Gordon to Host SNL UPDATE 2: #24 DuPont chevy driver and four time Cup champ, Jeff Gordon to be guest host on Jan. 11, 2003 'Saturday Night Live' on NBC at 11:30pm/et.(ThatsRacin.com)(12-27-2002) UPDATE - musical guest: NASCAR favorite Jeff Gordon zooms SNL into the New Year when he hosts the Emmy Award winning comedy show on January 11 with red-hot musical guest Avril Lavigne. Gordon is joined by one of 2002’s biggest pop stars Avril Lavigne who
will perform selections from her multi-platinum smash “Let Go.” Her name has become synonymous with “Best New Artist” - winning the award at the MTV Video Music Awards and receiving a similar nomination at the 2002 Billboard Music Awards (along with a best pop female artist nod).(NBC PR)(1-4-2002) UPDATE: Gordon is scheduled to be in New York City Tuesday through Saturday night for SNL script meetings, rehearsals and the show itself. Gordon is scheduled to meet with the show's cast and writers Tuesday night to discuss possible skits and his role in them, said Jon Edwards, Gordon's spokesman. A "read-through" of selected skits is scheduled Wednesday, and rehearsals are scheduled Thursday and Friday.(Greenville News)(1-5-2002)
Donlavey at Daytona? UPDATE: hearing the #90 Donlavey Racing team has a new Ford Taurus ready to take to Daytona for testing the the Daytona 500, no word on a driver or a sponsor.(1-3-2003) UPDATE: Junie Donlavey is hoping to field a car in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16, but the Richmond-based team owner said he isn't expect-ing to attend the upcoming test sessions at the 2.5-mile speedway. Donlavey's #90 finished 42nd in the standings last season and would be slated to test Jan. 14-16 with teams that placed in the even-numbered positions. Donlavey hasn't hired a driver for the car, which missed more than half of 2002 after losing its primary sponsor. The team still is hunting for financial support, and Donlavey said he is planning to meet with potential sponsors in a few weeks. "I'm not going to have someone drive it until I have a sponsor," Donlavey said.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(1-5-2003)
New Series Planned: Don Nugent has a new racing series in mind. It's called the Stock Car Challenge Series and Nugent plans to have it on track for six races this year. Two races are planned for paved short-track ovals - tracks like ones in Concord and Asheboro, N.C., or Myrtle Beach, S.C. Two races are planned for dirt tracks and two others will be on road courses - such as Virginia International Raceway. Cars will be 2000 or older NASCAR-approved chassis with 1999 to 2002 bodies. Sealed General Motors-built engines will be sold by the series for around $12,500. Races will be short enough to be completed on just one fuel stop and no more than two tires can be changed in any one stop and four tires in any race. "There are a lot of people who want to get involved in racing if they can do it in a relatively inexpensive way," Nugent says. "We want to give them that opportunity." Nugent plans to schedule his races to allow drivers competing in such series as the USAR Hooters Pro Cup series to compete. Each oval-track race would be a one-day Saturday show and all would be located with a four-hour drive of the Charlotte area. Nugent also believes there are a lot of people like himself, people who've been around auto racing for many years who are willing to share their knowledge and experience if given the opportunity. "I'm tired of seeing racing series throw its veterans away," Nugent says. "There's so much talent and wisdom out there." Anyone interested in the series can contact Nugent at (704) 533-1184.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-5-2003)
(1-4-2003)
Mike Wallace to run the #09 in slected 2003 races: Mike Wallace will drive the #09 Winston Cup car for James Finch and Phoenix Motorsports for five races and maybe more if sponsorship develops. The five races are both Daytona and Talladega races and Homestead. The car will be sponsored by a Indian tribe's Casino in Florida and will run more races if more sponsors step up. All of this is in addition to the 12 BGN races Wallace will run for the Biagi Brothers in the #4 with Geico as their sponsor.(Mike Wallace Forum) hearing the sponsor will be Miccosukee Indian Gaming, no idea what is happening with Geoffrey Bodine for 2003.(1-4-2003)
