Kenseth wins at Michigan in the Sirius Satellite Radio 400. It is Kenseth's first ever win at Michigan, his thrid race win of 2002 and 4th career win. #88-Dale Jarrett almost got him at the end in a close finish after a red flag to allow the race to finish under green. See my Sirius Satellite Radio 400 Race Info page, for a rundown, caution info, some notes on the race, etc. Results can be see at ThatsRacin.com or NASCAR.com.(6-16-2002)
Stewart on TV show: On Tues., June 18 at 8:30pm/et, Tony Stewart will become the first race car driver solely featured on ESPN "The Life." Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Pontiac, granted the four-man television crew unprecedented access to the goings-on of his life May 15-19. In those days surrounding The Winston, the crew showcased Stewart at home, at the track and
at various appearances. "The Life" is part of ESPN's original programming, taking viewers inside the lives of a thumbnail of sport's most celebrated and intriguing athletes. Some of the athletes profiled this season are Allen Iverson of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, Paul Pierce of the NBA's Boston Celtics, Brian Urlacher of the NFL's Chicago Bears, Jeff Garcia of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, Ray Lewis of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, Landon Donovan of the men's U.S. World Cup Soccer Team and the entire Boston Red Sox organization. Footage of Stewart was taken beginning with him landing at Concord Regional Airport May 15 as he returned from a short vacation in Indiana, to a Home Depot store appearance that night, to a round of media interviews at his home the next day, to qualifying and racing at Charlotte, culminating with a birthday party at his Lake Norman home. Other prominent figures of Stewart's Winston Cup career appearing on "The Life" are crew chief Greg Zipadelli, team owner Joe Gibbs, teammate Bobby Labonte and NASCAR's Jim Hunter. Pam Boas and Nelson Stewart, Tony's mother and father, and his sister, Natalie, are also featured, as well as Willie Boles, Stewart's USAC Sprint Car sponsor in 1995 - the year Stewart became the only driver to win the USAC Triple Crown in a single season. It took 42 tapes, each containing 30 minutes of air time, to log the 21 hours of footage - an ESPN "The Life" record for most tape shot.
However, only 22 minutes of footage will make the final cut, allowing "The Life" to fit into its 30-minute time slot. ESPN "The Life" will re-air Fri., June 28 at 12:30am/et on ESPN, Sat., June 29 at 3:00am/et on ESPN, Tues., July 2 at 1:30pm/et on ESPN2 and Sun., July 28 at 1:00pm/et on ESPN.(6-16-2002)
DW and Mikey: Michael Waltrip took a playful jab at his older brother in a TV interview during the final practice. Darrell Waltrip speculated during Fox's prerace show last week that his brother could be headed to another team. "My brother reminds me of Jerry Glanville," Michael Waltrip said. "He's good for entertainment but don't rely on him for information, for sure." With his performance at Dale Earnhardt Inc. under scrutiny, Waltrip has reeled off four top-10 finishes in the past six races. He will start a season-best second today.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(6-16-2002)
DEI's deadline pushed back UPDATE: Ty Norris, the manager of DEI, said he has postponed a decision on contract renewals for #15-Michael Waltrip and #1-Steve Park for another three weeks. "We had set June 15 as a target date, and we're a little behind, but it's not the world will be coming to an end," Norris said. Insiders say that Waltrip's improving performances in recent weeks have boosted his standing with sponsor NAPA considerably and could help him keep his DEI ride.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-15-2002) UPDATE: A Dale Earnhardt Inc. official laughed Saturday at the continuing speculation that Steve Park and Michael Waltrip may not be retained for 2003 and that the company itself is for sale for $300 million. The racing organization doesn't help the situation. A week ago, Dale Earnhardt Jr. admitted he's talked with Waltrip and told him to improve his finishes. He also said Park seems to have lost the chemistry with the rest of his teammates since returning from a brain injury sustained last September at Darlington [in a BGN race]. The contracts for both Waltrip and Park are up at the end of the season and the team originally said it would try to have new deals completed by June 15. Now that deadline apparently is being moved back a few weeks. Waltrip sounds like a driver who already knows about his future, saying he knows he will be driving a car next year - if not for DEI, for another race team.(Augusta Chronicle)(6-16-2002)
Sad News: A driver and his passenger were killed in a crash Saturday during a time-trial competition on a Nevada highway. Storey County sheriff's deputies said driver Patrick Michael Jemison, 42, of Incline Village, and passenger Virginia Lynn Davis, 43, of Show Low, Ariz., were pronounced dead at the scene. Deputy John Tyson said the accident occurred on Nevada Route 341 during a time-trial run of the Audi Car Club Hill Climb Race. A preliminary investigation shows the driver went into a curve too fast and lost control of his Dodge Viper. The vehicle slid off the roadway and fell about 250 feet down a ravine. The race course on Route 341 stretches for about 7 miles between Virginia City and Silver City. The event is sanctioned by the Nevada Department of Transportation.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(6-16-2002)
Another Donation: Dale Jarrett's pole win on Friday for the Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at Michigan International Speedway results in another $5,000 donation from Ford Credit to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to help in its mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Ford Credit, associate sponsor of the #88 UPS Ford, has now donated $600,000 to the Komen Foundation based on Jarrett's on-track performance and end-of season bonuses since 1998 - including $15,000 this year.
