PAST NEWS MAY 5-11, 2003
THE PAST NEWS! YESTERDAY and BEYOND..
OTHER PAST NEWS PAGES
- Jerry Nadeau news and updated on the #01 Team News and Links page
(5-11-2003)
- Robby Gordon to start 3rd in the Indy 500: Robby Gordon, who will run the 'double' - Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on May 25th, qualified 3rd for the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with a four lap average of 230.205mph [four laps were 228.829, 230.529, 230.687, 230.778], 24 drivers have made the field...so far. Two time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves won the pole with a speed 231.725mph. Qualifying will continue next Sunday to fill the 33 car field.(5-11-2003), wanna go on the double with Robby? check out the Robby Gordon site.
- Nadeau's hit the hardest: #01-Jerry Nadeau's driver's-side crash didn't resemble the head-on impacts involving Bobby Hamilton, Derrike Cope and Sterling Marlin last year at Richmond International Raceway. The accident, which put Nadeau in critical condition with head, rib and lung injuries, also was unique for its violence. The wreck ranked as the highest G-force spike reported by one of NASCAR's "black boxes," the data recorders installed at the beginning of the 2002 season to measure the impact of crashes by the force of gravity. "It was easily the hardest hit," said Jim Hunter, NASCAR's executive vice president for communications. "It was a whopper." NASCAR doesn't release the numbers recorded in impacts, but Nadeau's crash easily exceeded the previous hardest hit of a reported 80 Gs by Kyle Petty's car at Bristol Motor Speedway in March. The RIR wrecks involving Cope and Marlin reportedly topped 60 Gs, and Hamilton said he was told his truck crash into the Turn 1 wall at the 0.75-mile oval last September registered a hit of 58 Gs. "Jerry's car did not have any chance to scrub off any speed," Hunter said. "Normally you hit with a corner of a car. Kyle Petty hit with one corner and then the other before hitting sideways. In Jerry's case, the car almost hit perfectly flat against the wall." The driver's side is one of the most vulnerable areas during a crash because there is little separating the cockpit from the concrete. Gary Nelson, who runs NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., is working on a method to cushion the blow. Nelson is building a crash pad at the R&D Center to help gather data.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-11-2003)
- Kenseth wins at Madison: Roy Kenseth's voice cracked with emotion moments after his son, Matt Kenseth, won the Blain's Farm and Fleet/Dewalt 100 Friday night at Madison International Speedway. "This is like winning a Cup race. I can't explain it," Roy Kenseth said of Matt's victory in front of about 10,000 spectators at the one-half mile oval. Matt Kenseth, a Cambridge [WI] native and the Winston Cup Series points leader, led 83 laps and took home a $3,000 award. The victory was his 25th at the track and first in seven years. He started sixth in a car built by Kevin Laatsch of Janesville and took the lead from Sun Prairie's Scott Ollerman on Lap 17. Kenseth's main competition came from Ollerman and Dave Feiler, former MIS track champions, who had raced against Kenseth before at MIS. Kenseth returned to help MIS celebrate its grand re-opening. Roy Kenseth is the track promoter and Matt was more than happy to help his father pack the stands.(Capital Times)(5-11-2003)
- Benson wins at Berlin: Johnny Benson Jr. won Saturday night's Todd Senneker Memorial Race, beating Randy Sweet in a grueling 75-lap shootout at the Berlin Raceway in Marne, MI. It was the second win for Benson at his home track in less than a year since he also won a special event this past August. Sweet, a five-time Berlin track champion, took the lead away from Benson in lapped traffic on lap 49. However, Benson used the lapped car of Dick Trickle to reclaim the lead for good on lap 56. "Obviously, our thoughts are with the Senneker family, and my teammate, Jerry Nadeau. I just feel really fortunate to be able to come here and do something that I really love to do. We have two more races to go this season, and I'm looking forward to them," Benson said. Benson made his first of three Berlin appearances this weekend. He will return for the June 10 shootout in a field that will include defending Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart. In addition, he will race in Marne on June 28. Todd Senneker was killed in a snowmobiling accident in Feb. of 2002. Saturday's races also served as a fund raiser for the Todd Senneker Memorial Foundation, and the event raised $5,000. Senneker was the 2001 Berlin Sportsman Rookie of the Year, and the foundation awards a college scholarship to a graduating senior at Wayland High School, where he graduated. His brother, Terry Senneker Jr., found himself without a ride this season, however, his cousin, Rick Senneker, turned his car over to Terry for the race. Terry finished 12th overall.(Michigan Live)(5-11-2003)
- Offweek - Ramblings: Not much going on with Mr. Lead Lap, tho. When last we checked (it was just two weeks ago) he was in 10th. Well, he ran poorly at California and Richmond but moved into 9th in the standings. He's got 1282 points and an average finish of 15.6 thus far this season, and when you compare that to 13th in the standings last year at this time (and a 17.3 average finish), their team in on the improve. Don't look for them in next week's The Winston, tho...some silly little thing about winning a race or something.
