PAST NEWS OCT 29-NOV 4, 2001
THE PAST NEWS! YESTERDAY and BEYOND..
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(11-4-2001)
- Kenny's 2002 plans UPDATE: Kenny Wallace said on Friday that he will reveal his 2002 plans at Atlanta in two weeks. Wallace did not give any indication whether his plans lie in the Busch Series or in Winston Cup. He has been driving the #1 Pennzoil Chevy since September, when Steve Park was injured at Darlington.(NASCAR.com), but has been reported on my BGN Site: Goulds Pumps will return next year to the #48 BGN car driven by Kenny Wallace in 2002, BUT NOT as the primary sponsor. Goulds will become a major associate sponsor and Innovative is currently searching for a primary sponsor for the 48 car.(11-2-2001)
UPDATE: Kenny Wallace is facing a similar situation, and he hints he might have finally gotten his answer to the 2002 question. There are indications he could be running a Pennzoil-sponsored car again next season for Dale Earnhardt Inc., as a teammate with Steve Park when Park finally does come back.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-4-2001)
- #12 Team Decision soon? Mike Wallace said he thinks car owner Roger Penske will make the critical decisions about the future of the #12 Ford team after Penske wraps up the CART season Sunday in California.(That's Racin')(11-4-2001)
- Petree's 2002 Plans: Car [#33 and #55] owner Andy Petree says he's looking at ways to fielding his second [#33] team without a sponsor for at least the first four races of next season. Petree is searching for a driver and sponsor for next season for the car driven by Joe Nemechek, who will join [#26] Travis Carter Racing next season. Petree says he continues to search for a sponsor.(Racing Extra)(11-4-2001)
- Shawna in a Pontiac? New Team? Shawna Robinson tested at Homestead Speedway this past week in hopes of getting back behind the wheel of a Winston Cup car. She drove a Pontiac for a possibly newly forming team out of Florida. Robinson has attempted to qualify for four Winston Cup races [with MK Racing and owner Michael Kranefuss], but has only made one of them-- the June event at Michigan. She started 32nd and finished 34th.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(11-4-2001)
- Upset! Nemechek wins at The Rock: #33-Joe Nemechek, who started 13th (yes 13th NOT 14th, Waltrip was 14th, qualifying time was tied, the #33 is higher in OWNERS points), won the Pop Secret 400 at Rockingham. It was Nemechek's first top 5 of the 2001 season and his 2nd career win, and first since Sept 19,1999 at New Hampshire, 69 races ago. Nemechek is the 17th different winner in 2001 (see below). Nemechek's victory puts him in 2002 The Winston. #-Kenny Wallace was 2nd after starting on the pole. Winston Cup points leader, #24-Jeff Gordon finished 25th and 2nd place #28-Ricky Rudd gained some ground on Gordon but with three races to go, Gordon only needs to finish 28th of better to clinch(see below). See That's Racin' for Pop Secret 400 Results and a column: Nemechek posts another lame-duck win and see my Drivers Points Standing page(11-4-2001)
- Pit Crew Competition at the Rock UPDATE #17 WINS and results: The annual Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition will be held Saturday, November 3rd at North Carolina Speedway, and Jeff Burton along with his #99 Citgo SUPERGARD Ford crew are preparing to defend their title as the "Fastest Pit Crew" in NASCAR racing. Burton and team won last fall's pit crew competition and set a new world record with a time of 18.355 seconds. They defeated fellow competitors John Andretti, Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the $26,000 prize and bragging rights for a year as the best pit crew in the business. There will be a few changes in the line-up for this year's competition. Only those crews and cars of the top 25 car owners in the current 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship car owner point standings as of the completion of the October 28 NASCAR event will be eligible to participate. Total prize money for this year's event is $76,000, with $30,000 going to the winner and a $1,000 bonus if they set a new world record. The object of the competition is for each crew to empty 14 gallons of gas into the tank of the race car from two cans, each holding seven gallons, and change left and right-side tires in as short a time as possible. Penalties will be applied for loose lug nuts, fuel spills, and fuel left in can. Time will be added to each team's speed based on penalties they receive. The team with the fastest time becomes the new champion. The Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition is the only NASCAR sanctioned pit crew contest on the circuit. The event has been held annually at North Carolina Speedway since 1967. See more at the North Carolina Speedway site(10-31-2001)
