Marcis Honored: A Goodyear Racing-commissioned bronze trophy characterizes retiring Winston Cup driver Dave Marcis from head to toe. Given to the NASCAR legend preceding his 33rd and final Daytona 500 race, the gilded gift encapsulates the Marcis trademarks—a worn pair of leather wingtip driving shoes and Goodyear racing hat. Marcis, 60, who drives the #71 Realtree Chevrolet, is second in all-time Winston Cup race starts with 882 to Richard Petty’s 1,177.(Goodyear PR)(2-17-2002)
The trophy Dave Marcis got from Goodyear
Marcis - one more lap to tie UPDATE: #71 Dave Marcis, competing in his 33rd record Daytona 500, needs one more lap to tie and two more laps run to break the record for most laps/miles run in the Daytona 500. Currently Richard Petty (who ran in 32 Daytona 500's) has run 4,860 laps in the 500 while Marcis has run 4,859.(USA Today Daytona 500 Print Special)(2-16-2002) UPDATE: Marcis ran 79 laps before he fell out with engine problems and is now the all time lap/miles run leader at the Daytona 500 with 4938.(2-17-2002)
Brett Bodine's Crew Chief Quits before the race UPDATE: The crew chief for Bodine's #11 Ford, Mike Hillman, quit the team 90 minutes prior to the race. Bodine is making decisions and negotiate his way through race strategy as his own crew chief through the 200 laps of today's Daytona 500. Hillman has been with Bodine since mid-point of the 2000 season and is believed to be moving to the #14 AJ Foyt Pontiac team with driver Stacy Compton.(NASCAR.com)(2-17-2002) UPDATE: Mike Hillman, crew chief for Brett Bodine’s Winston Cup team, is moving to the #14 Pontiacs of the A.J. Foyt organization beginning with next weekend’s race at Rockingham. Hillman has been with the team since June 2000. Bodine has been unable to secure a primary sponsor for his team and does not know how long his team will remain in operation.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-17-2002)
Helicopter crashes in Florida, Gibbs not in it UPDATE 2: #18 and #20 Cup team owner, Joe Gibbs, had a speaking engagement in Tampa with a new team sponsor, 3M, this morning and when the helicopter that was to take him there failed to show, Gibbs took a plane. The Helicopter crashed in a wooded area with two deaths confirmed (supposedly the pilots), no one from Joe Gibbs Racing was on the helicopter.(TNT reports during the rain delay coverage - showing the Twin 125's)(2-16-2002) UPDATE: Earlier reports today of Joe Gibbs and/or members of Joe Gibbs Racing being involved in an early morning helicopter crash were false. As of 1:30 p.m. (EST), Gibbs was on speedway property and awaiting the start of today’s NASCAR Busch Series event.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(2-16-2002) UPDATE 2: Two people died in a helicopter crash Saturday while on the way to pick up NASCAR team owner and former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Volusia County Sheriff officials tentatively identified the victims as pilot Michael McNellis of Tampa and Robin Leedom of Las Vegas. Officials were waiting on autopsy results and dental records checks to confirm the identity of the victims. Gibbs, who gave a motivational speech at the meeting, was at the speedway later Saturday for the NASCAR Busch Series event. "It's real scary ... ," said J.D. Gibbs, president of JGR. "We're fortunate, but it really puts things into perspective."(ESPN/AP)(2-17-2002)
UPS and Ads: UPS unveils the next series in its humorous "We want to Race the Truck" advertising campaign when the green flag waves the start of this year's Daytona 500 and NASCAR Winston Cup race season this Sunday. Like the predecessor spots that had a UPS executive, fans in a shopping mall as well as father and racing legend Ned Jarrett encouraging Dale Jarrett to race the "big, brown truck," the new commercial brings a plea from rock singer George Thorogood (a Jayski favorite) with a special rendition of his popular song "Bad to the Bone.". Thorogood calls on the #88 UPS driver to be "Brown to the Bone" behind the wheel of the UPS truck. The new spot focuses exclusively on Thorogood's musical request while playing his guitar in a bar.. Fans will wait a few races before seeing Jarrett's.. response, which last season included popping the cheeks of a youngster holding his breath and alternately tossing coins into a wishing fountain to counter another fan's heartfelt desire. The ads are scheduled to run throughout the year in NASCAR race telecasts with print versions in motorsports and trade publications.. The campaign will continue to evolve with other celebrity requests for Jarrett to race the truck.(UPS Racing)(2-17-2002)
(2-16-2002)
Stewart in a truck? during a TNT interview with #29 driver [and CTS #6 Owner] Kevin Harvick by Matt Yocum, it was bought up that Harvick may have some surprise drivers in a CTS truck sometime this year, one named mentioned during the banter was Tony Stewart.(2-16-2002)
Yates taken to the hospital UPDATE 2 Back at the track: #28 and #88 team car owner Robert Yates was hospitalized Friday morning after waking up with chest pains. The 58-year-old Yates awoke with tightness in his chest and drove himself to a hospital. A team spokesman said Yates was alert and talking and asked to be updated with team developments at Daytona International Speedway.(ThatsRacin/AP)(2-15-2002) UPDATE: Yates, 58, was said to be awake, doing well and in good spirits after arriving at the hospital. He underwent a series of tests and upon completion of a cardiac catheterization, it was determined he suffered no heart problems.(NASCAR.com)(2-15-2002) UPDATE 2: NASCAR team owner Robert Yates returned to Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, a day after he was hospitalized with chest pains. Yates said doctors ruled out a heart attack but had not diagnosed his problem. He left Halifax Medical Center a little after 7:00pm/et on Friday. "They told me to go about my normal business but don't lift anything," Yates said Saturday.(CBS/AP)(2-16-2002)
