PAST NEWS AUGUST 9-15, 1999
(8-15-1999)
- 2nd team? Hearing the 2nd Morgan McClure team will debut the #14 Chevy at Bristol with Brad Teague driving(8-15-1999)
- Christopher still has a shot UPDATE he did it and WON a race CORRECTION: Ted Christopher still can become the first NASCAR driver to start all three events in the Frontier at The Glen weekend. Christopher is 33rd in his #13-LesCare Kitchens Chevy after 1st round qualifying. He'll start 10th for the BGNN race and 17th for the Featherlite Modified Series race(NOL)(8-13-1999) -- UPDATE: how about that, Christopher was able to qualify for all three Watkins Glen events, congrats. He finished 2nd in the BGNN race and WON the Featherlite race(That's Racin' news) and finished 31st in the Cup race(8-15-1999)
- #24 Crew Chief: hearing the crew chief position for the #24 DuPont team will be filled from in house. Ray Evernham plans to move up to Team/General Manager(8-15-1999)
- Top Five: Jerry Nadeau got his first top five of his career at Watkins Glen in the #9 Cartoon Network/Jetsons Ford. #87-Ron Fellows also got his first top five in his 4th(not 2nd) Cup start, also ran the #96 Cat car at the 1998 Watkins Glen race and 2nd Loudon race(36th) and ran Watkins Glen in 1995(#68 Chevy)(8-15-1999)
- Laps Led: Jerry Nadeau led the first laps of his career at Watkins Glen as did Boris Said and Ron Fellows. Bobby Hamilton also led his first laps of 1999, leaving #55-Kenny Wallace as the only driver to make ALL the Cup races so far in 1999 and NOT lead a lap. For the bonus points standings see my 1999 Bonus Points Standings. 41 drivers who have led at least one lap in 1999(8-15-1999)
(8-14-1999)
- Kyles House: Homes owned by U.S. Sen. ``Fritz'' Hollings and Winston Cup driver Kyle Petty burned to the ground Friday night in a fire that swept through a resort community on this coastal island north of Charleston, SC. See the full AP story at That's Racin' (8-14-1999)
- More Rudd: Ricky Rudd, one of the last of the owner-drivers, denied a report on Charlotte television Thursday which said Rudd had sold his team to CART owner Chip Ganassi and would drive next year for Robert Yates. Rudd’s future became cloudy when sponsor Tide announced it would leave his team after this season to back a new group being formed by CART owner Cal Wells. Rudd has said he has other opportunities and will make up his mind whether to sell, partner or fold by mid-September. Rudd also insists he doesn’t want to sell outright but would rather acquire a partner, in the manner of Penske-Kranefuss or Carter-Haas. That likely is a subject he has discussed with Ganassi(Racer Mag Site)(8-14-1999)
- Spencer to Stay UPDATE: Jimmy Spencer says he is staying with the #23 Travis Carter team for the 2000 season. So he can be taken off the #28 wish list(Winston Cup Today Radio)(8-11-1999) -- UPDATE but...: Jimmy Spencer has not re-signed with Travis Carter. Spencer said he’d rather not comment on whether he had an offer, but
he did confirm he had no contract with anyone for next season. The team hasn’t signed a sponsor yet for 2000, but it appears that Kmart might be willing to sponsor both Carter teams next year as it markets Darrell Waltrip’s Victory Tour 2000(Times-Dispatch)(8-14-1999)
- Elliott to Yates? saw this in the PitNow notbook today and have heard it a bit the last day or so too: and now possibly Bill Elliott, according to sources close to Yates. Rudd said that he has a 30-day window to try to put together a sponsorship package for his own team. Elliott, like Rudd, has his own team, but sponsor McDonald's is leaving at the end of next season, leaving Elliott looking for a new deal. John Andretti could come in a package deal with crew chief Robbie Loomis, according to sources(PitNow)(8-14-1999)
- Parcells an owner? New York Jets coach Bill Parcells and former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson reportedly have approached NASCAR about buying all or part of a team. Although the extent of Parcells’ interest is uncertain, Carson has talked with Jim Brown and the group he is working with to organize a team(Times-Dispatch). Jim Brown and another football great, Willie Lanier are part of a joint venture dubbed Celebrity Motorsports who are rumored to be linking up with Mattei Motorsports(a few months ago), see my New Teams page for more info(8-14-1999)
