PAST NEWS AUG 6-12, 2001
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(8-12-2001)
- Gordon gets 4th win at Watkins Glen: #24-Jeff Gordon wins his 4th career race at Watkins Glen and 7th road course win. It was Gordon's 5th win of 2001 and 57th career Winston Cup win. The rest of the top five were: 2) #99-Jeff Burton; 3) #12-Jeremy Mayfield; 4) #28-Ricky Rudd; and #66-Todd Bodine. Robby Gordon had a fire in the #31 Lowes Chevy, the telemetry box used by NBC to monitor rpms, speed and braking reportedly caught on fire when the batteries used to power it came out (see a Gaston Gazette Column on this: Robby Gordon falls prey to high-tech sabotage. Jeff Gordon increases his points lead to 194 points over #28-Rudd. #88-Dale Jarrett had two runs with the 'kitty litter' and is now 265 points behind Gordon in 3rd place. See That's Racin' for race column - Gordon gets 2nd win in a row, Unofficial Results and Unofficial Standings(8-12-2001)
- BGN Dodge and Testing News: A sneak preview of Dodge's first foray into the BGN will be on display at Richmond International Raceway on Tuesday and Wednesday. Steven Christian will be testing a Dodge on the .75-mile oval in preparation for the Autolite/FRAM 250 Busch race at RIR on Sept. 7. Michael Waltrip, Hal Goodson and Carl Long also will be testing Busch cars at RIR. The sessions are open to the public, and gates will be open from 8:00am to 5:00pm/et each day(Richmond Times Dispatch)(8-12-2001)
- Dale Jr Believes Broken Seat Belt UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. says in an interview in the September issue of "Playboy" magazine that he believes his father's seat belt broke in the crash that killed Dale Earnhardt in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. "He had an impact with the steering wheel," Earnhardt Jr. says. "That means the seat belt had broken, or he couldn't have been that far forward. That's a long way - you could hit your chin on the wheel, maybe, but not your chest. He had broken ribs from the wheel and that has to mean a broken belt." Earnhardt's autopsy showed broken ribs on his left side, but questions about a separated seat belt's role in his crash on the final lap in this season's first race have been argued since that day. NASCAR is expected to issue its report on the crash sometime next month(That's Racin')(7-27-2001)
UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains convinced that a broken seat belt led to the injuries that killed his father, seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, in the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. "Three days after the accident, I was already sure of what was going on," Earnhardt Jr. said Saturday, one day after the Orlando Sentinel published a story in which its sources speculated on the contents of NASCAR's investigation into the tragedy.(see full story at That's Racin')(8-12-2001)
(8-11-2001)
- Hedrick to Return? with Earnhardt? UPDATE full time BGN for DEI: hearing a rumor I have not been able to confirm - that Kerry Earnhardt, oldest son of the late Dale Earnahrdt, will supposedly be driving a BGN car for former #41 team owner Larry Hedrick. Supposedly the team will receive cars, engines, and all engineering help from DEI. The plan is to run BGN and move up to Cup. Not sure when or if the team will run it's first race(7-24-2001)
UPDATE: two rumored sponsors are McDonald's and RealTree(Dale Sr's Assoc and the #71 Sponsor)(7-25-2001)
UPDATE 2 ..more: Kerry Earnhardt, the eldest son of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, may be joining the BGN ranks full time next year. Racing under the DEI ownership banner, he could possibly have sponsorship from Wrangler Jeans and a known restaurant chain. Earnhardt has competed in two BGN races this year in the Michael Waltrip-owned-#99 Chevrolet. He has also competed in ARCA events, handily winning the June race at Michigan. His father competed with the blue and yellow Wrangler colors before donning the trademark black on the Goodwrench Service #3 Chevrolet.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(8-11-2001)
- Cingular Sponsorship moving? UPDATE 3 the #33? #93? RCR? At least four teams are vying for a major sponsorship with Bell Atlantic/Cingular Wireless (Actually it is BellSouth not Bell Atlantic which is Verizon), according to NASCAR sources. The company currently sponsors Jason Leffler and car owner Chip Ganassi. Among the car owners expected to be talking with the company are Richard Childress and Bill Davis. Childress and Mike Skinner are assessing their situation, Childress says, but an announcement could still be a month away, according to Childress. Childress has made it official that Jeff Green will drive an AOL-sponsored car for him next season, ending months of debate(Winston Salem Journal)(7-16-2001)