Brett Bodine and Dura Lube: Dura Lube and Dura Shine will join the #11 Ford Taurus of Brett Bodine Racing for the next three NASCAR Winston Cup Series events [Daytona, Rockingham, Las Vegas] with signage on some major positions of the race car. President and CEO Sonny Howard says "I have known Geoffrey and Brett Bodine for many years. I have had a relationship with them in the past. I found out that Brett needed some help to get his season started on the right foot and although finances are tight everywhere, if we can help him out, we feel he will appreciate it and do his best to enhance our Dura Lube brands. Brett is hard working and sincere."(Brett Bodine Racing PR)(2-16-2002)
F-16's: Four F-16 fighter jets will soar over Daytona International Speedway Sunday during the final notes of the national anthem. The 78th Fighter Squadron from Shaw Air Force Base, SC, will perform the flyover just before the Daytona 500. Their thunderous roar will come seconds after fireworks explode in the sky. A base spokeswoman said Friday one of the F-16s was rigged with a cockpit camera to relay a live feed for NBC's racing broadcast. The camera was installed this week at Daytona International Airport.(Daytona Beach News Journal Report)(2-16-2002)
New Pontiac? UPDATE 4: NASCAR officials have begun studying Pontiac's plans for a new Winston Cup model for the 2003 season(Winston Salem Journal)(6-3-2001) UPDATE: - Pontiac Gone? Might General Motors consider dropping the Pontiac brand from Winston Cup racing? A new model is expected for the 2003 season, but will GM invest in the redesign of its Grand Prix for NASCAR? Just an ugly rumor that it won't, said Terry Laise, General Motors competition and aerodynamics manager. "But anything is possible."(Sporting News)(6-18-2001) UPDATE 2: during the Cup at Kansas, NBC mentioned that Joe Gibbs Racing had tested a new 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix in a wind tunnel and expects to present it to NASCAR for approval in mid 2002. Also have heard rumors that Pontiac would switch from a Grand Prix to their Bonneville model but being told that model is being phased out.(10-2-2001) UPDATE 3 New Pontiac Testing: Currently, Joe Gibbs Racing is working on the new model Pontiac for 2003 based on the Dodge Intrepid.(Sporting News)(10-26-2001)
UPDATE 4: Pontiac officials say work is under way on a 2003 Pontiac with a new body style for use in NASCAR’s Winston Cup series beginning next season. “We are working on the car and it’s too early to talk about the details of that,” said Bob Kraut, brand manager for Pontiac Grand Prix. “We will have a car at this time next year to run Daytona if everything goes OK with NASCAR officials.” The existing body style of the Pontiac Grand Prix is seven years old – the oldest body style currently in use in NASCAR. Joe Gibbs Racing, which fields the Pontiacs of Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart, is involved in the testing and development of the new car.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-16-2002)
Dodge Incentive: Dodge, hoping to provide incentive to its factory-backed NASCAR teams, is putting big money and exotic cars on the line. At a Dodge function in Daytona Beach on Friday night, officials laid out the specifics of an incentive plan it hopes will push its teams to championships in two of NASCAR's top-three divisions. Available to a championship team in the Winston Cup series is a $1 million bonus from the automaker. A championship driver also would get a 2003 Dodge Viper from the company as a token of its appreciation. In the Truck series, a factory-backed team that wins a championship would win 2003 Vipers as well for its driver and its car owner. Dodge teams got a head-start on a bonus in Friday's Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona International Speedway, taking the top-four spots.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-16-2002)
Penalties: NASCAR issued two penalties Saturday for rules violations found over the past week in the Winston Cup and Grand National series. Tony Furr, crew chief for the #25 Chevys and driver Jerry Nadeau in the Winston Cup series, was fined $25,000 after the car did not meet the minimum height requirement following Thursday’s 125-mile qualifying race. The minimum height requirement is 51 inches, measured from the center of the roof, and the #25 was found to be approximately 1/8th of an inch too low. In the BGN, a $5,000 fine was levied against Fred Bickford, crew chief for the #94 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Spraker. NASCAR officials confiscated the engine from the car, as internal components did not meet the minimum weight requirements.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-16-2002)
Backup Cars: At least three drivers will have to fall to the rear of the field before the start of the Daytona 500 on Sunday: from the practice wreck on Tuesday, #66-Todd Bodine and #55-Bobby Hamilton (oops not #99-Jeff Burton) had to go to backup cars for the Twin 125's and the Daytona 500, from the wreck in the 2nd Twin 125, #2-Rusty Wallace will have to use a backup for the Daytona 500(2-15-2002) AND also during a TNT interview (rain delayed Happy Hour/BGN race) with Shawna Robinson, it was mentioned she would go to a backup #49 Dodge for the Daytona 500.(2-16-2002)
(2-15-2002)