- #11 Crew Change UPDATE 2: Hear that crew chief Gere Kennon has parted ways with the #11 Brett Bodine owned Paychex team. I hear that car chief Rick Gay will be interim crew chief(8-10-1999) -- UPDATE: confirmed on WC Today Radio(8-13-1999) -- UPDATE: Bodine has also added a position, hiring Art Slike as team general manager(That's Racin')(8-14-1999)
- Rudd/Yates? UPDATE 2: as reported here in different stories in the past - The CBS affiliate in Charlotte(WBTV ch 3) reported on their 11pm sportscast that it is "official" that Ricky Rudd will drive for Robert Yates in the #28 car in 2000. Rudd, according to their report, will sell his team to CART owner, Chip Gannasi(many readers) -- UPDATE: Robert Yates denied any deal with Ricky Rudd during a press conference this afternoon at Watkins Glen -- UPDATE 2: see the full story at That's Racin' - Yates denies any deal with Rudd(8-14-1999)
- Irwin/Yates: Kenny Irwin, now officially out as Robert Yates' #28 driver at the end of the year, said he has talked to several other car owners, but one of them is not Mark Melling, whose #9 Ford is being vacated by Jerry Nadeau(at the end of the season). At least not yet. Irwin's account of his demise: He went to the shop and asked to talk with Yates, and over the course of a two-hour heart-to-heart, Yates cited reasons why he didn't believe the pairing was working and why he believed it would probably not get better. Upon hearing this analysis, Irwin agreed there was no sense continuing, hence the "mutual agreement" cited by Yates in the press release. Also concerning Rudd and Texaco: The selection process at Yates Racing is being accelerated amid widespread speculation that Ricky Rudd will be the new driver of his #28 Ford. The short-term reaction was denials all around. Rudd still insists he will try to keep his team together. Expect an official announcement soon, along with a new multi-year agreement between Yates and sponsor Texaco-Havoline(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton)(8-14-1999)
(8-13-1999)
- The Wells driver list: Cal Wells, who owns Precision Performance Inc., has talked to at least seven drivers about his Tide-sponsored Winston Cup ride for the 2000 season. According to sources, Wally Dallenbach, who currently drives the #25 Bud Chevy's for Hendrick Motorsports, has emerged as the leading candidate for that ride. Wells has also talked with Cup drivers Jeremy Mayfield(#12), Ward Burton(#22), John Andretti(#43), Steve Grissom(no team) and CART drivers Al Unser Jr. and Scott Pruett about the ride. Mayfield and Burton both turned Wells' offer down, sources said. The PPI team is currently working out of two 25,000-square-foot buildings in Hickory, N.C., while a permanent motorsports complex is completed nearby. Wells, who has said he will use Robert Yates engines, has purchased several Fords from Yates(That's Racin'/Jim Utter)(8-13-1999)
- Bye, bye to another one? UPDATE yep Paychex: hearing that TV reports out of Rochester NY(WOKR), say Paychex will not return to the #11 Brett Bodine owned/driven Ford in 2000 -- UPDATE: also a story on Yahoo: Paychex Will Not Return as NASCAR Sponsor for 2000 Season(8-13-1999)
- Evernham/Baldwin News UPDATE 4 SURPRISE: Ray Evernham is expected to be named general manager of the three-team operation and its 250 employees, which will allow him to spend less time on the road. Key to the move would be signing a new crew chief for Jeff Gordon. Evernham wants to hire Tommy Baldwin, and it may be difficult for Baldwin to turn down that opportunity. Evernham is the man who gave Baldwin his first Winston Cup job -- with Ricky Craven in 1996. Baldwin expects to make his decision Wednesday, and he appears to be leaning toward leaving the Bill Davis-Ward Burton team to take the job. One of the other men on Evernham's short list, according to men familiar with the situation, was Frankie Stoddard, who runs Jeff Burton's team. Car owner Jack Roush said that he doesn't have any of his crew chiefs under contract ''because I don't feel they're at risk. If we pay our crew chiefs well and give them all the technology they need to work with, I don't know why any