Furr joins Morgan-McClure: Morgan-McClure Motorsports rings in 2003 with exciting new changes for the Abingdon, Va.-based team. The team, which celebrates its twentieth anniversary during this NASCAR Winston Cup season, welcomes not only new Pontiacs to the racing stables, but a new Competition Director, as well. Tony Furr, a 30 year racing veteran who began his Winston Cup career in 1989, joins Morgan-McClure to assist Tim Weiss-Team Manager and Chris Carrier-Crew Chief with the overall duties of bringing the Kodak Racing Team back to its winning form. Furr spend 2002 at the #25 Hendrick Motorsports team and the #7 Ultra Motorsports team as a crew chief. Furr is one more addition to the transitions taking place at the race shop located in the rolling Va. Mountains. The #4 car, which switches to Pontiacs following a 12-year stint filled with 14 wins with Chevrolet, will also change from a Kodak product car to a Kodak brand racer. Kodak will feature several of its brands on the car throughout the 2003 Winston Cup season, beginning with Kodak Picture Perfect Processing in Daytona. Various paint schemes will signify these changes on the car during the year.. It is the first time Kodak will vary from the traditional film or camera related sponsorship, which has been in place on the car for 17 years. Thus the team will change all of its apparel and signage from the Kodak Film Racing Team to the Kodak Racing Team. The Three-time Daytona 500 winners will arrive in Daytona for their first "official" practice session of 2003 on Tuesday, January 7. Mike Skinner, driver of the #4 Kodak Pontiac, and the team, which has thrashed all winter to get new Pontiacs prepared, awaits the annual test session with much anticipation.(Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(1-4-2003)
Long to test at Daytona: Carl Long will participate in the NASCAR Winston Cup test session next week at Daytona International Speedway. Long will be testing for Price Motorsports in a #59 Dodge Intrepid rented from Petty Enterprises. Long will test in the first session which runs from January 7th through January 9th, with the 10th as a rain date.(Carl Long site), see my Testing News page for the rundown of teams(1-4-2003)
(1-3-2003)
It's Official - Spencer to the #7 Ultra Motorsports ride: Jimmy Spencer will drive the #7 Sirius Satellite Radio Dodge Intrepids for the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup season, team owner Jim Smith confirmed today. Smith's hiring of Spencer completes a total revamping of the Ultra Motorsports team, which included the addition of esteemed crew chief Tommy Baldwin in November. Baldwin was named crew chief of the #7 team on Nov. 19. The Bellport, NY, native is a three-time winning crew chief in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, most recently in the 2002 Daytona 500 with driver Ward Burton. "I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about being a part of this team," Spencer said. "Jimmy Smith has been a NASCAR supporter for years. His truck teams have been very successful, and I expect the #7 team to be no different. I'm very excited about this opportunity with Tommy Baldwin as the crew chief, Mike Ege building the engines, and Sirius Satellite Radio sponsoring the car. We've got a chance to do big things this year." The 2003 season will be Spencer's 15th in the Winston Cup Series. With his two career wins also come four Bud Pole Awards, 27 top-five finishes and 76 top-10s.(Ultra Motorsports/Sirius Satellite Racing Team PR)(1-3-2003)
#17 Crew Changes? hearing that the tire changers [Phil Drye and Dave Smith] for the #17 DeWalt
Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Championship title team have left [Smith to the #24 and Drye to the #8 team], supposedly replaced by current #17 Front Tire Carrier Justin Nottestad and Jeremy West [from the #2 Truck team](12-2-2002) UPDATE: Robbie Reiser, crew chief for Roush Racing's #17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth, has named two new pit crew members for the 2003 Winston Cup season. Reiser has named Justin Nottestad and Jeremy West to the squad that has won the last two Unocal 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competitions. Nottestad moves up from front tire carrier to the tire changer position with the team, while West, who is new to Roush Racing, will be the rear tire changer. They replace Phil Drye, front tire changer, and Dave Smith, rear tire changer. "We hated to see those guys go," said Reiser. "But we understand that they made the decision to move to another team because they felt like that was what was best for them personally. I can appreciate and respect that. I knew it wasn't going to be easy to replace those two -- they're both really talented -- but we have filled the positions, and we're excited about next year."(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(1-3-2003)
