PAST NEWS JAN 28-FEB 3, 2002
THE PAST NEWS! YESTERDAY and BEYOND..
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(2-3-2002)
- Said to drive three Cup races? hearing from some readers who watched the Rolex 24 at Daytona, that Boris Said mentioned he was planning on driving three Cup races in 2002, Sears Point, Watkins Glen and Indianpolis for the Jasper Motorsports team. Didn't say if he would be in a 2nd car or the #77 Ford, but can't imagine regular driver Dave Blaney giving up the seat for a few races(2-3-2002)
- 24 Hours of Daytona: The #27 Doran Lista Judd Dallara took the lead in the 20th hour from the #37 Intersport Racing Judd Lola and stayed in front the rest of the way to capture the 40th anniversary of thee Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team of Didier Theys, Fredy Lienhard, Max Papis and Mauro Baldi claimed the victory in the twice-around-the-clock event by a margin of six laps over the runner-up #36 Jim Matthews Racing Elan Riley & Scott driven by Guy Smith, Jim Matthews, Scott Sharp and Robby Gordon. The winner's average speed was 106.142 mph. #8 Rand Racing/Risi Competizione Nissan Lola with drivers Anthony Lazzaro, Bill Rand, Terry Borcheller and Ralf Kelleners, finished third overall and captured the SportsRacing Prototype II class. Led by Paul Gentilozzi, the #3 Rocketsports Racing Jaguar captured the GTS class while the #66 The Racer's Group won the GT class. In the AGT class, the #09 Corvette fielded by Flis Motorsports dominated the competition to capture its first class win in the Rolex 24. Besides Gordon's runner-up finish, some other Winston Cup veterans had some success in the Rolex 24. Kyle Petty, who shared the driving duties on the #43 Orbit Racing Porsche with Peter Baron, Mike Borkowski, and Leo Hindery, finished sixth in the GT class and 14th overall. Derrike Cope, who was part of the driver team on the #33 Scuderia Ferrari of Washington, finished 14th in the GT class and 25th overall.(DIS PR) more info at the Daytona Beach News Journal/24 Hours site(2-3-2002)
- Norris on pole, Schrader 4th in Phoenix UPDATE: former CTS driver Eric Norris captured the pole position at the Winston West Series opener at Phoenix, Austin Cameron starts on the outside of the front row with Cup driver [#36 M&M's Pontiac], Ken Schrader, the defending champion in each of the NASCAR Winter Heat races, was fourth fastest in Southwest Series qualifying and starts fifth in the Winston West race. Norris is a Hollywood television and film director, having previously directed, Walker, Texas Ranger, which starred his father, Chuck Norris. The show ended last year, and Norris most recently directed a television movie that appeared last week on CBS.(Arizona Republic)(2-2-2002)
UPDATE: Ken Schrader won the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series 100-mile race and Austin Cameron took the NASCAR Winston West Series 150-mile race at Phoenix in the second annual NASCAR Winter Heat presented by Bosch. Schrader, who was trying to win both races just as he did last year, was foiled when he was caught up in an early-race accident in the NASCAR Winston West Series event, Schrader finished 9th in the Winston West race. Kurt Busch finished 11th and former Cup driver Stanley Smith finished 8th in the Southwest race(PIR PR), TV for both events are The Winston West scheduled March 4 and Southwest Series March 25, both on Speed Channel.(2-3-2002)
(2-2-2002)
- Pruett at Daytona UPDATE drive for Ganassi?: Scott Pruett, who drove for PPI Motorsports in team owner Cal Wells' rookie season [2000] on the Winston Cup circuit, and Paul Gentilozzi are teaming up for this year's Feb. 2-3 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Pruett and Gentilozzi are two of the drivers who won the 24-hour race in 1994. In addition to Pruett, Gentilozzi, a Trans-Am driver whose Rocketsports Racing team is fielding a Jaguar XKR in the race's GTS class, will be joined by Brian Simo and Michael Lauer.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(1-31-2002)
UPDATE: As for what's ahead in Pruett's racing career, it will be a little of this and a little of that. "I probably will do a couple of Winston Cup road courses for (Chip) Ganassi, probably end up doing a little bit of TV stuff, maybe do a few Trans Am races, and who knows, maybe you might even see me in a few Busch races," said Pruett.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-2-2002)
- #80/Shelmerdine/Hooters and the Screaming Eagles Hooters of America, Inc., operator and franchiser of Hooters Restaurants, has reached an agreement on a one-race sponsorship with Kirk Shelmerdine and Hover Racing for the Daytona 500 later this month. Shelmerdine, who won four Winston Cup titles as crew chief for the late Dale Earnhardt (1986, 1987, 1990, 1991), will pilot the #80 Hooters Ford prepared by Stan Hover Racing based in Salisbury, NC. Shelmerdine is no stranger to Daytona International Speedway having competed in the ARCA RE/MAX Series on the famed 2.5-mile oval. Shelmerdine started from the pole position last year at Daytona in the ARCA race. "Daytona has been a good track for me over the years and I've had reasonable success there," said Shelmerdine. "I'm very excited about this opportunity to bring Hooters Restaurants back to Daytona, and I'm looking forward to seeing how successful I can be at the Winston Cup level." Shelmerdine has enjoyed a successful career as a driver after turning in his wrench for a steering wheel full-time after the 1992 season. Shelmerdine has competed in several NASCAR Touring Series since 1993 and has enjoyed wins in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Shelmerdine has two wins in ARCA competition (Atlanta .98, Lowe.s .99) and won four pole awards including last year at Daytona in the ARCA race. Hooters makes its first return to Winston Cup racing since the end of the 1996 season when the Atlanta-based restaurant chain sponsored Rick Mast [#1 car for Richard Jackson]. Hooters also sponsored Alan Kulwicki during his 1992 Winston Cup championship season. The familiar Hooters Owl has also perched on the pole for the Daytona 500 when Loy Allen became the first rookie to ever win the Bud Pole in 1994. While the sponsorship deal is just for this one race both Hooters and Shelmerdine are excited about this opportunity at the 'Super Bowl' of motorsports. "This is a really big opportunity for me and considering the success Hooters has had in Winston Cup racing, I am proud to be associated with Hooters," said Shelmerdine.(Hooters Racing PR)