UPDATE: hearing the #33 Andy Petree Chevy driven by Joe Nemechek and currently with sponsorship by Oakwood Homes (who will leave at the end of 2001) will get the Cingular sponsorship in 2001. Cingular currently sponsors the #01 Dodge driven by Jason Leffler(8-8-2001)
UPDATE 2: also hearing Cingular could end up on the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy's that Jimmie Johnson will drive in 2002(8-9-2001)
UPDATE 3: The battle for the Cingular Wireless sponsorship is down to Bill Davis vs. Richard Childress, according to sources close to the situation. That would leave Chip Ganassi and Andy Petree still searching for sponsors for next season(Winston Salem Journal)(8-11-2001)
- No More Hammers: As of Friday, teams will no longer be allowed to use hammers during the inspection process. It was common in the past for teams to use blunt instruments to remedy slight problems related to height, body configuration, etc. Now teams will have to remove their cars from the inspection line, with even the most minute of adjustments being completed in the garage area or at the transporter(Gaston Gazette)(8-11-2001)
- Labatts as a Sponsor? Canadian brewer Labatts is considering a Winston Cup sponsorship(Winston Salem Journal), maybe the cool Labatts bear will come to the races(8-11-2001)
- Simpson Shuts Down: • Bill Simpson, the noted safety specialist who has resigned as head of his company (though he still retains a significant share of the business), has closed down the company's mobile Winston Cup safety rig, much to the consternation of many stock car teams that have relied on the rig for at-track safety devices(Winston Salem Journal)(8-11-2001)
- Lazarro Gets NationsRent for The Glen: The #68 Chevrolet Monte Carlo of driver Anthony Lazzaro will carry the NationsRent colors in Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup stock car race at Watkins Glen, N.Y. The car, owned by Tom Coleman, will start 31st in Sunday's race(Williams Company)(8-11-2001)
- Watkins Glen Double Duty UPDATE: Kyle Petty and John Andretti are stepping out of their Dodge Intrepid R/Ts at Watkins Glen and into something a little bit sportier - a Porsche GT3R. They will team up with Orbit Racing and compete in the Bully Hill Vineyards 250 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series race Friday night, August 10, one of three races slated during the Global Crossing @ The Glen NASCAR Winston Cup Series weekend August 9-12.(Watkins Glen PR)(7-31-2001)
UPDATE: Winning the GT class of the Bully Hill Vineyards 250 were NASCAR Winston Cup Regulars, Kyle Petty and John Andretti in the #45 Orbit racing Porsche. The teammates were involved in a late race incident, but were ruled by Grand-Am officials as the class winners. Petty and Andretti finished 14th overall in the 28 car field(Watkins Glen Site)(8-11-201)
(8-10-2001)
- Target car at Bristol? UPDATE 2: hearing Ganassi Racing may have a Target sponsored Dodge at the Bristol race on Aug 25th. No word on if it is the #01 or #40 or if it is a third car/team(8-7-2001)
UPDATE: looks like it'll be the #40 Dodge with Sterling Marlin driving, a Target/Coors Light scheme(8-8-2001)
UPDATE 2: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today that the team's #40 Dodge will feature a Target Stores paint scheme for the Aug. 25 Sharpie 500 at Bristol. Ganassi and Target have partnered in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) FedEx Series since 1990, earning four consecutive titles from 1996-1999. "Our Champ Car team owes much of its success over the years to Target Stores, and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank them for their support and dedication," Ganassi said. "Coors Light, Cingular and Dodge have made this season a very positive experience, and I'm excited to introduce a first-class organization like Target to a well-respected series like NASCAR. This is Target's first stock car experience, so it would be a thrill to go to Bristol and achieve the type of success this partnership is accustomed to producing." Sterling Marlin, who ranks fourth in the NASCAR Winston Cup point standings, will drive the bulls-eye-emblazoned Dodge at Bristol. Although the Sharpie 500 marks the only race in which Marlin's car will feature the special paint scheme, Target team members are eager for the green flag to signal its NASCAR debut. "Target Chip Ganassi Racing has produced some impressive results over the years, and we're excited Chip has asked us to be a part of his newest venture," said John Remington, vice president of events marketing and communications for Target Corporation. "Target has enjoyed its involvement in auto racing and is dedicated to continuing its sponsorship in the CART FedEx Series, but we're also very excited for this one-race partnership with Chip at Bristol." Coors Light will remain on the #40 car at Bristol as an associate sponsor, with signage on the upper rear quarter panels, and will again serve as primary sponsor the following weekend in Darlington(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR), see an image of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery(8-10-2001)