a new Sterlin and Marlin: The New Year's first baby born in Roanoke, VA. will carry NASCAR Winston Cup driver Sterling Marlin's first name, and the baby's younger twin brother will be known by the racer's last name, Marlin, according to a report on WSET-TV in the Virginia city. Gwendetta Jamison gave birth to Sterling at 12:21 a.m. on Jan. 1, and Marlin entered the world at 12:50 a.m. While Jamison loves racing, she told the TV station that it was the father of the twins who named the boys. Jamison's grandmother, Linda, is a NASCAR fan herself and would have preferred the parents name the children "Kyle" and "Petty," but she let her daughter go with her own name. WSET reported that Sterling weighed five pounds, 13 ounces, and Marlin came in at six pounds, one-and-a-half ounces.(FoxSports)(1-3-2003)
Petree has Daytona 500 sponsor, now needs a driver UPDATE 3: NASCAR Winston Cup owner Andy Petree has secured a single-race sponsor for his #55 car in the Daytona 500. Andy Petree Racing, based in Henderson County, NC, has been scrambling in recent months to land a sponsorship after electrical distribution company Square D said it could no longer afford to run an entire schedule. The new sponsor's name will be announced after the new year. Petree now must find another driver for the #55 after Ken Schrader signed up Friday with the BAM Racing Dodge next year. Petree had been trying to line up Schrader to drive #55, APR general manager Steve Barkdoll said. "Schrader had the opportunity to drive the BAM car full time, so we told him to take it," Barkdoll said. First Petree was forced to lay off employees, now he's looking for investors for his team. Times are tough for Petree, still scrambling to keep his Winston Cup team afloat. After laying off 25 employees last month, Petree is hoping an outside investor can step in and keep things running. He has enough employees left to send Schrader to the Daytona 500, but more money will have to appear before he can plan for any more races.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(12-22-2002) UPDATE: hearing the sponsor will be Monaco Coaches, still no word on the driver.(12-24-2002) UPDATE 2: Now that Ken Schrader has signed with [#49] BAM, Mike Wallace would be the logical choice to drive for Andy Petree in the Daytona 500. Sources close to Andy Petree Racing say that Monaco Coaches has signed to be the primary sponsor for Petree's #55 Chevy at Daytona and will remain with it as an associate throughout the year once major sponsorship has been found. Wallace had a solid 21st-place run for Petree last year at Daytona and will have the benefit of running the truck race for Schrader's team before the 500. Wallace, 43, also will continue to drive in the BGN in the #4 Biagi Brothers Racing Chevy, but the team is searching for sponsorship to compete beyond Biagi Brothers' 12-race commitment.(Sporting News)(12-30-2002) UPDATE 3: been told the driver will not be Mike Wallace or Geoffrey Bodine and an announcement should be made soon on the driver.(1-3-2003)
(1-2-2003)
Smaller Spoilers, Softer Tires in the works: NASCAR Winston Cup Scene reports this week that NASCAR officials are moving toward smaller spoilers and working with Goodyear to use softer tire compounds, but the officials aren't ready to say when the changes will be made. While drivers such as Rusty Wallace are urging the change as early as the season's second race, the Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, Winston Cup Director John Darby told the paper that the changes may not come that quickly. He said Goodyear has agreed to produce softer tires if NASCAR can reduce downforce, which Darby said the sanctioning body intends to do. The changes would make cars less dependent on aerodynamics and might make for more competitive racing by reducing the aero-push and increasing passing. "It's going to take some time, and it's hard to pinpoint how long that will be," Darby said.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(1-2-2003)
Policy change will limit fans' access to garages: For the first time in its history, NASCAR will severely restrict admission to the garage and pit-road areas. Only ''working'' personnel will be allowed in those areas during practice, qualifying and the race itself. Thousands of fans will be denied access under the new policy. Supposedly each race team will be issued 30 pit passes per race, and each track limited to 50 additional passes to be issued at its discretion. NASCAR will reserve an undetermined number of passes for distribution, and will continue to issue the annual ''hard-card'' credential to national media that cover a large number of events. Tracks can use their discretion in issuing additional media passes. Details of the new policy have not been finalized but a new policy would be in place for the 2003 season that severely curtailed the number of people admitted to the working garage area.(in part and paraphrased frpm the Tennessean)(1-2-2003)