of us should want to change.'' Car owner Richard Childress has also been interested in Baldwin, according to sources....fromPitNow plus articles from That's Racin' and SpeedVision/iRace(8-8-1999) -- another one: Evernham’s Silly Season Keystone - Racer Magazine(8-9-1999) -- UPDATE: hearing Baldwin will take the Hendrick gig(8-10-1999) -- UPDATE: had heard an announcement would be made Wednesday on Baldwin's plans, but have heard nothing(8-12-1999) -- UPDATE 2: I hear that Baldwin has decided to STAY with the #22 Bill Davis Racing team and will sign a contract soon -- UPDATE 4: from TNN's Motorsports site - Baldwin Re-Signs With #22(8-13-1999)
- Woodchuck: I got a chance to see RPM2Nite but not qualifying and was wondering what ESPN's Bill Weber and Rusty Wallace, the pole sitter were talking about when they mentioned a Woodchuck, he's what happened from Monte Dutton at SpeedNet: Exiting the so-called inner loop during qualifying, Dale Jarrett had his progress slowed by an unfortunate woodchuck whose final act was to dent the nose of Jarrett's Taurus. Killing animals is a talisman of victory for Jarrett, who hit a bird during one of his two Daytona 500 victories and hit a turtle this summer during qualifying for the Pepsi 400, another victory(SpeedNet) RIP little Woodchuck, of course as we all know, Rusty saved a woodchuck in a Miller Lite commercial, hence the reference during the interview(8-13-1999)
- Craven/BGNN: Craven is not running the #50 Cup at Watkins Glen but is running the BGNN there. Craven qualified the #23 Chevy 17th after many problems with the car(RickyCravenFans.com)(8-13-1999)
- #62 News: Crew Chief Joe Snyder parted ways with the #62 Fenley Motorsports(formerly #15 Bud Moore team) operation recently. The team plans to staff the newly formed Winston Cup team with existing Winston West crew members and compete in the full schedule in 2000(8-13-1999)
- TV/Indy: The Brickyard 400 last Saturday drew a rating of 4.6, meaning it was seen by 4.6 percent of U.S. households with television sets. It attracted a 15 share, meaning it was seen by 15 percent of households actually watching television at the time. That's a 12 percent increase from last year's 4.1 rating. The 1998 race drew 14 percent of households watching television(SpeedNet)(8-13-1999)
- Andretti...Michael: there were reports last week that Michael Andretti was a candidate for the #28 Texaco ride because of his ties with Texaco and Ford, on RPM2Nite, Robin Miller of SpeecNet was interviewed and said he highly doubted that Andretti would ever come to NASCAR as he makes 5 million a year now and never even drove an IROC car, makes sense. Plus it is expected Yates won't take any chances this time and for for a tried and true Cup veteran(8-13-1999)
- Earnhardt Close: Dale Earnhardt, the seven-time Winston Cup champion who makes his 600th consecutive start Sunday on the road course at Watkins Glen, N.Y., has no plans to retire anytime soon. Earnhardt says he and owner Richard Childress are working out the details of a three-year contract that would keep him in the familiar No. 3 car at least through 2003(USA Today)(8-13-1999)
(8-12-1999)
- Double KMart cars? UPDATE3: KMart may be expanding its NASCAR sponsorship to include both of Travis Carter's teams next season(PitNow)(7-26-1999) -- UPDATE: Car owner Travis Carter says he doesn't know what he'll do next season, if he and Jimmy Spencer will be back or not. Carter is looking for a new sponsor, and it appears that Kmart, which sponsors Carter's second team with Darrell Waltrip, will back both operations next year. Spencer might be just the kind of hard-driving, devil-may-care charger that Robert Yates, for one, would like to see in one of his cars, but Spencer's image, even after several years of good grooming by R.J. Reynolds' marketing, is still perhaps a bit rough for some sponsors(PitNow) -- and UPDATE 2: Wally Dallenbach's name was mentioned as a possible replacement for Jimmy Spencer in the #23 car, but Travis Carter, who will announce his new sponsor at the end of this month, said Spencer has agreed to continue with the organization next year(SpeedVision)(8-10-1999) -- UPDATE 3: Sources tell me the Kmart Will be the sponsor on the Jimmy Spencer #23 Travis Carter Ford in 2000(8-12-1999)
