Some Patriotism at Texas: Neal Smith, a Texas Resident and currently serving in the U. S. Navy has been on active duty for 19 years and will be retiring next year. Texas Motor Speedway(TMS) was contacted about flying Smith's retirement flag (which will never be sold and will go into his shadow box), and TMS accepted. The flag will be flown in Winner's Circle today (and was on Saturday after the BGN race).(4-7-2002)
Spring Rubbers: NASCAR is allowing teams to install up to one-half of a spring rubber in either or both front springs prior to the start of Sunday’s Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas. Teams can’t start races with spring rubber in the front of their cars; they may only add them during pit stops. Spring rubbers are allowed in the rear springs at the start of the race.(CNN/SI)(4-7-2002)
300th start for Gordon: #24-Jeff Gordon will make his 300th Winston Cup start at Texas. Two interesting facts: it is 300 consecutive starts, and Gordon has NEVER used a provisional starting spot.(4-7-2002)
(4-6-2002)
Waltrip to field a car for Kenny Wallace at Talladega? Mike Waltrip mentioned during the Fox BGN rain delay coverage that Michael Waltrip racing will field a Cup car at Talladega for Kenny Wallace that will carry Aaron's Rent sponsorship and that Aaron's will also be the title sponsor of the Cup at Talladega that will be know as the 499 not the 500. Supposedly DEI will supply the car (a backup #15) and engine, not sure what number it'll use (#81 as used in Daytona testing?). Waltrip seemed serious and Kenny Wallace was interviewed a bit later and says it is a serious effort and it is being posted on the Kenny Wallace site.(4-6-2002)
Andretti Talking Indy 500 again: John Andretti, the first driver to race in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day, says he'll meet with car owner Kyle Petty next week and ask to drive in both races. Petty said a couple of weeks ago that Andretti wouldn't be driving at Indianapolis so Andretti could focus on his Petty Enterprises ride. Andretti wants to drive the Indy 500 again and admits he has "more than one" opportunity to race there this year. "We're going to sit down and we're going to talk about it," Andretti said of his meeting with Petty. "We're going to talk about this year and kind of clean that up and then see what the future is because I do want to do Indy."(News and Record)(4-6-2002)
Shelmerdine's Schedule Announced UPDATE: Atlanta-based Eastern Foods Inc. and their driver Kirk Shelmerdine have released a five-race schedule for the 2002 Cup season. Shelmerdine will drive a Ford as part of a two-car team effort with Brett Bodine. Shelmerdine will showcase the colors of Naturally Fresh Dressings & Dips and Jackaroo Sauces produced by EFI, Inc. for his first race at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte in May. The next race scheduled for the Naturally Fresh Racing team will be at Chicagoland Speedway on July 14th. The team will return to the Midwest to Kansas Speedway on September 29th.. Shelmerdine will bring the Naturally Fresh Ford back to Lowes Motor Speedway on October 13th and finish the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October. Eastern Foods Incorporated is based in Atlanta, GA has been actively involved in stock car racing sponsorship at various levels since 1991 and currently sponsors competitors in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series. In returning to the Winston Cup Series, Eastern Foods, Inc. will also become an associate sponsor on the #11 Ford driven by Bodine.(Naturally Fresh Racing PR), no word on a car number.(4-4-2002) UPDATE: Shelmerdine's Ford will run the #27.(4-6-2002)
(4-5-2002)
Elledge to leave Yates? UPDATE 4: Dodge is wooing Jimmy Elledge, one of the Winston Cup tour's rising young crew chiefs, to leave Robert Yates' Ford #88 operation to join Ray Evernham's Dodge gang as crew chief for #7-Casey Atwood on the Jimmy Smith-Buddy Barnes operation. And Barnes yesterday said that Elledge could be joining his team soon. Smith, the team owner in a partnership with Evernham, and Barnes, the general manager and interim crew chief, have been rebuilding the team since losing sponsorship last fall. Atwood finished 18th yesterday, his best of the year.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-25-2002) UPDATE: #88-Dale Jarrett expects to have crew chief Jimmy Elledge with him, discounting recent rumors that Elledge might leave the Robert Yates Racing team. Jarrett said Elledge does not plan to leave and has told Jarrett that repeatedly this week. (Roanoke Times)(3-28-2002) UPDATE 2: When Dale Jarrett and the #88 Robert Yates Racing team heads to Texas this weekend, crew chief Jimmy Elledge will not make the trip. Todd Parrott is now the crew chief of that team. Jimmy Elledge this afternoon says he has decided to pursue other options. The door has been left open for Elledge to return to Robert Yates Racing in another capacity. Todd Parrott had been the crew chief for the previous five seasons but was said to be taking a larger role as general manager with the team when Elledge was hired in the off-season [from the #55 APR team].