Hamilton will not take one race deal: Andy Petree will soon announce a sponsor for a one-race deal for the Daytona 500, but has yet to find a driver. It probably won't be his former driver, Bobby Hamilton, even though Hamilton has yet to find a ride for 2003. Hamilton told The Sporting News he would not risk a one-race ride at Daytona, ''because you're at everyone else's mercy. If one guy makes a mistake, it can take out the entire field. That doesn't happen at places like Charlotte or Atlanta.'' Hamilton appears destined to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series this season. He said earlier he would not accept a ''non-competitive'' ride in Winston Cup.(Tennessean)(1-2-2003)
Atwood/Evernham still not resolved: Casey Atwood's father has denied Internet reports that his son has been fired as a driver for Evernham Motorsports. Terry Atwood admitted it is highly unlikely that his son will drive again for owner Ray Evernham, but said, ''So far Casey hasn't been told anything. We don't know what's going on. Our lawyers are still talking to Ray's lawyers.'' Atwood is not listed among the drivers scheduled for next week's Daytona test sessions.(Tennessean)(1-2-2003)
Panch's Celebrate at DIS: Bettie and Marvin Panch were able to celebrate their 50th anniversary Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway thanks in part to the efforts of Bill Wimble and Steve Petrasek. Panch greeted fans and signed autographs Wednesday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, where he nearly lost his life four decades ago. Wimble and Petrasek, who sat with Panch at the head table Wednesday, were among a group of five men who risked their lives in 1963 to save Panch from a burning sportscar. Wimble was a race car driver and Petrasek worked for Firestone Tire's racing division.(full story at the Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-2-2003)
(1-1-2003)
NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway Champ Crowned: Eric Weithop of Birmingham, AL, has beaten out thousands of other competitors to be the top NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway simulator racer in the country. Weithop, who regularly races in the NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway location in Birmingham’s Riverchase Galleria, won the “Bristol Challenge” competition that ended recently. Weithop received $2,000 after winning the finals competition held at the Concord Mills mall location of NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C. He won two 75-lap races and one 100-lap event to give him a sweep of the three segments of the finals. Brian Decker, a 13-year-old who races at the Albany, NY, location of NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway, finished second in the finals
competition and won $1,000, while Patrick Wyrick, representing the Universal City Walk location in Los Angeles, finished third and won
$500.(SMSonline PR)(1-1-2003)
(12-30-2002)
F1 Visitor's at Homestead UPDATE: Three-time Formula One champion Alain Prost strolled through the pits and paddock Friday at Miami-Homestead Speedway, getting his first look at NASCAR stock cars. "They are very loud, just like Formula One," Prost said, smiling. The Frenchman, whose Prost F1 team went bankrupt midway through the 2002 season, was the guest of Winston Cup and Busch Series car owner George deBidart. Also visiting the track Friday was F1 driver and former CART champion Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya, who has a home in Miami, was the guest of Target/Chip Ganassi Racing team manager Andy Graves, who ran Ganassi's Indy-car operation in 2000 when Montoya won the Indianapolis 500.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(11-16-2002) UPDATE: Alain Prost, former World Champion, has expressed interest in running a NASCAR team, 11 months after his Formula One team Prost Grand Prix went bankrupt. The 47-year-old, who won four drivers’ crowns, said the relatively modest running costs in NASCAR and the guarantee of close racing was tempting from an ownership viewpoint.(Daily F1)(12-30-2002)
Hamilton to the Trucks? Bobby Hamilton, who parted ways with Petree at the end of last season, is contemplating his next move, which could be getting behind the wheel of a truck. Hamilton says if he decides to run for the title in the Craftsman Truck Series -- in which he undoubtedly would be a weekly contender -- he wouldn't want to risk his health in a part-time Winston Cup role, even at the Daytona 500. "You're at everyone else's mercy," Hamilton says of Daytona. "If one guy makes a mistake, it can take out half the field. That doesn't happen at a place like Charlotte or Atlanta."(Sporting News)(12-30-2002)