NASCAR.com - No More FREE Racecast/Audio: Remember the gold old days of 2001 when you could bring coolers to ISC's tracks, get RaceCast on NASCAR.com, and listen to MRN over the Internet? Well, those good old days are now nothing but a distant memory. Turner (over)paid $100 million for five years for the privilege of running NASCAR.com, and they've got to bring in revenue somehow. So, the days of listening to the MRN broadcasts on the Internet for no charge are over. Following the lead of other major sports, NASCAR.com will be charging $29.95 a year or $4.95 a month for "TrackPass", the catchy name for access to the site's audio and video features, including MRN. The new service launches Saturday. It lets fans hear races and commentary, listen in as drivers communicate with pit crews and access statistics over the Internet. Fans used to be able to hear NASCAR races online for free, but RealNetworks spokeswoman Lisa Amore said that will no longer be offered under the new deal. For $11.95 per month, users can also watch two weekly NASCAR sports shows over the Internet and become members of RealNetworks' RealOne service. The basic RealOne service, which costs $9.95 per month, lets fans hear races and commentary, and look at video clips of past races. Financial terms of the multiyear agreement were not disclosed. Drew Reifenberger, executive vice president and general manager of Turner Sports Interactive, called the new subscription fees a "necessary part of the business plan." A spokesman for NASCAR had no comment on deal.(from MotorsportsTV.com)
Please DO NOT complain to me [Jayski], contact NASCAR.com, see my Racing FAQ page for the contact info, the first FAQ on the page - will not start a 'campaign' or post petitions either.(2-15-2002)
Dodge Spoiler Change? UPDATE 2 Dodge and more Ford spoiler changes: Unofficial word from NASCAR is that the sanctioning body could trim the Dodge rear spoiler a quarter of an inch for the 500. Currently, Dodges have to run spoilers' 6-1/2 inches tall; Fords, based on the same templates, can run a six-inch spoiler, less drag and thus a faster car. GM rivals are trying to limit Dodge's break to an eighth of an inch.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-15-2002) UPDATE: The sanctioning body [NASCAR] is considering a rule change that could cut an eighth of an inch to a quarter of an inch off the spoiler of the Dodges, allowing cars to pick up speed. The change could be made as soon as today.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-15-2002) UPDATE 2: NASCAR, for the second time this week, has made another rule change concerning the rear spoilers. Ford teams will be allowed to take another quarter-inch off, and the Dodge makes will be allowed to do the same. NASCAR issued a one-sentence statement on Friday morning. “During practice and the race (Daytona 500), the only spoiler permitted will be 5-3/4 inches in height and 57 inches in width for all Ford Taurus models and 6-1/4 inches height and 57 inches in width for all Dodge Intrepid models.” The new ruling will be utilized during all practice sessions on Friday and Saturday leading up to the Daytona 500 on Sunday.(NASCAR.com)(2-15-2002)
Chassis Dyno Testing: NASCAR tested more engines on the chassis dyno yesterday af the Twin 125 Qualifying races. The cars of #24-Jeff Gordon, #15-Michael Waltrip, #36-Ken Schrader, #20-Tony Stewart, #28-Ricky Rudd, #66-Todd Bodine, #40-Sterling Marlin and #43-John Andretti were put on the machine.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-15-2002)
BGN Driver Arrested UPDATE: A NASCAR driver in Central Florida for SpeedWeeks is under arrest for drugs. A deputy pulled over Sammy Potashnick in Flagler county. The deputy arrested Potashnick after noticing his car going north in the southbound lane on a divided road... heading right for him. When deputies finally pulled him over, they say he didn't know where he was at the time. Police say he admitted to taking numerous vicatin painkillers without a prescription and smoking crack cocaine. Both of which were found inside the car. Potashnick who was in town to get more sponsors for his racing company, was scheduled to make his Busch series debut next weekend in Rockingham(NC). No word if that will happen. NASCAR is investigating the incident.(icFlorida/WFTV/Insider Racing)(2-15-2002) UPDATE: Sammy Potashnick was arrested Thursday and charged with possession of crack cocaine and prescription drugs without a prescription. Potashnick, 27, of Sikeston, MO., who is second in NASCAR's Winston West Series and was scheduled to drive in this year's Busch Series, has won more than $12,000 in the Winston West Series this year in his No. 65 Chevrolet. Potashnick had been scheduled to drive in the BGN for Jay Robinson's #49 team at the Rockingham 200 in North Carolina next Saturday. Robinson, in Daytona Beach for Speed Weeks, said it was too soon to say whether Potashnick would be allowed to drive the #49 car next week. Potashnick was not scheduled to race this week at Daytona. He was arrested on Old Kings Road about 4:30 a.m. Thursday after what a Flagler County sheriff's deputy described as a near head-on collision. According to authorities, Potashnick was on the wrong side of the road driving north on Old Kings Road near its intersection with Palm Coast Parkway. When deputy Jason Jolicoeur turned south onto the road, Potashnick swerved to avoid him. Jolicoeur decided to pull Potashnick over. The race car driver was disoriented, carrying prescription drugs of some kind without a prescription bottle and had a rock of crack cocaine in a cigarette box stashed in the center console of his rental car, the Sheriff's Office said. Deputy David Edmonds, riding with Jolicoeur, arrested Potashnick after the brief interview, according to the Sheriff's Office. Potashnick was taken to Memorial Hospital-Flagler to be checked out, then to the Flagler County Inmate Facility where he was booked on the charges and subsequently released on $10,000 bail. Officials from Lucas Oil Products Inc., which sponsors Potashnick's SP Racing team, expressed surprise Thursday night on learning of the news, but said they would have no comment until Friday morning. Jolicoeur said Potashnick told the deputies he had taken some prescription drugs after a family argument.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-15-2002)