- New Sponsor? hearing Red Wing Shoes may be looking to get into Cup or BGN as a team sponsor? no other details(8-12-1999)
- Eight Years Ago: One of the last real independent drivers, JD McDuffie passed away in an accident at Watkins Glen on August 11th, 1991. While not is on the 'net about JD, I have a Driver Tribute Page which JD included and there are some other Driver Tribute page linkes there(8-12-1999)
- Tim Richmond Wreath: Tim Richmond, voted one of NASCAR’s Fifty Greatest Drivers of all time, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla. on August 13, 1989. On Friday, August 13, 1999 a wreath will be placed in his honor at Providencia Park located just South of Good Samaritan on Flagler Drive. A small group of Internet race fans formulated the idea when they realized it would be too costly for all of them to gather for a formal Commemoration. So they decided to place a wreath and attach a booklet to it, resembling an Internet Message Board as it were. Much to their delight it has grown to well over 200 pages and encompasses writers from Canada, California and many of the States in-between. The wreath will be flanked by a sign which was hand painted by a Minor O. Rodeffer, from Mt. Crawford, VA. The book, which has spread into books, is begun with a prayer by Daniel J. Auppl of Minnesota and ended with a prayer by Hap Lewis of West Palm Beach. In between are poems, such as the one written by Rebecca Borelli for Filmar Racing and touching personal stories from fans who met Tim Richmond and from those who were touched by him. Don Spincken, of Amherst, NH, who spent many hours working on the project
said, “after reading it, I have a tear in my eye and a smile on my face.” Herb Ballengee, who spent many hours at his computer said, “I never expected so many responses.” Amy Snodgrass of Ashland, Ohio, Tim’s hometown, hopes that West Palm Beach will be the inspiration to erect a permanent memorial in Ashland. Jayedda S. Marsh of Boynton Beach, FL will physically place the wreath. “I know that without the readership of the Internet sites, in particular, jayski.com; speedworld.net; racecomm.com and netpitpass.com the response would never have been so swift in such a short period of time. I think the re-run of Tim Richmond stories written by the well known novelist and motorsports writer Matt McLaughlin assisted in bringing such heartwarming stories to West Palm.”(8-12-1999)
- Victory Motorcycles: this happened Wednesday - Only the roar of the Winston Cup Series’ #75 car will temper the commotion of 300,000 bike enthusiasts and their motorcycles at this year’s Sturgis Rally & Races. NASCAR star driver Kyle Petty will pilot the #75 Victory Motorcycles Winston Cup car through the streets of Sturgis on August 11 before appearing at the public unveiling of the new Victory V92SC motorcycle. Petty will drive to the unveiling event from 9:30 to 10am. The public introduction of Victory’s new V92SC will be held near the custom-painted Victory truck and trailer, just off Interstate 90 on exit 30 at 10am. The Victory Motorcycles #75 car competed in the Pepsi 400 in Daytona, Fla., on July 3. The car features a specially designed paint scheme with Victory Motorcycles’ logo on its hood and flames shooting from its front tires, stretching across the side panels. Victory Motorcycles, a division of Minneapolis-based Polaris Industries Inc., publicly introduced the Victory V92C two years ago and the first bike rolled out of the company’s Spirit Lake, Iowa, manufacturing facility last July. With more than 3,000 bikes off the assembly line, the company now boasts nearly 300 North American Victory dealers. Victory is the first new American-made motorcycle manufacturer to mass-distribute a bike in almost 50 years(Victory Motorcycle Site)(8-12-1999)
- Memorial: This past weekend marked the one-year anniversary of the deaths of Mark Martin's father, Julian, Mark's stepmother, Shelly and his half-sister, Sarah. To honor their memory, a memorial service was held at the J-Mar Express facility in Searcy, Ark., on Saturday. More than 100 friends, family members and employees gathered to remember the three members of the Martin family with songs, prayers, stories, tears, hugs and laughter. It was a special day for everyone who attended(J-Mar Express Newsletter/StockCarFans Newsletter)(8-12-1999)