UPDATE: Matt Kenseth's #17 team kept the Union 76-Rockingham Pit Crew Competition championship in the Roush Racing family on Saturday, ripping off a record-time to beat 24 other teams at North Carolina Speedway. Kenseth's team, led by crew chief Robbie Reiser, changed four tires and emptied two gas cans, each containing seven gallons of fuel, into the #17 Ford in 17.695 seconds. That broke the record of 18.355 seconds set by Jeff Burton's team, also part of Roush Racing, in last year's competition.(See Full story at That's Racin') and see the National Association of Pit Crew Members site for the Rank and Times of 2001 Pit Crew Challenge(11-4-2001)
- BIGGER car in 2003 UPDATE 2 or 2002?: NASCAR also had startling news for competitors about future stock car design. Helton told the assembly that NASCAR plans to introduce a "bigger" stock car into the Winston Cup Series beginning in 2003. "Mike discussed going to a bigger car in the future," said Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president of communications. "We're looking at racing cars with a bigger greenhouse (expanded driver compartment). That's the car of the future. We can't expect teams to trash what they have run the last several years. We're looking at 2003. They'll be driving a lot different car than they're driving today. But we need to phase it in, probably at the bigger tracks." Hunter didn't elaborate about the reasons for the larger car but within the last two years NASCAR has tested a larger car hoping it would reduce speeds.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(11-2-2001)
UPDATE: NASCAR's plans for a bigger car that could roll out on the Winston Cup tour next fall at Talladega. The crews are trying hard not to look too far ahead to when NASCAR's proposed bigger race car is coming, possibly for next October's Talladega 500, as a preview for the 2003 season opener. But the bigger car would be a safer car, with more room for the driver. The roof would be three inches taller, the greenhouse would be four to five inches wider, and the driver's door bars could be four inches to the left.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-3-2001)
UPDATE 2: Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications, confirmed Saturday that NASCAR president Mike Helton broached the subject of enlarging the "greenhouse" of Cup cars at Thursday's meeting of drivers, crew chiefs and car owners in Huntersville. Hunter said that the larger car might be used at Daytona or Talladega in 2003, then phased in at other tracks over time. The cars would allow for more room between the driver's compartment and structural elements of the car's roof and side panels.(That's Racin')(11-4-2001)
(11-3-2001)
- Long at the Rock UPDATE gets help: NASCAR's #85 team, owned and operated by Mansion Motorsports, whose shop is located halfway between Raleigh and Durham (NC), will take their Dodge to Rockingham. Driver Carl Long has tested and raced there and is looking forward to the opportunity. "I am looking forward to running at Rockingham," said Long, "We made it into the race last year on a provisional but we started to run real strong at the end." The weekend after that, the team might try Homestead if they don't have too much work to do on the Dodge. The next weekend they will bring the Dodge to Atlanta.(Triangle Sports Journal)(11-1-2001)
UPDATE: #85 Carl Long qualified 29th in his unsponsored Dodge, thanks to some assistance from fellow driver Kyle Petty and an experienced crew chief, Brad Parrott. Petty loaned Long an engine and helped him with the chassis set-up. "Kyle drove the car in the test last week and told me what he thought about it," Long said. "He was very accurate on what was wrong, and we fixed it." Parrott simply walked up and offered his services. "We told him the pay wasn't real good," Long said. "He said he just wanted to help."(Atlanta Journal Constitution/That's Racin')(11-3-2001)
- No Wreck, No Changes: NASCAR president Mike Helton admits that aerodynamic rules would probably not have changed before next season's Daytona 500 if the last-lap accident at Talladega Superspeedway had not happened.(That's Racin'/AP)(11-3-2001)
- Little 'E' eligible? An innocent remark made on "The Tonight Show" has turned Dale Earnhardt Jr. into the most sought after bachelor in NASCAR. see full AP story at That's Racin' - Remark on Leno's show draws a response(11-3-2001)