- Childress Speaks UPDATE: "We'll make some type of announcement of what we're going to do with the 31 and Mike Skinner some time in August. We're looking at about the 15th before we'll have exact... we're hoping to do some stuff by Michigan. We'll probably have some type of press conference." and What future does Robby Gordon have with RCR? - "Right now with Robby, he's running these races here [substituting for injured Skinner]. Other sponsors have talked to us about him, and a lot of things will come to a head here in the next two weeks or so. I'm going to catch that ball and say, 'This is where we're going.' I don't like to be out here and have... I pretty much know what I'm doing wiith the 2 car, I know what I'm doing with the 21 about 80pct, I'm 70pct sure on the 31. I want to have all those things done by Sept. 1. Also some comments on AOL, franchising and Dallas Cowboys's owner Jerry Jones. See Full Interview at SpeedVision)(8-5-2001)
UPDATE more: Skinner has been rumored to be on his way out of RCR's #31 after this season, along with sponsor Lowe's. Childress, when asked, has left such matters up in the air, saying he could make announcements involving the team, driver and sponsor as soon as Michigan. Childress and Skinner have a year left on their contract (through 2002), as to Childress and Lowe's. Childress, however, is in position to move pawns as he pleases. Possibilities for Skinner include a) remaining with the #31, b) somehow gaining a release from his contract, c) racing full-time in a Childress car in Busch, or d) taking the seat in a Childress satellite car, such as the #71 Marcis Racing group will become next year. Childress hinted last week that Lowe's likely would not be primary sponsor of No. 31 next season, and although it is not known what would take Lowe's place, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is said to be very interested in owning and/or sponsoring a NASCAR team.(SpeedVision)(8-10-2001)
- Sprint and Petty? there are some questions now about Petty Enterprises' Sprint sponsorship. Kyle Petty's team has missed a number of races this season, and there are reports that Richard is getting antsy about the team's performance(Winston Salem Journal)(8-10-2001)
- Degree to be an Assoc again on the #77: For the second time this season Degree Deodorant will be an associate sponsor of the #77 Jasper Engines & Transmissions Ford Taurus. Their decal will be on the lower section of the hood as it was at Chicagoland(8-10-2001)
- #50 Team Done? UPDATE: Employees of the #50 Midwest Transit Racing team were forced to hit the streets in search of employment this week when a long-running dispute between former trucking company and race team partners Mike Witters and Hal Hicks apparently came to a head. The team’s closing unfortunately came after Rich Bickle made a respectable run in the Brickyard 400, starting 17th and finishing 32nd in the Speedway Records Chevy(NASCAR.com Buzz)(8-9-2001)
UPDATE: The 50 team is not closed. Due to not having a sponsor they have streamlined (laid off employees) the team. The team will not run the full schedule this year and is getting ready for Bristol and Richmond at this time with Rich Bickle driving at Bristol(ESPN2's RPM 2Night) AND The #50 Chevrolet, driven by Rich Bickle, will take the next two weeks off to prepare for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol on Aug. 25. Tammy Paxon, office manager, said reports that the team has shut down are not true. "We're just regrouping and getting ready for Bristol," she said.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(8-10-2001)
(8-9-2001)
- Said Part time with Jasper in 2002? road racer Boris Said is hoping to put together a part-time deal with the Jasper Motorsports team for next year, running the two Winston Cup road races as well as up to eight more races on ovals(That's Racin'), which would be a 2nd car for the team in addition to the #77 team and driver Robert Pressley(8-9-2001)