AND Screaming Eagles: the #80 team also has an associate sponsor that will be on board the #80 Hooters Ford, the 101st Airborne Division Association (Screaming Eagles), in honor of all our past and present servicemen.(2-2-2002)
- Ward news: Hunting apparel manufacturer Natural Gear announced today that they will become the official camouflage of veteran NASCAR's Ward Burton, driver of the #22 Caterpillar Dodge owned by Bill Davis, and his Wildlife Foundation. Natural Gear will become a corporate partner with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation through contributions to the Foundation and has pledged to promote the Foundation's conservation message through a variety of media outlets, including Natural Gear's new television show Wildlife Quest, set to debut in June of 2002 on ESPN. Joint projects between the two organizations will include a special hunt filmed in Virginia featuring Ward as a special guest with host Shane Jones. The episode will give special attention to the role the Foundation plays in conservation, especially through teaching the important principles of conservation to the youngest and newest generations of hunters. The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation is a fast growing conservation organization dedicated to promoting an awareness for the need for proper stewardship of America's natural resources through preservation and education. Visit their web site at www.thewardburtonwildlifefoundation.org.(2-2-2002)
- Talladega Testing: Jason Jarrett will be behind the wheel of the Robert Yates Racing #88 UPS Ford today at Talladega Superspeedway, helping the NASCAR team usually piloted by his father Dale Jarrett. Jason Jarrett drove south to Talladega from his home in North Carolina on Thursday to watch his father test the #88 Ford. On Saturday, Jason is set to take the wheel. After the practice session, Jason Jarrett will then make his way to Daytona where he is entered in the season-opening ARCA RE/MAX Series event at
Daytona on Feb. 10. Friday’s test session was the second practice at Talladega Superspeedway this week for Robert Yates Racing. The #28 team was at Talladega earlier in the week. Joining the #88 team for the two-day test session was the #41 Dodge belonging to
Chip Ganassi and driven by Steadman Marlin (Sterling's son), along with the Haas/Carter Motorsports two-car Ford team – the #26 with Joe Nemechek and the #66 with Todd Bodine.(Talladega Superspeedway PR), #77-Dave Blaney and the Jasper Engines team is also at Talladega testing today(2-2-2002)
- Jarrett Named Spokesman: International Truck and Engine Corp. has named Dale Jarrett [#88 UPS Ford] as its official spokesman. Jarrett will appear at dealer events and trade shows, as well as participation in print and radio advertisements along with each of this year’s four International Truck Challenge events, a race series for NASCAR Winston Cup hauler drivers.(Tailer/Body Builders Magazine Site)(2-2-2002)
- Congrats: NASCAR.com staff writer Tim Packman has won first place for having the best column in 2001 in the Internet Writer's category from the Eastern Motorsports Press Association. In addition to that award, he also took second place in the feature story competition, as well. Packman wrote a column in October titled, "We've said enough goodbyes" after the death of Blaise Alexander in an ARCA race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The column also touched upon safety in racing and the death of Dale Earnhardt. The second place feature story was called, "Dale Earnhardt changed the face of NASCAR" and was written after the seven-time champion died in a last-lap accident at Daytona last February. The story is part of the Earnhardt Tribute section on NASCAR.com. The winning column comes with a $100 prize and a plaque. Packman is going to donate the money to a charitable organization that honors the memory of Alexander.(NASCAR.com)(2-2-2002)
- Payback? ESPN suffered through the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season after being banned from taking interviews and footage from inside the tracks, may now be prepared to do the same thing to other networks and production companies for the 2002 NHRA season. With the 2002 season set to start next weekend at Pomona, ESPN has barred MSW Productions, which handles the coverage for the Fox Sports Net show Motor Sports Weekly and also recently signed a deal with the rival International Hot Rod Association, from shooting any footage during an NHRA event. The NHRA stands behind the decision although a series spokesman said that the ban was not a blanket coverage like the FOX NASCAR ban, and was being imposed on a case-by-case basis.(SpeedVision)(2-2-2002)
(2-1-2002)
- Haas Carter Motorsports Statement: Haas Carter Motorsports plans to field two NASCAR Winston Cup Series cars for both the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and the North Carolina 400 at North Carolina Speedway. The #26 Ford Taurus, driven by Joe Nemechek and #66 Ford Taurus, driven by Todd Bodine will both carry the Kmart logos during each race. Bodine's Kmart Ford will also be represented in the February 10 Bud Shootout at Daytona. The team continues to evaluate its sponsorship situation.(Cox Marketing)