Friday's Daytona 500 Practice: #29-Kevin Harvick was the fastest in Friday's only Cup practice with a speed of 189.243mph with #21-Elliott Sadler next at 189.084 and #5-Terry Labonte 3rd fastest at 188.949 (all in the draft). Slowest were #45-Kyle Petty at 185.155 and #49-Shawna Robinson at 184.634. Five of the 43 drivers did not practice: #24-Jeff Gordon, #15-Michael Waltrip, #36-Ken Schrader, #25-Jerry Nadeau, and #66-Todd Bodine. See ThatsRacin.com for the Speeds from Friday's Cup practice. Damaged Cars: four cars were damaged in a practice accident Friday morning. #45-Kyle Petty’s Dodge was the most damaged, suffering severe front and rear sheet metal deformities. #5-Terry Labonte’s Chevy, #71-Dave Marcis’ Chevy and #11-Brett Bodine’s Ford all suffered some degree of body damage and all were being repaired Friday afternoon. The teams of Petty, Bodine and Marcis made planned engine changes later Friday. Labonte’s team made repairs to the “TV panel” and left rear fender and Marcis’ team -- with big help from a couple fabricators from Richard Childress Racing -- repaired the left front fender and nose of the car. Bodine’s team made major repairs to the front of the #11 while Petty’s crew worked on the right front and right rear of their Intrepid.(NASCAR.com)(2-15-2002)
(2-14-2002)
Petty Gets Brawny: Georgia-Pacific's Brawny brand introduced three new initiatives during a news conference at Daytona on Wednesday. The debut included the "Petty Pack," a commemorative three-roll pack featuring Richard Petty as the new Brawny Man, Brawny Shop Towels, which are the official Shop Towel of Petty Enterprises and a special Brawny paint scheme displayed on the #44 Georgia-Pacific/Petty Dodge driven by Buckshot Jones. The special Brawny paint scheme will run in five Winston Cup races in 2002. The #44 Brawny/Georgia-Pacific Dodge will debut at the March 24 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Other appearances during the 2002 season include the April 28 NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway, the May 18 Winston Open and May 26 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway and the August 4 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Brawny brand will be featured prominently on the #44 Georgia-Pacific/Petty Dodge's paint scheme during all other races this season as well. The paint scheme featured on the #44 Brawny/Georgia-Pacific Dodge will be predominantly red, with blue and white accent stripes that swoosh from the lower front fenders to the upper rear quarterpanels. The signature Brawny Man logo appears on the hood, with the Brawny and Georgia-Pacific logos adorning the quarterpanels.(Petty Racing Site)(2-14-2002)
Shawna could be #2 UPDATE she IS #2: Shawna Robinson, driver of the #49 BAM Racing Dodge, could be the 2nd woman driver ever to make the Daytona 500. Janet Guthrie was the first in 1977 (and last in 1980), finishing 12th after starting 39th. (1980 race: started 18th and finished 11th).(Baltimore Sun)(2-12-2002) UPDATE: Robinson made the Daytona 500 and will start 36th and be the 2nd ever woman driver to run the race.(2-14-2002)
Petty Streak UPDATE - stays intact: Should #45-Kyle Petty fail to earn a spot in Sunday's Daytona 500, it would be the third of 44 runnings of stock car racing's premier event and first since 1965 without a Petty in the starting lineup.(Miami Herald)(2-12-2002) UPDATE: Kyle Petty made the race and will start 34th and the streak continues(2-14-2002)
Chassis Dyno Numbers - Chevy Wins: NASCAR's chassis-dyno numbers from Sunday's post-race testing after the Budwesier Shootout when NASCAR used its mechanical dyno to measure effective horsepower at the rear wheels of five top finishers in Sunday's Shootout. Gordon's #24-Chevy won that test, pulling 380 hp. Jarrett's #88-Ford came in second at 379, followed by Marlin's #40-Dodge at 375, Stewart's #20-Pontiac at 373 and Earnhardt Jr.'s 372 in the #8-Chevy.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-14-2002)
France's Honored: In a plan hatched during President George W. Bush's Daytona Beach visit two weeks ago, members of the France family -- along with the widow and daughter of the late racing legend Dale Earnhardt -- visited the Florida House to accept praise and a resolution designating it as "Speedway Day." State Rep. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, said the Frances exemplify family unity and values promoted in the state. Lynn and House Speaker Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, said the accolades had nothing to do with the campaign contributions the family, International Speedway Corp. and its subsidiaries have made, mostly to the Republicans who dominate the Legislature. The economic benefit the family's companies provide to Florida in the form of jobs and major races is well deserving of the honor, Feeney said. The family does have dealings in Tallahassee, however, including its support of a new law, approved last year, that sealed autopsy photos in the wake of Earnhardt's Daytona 500 death last year. Feeney said if the family was currently advocating a bill or issue he would not have felt comfortable with the tribute. Wednesday's event on the House floor was a celebration of the Frances, stock-car racing and America. It included a 10-minute video, scored by patriotic standards, documenting the early days of beach racing through the opening of Daytona International Speedway in 1959 to the emergence of racing icons like Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough and Earnhardt. Bill France Jr. told legislators he is proud of the economic benefits the family has made to the state and thanked them for the "wonderful recognition."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-14-2002)