(8-11-1999)
- Irwin Out UPDATE at end of 1999: Robert Yates has announced that Kenny Irwin will no longer be the driver of his team's #28 Fords. "Kenny Irwin and I have mutually agreed that it is in the best interests of both Kenny and the team to not continue our relationship together into the year 2000," Yates said in Wednesday afternoon's announcement(That's Racin') so is he out now or after the 1999 season?? The Yates quote makes it sound like it after the season, stay tuned. Ok, from what I hear, Irwin is in for the rest of 1999 and out for 2000. UPDATE: See the Official RYR press release at the DieHard Yates Fans News Page. No decision has been made regarding a new driver. Yates is exploring options and will interview drivers before making a decision. And NOL has a story up at: Yates, Irwin to split after season(8-11-1999)
- Disturbing News UPDATE: just got back from Chicago and had a email box full of news on this - from an AP story: NASCAR stars Terry Labonte(#5) and Derrike Cope(#30) fired two employees(motor coach drivers) for a racial prank in which one of their workers wore a sheet over his head like a Klansman and confronted a black colleague(#12 crewman). Witnesses characterized the July 8 episode at the New Hampshire International Speedway as a joke by two white motorcoach drivers that went too far. See the full story at the WRAL site: NASCAR Drivers Fire Two Team Members for Racial Prank(WRAL/AP)(8-10-1999) -- UPDATE: another story, not AP - Two ousted for racial incident by Rea McLeroy(Times-Dispatch) and from That's Racin': Incident reopens NASCAR's race issue - Randon Notes by Jim Utter
A few statements sent my way: from Derrike Cope - "Behavior like this simply cannot be tolerated in today's society. This was an example of grievous behavior that I do not condone. It was an ignorant act and I took the only course available to me of rectifying the situation by terminating the employee."(#30 PR)
from Michael Kranefuss(owner of the #12): “Penske-Kranefuss Racing and Jeremy Mayfield fully support NASCAR’s
response to the behavior directed at one of our Team members. We and the Team member stand together and look forward to putting the incident behind us.”(Williams Co PR)(8-11-1999)
- Compton to Cup? Heard it was reported on the LTN Hour, a Wisconsin NASCAR radio show, that Stacy Compton is under consideration to take the #9 Melling Ford. Present driver, Jerry Nadeau, is leaving to go to the #25 Hendrick team(8-11-1999)
- Rudd Sponsor? UPDATE 2: hearing NationsRent, who sponsored Dick Trickle in the #13 Elliott Racing Daytona 500 attempt, will be Ricky Rudd's new sponsor for 2000 and beyond -- UPDATE: Actually hearing NationsRent is talking to Rudd, the #41 Larry Hedrick team and the #7 Mattei Motorsports team(didn't know Philips/Klaussner was leaving)(8-9-1999) -- UPDATE: I know hear that NationsRent has not appraoched the #41 team but I hear they are talking to the #50 Midwest Transeit team with driver Ricky Craven(8-11-1999)
- #75 Crewchief: The crew chief duties of the #75 Butch Mock Motorsports Ford will be a team effort starting this weekend in Watkins Glen. Troy Selberg will become part of the road crew for at least the next couple of weeks to assist the crew in becoming more organized. Jon Wolfe, who was the crew chief, left after the Brickyard 400. The team will not make a decision on a new crew chief until they believe they have found the right one. In addition to this personnel announcement, Butch Mock hired shock specialist Greg Ely prior to the Brickyard 400 last week(Ted Musgrave Fan Page)(8-11-1999)
- NASCAR sponsors: hearing MCI will not be renewing their official status for the 2000 season with NASCAR and that AT&T is seriously considering taking MCI's place as the Official Telecommunications Company of NASCAR. Also I hear that Circuit City will not renew their status as the Official Electronics Store of NASCAR and DaytonaUSA(8-11-1999)
- Irwin....In? hear from a source close to the situation that Irwin now expects to be in the #28 Texaco Yates Ford for the 2000 season(8-11-1999) oops, nope, see above