(FoxSports)(4-3-2002) UPDATE 3: Todd Parrott has reassumed the crew chief position for Dale Jarrett’s #88 Ford team at Robert Yates Racing. Jimmy Elledge, who took over as crew chief after Parrott moved to a team manager position in December, is still employed, but "is exploring other options," team owner Robert Yates said. "We think he is a very talented individual and our doors will always be open to him." Late Wednesday, Ray Evernham, co-owner of Ultra/Evernham Motorsports, confirmed he plans to speak to Elledge in the coming days about the crew chief job with driver Casey Atwood and the #7 Dodges. Buddy "Reddog" Barnes currently holds the role on an interim basis.(ThatsRacin.com), also on ESPN's RPM2Night it was mentioned that Evernham and Elledge have spoken already, but Elledge is not commiting to anything yet.(4-4-2002) UPDATE 4: Ray Evernham, co-owner of Ultra/Evernham Motorsports and the #7 Dodges driven by Casey Atwood, said he hoped to have a meeting Monday with Jimmy Elledge, who recently lost his position as crew chief for Dale Jarrett. Evernham said he hoped co-owner Jim Smith and Atwood could participate in the meeting. Elledge, who is still employed by Robert Yates Racing, apparently is fielding several offers from several Winston Cup teams. He was formerly crew chief for Bobby Hamilton at Andy Petree Racing.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-5-2002)
Dale Jr Leads Voting: #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. leads, and more than 130,000 votes have been cast for the Grands NMPA NASCAR Winston Cup Most Popular Driver Award. Voting began in early March at www.nascarpopulardriver.com, and NASCAR fans have responded in amazing numbers. Approximately 400,000 voted all of last year. Voting continues through November 10, 2002. Voting breakdowns were unavailable but, especially since it is early in the process, differences were relatively close down the list. Behind Earnhardt, Jr., in order, were Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Kyle Petty, Rusty Wallace, Kevin Harvick and Dale Jarrett. Many of the driver and team web sites have established links directly from their sites to the voting site, while many fan-developed and racing news sites have established direct links for the convenience of their readers (see graphic and link on the Jayski page, on the left side of this page). The award is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association, and is sponsored by Grands!, a product of Pillsbury. Fans are allowed one vote per day but may vote as many days as they wish.(Williams Company PR)(4-5-2002)
BACE and APR UPDATE: BACE Motorsports and Andy Petree Racing announced the formation of a strategic alliance in conjunction with BACE Motorsports Cup debut with driver Chad Little. BACE Motorsports will field the #74 Chevy in up to 15 Winston Cup events during the 2002 season with engines and chassis supplied by Andy Petree Racing (APR). Additionally, the alliance includes the continuous sharing of information between the #74 Team and Andy Petree Racing's current Winston Cup entry, the #55 Chevy driven by Bobby Hamilton.. The two teams will work together to exchange technical information learned on and off track in efforts to increase their collective performance. Both teams feel the information sharing is an integral part of the partnership. Little, a former NASCAR Winston West Champion, will pilot the #74 entry in a limited schedule, initially focusing on intermediate tracks, as the team actively seeks corporate sponsorship.. Following BACE's debut at California Speedway on April 28, 2002, Little will run The Winston Open and Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, then the June events at Dover and Michigan. Additional events will be named as the 2002 season progresses.(ignition, inc. PR)(4-4-2002) UPDATE: Petree is expected to reach an ownership agreement with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that will begin next season.(Dallas Morning News), for past news on the Jones rumor, see my #55 Team News and Links page.(4-5-2002)
Kerry Earnhardt to Cup in 2003 and 2004: FitzBradshaw Racing, in its first year in BGN competition, hopes to run five Winston Cup events next season -- including Texas Motor Speedway. The team, co-owned by Armando Fitz and Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, currently ranks 27th in the BGN standings with Kerry Earnhardt driving the #12 car. The team's goal is to compete full-time in the 2004 Winston Cup circuit with Earnhardt -- the oldest son of the late Dale Earnhardt -- while adding a rookie driver for the BGN. After announcing a sponsorship deal with Jani-King on Thursday (see my BGN site), Fitz said he hopes to get enough sponsorship for Earnhardt to race five Winston Cup events in 2003. Along with TMS, Fitz said Charlotte, Atlanta, Michigan and California would probably fill out the abbreviated Cup schedule. A driver can race up to seven Winston Cup events without losing his rookie status.(Dallas Morning News)(4-5-2002)
NASCAR Emmy's Nominations: The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that NASCAR on FOX has been nominated for six Sports Emmy Awards, NASCAR on NBC/TNT two and ESPN one for Racing work in 2001.