- Lowes to Hendrick? UPDATE 2: from the Winston Salem Journal - Lowe's is now expected to move from the Richard Childress camp(#31) to Hendrick's to sponsor incoming rookie (#48) Jimmie Johnson next season, according to NASCAR sources(Winston Salem Journal) BUT from a SpeedVision Interview with Richard Childress: Q) Is the Lowe's situation as safe as we've heard it is? A) "You're going to be hearing some announcements on that. We're going to be okay with the third [No. 31] team. Lowe's will honor their contract [through 2002]. The direction they go, I'm going to leave that up to y'all. We've agreed we're going to honor it, but we have other things working"(SpeedVision)(8-7-2001)
UPDATE: Winston Cup team owner Rick Hendrick hopes to announce the primary sponsor for Jimmie Johnson's Winston Cup effort within the next six weeks. "We have associates and all that done, we just haven't announced it," Hendrick said Aug. 3. "Probably sometime in the next 30 to 45 days. We haven't signed anything yet." If Lowe's were to leave Richard Childress Racing, rumors are the company could move to Hendrick Motorsports.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read online)
UPDATE 2: the Herald-Citizen reports that Jimmy Johnson will run a limited schedule next season in preparation for a full run for Hendrick in 2003. That would allow Lowe's to sponsor him in those races in 2002, then move over to him on a full time basis in 2003(Herald Citizen), but all reports and indications I have seen say Johnson will run fulltime in 2002, he will make five or so starts in 2001 in the #48 starting at Lowes in Oct(8-9-2001)
- Johnson at Darlington: Legendary driver and car owner Junior Johnson is the grand marshal for the Sept. 2 Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read online)(8-9-2001)
- Hornish in NASCAR? Current Indy Car(IRL) points leader Sam Hornish Jr. told the Herald Citizen at Nashville that he would like to move to NASCAR after he had accomplished what he wanted in open wheel(8-9-2001)
- Can't Forget: This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of J.D. McDuffie’s fatal crash at The Glen in turn five. McDuffie’s violent crash - and those of Tommy Kendall’s and Geoff Bodine’s in the same sweeping left-hander - spurred the creation of the “Inner-Loop” chicane connecting the backchute with turn five.(The Leader), see a picture of McDuffie on my Driver Tribute page(8-9-2001)
- Wally to help out Buckshot at Watkins Glen: NBC analyst Wally Dallenbach, will drive Buckshot Jones' #44 Dodge during Firday's practice at Watkins Glen(NBC PR)(8-9-2001)
- Compton Gets Help at Watkins Glen: Add Melling Racing to the list of teams bringing road race specialists to this weekend's Global Crossing @ the Glen. Road racing veteran Bill Cooper will act as a consultant and spotter for Kodiak Dodge driver Stacy Compton. Cooper and Compton have worked together in the past, most recently preparing for the Dodge Dealers/Kragen 350 at Sears Point Raceway(Melling Racing PR)(8-9-2001)
- Hamilton Truck News: Bobby Hamilton Racing will field a truck for Bill Lester at Nashville and Preston Tutt at Chicago as part of Dodge's diversity program. Hamilton already fields a truck for Willy T. Ribbs , though his future with the team beyond this season is uncertain. The drivers tested at Nashville Speedway USA and Atlanta Motor Speedway along with Eric Reed. Hamilton also is talking with DANA about returning as the sponsor of Joe Ruttman's truck for 2002. Concerns about the economy had the company uneasy about signing an extension of a deal that expires after the season, but recent talks have been encouraging. As part of an effort to convince company executives of the sponsorship's value, fans and DANA employees have been e-mailing letters via a link found on www.joeruttman.com.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read online)(8-9-2001)
- Colorful Fan: June O'Hara of Brick, N.J., could be crowned THE MOST COLORFUL FAN(tm) OF NASCAR® at Las Vegas in 2002. June was just named the sixth of nine finalists who will compete for the title THE MOST COLORFUL FAN(tm) OF NASCAR®. For more info see my Racing Contest page(IMG Motorsports PR)(8-9-2001)
- Murry to drive at The Glen? UPDATE: Hearing that veteran road racer David Murry is in negotiations with a single-car Winston Cup operation to run a second car for him at Watkins Glen next month. An Atlanta resident, Murry last drove in a Cup race at Watkins Glen in 1999 for an ARCA team. He got in the show on time and ran as high as eighth, before suffering an oil line problem and finishing 36th. Along with fellow road racers Ron Fellows and Boris Said, Murry has been competing in both the American Le Mans Series and the Grand Am Series this season(7-11-2001)
UPDATE: It appears David Murry's inclusion in the road course specialists group at Watkins Glen will not happen. The sports car ace, who last competed in a Winston Cup car at The Glen in 1999, apparently got real close to signing with a team, but the team's sponsor felt obligated to its full-time driver. Murry, however, will still be at The Glen this weekend for the Grand Am race and will likely network around the NASCAR garage, looking for any last minute driver changes(8-9-2001)