AND - Kmart Statement: Kmart Corporation (NYSE:KM) confirmed today that the #26 Kmart School Spirit Ford driven by Joe Nemechek and the #66 Kmart Ford driven by Todd Bodine will participate in the upcoming Daytona 500 and the North Carolina [Subway] 400. Todd Bodine will also drive the #66 Kmart Ford in the February 10 Bud Shootout at Daytona. Both of Kmart's NASCAR vehicles are prepared by Haas-Carter Motorsports. Kmart continues to evaluate its NASCAR sponsorship as part of its current Chapter 11 restructuring.(Golin/Harris PR)(2-1-2002)
- Petree Sponsor? hearing #33 Chevy owner, Andy Petree, is close to signing a sponsor, not sure if it is a one race deal for the Daytona 500 or a full year sponsor. Mike Wallace is slated to drive the car in the Daytona 500.(2-1-2002)
- No Atlanta Exhibit: The Atlanta History Center has dropped its plans to create a $7 million exhibit that would have traced the history of NASCAR racing from its infancy to the present. Rick Beard, executive director of the History Center, said corporate executives seemed to like the concept of "Speed and Spirit, NASCAR in America" but weren't willing to help pay the cost. The History Center spent months of work -- and more than $425,000 of its own funds -- on the project before it was suspended. The exhibit, which was to be a joint project with the Smithsonian, was to have opened in March 2003 at the History Center and then be taken to six or seven other cities. The History Center hopes to use the material already gathered, including numerous interviews with drivers past and present, in a smaller exhibit sometime in the future.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(2-1-2002)
- Gibbs #18 Assoc Sponsor: Joe Gibbs Racing and Pillowtex Corporation announced that leading home fashions brand Cannon will be an associate sponsor for the 2002 season of the Joe Gibbs Racing #18 Winston Cup car driven by Bobby Labonte. The Daytona 500 on February 17 will be Cannon’s first appearance on the racetrack. Pillowtex Corporation, with corporate offices in Kannapolis, N.C., is one of America’s leading producers of household textiles including towels, sheets, rugs, pillows, mattress pads, feather beds, comforters, and decorative bedroom and bath accessories. The Cannon brand features affordable, high-quality bath and bedding products for the today’s home. The Company’s other brands include Fieldcrest, Royal Velvet, Charisma and private labels.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(2-1-2002)
- USS George Washington Visit: Other than sore knees and an occasion bumped head, no injuries were reported during a visit by seven racers to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) off the coast of Virginia. The group featured 1998 Indy 500 winner Eddie Cheever, 2001 IRL champion Sam Hornish, record-setting motorcycle drag racer Larry "Spiderman'' McBride, CTS drivers Rick Crawford and Jimmy Hensley, and BGN driver Andy Houston and his crew chief, Tony Liberati. The tour was arranged by Chuck Hall, media and marketing director of Langley Speedway, a NASCAR-sanctioned weekly track in Hampton, VA. The group - plus three other non-racing guests - left the Norfolk (Va.) Naval Station at noon Wednesday on a C-2A Greyhound for the 30-minute flight over the Atlantic Ocean. They experienced the thrill of a tailhook landing, spent 25 hours on the nuclear-powered carrier, then had a C-2A "cat launch'' from the deck on Thursday for the return to Norfolk. While aboard they watched several types of Navy jets and prop plans launched and recovered in daylight and darkness. They watched many of the cat launches from 60 feet of the catapults on the 4.5-acre deck and were privileged to watch late-night operations from the bridge with the Captain. They toured the ship bow to fantail, and from near the bottom to the top (thus the sore knees and bumped heads). Commanding Officer Capt. William J. McCarthy and Executive Officer Capt. K.M. Donegan and the entire crew and air wing were incredibly generous with their time and patient with the questions. The racers sat for two 90-minute autograph sessions, during which they handed out thousands of posters, phone cards, schedules, pictures and team brochures. The ship will continue flight qualifications for several weeks, then return to Norfolk. After another round of sea trials, the seven ships of the GW Battle Group is expected to deploy to the Middle East in late April or early May.(2-1-2002)
- Sad News: Ronald Laney of Humble Texas suffered a fatal sprint car crash, leading the B Main event on opening night of the 4th annual King of the 360's, Wednesday night at East Bay Raceway. It was the second fatality in the tracks 26 year history.(East Bay Raceway Site)(2-1-2002)
(1-31-2002)
- Rolex 24 at Daytona, TV, Drivers, Sites: The Rolex 24 At Daytona is a 24-hour race beginning at 1:00pm/et on Saturday, Feb 2nd at Daytona International Speedway. Speedvision will televise the race from 12:30 to 7:00pm on Saturday and from 9:00am to 1:30pm on Sunday. Motor Racing Network [MRN] will have an hour-long report for the start and end of the race at 12:30pm Saturday and Sunday, and half-hour reports at 4:30pm and 8:30pm Saturday and at 12:30am and 8:30am Sunday.
The cars in the race:
SRP(SportsRacing Prototype): The premier class in the series such as Lola, Ferrari, Riley & Scott, Kudzu, Norma and Ascari. Ford, Judd, Mazda and Porsche supply engines.
SRPII(SportsRacing Prototype II): Smaller versions of the SRP cars, sch as Nissan Lola, the Nissan Pilbeam, the BMW Picchio and the Mazda Kudzu.
GTS(Grand Touring Super): These closed-cockpit cars use high-performance engines -- V8-powered Corvettes and Saleens and a Jaguar, V10-powered Vipers and turbocharged Porsches, Ferraris and Marcos Manteras.
GT(Grand Touring): Resemble street cars such as the Porsche GT3, BMW M3, Ferrari GT, Marcos Mantis and Mosler.