NASCAR (just to see if we're paying attention) had over 20% of the field scored in a different position when the results become official on
Monday. Do you know what that does to a stats guy? After scratching my head for awhile (and there's not much up there to prevent
bleeding), we can figure it out, but when you've got nine drivers with a different point totals it kinda stretches things. Oh, and when we told you last week that Tony Raines had his career-best finish at 15th, you can add a spot to that. He was credited officially with a 14th place effort at Richmond.(more at StockCarFans.Com Winston Cup Newsletter)(5-11-2003)
(5-10-2003)
- Softball League Returns: NASCAR race teams prepare for competition in The Race City Resumes.com Totally Racin Softball League. Local Charlotte and Mooresville, NC race teams compete on the softball diamond every Tuesday night at North Mecklenburg Park in Huntersville, NC. The Race City Resumes.com Totally Racin Softball League is heading into its sixth consecutive season of competition with their first games scheduled for Tuesday night May 13 at 6:30pm/et. The Ultra Motorsports Truck Team is looking to defend their 2002 Season Title. The league started in the spring of 1999 with (9) teams, fall 1999 with (7), Spring 2000 with (9), Summer 2001 with (13), Summer 2002 with (16) now Summer 2003 they have (18 and two divisions). The teams are BACE Motorsports, Braun Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, DEI-Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Hendrick Motorsports, Jasper Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, JR Motorsports, MB2 Motorsports, Race City Resumes, Inc., Robert Yates Engines, Robert Yates Racing #38 & #88, Roush Racing (Winston Cup) Roush Racing (Busch & Truck) Speed Channel, Carolina Camera NASCAR-Media, Ultra Motorsports (Truck) and Champion Tire & Wheel/Sirius Racing. More info at NASCAR Softball League/Racing Resumes site.(5-10-2003)
- Gordon fastest in Friday's testing at Indy UPDATE Rain: Add Robby Gordon’s name to the crowded ring of MBNA Pole contenders for the 87th Indianapolis 500, as he led the final practice before qualifications with a lap of 231.362mph on May 9 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gordon turned his top lap in the #27 Alpine/Archipelago/Motorola Dallara/Honda/Firestone in sunny, warm conditions during the last 30 minutes of practice. He became the fifth different driver to lead one of the six practice days leading up to Pole Day. Qualifying for the MBNA Pole starts at 1:00pm/et Saturday [and will be televised on ABC 1:00-300pm/et, then ESPN 5:00-6:00pm/et, then ESPN2 6:00-700pm/et]. Robbie Buhl is the first driver in the qualifying line – determined in a blind draw after practice Friday – in the #24 Purex/Aventis/Dreyer & Reinbold Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone. Gordon’s speed was the fifth fastest of the event, marking him as a strong contender for the pole and the accompanying $100,000 bonus.(IRL Site)
UPDATE: qualifying has been postponed due to rain, they will try again Sunday(5-10-2003)
- Softball League Returns: NASCAR race teams prepare for competition in The Race City Resumes.com Totally Racin Softball League. Local Charlotte and Mooresville, NC race teams compete on the softball diamond every Tuesday night at North Mecklenburg Park in Huntersville, NC. The Race City Resumes.com Totally Racin Softball League is heading into its sixth consecutive season of competition with their first games scheduled for Tuesday night May 13 at 6:30pm/et. The Ultra Motorsports Truck Team is looking to defend their 2002 Season Title. The league started in the spring of 1999 with (9) teams, fall 1999 with (7), Spring 2000 with (9), Summer 2001 with (13), Summer 2002 with (16) now Summer 2003 they have (18 and two divisions). The teams are BACE Motorsports, Braun Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, DEI-Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Hendrick Motorsports, Jasper Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, JR Motorsports, MB2 Motorsports, Race City Resumes, Inc., Robert Yates Engines, Robert Yates Racing #38 & #88, Roush Racing (Winston Cup) Roush Racing (Busch & Truck) Speed Channel, Carolina Camera NASCAR-Media, Ultra Motorsports (Truck) and Champion Tire & Wheel/Sirius Racing. More info at NASCAR Softball League/Racing Resumes site.(5-10-2003)
- Not NASCAR but: Trans-Am and sometime NASCAR driver Boris Said, the runner-up in this year's Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, has been suspended for 45 days by Trans-Am after comparing series operator Paul Gentilozzi and his sons to Saddam Hussein and his sons.(Tampa Tribune)(5-10-2003)
(5-9-2003)
- Sadler leaving #54? UPDATE 2 Sadler leaves Busch ride, will focus on Cup team: hearing that Hermie Sadler asked for and was given his release from his contract to drive for #54 Team Bristol Motorsports. No word on his future plans or those of Team Bristol Motorsports.(5-6-2003)
UPDATE: also hearing Team Bristol will not go to the race at Gateway and that sponsor Toy-R-Us may be leaving the team.(5-7-2003)
UPDATE 2 - Sadler leaves Busch ride, will focus on Cup team: Hermie Sadler has left the #54 Busch Series team, which is on hiatus for at least four races after apparently losing its primary sponsor. "The money hadn't been there all year to do what we needed," said Sadler, ranked 25th in the points standings through 10 starts with a best finish of 11th at Richmond. "They said they needed to take four to five weeks off, so I asked them to release me." Sadler is focusing on his #02 Winston Cup team and will drive a Virginia Tech-emblazoned car in The Winston Open on May 17 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He is hunting for another Busch ride but didn't rule out a return to the #54 if the team's funding problems are resolved.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-9-2003)
- Sad News: Jim Kent passed away on May 7th. Kent was with NASCAR before joining the NASCAR Craftsman Super Truck Series in its inaugural year. He became the chief tech inspector and held that position until 2001.(RacingWest.com)(5-9-2003)
- DEWALT Extends Sponsorship with Kenseth and the #17: Roush Racing announced that DEWALT Industrial Power Tool Co. has signed a multi-year extension to continue as the primary sponsor of the #17 DEWALT Tools Ford driven by current point leader Matt Kenseth in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. "The race program with Matt Kenseth and Roush has become a focal point for DEWALT's relationship with our customers and end users," stated Chris Allen, DEWALT’s Vice-President of Marketing. "We're really excited by the marketing gains the DEWALT team has helped us achieve and we look forward to several more years of on and off-track success with Roush and Matt," he added. In keeping with the practices of both companies, financial terms were not disclosed. "The extension of the DEWALT relationship means a lot to me," said the Cambridge, Wisconsin native. "DEWALT has been my primary sponsor since I began in the Busch Series and I’m happy to know that we’ll be together many more years in the Winston Cup Series. I think we've gotten off to a great start this year with our consistency and our goal is to do our best week in and week out in order to put ourselves in position to bring DEWALT and Jack Roush a Winston Cup Championship," he added.(DeWalt Site)(5-9-2003)