- New Wind Tunnel: Gary Eaker, on November 2, 2001, broke ground on the site for his venture, AeroDyn Wind Tunnel, located in Barley Park, Mooresville, NC. While not everyone has a need for a full-scale wind tunnel test facility, the large number of NASCAR teams located in and around Mooresville, NC certainly do and Mr. Eaker is determined to provide those services in a convenient and cost effective setting. The nearly half acre building which will house the wind tunnel is small by comparison to other, "conventional" wind tunnels. "While the need for a local facitlity has been obvious to any observer of NASCAR activities" says Eaker, "the problem has been in the perception that one has to be on the scale of those currently in use. (Lockheed in Georgia, General Motors in Michigan, and NRC in Ottawa, Canada) Our facility is going to produce similar wind velocity and greater measurability of the type that these racing teams are looking for. The tunnel will incorporate some unique ideas that I have been working on for the past few years that will allow us to offer a more affordable package, making these services available to more of the teams." Mr. Eaker knows his business. Since 1994, he has been the Chief Aerodynamicist for Hendrick Motorsports. Prior to his joining Hendrick Motorsports, Eaker spent nearly 20 years operating the GM Wind Tunnel in Michigan. He even applied his theoretical knowledge to a land speed record run at Bonneville Salt Flats, breaking the existing world record for his class, running at nearly 300 mph in the measured mile. Prestige Building Company of Troutman, NC has been chosen by AeroDyn to construct the building which will house the wind tunnel and architectural duties have been assigned to Wilber Associates of Davidson, NC. Mike Clark, owner of Prestige Building, expressed his excitement in being chosen to contract the construction of such a unique structure. "No one has built a full scale wind tunnel in the past 20 years and a building of such a specialized design has provided some interesting challenges." said Mr.Clark. "It has been enjoyable working with an engineer like Gary, since you know his calculations for some of the more intricate parts of the puzzle have been thoroughly planned and double checked." The NASCAR community is eagerly awaiting the completion of the wind tunnel for more than one reason. AeroDyn has already signed up some of the top Winston Cup teams for more than 1,000 test hours. Foremost in the minds of the teams is the location. AeroDyn Wind Tunnel expects to open for testing in September 2002(AeroDyn PR)(11-3-2001)
(11-2-2001)
- Kenny's 2002 plans: Kenny Wallace said on Friday that he will reveal his 2002 plans at Atlanta in two weeks. Wallace did not give any indication whether his plans lie in the Busch Series or in Winston Cup. He has been driving the #1 Pennzoil Chevy since September, when Steve Park was injured at Darlington.(NASCAR.com), but has been reported on my BGN Site: Goulds Pumps will return next year to the #48 BGN car driven by Kenny Wallace in 2002, BUT NOT as the primary sponsor. Goulds will become a major associate sponsor and Innovative is currently searching for a primary sponsor for the 48 car.(11-2-2001)
- Gordon Tribute: #31-Robby Gordon will continue to pay tribute to the efforts of the United States Navy in the war against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban government of Afghanistan by wearing a crew hat from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during this weekend’s NASCAR events at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. Last week at Phoenix International Raceway, Gordon and crewmembers of Richard Childress Racing’s #31 Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse team wore crew hats from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and other ships in the Battle Force Seventh Fleet, including the guided missile frigates USS Gary (FFG-51) and USS Vandegrift (FFG-48). The Lowe’s team finished seventh at PIR, a season-best and Gordon’s NASCAR Winston Cup career best on a track other than a road course.(RCR Site)(11-2-2001)
- New #31 Crew Chief: Richard Childress Racing announced on Friday that Gil Martin has been named crew chief for the # 31 car, effective immediately. Martin has been crew chief for the #21 team in the BGN and has been a consultant to the #31 Cup team since midseason. Royce McGee, previously the crew chief on the #31 car, was named Winston Cup shop manager at RCR and will oversee the three-team operation next year.(That's Racin'/RCR PR)(11-2-2001)
- Stewart at Vegas: Tony Stewart will return to his open-wheel roots and compete in the USAC Worldcom Midget Car Series at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Nov. 24, traveling to Las Vegas after the New Hampshire 300 Winston Cup race Nov. 23. Stewart has competed in only one USAC Midget race this year. He won the 50-lap race earlier this month at South Boston Speedway. Stewart has over 260 USAC starts in a 10-year period, of which 98 have been in the Midget Series.(more info at www.lvms.com)(11-2-2001)