- Texas Repaving Almost Done: Eddie Gossage, Texas Motor Speedway's executive vice president and general manager, said the complete repaving project at TMS by Sunmount Construction of Justin should be completed Tuesday. Separate tire tests for the CTS and IRL, both of which are scheduled to compete at TMS in mid-September, are scheduled for the end of August. Gossage said TMS workers also will attempt to create a second groove, above the bottom line, with a trailer-like device that will grind soft-compound rubber into the new surface. In addition, all racing schools at the facility will conduct their lapping sessions in the second groove once the paving is completed. "Before the Winston Cup guys get here [in March], the track will be six to eight months old," Gossage said. "It'll have thousands of miles on it. So, it'll be a long way from being a virgin racetrack."(Star Telegram)(8-9-2001)
- Sears Point Hire: Diana Rose has been named Coordinator, Media Relations and Community Affairs, at Sears Point Raceway, it was announced by raceway officials. "Diana has contributed a great deal to the success of our last two racing seasons," said Steve Page, president and general manager at Sears Point Raceway. "She has maturity and skills beyond her years and we are delighted to have her join us full time." Rose has worked in media relations at Sears Point Raceway the last two years during major events while attending University of Pacific in Stockton (Calif.). She graduated from Pacific in May with a Bachelor of Art's degree in communications. Rose will assist on all work pertaining to Sears Point Raceway's major events, as well as developing innovative community relations programs and the handling of Sears Point Raceway's Web-site.(Sears Point Raceway PR)(8-9-2001)
(8-8-2001)
- #22 Special Scheme at Bristol: #22-Ward Burton is supposed to have a special "CAT Tracks" scheme to be run at the night race at Bristol. See a layout of the car on my Paint Schemes Gallery(8-8-2001)
(8-7-2001)
- Compton to RCR? Stacy Compton could be leaving Melling Racing by the end of the year. Sources say that he is being considered by Richard Childress Racing for the #31 Lowes Chevy or the #21 or #2 BGN cars. Compton is in the option year of his contact, but sources say that owner Mark Melling has agreed NOT to exercise the option, should Compton decide to join another team. The #92 Melling team is also looking for a primary sponsor for the 2002 season as Kodiak will leave at the end of this season(8-7-2001)
- Gordon vs Petty before 30 years of age: Jeff Gordon, who turned 30 Saturday, has 56 career victories — 55(in 277 starts) before the age of 30. Richard Petty had 56(in 332 starts) career wins before the age of 30(USA Today). Petty had one Winston Cup Championship before the age of 30 and won it in 1967 when he turned 30. Gordon had 3 championships before 30 and is currently leading the points. Dale Earnhardt had 8 wins and one Championship before he turned 30 in 1981(8-7-2001)
- Autopsy Photo News: The Independent Florida Alligator filed notice Tuesday that it will appeal a judge's decision to keep the Dale Earnhardt autopsy photos out of the public domain. In its appeal, the newspaper will argue to the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach that the Florida Legislature violated due process by creating a retroactive exemption to the state's open records law for autopsy photos. In addition, the newspaper will argue that the exemption is too broad and that the trial judge erred by granting a temporary injunction prohibiting the autopsy photos from being made by public, said Tom Julin, an attorney for the newspaper(Orlando Sentinel)(8-7-2001)
- Another AJ: The next A.J. Foyt is rushing into the future of open-wheel auto racing. A.J. Foyt IV, grandson of the four-time Indianapolis 500 champion of the same name, is scheduled to make his USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series dirt track debut Aug. 18 at Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The younger Foyt already is involved in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series. He will change the left-front tire on Donnie Beechler's A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Oldsmobile during the Belterra Casino Indy 300 Aug. 12 at Kentucky Speedway. It will be the sixth-straight race that he has handled those duties. In the cockpit, younger Foyt won the Formula 2000 regional championship with nine poles and eight victories. Just a week ago, he won the karting Nationals in Iowa.