- Governor loses control of race car, wrecks at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Not Injured: North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, who was turning practice laps in a Winston Cup car at Lowe's Motor Speedway Friday morning, lost control of the car while exiting Turn 2 and wrecked on the backstretch. Easley was not injured, speedways officials confirmed. The accident occurred about 11:45am.et and Easley's car - a #48 Chevy from Hendrick Motorsports - was the only car on the track at the time. Easley was wearing the HANS device, one of two head-and-neck restraint systems mandated by NASCAR in October 2001. After the wreck, Easley stood by the car joking with his staff and track officials and even autographed the crumpled car before it was towed away. Easley drove two laps behind the pace cars for two parade laps before last October's Winston Cup race at Charlotte. He'd planned to run three laps in honor of the late Dale Earnhardt, but a rain delay and damp track conditions spoiled those plans. Easley was at the track Friday to practice in preparation of reprising that role during May race activities at the speedway.(ThatsRacin.com)
AND A close call this morning for North Carolina Governor Mike Easley at Lowes Motor Speedway. Driving an old Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowes Chevy The Governor lost the handle coming out of turn 2 then crashed.along the backstretch wall while practicing for a pre-race event for The Winston All-Star race next weekend. Easley, who was clocked at just over 165 miles per hour when the accident occured was not injured. After autographing pieces of the wrecked car he continued his pace laps in an old Terry Labonte #5 Kelloggs Monte Carlo.(PRN's Garage Pass)(5-9-2003)
- Mario on TV: Auto Racing great and winner of the Indy 500 and Daytona 500, Mario Andretti will be the guest on Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain tonight [May 9th] at 11:00pm/et. More info on the show at the Speed Channel site.(5-9-2003)
- Panther Power at The Winston: Dave Blaney and the #77 Jasper Motorsports team will run the special "Panther Power" scheme on the #77 Jasper Engines and Transmissions Ford during competition at The Winston at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte. The design is one of three special paint schemes to be used during the next three months by Blaney and the #77 team [not sure what the other two are...yet]. The Panther Power die-casts—both 1/24 and 1/64 scale—will be available June 9 at all NASCAR at-track and retail outlets as part of the Team Caliber Pit-Stop Series.(Jasper Motorsports PR). See a drawing of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(5-9-2003)
- Gordon 9th overall at Indy practice: Robby Gordon returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in fast fashion Thursday, posting the ninth-fastest lap at 230.214mph (39.0941 seconds). Gordon strapped back into the #27 Archipelago/Motorola Dallara/Honda/Firestone yesterday after taking Wednesday off for a previous engagement.(RCR PR)(5-9-2003)(5-9-2003)
- SAFER Tests Goes Well: NASCAR managing director of competition Gary Nelson said Tuesday's test of the impact-absorbing SAFER barrier wall "went well," but it will be 20-30 days before engineers will tell NASCAR if it is ready to be installed on the turns of Richmond International Raceway and New Hampshire International Speedway. Engineers at the University of Nebraska's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility crashed a used Winston Cup car into a modified version of the original SAFER barrier that was fitted to a mock-up of one of Richmond's turns. SAFER, which stands for Steel and Foam Energy Reduction, was installed on the outside retaining walls at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last May; NASCAR and Indy Racing League drivers said the barrier significantly cushioned the impact of crashes. The modified barrier is similar to the original but comes in much shorter sections so it can curve to fit tight-radius turns at short tracks. Dean Sicking, who is in charge of the SAFER project, and his engineers will review computer data gathered during the test to determine if it is ready. Even if Sicking approves it within 30 days, it is unlikely to be installed at New Hampshire for its July 21 Winston Cup race. However, it could be in place in time for the September races at Richmond and New Hampshire.
(USA Today)(5-9-2003)
- Drivers to be inducted at Thunder Road: On Friday, May 9th [Tonight] at Thunder Road in Dawsonville, GA, eight auto racing legends will be inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame - 2nd annual HoF Induction Ceremony: Mechanic Henry Jones, 1960 Winston Cup champion Rex White, promoter Alf Knight, announcer Jimmy Mosteller and drivers Bob Flock, Frank Mundy, Ed Samples and Jack Smith. More info at the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame Association site.
AND Thunder Road U.S.A. may run out of gas without financial assistance. The entertainment complex/Georgia Racing Hall of Fame has fallen on hard times since it opened its doors a year ago. Thus during a spiraling economy, Thunder Road has not been the destination of the estimated 350,000 people expected to visit the complex annually. To date, only 5,865 visitors have made the trip to the racing Mecca in 2003. Scheduled to celebrate its second birthday Friday, Thunder Road’s financial setbacks may be too much to overcome to prop the doors open without a financial boost. A meeting of the Joint Development Authority of Dawsonville/Dawson County is scheduled for 10:00am on Friday at Thunder Road U.S.A. to discuss the crisis. The public is invited to attend.(Dawson News & Advertiser)(5-9-2003)
(5-8-2003)
- Looks like Steve Park to the #30 AOL car UPDATE 4 It's Official: hearing Mike Wallace could drive the #30 AOL Chevy at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Winston Open and Coca Cola 600 and could be the driver for the rest of 2003. Other rumors have RCR's Busch driver, Ron Hornaday, former RCR dirver, Mike Skinner [unlikely] and Busch Driver, Stacy Compton as possible drivers in the car.(5-6-2003)
UPDATE: hearing it could be a driver swap, with Steve Park in the #30.
UPDATE 2: Steve Park, released Tuesday from Dale Earnhardt Inc., is the leading candidate to take over the #30 Chevys for Richard Childress Racing, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Sources confirmed Wednesday the deal is "all but done" for Park to take over the ride in time for next weekend's Winston all-star activities at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Park would replace Jeff Green, who was released Monday from RCR and, ironically, hired Tuesday to drive Park's former ride at DEI.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-7-2003)
UPDATE 3: Steve Park told Fox Sports Net's Totally NASCAR's Sean Pragano Wednesday afternoon that he has several opportunities to consider after being released by DEI on Tuesday. Park will talk to Pragano on Thursday's Totally NASCAR for an update.(Fox Sports)(5-8-2003)
UPDATE 4: Steve Park has been named the driver for Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) #30 America Online Chevrolet team. He will make his RCR debut May 17 in The Winston Open at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. “Steve is going to give the America Online team a fresh start going into the summer months of the season,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “He’s a proven winner in Winston Cup and I know he has what it takes to work with Mike Beam (crew chief) and the rest of the AOL team to get the program headed in the right direction. I’ve talked with Kevin (Harvick) and Robby (Gordon) and they’re both excited about him driving for RCR. ”
“America Online is committed to winning and we’re proud to have Steve Park in the driver’s seat,” said Richard Taylor, Senior Vice President of Brand Promotions for America Online. "To have the opportunity to drive for RCR and America Online is exciting," said Park. “A mentor like Richard and a change of scenery is something I'm really looking forward to. I’m lucky to have a primary sponsor like AOL with their marketing power behind me. My goal is to build consistency and to revitalize the AOL/RCR NASCAR Winston Cup program so we can finish the season on a high note."(RCR Site)(5-8-2003)