- WD-40 and NASCAR: NASCAR and WD-40 Company announced a promotional partnership and automotive aftermarket licensing agreement at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas this week. In addition, WD-40 Company will enter into agreements with NASCAR veteran driver Ward Burton and various tracks to be named later. Commencing with the 2002 NASCAR racing season, the product used by millions of consumers to solve problems on their cars and the products that clean their hands afterwards will be marketed through programs involving the country's No. 1 spectator sport. WD-40 and Lava heavy-duty hand cleaner, both made by WD-40 Company, will become a part of the NASCAR Officially Licensed automotive aftermarket program(Business News)(11-2-2001)
- hmm..a switch in the Mayfield to Evernham 'rumor' UPDATE: If things unfold according to plan, Jeremy Mayfield will drive an Evernham Motorsports Dodge as Bill Elliott's teammate in 2002. Rookie Casey Atwood will also remain in an Intrepid, though it will be fielded by Ultra Motorsports [#7] with technical assistance from Ray Evernham(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(11-1-2001)
UPDATE: Rumors still persist that Jeremy Mayfield will unseat [#19] Casey Atwood at Evernham Motorsports. Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith, who runs the #7 NationsRent Ford, is talking to Dodge about a car make switch for 2002, under the guidance of Evernham. If that happens, expect Atwood to move to the #7 and Mayfield to take over the #19(FoxSports)(11-2-2001)
(11-1-2001)
- NASCAR/Teams to meet UPDATE Rules Changes for Daytona: During Sunday's prerace driver and crew chief meeting at Phoenix International Raceway, NASCAR officials announced a meeting would take place Thursday, Nov 1st, at Joe Gibbs Racing headquarters in Huntersville, NC, in which ideas for improving the aerodynamic package for the superspeedways would be discussed. Drivers, crew chiefs and car owners are invited to attend. NASCAR spokeswoman Danielle Humphrey said the meeting would serve as a "brain-storming" session, in which all ideas would be considered. Humphrey said NASCAR officials would take what comes from Thursday's session and determine the next step in the process.(That's Racin')(10-28/11-1-2001)
UPDATE: Winston Cup drivers, crew chiefs and car owners agreed Thursday on rule changes for races at Daytona and Talladega. NASCAR officials met with the teams at Joe Gibbs Racing headquarters in Huntersville, NC, to gather ideas after a 16-car wreck on the final lap of the EA Sports 500 at Talladega two weeks ago. The sanctioning body has been under increasing pressure from the teams to find a way to make the racing safer at the two tracks, the only two on the schedule where carburetor restrictor plates are used. Gone will be the thin metal strip across the roofs of Winston Cup cars and a spoiler angle of 55 degrees will be mandated. Cars will go to Daytona for testing in January with 57-inch-wide rear spoilers laid back from 70 to 55 degrees and with a maximum height of 6½ inches. The cars will continue to run with seven-eighths-inch carburetor restrictor plates. The dimensions of spoilers and air dams will be determined through pre-Daytona 500 testing during the off-season. The clearance of the front air dams for each of the four makes of cars used in Winston Cup will be finalized after January’s manufacturers’ tests at Daytona. The meeting was closed to the media, but drivers and NASCAR officials spoke with reporters afterward.(That's Racin')
AND: The new Daytona spoiler package will include a 55-degree spoiler angle rather than the 45-degree spoiler angle (actually it was 70 degrees) used at Talladega two weeks ago. This new package will allow a maximum spoiler height of 6 ½ inches and a maximum width of 57 inches. The size of the restrictor-plate remains at 7/8". The roof air deflectors and forward-facing flange on top of the spoiler used during restrictor plate races since last October will be removed. Teams will test this new combination in January during their scheduled testing period at Daytona International Speedway.(NASCAR PR)(11-1-2001)
- #93 Crew Chief on the move? UPDATE: hearing current #93 Bill Davis Racing crew chief, Doug Randolph will be moving over to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2002, supposedly as the crew chief of the #01 car (Jimmy Spencer?)(10-21-2001)
