PAST NEWS: JULY 14-20, 2003
THE PAST NEWS! YESTERDAY and BEYOND..
OTHER PAST NEWS PAGES
(7-20-2003)
- Johnson wins the New England 300 at New Hampshire Intl Speedway. It is Johnson's 2nd win of 2003 and the 5th of his career. #29-Kevin Harvick finished 2nd. #16-Greg Biffle was the highest finishing rookie and #30-Steve Park got his first top 10 with the #30 team. The featured 12 cautions and it seemed the drivers could pass all over the track. Even with all the cautions and wrecks, only three care didn't finish the race. #24-Jeff Gordon led the most laps but faded at the end and ended up 24th, dropping to 234 points behind #17-Matt Kenseth who finished 3rd. See my New England 300 Race Info page for my race rundown, the top 10, lap leaders, cars out, caution summeries and notes
Race Results at Jayski's New Hampshire Race Results page and see drivers standings at Jayski's Drivers/Owners Standings page
other results links on my 2003 Results Page.(7-20-2003)
- Kyle all black: #45-Kyle Petty will have his all black #45 Dodge at New Hampshire, a schemes he has run at the track since his son Adam was killed at NHIS back in 2000 in a Busch Series practice wreck.(7-20-2003)
- Skinner? Unser Jr.? Speculation on FSN's NASCAR This Morning mentioned Mike Skinner or Al Unser Jr. as possible drivers in the #0 NetZero Pontiac at Indy for the Brickyard 400 [Andretti has a commitment with DEI to run at Indy], also could be David Green.(FSN's NASCAR This Morning)(7-20-2003)
- Spencer wins: At the end of the 25-lap exhibition race on the three-eighths mile at Waterford Speedbowl oval, Jimmy Spencer passed Dave Blaney on turn 4 of the last lap to win before about 5,000. Former Ellington resident Steve Park finished third and Sterling Marlin fourth. The drivers borrowed equally prepared cars from track regulars. There wasn't much time for schmoozing before returning to Loudon for today's New England 300, but Park ran into old friends and spent time in the pits offering advice to younger drivers. Park started fourth but dominated the first 10 laps. He passed Spencer on the third lap and Blaney on the fourth. On the eighth lap, he went low in turn 2 to pass Marlin and led until the race was stopped after 10 laps to invert the field. That put Spencer in the lead. He and Blaney ran even much of the final 15 laps, Spencer on the inside. On the final lap, Spencer got hung up in turn 1 but came back to pass Blaney in turn 4.(Hartford Courant)(7-20-2003)
- Fire Safety Ideas: #01 crew chief Ryan Pemberton said he likes the proposed in-trunk fire extinguishers. "And we need to do something about these fuel pumps, put them in a different area," Pemberton said. "We're probably the only racers still running stock mechanical fuel pumps." Pemberton said NASCAR should change to electric fuel pumps, and crew chief Chad Knaus said he agrees. "When a fire erupts under the hood, it's usually because somebody has hit the wall and knocked the fuel pump off," Knaus said. "So I think we should go to electric fuel pumps to keep that from happening. Production cars have fuel pumps that shut off automatically when you crash or turn upside down, and we can do the same."(Winston Salem Journal)(7-20-2003)
- Sprague's Choice to leave the #0? Jack Sprague's decision to split with [the #0 Haas Racing team] was sudden and surprising -- at least to those on the outside. On the inside, Sprague had become increasingly disenchanted with the Winston Cup tour, just six months into his rookie season after pushing for a Cup ride for several years.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-20-2003)
- Former NASCAR Official May Head to Politics: Former NASCAR Official, Kevin Triplett, of Abingdon, VA said he is exploring a candidacy, the 9th District congressional seat currently held by 21-year Democratic incumbent Rick Boucher. Triplett recently resigned as managing director of business operations for NASCAR. Boucher, who is from Abingdon, has won his races handily in recent years. He supports gun rights and has worked hard to bring industry to the economically depressed district. Triplett recently bought a home in Abingdon. He is from Clintwood and his wife is from Bristol. Triplett is a former sportswriter for the Bristol Herald Courier and a former publicist for the late driver Dale Earnhardt. He joined NASCAR in 1994 and resigned from the organization June 1 to move back to Southwest Virginia from Charlotte, NC.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-20-2003)
(7-19-2003)
- Kurt Busch to run Busch race at Homestead? Cup driver Kurt Busch mentioned on Speed Channel's Trackside show Friday night that he may run in the Homestead Busch Series race in November to get more seat time at the newly reconfigured track since drivers will have very little time to get accustomed to the track that weekend.(BGNRacing.com)(7-19-2003)
- New #54 Crew Chief: Gary Cogswell has taken over as crew chief for #54-Todd Bodine, starting at New Hampshire this week. Former crew chief, Derrick Finley will supposedly remain on as an engineer. A replacement will be named later for #66-Hideo Fukuyama as they have plans to run Watkins Glen.(7-19-2003)
- No Money in the Settlement: Attorneys representing NASCAR and safety equipment manufacturer Bill Simpson confirmed Friday there was no financial settlement to the deal they announced Tuesday. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Simpson, of Avon, Ind., had insisted on receiving an apology from the sanctioning body before he filed an $8.5 million defamation lawsuit in federal court in Indianapolis. NASCAR linked the seat belt of Simpson's former company to the death of seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 Daytona 500. Simpson insisted that Earnhardt had the belt installed at an angle unapproved by the manufacturer.(Indianspolis Star) and see past news on lawsuits on my Lawsuits Page.(7-19-2003)