- Fellow to run #1 at road courses: Jeff Green said Ron Fellows will race the #1 car at both road course events, Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen. Green said he was a bit disappointed, but understands the decision. He will still travel with the team to help in any way he can. Fellows was slated to run a 4th DEI car, #81.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Pass)(5-8-2003)
- Cogswell doing fine: #66 Crew Chief, Gary Cogswell, recently underwent surgery and was back at work and recovering well. It was reported that he had more testing to go thru, but he has no more testing to go through and all is fine. Cogswell had an ablation procedure to correct a heart arrhythmia that he has had for ten years and the procedure appears to have been a success and no more tests are scheduled.(5-8-2003)
- Parker to be Jarrett's new crew chief? Makar NOT leaving Gibbs UPDATE 3 Parker named, new car chief too: Shawn Parker could become Dale Jarrett's new crew chief, according to sources close to the Robert Yates team. And crew chief Greg Zipadelli says that there is nothing to the rumors that his own boss, General Manager Jimmy Makar, might move on to join the Yates team to work with Jarrett. Parker is a chassis specialist for the Elliott Sadler-Raymond Fox half of the Yates team. Parker was once a key member of the Jack Roush operation before moving on.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-26-2003)
UPDATE: hearing shawn Parker has been named as the crew chief of the #88 UPS Ford and driver Dale Jarrett.(5-7-2003)
UPDATE 2: Shawn Parker, former car chief for Winston Cup driver Elliott Sadler's #38 Fords, is the new crew chief for Salder's Robert Yates Racing teammate, Dale Jarrett, ThatsRacin.com has learned. An official annoucement of Parker's promotion is expected Wednesday afternoon, but sources confirmed the move has been completed. Parker joined Sadler's team this season from Roush Racing, where he served as car chief for driver Kurt Busch. Parker has no previous experience as a Winston Cup crew chief. The team released crew chief Brad Parrott last month and team manager Todd Parrott took an indefinite leave of absence. Garth Finley, who has served as interim crew chief for Jarrett since Brad Parrott's departure, is expected to return to the role of team manager.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-7-2003)
UPDATE 3: Also announced was the return of Jason Burdett to RYR as the #88’s car chief. Burdett previously worked with the team and was a part of the 1999 championship team. He left RYR following the 2000 season and joined the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team and helped contribute to its 2001 championship effort. Burdett served as the car chief for Hendrick’s #48 car since 2002.(Ford Racing), former #88 car chief, Darrell Morrow, was named the Shop Forman, Pit Crew Chart has been updated.(5-8-2003)
- Cogswell doing fine: #66 Crew Chief, Gary Cogswell, recently underwent surgery and was back at work and recovering well. It was reported that he had more testing to go thru, but he has no more testing to go through and all is fine. Cogswell had an ablation procedure to correct a heart arrhythmia that he has had for ten years and the procedure appears to have been a success and no more tests are scheduled.(5-8-2003)
- Roush Street: NASCAR multi-team owner Jack Roush was the keynote speaker during a luncheon Wednesday for the Motorsports Madness 2003 event held at Concord Regional Airport by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event unites businesses related to motorsports. Roush’s company employees about 1,800 people in five states, 350 of which are employed in this region. With Roush moving his world headquarters and museum to Cabarrus County, many more jobs are expected. Concord Mayor Scott Padgett honored Roush Wednesday by designating the road that leads to Roush Headquarters as Roush Place NW. It was formerly Downwind Boulevard.(Independent Tribune)(5-8-2003)
- Mayfield to run a Truck? Among the quickest of the more than 30 Truck Series teams testing Wednesday at Lowe's Motor Speedway was surprise visitor and Winston Cup veteran Jeremy Mayfield, who joined Ted Musgrave and Jason Leffler in a trio of Ultra Motorsports Dodges. The same #7 Mayfield piloted was driven by Stuart Kirby on Tuesday and, at this point, there has been no announcement of who will actually be in the seat for the May 16 Hardee’s 200.(Lowes Motor Speedway PR)(5-8-2003)
- Bruton Smith to sponsor IROC? Bruton Smith confirmed that one of his companies, zMAX, is negotiating to become the sponsor of the International Race of Champions series. The True Value chain of hardware stores will end its association with IROC after this season. "I am not interested in buying IROC," Smith said. "But I do have people who I'm quite sure have talked a couple of times about maybe becoming a sponsor. We are discussing that with them." Smith said that while he would leave the management of the series up to IROC president Jay Signore and his team, that does not mean Smith wouldn't have ideas for possible changes in the series. "We might have some suggestions," Smith said. "I would like to see it really be an international race of champions. It doesn't seem they ever quite get that." Smith said he thinks a "consolidation" of the IROC schedule might be necessary "if you really want to have a championship," but would not elaborate further. The potential sponsor, zMAX, is a line of engine lubricant products made by a company Smith bought in 1997.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-8-2003)
- Johnson Grand Marshal: The entertainment lineup for the ninth annual Speed Street, sponsored by Food Lion, was also announced Wednesday. The event opens at noon on May 22 and concludes Saturday evening with 10 p.m. concerts headlined by David Lee Roth, Aaron Tippin and The Presidents of the United States at three separate stages in a eight-block area in uptown Charlotte. A fireworks display will follow those shows. Racing legend Junior Johnson will be the grand marshal for the annual 600 Festival parade on May 20 in uptown Charlotte.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-8-2003)
- Get Well: RJR's/Winston's Denny Darnell had a heart attack yesterday while attending Church on Sunday. Fortunately, they were about 10 minutes from the hospital. They arrived at the emergency room at 12:00noon, and he was in the operating room by 1:00pm. Turns out, he had three blocked arteries which were treated with stents and a balloon. He does have some light to moderate damage to the wall of the heart, but he seems to be doing well. Last night, they said he'd be in CCU for at least one night, and he was moved to a private room this morning. Darnell will be in the hospital until Wednesday or Thursday before going home. Get well Denny.(5-5-2003)
UPDATE: Darnell is getting out of the hospital around mid day today. He still has a somewhat irregular heart beat, but after three hours of tests yesterday, the cardiolgists feel it will be normalized in time. No word yet on how long he will be out of work It depends on how quickly the heartbeat gets back to normal.(5-8-2003)
- Park Released? UPDATE 4 YES and Green in the #1 thru Sept: hearing from sources that Steve Park and Dale Earnahrdt Inc have parted ways or that Park will step out of the #1 Pennzoil ride for a few races.(5-6-2003)
UPDATE: Steve Park has been released by Dale Earnhardt Inc., reports ESPN's Mike Massaro. No word yet on who'll replace him in the #1 Pennzoil Chevy.(ESPN), rumors I have posted in the past month (see my #1 Team News and Links page) include Jason Keller and Sam Hornish, which both have been denied.
No word on if Park will still drive Dale Earnahrdt Jr's Chance 2 Busch Series cars which have been quite heavily marketed.
