- Entry List is up at NOL for the Brickyard 400. The list link and info on the upcoming Cup race at my Brickyard 400 Info Page. Included in the entries are #14-Boris Said, #05-Morgan Shepherd, #61-Bob Strait, #32-Mike Wallace, #01-Jeff Green, #62-Jeff Davis, #93-Dave Blaney and #80-Gary Bradberry(7-29-1999)
- Dodson to the #30? RPM2Nite mentioned during it's story on the Bahari team being sold that Barry Dodson is under consideration to be the teams crewchief. Rumor has it that Dodson is ready to step back into Cup(7-29-1999)
- Donlavey News UPDATE: 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) -- UPDATE: The #90 will be unsponsored at Indy, the other race Hills Brothers will sponsor the car is in the season finale at Atlanta. Stanton Barrett is slated to drive the car at Indy and the Hills Bros races(7-29-1999)
- #75 Crew: hearing that Shock Specialist Danny Tompkins has parted ways with the #75 team after Pocono(7-27-1999) -- UPDATE: Also hearing that crew chief Jon Wolfe will part with the #75 team after the Brickyard 400(7-29-1999)
(7-28-1999)
- #91 Sponsor? UPDATE 2: 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) -- UPDATE: In the middle of a promtional release it mentions: "We're doing a five race deal with LJ Racing" and mentions Dick Trickle as the driver. They are giving away either a #91 Winston Cup car or a choice of a Brand New 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, it doesn't say what race the sponsorship starts(Invinca-Shield) -- UPDATE 2: Looks like Invinca-Shield will be sponsoring the #91 LJ racing Chevy at Indy, Bristol and Richmond and are still considering what other two races they will sponsor but I hear they are leaning toward Charlotte and Talladega(7-28-1999)
- #30 Sponsor? team for SALE? another rumor: hearing the Sara Lee sponsorship of the #30 Bahari Pontiac team is in jeopardy. Sara Lee is using a rotating product program on the car with Jimmy Dean, Bryan Meats, State Fair Corn Dogs, and Rudy's Farms(6-28-1999) -- UPDATE: Sources tell me that the Sara Lee sponsorship of the #30 will go through this season as it is under contract. Next year has yet to be determined(6-29-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Chuck Rider is considering selling his Winston Cup team after 14 winless seasons, according to sources close to the situation. Derrike Cope is the driver. Three men who are looking to be part of the new operation are Barry Dodson, Jimmy Johnson and Eddie Cheever. Dodson is a veteran NASCAR crew chief who led Rusty Wallace to the 1989 title and who moved over to the Truck division after the death of his children in a car crash five years ago. Johnson is the former NASCAR team manager who helped Rick Hendrick put together his stock-car empire. Cheever is a veteran Indy-car driver on the Indy Racing League circuit. Sara Lee, Rider's sponsor, is not expected to return as a Winston Cup sponsor next season. The Fortune 500 company joins a growing list of major sponsors leaving the stock-car series(PitNow)(7-24-1999) -- UPDATE 3: Noises being made that NFL Quarterback Jim Harbaugh may be interested in purchasing or investing in the #30 Bahari Racing team currently piloted by Derrike Cope(Catchfence) have not heard this one myself anyhere(7-26-1999) -- UPDATE 4: Team owner Chuck Rider is reportedly considering offers to sell the team and rumors have Sara Lee considering leaving the team as the sponsor(Winston Cup Today Radio)(7-28-1999)
- Rookies: No former Winston Cup rookie of the year winner has posted a series victory since Jeff Burton won the rookie title in 1994. Since then, Ricky Craven, Skinner Irwin and Benson have all won the title but come up empty in wins. In fact, of the past 10 rookie title winners, only three (Burton, Jeff Gordon and Bobby Hamilton) have won Cup races(That's Racin')(7-28-1999)
- Monte Carlo Testing: The 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is scheduled to be on the track Aug. 30-31 at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis. Teammates Mike Skinner and Dale Earnhardt are scheduled to drive the car. Richard Childress Racing developed the cars for all the tracks except Daytona and Talladega. Hendrick Motorsports developed the restrictor-plate cars(News and Record)(7-28-1999)
- Sadler rests: Elliott Sadler will skip the BGN race at Gateway to heal from the crash he had in second-round qualifying at Pocono last weekend. Sadler bruised his left foot. He was to drive the #35 Team Amick Pontiac(News and Record)(7-28-1999)