The 23rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards will be presented on Tuesday, April 23rd, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
The categories featuring NASCAR:
Outstanding Live Sports Special: NASCAR on FOX: The Daytona 500
Outstanding Live Sports Series: NASCAR on FOX and NASCAR on NBC/TNT
Outstanding Techincial Team Remote: NASCAR on FOX and ESPN Speedworld
Outstanding Live Event Audio/Sound: NASCAR on FOX
Outstanding Graphic Design: NASCAR on FOX
Outstanding Innovative Techincal Achievement: NASCAR on FOX and NASCAR on NBC/TNT.(Emmy's site)(4-5-2002)
New Publication: If you enjoy NASCAR racing, you’ll love Inside Cat Racing – 2002, a new 40-page, full-color publication packed full of interesting and entertaining information illustrated by more than 75 professional photos see ww.insidecatracing.com. And for more Racing Books, see my
Racing Bookstore page(4-5-2002)
Racing Wives Book: Liz Allison, who knows a little about it, provides some insight about racing relationships in her new book, "Racing Wives: The Women Behind the Sunday Drivers." Allison was the wife of Winston Cup star and second-generation Alabama Gang member Davey Allison, who died while trying to land his helicopter at Talladega. The author has teamed with UMI Publications on this latest effort, her third book. She started work on it about a year ago. The work began in earnest after the 2001 racing season ended and her editors moved her deadline up early this year. A couple of prominent NASCAR wives aren't in there, which is creating a little bit of a buzz about the book, no doubt to her delight and that of her publisher. Brooke Gordon, who last month filed for divorce from four-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon, isn't in there. Neither is Teresa Earnhardt. As for Earnhardt, "That was out of respect for her and what she was going through," Allison says. She got word about her undertaking to the widow of seven-time champion Dale Earnardt, but didn't push when she didn't get a response. As for Brooke Gordon, Allison pushed a little. Enough that the former Miss Winston finally let her know that she didn't want to participate "for personal reasons." "I knew something was going on there, but I was still shocked when she filed," said Allison, who now lives in Tennessee but remains plugged in with much of the NASCAR family in North Carolina. She's got more than two dozen wives in her book and many have provided photos from their personal collections. So there are some images there that most of have never had the opportunity to see, which is kinda neat. The ABC TV news show "Downtown" interviewed Allison and several of the wives at Lowe's Motor Speedway's Speedway Club this week and plans to air a segment on them and the book April 17. "Racing Wives" is to be released later this month.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-5-2002)
Jeff Gordon Book Advance Worth $1.2 million: Four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was given a $1.2-million book advance by Viacom's Simon & Schuster for his life story, according to the N.Y. Post. Mark Reiter of IMG brokered the deal, which is thought to have fetched the impressive sum thanks in part to the huge success of Driver #8, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s bestseller.(Winston Cup Scene Newsletter)(4-5-2002)
Plates at Texas? This Week? UPDATE Fearing that speeds at Texas Motor Speedway could reach dangerous levels, NASCAR officials may consider putting restrictor plates on Winston Cup cars competing in Sunday's Samsung/Radio Shack 500, a NASCAR official said on Thursday. "We will sit down and talk about it (Thursday night)," said Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president of communications. "We have the plates here already, but we will probably wait to see what happens over the next couple of days." But NASCAR clearly feels that the resurfaced 1.5-mile TMS track may need the extraordinary precaution measure.(Dallas Morning News)(4-5-2002) UPDATE no plates for the BGN: NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said Friday morning the sanctioning body has no plans to use carburetor restrictor plates for the BGN race Saturday at Texas. On Thursday, Jeff Green won the pole for the race with a track record lap of over 193 mph – far above the 189 mph previous mark. Green also bettered the previous Winston Cup qualifying mark. A repaved surface and cooler temperatures Thursday help produce fast speeds. "I think the Busch race will be fine. I don’t expect any problems with speeds," Hunter said. "As far as the Cup cars, we’ll see how practice and qualifying go today. It is not my expectation that we will have problems. But we will certainly keep an eye on the situation throughout the weekend." Hunter also said NASCAR always brings restrictor plates of different sizes to each track so they are available should officials decide to use them.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-5-2002)
