PAST NEWS DEC 17-23, 2001
THE PAST NEWS! YESTERDAY and BEYOND..
OTHER PAST NEWS PAGES
(12-22-2001)
- Gibbs agreement with aerodynamics company UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has signed a multi-year agreement with Automotive Aerodynamics, Inc. (AAI) and their principal engineer, Louis Duncan to provide aerodynamic engineering services for all race teams of JGR beginning January 1, 2002. For Joe Gibbs Racing, this alliance represents an on going effort to have the most competitive teams week in and week out on the racetrack.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(12-21-2001)
UPDATE: An aerodynamic engineering firm that had been part of a cooperative effort among Winston Cup teams owned by Richard Childress, Andy Petree and Dale Earnhardt Inc. has now been hired to provide its services to teams at Joe Gibbs Racing.Automotive Aerodynamics Inc. and its principal engineer, Louis Duncan, signed a multiyear deal to provide aerodynamic engineering services for the Winston Cup, Grand National and Truck series teams at Joe Gibbs Racing. Childress, Petree and DEI will continue their RAD program but did not renew their contract with Duncan and his business.(That's Racin')(12-22-2001)
- Sospenzo to the #5? #7? UPDATE 3 Not the #5 and not the #7: hearing former #12 Penske Crew Chief Peter Sospenzo could end up with the #7 Ultra Motorsports/Evernham Motorsorts team and driver Casey Atwood(11-28-2001)
UPDATE: The word on the street -- it's not official and could just be part of the rumor mill -- is Peter Sospenzo, the crew chief for the 12 car, is going to be the crew chief for Terry Labonte.(FoxSports)(11-29-2001)
UPDATE 2: Jack Flowers of the Speedway Scene magazine is reporting that Sospenzo is expected to assume the crew chief's role sometime this month with the #7 Dodge team(12-18-2001)
UPDATE 3: Kevin Cram, the crew chief who started the 2001 season with Jason Leffler [#01], found a new opportunity when Ray Evernham became a partner with Jimmy Smith in Ultra Motorsports’ Winston Cup team. Cram has begun work as the crew chief of the #7 Ultra team that is in the process of switching from Fords to Dodges, for sophomore driver Casey Atwood. A spokesperson for Evernham’s team said a sponsor is still being sought for the #7, but that Evernham had made a commitment to Atwood when he transferred him from the #19 to the #7 that the team would run a full schedule in 2002.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(12-22-2001)
(12-21-2001)
- Sprague to IROC: three time CTS Champ Jack Sprague has been named to the True Value International Race of Champions (IROC) lineup for 2002. First race is at Daytona in February. The event will mark the first time a CTS driver has ever competed in the IROC ranks. Sprague will run the #24 NetZero Chevy in the 2002 BGN series(Motorsports Management Group PR)
Drivers so far:
Kevin Harvick, 2001 BGN Champ
Sam Hornish, 201 IRL Champ
Buddy Lazier, IRL
Scott Sharp, IRL
Jack Sprague, 2001 CTS Champ
other rumored drivers:
Dale Earnhardt Jr? (suuposedly been invited - has NOT accepted or been officially announced)
Tony Stewart?, 2nd in Cup standings (usually take the top five in Cup standings)
Sterling Marlin?, 3rd in Cup standings
Ricky Rudd?, 4th in Cup standings
Dale Jarrett?, 5th in Cup standings
Gil de Ferran?, 2001 CART Champ, now IRL
Helio Castroneves?, CART now IRL
Kenny Brack?, CART (conflict with Japan CART race and Calif IROC race make this unlikely)
Bobby Labonte?, 2001 IROC Champ
John Force would be fun
Jeff Gordon, 2001 Cup champ, turned down IROC for 2002(12-21-2001)
- New #55 Crew Chief: Charley Pressley, has joined Square D Racing and will give the #55 Schneider Electric Chevy driven by Bobby Hamilton seasoned help for the 2002 Cup Series season. On Tuesday, Hamilton and the team welcomed their new crew chief at the Andy Petree Racing (APR) shop located in Flat Rock, NC. Pressley honed his strong leadership abilities and added to his Winston Cup experience when he worked with Hamilton while Hamilton drove the #4 Chevy in 1998. Pressley cited his communication with Hamilton as the best factor of their relationship.(Motorsports Decisions Group PR)(12-21-2001)