(7-18-2003)
- More on AT&T and Nextel: The future of AT&T's involvement in NASCAR remains in question, although it appears #49 BAM Racing has lost most hope in securing the company as a primary sponsor for its Dodges and driver Ken Schrader [who is NOT retiring]. NASCAR chief operating officer George Pyne confirmed Friday that NASCAR made the decision not to allow an expansion of AT&T's sponsorship of BAM Racing in light of the sanctioning body's new 10-year deal with Nextel Communications to sponsor what is now the Winston Cup series beginning in 2004. AT&T's 1-800-CALL-ATT division, which has served as a primary sponsor on BAM's #49 in several races this season, was among the sponsors that would be allowed to continue in the sport under a "grandfather clause," Pyne said. However, NASCAR drew the line on any expansion of AT&T's involvement, particularly the use of any logos that would promote AT&T Wireless, a direct competitor of Nextel. "It is part of our responsibility to look out for the interests for our teams and our sponsors," Pyne said. Audrey Schaefer, director of corporate communications for Nextel, said NASCAR was the "final arbiter" for all sponsor decisions. She said Nextel had no objection to AT&T's continued involvement in the sport so long as it fell within the confines of Nextel's agreement with NASCAR. The use of AT&T's trademark "globe" logo has been the sticking point on most of the discussions involving the possible full-time sponsorship of BAM's team. NASCAR has also had AT&T as an "official sponsor," but that agreement concludes at the end of the season, Pyne said.(ThatsRacin.com)(7-18-2003)
- 2004 Ford Taurus to be unvieled: From the Team Ford Racing site: You’ve supported your favorite Ford Racing drivers and teams all season long, and now it’s time for us to say 'Thank You' to you, the fans. Join Ford Racing and Your Indiana Ford Stores at the RCA Dome, in downtown Indianapolis, on July 31 from 4:00-8:00pm/ct for Ford Racing Fan Appreciation Day, where the excitement of racing is brought to you. Fans will have the opportunities to participate in Q&A and autograph sessions with NASCAR drivers Ricky Rudd, Dale Jarrett, Elliott Sadler, Kurt Busch, Brett Bodine, Kasey Kahne, Rick Crawford, Jon Wood, Carl Edwards and Terry Cook. Attendees will also be able to see the unveiling of the 2004 Ford Taurus stock car and 2004 Ford F-150 truck during a special presentation with Edsel B. Ford II, member of the Ford Motor Company board of directors and chairman of Team Ford Racing. There will also be show car, car club, USAC and Ford production vehicle displays, as well as the Ford Racing merchandise trailer, pit crew demonstrations and interactive displays for adults and children. Tickets are free of charge and available at Your Local Indiana Ford Dealers. Each autograph session is limited to 350 autographs per driver. Entry is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Schedules for driver Q&A and autograph times will be available when the event begins. All Q&A and autograph sessions are subject to change.(Ford Racing)(7-18-2003)
- DEI and Andretti firm up Indy plans: John Andretti, who accepted a two-race deal this week to drive Haas CNC Racing's #0 Pontiacs for the next two races, has also agreed to drive a Dale Earnhardt Inc. entry in the Aug. 3 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Andretti tested a DEI car at Indy last week with good results. The Indy race replaces one originally scheduled for Chicagoland, in which Busch driver Jason Keller failed to qualify. "We are really confident he can qualify in the top 10 or 15 and run competitively all day," said Ty Norris, DEI's executive vice president for motorsports. "John wanted to be sure we were committed because he thinks he can go up there and be a factor in that race with that car. That gave us a lot of confidence."(ThatsRacin.com)(7-18-2003)
- No Hornish to DEI: Dale Earnhardt Inc. has given up on trying to put two-time Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish Jr. in a stock car. DEI executive vice president Ty Norris said Hornish, whose contract with Panther Racing expires after this season, was never more than mildly interested. "I think he's real comfortable in his open-wheel career," Norris said. "We've moved on, and so has he." DEI and Panther, which share Pennzoil as a sponsor, had discussions last year about Hornish running a limited number of NASCAR Busch Series and Winston Cup events. Panther co-owner John Barnes was against the idea. "We couldn't get the release, so we dropped it," Norris said. "But I think when Sam thought about racing almost 40 weekends a year, plus 10 or 12 tests, he was happy to stay where he's at." Hornish, however, has not ruled out a shot at NASCAR in 2004. He said his future will be clear next month. Panther plans to test several drivers in September, at the least searching for a second driver to complement Hornish. Barnes said the list will include Dave Steele, Ed Carpenter, Mark Taylor, Tomas Enge and "a couple of drivers in CART." Panther also will be looking at IRL veteran Billy Boat, Barnes said(Indianapolis Star)(7-18-2003)
- #14 or #50? noticed something on NASCAR.com's New Hampshire Entry List. Larry Foyt is now listed in the #50 car, NOT the #14 car, which is no longer in the list. Did the team change numbers? Is it a mistake? Are they gonna run a 2nd car? No idea and have found nothing about it.