Jarrett to ring the bell: To mark the start of the 2002 NASCAR racing season, UPS CEO Mike Eskew and Dale Jarrett, driver of the #88 UPS Ford Taurus, will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Friday, Feb 15th. With Eskew sounding the bell from the notable balcony on Wall Street, Jarrett will conclude the day's trading live via satellite from the Daytona International Speedway by waving NASCAR's official closing signal - a checkered flag. The Daytona 500 signals the beginning of the Winston Cup race season and marks the launch of this year's installments of the UPS's humorous "We want to Race the Truck" advertising campaign, which will debut this Sunday during the race telecast.(Business Wire)(2-14-2002)
Sharp on pole for IROC: Scott Sharp and Danny Lasoski will have the best view when the 26th season of True Value IROC kicks off with Round 1 on Friday at Daytona International Speedway. Sharp, whose only previous True Value IROC experience was in 1994, pulled the envelope that awarded him the pole while Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaw champion, drew the outside pole. Rounding out the top five starting positions were Lasoski, Sterling Marlin, Helio Castroneves and Kevin Harvick. Round 1 of the True Value IROC will go green on Friday at 11 a.m. and will be followed by the season-opening Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. See IROCRacing.com for Starting Line-Up for Race One.(2-14-2002)
Benson, Valvoline and Big Brothers: Executives from The Valvoline Company returned to Daytona today with NASCAR driver Johnny Benson to present Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) with a $50,000 check to further solidify their support of the "Caring Hands" program, which was established in 1999 to raise money and awareness for the country's premier mentoring program. The donation represents 50,000 handprints collected from NASCAR fans nationwide, following Valvoline's challenge last year asking supporters to either mail or fax in their handprint for a $1 donation to BBBSA. This amount, coupled with Johnny Benson's on-track performance incentives, which raised another $30,000 en route to an impressive 11th place finish in the 2001 Winston Cup final points standings, elevated Valvoline's "Caring Hands" three-year fundraising total over $750,000. Valvoline matches Benson's performance by donating $5,000 for a win, $2,500 for a pole, $1,000 for a top ten 10 finish, $500 for a top 20 finish and $20 for each lap led. The most significant change to this year's "Caring Hands" program, is the "Track Match Challenge," which raises funds for randomly selected Big Brother Big Sisters local agencies in out of race marketers. This new wrinkle, along with the existing contributions made to the BBBSA National office after each race, essentially doubles Valvoline's contribution to the program for the 2002 racing season.(Valvoline PR)(2-14-2002)
Cintas Re-Ups with NASCAR: Cintas Corporation, the leader in the uniform rental industry, and NASCAR have extended the partnership that makes Cintas the Preferred Uniform of NASCAR. The agreement, which runs through 2004, was expanded to include Xpect First Aid as the Preferred First Aid Supplier of NASCAR. Since 1999, Cintas has been the Preferred Uniform of NASCAR, outfitting
NASCAR's officials with workday and race-day uniforms in all 12 racing series, including NASCAR Winston Cup, NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.(IMG PR)(2-14-2002)
Allison to miss the Daytona 500: The last time NASCAR great Bobby Allison missed a Daytona 500 was 1959, the first time the 500 was held. Every year since, Allison has been at the race either as a competitor - he won the 500 three times - or a spectator. Sunday, the streak will end. In lieu of Daytona Beach's full-blown celebration of speed, Allison and his wife Judy will be in Ames, Okla., helping make the "Ultimate Daytona 500 House Party" an all-out happening. The party is being held for John Sattler of Enid, OK; it's the grand prize Sattler won in last year's "Race for the Championship: 2001" promotion by NASCAR. Sattler and 50 of his friends will gather at Hajek Motorsports Museum in Ames (owner Brent Hajek is one of Sattler's buddies), and will watch NBC's broadcast of the 500 on a large-screen SONY television, with the party catered by Outback Steakhouse. The museum - located 65 miles northwest of Oklahoma City - will be decked out, with a small set of bleachers, a miniature helium-filled Goodyear blimp floating around and for diversion, a racing tire-swing. Allison, 64, first raced in the Daytona 500 in 1961. The last time was in 1988, when he won and his son Davey finished second. Allison's racing career ended 13 races into the 1988 season, because of injuries sustained in an incident at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. In retirement, he has become a beloved living legend - he's a charter member of the famed "Alabama Gang" - for fans who remember his skill and style.(NASCAR PR)(2-14-2002)
(2-13-2002)
Simpson to Sue NASCAR UPDATE: ESPN.com has learned that Simpson is fingering NASCAR for wrongly accusing his safety company of playing any part in Earnhardt’s demise on the final lap of the Daytona 500. Bill Simpson wants his name absolved in the death of his friend Dale Earnhardt. Attorneys James H. Voyles and Robert W. Horn will file a suit Tuesday morning in an Indianapolis superior court. Simpson has confirmed he is filing a multimillion dollar lawsuit, charging NASCAR with defamation of character, false invasion of privacy, defamation by implication and reckless disregard for the truth. "NASCAR brought me to my knees like nobody else ever has and, for eight months, I felt impudent because these charges just kept coming and there was nothing I could do," said Simpson, who received several death threats and eventually moved out of his former home in Charlotte, NC. Everyone who has ever dealt with NASCAR has acquiesced to them and nobody will stand up to them. But they picked on the wrong guy this time. I'm not going away quietly and they deserve to pay for what they did to me and my company's reputation. This isn't about money. This is about integrity and the truth." NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo said his organization would not comment.