AGT(American Grand Touring): Tube-frame constructed with American iron or aluminum block V8 engines with a 375-cubic inch maximum. Class includes Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros and Auroras.
Some drivers with NASCAR ties who are scehduled to run the race:
#2 SRP - Tony Stewart
#3 GTS - Paul Gentilozzi, Brian Simo and Scott Pruett
#7 GTS - Boris Said
#8 SRP - Anthony Lazzaro
#16 SRP - Butch Leitzinger
#20 SRP - Dorsey Schroeder
#29 AGT - Irv Hoerr
#33 GT - Derrike Cope
#36 SRP - Robby Gordon
#43 GT - Kyle Petty, Mike Borkowski, [John Andretti is supposed to drive in this car but not listed]
#46 AGT - Charles Morgan, Rob Morgan
#72 GT - David Murry
#74 SPR - Jack Baldwin, Wally Dallenbach Jr, Mark Simov
#90 AGT - Rick Carelli, Kevin Harvick, John Metcalf
#95 SRP - Jeret Schroeder (not NASCAR just a local Jersey guy)
For more see story at the Daytona Beach News Journal: A primer on the Rolex 24 at Daytona or see the sites: www.grand-am.com, will have hourly updates, and www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com, will have periodic updates.
Also the RE/MAX team will be driving one of the Flis Corvettes in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona this weekend with Kevin Harvick, Dave Liniger, Rick Carelli,. and John Metcalf as drivers. During the race, their site is scheduled to provide streaming video, race stats and hourly updates of teams in all classes at www.remax.com.(1-31-2002)
- Kmart pulls sponsorship from #26 and #66 UPDATE and BUT: Financially beleaguered Kmart Corp. has halted the flow of funding to two Winston Cup race team it sponsored [#26 and #66 Ford's], effective immediately, sources said early Thursday. No formal announcement has been made, but the Fords of Haas-Carter Motorsports will attempt to make the Daytona 500 field without Kmart's assistance or decals, the sources said. The cars are to be driven by Joe Nemechek [#26] and Todd Bodine [#66]. Kmart has stuggled financially and last week filed for federal bankruptcy protection. The race teams were told at that time that the retailer's commitment for the 2002 Winston Cup season would be honored. David Harris of Cox Marketing said Travis Carter, one of the teams' owners, was in meetings with Kmart officials and was not immediately available for comment. He said Carter was working with Kmart officials to evaluate options and determine the next step.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-31-2002)
UPDATE: Just a week before qualifying for the Daytona 500, Kmart Corporation, erstwhile sponsor of Travis Carter's two Winston Cup teams, has pulled the plug on its involvement in the teams, a company statement said Thursday. Carter could not be reached for comment. The move, termed a "suspension", points again to economic difficulties for mid-line NASCAR teams. The Busch Series has struggled for more than a year. The Winston Cup season begins with several teams operating without sponsorship, or with partial sponsorship.(SpeedVision)(1-31-2002)
BUT NASCAR.com is reporting that while "Kmart Corp. has already acknowledged filing Chapter 11 for bankruptcy, but the company hasn’t, according to one high-ranking Kmart official, turned off the blue lights on its NASCAR sponsorship. Published reports on Thursday said that Kmart had pulled its sponsorship from the #26 and #66 Ford Winston Cup Series teams owned by Haas-Carter Motorsports. The reports also stated that the #26 Ford of Joe Nemechek and #66 Ford of Todd Bodine would go to Daytona for Speedweeks with no decals on the car. But that’s not the case right now, according to Dave Karraken, vice president of communications and marketing for Kmart. The store chain is also slated to be an official sponsor of the Daytona 500 next month. “There was an unofficial announcement leaked to the press today,” Karraken told NASCAR.com on Thursday. “We are still talking with Haas-Carter regarding the program and hope to have a final decision and official announcement within the next day or two. What we are doing is evaluating everything that our company is involved with sponsorship-wise. This is all being done within the Chapter 11, court-ordered procedures -- it’s all part of the process.” A call to the team’s shop on Thursday was referred to Cox Marketing Group, its public relations firm. “The team is trying to work everything out with Kmart right now,” said a Cox representative. “Travis Carter (team owner) and Kmart are talking about all the particulars this afternoon.”(NASCAR.com)(1-31-2002)
- Air Force back with the #21: The Air Force will continue its association with the legendary Wood Brothers Racing #21 Taurus for the upcoming 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup racing season. The car, driven by Elliott Sadler and sponsored by Motorcraft, Ford Motor Company's parts brand, will feature the Air Force symbol on its hood and quarter panels. In addition, there will be a special Air Force paint scheme at two races during the 2002 season. The Air Force is conducting an aggressive recruiting campaign to attract more than 37,000 new recruits this year for jobs in more than 200 areas ranging from air traffic controllers to computer operators, jet engine mechanics to medical technicians. The service also needs hundreds of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and engineers and plans to award more than $60 million in ROTC scholarships before October. The Air Force and the #21 car share the same strategy of using teamwork, technology, speed and information superiority to outsmart whatever situation it faces. The service will continue to use its involvement in NASCAR as part of its overall plan to get more young men and women, especially those with mechanical and electrical aptitudes, interested in an Air Force career. Air Force recruiters will be at most of this season's races - inviting NASCAR fans, who love the speed of NASCAR, to "Cross Into the Blue," and experience the supersonic speed and high technology of today's Air Force.(Air Force Public Affairs)(1-31-2002)