- Rudd to carry The Torch: Ricky Rudd will rely on his feet, not his race car, when he carries the Olympic torch through Martinsburg, WV, Thursday. Rudd [#28 Havoline Ford], a NASCAR driver, will be among more than 50 people toting the torch in Hagerstown and Martinsburg. Rudd is scheduled to take the torch from bearer Betsy Howell of Harrisburg, PA., at 5:29pm/et. He will carry the torch on Moler Avenue, starting at Central Avenue. Support runner Daniel Comer will join him at 5:32pm/et. At the Second Baptist Church sign, Rudd will hand the torch to bearer Joan Laboiteaux of Berkeley Springs, WV.(Herald-Mail)(12-21-2001)
(12-20-2001)
- Hamilton tests at Nashville: #55-Bobby Hamilton spent a day testing at Nashville Superspeedway last week in preparation for the upcoming Cup season. NASCAR limits teams to seven ''official'' tests a year on tracks where Winston Cup races are run. Tests on non-Cup tracks like Nashville Superspeedway don't count. Teams can practice there as often as they want. Hawks did not charge Hamilton a fee for the session. Hamilton was only required to pay for expenses such as rescue workers and other personnel who had to be on hand for the test.(Tennessean)(12-20-2001)
- New #88 Paint Scheme for 2002? UPDATE 2: hearing UPS is offering employees a sneak preview of Dale Jarrett's newly designed fire suit and the #88 UPS Ford new paint scheme on Friday, December 7. Despite the changes, the familiar UPS shield remains the prominent figure of the car's sporty new look. Am hearing it may incorporate some blue for it's 2nd day delivery service(12-7-2001)
UPDATE: no blue, same basic scheme with more yellow and the stripe is like a lightning bolt. See the images on my Paint Scheme Gallery(12-7-2001)
UPDATE 2: The 2002 UPS Ford will feature a variation of the initial design used throughout 2001. Yellow lightening bolts frame the brown swooshes that will adorn the sides of the #88 UPS Ford. The familiar UPS shield remains the prominent figure on the car's sporty new look. Alongside the #88 on both the driver and passenger sides of the race car is the UPS acronym which will remain on the rear quarter panels and deck lid, although the color will change from yellow to white.(UPS Racing Site)(12-20-2001)
- Lazarro back to Open Wheel:Sam Schmidt Motorsports announced the signing of a multi-year deal with Anthony Lazzaro to be the IRL team’s driver(SpeedVision). Lazarro ran some Cup races in the #68 car which is supposed to run a limited 15 race Cup schedule in 2002, no word on if Lazarro will be part of that effort but it looks unlikely(12-20-2001)
(12-19-2001)
- Spencer in CART? No, just a bet and a test: NASCAR Winston Cup star Jimmy Spencer tested Chip Ganassi's Toyota-powered Lola Champ Car Tuesday at Sebring International Raceway. Seems Ganassi and Spencer, who has signed to drive for Ganassi's Target-sponsored [#41] Dodge team in the 2002 Winston Cup title chase, were talking recently when the subject worked its way around to Champ Cars and wound up with a friendly wager between the two. Spencer did three laps around the Sebring testing circuit, never getting any further up the gear ratios than third. Team manager Mike Hull explained that, since the Cup team was doing a commercial shoot on the airport runways nearby and the Champ Car team was on hand to try out its 2002 Lola, things just happened to come together nicely.(SpeedVision). Ganassi's CART driver, Kenny Brack is expected to attempt to run the 2002 Daytona 500 in a 3rd Ganassi Dodge(12-19-2001)
- Geoffrey Bodine 2002 plans UPDATE: NBC 6 in Charlotte reported tonight that Geoffrey Bodine has secured sponsorship for at least three races in 2002, at both Daytona races and Homestead. Sponsorship reportedly to come from Miccosukee Indian Gaming [the sponsor for Bodine at Homestead]. Bodine is looking for a team to supply the cars/engines and is working with a few but could also end up with brother Brett [#11 Ford] if nothing else works out but feels he is close to working out cars and engines with a couple of teams. Geoffrey Bodine also is working on another deal that would allow him to run 18-20 Cup races in 2002.(NBC 6)(12-13-2001)
UPDATE: Geoffrey Bodine finalized his Daytona 2002 plans today [12-18-2001] and will be driving for James Finch and Phoenix Racing. They will be testing at Daytona during the first test session, January 7th, 8th and 9th, with the 10th being a rain date. The car number and other specifics are still in negotiations and will be reported as soon as the information becomes available.(Geoffrey Bodine fanclub site), Finch also runs the #51 Ford for Jeff Purvis on a limited basis, supposedly with Lance Snacks as the sponsor in 2002(12-19-2001)