Ford Credit gives the Komen Foundation $10,000 for each of Jarrett's victories, $7,500 for each second-place finish, $5,000 for each third-place finish and $5,000 for each pole position won (as fastest qualifier).(Ford Credit PR)(6-16-2002)
(6-15-2002)
Greg Sacks to return to Cup/BGN UPDATE: Greg Sacks hopes to return to both the Cup and the BGN later this season. Sacks has teamed with Loren Fossie, president of LAF Enterprises and owner of the "FRANCHI$IT" board game to form Team FRANCHI$IT/Sacks Racing. The plan is to do at least two races this year and as many as ten. Sacks will run the #05 Chevy Sacks won the 1985 Pepsi 400 at Daytona and the 1996 Humminbird 500K BGN race at Talladega. Sacks plans could expand to a full season 2003 effort in either the BGN or Cup or both. The car will be unveiled to the public on Monday at The Coffee Beanery Convention at Walt Disney's Coronado Springs Resort outside Orlando, FL.(NASCAR.com)(6-8-2002) UPDATE: see an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Gallery which was unveiled to the public recently at The Coffee Beanery Convention at Walt Disney's Coronado Springs Resort outside Orlando, FL. Also the Greg Sacks Fan Page says "Rumor has it that GS [Greg Sacks] will be entering a car in the BrickYard 400 Cup Race"(6-15-2002)
Bodine to meet with Hooters UPDATE: during MRN radio coverage of the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover, it was mentioned that #11-Brett Bodine will meet with his sponsor hooters this week to discuss the 2003 season and that Hooters seems happy with the team and results so far.(6-2-2002) UPDATE: during MRN radio coverage of the Michigan qualifying, they said that Bodine met with Hooters officials and things looks good for an improved sponsorship package in 2003 [ie. more money] and that the meetings went well.(6-15-2002)
Davis looking for a new driver? #22-Ward Burton still has not signed the contract renewal offered by car owner Bill Davis, and Davis now is "looking at all our options," general manager Mike Brown said. One option could be Steve Park, who used to drive for Tommy Baldwin, Davis' [and Burton's] crew chief."(Winston Salem Journal)(6-15-2002)
More on Wells to Pontiac - engines from Childress? UPDATE: Owner Cal Wells faces some big decisions in the coming weeks. Should he stay with Ford, where he always will be behind Jack Roush, Roger Penske and Robert Yates in the pecking order, or accept a lucrative offer from Pontiac, where he would have more clout? "There's a lot of upside to the General Motors relationship, but the power solution (engines) is the biggest factor," Wells says. Wells has been ecstatic with the motors he has received from Yates and would be hard-pressed to find a comparable deal, but Richard Childress has offered his support should Wells convert to GM. Wells also is courting four sponsors for a possible second team, but the Pontiac deal is not contingent on Wells fielding two cars. Driver Ricky Craven says he thinks a second team would help, but he is pleased with the efficiency of the current operation. "I don't want it to become counterproductive, worrying about a second team," he says. "We're very good at doing more with less."(Sporting News)(6-11-2002) UPDATE: Cal Wells said he should know in four weeks if he'll switch from Ford to Pontiac next season, and he said he should know in six weeks if he'll land that sponsor that would allow him to expand to two teams. Wells says he is talking to several potential sponsors, "some not in the sport right now, and some that are not happy with where they are now." However, Wells' Pontiac announcement has been expected for three weeks. Richard Childress may be willing to provide engines. Childress hasn't been in the customer engine business. Wells engines this season are provided by Robert Yates.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-15-2002)
More Penske to Dodge rumors: Roger Penske may be getting close to a decision on his car sponsorship [Ford vs Dodge] for next season, and NASCAR sources say he is leaning toward a switch to Dodge. That would fill the Dodge camp with a lot of teams and car owners: Bill Davis has two teams, Kyle Petty has three teams, Chip Ganassi has two teams, and Ray Evernham has two teams. Ford officials insist they expect Penske to stay with Ford. A Penske move to Dodge might not set well with the three original Dodge operations, with Bill Davis, Kyle Petty and Ray Evernham. But Chip Ganassi has been the most productive car owner for Dodge, with Sterling Marlin leading the Winston Cup standings. And now there are serious questions about the pecking order within the Dodge camp and just where Dodge executives might want to budget their racing money.(Winston Salem Journal), and if Petree is buying Penske Fords........(6-15-2002)
Some Pontiac Teams Notes: The big question remains: who will step up to the Pontiac plate and fill the void once [Joe] Gibbs [Racing] leaves? There has been rumors of Johnny Benson and James Ince shopping their package for next year, but Ince says that after investing three years in the #10 program and his contribution to building the new Pontiac, that they would like to stay with Valvoline next year. The M&M's sponsorship is in question on the #36 car as is Conseco with A.J. Foyt's #14 team. General Motors has approached several teams in the garage about moving to Pontiac including Cal Wells, Travis Carter (before Kmart left) and Andy Petree. But insiders say that this week Petree has been on a six-figure shopping spree buying cars and parts from Penske. Despite the Pontiac's struggles up to now, [crew cheif Greg] Zipadelli is optimistic about the 2003 Pontiac and expects the templates by July. But whether he'll be building a new Grand Prix, remains to be seen.(Sporting News)(6-15-2002)
(6-14-2002)
Kirby to run five Cup races: Stuart Kirby will be making his return to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series for the first time since last October at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Kirby will pilot the #57 CLR Racing Ford for five events beginning with the July 14 event at the Chicagoland Speedway followed by four selected Winston Cup races which are yet to be determined. "I would like to thank Spencer Motor Ventures for allowing us to give Stuart some seat time and gain experience on some of these race tracks," said Ted Campbell, team owner, CLR Racing. "I look forward to helping Stuart further develop his driving abilities alongside Bob Schacht who has worked so well with Stuart in the ARCA RE/MAX Series." Kirby competed in the CLR Racing Ford at the Kansas Speedway earlier this season during an ARCA RE/MAX Series event where he finished in the second position. Kirby also competed in nine events with Bob Schacht Motorsports in 2001 where he accumulated two poles, five top-five starting positions, five top-five finishing positions and one NASCAR Winston Cup Series start.(LM Motorsports Marketing PR). Derrike Cope made an attempt in the car earlier this year and Ron Hornaday made a few attempts after that.(6-14-2002)
Harvick a free agent? Childress switches pitboxes too UPDATE Childress not happy: There was one small item omitted from the team press release that announced Richard Childress changing the #29 and #31 crews. The missing bit of info — the location from which the car’s owner would sit during the Pocono 500. Childress, who has been wrestling with a combination that would make his three-car operation a little more competitive, has taken a real shine to Robby Gordon, driver of his #31 RCR Chevy. Childress has gotten to the point where he’s not hiding his feelings for Gordon; and went so far as to save a chair for Gordon during the Pocono Raceway driver’s meeting. When Gordon walked into the crowded room Childress jumped up waiving to attract Gordon’s attention. The acid test came prior to the start of the race, as Childress’ war wagon mounted chair was set atop the orange and black Cingular war wagon. Then, moments before the race, Childress came and took his seat at the helm, all the while wearing a smirk that carried a great deal of attitude. The Pocono 500 was the first race since Childress took on GM’s Goodwrench Services sponsorship that he wasn’t perched on that team’s toolbox – so say RCR personnel. Apparently Harvick is a free agent at this time, or so one would believe with the number of car owners who claim the driver who has caused a stir in the Winston Cup garage has approached them. One owner, who is looking for talent for next year, was asked if he was tough enough to tame Harvick. After a smile came across the owner’s face he responded, “I don’t know anyone that tough.”