- Park Testing News: On Monday, January 28th, Steve Park tested the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC. park said, "It was wonderful to get back behind the wheel and turn some laps. I had no problems whatsoever as I continue to prepare for my return to Winston Cup. We tested the car all day and the longest run was about 50 laps. Dr. Petty was there to continue his evaluation of my progress and I think he's pretty satisfied at this stage of the game. I know I am. Paul Andrews and I are very pleased with the lap times. I had no vision problems, no dizziness and it felt like I had never missed a day behind the wheel. It felt great. We'll be deciding when and where the next test will be very soon. Even though I am spending several hours a day in the gym improving my strength and stamina there is no real substitute for good old seat time. I need to fine-tune my skills and the only way to do that is to take a car hard into turn one. So we'll test again and evaluate some more and I'll be back to racing before you know it. The green flag is just around the corner."(Steve Park Site, images of the test)(1-31-2002)
- Reffner in the #68: TWC Motorsports announced that past CTS Rookie of the Year, Bryan Reffner, will make his NASCAR Winston Cup Series debut in March behind the wheel of the #68 Chevy. Reffner brings over 20 years of racing competition and technical experience to the team. Team owner, Tom Coleman considered drivers from every level of NASCAR and chose Reffner because of an immediate comfort level he felt the
first time the two met. Not to mention that every time Bryan has moved up to a more demanding series, he has had an immediate impact on the competition. Reffner claimed the ASA Championship and, in 1996, grabbed rookie of the year in the CTS. Reffner, a 38 year-old native of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, now resides in Mooresville, NC.(TWC Motorsports PR)(1-31-2002)
- Irvan and Mattioli's to be honored: Ernie Irvan and Pocono Raceway owners Dr. Joe and Dr. Rose Mattioli are being honored as inductees into the Stock Car Hall of Fame. The 13th Annual Induction Ceremony will take place on February 11, 2002 at the Daytona Beach Hilton. Former inductees include Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker, Harry Gant, and Bill France, Jr. Benny Parsons is scheduled to introduce Irvan during the ceremony that will include a cocktail hour and a dinner. Admission to the event, which is open to the public, is $85 (cocktail hour and dinner). Proceeds benefit three local charities in the Daytona Beach area - The Sheriff's Youth Ranch, 100 Deputies for 100 Kids, and the Association for Retarded Citizens. Tickets can be purchased by calling (386) 788-7837 or (386) 299-0771.(Irvan.com)(1-31-2002)
- TRAC News: Wind-tunnel testing for Team Racing Auto Circuit [TRAC] cars was conducted recently at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. The testing was supervised by Riley & Scott Race Car Engineering, which is designing and manufacturing the cars for TRAC. It also was announced Jan. 16 that an agreement had been reached with Dallas-based Drew Pearson Marketing Inc., which will make the former all-pro wide receiver's company an exclusive licensee for headwear for the league and its teams. DPM holds or has held licensing agreements with virtually every major sports league in America, and has exclusive agreements with ESPN, Disney, Lucasfilm ("Star Wars"), the X Games and Mattel's Hot Wheels and Matchbox lines.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(1-31-2002)
(1-30-2002)
- Money at the Daytona 500: In the first Daytona 500 back in 1959, Lee Petty collected $19,050 in prize money for taking the
checkered flag. Second-place finisher Johnny Beauchamp earned $7,650. The purse for the race totaled $67,760. How things have changed through the years. This year's 44th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 will award the winner of the "Great American Race" a minimum $1,327,030 with the race's entire purse exceeding $12 million, an increase of more than a $1 million from last year. The runner-up finisher in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum $928,100 while the driver that finishes in the 43rd position will collect a minimum $114,236.
Total posted awards: $12,314,505
1st $1,327,030
2nd $928,100
3rd $631,500
4th $479,075
5th $353,175.(Speedway PR)(1-30-2002)
- Bodine Assoc Sponsor: TEC Graphics, Inc. announced today their sponsorship of NASCAR Driver Brett Bodine and the # 11 Ford for the 2002 Winston Cup race season. This partnership represents the first venture between TEC Graphics and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Team owner and driver Brett Bodine shows solid strength in the Winston Cup Series and dedication to his sport. As a member of the Modified Hall of Fame and holder of the fastest time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we are looking forward to an exciting season. "Teaming up with Brett Bodine Racing this year is an tremendous opportunity for us. I'm confident that this year should be nothing short of a win-win season for both of our teams." said Tom Cherry, President of TEC Graphics. Located in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, TEC Graphics Inc. is a manufacturer of screenprinted graphic overlays, decals, window clings, Point of Purchase promotions, floor graphics and membrane switches.(Brett Bodine Racing PR)(1-30-2002)
- Carl Long - #85 and #59 in 2002: Price Motorsports, who will make their Winston Cup debut with driver Carl Long at Rockingham will use #59, not #35 as reported. The team is using #59, because the team owner, Foster Price, used the number when he raced late models. The #85 Mansion Motorsports team is also getting their Dodge ready for the Daytona 500 and hope to test at Talladega this weekend. There will be three teams that Carl Long plans to drive for in 2002 for Rookie Of The Year honors. The #85 Mansion Motorsports Dodge owned by Thee Dixon, #59 Price Motorsports Dodge owned by Foster Price, and a combo team thats owned by SR Racing and Glenn Racing using the #85 or #59 whichever is higher in car owner points. Bobby Robinson of SR Racing will be the crew chief. Long's scheduled races for the three teams will be announced at a later date.(paraphrased from the Carl Long Site)(1-30-2002)