(4-4-2002)
Charlie Daniel's and UPS: The parcel service will unveil its second celebrity-based "Race the Truck" commercial on Sunday. The new spot will feature The Charlie Daniels Band urging NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett to "Race the Truck." The first spot featured George Thorogood singing "Brown to the Bone," a spoof of his hit "Bad To The Bone." The new commercial has Daniels taking liberties with his song, "Devil Went Down to Georgia," and daring Jarrett's response. Daniels has reworked the lyrics, though the tune is still the same:
"Now Dale Jarrett is a racecar driver, lets give the man his due. But people love that big brown truck, it's time he raced it, too. People love the truck now, go Dale go! Put it on the track, for a drivin show!"
The commercial will debut during the broadcast of the Samsung/RadioShack 500, on Fox, on Sunday.(Yahoo Entertainment)(4-4-2002)
Gaughan to attempt California..in Cup UPDATE: Brendan Gaughan will attempt to qualify for the April 28 Winston Cup race at California Speedway, Orleans Racing general manager Shane Wilson said Monday. Gaughan tested a new Dodge Intrepid at the 2-mile oval last week and Wilson said the team was pleased with Gaughan's lap times. "By the time we left (California Speedway), we were within two-and-a-half tenths of Sterling Marlin's lap times so we felt pretty good with the test," Wilson said. Wilson said he was working with NAPA Auto Parts -- Gaughan's sponsor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series [#62 Dodge] -- and the Orleans to put together sponsorship for the race.(Las Vegas Sun), see some past news and rumors on this on my #62 Team News and Links page.(4-3-2002) UPDATE: When the NAPA Auto Parts 500 kicks into action at California Speedway, April 28, Brendan Gaughan and Orleans Racing will be set to make their NASCAR Winston Cup debut. "We tested our new Cup car at Fontana last week," said Gaughan who
pilots the #62 NAPA/Orleans Hotel & Casino Dodge in the CTS. "And, we were very pleased with the results. We didn't want to go there just to run in the back of the field. We wanted to be certain we could be competitive and the testing proved we are right in the Ball Park. California Speedway will be an excellent track for us to debut our #62 NAPA AUTO CARE/Orleans Hotel & Casino Dodge," say team owners Michael Gaughan and Bill McAnally." Gaughan, the two-time NASCAR Winston West Champion (2000 and 2001) moved into the CTS at the start of this season. Currently sitting in 12th in the point's battle after two events, he also is ranked 2nd in the Rookie-of-the-Year standings, just two points out of the lead. "Running in the NASCAR Winston Cup race will be a great learning experience for our entire team," said Orleans Racing general manager and crew chief Shane Wilson. "What we learn at Fontana will
definitely benefit our truck effort. The more experience we can get, the better we will be and that is what we are striving for."(PR)(4-4-2002)
Irvan at the Glen: Watkins Glen International President Craig Rust announced that Ernie Irvan will serve as special guest of the track and Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series race August 8-11. Irvan, winner of the 1991 Winston Cup and 1992 Busch Series races at The Glen, will commemorate the 10-year anniversary of his consecutive wins by proclaiming, "Drivers, start your engines," to this year's NASCAR Winston Cup field on August 11.(Watkins Glen International PR)(4-4-2002)