UPDATE 2: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has released Steve Park from his driving duties of the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet. Steve, DEI’s first full-time Winston Cup driver, began driving for the team in the fall of 1996 before racing a full season in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1997. He contended for the NBS Championship that year, finishing third in the series point standings and clinched the Rookie of the Year title. He went on to compete in the NASCAR Winston Cup series beginning in 1998, where he made 157 starts and had two victories and three poles. His best finish in the points standings was 11th in 2000. “Steve was instrumental in DEI's first NASCAR Winston Cup program,” stated Teresa Earnhardt. “Our loyalty to each other was hard to overcome. However, the time came where we simply had to make a change. We wish Steve the best in his future endeavors.”(DEI PR)
UPDATE 3 - Jeff Green in: Just one day after Richard Childress Racing released driver Jeff Green, Dale Earnhardt Inc. has decided to release Steve Park has names Green as his replacement.(ThatsRacin.com) AND Dale Earnhardt Inc. announced on Tuesday that NASCAR veteran Jeff Green will take over the driving duties of the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet starting with the Winston Open at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 18th. Green will drive the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet on an interim basis.(DEI PR)(5-6-2003)
UPDATE 4: Fox Sports Net's Totally NASCAR's Krista Voda reported that Jeff Green will be in the Dale Earnhardt Inc. #1 Pennzoil Chevy at least until September. Green was released from the Richard Childress Racing #30 AOL Chevy on Monday.(Fox Sports)(5-8-2003)
- Park's Comments: Driver Steve Park told PRN's Garagepass his release from DEI: "Feels like this big weight has been lifted off my shoulders". Park said, "I really thought I was shouldering things pretty well and was trying not to let the pressure get to me, I really didn't feel it, but I guess it's one of those things were you wanna perform and you want things to get better, but if you look at the last year with coming back from being hurt and Paul Andrews leaving and getting new people we've been through a tremendous amount". Park says he has no regrets about his time with DEI and that he was very happy with sponsor Pennzoil, his fans, and teammates. "Getting the opportunity to go to work for who I felt was a mentor to me the late-great Dale Earnhardt is something that I'll never regret and that I'm very glad and very positive that it lasted five years. I got to spend a large amount of time not only with him (Dale Earnhardt). But got to meet Teresa and spend time with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip, winning races and poles. It's just a shame the last year, year-and-a-half it's just kinda gone downhill, but I wouldn't trade it for nothin' in the world." Park added, "The one thing I want to see is the Pennzoil team to be successful and if it's with my departure, so be it, but the biggest fan they'll have is me. It appears Park will be named this week to drive the AOL Monte Carlo vacated when Jeff Green was let go on Monday.(5-8-2003)
- Some Paint Scheme Stuff: Rusty Wallace's #2 Dodge did not carry the 600th consecutive start logo on the rear quarter panel at the Richmond race last weekend. Wallace plans to run it at the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Also the #30 RCR Chevy was to run a Kraft scheme in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Kraft, with the driver change, the program has been put on hold.(5-8-2003)
- New Car Chief for the #48: Team Lowe's Racing and Hendrick Motorsports announced today it has promoted Ron Malec to car chief of the #48 Lowe's Chevy effective immediately. Malec, 28, has been with Hendrick Motorsports and Team Lowe's for the past two seasons as a team mechanic and rear tire carrier on race day. He replaces Jason Burdett, who recently left the team to pursue other
racing interests [car chief of the #88].(See my #48 Team News and Links page for the full PR)(Golin Harris PR)(5-8-2003)
- Richmond Broadcast #1 on Cable: The FX broadcast of the Winston Cup race from Richmond was last week's highest-rated broadcast on cable television. The race garnered a 4.1 rating, drawing 3.3 million homes. This is even with last year's 4.1 rating, but is an increase of 200,000 households due to more homes that receive FX. The telecast averaged 5.3 million viewers for the race. The demos were strong, with #1 wins for the week in Adults 18-49 (2.9 million), Adults 25-54 (3.3 million), and Men 25-54 (2 million). The other programs in the top five for the week on cable were two WWE broadcasts, the Presidential Address, and Spongebob Square Pants.(MotorsportsTV)(5-8-2003)
- Congrats: Veteran Busch Series Marketing and PR person for Camp and Assocates, Charlies Roakes and wife Grace welcomed a new arrival on Wednesday, Tyler McKay Roakes was born at 1:59pm, Tyler weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and is 20 1/2 inches long.(5-8-2003)
- NASCAR Executive to Address Symposium: George Pyne, NASCAR's chief operating officer, is scheduled to address the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Dearborne, Mich., Thursday as part of a NASCAR awareness program. NASCAR’s "unperformed maintenance" awareness program is designed to help fans maintain their vehicles and add value to the more than 30 aftermarket sponsors who back NASCAR. "Research shows that NASCAR fans own more vehicles, drive more miles, are more likely to own older vehicles and buy more auto parts to service their vehicles," Pyne said in advance of his address. "Using our media properties and relationships to encourage fans to take good care of their vehicles is good for them and our automotive sponsors."(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(5-8-2003)
- Justin Timberlake NASCAR Reporter: N'sync's Justine timberlake can add sports reporter to his entertainment resume. Timberlake is joining Turner Sports as a special correspondent. He'll contribute features and make appearances on a variety of the network's sports programs including NBA events, NASCAR and professional golf tournaments.(KLAS-TV)(5-8-2003)
(5-7-2003)
- Mike Wallace to sub for Nadeau: Mike Wallace will be the substitute driver for Jerry Nadeau in the #01 U.S. Army/MB2 Motorsports Pontiac, it was announced. Wallace, 44, will be filling in for Nadeau, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a practice crash last Friday at Richmond International Raceway. His first race in the U.S. Army car will be The Winston Open, May 17 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "We're appreciative that Mike has agreed to drive the U.S. Army car during Jerry's absence," said Jay Frye, general manager of MB2 Motorsports. "Mike has a vast amount of experience and we're confident that he will do a great job. This is a difficult time and we are fortunate to have a veteran like Mike, who will help all of us get through it." In two Winston Cup starts this season with #09 Phoenix Racing, he recorded a ninth-place finish at the Daytona 500. Additionally, in 2003, he has competed in the Busch Series with the #4 Biaggi Brothers car. After 10 starts, he's 12th in the points with one top-five and two top-10's to his credit. "First, let me say how much we're all hoping for a speedy recovery for Jerry," offered Wallace after accepting the U.S. Army ride. "I'm looking forward to helping this team out. It's a very good, quality race team. I fully understand that I'm helping out on an interim basis. The goal is to keep this car good in the points until Jerry comes back. Perhaps, we can even win a few races along the way."(US Army Racing PR)(5-7-2003)