(see full story at Ford Racing)(6-12-2002) UPDATE: Winston Cup car owner Richard Childress criticized Ford Motor Co. and its FordRacing.com Web site for a posted earlier this week claiming Childress watched last weekend's race at Pocono from driver Robby Gordon's pit box because of his disillusion with driver Kevin Harvick. The story, which did not have a byline, also claimed there were "more folks" who said that Harvick's two Winston Cup victories last season came from "cheated-up cars." "It's just like your competition. When you're down they try to kick you. It surprises me it came off that Web site," said Childress, who owns three Chevrolet Cup teams that have struggled this season. "It just surprises me that they want to get involved in starting rumors and making accusations when they don't know what's really going on." Last weekend was the first Harvick's former crew chief and team members from the #29 moved over to Gordon's #31 team, and Gordon's crew chief and team went to the #29. Childress said he moved to Gordon's pit because he has performed duties on the pit box with Kevin Hamlin, now Gordon's crew chief, and planned to continue in that role. "Yes, I'm going to try to help Robby's team because that's the team I've been working with. I can't just desert them and say, 'To hell with it,' " Childress said. "I have just always been on that (#29 team) box. I have always helped call the races with Kevin, that's just always been my position." Ford officials say there was nothing unusual about the story, that it is typical of the content of the Web site, which is intended for fans of Ford Racing. "In terms of Childress being disappointed, I'm sorry if he is, but I haven't heard anyone saying the story wasn't accurate or the story wasn't true," said Kevin Kennedy, public affairs manager for Ford Racing Technology. "The story was done by a professional journalist who is part of the NASCAR scene and is in the garage area every day, and we stand by the story," Kennedy said the Web site has an agreement with its correspondents not to use their names on the stories, so as not to disrupt their professional careers.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-14-2002)
DJ wants Ricky to stay:. Dale Jarrett says he has talked with Ricky Rudd about Rudd's decision whether to stay with Robert Yates racing, move to another team,.or retire. DJ said, "He's been at this a long time obviously...and like myself he's got a young son and a wonderful wife that he would like to spend more time with....and that's understandable....so if he's gonna retire we understand that. But, if he's gonna race, I hope it's with Robert Yates Racing."(PRN's Garagepass)(6-14-2002)
DEI, Childress, Eanrhardt Jr reports as transcribed from a sports report at Channel 8 WGHP/Fox High Point, NC by Rich Brenner: From the 6:00pm/et report on Wednesday, June 12th:
The rumors are out there and at this time they're just that. Intriguing and to a degree they actually make sense. The hot one running through the race shops and the Internet, "Teresa Earnhardt wants to sell the race teams of DEI - Dale Earnhardt, Inc, Earnhardt's old car owner - Richard Childress - is interested in buying". At this time, No, but there are some interesting possibilities. Especially the second part of the equation. Dale Earnhardt, Jr thus, if the deal happens, comes to Childress Racing and gets into the number 3 car, meaning Little E changes his number from 8 to 3, remember he did race number 3 for Childress at the Busch Grand National race at Daytona and won, right now Childress does own the rights to number 3 and while Junior could have it. He hasn't made any overtures again, so far all this is nothing but speculation. But interesting speculation which makes sense, and something else, the Childress-DEI connection is strong, the organizations work well together, share, and have employees in key positions who have worked for both organizations. From the 10:00pm/et report on Wednesday, June 12th:
If you go by race shop and internet rumors Richard Childress is getting set to buy the Dale Earnhardt, Inc 3-car race team from Teresa Earnhardt. According to Childress insiders this is not the case, but when you come down to it and if Teresa Earnhardt does want to move out of Winston Cup racing this idea makes alot of sense. These two powerful organizations work closely together and share a lot of the same philosophies not to mention history. It would also reuniite "an Earnhardt" and "a Childress" Dale Earnhardt, Jr and Richard Childress and return an Earnhardt with the number 3 which Childress still holds rights to. We all know the number 3 will some day return to Winston Cup competition and that Dale Jr will be the guy behind the wheel. As for Junior taking over DEI, he'll be the first to tell you, he's not ready for that end of the business.(WGHP)(6-14-2002)
Shepherd back in Cup at MIS UPDATE 2 Withdraws: This weekend Morgan Shepherd will make his return to Winston Cup. Shepherd Racing will bring out the #89 Ford Taurus for Shepherd's return in the Sirius Satellite Radio 400, at Michigan International Speedway. Shepherd's last run at Michigan in Winston Cup was in 1999 [actually it was in Aug 1998 in the #91]. The Shepherd Racing Ford will adorn the associate sponsors Pit Pass Magazine, Catchfence.com, MotorsportsWeb along with Racing With Jesus Ministries. Shepherd Racing is seeking major sponsorship.(Morgan Shepherd Site)(6-13-2002) UPDATE: For the first time in nearly three years, veteran race car driver Morgan Shepherd will return to Winston Cup racing. He will attempt to qualify his #89 Ford for The Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at Michigan. The last Winston Cup event Shepherd competed in was on February 21, 1999 when he drove the #90 car owned by Junie Donlavey at North Carolina Speedway. LifeXProgram has come on board as the primary sponsor for this race and joins the associate sponsors of Catchfence.com and Motorsportsweb.com from Morgan's CTS Program. LifeXProgram is a personalized weight loss program that includes no drugs, pills, or special diets. Owners Joan and Chuck Fridell of Virginia are " ...really excited. We enjoyed helping Morgan and working at Dover for the CTS event there, and are looking forward to Michigan." Visit their website at LifeXPrograms.com for more information. Look for Shepherd to return to the truck series at Memphis on June 22nd.(STB Marketing Group PR)(6-13-2002) UPDATE 2 - Shepherd withdraws: Morgan Shepherd announced he has withdrawn his Life X Program #89 Winston Cup entry for this weekends Sirius Satellite Radio 400, at Michigan. A strong team effort was put forth to get the car ready and make it to the track, but not enough time to make the necessary adjustments to the car, required by NASCAR. "We had some weight and safety issues and just no time to correct them. This team has worked so hard for this and we were all looking forward to running in Winston Cup this weekend." stated Shepherd. "I have to thank the great people of the Life X Program. They have helped so much and we are looking forward to working with them more in our races to come. The fans have shown their support in prayer and letters, I have to thank them from the bottom of my heart." Shepherd Racing and the Life X Program are planning future Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck series' races together this season and talks of a limited 2003 schedule. Shepherd is planning on running the next Craftsman Truck Series event June 22nd at Memphis Motorsports Park.(Morgan Shepherd Site)(6-14-2002)
#90 Looking for sponsor UPDATE 2 Sadler in, nope it is Berrier OR is it Bradberry?: #90 car owner Junie Donlavey said Sauer will not sponsor the team after this race. Donlavey said that if a sponsor isn't found, he won't send his team to Sears Point in two weeks. Donlavey said he probably would leave the Sauer decals on the car next week at Michigan.(Roanoke Times), doesn't say who will drive at Michigan, Hermie Sadler drove the last three races in place of Rick Mast who is still ill.(6-10-2002) UPDATE: Rick Mast continues to rest at home while a battery of doctors try to determine the nature of a mysterious illness that has sidelined him for the last month. Hermie Sadler will drive Junie Donlavey's #90 Duke's/Sauer's Ford at Michigan while Mast remains sidelined. Sadler also plans to make his first BGN start of the season this weekend at Kentucky in his own #02 Little Trees Chevy. The team will skip Sears Point next week, but plans to attempt the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, no driver named.(NASCAR.com)(6-11-2002) UPDATE 2: #90 owner Junie Donlavey announced today that Ed Berrier would drive for Hermie Sadler this weekend at Michigan. Berrier, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., started the 2000 season with Donlavey as a rookie-of-the-year candidate before Donlavey replaced him. Sadler was filling in for the ailing Rick Mast. Donlavey said the scheduling conflicts involved with Sadler's weekend plans of competing in both the Winston Cup and BGN (at Kentucky) events are the reason for the decision.(Keystone Marketing PR)(6-12-2002) UPDATE 3? Gary Bradberry is now listed in NASCAR.com's entry list as being in the #90 Donlavey Racing Ford, not Ed Berrier.(6-14-2002) AND Junie Donlavey will field an ARCA car for Clinton, MI, native Jason Hedlesky this weekend at Michigan. Hedlesky,