- Wrangler Chevy to be auctioned UPDATE - SOLD:Dale Earnhardt's blue-and-yellow Monte Carlo [#3 Wrangler], (which comes with a crash helmet signed by Earnhardt) is going on the auction block along with some 850 other collector cars at the 2002 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Classic Car Auction to be held from January 17th through the 20th at the WestWorld resort in Scottsdale, AZ. Also for sale is the Richard Petty 50th anniversary Limited Edition Pontiac Grand Prix concept car. For more info see the Barrett-Jackson site (12-24-2001)
UPDATE: heard that the Earnhardt car and matching autographed helmet went for $90,000, also hear a unrestored 1990 Jeff Gordon #1 Baby Ruth BGN Ford Thunderbid went for $28,000(1-30-2002)
- Jarrett special Chicago paint? UPDATE Muppets?: hearing that #88-Dale Jarrett will have special schemes for the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland and the scheme will be unveiled in Feb or March 2002(1-26-2002)
UPDATE: hearing the Dale Jarrett Chicago scheme is supposedly Muppets Kermit/Ms Piggy and that besides the #10 Fozzie Bear scheme, there will be two other Muppet schemes at Chicago with one rumored to be #41-Jimmy Spencer(1-30-2002)
- No Brack at Daytona: from a Chip Ganassi and Jimmy Spencer conference call transcript: "I would say it's pretty much put to bed now (running Kenny Brack in Daytona 500). It's getting a little late. We've got to be at Daytona in the next 10 days or so. I would say that's unfortunately gone by the wayside. We have a relationship with Kenny for a few years, and if something happens down the road, it would be great. I know he's done some testing with us, and he certainly enjoyed it and gave some good feedback. I know the guys were
pumped up about working with him. It's a work in progress I'd say, but nothing is going to happen in the short term." Chip Ganassi, onwer of the #40 and #41 Cup cars, Brack tested the #42 Dodge at Daytona in the hopes of getting a sponsor to run the race(1-30-2002)
- Shelmerdine and Hooters? UPDATE 3: hearing Kirk Shelmerdine will make a one race deal with Hooters to run the Daytona 500 with the #80 Stan Hover team with Danny Glad building the engine(1-25-2002)
UPDATE: The Hooters restaurant chain, which sponsored the car that the late Alan Kulwicki drove to the 1992 Winston Cup championship, plans to return to the series after a five-year absence. Hooters plans to sponsor the #80 Ford, which Kirk Shelmerdine will drive in an attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-26-2002)
UPDATE 2: hey the Buzz caught up........A little birdie tells The Buzz that Hooters restaurants may be returning to Winston Cup. Rumors are swirling around a possible one-race Daytona 500 deal that would put ARCA ace Kirk Shelmerdine in a Hooters-sponsored Ford with #80 on the side.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(1-27-2002)
UPDATE 3: The Hooters restaurant chain, which sponsored the car that the late Alan Kulwicki drove to the 1992 Winston Cup championship, plans to return to the series after a five-year absence. Hooters plans to sponsor the #80 Ford, which Kirk Shelmerdine will drive in an attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500. "I'd say it's a done deal as far as the one race goes," said Mike McNeil, vice president of marketing for Hooters of America. Shelmerdine, who was Dale Earnhardt's crew chief during four of his seven championship seasons, has driven cars on the ARCA circuit but now is considering running the Hooters-sponsored ProCup Series with an occasional Winston Cup start.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(1-28-2002)
UPDATE 4: After a seven-year hiatus from the NASCAR Winston Cup ranks, the orange and white Hooters Restaurant paint scheme will return in 2002. Stan Hover is set to field a car for crew chief-turned-driver Kirk Shelmerdine during Speedweeks at Daytona next month. The #80 Ford will look similar to the one the late Alan Kulwicki drove to a championship in 1992. "As of right now, Hooters is going to sponsor us during Speedweeks and then we're going to talk from there," Hover said. "It's pretty cool to put this deal together and get them to come back into to the sport after a long absence. Considering they had that championship with Kulwicki and all, we're real excited about this. From what I understand, the cars are going to be painted a lot like they were before. Hooters just wanted to have some fun and they figure Daytona was the place to start." Shelmerdine has competed mostly in the ARCA ranks the last few years, but may be stepping into a BGN ride this year. Hover said that Shelmerdine is his driver for Speedweeks and, to the best of his knowledge, will drive the #49 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson if they can put a BGN deal together. Look for Andy Hillenburg to take over any more driving duties for Hover if the team enters any more races.(NASCAR.com)(1-30-2002)
- Irvan to field ARCA team: former Cup driver Ernie Irvan has converted part of a storage shed on his 160-acre farm near Mooresville, N.C., into a garage bay and is helping Kevin Conway prepare a Chevy that Conway plans to run in an ARCA race on March 9. Irvan, 43, tried to work with Conway, 23, to find sponsorship for a foray into the BGN or CTS last year. The difficult economy made it tough to find somebody willing to put up $2 million or more needed for that, though. At the same time, Irvan was rebuilding his family’s home that was severely damaged by a fire in March 2000. The Irvans moved back into the house just before Christmas. With that behind him, Irvan decided that he and Conway needed to get on the track to try to show people the young driver’s talent. The Atlanta ARCA race is the only one they know for sure they’ll go to, but if a sponsor materializes they have plans to run at Kentucky Speedway and at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte later in the year. They’ll use a Chevy they got from Innovative Motorsports in which Shane Hmiel finished second in an ARCA race at Atlanta last fall. Crew members from