- Stewart Speaks: Tony Stewart has been signed by Arvin Industries Inc. to be a spokesman in television and print ads and do personal appearances for the auto-parts company. Arvin is based in Columbus, Ind., which also is Stewart's home town(SpeedNet)(8-11-1999)
- Interesting: not really news but thought it was interesting: To celebrate the production of the 100,000th backhoe loader, Caterpillar is auctioning a special racing-style backhoe loader. Proceeds benefit the Motor Racing Outreach Program and Special Olympics. Bids must be postmarked by October 1, 1999. See the auction at - www.billdavisracing.com/Backhoe (8-11-1999)
- Father vs Son: Bobby Hamilton is scheduled to race against son Bobby Jr., in the upcoming BGN race at Michigan Speedway(Tennessean)(8-11-1999)
- Here Come the Marines: Kerry Earnhardt will drive the #76 BGN Marines Chevy, fielded by Ed Whitaker and Team Marines Racing. Businessman Rick Rathbun, 45, has announced his intention to sponsor the Kerry Earnhardt/Ed Whitaker Racing tandem under his own Team Marines Racing banner in the August 27th running of the Food City 250 BGN event at Bristol. Rathbun, a former Marine, is President of DEC Technologies, Inc., an aerospace industry parts and components manufacturer based in Piney Flats, TN just a few miles southwest of the Bristol track. Veteran car owner Whitaker, whose race shop is located in nearby Bristol, Virginia and who calls Bristol Motor Speedway his "home track", is taking it upon himself to breathe new life into Kerry Earnhardt's career that came to an abrupt halt after just four races this year, with the #40 Channellock Chevy. Such Busch Series greats as Harry Gant, Sam Ard, Morgan Shepherd and the late Butch Lindley have driven for Whitaker over the years with Gant the most successful of the lot with 21 victories, 51 top five and 71 top ten performances in just 124 starts from 1988 through 1994. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who qualified on the front row for the fall Busch Series race at Bristol in 1997 in an Ed Whitaker machine. The team will test at Bristol next Monday, and Whitaker is planning to enter Kerry, and do additional testing, in as many as six more races this season. A full Busch Series program is being planned for 2000 and 2001 with a possible move into the Winston Cup Series after that - all with Kerry Earnhardt behind the wheel. Whitaker has tapped veteran crew chief Bruce Saunders as the signal caller for the Earnhardt/Team Marines project. Saunders was also the crew chief during most of Gant's successes with Whitaker Racing. The race car, to be painted predominantly black with vibrant red flames and yellow trim, is one of several designed by renown motorsports artist and car designer Sam Bass, and his Sam Bass Illustration and Design Company. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo will carry number 76 to commemmorate the Spirit of 1776 and the fight for American independence(the Marine Corp was actually 'born' in 1775). Earnhardt, and the Team Marines Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo, will be on display to the general public for the very first time at the Annual Food City Fan on August 26th(Team Marines Racing PR)(8-10-1999)
(8-10-1999)
- Ford news: Ford officials say that they have finished work on the downforce and the Daytona versions of the new Taurus. When both will get NASCAR approval is still unclear. Ford officials had been looking for final 2000 templates to be approved by the end of August, but now say they're three weeks behind schedule. NASCAR wants to see the cars on a track before giving the OK(PitNow)(8-10-1999)
- Cal Wells rumors: Cal Wells, one of NASCAR's newest car owners, is offering prospective crew chiefs $2.5 million over three years. That $830,000-a-year contract would be a little better than some of the best of the current deals. The top four or five crew chiefs on the tour are making $650,000 a year and up. Among the men on Wells' wish list is Andy Graves, Terry Labonte's crew chief, according to sources(PitNow) Al Unser Jr and Wally Dallenbach are the hottest rumored drivers for the new Tide ride(8-10-1999)