- #10 Testing Sched: Johnny Benson and the #10 Valvoline Pontiac testing schedule - Daytona Jan 14, 15, and 16; Lakeland (Fla) Jan 17 & 18; Rockingham Jan. 22 & 23; and Las Vegas Jan. 30 & 31(MBV PR)(12-19-2001)
(12-18-2001)
- Gordon turns down IROC 2002: The ever-increasing demands put on Jeff Gordon by sponsors and by himself as the co-owner of the new #48 NASCAR Winston Cup team [Jimmie Johnson] have forced Gordonto cease his participation in the International Race of Champions series, announcing that he was declining the invitation forwarded him as the reigning NASCAR title winner. "It's definitely an honor to be recognized by IROC and compete against an elite group of drivers," said Gordon. "I'll never forget the first invitation I received from IROC in 1995. It was very exciting. Unfortunately, due to the demands on my time with the number of races on the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule and commitments to my sponsors, in addition to my increased involvement with the No. 24 and No. 48 teams, I have to decline the invitation." Gordon becomes the first NASCAR champion since Bobby Allison won the 1983 series title not to follow his title-winning year with a run in the IROC series. Gordon has competed six times in the IROC series but has never had much success, taking the checkered flag in the 1998 season-opener in Daytona as his only IROC victory. Series officials confirmed that they had discussed the matter with Gordon before he announced his decision and that the move did not come as a surprise to them. The series currently has five of its 12 drivers for the 2002 series under wraps, including Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish Jr., Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, Indy 500 polesitter Scott Sharp, all-time IRL victory leader Buddy Lazier and NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie-of-the-Year Kevin Harvick.(SpeedVision)(12-18-2001)
- Congrats: Jimmy White and Rea McLeroy were wed in an 11 a.m. ceremony at The Little Church of the West in Las Vegas on Tuesday, December 18. McLeroy is the motorsports reporter for the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch. White is the media representative for Raybestos at Camp & Associates, Inc., in Concord, N.C. Among those in attendance were NASCAR Winston Cup Series team owner Junie Donlavey, David Poole (Charlotte Observer motorsports reporters) and Jim Utter (ThatsRacin.com reporter), Mike Snow and Lori Vizza (NASCAR reporters for Speedway Scene), John Bisci (Public Relations Manager, Las Vegas Motor Speedway) and Evelyn Holmer (public relations representative and bubble-bearer).(12-18-2001)
- Stewart to run 24 Hours: Tony Stewart is in the process of finalizing plans to race in the 24 Hours of Daytona just prior to the Daytona 500 as well as the Chili Bowl on January 10th.(Tony Stewart Newsletter)(12-10-2001)
UPDATE: Tony Stewart signed a deal Tuesday with Max Crawford to race in the Grand American Road Racing Association's upcoming Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Stewart will co-drive a works-entered Crawford SSC2K powered by a Judd V10 engine along with road racing veterans Jan Lammers and Johnny Mowlem.(SpeedVision)(12-18-2001)
- Mobil Not Happy? BUT UPDATE 2: hearing Mobil might not be coming back to Penske at all as an associate sponsor as they were not happy with the team going away the way it did and might do just a very small associate sponsorship now if at all and do not have a contract signed(12-11-2001)
UPDATE: from the Mobil 1 Racing site: ExxonMobil will continue its relationship with Penske Racing as associate sponsor on both the #2 Miller Lite Ford Taurus and the #12 Alltel Ford Taurus. We will also continue as an associate sponsor on Penske's two open wheel racing entries and look forward to our ongoing association with Penske Racing. We have a long history in motorsports and use these programs as a product development proving ground and as part of our brand communication efforts.(Mobil 1 Racing)(12-14-2001)
UPDATE 2: hearing that the #12-Ryan Newman Ford, will carry Mobil One colors for up to four races in 2002(12-18-2001)