Fenley Shop Sold: NASCAR legend Bud Moore’s Spartanburg-based racing operation were sold at public auction Monday at the county courthouse. The Fairview Avenue race shop that once was home to such legendary drivers as Dale Earnhardt and Cale Yarborough — and, more recently, Fenley Motorsports Inc. — fetched a price of $50,000. The buyer: Dawsonville, Ga.-based Ernie Elliott Inc., which had successfully brought a real estate mortgage foreclosure action against Fenley Motorsports. “(Elliott) just wants to recoup what he’s owed on the note from the Fenleys by selling the building and grounds,” said Georgia banker Robert R. Schuetze, who attended Monday morning’s auction with Elliott’s Spartanburg attorney, Max B. Cauthen Jr. The auction was scheduled in late February, when Spartanburg County Master-in-Equity Roger L. Couch ruled in favor of Elliott in his foreclosure action against Fenley Motorsports. Ernie Elliott Inc. had claimed that in June 2000, Fenley put up the race shop and grounds as security for $793,348.34 that Fenley agreed to pay within six months in return for leased engines, an engine technician and other services. In a two-hour Equity Court hearing, Ernie Elliott claimed Fenley had paid nothing on the money owed. He said he wanted the race shop and grounds sold to satisfy the debt. The sale of the Fenley race shop leaves no other potential Spartanburg County-based NASCAR Winston Cup racing operation on the horizon. Moore was at the back of the crowd that had gathered on the courthouse’s third floor during the bidding. He owned the race shop for four decades before selling it to California entrepreneur Robert Fenley’s organization in September 1999. Moore, who was accompanied by his son, Greg, said afterward that he showed up purely out of curiosity.(Herald-Journal)(4-4-2002)
Grand Am driver died of Head and neck injuries, and wore a head-and-neck restraint: Grand Am series driver Jeff Clinton died from blunt head and neck injuries when he crashed during practice for a race last month at Homestead-Miami Speedway, an autopsy report said. The March 1 crash came as Clinton, 38, was preparing for the Nextel 250 Grand Am series race the next day. His car veered off the course as he entered Turn 1 and flipped repeatedly. His head was severed at the base of the skull, according to the report by Miami-Dade County Associate Medical Examiner Mark Shuman. Clinton was wearing a head-and-neck restraint, which is voluntary for Grand Am drivers, but his roll bar “broke away” as the car rolled, said Patrick Murphy, spokesman for the lower-level Grand Am circuit. Murphy said it was extremely unusual for the roll bar, which is intended to protect the driver when the car flips, to break.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-4-2002)
Buckshot and Teen Safety: Georgia-Pacific Corp. brings its Teen Safety 500 program to two high schools in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex on Thursday, April 4. Keller High School and Fossil Ridge High School have been selected to participate in this innovative program, which utilizes Georgia-Pacific's involvement with NASCAR to spread the message of safe driving among teens. NASCAR Winston Cup driver Buckshot Jones will be on hand to present the Teen Safety 500 program to students. Activities begin at 9:30am at Keller High School. Dallas/Ft. Worth is the second of eight stops Georgia-Pacific's Teen Safety 500 will be making during the 2002 NASCAR season. Student drivers at these two schools will sign a safe-driving pledge to remain violation-free with no crashes during a three-week period. Once registered at Georgia-Pacific's Web site, students will have the opportunity to win prizes for themselves and their school. Both schools will receive a cash contribution from Georgia-Pacific for their participation. The school with the highest ratio of students completing three weeks of safe driving will win an additional contribution. Georgia-Pacific will provide participating students with a variety of prizes for those who log their safe miles, such as MP3 players and product coupons from Sonic Drive-In. One winner will be chosen from all participating students nationwide to win the grand prize: a $1,000 Gift Card from Best Buy. Buckshot Jones, driver of the #44 Georgia-Pacific/Petty Dodge, is Georgia-Pacific's spokesperson for the Teen Safety 500 program and a proponent of safe driving.(Williams Company PR)(4-4-2002)