team manager for Donlavey's Winston Cup team, will make his third start in as many years at the famed speedway. Hedlesky is coming off of an impressive qualifying run of ninth at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May. Hedlesky finished 15th in the event, fighting a tight handling car all day. Superior Logistics Services, Accuturn and Action Drugs of Michigan will sponsor Hedlesky in the event.(Keystone Marketing PR)(6-14-2002) UPDATE 3: Junie Donlavey's Richmond-based team is scrambling to find a driver for Winston Cup qualifying at Michigan today. Hermie Sadler, who substituted for the ailing Rick Mast in the #90 Ford the past three races, didn't make the trip because he is focused on the BGN race at Kentucky Speedway tomorrow. Ed Berrier, who drove for Donlavey Racing in 2000, also was contacted but won't be able to drive.(Richmond Times Dispatch), so I guess Gary Bradberry, listed on NASCAR.com's Entry List at MIS is in.(6-14-2002)
Pocono TV Ratings II: The Winston Cup action from Pocono saw a dramatic increase in ratings, with the Dale Jarrett victory pulling in a 5.1 rating and 15 share. This is up 16% from last year's 4.4 rating and 12 share. Also, the race was up 18% in average viewers (8.0 million vs. 6.8 million). The total number of households reached was 5,393, 000. For the week, it was beaten only by Games 1 to 3 of the NBA Finals and the Belmont Stakes.(MotorsportsTV.com)(6-14-2002)
Farmer to race ARCA: The legendary Red Farmer is preparing to return to the driver's seat on the ARCA circuit. Farmer, who still races a Late Model dirt car at Talladega Short Track, plans to drive a second car for the team of ARCA driver Jason Jarrett. His first race will be at Toledo, Ohio, on June 23. If that goes well, he'll also race at South Boston, Va., on July 3, then on the one-mile ovals at Springfield and DuQuoin, two dirt tracks in Illinois. "Right now, we're just trying to get Jason prepared for some of these short tracks," said Farmer, who works as a consultant for Jarrett's ARCA team. "But if we get through Toledo and Springfield OK, my plans are to make a solid effort at Springfield and DuQuoin." Farmer, who won't reveal his age [69], hasn't raced on one-mile dirt tracks in years. "I ran on the one-mile dirt at Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta, but that was back in the late 50s or early 60s," said Farmer, who won three consecutive NASCAR Busch Series championships from 1969-71. Lakewood's last race was more than 20 years ago. Farmer has three career wins in ARCA, including one at Talladega in 1988 but hasn't driven an ARCA- type car since 1994.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(6-14-2002)
BACE/Little plans change: The upcoming Michigan Winston Cup race has been removed from the BACE’s Chad Little schedule. "We planned on Michigan all along," said BACE team owner Bill Baumgardner. "We even tested there. However, the sponsor we had planned on for that event didn’t happen and the purse just doesn’t justify the expense without one (sponsor). Our emphasis has been and will continue to be to build a competitive Winston Cup team for Chad, but the numbers for Michigan just don’t make it feasible. Our superspeedway cars are not yet completed and rushing into Daytona with an untested car is not a smart thing to do. For that reason we are also dropping that race from the schedule." Little’s next race will be in Chicago for the Tropicana 400 on July 14th, 2002. Chad will be piloting the same cars run at Dover with new engines. Several major aero changes are being made to both these cars at this time. Also two complete and brand new cars have been ordered from Ronnie Hopkins. Hopkins is one of the top car builders on the Winston Cup Circuit, building cars for such names as Dale Jarrett, Robby Gordon and many more. These cars will sport engines from the Pro-Motors shop. Both cars will be tested and ready for the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis on August 4th, 2002.(Chad Little Site)(6-14-2002)
Dale Jr/Oreo's/NYC: Dozens of children gobbled up Oreo cookies [a Jayski favorite] and race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove an Oreo-decorated car down a New York City street on Wednesday to celebrate the cookie's 90th birthday. New York certainly claims the cookie for itself. A representative for Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented a proclamation making Wednesday ``Oreo Cookie 90th Anniversary Day'' in New York City, and the city council declared Oreo as the city's favorite cookie. Dale Earnhardt Jr., an Oreo spokesman, drove a race car decorated with an Oreo topped with a birthday candle across part of 15th Street, or ``Oreo Way,'' according to the temporary street sign he unveiled. Police officers did not stop Earnhardt, even though he drove against traffic in the one-way street.(New York Times)(6-14-2002)
MRN to cover Petty Charity Ride: For the fourth year in a row, Motor Racing Network (MRN) will provide unprecedented coverage of the Sprint / Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America with this year's focus on raising donations and promoting awareness of the "Victory Junction Gang Camp", a medical specialty camp founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their late son Adam, a 19-year-old, fourth-generation NASCAR driver. The year-round camp, scheduled to open in 2004, is designed to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. MRN's creative strategy provides exposure for the camp and the annual motorcycle event through MRN Radio programming on nearly 700 affiliate radio stations and trackside Winston Cup Vision screens at all events where MRN broadcasts. The plan also includes weekly stories and updates on various MRN programs including "NASCAR Today" and "NASCAR Live."(see full story on my Racing Charities page)(6-14-2002)
Red Wings win Cup - Will be honored by Rusty: Rusty Wallace and his Penske Racing South crew will be paying a special tribute to the NHL Champion Detroit Red Wings at Michigan. Wallace's Miller Lite Ford Taurus will carry the familiar Detroit Red
Wings logo on the lower quarter-panels in the action this weekend. "The Red Wings took their third Stanley Cup in Game 5 in Detroit on
Thursday night," said Wallace. "We want to salute them for a job well done. We're hoping that we can put their logo in Victory Lane on
Sunday. Now that would really be a cool deal." Wallace is a five-time winner at the Michigan track.(TRPR) NOTE: actually it is the Red Wings 10th Stanley Cup, the 3rd in the past six years.(6-14-2002)
'Big Car' tested in wind tunnel: The larger Winston Cup car, with a larger 'greenhouse' (between the windwhield and rear window) was tested at the wind tunnel in Marietta, GA on Monday.(FSN's Totally NASCAR)(6-14-2002)
(6-13-2002)