UPDATE: Beginning with this weekend's race at Rockingham, Philippe Lopez has joined the #93 Amoco/Siemens Dodge team as Crew Chief for driver Dave Blaney. Lopez, 38, comes to the Bill Davis Racing Team after serving in the same capacity for several NASCAR Winston Cup Series standouts, including three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip, Steve Park and Ward Burton. Lopez and new BDR driver for 2002, Hut Stricklin will again join forces in the 2002 Cup season as Crew Chief and driver of the Hill Brothers Coffee Dodge at BDR. Stricklin will also join Burton and Blaney in a third BDR Dodge Intrepid for the Winston Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in two weeks. In addition to Lopez, Jimmy Penland will take over as Car Chief for the #93 Dodge, replacing Car Chief Tom Hubert who assumed the job on an interim basis in mid-summer. Penland moves to the #93 team from a similar role with Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin, Jr. with the #22 Caterpillar Dodge team at BDR. Doug Randolph, Crew Chief for the #93 team since July, 2000, has left BDR for another position in the sport. Lopez joins the #93 Amoco/Siemens team on a weekend when they return to a track (NCS) where Blaney performed well during in the spring, qualifying 16th and finishing ninth. The team will also feature its green-and-yellow BP car design at Rockingham for the fourth and final time during the 2001 season.(BDR PR)(11-1-2001)
- Shepherd buying PPI cars? hearing long time Cup driver, Morgan Shepherd, is in the process of buying some of the #96 Fords from PPI Motorsports and housing the cars in his shop(11-1-2001)
- Phoenix TV Ratings: Sunday’s coverage of the Cup race on NBC from Phoenix generated a 4.0 national rating/9 share (2:43-6pm/et), according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. This represents an 82% increase over last year’s 2.2 converted national household rating on TNN. Sunday’s rating peaked at a 4.7/10 from 5:30-6:00pm/et as Jeff Burton took the checkered flag for the second time this season. The NASCAR on NBC pre-race show continued its strong showing, delivering a 2.3/8 from 2:00-2:43pm/et. Through 16 telecasts, NASCAR Winston Cup coverage on NBC and TNT has produced a 4.0 national rating/10 share, a 36 percent improvement over a 2.9/8 for the comparable period last year.(NBC PR)(11-1-2001)
- DEI Tests at Kentucky: DEI tested a pair of Cup cars at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Michael Waltrip, in the #15 NAPA Chevy, and Kenny Wallace, in the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet, rarely left their driver's seats while working over their machines on Kentucky's 1.5 mile tri-oval during the day-long test. "We're trying to find out some things, " a busy Wallace said. Kentucky Speedway is currently offering 2002 season ticket. All packages include preferred parking and can be reserved by calling 1-888-652-RACE.(Kentucky Speedway)(11-1-2001)
- Daytona Testing in Dec: NASCAR has scheduled a one-day test in Daytona the week after the banquet (in New York City is set for Nov. 30. TV-TNT), probably on Dec. 5, with some of the possible rules packages that are expected to be debated at the meeting today. That would give teams barely 30 days to build the new cars and test them in wind tunnels before Daytona testing officially opens on Jan. 7.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-1-2001)
- Leffler to the CTS: Ultra Motorsports [#7 Cup, #1 and #2 in the CTS] owner Jim Smith may be ready to introduce Jason Leffler as the driver of his #2 Dodge in 2002. Leffler, a rookie with Chip Ganassi Racing this season, is losing his ride in favor of veteran Jimmy Spencer and has been told he can search for another team. Smith said the deal is virtually done, but won't be announced until the contracts are signed.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(11-1-2001)
- Dale Jr and Smash Mouth: Budweiser is teaming up with national recording act Smash Mouth on an exclusive concert on Friday, Nov. 2nd, in Charlotte, NC. Tickets for the invitation-only concert can be won through radio station WEND-FM (106.5) in Charlotte. The band will attend Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s "Happy Hour" practice the following day and watch the action from the Budweiser Racing team's pit during the Pop Secret 400 race on Sunday, Nov. 4. Additionally, the logo of Smash Mouth's latest album titled "Smash Mouth," will be displayed on the #8 Bud Chevy's rear decklid and dashboard during the event. The album will be released Tuesday, November 27.(fingerprint.inc/Budweiser PR)(11-1-2001)
(10-31-2001)
- Spencer in a Ford? during Wednesday's FSN's Totally NASCAR, Jimmy Spencer said he might be in a Ford for the 2002 Cup series. Rumor had Spencer going to Ganassi Racing [#01?] who fields Dodges(10-31-2001)
- Hewlett to leave PE UPDATE: Doug Hewitt is leaving his position with Petty Enterprises as the head of its Research and Engineering Developmental Program. He is expected to go work for Joe Gibbs Racing as crew chief for Coy Gibbs in the BGN series, Gibbs currently runs in the CTS(truck) series(NASCAR.com Buzz)
UPDATE: sources tell me that Gibbs will STAY in the CTS and NOT move up to the BGN series(10-31-2001)