Fox Aminations: Chyron Corporation, a leading provider of broadcast solutions, today announced that FOX Sports is using the Duet, Chyron's premier graphics and animation system, for FOX Sports' on-air coverage of NASCAR. With an average of 10 million viewers every week, NASCAR is the highest-rated sport of the season. The Duet SD with Lyric provided FOX Sports with a complete on-air graphics and animation solution for NASCAR on FOX's signature look. Operators are now able to animate pages back-to-back while working on text, instantaneously go from one directory or browser to another, attach audio files to clips, and seamlessly interface with pages from outside data sources.(Business Wire)(4-4-2002)
(4-3-2002)
Haas-Carter at Texas? Kimmel in the #26? hearing that ARCA Champ, Frank Kimmel may be driving the #26 Haas Carter Motorsports Ford in selected races this year, the first race could be at Texas, supposedly Advance Auto Parts would be the sponsor (Kimmel's ARCA sponsor). AND on CNN/SI's NASCAR Plus, Benny Parsons and Marty Snyder both mentioned that Haas Carter Motorsports still has 25 people working and that they would not be surprised to see them field a car at Texas with a different driver.(4-2-2002) UPDATE: Three-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel will drive the #26 Haas Carter Motorsports entry at Texas. Kimmel is bringing his ARCA sponsors -- Advance Auto Parts and Pork, the Other White Meat -- to the team, which ceased operations last week as it attempted to search for sponsorship following Kmart's filing for bankruptcy. "The crew will be made up of some of Travis Carter's and some of our own," Kimmel reported on his Web site. "There could be more races in the future." (Daytona Beach News Journal). #26 Crew Chief, Donnie Wingo will call the shots on raceday.(4-3-2002)
Sadler Withdraws from Texas: As of.12 noon.today Sadler Motorsports has withdrawn its #02 entry from the Samsung/RadioShack 500.. The team now plans to enter Martinsville, California, and Richmond.. "Being a small team, we did not have time to update our cars to the new rules allowed the Chevrolet's by NASCAR.. We felt the best thing to do was to update our cars in preparation for our other upcoming races" stated Hermie Sadler.. "Our goal is not to just make races, we want to be competitive.. This move will allow us to do that in the future." The rules Sadler refers to involve a new nose design.. Sadler completes a session at Martinsville this afternoon in preparation for next weekend's Winston Cup event, where he will carry sponsorship from The Virginia Lottery.( Patterson Group PR)(4-3-2002)
NASCAR Pay for View? NASCAR may announce the launch of a multichannel pay-per-view television package for this season's races as early as this week if legal issues can be resolved, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal reports (need sub to read). Writer Andy Bernstein says NASCAR is working with In Demand to provide about eight channels of coverage, most of them fixed on in-car cameras. The story says the package would have a price comparable to NFL Sunday Ticket, which sells for $169 a season, and would include every
Winston Cup race.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-3-2002)
Trickle to run for Evernham at Talladega: Dick Trickle went with the Evernham Motorsports team last week to test a third Evernham Dodge, car #91 at the Talladega Superspeedway. They tested for two days and Trickle felt they found the information they needed for the upcoming race this month. Evernham Motorsports tested under a third number (#91), NASCAR rules state that if you test with a car number you must attempt to race at least one race with that car. Team Owner Ray Evernham spoke with Trickle this week and told him the tean has decided to take the #91 Dodge to Talladega and gave Trickle the first option to have the driving duties and Trickle plans to be going with the team as driver of the un-sponsored #91 Dodge. They have no plans for future races, but would like to test more this year with the #91 Dodge.(Dick Trickle Fanclub Newsletter)(4-3-2002)
ARCA Driver to test Cup car: ARCA driver Chad Blount, 22 and his Braun Racing team will be testing in a Winston Cup car next week at Talladega. “This is a perfect opportunity for me to get some additional seat time”, said Blount. “With my goal of being a full time competitor in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, this gives me the chance to get one step closer to that dream.”(Catchfence)(4-3-2002)
Rudd Special Scheme for Coke 600? hearing #28-Ricky Rudd will have a special paint scheme for the Coca Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway in May.(4-3-2002)