Said in 2nd Jasper car at Sears Point: Jasper Motorsports announced today that road racing veteran Boris Said will drive the #67 Jasper Engines & Transmissions Ford at both road course races on the Cup schedule, beginning with next weekend's event at Sears Point Raceway. Said joins #77 Jasper Ford driver Dave Blaney under the Jasper Motorsports banner. "These Winston Cup races are like Christmas to me, they only come once or twice a year," commented Said. "I'm like a little kid. I've been waiting all year to get back into one of these cars and I'm ready. Last year, I had my best two Winston Cup finishes with Jasper Motorsports. We're looking to build on that." Mark Harrah, one of three co-owners of Jasper Motorsports, will be Said's crew chief. The over-the-wall crew is a collection of various BGN crewmembers. The car was prepared by Jasper Motorsports and will be serviced at the track by crewmembers who work in the #77 shop on a daily basis. "Boris is regarded as one of the best drivers in road course racing," said Harrah. "He drove the Jasper Ford to two very solid finishes last year, and we believe that he is capable of winning a Winston Cup race. We tested with both Dave and Boris at Virginia International Raceway in May, and the two of them worked well together. As teammates they can share their individual strengths at the track, Boris as a road course expert and Dave as a Winston Cup Series regular." The #67 Ford will be sponsored primarily by Jasper Engines & Transmissions of Jasper, Ind. The Jasper Motorsports team is also searching for associate sponsors for Said's entry. The car will be silver with blue and yellow stripes along the bottom, resembling the #77 Jasper Ford. Said drove the #77 Jasper Ford at last year's road course events, finishing 11th at Sears Point and 8th at Watkins Glen International. In five career NASCAR Winston Cup Series starts, he has produced one front-row starting position and one top-10 finish. With two wins in three starts, Said currently leads the SCCA Pro Trans Am championship standings, the longest-running road racing series in the United States. He also plans to compete in the NASCAR Southwest Tour race at Sears Point Raceway, driving the #99 Federated Auto Parts Racing Chevrolet owned by Winston Cup regular Ken Schrader. A resident of Carlsbad, Calif., Said is 39 years old.(Jasper Motorsports PR)(6-13-2002)
Schrader expects to be back in the #36 in 2003 and M&M's news: Ken Schrader isn’t concerned with the rumor mill, even if his name has surfaced in recent weeks. Prior to Pocono, reports had the veteran out of the #36 MB2 Motorsports Pontiac, to be replaced by Jerry Nadeau [rumored here incorrectly]. Schrader was on hand at Pocono while Nadeau was nowhere to be seen. A year ago, Schrader signed a one-year extension, a move that occurred near midseason but wasn’t made public until late in the year. With talk of wholesale changes sweeping through the garage, Schrader is hoping a similar accord can be reached this time. Whether anyone outside the MB2 team knows about it or not isn’t his concern. Jay Frye, general manager for MBV/MB2 Motorsports, certainly isn’t talking as if the team was looking to make a move, and it appears the team is actively pursuing a multi-year agreement with M&M’s. “We anticipate everything moving forward with Kenny for next year,” Frye said. “We are awaiting to hear word. When you sign a long-term contract there are multiple options in it and we’re waiting to hear what that’s going to be. It could be one year, it could be two years, it could be no years."(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read) AND Ken Schrader’s name is all over the Silly Season grapevine on a couple of fronts this week, but a team spokesperson told me [writer Jimmy Creed] Wednesday not to believe everything you hear. One rumor has it that Schrader’s sponsor, M&M Mars, will leave the MB2 team after this season to either go with a high-profile owner like Robert Yates, Cal Wells or Rick Hendrick or become an “official” corporate sponsor of NASCAR itself. Another links Schrader’s name with the #43 ride at Petty Enterprises. According to the team spokesperson, M&M Mars is already a corporate partner with NASCAR and even uses the phrase “the chocolate of NASCAR fans” in its marketing campaigns, a deal that runs through 2003. As for Schrader, his contract with MBN2 is up this season, but it appears his name is just getting tossed about like many other drivers at this point.(Anniston Star)(6-13-2002) AND II: hearing that one of the teams M&M Mars is talking to is the #17 Roush Racing team.(6-13-2002)
Little E most eligible: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will appear in People Magazine's "Most Eligible Bachelors" that goes on sale at newsstands this week. With a distribution of more than 40 million copies, this special edition of the magazine is one of the most visible and widely distributed publications of the year.. His selection was kept highly confidential before being revealed Tuesday evening on "Dateline NBC." The interview for the feature took place at Dale Jr's own "JR Motorsports" offices in Mooresville, NC, and the photo shoot took place in turn four of Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, where Junior posed in front of one of his #8 Budweiser race cars. This marks Dale Jr's sixth appearance in People Magazine. His first appearance was in October, 2000 when he was selected to appear in the "Sexiest Men" issue. His poise and accomplishments during a very difficult and emotional 2001 also garnered him a mention in the magazine's "Most Intriguing People of 2001." Dale Jr. will also be a visible component of this weekend's programming on MTV. Saturday and Sunday is the "MTV True Life Marathon," where the most popular episodes of the "True Life" documentary series will be shown. Dale Jr's one-hour documentary will air with some new interview footage taped recently at California Speedway.(Busweiser PR)(6-13-2002)
Long will not be at Michigan: Even though the NASCAR.com had #85-Carl Long on the Entey List for Michigan, he will not be. Thee Dixon, Mansion Motorsport's owner, is ill and in the hospital at the moment. So the team will withdraw their entry to the race since Dixon will not be able to go to the track.(6-13-2002)
Ward's plans unclear: Ward Burton, who has been with Bill Davis Racing since 1995, says his #22 team needs more consistency, but that he’s leaning toward re-signing for 2003. He’s been presented with a contract, but didn’t sign it by Davis’ deadline, leaving the team with a feeling of uncertainty. Davis said he’s sure crew chief Tommy Baldwin will return, but that he doesn’t know what Burton’s planning on doing. Burton, though, sounds as if returning to the team is his intention.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(6-13-2002)
Hamilton Looking - Ganassi? With the future of Andy Petree Racing unsettled, Bobby Hamilton is exploring his options for 2003. Petree has been talking to Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones about becoming a partner in the team. Jones is expected to try to land a high-profile driver and may want a driver with ties to Texas for a possible second team. Hamilton’s heard from several other teams, including Chip Ganassi Racing, according to a source close to the situation. That operation has talked of eventually adding a third team and Hamilton could figure into the mix.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(6-13-2002)
More Testing at VIR: As the NASCAR Winston Cup Series' first road-course race of the season, the June 23 Dodge/Save Mart 350 at California's Sears Point Raceway, edges ever closer, VIRginia International Raceway continues to welcome more and more teams to its beautiful and challenging 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit near Danville, VA. Testing at VIRginia International Raceway on Tuesday were Dale Earnhardt, Inc., with #1-Steve Park and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.; Hendrick Motorsports with #24-Jeff Gordon, #25-Joe Nemechek and #48-Jimmie Johnson; and Target Chip Ganassi Racing, with Scott Pruett driving a #41 Target Dodge. The Winston Cup teams find it convenient to test at VIR, which is about a two-hour drive from the Charlotte area, in order to perfect their set-ups for both Sears Point Raceway and New York's Watkins Glen International, which will host the Aug. 11 Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen.(VIR PR)(6-13-2002)
DEI and DeWalt? UPDATE: the LTN Radio show reports that Dale Earnhardt Inc is talking to DeWalt Tools to sponsor a team, DeWalt's contract with Roush Racing and the #17 Matt Kenseth team is over at the end of 2002. Roush is in negotations with DeWalt also.(6-3-2002) AND - Roush/DeWalt still negotiating: Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said talks continue with DeWalt, whose contract expires after this season as Matt Kenseth 's sponsor [#17 Ford]. The deadline for the two sides to negotiate exclusively with each other ended May 31. "It's taken a long time for a renewal," Smith said. "They were talking to other teams as well but they claim they want to be with us. We hope to shortly conclude the business arrangement either way."(Roanoke Times)(6-10-2002) UPDATE: Officials from DeWalt Tools have told Roush Racing President Geoff Smith that it wants to return as sponsor of Matt Kenseth’s Ford for 2003. But until a deal is signed, Smith says he will listen if other perspective sponsors come calling.