(7-27-1999)
- Melling Ride: At least three drivers, Morgan Shepherd, Steve Grissom and Dallenbach have spoken to Melling Racing about moving to the #9 Fords next season(That's Racin')(7-27-1999)
- Pizza Hut? UPDATE: rumor has it that Pizza Hut may be the next sponsor on the #75 Butch Mock(?) team(7-26-1999) -- UPDATE: hearing Butch Mock has sold the team but will finish out the season as the owner(7-27-1999)
- #88 Crew Member Hurt UPDATE: Brian Clark, the rear tire carrier for Dale Jarrett, broke a toe when the exhaust pipe landed on it as the car was dropped from the jack during a pit stop. Kevin Hall came over from the #28 car which crashed out of the race early(Infobeat)(7-26-1999) -- UPDATE:
Brian Clark, the right rear tire changer for Dale Jarrett's #88 Fords who was injured Sunday at Pocono Raceway, hopes to return to his team in time for the Aug. 7 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. Clark shattered his big toe and second toe on his left foot when Jarrett's car dropped from the jack and the car's tail pipe landed on his foot during the completion of a pit stop. He received stitches and has had his foot placed in a splint(That's Racin')(7-27-1999)
- Rudd rumor: I hear the 7/26 issue of AutoWeek magazine has a story about IRL team owner John Barnes and Panther Racing (driver:Scott Goodyear). "Barnes says he is in serious negotiations to buy a high profile Winston Cup team. He and soon-to-be-sponsorless Rick Rudd are friends."(7-27-1999)
- Burton to the #28?? UPDATE: Thought this was an odd rumor on the Speednet page Sunday: "Dallenbach has been linked with many teams for possible future rides. But no one expects Dallenbach's situation to be resolved until Robert Yates decides what he will do with the #28 Texaco/Havoline Ford, currently driven by Kenny Irwin. If Irwin is replaced later this season, sources expect Yates to choose Ward Burton, Jimmy Spencer or Dallenbach. Burton, who is eighth in series points with Bill Davis Racing team, wants to stay packaged with crew chief Tom Baldwin". That's a new one(SpeedNet)(7-26-1999) -- UPDATE: here that Ward Burton, driver of the #22 Caterpillar Pontiac with Bill Davis Racing and his crew chief Tommy Baldwin have re-upped with Bill Davis Racing for three more years(7-27-1999)
- Barrett Returns: Stanton Barrett, who ran the #90 Hills Bros Junie Donlavey Ford at Pocono(and Vegas) will also drive the car again in two weeks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway(Keystone/Williams Co)(7-27-1999)
(7-26-1999)
- Double KMart cars? KMart may be expanding its NASCAR sponsorship to include both of Travis Carter's teams next season(PitNow)(7-26-1999)
- #45: Tyler Jet Motorsports had it's best finish ever when Rich Bickle came home 7th at Pocono on Sunday(7-26-1999)
- Hut: Hut Stricklin brought the #58 SBIII Ford home 15th in the Pennsylvania 500, the best ever for the first year team, previous best was 19th at Richmond(7-26-1999)
- Yates honor: The #28 Robert Yates Racing Ford driven by Kenny Irwin carried a special decal in memory of the car's former owner Harry Ranier. He died last week of a heart attack. Among the drivers for Ranier, who sold the team to Yates in 1987, were Hall of Famers Buddy Baker, Bobby Allison, Yarborough and Benny Parsons(Infobeat)..The decal read, ``In Memory and Respect of Harry Ranier.'' In addition, smaller decals were distributed to the remainder of the 43-car field(That's Racin')(7-26-1999)
- Gordon's record? While it's looking doubtful that Jeff Gordon will win his 3rd consecutive Cup championship and tie Cale Yarboroughs record, hestill has a shot at one Winston Cup record. No one has led the circuit in victories for five consecutive seasons. Gordon shares the lead this season with Jeff Burton with four wins each. Darrell Waltrip led in victories from 1981-84, sharing the top spot with Bobby Allison in 1983(SpeedNet)(7-26-1999)
- Roush News: Roush Racing announced Sunday morning that Matt Kenseth and Chad Little will have their teams work from the same shop, which is being built near Concord Regional Airport. The teams are expected to move into the shop in December(News and Record)(7-26-1999)
- Not Needed: Morgan Shepherd was not at Pocono on Sunday. The Wood Brothers told him Saturday night he could go home and that rookie Elliott Sadler, who bruised his left foot in a crash, would be able to drive all day. Sadler finished 21st(News and Record)(7-26-1999)