New Ford in 2004? UPDATE: Looks like the redesign of the Ford scheduled for 2004 might include more than just a sleek new Taurus. Ford announced plans last week to unveil a new sedan it is calling the Ford 500 for now.(Sporting News)(4-1-2002) UPDATE: Ford Motor Co. officials say they have no plans to change its entry in NASCAR’s Winston Cup or Grand National series for the foreseeable future. They caution, however, plans can change and quickly. Ford’s debut of a new Sedan, the Ford Five Hundred, has been mentioned as a possible replacement for the Taurus in NASCAR, which replaced the Ford Thunderbird in 1998. "Ford has no plans to replace the Taurus as our race model in the NASCAR Winston Cup and the NASCAR Busch Series for the foreseeable future. Predictably, I have a disclaimer," said Greg Specht, North American Operations Manager for Ford Racing Technology. "Product plans are fluid, and that fluidity sometimes causes us to have to react quickly, like we did when we needed to get Taurus ready for its NASCAR debut in 1998 on nine or 10 months notice. Given that, I can say with relative certainty that Ford will still be racing Taurus in 2004."(ThatsRacin.com)(4-3-2002)
a Ford 500 image from the Ford Racing site, thanks Jim Utter for the heads up.
NHRA & NASCAR Hearing that Tony Schumacher, driver of the United States Army Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, will be participating in the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Thursday prior to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals race weekend.(4-3-2002)
(4-2-2002)
Rusty and Carrot Top? AT&T's 1-800 CALL ATT collect calling brand this week will launch its first NASCAR promotion, a TV, print and radio effort -- replete with comic Carrot Top -- dangling tickets to races. TV, via Young & Rubicam, New York, pairs Carrot Top with Rusty Wallace to explain the mechanisms of the April 1-May 1 campaign: 20 people will be chosen at random and matched with a driver at the starting position at the Winston Cup in Charlotte, N.C., on May 18. If one of those drivers places in the top three, the winners will receive two tickets to the Nascar race of their choice. The winners also get three days' stay at a hotel and $300 in spending cash, plus airfare. At the end of the TV spot, Wallace exits with denim mini-skirted model Angie Everhart, a trophy and gives a shove to Carrot Top, who doubles over.(Brandweek, thanks to MotorsportsTV for the heads up)(4-2-2002)
Earnhardt Jr in People: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #8 Budweiser Chevy, is featured in the April 8 double-issue of People magazine. It is his third appearance since being named among "The Sexiest Men of 2000."(St Petersburg Times)(4-2-2002)
Martin will attend health seminar at Texas: #6-Mark Martin will join fitness expert Larry North for a seminar entitled "Keeping Up the Pace" on Saturday at 8:00am at Texas Motor Speedway. Martin and North will be outside the track at the Pfizer Men's Health Tune-up for Life mobile health screening unit to discuss with race fans the importance of incorporating exercise into their daily routines. Martin has taken part in a vigorous exercise and nutrition program for several years.(Dallas Morning News)(4-2-2002)
Bristol TV Ratings: TV Ratings for the Winston Cup race from Bristol were a solid 6.2 rating and 16 share, equal to last year's rating of 6.2 with a 15 share. The 6.2/16 out-rated the Kansas/Oregon Midwest Regional Final game on CBS (6.0/14) and in the Male 18-49 demo (5.6 vs. 5.3, +6%) and 25-54 (6.2 vs. 5.8, +7%).(MotorsportsTV)(4-2-2002)
Sadler to attempt Texas: The #02-Sadler Motorsports team and driver Hermie Sadler will indeed make the trip to Texas for the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 next weekend at the Texas Motor Speedway. Even though the team is seeking a primary sponsor for the event, Sadler says he and the team need the experience and the points. "We will get better every race we run. I have only run 5 Winston Cup races, so the experience will help.. We also need to go after as many Winston Cup points as we can to help us down the line, so we feel it is worth the effort to go. Even though we did not test, we have a car that qualified in the top 25 last fall in Atlanta, so we feel good about our chances." Sadler will test at Martinsville and Tuesday in preparation for the Virginia 500 before heading to Texas.