- Steve Park Quotes Regarding Release: "Monday afternoon I was released by Dale Earnhardt, Inc. from my contract. I wanted to let everyone know that there are no hard feelings between myself and DEI; companies make decisions like this since that is the nature of the racing business. I will always look back on my years of driving for DEI with much happiness. Together the Pennzoil team and I shared many great memories of winning races and pole positions. It will always be an honor for me that I was the first Winston Cup driver for owner Dale Earnhardt. With my departure from the team, I wish Tony Gibson and the rest of the guys on the crew and at the shop great success. I have enjoyed working with them and know I will see them at the track very soon. I would also like to thank all of my loyal fans who have stood by me through the years, and hope to get all of us back in victory lane very soon."(Steve Park Site)(5-7-2003)
- Driver Doing Better: Melvin "Puddin" Swisher, who was badly injured in a crash during a Modified stock-car race at Caraway Speedway on March 29, continues to improve, his son, Curtis Swisher, said yesterday. Swisher was in critical condition for nearly a month, recovering from a broken wrist, broken ribs, facial fractures and head injuries. Swisher is now out of intensive care and was moved to acute care over the weekend at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. "That's a good step," Curtis Swisher said. "He's doing a whole lot better." Curtis Swisher said that his father is "talking and communicating."(Winston Salem Journal)(5-7-2003)
- Looking at a 'Bigger' Car in the future: NASCAR is testing crushable metals, such as aluminum foam, which could help absorb some of the shock of a crash. "On the advice of our two outside experts and car manufacturers, they said about 80 percent of what we could do to improve things would be inside the cockpit and the other 20 percent would be with the rest of the car," NASCAR's Jim Hunter said. He added that NASCAR is designing a "car of the future," which will be bigger and feature a larger cockpit area. "We have to do that over a period of years so we don't (make everything in the garage) obsolete overnight," Hunter said.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(5-7-2003)
- Chase Vehicle Added: NASCAR's Jim Hunter said NASCAR recently has added a "chase" vehicle to its emergency crew lineup. The vehicle is the first on the scene of an wreck with a NASCAR official at the wheel and an EMT in the passenger seat. "Our position on the medical end is well known," Hunter said. "We prefer to use local EMTs who do that every day as a line of work. We always felt having a local group who does it every day is better than having somebody travel who does it so many weekends a year."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(5-7-2003)
- NASCAR Safety Process: For those who watched the Richmond International Raceway event last week you might have noticed that the drivers were either fetching their helmets and Head And Neck Safety or Hutchins device, or having them brought to them following the various incidents of the night. This process, which has become part of ritual of a post-incident ride to the infield care center since 2002, gives attending doctors more information as they check to see if a driver might have sustained injuries during the course of a wreck. After the physicians are done with the helmet and head restraint it is turned over to NASCAR’s chief accident investigator, Jerry Kaproth. Kaproth and his accident investigators inspect the driver safety devices and take digital photos of them if there are any issues of merit with the pieces. NASCAR, with each accident, takes a full set of digital photos of the car, which provide a visual record of what worked and areas of the car that might need closer review. This data, along with the “Independent Witness”, the black box data recorder information is then entered into a incident data file. NASCAR routinely reviews these data sets with safety experts to see if there’s an immediate fix required, or if the car acted in a predictable fashion. Men, including General Motor’s Tom Gideon and NASCAR safety consultant, John Melvin, review the data upon NASCAR’s request.(Ford Racing)(5-7-2003)
- Vasser to Winston Cup in 2004? AutoRacing1.com is reporting that CART driver Jimmy Vasser signed last week to run a full season of Winston Cup for 2004.(AutoRacing1.com - need subscription to read), didn't say which team.(5-7-2003)
- Cheeiest Car: He may not have won Saturday's Pontiac Excitement 400, but race car driver Terry Labonte has a distinction no other competitor can tout -- a replica of his car made entirely out of cheese. The American Dairy Association unveiled a large scale model car made out of cheese at Richmond International Raceway on Friday in Virginia. It was modeled after Labonte's No. 5 Chevrolet and carved from 3,500 pounds of yellow cheddar cheese.(see full story and an image at CNN.com)(5-7-2003)
- Shawna to run ProChallange race: Shawna Robinson will be competing in.a ProChallange series race Saturday evening May 10, 2003 at the Senoia Speedway in Senoia, Georgia. More info on my Driver Appearances page.(5-7-2003)
- Gordon 23rd fastest Tues: Robby Gordon had the 21rd fastest car at Indy, a speed of 226.607mph in the #27 Dallara/Honda, fastest speed was turned in by his teammate, Dan Wheldon at 231.108. A.J. Foyt's grandson, A.J. Foyt IV had the 15th fastest car.(Indianapolis Star) AND Gordon posted the 23rd-fastest lap of the day yesterday in preparation for the Indianapolis 500 with a best speed of 226.607 miles per hour (39.7163 seconds) among his 85 laps run.. The Archipelago/Motorola team concentrated on the car’s race balance for the third day in a row, focusing on different downforce levels. Once satisfied with the race set-up, Gordon’s team began changing the car over for a simulated qualifying run. (RCR PR)(5-7-2003)
(5-6-2003)
- Positions Changed: When the finals results came out today for the Richmond race, nine finishing places were changed, #10-Benson from 14th to 15th, #74-Raines from 15th to 14th, #16-Biffle from 16th to 17th, #24-Gordon from 17th to 16th, #54-Bodine from 22nd to 23rd, #42-McMurray from 23rd tro 22nd, #45-Petty from 28th to 27th, #41-Mears from 29th to 28th, and #23-Wallace from 27th to 29th. Why did the positions change? No idea. NASCAR reviews the video and scoring results Monday mornings and makes adjustments as necessary.