The contract that expires at the end of this season prohibited DeWalt from negotiating with other teams until June 1. Smith’s heard that the company has talked with Dale Earnhardt Inc. regarding a deal for next year, but isn’t sure if those talks are ongoing. Kenseth’s contract is up following the 2003 season, but it’s expected that talks of an extension will begin following this season.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(6-13-2002)
Newman tests IROC car at Indy: Ryan Newman tested an IROC car, today, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The True Value IROC series is racing’s “all-star game.” Twelve of the best drivers from various series compete in equally prepared stock cars in a four-race series that concludes at the Speedway. Newman, a native of South Bend, Ind., joined IROC test drivers Andy Hillenburg, Dave Marcis and Jim Sauter on the famous 2.5-mile oval. Newman isn’t competing in the True Value IROC series this year, but he couldn’t resist an invitation to drive one of the cars at Indy. True Value IROC testing concluded Wednesday. The fifth True Value IROC at Indy race takes place Aug. 3.(Ford Racing)(6-13-2002)
Whatever happened to....Lake Speed: Over 140 cars were in the pits this past Saturday, June 8, at Midvale Speedway in Ohio. It was a very special night as all five classes were on hand, kids’ bicycle races at intermission, and the Dale’s Heating & Cooling Figure 8’s at the end of the night. To top it all off, long-time NASCAR driver Lake Speed was on hand to sign autographs and compete in the Late Model division. Speed finished third in the feature event.(Midvale Speedway site)(6-13-2002)
North Carolina Plates: NASCAR drivers and other stock car-related insignia could grace some North Carolina license plates under legislation filed in both chambers. The bills would create special NASCAR license plates at a cost of an additional $35 a vehicle.(News and Observer/AP) AND a story at the Gaston Gazette: Vanity NASCAR plates being considered.(6-13-2002)
Sad News - driver killed UPDATE track reconfigures: Driver John Baker was killed Saturday night in a crash during the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest race at Irwindale Speedway (CA). Baker, 49, of Tucson, AZ, was taken to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Baldwin Park, where he died, said Reyna DelHaro, a spokeswoman for the hospital. Baker's wife was by his side. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Baker family, crew and race team," Doug Stokes, Speedway spokesman, told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. NASCAR officials did not immediately comment. Baker, who was wearing a neck restraint, was slowing on the second turn of the half-mile oval when his car went headlong into the exit. Baker, who had won the pole position, was the first driver killed in the series during a race. It was the fourth death at the speedway. Casey Diemert of Roseburg, Ore., and Keith Cowherd of Phoenix died in 1999, the track's opening season. Christopher Shields of San Bernardino died June 7, 2001.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(6-9-2002) UPDATE: Irwindale Speedway today announced the postponement of. its Saturday night, June 15 NASCAR racing event. All tickets purchased for that night will be honored at any future event. The oval track will be closed for reconfiguring from Thursday, June 12 through Friday, June 21 and will reopen with its regularly-scheduled racing card on Saturday, June 22. The Demolition Derby and Figure 8 Races which were scheduled for June 15 have been rescheduled and added to the spectacular June 29 '4th of July NASCAR and Fireworks Show'. "We'd like to thank all the fans and competitors in advance for their support and understanding,". said Vice President /Chief Operating Officer Robert DeFazio.. "We look forward to seeing everyone back on June 22."(Irwindale Speedway site) AND The funeral for Tucson driver John Baker, who was killed Saturday in a NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series crash at Irwindale Speedway, is Saturday at 10:00am at St. Pius X Church, located at 1800 N. Camino Pio Decimo in Tucson. The viewing is Friday from 6:00-9:00pm at Bring Funeral Home, 6910 E. Broadway Blvd. in Tucson.(6-13-2002)
(6-12-2002)
Nadeau at DEI? UPDATE in the #44 at Sears Point and in a Waltrip car: hearing Jerr Nadeau, recently released from the #25 Hendrick Motorsports ride, is talking to Dale Earnhardt Inc about a ride there for 2003. UPDATE: ESPN2 RPM 2 Night's Ray Dunlap reports that Jerry Nadeau will be in the #44 Petty Racing Dodge at Sears Point in place of regular driver Steve Grissom. Also reported that Nadeau will drive a Michael Waltrip owned car at Chicagoland and possibly some additional race.(6-12-2002)
#25 gets new crew chief: Hendrick Motorsports president John Hendrick named Brian Pattie as crew chief of the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevy through the remainder of the 2002 Cup season, replacing Ken Howes who returns to the role of HMS director of
competition full time after seven races as interim crew chief. Pattie will assume the position immediately, leading the team into Sunday's Winston Cup event at Michigan with driver Joe Nemechek. The Zephyrhills, Fla., native joined Nemechek's BGN (#87) operation in 1994, working as chief mechanic until going to the #25 team of HMS for the 1996 season as a fabricator and mechanic. In
1997, he returned to NEMCO as crew chief, earning two victories and three pole positions with Nemechek's Busch Series entry that year. The 27-year-old Pattie has earned 11 victories and nine pole positions in BGN competition with drivers Ron Fellows and Nemechek. In August 1999, he led Fellows to a second-place finish at Watkins Glen International in his first of four career Winston Cup events as a crew.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(6-12-2002)
Pontiac/Ford gets a rules change: NASCAR announced a ½-inch increase to the front air dam and ¼ inch rear spoiler increase for the Pontiac Grand Prix beginning with this weekend's Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at Michigan. The leading edge of the air dam for the Pontiacs now must not extend more than one (1) inch forward of the bumper. Measurements for the rear spoiler will now read at 7 1/8* inches high by 57 inches wide (prior to this, the rear spoiler measured at 6 7/8 inches high by 57 inches wide). This dimension will not be used at Daytona or Talladega. Officials also reduced the spoiler size on the Ford Taurus from 6 inches to 5-7/8 inches for next month's Pepsi 400 at Daytona. During the Daytona 500 in February, the Ford's rear spoiler was 5 ¾ inches tall and in April at Talladega, Ford's measurements were 6 inches tall. The Chevrolet and Dodge teams rear spoiler will remain at 6 ¼ inches tall, while the Pontiac teams will measure at 6 ½ inches tall by 57 inches wide.(NASCAR PR)(6-12-2002)
Final Day of Testing at Daytona: During the final day of a two-day test session on Wednesday at Daytona, Kenny Wallace was hopping back and forth between a pair of #98 Stacker 2 Chevys. Wallace will be pulling double duty at Dayotna, in the #98 Cup car and the #48 BGN car. Joining Wallace in the test session at the Speedway were BGN drivers #12-Kerry Earnhardt and #64-C.W. Smith. In random hand-held times taken during the test on Wednesday, both Wallace and Earnhardt posted speeds near 181.818mph while Smith had a speed of 178.218.(DIS PR)(6-12-2002)
New Schemes for Atwood/Sirius: Sirius Satellite Radio announced that its #7 Sirius Satellite Radio Dodge race car will soon trade its Dog Star hood design for stars of another kind - music celebrities - bringing to life the faces behind the 100-percent commercial-free music heard on Sirius. Beginning at the Sirius Satellite Radio 400 in Michigan, Casey Atwood's #7 Sirius Dodge will become the motorsports version of the cover of Rolling Stone, with the hottest stars of entertainment gracing the hood. This weekend, the car will feature DreamWorks Records recording stars Soluna, the hot new Latin sound sensation with the breakthrough title track hit single, "For All Time" from their debut album For All Time. The unique paint scheme, which features the four band members of Soluna, marks the first time a female recording act has been portrayed in a special paint scheme in NASCAR Winston Cup. The cover artwork
from Soluna's new album, showcasing band members America Olivo, Jessica Castellanos, T Lopez and Aurora Rodriguez, will appear on the hood. The music industry also is getting in gear with the Sirius program and its innovative marketing approach, and a number of top stars are expected to appear on the hood of the #7 Sirius Satellite Radio Dodge this season. Sirius will run special paint schemes at a number of races during the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season.(Golin-Harris PR)(6-12-2002)
New Scheme for Geoffrey Bodine at Daytona: Geoffrey Bodine and Miccosukee Indian Gaming Motorsports will debut this new paint scheme for the #09 Ford Taurus during the Pepsi 400 race on July 6th. See the Geoffrey Bodine Fanclub site for the image.(6-12-2002)