- Changes at Ford? The Ford Motor Company will announce the departure of Jacques Nasser as the company’s CEO Tuesday morning according to numerous news reports, a firing that will send tremors throughout the automotive world, and could have ramifications for the racing business as well. Nasser will give up the position that he has held for nearly three years in favor of William Clay Ford Jr., who is the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford. The ascension of Ford into the CEO position marks the first time in 20 years that a Ford family member has overseen the company. Ford has its tendrils in many different forms of auto racing and it remains to be seen how the new CEO, himself an avowed environmentalist, will affect any changes on the company’s racing outlook. Ford is also entrenched in NASCAR, CART and the World Rally Championship, with some questions remaining over their level of participation in those series.(SpeedVision)(10-31-2001)
- Stricklin to the #93? UPDATE Yep and #23?: It appears [Hut] Stricklin is headed for Bill Davis' #93 Dodge, which is without a sponsor and driver (Blaney) for 2002. You can bet the sponsor [Hills Bros Coffee] weighs heavily in the decision. (Sporting News)(10-24-2001)
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing will field the #93 Dodges for Hut Stricklin in 2002, ending the long period of rumors and speculation concerning Stricklin's move. He joins Ward Burton at Bill Davis Racing, replacing the departing Dave Blaney. Hills Brothers coffee comes along as the sponsor(SpeedVision), no word on Phillipe Lopez as the crew chief(10-26-2001)
AND Stricklin and Hills Brothers have a letter of intent with Bill Davis Racing for 2002. Lopez said he is meeting with Davis about his potential role this week.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-27-2001)
UPDATE 2: rumor has it that Bill Davis Racing will switch from the #93 to #23 for the 2002 season(10-31-2001)
(10-30-2001)
- Penalty Upheld: NASCAR has denied Larry Carter's appeal of his $10,000 fine following the race at Talladega. Carter, crew chief for the #66 Kmart Ford driven by Todd Bodine, was involved in an altercation in [#29] Kevin Harvick's pit area after Harvick's car struck Bodine's from the rear, spinning Bodine into the wall and out of the race. On Harvick's next pit stop, Carter jumped over the pit wall and shouted something at Harvick through the window net.(SpeedVision)(10-30-2001)
- Hornish to IROC: IRL champ Sam Hornish Jr. took a few laps at Phoenix International Raceway yesterday. Hornish is getting ready to expand his driving experience next season - he's testing an International Race of Champions car on Nov. 13-14 at Daytona. Hornish, by virtue of his IRL title, is competing in the IROC series next season. It's not his first experience in a stock car, though. Hornish once raced an ASA car on a three-eighths-mile oval.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-30-2001)
(10-29-2001)
- Tires at Phoenix: Goodyear will have to go back to the drawing board on the tire it uses for Phoenix. Despite the teams' experience with using the same compound at New Hampshire and Richmond, temperatures in the 90s at Phoenix played havoc with the tires. Goodyear spokeswoman Caroline Ashbee said temperatures were 30 degrees hotter than they were for the Phoenix race last season. Leaders Rusty Wallace and Casey Atwood, plus Bobby Hamilton, Sterling Marlin, Ken Schrader, Michael Waltrip, Kenny Wallace (twice) and Nemechek, blew tires.(Sporting News)(10-29-2001)
- Gordon to the #31 in 2002? Richard Childress is planning a shakeup in the Robby Gordon [#31 Lowes] team this week. But Childress is giving Gordon himself a vote of confidence. In fact, Childress confirmed Gordon as his man for next season: "He did a great job for us all day. He's what I expected, and he's going to do a hellava job next year. To me, watching him, with his talent and ability, he reminds me a lot of Tim Richmond. We've helped him, we've kept him calmed down. We told him just be smooth. "We're going to approach this thing (next season) different from how he's ever approached it."(Winston Salem Journal)(10-29-2001)
- More Dyno Testing: NASCAR officials tested nine cars on a chassis dyno after the race. The dyno measures horsepower. NASCAR did the same thing after last weekend's race at Talladega. Sunday, NASCAR officials tested the cars of #12-Mike Wallace, #2-Ricky Rudd, #24-Jeff Gordon, #20-Tony Stewart, #22-Ward Burton, #17-Matt Kenseth, #19-Casey Atwood and #31-Robby Gordon(RacingExtra)(10-29-2001)
- #93 Crew Chief on the move? UPDATE: hearing current #93 Bill Davis Racing crew chief, Doug Randolph will be moving over to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2002, supposedly as the crew chief of the #01 car (Jimmy Spencer?)(10-21-2001)
UPDATE: Doug Randolph, crew chief for the Dave Blaney [#93] team, is moving to Chip Ganassi's program next season.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-29-2001)
(10-28-2001)
see the Oct 22-28, 2001 Archived News Page
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