For the official results from NASCAR, see my Jayski's Pontiac Excitement Results page, for points, see Jayski's Driver/Owners Points standings after Richmond page. This is why I wait until the Official Results come out to do most my Stats.(5-6-2003)
- More Green Comments: Jeff Green says he probably shouldn't have gone to Kevin Harvick's pit following.Saturday night's on-track incident in Richmond.involving his former RCR teammate, however he said. "To do it over again I'd.probaby do exactly the same thing...I don't have any regrets for it." Green says he hates it for sponsor AOL and the crew, but the way the year has gone it's been mounting. "To have teammates you gotta be able to work together and you've gotta want to help each other and some of the things I've seen.throughout the last year and half things.wasn't going that way so.it's just time for a change." .What also concerned Green was that he felt car owner Richard Childress didn't see.the 30 team as important as his other Winston Cup teams. Green says he and Childress talked and that he can see both sides of the situation and hopes Childress can see his side. Green said the two years with RCR are two years he'll always remember and be grateful.Richard Childress gave him the opportunity.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(5-6-2003)
- Biffle to run Truck race UPDATE deal squashed: Winston Cup rookie and former NASCAR Truck series champion Greg Biffle has entered the inaugural Truck race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Biffle, the 2000 series champion, will drive the #7 Dodge for Ultra Motorsports, which fields Dodges for #1-Ted Musgrave and #7-Jason Leffler. Biffle, 33, is expected at the speedway Tuesday and Wednesday for an open test in preparation for the May 16 Hardee's 250, sources said. Biffle's last appearance in the series came in November 2001, when he won the race at Phoenix driving the #99 Ford for Roush Racing. He now drives the #16 Ford for Roush in Winston Cup. In 80 career Truck starts, Biffle has 16 wins, 12 poles, 42 top-five and 53 top-10 finishes.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-5-2003)
UPDATE: Greg Biffle's one-race deal to run the inaugural Truck series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway has come to an abrupt end. Unforeseen sponsor conflicts will prevent Biffle from driving the #7 Dodge for Ultra Motorsports in the May 16 Hardee's 200, team officials confirmed Tuesday.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-6-2003)
- Green relased from RCR #30 ride UPDATE 2 Green reacts; Hornaday in?: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has ended the contract of Jeff Green as the driver for RCR's #30 AOL NASCAR Winston Cup program, effective immediately. "Our relationship was not where we had hoped it would be at this point so we decided to make this move now," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Enterprises, Inc. "Jeff is a very good race car driver but sometimes change can be good for everyone involved. I'll always be grateful to him for what he accomplished for RCR in both the Winston Cup Series and the Busch Series." Green was the driver for the #30 America Online team since its inception for an eight-race schedule in 2001. He finished 17th in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series final point standings and is currently in 32nd place after the first 11 races this season. He earned two pole positions during his tenure at RCR, for this season's Daytona 500 and the August 2001 race at Bristol. He also earned two Busch Series victories for RCR's #21 team in 2002. A replacement driver will be announced at a later date.(RCR PR)(5-5-2003)
UPDATE: Jeff Green will reunite with his former championship crew chief, Harold Holly, to try to win his third straight CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway later this month and will race a car for Team Amick Motorsports. The deal with team owner Amick, who has a great reputation as a Busch Series engine supplier, was a ray of sunshine for Green, who struggled to find a feel at RCR similar to what he had known at ppc. "I don't know if it's the latest step in a great, big chemistry experiment at RCR," Green said, chuckling, of his demise. "I think all of us have tried to do the best job we could, to win races, and I've tried to do the darnedest job I could in the seat. Things just got in our way to be able to reach our goals, and I guess Richard wanted to make a change. It's very surprising (because) we've had some good moments, but we had some bad ones, too, and it was time to try something different. I don't think the drivers are the problem why they're not winning and I don't think it's the crew chiefs," Green said. "It's not any body else -- it's just a combination of everything and competition is tough." An RCR spokesperson said the team had until The Winston weekend, May 16-17 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, to settle on a driver. Green isn't sitting still, either, as his deal with Holly displayed. He acknowledged his frustration at having his potential season best finish eliminated when teammate Kevin Harvick ran into him from behind after 267 of 400 laps in the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway. He said he'd had no indication his job was in jeopardy, prior to the blow-up after that wreck, in which he confronted Harvick on the race track while his teammate circulated under caution, then went to the pits to berate Harvick's crew chief Todd Berrier. Green said he had not had a chance to talk with Harvick since Saturday night -- at least not on the level that he expected. "No, I guess he does all his talking with his bumper, I don't know," Green said, chuckling again. "Any time that I've got into somebody and was sorry for it I've tried to call them and at least give them an opportunity to hear their side of it. I don't know -- I guess that's just part of it. I've had some good teammates in the past that I enjoyed being around and I enjoyed being around Kevin and Robby (Gordon). It's not like they're going anywhere and hopefully we'll be racing together soon and not miss a beat -- just a little bit different perspective." Green said he was sensitive to the issue surrounding the concern over Jerry Nadeau's recovery after his serious crash last Friday during practice at Richmond, which leaves MB2 Motorsports and its general manager, Jay Frye in need of a driver at least for the short term. However, he said he would be working the phones, as well. "I'm not going to sit back and wait for them to call me (because) everybody knows about it, now," Green said. "I've already talked to a few people and I would love to drive for Jay and those guys over there would be a great opportunity -- to be associated with the U.S. Army would be pretty awesome. But we're all thinking about Jerry and I don't want to overshadow what he's got going on in the next no-telling how long to get back to where he needs to be.(more at NASCAR.com)
UPDATE 2 so who is in the #30 car for the Winston Open? hearing it could be RCR Busch Series driver Ron Hornaday [which makes sense] or Mike Skinner [which makes no sense]
UPDATE 3: Ron Hornaday says he has not been contacted about the #30 AOL ride and is Busch testing at Chatlotte.(XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio - Subscription Required)(5-6-2003)
- Gordon moves up the speed charts at Indy; Herta to stand by: #31-Robby Gordon was 8th fastest in Tuesday Indy 500 practice with a speed of 227.735mph in his Dallara-Honda. Tora Takagi was the fastest at 229.019.(Indianaplis Star)
AND Andretti Green Racing got two replacements in one driver Monday when it hired former Championship Auto Racing Teams driver Bryan Herta. Herta will be the backup for Robby Gordon, who is Dario Franchitti's fill-in at the Speedway, should rain delay the start of the 500 and Gordon have to leave early for the NASCAR race in Charlotte. The team's plan is to test Herta on Wednesday. After the 500, Herta will be Franchitti's replacement in the IRL's races at Texas and Pikes Peak. He will test at the two tracks in the next two weeks.(Indianapolis Star)(5-6-2003)
- Realtree and the #29? UPDATE 2: hearing Realtree, who sponsored Dave Marcis for years on the #71 car, will be on Kevin Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench as the primary or co-primary at an upcoming race.