various Winston Cup and Grand National teams are coming by Irvan’s farm after work in the evenings to help get the car ready, and Irvan said he will enlist Winston Cup crewmen to help pit the car in Atlanta in March. “It’s the safest thing I can do in racing and still be married,” joked Irvan, who retired from driving in 1999 only after coming all the way back from his near-fatal crash at Michigan in 1994 to win three more Cup races. Conway is from Lynchburg, VA, but moved to the Charlotte area in 1991 to pursue a racing career. He’s raced Legends cars and competed in the ASA until his sponsorship there dried up. He’s an instructor at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Atlanta track and at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. He has a degree in marketing from UNCC. Irvan ran only one ARCA race in his career. It was at Atlanta and Irvan won it driving a #18 car [a green Pontiac - image]. So that’s the number Conway plans to use in the March 9 event.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-30-2002)
- The #90 and Mast to test at Talladega: #90 Car Owner Junie Donlavey and Rick Mast are set to test at Talladega Superspeedway Jan. 30-31 in preparation for the 44th Daytona 500. The Donlavey Racing team will also test at North Carolina Motor Speedway [The Rock] Feb. 4-5 in preparation for the Feb. 24 event at the speedway in Rockingham.(Keystone Marketing PR)(1-30-2002)
- Scanners at ISC Tracks UPDATE: International Speedway Corporation, parent company of Americrown Service Corporation, has entered into a marketing agreement that limits scanner related vendors to two companies at their tracks (Calif, Chicagoland, Daytona, Darlington, Homestead, Kansas, Michigan, Phoenix, Richmond, Rockingham, Talladega, Watkins Glen), Racing Electronics and Track Scan. This agreement leaves six scanner vendors in a position that they are not allowed on International Speedway Corporation property. Two of the other vendors are Race-Scan and Frequency Fan Club, not sure of the other four.(in part from a RACE-SCAN Communications PR/Site, see more there)(1-24-2002)
UPDATE: been told that TrackScan and Racing Electronics will honor Race-Scan membership cards and provide frequency updates for scanners at ISC facilities with the following restrictions:
Current membership card in hand, valid for 2002 season
One update per weekend
Frequency support when Race-Scan is not in the vicinity
Programming option is limited to current Uniden SC200 model
Support for members good for transition period through 2002
Further restrictions may apply(1-30-2002)
- Hillenburg tests the #28 at Talladega: The #28 team was at Talladega on Tuesday for the first day of a two-day test session at Alabama’s famed 2.66-mile tri-oval and was able to get on the track at 12:10. Ricky Rudd, the driver of the No. 28 Ford, is recovering from off-season back surgery and is following doctors orders to stay off the racetrack as much as he can before the season gets under way in Daytona. Veteran driver Andy Hillenburg has stepped up to aid the Robert Yates team with pre-season testing.(Talladega Superspeedway)(1-30-2002)
(1-29-2002)
- M&M's Vote: Masterfoods USA, a Mars Incorporated company, announced today a worldwide vote to determine the newest color "M&M's" Chocolate Candies to be included in the "M&M's" bag. Beginning March 6, 2002, candy lovers around the globe will take part in the Global Color Vote(TM) and choose from three colors -- purple, pink or aqua -- to determine which will join the select mix of colors in packs of the world's favorite candy. The Global Color Vote(TM) is the largest promotion in the 61-year history of the "M&M's" Brand. Voters will originate from a colorful mix of countries -- ranging from Australia to the Ukraine -- including nations in which no citizen has previously had the opportunity to cast a governmental vote. Residents from every region of the globe will be eligible to vote by logging on to www.mms.com, which will be accessible in more than 15 different languages beginning March 6, 2002. Voters in participating countries will also be able to vote through mail, telephone or at kiosks placed in select locations. The winning color will be announced in June 2002 at a gala event in New York City.
Voters participating in the Global Color Vote will have the opportunity to sample each color before casting their vote. Specially marked packages, available at retailers worldwide, will contain purple, pink or aqua "M&M's" Chocolate Candies. The "M&M's" Global Color Vote is also the first global promotion in "M&M's" Brand history. Participating countries will take part in a unified marketing campaign including advertising, public relations, direct marketing, retail promotions, sponsorship and Internet marketing. For more information, log on to "M&M's" Global Color Vote online news bureau at: www.masterfoodsnews.com.(WirePix). Supposedly there will be four color schemes for the #36 M&M's Pontiac in the early part of 2002, see the four schemes on my Paint Scheme Gallery(1-29-2002)
- Ford - Decklid - Spoiler....problems? UPDATE more changes? Ford teams, who pleaded for a half-inch spolier reduction, were allowed to shave a quarter-inch off the height of the rear spoiler heading into Speedweeks 2002. Apparently, that has now caused more headaches than relief. A longtime Ford source told NASCAR.com Sunday morning that the quarter-inch provision has forced a vast change in the Taurus’ rear decklid, and therefore makes the provision moot. The source, which wished to remain anonymous, said that in order for Ford teams to fit the Taurus template, they have been forced to raise the rear deck lid one-half to three-quarters of an inch to meet the minimum height requirements for the rear spoiler. Therefore, in the end, the rear spoiler is actually higher than it was before the test. NASCAR vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter said additional changes could be made once Speedweeks gets under way and that NASCAR had no plans to take any cars to a wind tunnel once Speedweeks began, primarily due to the difficulty in scheduling tunnel time.(full story at NASCAR.com)(1-27-2002)