Ford Credit Donates More: #88-Dale Jarrett's victory in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday results in another $10,000 donation from Ford Credit to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to help in its mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Ford Credit, associate sponsor of the #88 UPS Ford, gives the Komen Foundation $10,000 for each of Jarrett's victories, $7,500 for each second-place finish, $5,000 for each third-place finish and $5,000 for each pole position won (as fastest qualifier). Ford Credit has now donated $595,000 to the Komen Foundation based on Jarrett's on-track performance and end-of-season bonuses since 1998.(Campbell Co/Race Fans for a Cure PR)(6-12-2002)
Krista Voda Joins "Totally NASCAR": Krista Voda joins Fox Sports Net's NASCAR programming as a reporter for Totally NASCAR. Voda will provide the show with features, interviews and profiles alongside host Steve Byrnes and reporter Sean Pragano, and will also serve as fill-in host at times.(MotorsportsTV)(6-12-2002)
Stewart, Benson put on a show at Berlin: Afternoon rain didn't stop Berlin Raceway from hosting an exciting special event Tuesday night, as Winston Cup stars Tony Stewart and Johnny Benson, in town for the UPS Grand Haven Race Car Festival, entertained a full house crowd of 8,658 in the Festival 100. The non-points Coors Light Late Model event was delayed by afternoon rain, but the skies cleared in time for a full slate of racing excitement. Benson started the evening off in good fashion by qualifying his #61 Port City Racing car at 102.476 mph, the fastest time of the night. Stewart, who had arrived directly from the UPS Grand Haven Race Car Festival at 6:30 p.m. and promptly jumped into the #1 Devrou Chevrolet owned by current points leader Randy Sweet for a few hot laps, turned a quick lap of 101.828, finishing as third fastest qualifier behind Benson and #161 Lee Anderson. Next up was the first of two 50-lap qualifying races. Benson started on the pole by virtue of his qualifying time and led the first half of the race until he got in an accident and spun and hit the wall. Benson's car had some front end nose damage and he retired from the race to make repairs for the main event, having earned a provisional starting position by his fastest qualifying time. In the second 50-lap qualifier, Stewart jumped out to a huge lead early and won the race running away. The Festival 100, which began shortly after 10 p.m., proved to be an even better show for the fans. After the inversion, Stewart started from the 10th position and Benson from the 25th, meaning Stewart would have to pass traffic for the first time of the night if he were to win the race with his strong car. Stewart went on to win in convincing style, leading Anderson and DeVos across the finish line. #101 Joe Bush finished fourth, followed by #98 Bob Curry and Gritter in sixth. The race lasted 56 minutes and ended with only 11 cars on the lead lap. The race was Stewart's second appearance at Berlin Raceway, the first coming in a USAC Sprint Car in 1992. Benson and Stewart then signed autographs in the pits. Stewart earned praise for signing autographs for every single person in a long line, lasting past 12:30 a.m.(Berlin Raceway Site)(6-12-2002)
(6-11-2002)
Little E not totally Taz at Richmond IMAGE...AND: a month or so ago it was reported that Dale Earnhardt Jr would run a Tasmanian Devil scheme in the BGN race at Richmond in Sept, told it is partially true and that the Orange Monster - Gossamer [a Jayski fave] will also be on the car [hood] along with Bugs Bunny [decklid], with the colors being orange/white/black.(6-7-2002) IMAGE: see an image of the #8 (yes #8 JR Motorsports) Gossamer/Bugs car on my Paint Scheme Gallery, the Looney Tunes special page.(6-8-2002) AND Word is that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is looking to own a BGN team with him as driver for selected races, possibly by next year. Another driver would take over the wheel for the rest of the schedule. Sponsorship is allegedly in place. The hold-up could be where to house the team. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has already maxed out space at the Mooresville shop. Earnhardt Jr. already is listed as owner of a Street Stock that T.J. Majors will drive at Concord Motorsports Park.(NASCAR.com), sources tell me that Nabisco (no real surprise) will be the sponsor for some of all the races.(6-11-2002)
Lawsuit heating up: The lawsuit that seeks a second Winston Cup race for Texas Motor Speedway moved a step closer to a possible court date Monday, when the legal team representing Francis Ferko filed a response to NASCAR's motion to dismiss. Ferko is a shareholder in Speedway Motorsports Inc., the company that built and operates TMS. Ferko, a Plano resident, sued NASCAR on Feb. 13, accusing NASCAR of breaching express and implied contracts with SMI for a second Cup date at TMS. But NASCAR, in its April 10 filing, made four claims: that no agreement for a second date ever existed; that race sanctioning agreements with SMI make void any previous agreements and offer no guarantees for future dates; that SMI, through its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, admits that NASCAR awards races on a year-to-year basis; and that the four-year statute of limitations on Texas common-law claims has expired since the first TMS Cup race in 1997. Ferko's response, filed in U.S. District Court, attacks those claims and counters NASCAR's attempts to refute Ferko's charge that the sanctioning body monopolizes stock-car racing.(more at Fort Worth Star Telegram)(6-11-2002)
Buckshot Announcement: from the Buckshot racing site: "Look for Buckshot [Jones] to make a big announcement by the end of June"(6-11-2002)
Park safe for 2002: Dale Earnhardt Jr, who seems to be taking on more of a management role at Dale Earnhardt Inc., says it is unlikely Park would be fired before his contract runs out at the end of the season. But if DEI makes a change, it likely would sign Park's 2003 replacement in the next few months.(USA Today)(6-11-2002)
Safety barriers to be modified for use in Brickyard 400: NASCAR on Tuesday announced it would utilize the SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier system currently in place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when its Winston Cup series visits the track for the Aug. 4 Brickyard 400. The "soft wall" technology, stacks of four rectangular steel tubes welded into modules 20 feet long and 38½ inches high and then backed by several inches of polystyrene foam, covers 4,240 feet of the track's outside wall, 1,060 feet in each turn. It was in place during all practice and qualifying in preparation for the Indianapolis 500 and was tested several times when drivers hit the walls, both in practice and the race. However, Dr. Dean Sicking, who researched and developed the barriers for the Indy Racing League, said the current system is not ready for other NASCAR tracks. Sicking will continue to work on the application of the SAFER barrier to other race tracks and said he hoped to conduct at minimum four more crash tests on the barrier in the coming months. Sicking said the current SAFER system in place at Indy will undergo some slight modifications before the NASCAR event. The change - the insertion of one additional energy absorbing unit every 10 feet - is primarily made because stock cars and far heavier (3,400 pounds to 1,500 pounds) than IRL open-wheel cars.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-11-2002)
2003 New Hampshire Date? hearing from readers that NHIS has sent out renewals for the July 2003 race and the date listed for the Cup race is July 20, 2003, this year it runs on July 21st, the same weekend.(6-11-2002)
Daytona Testing UPDATE: A test session at Daytona International Speedway for the 44th annual Pepsi 400 Cup race on July 6 and the inaugural Stacker 2/GNC Live Well 250 BGN race on July 5 will be held on Tuesday, June 11th and Wednesday June 12th from 9:00am-5:00pm/et with #98-Kenny Wallace (Cup) and and #12-Kerry Earnhardt BGN) testing. Wallace competes for Innovative Motorsports in the BGN but will test the #98 Stacker2 Chevy as he preps for the team's four-race Winston Cup schedule, which kicks off with the Pepsi 400. Earnhardt will wheel the #12 Jani-King Chevy for Armando Fitz and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw in the inaugural Stacker2/GNC Live Well 250 BGN race. Testing is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.(DIS PR)(6-7-2002) UPDATE: Kenny Wallace, testing the #98 Chevy he'll race for Innovative Motorsports in the July 6 Pepsi 400 ran an unofficial lap of 180.723mph. Two BGN drivers tested, #12-Kerry Earnhardt, who ran an unofficial speed of 182.186mph, and #64 C.W. Smith, no speed given. The start of Tuesday's test session was delayed by rain and the cars didn't take to the 2.5-mile tri-oval until the afternoon. Testing concludes on Wednesday and is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.(DIS PR)(6-11-2002)