- Speaking of the #12 Team: Ryan Newman and #12 ALLTEL Team Penske will head to Lakeland, FL to test on December 19th and 20th. The team will resume testing in January beginning with the NASCAR sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway from the 7th through 9th. Gasman George Whitley and his wife, Mandy, welcomed their second child in November and crew chief Matt Borland and his wife, Stacy, are expecting their first child any day now. Jackman Chad Norris will be married on New Year's Eve and public relations representative Michele Greth got married on December 15th.(Tom Roberts PR)(12-18-2001)
- Sospenzo to the #5? #7? hearing former #12 Penske Crew Chief Peter Sospenzo could end up with the #7 Ultra Motorsports/Evernham Motorsorts team and driver Casey Atwood(11-28-2001)
UPDATE: The word on the street -- it's not official and could just be part of the rumor mill -- is Peter Sospenzo, the crew chief for the 12 car, is going to be the crew chief for Terry Labonte.(FoxSports)(11-29-2001)
UPDATE 2: Jack Flowers of the Speedway Scene magazine is reporting that Sospenzo is expected to assume the crew chief's role sometime this month with the #7 Dodge team(12-18-2001)
- Chocolate News: #29 RCR Gasman, Chocolatr Myers will have surgery on his left wrist during the off season. Danny "Chocolate" Myers injured his left wrist during a pitstop at Talladega in October. Seems that the gas can got stuck as Kevin Harvick was pulling out of the pits and Myers twisted his left wrist in the process, tearing tendons and ligaments. Doctors at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center will perform the surgery and after some rehab, he'll be good to go for Daytona. Chocolate helped raise Thousands when the Charity League of Lexington, NC hosted their annual Holiday House tour at Myers Manor - the home of Danny "Chocolate" and Caron Myers. Over 3000 people attended the event - at five dollars a pop - with Danny and Caron standing at the door shaking hands with each guest as they arrived. Race fans got to see how the famous Gas Man lives at home. There were Christmas trees in each of the 19 rooms.of their 5000 square foot Victorian home, each with a different theme. And, of course,.Chocolate's Victrola (crank phonograph) collection. All proceeds of the event went to benefit children and underprivileged families in Davidson County, NC. And Chocolate was seen at the Lexington KMart ringing a bell for the Salvation Army last Saturday. And he wasn't shy about intimidating people and making them dig deep into their pockets. Remember, this is the same guy who wrestled a bear once! Myers has recently been appointed to the board of the Salvation Army. And finally: Politics for Mrs. Chocolate?: Caron Myers, wife of Danny "Chocolate" Myers and writer for Racing Milestones Magazine, was elected to the Lexington Planning Board and the Board of Adjustments. She began serving her three year term of public office on Monday, December 17th.(12-18-2001)
(12-17-2001)
- Skinner back and will test: Mike Skinner will return to the track this week for the first time since the Sept 23 race at Dover. He will be getting used to his new ride, the #4 Kodak/Morgan McClure Chevrolet, and his new team and crew chief, Scott Eggleston, during test sessions at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC. Skinner stopped racing because of injuries related to a crash in July at Chicagoland.(Sporting News)(12-17-2001)
- NASCAR.com news: the NASCAR.com site is set to undergo a redesign by the time NASCAR revs back into action in February. Turner Sports Interactive, caretaker of the site, plans to offer more real-time features aimed at enhancing the race-viewing experience.(Star Telegram)(12-17-2001)
- Johnson featured: Jimmie Johnson [driver of the #48 Lowes Chevy and 2002 ROTY Candidate] is featured in the current edition
of ESPN the Magazine (Dec. 24). Johnson was selected to represent auto racing in its annual "Who's Next" edition, photos available on ESPN.com (12-17-2001)
- Not NASCAR but... Alex Zanardi stood for the first time on his artificial legs, presenting Formula One champion Michael Schumacher with an award. "I'm so emotional that my legs are trembling," Zanardi, the two-time CART champion, said Saturday at a motor show in his native Bologna. Zanardi lost his legs in a Sept. 15 accident in a race in Germany in which he nearly died. He received artificial limbs and has been doing physical therapy to learn how to use them.(CBS Sportsline)(12-17-2001)
(12-16-2001)
see the Dec 10-16, 2001 Archived News Page
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