(ESPN)(2-11-2002) UPDATE: Simpson Performance Products issued a statement Tuesday in which is said it would not be party to any lawsuit against NASCAR. “We have been working cooperatively with NASCAR for the past several months on ways to improve driver safety, to support NASCAR’s efforts on building strong safety programs and to contribute valuable input to the process,” said Simpson Performance Products CEO Chuck Davies. The statement was released in response to several news reports that indicated Simpson Products founder and former president Bill Simpson would file a lawsuit against NASCAR for, among other things, defamation of character.(ThatsRacin.com) AND Bill Simpson intends to pursue his multi-million dollar lawsuit against NASCAR and will file it Wednesday morning in Indianapolis, but he'll go it alone after Simpson Safety Products asked to be removed as a plaintiff.(ESPN)(2-13-2002) UPDATE suit filed: Bill Simpson was unable to elicit an apology from NASCAR on Tuesday, leaving him convinced that a lawsuit he filed today is his only recourse against stock-car racing's sanctioning body. "I guess the word 'apology' is not in NASCAR's vocabulary," he said after a day of negotiations. "So, we'll see them in court." Simpson, a resident of Avon, IN, filed an $8.5 million lawsuit this morning in Marion County Superior Court, claiming NASCAR wrongly blamed the construction of seat belts made by his company in the death of seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 Daytona 500.(Indianapolis Star)(2-13-2002)
Carl Long down to two teams: Effective immediately. Price Motorsports [#59] owned by Foster Price has backed out of running a team for Carl Long in 2002 and no longer has anything to do with Carl Long or Carl Long Racing. Because of this, Carl Long & Mansion Motorsports will have to run one of their Fords next week at Rockingham as a last resort effort to make up for the lost of Price Motorsports' team. Long will continue to run with Mansion Motorsports and SR Racing in 2002. Also, for the Daytona 500, NoopCo Paint Removers has come aboard the #85 Dodge in a one-race associate sponsorship for Daytona. The NoopCo logos will be on the quarter panels of the car.(Carl Long Racing)(2-13-2002)
Restraints being used: Thirty-seven Cup drivers are using the HANS device this week, and 16 others are using the Hutchens Device.(Roanoke Times)(2-13-2002)
Black Boxes: Starting this week, every car that competes in a NASCAR touring series race must be equipped with a ''black box'' that records information in the event of a crash. The box, which costs $499, is battery-powered and mounted on the car's frame near the driver's left hip. The box records various data in the event of an impact. That information will be used by NASCAR technicians to try to design safer race cars.(Tennessean) AND Called The Witness, it is NASCAR's first data recorder. The unit is slightly smaller than a VCR tape at 7 inches long, 3 1/2 inches wide and a half-inch tall. Designed to be waterproof and able to withstand temperatures of nearly 300 degrees, the data recorder is a self-contained unit designed to handle all kinds of crashes. It will record force, direction and magnitude of each crash. A series of sensors inside the unit can accurately record the angle of impact, date, time, G-forces expended. The sensors can measure the roll, pitch and yaw of the car as it expends the energy of a sudden impact. The sensors record the forward, sideways and up-and-down acceleration profile. By understanding all the forces inside the car, engineers will be better able to make changes based on well-founded principles, not best guesses. The data recorders remain in the car throughout all practice sessions, time trials and the main event. They provide information even when the car is parked. However, the devices are designed to allow only engineers, using specific times and dates, to access the recorder's data. NASCAR already has been crashing cars in sled-tests to create a foundation for their research. The rest of their information will be compiled from future crashes.(Florida Times Union) AND II NASCAR's new safety team swarmed over the damaged Winston Cup cars following the practice crash on Tuesday (7 cars involved). Director of Research and Development Joe Garone said the team was taking the data recorder boxes and trying to gather information for NASCAR's developing database. Officials pulled the boxes from all the cars involved and replaced them with new ones. He was unsure how long it would take NASCAR to analyze data from the boxes.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-13-2002)
Wind Tunnel Results and a Dodge spolier change? The latest wind-tunnel results are in: The unofficial numbers from the wind tunnel showed the #20-Pontiac had a .335 CD (coefficient of drag), the #8-Chevy a .338, the #88-Ford a .341 and the #40-Dodge a .342. The lower the CD, the more efficient the model. NASCAR officials are leaning toward trimming Dodge's rear spoiler.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-13-2002)
Park News UPDATE: Steve Park [driver of the #1 Pennzoil Chevy, Kenny Wallace is subbing for him] has a timetable for his return to racing, but officials at Dale Earnhardt Inc. won't reveal it in case there's any lingering effects from his severe head injury. Park, who missed the final 12 races last season, already has two tests in a car. Norris said NASCAR planned to work with the team in evaluating Park's status before he returns. One of the plans is to let Park test with teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip.(AP/Arizona Republic)(2-11-2002) UPDATE: Steve Park estimates he's about a month away from returning to racing as he continues to rehabilitate from the brain contusion he suffered that day. A contusion causes more damage than the worst concussion, and in Park's case, it wreaked havoc with his balance, vision and speech. It left the NASCAR community wondering if he ever would race again.(Newday)(2-13-2002)