(PR)(3-30-2002) UPDATE: Sadler Motorsports and driver Hermie Sadler will make the trip to Texas for the Samsung/Radioshack 500 this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, although Sadler has no primary sponsorship lined up for the vent. There had been some rumors the team would withdraw their entry, but Sadler says the experience and points are needed. "I need all the seat time I can get, as well as the points. The full time teams have a point battle going on, but so do the part time teams. We need to make every race we can," says Sadler. Before heading to Texas, Sadler will be testing at Martinsville this Tuesday to prepare for his Virginia 500 Virginia Lottery sponsored entry. Companies interested in sponsoring Sadler for this or upcoming races should contact The Patterson Group at 770-426-8064.(PR)(4-2-2002)
Promoter Ill: Bob Harmon has been in the promotion business over 50 years with his early 50's studio combo band, promoting racing facilities, owning racing facilities, selling insurance and his all-time promotion, the All Pro Super Series. "Uncle Bob", as he is affectionately known in the racing industry, has never backed down from anything that he could tackle and promote because there was never anything too large or to small that could stand in his way. Show business and the entertainment business have been his forte his entire life. But now the most important challenge is at his fingertips, however this does not fall under the category of entertainment. On Wednesday, March 27, Harmon was diagnosed with inoperable, but treatble, lung cancer. Harmon says he had not been feeling well since late February and visited his Doctor for a physical exam, however his previous symptoms did not subside. Harmon returned to his Doctor for further tests which revealed a large amount of fluid on his lungs. Harmon says he continued to feel poorly even after this procedure and a return visit to the doctor resulted in further consultations. Bob was admitted to the hospital on March 28 to remove more fluid from his lungs "Uncle Bob" will begin Chemotherapy treatments on April 4. Cards and letters may be sent to Bob Harmon at 416 Durden Road, Prattville, AL, 36067.(NASCAR Touring Site)(4-2-2002)
(4-1-2002)
Benson in the #31 BGN ride? UPDATE 2: hearing Winston Cup driver, Johnny Benson (#10 Valvoline Pontiac) will drive a limited schedule in the #31 Whelen Chevy. Staurt Kirby was rumored to run the cat but will instead run more races with Jimmy Spencer's #34 BGN team.(2-28-2002) UPDATE: hearing there will be a press release today (April 1st) announcing that Johnny Benson will be driving the #31 Marsh Racing Whelen Chevy in a ten BGN races this season with the first being at Richmond on May 3, followed by New Hampshire on May 11. James Ince, Benson's Winston Cup Crew Chief on the #10 Valovoine Pontiac, will serve as the Crew Chief for team when Benson drives and the #10 Cup crew will also serve as the crew for the #31. Benson will be talking about the BGN deal on Speed Channel's Inside Winston Cup TV show, FSN's Totally NASCAR and RPM2 night on Monday (actually Tuesday at 1:00am/et)(4-1-2002) UPDATE 4: Benson will drive in five races with a possibility of more being added. Besides the two mentioned above, three races planned are: Dover in June, Chicagoland and Michigan in August.(PR)(4-1-2002)
NASCAR Partners with Soap Box Derby; May Include NBC Exposure: NACAR has designated the All-American Soap Box Derby as an official youth program. Soap Box, organized for the most part by local community associations, currently runs close to 500 races each year with 15,000 competitors. Finals are held each year in Akron, Ohio. Goodyear is Soap Box Derby's long-standing sponsor. "The NASCAR tie-in is added validation and brings lots and lots of exposure," said Robert Hollander, president of L.A.-based Brand Sense Marketing, which engineered the partnership. NASCAR will give editorial and promotional exposure to Soap Box in its media assets, and will support with ads in USA Today timed to the Finals, which take place in July. Hollander said Soap Box is in talks with NASCAR partner NBC to produce a special for its kids' programming block this summer. He also hopes the NASCAR link will attract sponsors, whose participation can range from event signage to logos on helmets to scholarship offerings.(Brandweek via MotorsportsTV)(4-1-2002)