UPDATE - more rules changes? already? soon? hearing that NASCAR also changed the Dodge trunk lid as well a the Ford and that NASCAR has already issued templates to the Dodge teams for the changes. Also hearing NASCAR is cracking down on the side rear windows (opera windows) on the cars as some Ford teams were putting a curve in them (vertical) and supposedly NASCAR will remove the windows, lay them on a table and if they dont look flat, they will keep them.(1-29-2002)
- update on the USS George Washington visit: Three drivers with NASCAR ties, two Indy Racing League stars, a world record-setting motorcycle drag racer and a NASCAR crew chief will spend 24 hours on the nuclear-powered aircrasft carrier USS George Washington this week. They're part of a Langley Speedway-arranged trip to the warship as it undergoes flight training 100 miles off the North Carolina coast. Eddie Cheever, the 1998 Indy 500 winner, will make the trip, along with 2001 Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish. Busch Series driver Andy Houston (he was a Winston Cup Rookie of the Year candidate last year), Craftsman Truck Series driver Rick Crawford and former Winston Cup Rookie of the Year (and former Busch and Craftsman driver) Jimmy Hensley are going. Tony Libarati, crew chief for Houston's Busch team, also will go. Larry (Spiderman) McBride is the faste man on two wheels. He ride a nitro-powered Top Fuel bike in Pro Star, AMA and NHRA races. His world-record pass of 5.99 seconds at 243.00 mph came near Houston in the fall of 1999. It was the first sub 6-second pass in two wheel racing history. The group will leave Wednesday morning from Norfolk Naval Base for the half-hour flight out to the carrier. The group will spend 24 hours onboard, watching flight operations, meeting the crew, and touring the ship. They'll be launched off the deck around noon on Thursday for the short flight back to Norfolk. This is the second time Langley Speedway has arranged an aircrasft carrier ride. In December of 1996, it took Terry Labonte, Jimmy Hensley, Steve Grissom, Randy LaJoie, Johnny Benson, Mike Wallace, Bobby Allison and NHRA racer Jim Yates for a three-day ride on the USS Enterprise.(Daily Press)(1-29-2002)
- Special Daytona Show: Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds will be doing a nightly TV show in Daytona with host Bob Varsha. The show is titled Speedweek and will be shown on Speed Channel (which is currently SpeedVision). It airs Monday Feb 11 - Friday Feb 15 from 8:00 - 9:00pm/et.(Larry McReynolds site)(1-29-2002)
- Interesting Concept: The Audible Alert system is the first ever-sound based track warning system. Using the latest wireless technology with small receivers in each car, an audible alert tone is used to notify every driver of hazardous track conditions at exactly the same time. The system also sends each driver an audible signal when the track goes green to drastically improve starts and re-starts. The main flagger or track official controls the signals to ensure everyone gets the proper alert each time. The Audible Alert system cannot absorb the energy of an extreme impact with the wall, nor can it save a driver from his worst fear, fire, but rather, the Audible Alert saves the driver in more ways than one. For more info, see thier site at www.invadertech.com or the PR at Racefan.com)(1-29-2002)
- Craven and snowmobiles: The fifth annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity was held on Saturday in Greenville, Maine and raised a record $114,640, topping the $82,310 raised in 2001. In five years the annual event has raised over $350,000 for its various charities which include the Marrow Foundation, Maine's Children's Miracle Network, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire, the Travis Roy Foundation, and Give Kids the World. Special thanks go to this year's title sponsors, Arctic Cat, Wallace & Associates, and Tide Racing.(Ricky Craven Site)(1-29-2002)
(1-28-2002)
- Park to test Cup car: Steve Park said Saturday that he will drive a Winston Cup car this week for the first time since suffering a head injury in a crash during a Grand National race at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1. Park will test at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC this week to measure how well his vision has returned since the crash that ended his 2001 season prematurely. Kenny Wallace finished the season in the #1 Pennzoil Chevys and has been signed by Dale Earnhardt Inc. to drive it in 2002 until Park is ready to return.(ThatsRacin.com/ESPN-AP)(1-20-2002)
UPDATE 2: Rain delayed Steve Park’s plans to test a stock car last Thursday, but crew chief Paul Andrews was optimistic after observing Park’s progress behind the wheel of a roadster and a Legends car earlier in January. "It wasn’t a big deal," Andrews says. "We just wanted to see how consistent he could be, if he could turn sideways and whether the motion would make him dizzy. Is he ready for Daytona? Probably not. But it’s the first step of many to get him back into racing form." Andrews says Park will try to test a stock car again this week.(Sporting News)(1-28-2002)
- Nice Gesture: Jim Herrick, owner of Liberty Racing and Liberty Auto Group, of Vermillion, OH. presented to Reva and Kenny Irwin the 98 truck that Kenny Jr. drove in the Craftsman Truck Series in 1996 and 1997. Kenny won a pole at Richmond in 1996 and at Texas and Homestead in 1997, along with the Rookie of the Year Award. The truck will be on permanent display at the Kenny Irwin Jr. Memorial Campground, 25 miles east of Indianapolis, In. on I-70 at the New Castle, In. exit.(Kenny Irwin Jr Memorial Foundation Site)(1-28-2002)
- Jarrett's Dealership: A Ford dealership owned by NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett has bought land for a $15 million sales facility in Indian Trail. Dale Jarrett Ford Inc. will move to the U.S. Highway 74 site by summer 2003, shifting from its existing location on Skyway Drive in Monroe, says Kirk Stump, company president.(Business Journal)(1-28-2002)
(1-27-2002)
see the Jan 21-27, 2002 Archived News Page
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