(National Speed Sport News)(8-7-2001)
- Sadlers film a Commercial and Hermie at Homestead too UPDATE: The Sadler brothers were at Richmond International Raceway yesterday to film a commercial for the Virginia Lottery. Hermie Sadler's car(#13), sponsored by the Lottery, is featured on a new scratch card due out in August. The "pole position" car offers 11 chances to win by matching car numbers. Elliott Sadler agreed to come to Richmond and join his brother in the ad. For him, it was the latest addition to a busy week. He tested his Wood Brothers car at Greenville-Pickens Speedway Monday and Tuesday in preparation for this weekend's race at New Hampshire. He's planning on testing his Richmond car before returning in September. This is a big race for the Sadler family. Hermie is trying to make one of the four remaining races he is planning this season, and Elliott is competing for the million-dollar bonus. He qualified for the No Bull cash by finishing third at Daytona. If he wins at Richmond, he nets the extra million. Hermie Sadler has added to his original schedule. He announced his plans to run the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month. Now he is adding the November race at Homestead-Miami to the schedule.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-19-2001)
UPDATE: For Nascar fans in Virginia, The New "Pole Position" scratch tickets from the Virginia Lottery are on sale now.. The tickets feature different pictures of the Virginia Lottery #13 Monte Carlo driven by Hermie Sadler.. Hermie and Elliott Sadler filmed some commercials for the game that will be aired statewide beginning August 14.. Top prize for the game is $20,000(8-7-2001)
- Geoffrey Tests at Bristol: Geoffrey Bodine tested both the Phillips 66 Chevrolet BGN entry and the Winston Cup car(#09) at Bristol Motor Speedway on Monday. ``The test went really well,'' Bodine said. ``We didn't hit anything and both cars are running good. I'm really excited about this whole deal at Bristol.'' The immediate concern for Bodine is qualifying. ``Our qualifying run late today wasn't quite as fast as we need to go, but that was just our first attempt,'' Bodine said. ``We're going to try more qualifying runs Tuesday. Hopefully we can lower our time so we will comfortable when we came back for the race. We don't have any points, so qualifying will be real important for us.'' Geoffrey will drive a car owned by brother Brett in the Aug. 25 Sharpie 500 at BMS. The team will be sponsored by Smirnoff Ice. ``Helping a major sponsor sign with Brett is the No. 1 priority,'' Bodine said. ``If we happen to end up with another major sponsor, then I will have a Winston Cup ride in the #09 car. We're also trying to get a sponsorship deal for my son Barry and Brett's nephew Josh (Richeson) for both of them to run in either Busch, trucks or whatever we can get together. That's the order of things for us right now.'' Geoffrey's son Barry took a few laps around BMS Monday also(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-7-2001)
- RCR at 99: Kevin Harvick's victory in the BGN race at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday night was the 99th in a NASCAR points race for Richard Childress Racing. It also marked the fourth weekend in a row that an RCR car has won a NASCAR race. In July, Harvick won the inaugural Winston Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway and followed that up with a victory in the Grand National race at St. Louis. Last weekend, Jeff Purvis won the Grand National race at Pikes Peak(Alabama Live)(8-7-2001)
- Stewart/Schrader/Petree to run an ARCA race: Larry Clement of Fort Dodge will provide a stock car for Winston Cup driver Tony Stewart to race in an ARCA Re/Max Series event Sept. 3 in DuQuoin, IL. Clement, who's leading the ARCA points standings this season with driver Frank Kimmel, will field a car for Stewart in the Southern Illinois 100 on the one-mile dirt track at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Clement also has secured a deal to compete in three Winston Cup races later this season with Kimmel. The team, which features several Iowans on the crew and is co-sponsored by the Clive-based National Pork Board, will race Oct. 7 at Charlotte, Oct. 14 at Martinsville, Va., and Nov. 18 at Atlanta. Clement said the plan to put Stewart in one of his cars came from Winston Cup driver Ken Schrader. The car Stewart will drive, a Ford Taurus with a Roush engine, is one Kimmel has driven earlier this year. Ken Schrader and Andy Petree, who owns Winston Cup cars driven by Joe Nemechek and Bobby Hamilton, also have entered the DuQuoin race. Schrader will drive his own car; Petree will drive a car from his own stable(Des Moines Register)(8-7-2001)