UPDATE: This special paint will run August 23rd at Bristol under the lights.(3-14-2003)
UPDATE 2: now have an image of the scheme, see my 2003 Winston Cup Paint Schemes - Cars #'s 24-99 page for the image.(4-10-2003)
UPDATE 3: hearing this scheme has been cancelled.(5-6-2003)
- More Keller and DEI: Jason Keller has been linked to DEI's #1 Chevrolets, currently driven by Steve Park. Park has not performed well since returning from a head injury, and Keller's name has been mentioned as a replacement if Park is booted. Keller and DEI officials deny that any such move is planned, but the fact that both drivers' contracts expire at the end of the season only adds fuel to the fire of speculation. "I would love the opportunity to drive a DEI car for more races," Keller said. "If you ask anybody in this (Busch) garage, they'd tell you the same thing. I would love to do that, but I still say it's premature that people are thinking it's going to happen." DEI official Ty Norris said there has been no discussion about Keller and the No. 1 team.(Greenville News)(5-6-2003)
- Action Problems: After a string of disappointing financial results, NASCAR merchandiser Action Performance Cos. is out of the winner's circle on Wall Street. Analysts and investors who cheered the Tempe company's strong rebound and bid up the stock early last year now are questioning management's credibility and the strength of the souvenir boom for stock-car racing. The most nagging issue has been production delays on 2003 replica cars because of body-style changes in the Pontiac and Monte Carlo. The so-called retooling hurt results in three quarters. The company says the retooling is complete. A big concern now among investors is with demand, especially for Action's line of lower-priced souvenir NASCAR cars sold in stores such as Wal-Mart. The company shocked analysts last week when it reported a significant drop-off in orders from retailers for its fiscal third quarter.(Arizona Republic)(5-6-2003)
- Marcis Racing plans to race: hearing that #71 Marcis Racing has a car currently at Richard Childress's shop having the body put on. No driver, track or sponsor has been finalized as of yet.(5-6-2003)
- Benson Returns To Michigan For Fan Club Open House, Late Model Race: Johnny Benson will attend the annual Johnny Benson Fan Club Celebration at Berlin Raceway with more than 2,000 fan club members who will meet for the first time since Benson’s his first career victory at Rockingham in October. The 6,700-member fan club run by Benson’s sister is one of the largest in the Winston Cup Series. Benson’s father John Benson, a Michigan Racing Hall Of Fame member, will join his son at the fan club meeting. See more info (many appearances at tracks on May 10th) on my Driver Appearances/Chats/TV page.(5-6-2003)
(5-5-2003)
- Sad News: Rudolp C. Hillman, the Father of Mike Hillman, crew chief, #11 Hooters Ford and grandfather of Mike Hillman, Jr., crewman and tire changer for #16 Ford - passed away from cancer on 5/4.
Rudolp C. Hillman
Prudden & Kandt Funeral Home
242 Genesee St.
Lockport, NY. 14094
716/433-6300
Visitation:... Tuesday. 7-9pm; Wednesday.. 2-4pm and 7-9pm
Funeral Services:. Thursday (5/8). 9:30am followed by mass of Christian burial at 10am at St. Mary's Church.(5-5-2003)
- Biffle to run Truck race: Winston Cup rookie and former NASCAR Truck series champion Greg Biffle has entered the inaugural Truck race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Biffle, the 2000 series champion, will drive the #7 Dodge for Ultra Motorsports, which fields Dodges for #1-Ted Musgrave and #7-Jason Leffler. Biffle, 33, is expected at the speedway Tuesday and Wednesday for an open test in preparation for the May 16 Hardee's 250, sources said. Biffle's last appearance in the series came in November 2001, when he won the race at Phoenix driving the #99 Ford for Roush Racing. He now drives the #16 Ford for Roush in Winston Cup. In 80 career Truck starts, Biffle has 16 wins, 12 poles, 42 top-five and 53 top-10 finishes.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-5-2003)
- Rusty to Retire in 2005? He didn't say it in so many words, but in the pre-race notes for Saturday night's race at Richmond, Rusty Wallace hinted he might retire from driving in the Winston Cup Series at the end of the 2005 season, or at least cut back his schedule. Wallace, 46, celebrated 600 consecutive Winston Cup starts at Richmond, and has 609 total starts. "700 straight?" Wallace asked rhetorically. "I honestly don't think I'm going to make 700 straight, but it'll be probably 675." If he stays on his current pace, Wallace would be 49 years old at the end of the 2005 season, would have 687 consecutive starts if the schedule remains at 36 races a season and would amass 697 total events.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(5-5-2003)
- Gordon practices at Indy: Robby Gordon jumped into one of Andretti/Green Racing's Indy cars and laid down a lap at 220.636mph [25th of 29th] on Sunday's opening day of practice for the Indianapolis 500. Although that was pretty far down the speed list, Gordon's agenda was to get acclimated to the high-speed machine after finishing fourth in Saturday night's race at Richmond. After returning to Charlotte, NC from Richmond, VA at 2:00am/et, Gordon got to bed a few hours later and was up at 7:00am to fly to Indianapolis. "I normally only sleep about five hours a night, so today was no problem," Gordon said. "I had a good run last night. We have a great team at Richard Childress Racing. We have our short-track and superspeedway programs figured out, but we struggle on the intermediate ovals. We kind of threw it away at California and let it slip away. It was good to come back and be as strong as we were at Richmond." Gordon, who has done the Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 double twice in his career, is driving in the IRL for Michael Andretti, who used to be his adversary when both were competing in CART. Gordon and Paul Tracy once wore T-shirts that said, "Michael Andretti Driving School for the Blind - If you can't see them, hit them" into a CART driver's meeting. Andretti was not happy about that, but over the years, the son of 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti has become a little more forgiving. "I think it's definitely amazing," Andretti said. "You have to do what is best for the team and we feel that Robby can win the race. His association with Cingular is definitely good for Motorola, so it's all about what is best for the team." Gordon has an ideal schedule to participate in both Winston Cup and the Indy 500 this year. Next weekend, there are no Winston Cup races, so Gordon's Pole Day is unencumbered. He can also practice for a few days the following week but will participate in The Winston at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 17. The driver from Orange, California will be able to participate in Carburetion Day -- the final practice session before the Indy 500 -- on May 22 before returning to Charlotte for practice and qualifications for the Coca-Cola 600. Gordon will attempt to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day for the third time in his career.(CNNSI)(5-5-2003)
(5-4-2003)
see the Apr 28-May 4, 2003 Archived News Page
(4-27-2003)
see the Apr 21-27, 2003 Archived News Page
(4-20-2003)
see the Apr 14-20, 2003 Archived News Page