NASCAR Plates Not Selling Well in SC: Sales have been sluggish for South Carolina NASCAR official license plates with NASCAR/a person's favorite driver on them. The plates have been available since December 2nd and cost $94. Part of the fee goes to benefit the South Carolina Children's Emergency Shelter Fund. So far, there have been 177 NASCAR plates sold in the state. The tags come with a driver's name, car number and autograph.(WISTV.com)(12-30-2002)
Get Well Matt UPDATE 3 a note: wishes go to my buddy Matt McLaughlin for a speedy recovery from some health issues. Matt is a writer for RacingOne/SpeedFX, see some of his columns at RacingOne: Matt McLaughlin, Featured Expert and check out his novel: Eights and Aces.(12-23-2002) UPDATE: Matt left a message on the SpeedFX BBS: Will try to check in when I can but I have no email account I can access. If one of you has Jayski's email addie please send him [Jayski note: no need to now that I have seen this] a note from me wishing him and his a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too. Add my thanks for the blurb he had about me on his page. Hello, and Merry Christmas to my readers, detractors and buds. This is the first time I've been on line since the tenth, and I'll warn you up front I'm bombed on morphine and Percocet. Don't know when I'll be able to get on again as I'm using a nurse's computer. Yep, I'm still in the hospital. Honest, I slipped on the ice taking out the trash on my way to church and I fell. Thought maybe I'd sprained the knee but the pain got bad enough I went to the ER. Next thing I know I'm admitted and receivin a blood transfusion. A few days later I'm having emergency surgery to save my lower left leg. (Faceiotomy? Big nasty cuts.) Basically here's the problem. They keep transfusing me, but the blood level goes down again. The doctors are still not sure what is wrong and Matt has no idea how long he will be in the hospital. Matt humbly asks for your prayers in this uncertain part of his life and prayers for the other sick folks he is spending Christmas with and the nurses there, many of whom are oustanding in thier compassion and kindness.(12-26-2002) UPDATE 2: Matt McLaughlin, who has been with Speed/FX and RacingOne since Day One, is on the injured reserve list. Matt's columns and observations have been out of action for a few weeks now as he sits in a hospital trying to get better. You see Matt is one of those racing writers who lives up north. A few weeks ago, on his way to church he slipped on some ice outside his house as he was taking out the garbage. Matt went down hard on his leg. At first thinking it was only a sprain, the leg was severely injured and the next thing you know, Matt's in the hospital taking blood transfusions to save his leg. A couple days ago, he gamely grabbed a nurse's computer and posted a note on the RacingOne message board to give us all an update. But he needs our help. Prayers and thoughts and kind words can go a long way to someone battling a mysterious illness so I ask you all for your support. He'll hopefully be out of the hospital early next week and if you can, drop him a note:
Matt McLaughlin
301 Parkway, #209A
Broomall, PA 19008
It is understood that Matt will be in a wheelchair for a while. Get well soon Matt.(RacingOne)(12-27/28-2002) UPDATE a note from Matt on R1: ...thanks to so many of you for the kind words, good thoughts an particuarly your prayers. I've long been convinced of the power of prayer and the news is a lot more positive this time. It's no longer a question how many legs I'll have when I leave (I'll have both) it's just a question of when. The repairs to the lower leg worked and blood flow is restored. They closed up the wounds with a skin graft. Any of you who might have had one of these grafts know that the donor site (Thigh) is sorer than the repaired area. Lots of morphine so excuse my grammar and spelling. (Like it's any worse than a normal column right?) As soon as I get myself weaned off the happy,happy joy shots and back onto Coors I'll be writing again. Trust me, I'm bored. Heck a rainy weekend at NHIS would be more fun than than this dog and pony show.
The blood count number that kept dropping the doctors couldn't figure out has now been stable a few days. Call it a coincidence that occurred the same day I asked for your prayers but I feel otherwise. I'm an admittedly and decidedly imperfect person, so I credit better folks than me making the petitions.
Yes, I have Speed Vision [Speed Channel] here. How come there's always infomaercials when I turn it on? Seriously I do enjoy the Aussie and English touring car series. Yes, it looks like I'm moving. My current apartment is not WC accessible.
Again, let me offer my sincere and humble thanks for your prayers and well wishes at this difficult time. I ain't dancing yet, but I've promised myself I'll walk into the Pocono infield this June under my own power, no canes, crutches, wheels, etc.(R1 Message Board)(12-30-2002)