- Brack in NASCAR? UPDATE: Kenny Brack, of CART, in the field at Indy for IROC's season finale, has been mentioned for a Winston Cup ride, possibly with A. J. Foyt. With the CART series in the middle of a sharp decline, the 1999 Indy 500 winner and 1998 Indy Racing League champ, at 35, is looking at his options. "Sure, I'm interested in NASCAR in the future, but right now I'm focused on the CART championship," Brack said. That tour's points leader won at Chicago Sunday, so he's clearly on top of his game. "Through the IROC series, I've made several friends in the NASCAR circuit, and if there would be an opportunity for me to go NASCAR, I would look very seriously at it. NASCAR in the future, yes, but not next year." NASCAR intrigues Brack: "I am very humble for the fact that it is a different series with different cars and everything, and there are a lot of good drivers in NASCAR," he said. "So if I would go to NASCAR, I know it wouldn't be easy. I never underestimated any series I've gone into. Yes, if you practice enough you can get good, but there will be 50 drivers there and they're all good. So you're not going to come in and do anything unless you've done your homework. And even then it's difficult(in part from a column in the Winston Salem Journal). NOTE: Robin Miller also metioned Brack to Foyt's #14 Conseco car in the future a few nights ago on ESPN2's RPM 2Night(8-4-2001)
UPDATE: on Monday's RPM 2 Night show (ESPN2 at 7:00pm), Dr Jerry Punch said not to be surprised to see Brack run at the 2002 Daytona 500(8-7-2001)
- Did ya know? Of the 16 drivers who have competed in the eight Brickyard 400s, three have done so without posting a top 10 finish: Jimmy Spencer, Joe Nemechek and Bobby Hamilton(Knoxville News Sentinel)(8-7-2001)
(8-6-2001)
- Little E to get Dad's Number? Too good to be true? Picture this: Dale Earnhardt Jr. reviving the #3 car next season with a split-sponsored deal between GM Goodwrench and Budweiser(Sporting News), No Other Details mentioned, this is a rumor(8-6-2001)
- Humpy Bumper News: The Buzz has learned that the "Humpy Bumper" may begin actual car crash testing in the next week or two. Developed by Paul Lew of Lew Composites of Las Vegas and being promoted along by H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler of Lowe's Motor Speedway(LMS), the bumper made of carbon fiber is designed to absorb frontal impact. Testing on a computer has already been done, but this will be the first time it is actually attached to a race car where it will be propelled against a wall. Once that test is completed, another one may be conducted at LMS soon after.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(8-6-2001)
- 3rd Yates Team? UPDATE - Denied once again: sources at Robert Yates Racing(RYR) say there is definitely no truth to the rumor of a third team or Doug Yates starting a #82 team(6-26-2001)
UPDATE 2: Robert Yates is considering expanding his two-car team to a three-car team next season. No word on who the new driver might be(Winston Salem Journal)(8-5-2001)
UPDATE 3: Despite some garage talk that Robert Yates is looking into forming a third Cup team, he said Sunday morning that is not true. "I just want to win and I don't know if that multiplies your chances to win," said Yates, whose teams of Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett are contending for the series title. "Sometimes you might divide yourself up. I don't think that's in our plans. But, if somebody is out there with a large amount of (money), they can come talk to me."(RacingExtra)(8-6-2001)
- Stewart Not Happy, Bodyguard gets Nasty: When reporters tried to ask followup questions, (Tony) Stewart's bodyguards stepped in. One Indianapolis television reporter, WISH-TV's Will Hampton, was grabbed from behind and pushed away from the driver. When Hampton asked the man to lighten up, he received an obscenity-laced response. "That's why people boo (Stewart) on the front straightaway of his home track," Hampton later told Stewart's public relations representative.(Indianapolis Star)(8-6-2001)
- Guzzo back in the Hendrick fold: Ed Guzzo has returned to Hendrick Motorsports as foreman for Jerry Nadeau's #25 Chevrolet team. Guzzo resigned his position with the organization at the end of the 1999 season to join Ray Evernham in the initial development of the Dodge program, but the two parted ways in May. Hendrick crew chief Tony Furr welcomes Guzzo's contributions. "He's a very thorough mechanic," Furr says.(Sporting News)(8-6-2001)
- Economaki on TV? The legendary racing journalist Chris Economaki may be the subject of a series on the history of racing on The Learning Channel or The History Channel. Economaki, publisher of National Speed Sport News, is considered the most important historian of the sport(Winston Salem Journal)(8-6-2001)
- New Seat/Cocoon? UPDATE 3: An innovative driver's compartment that could become NASCAR's most revolutionary safety device sat behind a closed garage door Tuesday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Only the most privileged in the Winston Cup division got to see it. What the participants saw of the cocoon-shaped compartment which bolts into the cockpit of a stock car, they liked. Especially the drivers. "It's real nice and it's definitely safer," said former series champion Rusty Wallace, among those testing at the Speedway in preparation for next month's Brickyard 400. "I can't wait for NASCAR to let me give it a whirl." Instead of the simple aluminum seat, which NASCAR has used for decades, the new driver-encompassing device is made of stronger but more forgiving carbon fiber. That's the same material used in the tubs that protect Indy-car drivers. The compartment on display Tuesday was designed by PPI Motorsports, a Winston Cup team owned by Cal Wells, who came to the series from Championship Auto Racing Teams. Matt McArdle, the team's technical director who designed the device, declined to discuss his creation. NASCAR has yet to approve it for use in its cars.(Indianpolis Star)(7-18-2001)