- Buddy Back: former crew chief Buddy Barnes has been hired by Barry Dodson for the crew on the #30 Team. On RPM2Nite it was noted that all 34 employees were let go by the new ownership, six were rehired and six new employees have been hired. The new owners also closed the engine shop and had an T&L Motors engine at Indy(8-10-1999)
- Tyler Jet BGN team: Tyler Jet Motorsports signed World of Outlaws(WoO) open wheel driver Tyler Walker, to a contract Tuesday. The agreement will have Walker in a BGN for a pair of races later this season. Walker is 20 years old, and burst on to the World of Outlaws scene in 1998 finishing second in the Rookie of the Year chase. He has two victories in the 1999 WoO season. Walker has had limited pavement racing experience behind the wheel of an ASA car at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Walker qualified 27th and was running 11th when a mechanical problem cut short the solid effort. Walker will test extensively with the Tyler Jet BGN unit before debuting in the inaugural BGN event at Phoenix on Nov. 6 and will also run at Miami-Homestead Speedway Nov. 13. Walker will also run some ARCA events(TylerJet PR)(8-10-1999)
(8-9-1999)
- Midwest/Craven sign: Midwest Transit Racing team owners Hal Hicks and Mike Witters announced today driver Ricky Craven has signed with them to drive the #50 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the remainder of the 1999 Winston Cup Season.(Midwest PR)(8-9-1999)
- Wells meeting: Wally Dallenbach Jr. will meet on Monday with Cal Wells about driving Wells’ Tide-sponsored car on the circuit next year. Dallenbach vows not to sign another one-year contract with anyone. He did so a year ago with Hendrick Motorsports, which is why he is back in the unemployment line(Gaston Gazette/Monte Dutton)(8-9-1999)
- DW's Motor? UPDATE: hear that the #66 BigKmart/Rt 66 Ford had a Yates engine for the Birckyard 400, not a Pro Motor like they normally use -- UPDATE: The Yates motor was used for practice and qulaifying, the team used a Pro-Motor for the race(8-9-1999)
- Another Andretti in Cup? Michael Andretti was on the lot Saturday morning, rousing suspicion that sponsor Texaco may be trying to steer him toward the Robert Yates group(Racer Magazine) and The latest line on possible drivers for Robert Yates includes Michael Andretti, John's cousin. The Indy-car star, who didn't fare well in his Formula One venture, has been a Texaco-sponsored driver, so he could easily fit into a NASCAR-Texaco campaign for Yates. How well the other Andretti could drive a stock car is uncertain, however(PitNow)(8-9-1999)
- Unser to the #30? The latest report making its way around the garage area in Indianapolis is that new #30 owner, Jack Birmingham and crew chief/owner Barry Dodson would like to make a splash by hiring a big name driver for 2000. The rumor is that Al Unser, Jr. is ready to make the move from CART to Winston Cup and may be the driver of choice for the #30 team(Inside Motorsports)(8-9-1999)
- #99 Lugnuts UPDATE 2: a few tidbits found on the 'net: #99 Crew Chief Frankie Stoddard called for a four-tire stop, but Jeff Burton changed that call in the middle of the stop when he saw Jarrett taking just two. Stoddard(who is also the front tire changer) had already loosened two lugs on the left front when Burton screamed for "Two!" But he got one of them retightened just before Burton roared off. NASCAR officials called Burton and Stoddard to the trailer after the race to review tapes of the incident and remind them that loose wheels are an important safety issue(from PitNow) and Jeff Burton, meanwhile, changed his mind midway through his stop. His front tire changer frantically worked to reverse the two lug nuts he had loosened before Burton peeled out of the pits. Crew chief Frank Stoddard watched the tape to make sure the car was safe and Burton stayed on the track(Times-Dispatch) also see the story on SpeedNet: For Jeff Burton, this race was the pits(8-8-1999) -- UPDATE 2: have not seen this confirmed anywhere, but a few readers say they heard either Bill Weber or Jerry Punch say on the Satellite feed that NASCAR checked the car when it came in after the race and found three of the lugnuts were only finger tight, but I have not been able to confirm that anywhere with any sources and doubt the report. Am not looking to speculate on this(8-9-1999)