New Daytona 500 Book: Author Bob Zeller and David Bull Publishing have recently released, Daytona 500: An Official History. This book is hot off the press, and covers the complete story of more than forty years of close-quarters racing at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. With year-by-year chapters, Zeller captures the competition, drama, and distinctive personalities of the racers. Richly illustrated with hundreds of colorful photographs from the ISC Publications Archives. For more info and info on Daytona book signings. see my Racing Bookstore page(2-13-2002)
Racing Tailgators? TheTailgater.com is looking for fans and race goers to interview, fans who plan on tailgating or camping at the North Carolina Speedway coming up in a few weeks. Go to their site thetailgater.comand send an email (2-13-2002)
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Another Muppet: hearing that #18-Bobby Labonte has been added to the Chicagoland Muppet paint scheme promotion along with previous rumored, #88-Jarrett, #10-Benson(Flozzy) and #41-Spencer(2-12-2002)
Petty and Garfield? UPDATE 2 actually the #43 and Garfield: hearing Kyle Petty will have a special Garfield (cartoon character) scheme in 2002 on the #45 Sprint Dodge but it will not race on the track but be a promotional/show car, such as the #29 Oreo Car was in 2001.(2-5-2002) UPDATE: got a layout image of the car and it'll be used on the #43 Dodge as a promotional tool, an announcement of some sort with Petty Enterprises is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 12th at Daytona. See my Paint Schemes Gallery for the image(2-6-2002) UPDATE 2: Richard Petty, the seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion, and Paws Inc., the corporation that handles Jim Davis' Garfield series of newspaper comic strips and television cartoons, have announced a two-year licensing agreement that will surpass anything the sport has seen. The announcement was made today at Daytona USA. Petty Enterprises and Paws Inc. will collaborate in a series of souvenir merchandise, specialty cars, events and promotions. Much of the proceeds will go to the Victory Junction Gang Camp for chronically ill children and the Kyle Petty Charity Ride.(Williams Company PR)(2-12-2002)
Richard Petty (right), Garfield and Garfield creator Jim Davis (left) pose by a new Garfield car that was unveiled Tuesday at Daytona
Rusty goes nuts: Rusty Wallace, Inc. announced that Planters, part of the Kraft Foods Snacks Division, has become an marketing partner for the 2002-racing season. The marketing partnership aligns Planters with NASCAR Winston Cup star Rusty Wallace in his bid for the 2002 series championship. The arrangement between Planters and Wallace calls for Mr. Peanut,, the Planters icon, to be featured on Wallace's driving uniform. Wallace in turn, will be prominently featured in Planters racing-related marketing efforts during the 2002 season.(Tom Roberts PR)(2-12-2002)
Gordon Award: Defending Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon was presented with his fourth Driver of the Year Award, breaking a tie he shared with Mario Andretti and Darrell Waltrip. A national panel of motorsports writers and broadcasters vote on the award. Gordon will get a specially crafted 2002 Indian Chief motorcycle with a second-generation engine -- the company's first new engine design in 50 years.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-12-2002)
Congrats: ARCA and part time Cup driver Tim Steele and wife Dawn welcomed a new addition to their family on Monday morning at Spectrum Downtown Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. Taylor Anne Steele, a 4 lb. 7 oz. baby girl, was born at 8:17am. Steele's racing plans for 2002 call for a 20-race mix of ARCA, NASCAR Winston Cup and NASCAR Busch Series events.(Tom Roberts PR)(2-12-2002)
Pit Crew of the Year: The National Association of Pit Crew Members (NAPCM) has announced that the NASCAR Winston Cup #8 Budweiser Chevy “Brew Crew” has been elected the NAPCM 2001 Season Pit Crew of the Year. The online election was held at the National Association of Pit Crew Members website, www.napcm.com during the 2001 season. Cambria Laveck Padgett, Director of Member Services for the NAPCM had this to say, “The #8 Budweiser Crew sure earned it. All season they had pit stops consistently in the 14 to 15 second range. Those guys are always lightening-fast and a great group of competitors.” In recognition of the award the #8 Crew will receive a NAPCM “Pit Crew of the Year” award packet including items from participating sponsor MechanixWear. To vote for the 2002 Season NAPCM Pit Crew of the Year or to learn more about the National Association of Pit Crew Members, visit the Pit Crew Club at www.napcm.com.(NAPCM PR)(2-12-2002)
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New Taurus in 2004? Expect Ford to unveil a new Taurus for the 2004 season, according to sources in Dearborn, MI.(Sporting News)(2-11-2002)
Brett Bodine Associate Sponsor: Brett Bodine Racing announced the addition of Express Services, Inc. on the #11 Ford Taurus for the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season as an associate sponsor. Express Personnel Services is the world's largest privately-held staffing firm, operating more than 400 offices internationally.(Brett Bodine Racing PR)(2-11-2002)