UPDATE: Jeff Burton said he is close to being ready to discuss his data on a new driver compartment and composite seat. Burton has been working with PPI Motorsports on carbon-fiber seats and safety enhancements in the driver area. He's waiting to go over the final data with a manufacturer, then plans to release his findings. The composite seat he has worked with Cal Wells' operation to develop will be tested again in another week or two. Once finalized, Burton plans to release his findings(Richmond Times Dispatch) AND Manufacturer representatives and NASCAR officials met with drivers and crew chiefs this week to discuss safety updates at Indianapolis after one of the days of testing there. A second group of drivers is scheduled to test there next week, and a similar meeting will be held. Teams were shown the capsule seat PPI Motorsports and Jeff Burton have worked on along with Reynard and Dr. John Melvin, a Michigan-based biomedical engineer and one of the leading experts on racing injuries. A capsule seat was bolted into the skeleton frame of a car and many drivers sat in it and tested getting out of the vehicle. Drivers also were told of updated test results on the various head restraint systems and were shown crash-test video. "They had a lot more technical information than they had the first time," said Todd Bodine, referring to January meetings at Daytona during testing. "They had a lot of experts there that really made everybody understand why certain things were the way they were and why they worked that way. Before, they just kind of told us what was the best. "Everybody was really happy with what they did and why they did it and looking forward to more of them and ... making everybody safer."(Racing Extra)(7-21-2001)
UPDATE 2: Ford officials are expressing surprise at Jeff Burton's statement that he can make a stock-car seat out of aluminum that is as safe as the Ford-developed composite driver's seat. In fact, Ford is calling on NASCAR to OK the composite seat for Winston Cup competition. NASCAR officials have been slow to embrace the new composite seat, which has been under extensive development and testing since last year's deaths of Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin and Tony Roper(Winston Salem Journal)(8-5-2001)
UPDATE 3 - Burton's Statement: Jeff Burton is no longer sure NASCAR drivers need a carbon-fiber composite seat. After helping design and test a model, Burton said it is possible the same safety goals can be met with an aluminum seat. The aluminum has two advantages - NASCAR teams have worked with it before, and the sanctioning body immediately would allow it to be used in the cars. The new seat is a four-part model with seat belts bolted into the seat hub instead of the frame. Burton is working to develop an equivalent aluminum model for teams to use. He and Kevin Harvick used an updated aluminum seat this weekend. "NASCAR was concerned with it from the beginning because we don't have a history with composites," Burton said. "Let's don't wait for the composite thing because the composite thing might not ever happen. . . . I'm convinced more than ever now that we can get to where we want to be with aluminum."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(8-6-2001)
- #900 in Modern Era: Sunday’s Brickyard 400 was NASCAR 900th Winston Cup Series event since the Modern Era of it began in 1972. That was also the year R.J. Reynolds came on board and the name of NASCAR’s premier division became known as Winston Cup(NASCAR.com)(8-6-2001)
- Hmm....Winner's payout least ever: For winning the 2000 Brickyard 400, Bobby Labonte’s share of the purse was $831,225. For winning Sunday’s race, Jeff Gordon received $428,452. So, in other words, in this the first year of NASCAR’s grand and glorious TV deal, winning the Brickyard 400 is worth about half as much. According to the speedway’s Fred Nations, this year’s purse did not contain a $250,000 winner’s bonus previously contributed by PPG Industries (also Labonte's take was swelled by a $190,000 Winston Leader bonus, Gordon got $20,000). Also, Nations said the new NASCAR TV deal had "no appreciable effect" on the size of this year’s purse. However, it should be pointed out that, in 1994, when Gordon won the first Brickyard 400, the winner’s share was $613,000, or $184,454 more than this year. The following year, Dale Earnhardt won $565,600, and Dale Jarrett won $564,035 in 1996. Ricky Rudd earned $571,000 in 1997, and in 1998, when the Brickyard 400 was a part of the No Bull Five program, Gordon earned $1,637,625. Jarrett earned $712,240 in 1999. So, the 2001 Brickyard 400 winner earned $135,583 less than any previous winner of the event.(Gaston Gazette)(8-6-2001)
(8-5-2001)
see the July 30-Aug 5, 2001 Archived News Page
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