Early Pocono TV Ratings Up: The Winston Cup overnight ratings from Pocono on Fox turned in a 4.6 rating and 11 share. This is a 7% increase over last year's overnight of 4.3.(MotorsportsTV)(6-11-2002)
Cope at Michigan and beyond: Derrike Cope will go to Michigan next and it looks like possibly Chicago, the second Pocono race, and Indy. Cope hopes to get confirmation on the sponsor for Michigan soon(Derrike Cope Site)(6-11-2002)
Smaller Spoiler? and Bigger Greenhouse?: NASCAR officials intends to decrease the size of the cars' spoilers significantly and end what has become an aerodynamic war among manufacturers. If the measure works, the racing should become more mechanically dependent, meaning there will be a greater emphasis on engines and shocks and less on body style. After drivers ran smaller spoilers in recent tests at Kansas Speedway, NASCAR discovered that Goodyear must develop a tire with more grip to accommodate the loss of rear downforce. AND NASCAR is working with Altair Engineering in Troy, MI, to develop a larger greenhouse -- two inches taller and wider -- that should make the cars and drivers safer. GM isn't thrilled that the design isn't expected to be ready until next season because it is building and testing 2003 Pontiacs and Monte Carlos and likely will be forced to alter them.(Sporting News)(6-11-2002)
Weber branches out: Bill Weber is branching out at NBC. On what was billed as the busiest weekend in televised sports this year, Bill Weber was the anchor of NBC Sports' Sun America Sports Desk on Saturday and Sunday. The regular anchors of the sports desk, Hannah Storm and Ahmad Rashad, were both with the NBA in Los Angeles and Jimmy Roberts was working golf.(MotorsportsTV)(6-11-2002)
Dale Jr on the Tube: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will appear tonight on Dateline NBC to discuss details of an upcoming major magazine feature. And keep an eye on MTV's True Life marathon Saturday and Sunday for an updated version of True Life, I'm a Race Car Driver detailing Earnhardt's rookie season. The show will include new interviews since it originally aired in the spring of 2001.(St Petersburg Times)(6-11-2002)
Trickle/Evernham Test Cancelled: Dick Trickle will be testing for the Evernham Motorsports team again this month with owner Ray Evernham hoping to have a test June 25 & 26th either at Daytona or Talladega preceding the upcoming July Daytona race. Trickle tested for the team earlier this year before the Talladega race 9and attempted to make the race but missed) This is only a test, the team will not be entering their test car into the Daytona race.(Dick Trickle Fan Club Newsletter)(6-4-2002) UPDATE: Trickle was contacted by Ray Evernham, owner of Evernham Motorsports, to test for their team at Daytona before the upcoming Daytona race. The dates that they were hoping to test are not available at the track. At this time they’ve canceled that test, but have told Trickle that they may need him for other testing throughout the season.(Dick Trickle Fan Club Newsletter)(6-11-2002)
Driver rams other cars (not NASCAR) pretty wild: A racer who police said spent several minutes ramming the cars of his opponents with his vehicle has been charged with assault and battery with intent to kill. No one was seriously injured in the incident, which happened as soon as the green flag fell Saturday night at the Sumter Speedway in Sumter, SC. Robert L. Disher immediately rammed his car into a rival, then put his car in reverse and began intentionally ramming several other cars, according to a report filed by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. With the race stopped, Disher, 31, drove around the track, turned around toward the already damaged cars and continued hitting vehicles for several minutes before coming to a stop, deputies said. Deputies then pulled Disher from his car after another racer pinned the vehicle against the wall. Disher also was charged with public disorderly conduct after he "shook his butt at the crowd" as he was being taken away from the track, according to the police report.(ThatsRacin.com/AP) AND A Sumter race car driver went on a rampage with his car shortly after the green flag dropped Saturday night at Sumter Speedway. Once the race-turned-demolition-derby was over, Robert L. Disher, 31, of 4404 Wrangler Trail was arrested and charged with assault and battery with intent to kill. When the race started, Disher immediately ran into the car of a rival racer, causing a multi-car tangle on the track, according to reports from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Disher was released Sunday from the Sumter County Correctional Center on a $1,125 bond. He could not be reached for comment.(The Item)(6-11-2002)
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M&M's gone from the #36? UPDATE 2: the LTN Radio show reports [June 2nd show] that M&M's is rumored to be leaving the #36 MB2 team and that Ken Schrader may be heading to the #43 Petty Racing team AND that M&M's is rethinking their position with NASCAR and may not sponsor a car/team in 2003 but could be involved in NASCAR in a similar way as Coca Cola is.(6-3-2002) UPDATE: M&M Mars is looking to move on at the end of the season, according to team sources. But the company doesn't plan to leave the Winston Cup series, just move to another team. That lucrative sponsorship may be the one behind that proposed third Robert Yates team and that proposed second Cal Wells team and that proposed fifth Rick Hendrick team. All three operations are pushing hard to add another team, and it seems unlikely that there are three companies in these woods willing to write long term contracts for $12 million to $14 million a year. Meanwhile, General Motors executives are starting to wonder if Wells' plans to jump to Pontiac {currently run the #32 Ford] next season might simply be a ploy to get more technical help and wind tunnel time from Ford.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-9-2002) UPDATE 2: The fate of the M&M Mars sponsorship may be up in the air, according to NASCAR sources who say that the sanctioning body itself is trying to persuade the company to become "the official candy of NASCAR."(Winston Salem Journal)(6-10-2002)
NAPCM Pit Crew of the Week - Pocono: #9-Bill Elliott's Dodge Crew- very good day on pit road (14.9, 15.9, 15.0, 15.1) helped keep Awesome Bill up front till bad luck stepped in. Current Mechanix Wear Pit Crew of the Year standings updated weekly at NAPCM website.(6-10-2002)
More on Petree/Jones: Jerry Jones and Andy Petree still haven't finished their deal to team up next season, but Jones is pushing hard to land a top-notch driver. One man on Jones' optimistic list is Tony Stewart [has been denied by Stewart and Gibbs in about every media outlet], according to team sources. Stewart isn't figured to be interested in leaving the Joe Gibbs camp, but that his name has come up shows that Jones is thinking big. Petree says there's been no movement on the Jerry Jones front in the last week, but team sources say that General Motors executives are now trying to put together a deal to keep Petree in the GM fold, possibly in Pontiacs next season.(Winston Salem Journal), see past news about this on the #55 Team News and Links page.(6-10-2002)
Roush/DeWalt still negotiating: Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said talks continue with DeWalt, whose contract expires after this season as Matt Kenseth 's sponsor [#17 Ford]. The deadline for the two sides to negotiate exclusively with each other ended May 31. "It's taken a long time for a renewal," Smith said. "They were talking to other teams as well but they claim they want to be with us. We hope to shortly conclude the business arrangement either way."(Roanoke Times)(6-10-2002)
Third BDR Team? Bill Davis Racing might field a third Winston Cup car for Scott Wimmer in selected races this season, Mike Brown said. Wimmer is driving a limited BGN schedule. The team fields [#23] Pontiacs in the BGN but has Dodges in the Winston Cup series, so what Wimmer's team learns at some tracks does not relate to the Winston Cup teams. Also, a third car gives the team another car to help promote its Cup sponsors. Wimmer's first race might be at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis in two months. If that goes well, he could go to other Cup races.(Roanoke Times)(6-10-2002)
CAT re-signs, what about Ward? UPDATE: #22 [and #23] car owner Bill Davis, taking good advantage of his Daytona 500 victory, has renewed with sponsor Caterpillar. But will Ward Burton be back as his driver? Davis has given Burton a new contract to look at. But Burton indicates he's not quite ready to sign, though he says he'll probably be back.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-7-2002) UPDATE: Mike Brown, general manager at Bill Davis Racing, said that Caterpillar has signed a five-year contract extension to remain Ward Burton 's sponsor. The contract was to have ended after this season.(Roanoke Times)(6-10-2002)