Action to the NYSE: Action Performance Companies, today announced it will transfer its stock listing to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) effective February 20, 2002, and will trade under its new ticker symbol, ATN. Action Performance Chairman, President, and CEO Fred W. Wagenhals will initiate trading by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange that morning. Action Performance has been listed on the NASDAQ National Market under the ticker symbol ACTN since its initial public offering in 1993. In 2001 the company's stock rose from $2.38 to $30.61 per share to become the fifth highest gainer on NASDAQ, and recently closed over $40 per share. The move will be celebrated by festivities outside the stock exchange on February 20, 2002. The Dale Earnhardt Legendary Trackside Trailer and a racecar driven by Dale Earnhardt will be on display for visitors. The trackside trailer from which Action Performance sold Dale Earnhardt memorabilia has become a living tribute to "the Intimidator." Race fans have paid tribute to Dale's memory by writing words of remembrance and prayers on the side of the trailer. Components of the racecar on display, including the engine, were part of the actual racecar Dale Earnhardt drove to victory at Atlanta during the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup race. Although the driver's-side half of the body shell has been cutaway to reveal the car's inner workings, the racecar remains completely functional. Additionally, Wagenhals will be joined in the celebration by NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace, three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion and NASCAR FOX Sports analyst Darrell Waltrip, six-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Team Owner Richard Childress, and 11 time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force.(Action Performance PR)(2-11-2002)
Larger Plate? Despite speculation that NASCAR would order all teams to use a slightly larger restrictor plate, giving drivers about another 15 horsepower, worth maybe another two miles an hour, Helton said no: "We're not going to rule it out, but it's not a short-list item right now. We're not expecting it now."(Winston Salem Journal)(2-11-2002)
Yellow Line: Jeff Gordon thinks NASCAR needs to alter the yellow-line rule before the Daytona 500. Last season, officials instituted a rule banning drivers from making a pass below the yellow stripe painted on the track. While Gordon agrees it was a good rule for the faster cars running in tighter packs a year ago, he hopes the new setup and slower speeds lead NASCAR to lighten up on the limitation. "That yellow line is not making things any easier," he said. "The yellow line worked for the rules we had last year because you were coming so fast that you would go below that yellow line every lap. Now I think there's places where we could move that line to get a little bit more room because you don't have the momentum you used to have."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-11-2002)
Gerhart wins ARCA race: Bobby Gerhart won the ARCA race at Daytona when the race was stopped 54 laps into its scheduled 80-lap distance to allow the Bud Shootout to be nationally televised on TNT (not NBC). Gerhart, who led 36 laps, was in the right place when a second round of showers arrived at Daytona International Speedway. The race had earlier been delayed for 27 minutes. Rick Carelli’s Chevrolet followed Gerhart’s Pontiac across the line. ARCA champion Frank Kimmel was third in a Ford. Gerhardt is also attempting to make the Daytona 500. Woman drivers, Tina Gordon and Sunny Hobbs finished 26th and 31st in the ARCA race, respectively, although both did finish on the lead lap.(Gaston Gazette)(2-11-2002)
No Rules Chnages....yet UPDATE cars to the wind tunnel and Ford gets a 1/4" off spoiler: Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president of communications, said no rules change will be considered until after Thursday's Twin 125s.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-10-2002) UPDATE: NASCAR announced after the race that it was taking the cars of #20-Tony Stewart, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr, #40-Sterling Marlin and #88-Dale Jarrett to a wind tunnel. Spokesman Jim Hunter said officials were going to discuss Ford's complaints. Any change wouldn't go into effect until after Monday's final time trials, Hunter said, but they would in place by Thursday's twin 125-mile qualifying races.(Yahoo/AP) AND NASCAR announced Winston Cup Ford teams would get to reduce their spolier height by another quarter-inch, effective with Tuesday's practice at Daytona. All four manufacturers currently have a 57-inch wide spoiler. Dodges and Pontiacs have a rear spoiler 6.5 inches high. Fords and Chevrolets practiced, qualified and ran Sunday's Budweiser Shootout with 6.25-inch spoilers.(NASCAR.com)(2-10-2002) UPDATE 2 Chassis Dyno: NASCAR is sending five cars from Sunday's Budweiser Shootout to the wind tunnel to check their aerodynamic performance. The #20-Pontiac of winner Tony Stewart, the #8-Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr., the #40-Dodge of Sterling Marlin and the #88-Ford of Dale Jarrett were to be tested Monday. All four cars, plus the #24-Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon, was also tested on the chassis dynometer, which measures rear-wheel horsepower.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-11-2002)
TV: Fox Sports Net Totally NASCAR returns today at 6:00pm local time. Also SpeedVision becomes Speed Channel today and the network will air a pair of special programs to help kickoff the 2002 NASCAR racing. Speed Week on Speed Channel will be hosted nightly by Bob Varsha and include Daytona segments from the FOX broadcasting team of Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond. The one-hour program airs Monday-Friday beginning at 8:00pm/et. Speed Channel's 2002 NASCAR Preview will follow Speed Week each weeknight rhis week from 9:00 - 11:00pm/et, hosted by Varsha and John Roberts, will include a look at NASCAR's top teams, their past performances and preparations for the 2002 season.(PR)(2-11-2002)