UPDATE: been told it was AJ Foyt's choice and that is all that is being said.
UPDATE 2 - sort of: A.J. Foyt Racing's Winston Cup entry will run with the No. 50 on the Dodge that Larry Foyt will drive in this weekend's New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway, according to the entry lists posted on several Web sites. Jayski.ThatsRacin.com reports that team owner A.J. Foyt decided to use the number instead of the No. 14 that has been used throughout this difficult season that has seen rookie Larry Foyt stuck in 42nd in the Winston Cup standings with no top-10 finishes in his 12 races to date.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)
Speculation has that Foyt doesn't want to use the one (1) provisional left for the #14 car and save it for Indy in two weeks, if they ran the #14 this week and was not in the top 36 in speed, they would be charged a provisional, it is NOT their choice to use it or not. So the team supposedly is using the #50, which has been used by the team in the past [last year for instance] and probably will use it at Pocono.(7-18-2003)
- More 'final' TV Ratings for Chicago: Final Nielsen Media Research numbers show that NBC's broadcast of last Sunday's Tropicana 400 Winston Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway drew a 5.4 rating and a 14 share, today's SportsBusiness Daily reports. The numbers climbed sharply from the 4.9/11 overnight figures thanks to a boost from smaller markets and bettered last year's final figures of 5.3/14.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(7-18-2003)
- #99 Bassmaster Scheme Back: The #99 CITGO Ford, driven by Roush Racing's Jeff Burton, will display a special paint
scheme during Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup race at the New Hampshire International Speedway. In preparation for the upcoming CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by Busch Beer, Burton's machine will feature the CITGO Bassmaster Classic logo on the front hood. The Classic is scheduled for August 1-3, in New Orleans, La. The CITGO Bassmaster Classic tournament is the world championship of professional bass fishing. It has a 33-year tradition of intense competition among anglers. Winning a Classic championship is the high point of an angler's career. This year's 61-angler field will vie for the $200,000 championship purse. The overall payout is $700,000. For complete coverage of the CITGO BASSMASTER Classic log onto www.bassmaster.com.(Cox Marketing PR)(7-18-2003)
- Toyota still has a lot to do: Toyota has submitted its Tundra race truck to NASCAR for approval to compete in the Truck series in 2004. The design for the new truck was started more than a year ago by Toyota Racing Development, with the help of Swift Engineering in California. "We have a wealth of experience and talent at TRD in creating an engine from scratch, but in developing the Tundra chassis and body we went to industry experts with the know-how in NASCAR-type equipment," said Jim Aust, president and CEO of TRD. "It's been a great learning experience and a very gratifying journey," Aust added. "But we know a lot of the hard work is yet to come. We're working diligently to prepare our Toyota NASCAR V-8 for submission in a few months." The Tundra truck submitted to NASCAR will undergo final aerodynamic evaluation by the sanctioning body, along with the other manufacturers' trucks. On-track testing of the Toyota truck is scheduled to begin this summer and continue into the fall.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(7-18-2003)
- Former F-1 champ, Jacques Villeneuve, to NASCAR? doubtful but...: Canadian Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve could return to British American Racing next season, his manager said Friday. Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula One champion, is in the final year of a five-year contract with BAR and his future is one of the most hotly debated topics in the series. Villeneuve was once wildly popular, but his star has faded with BAR. He's had just one podium finish with the team - none since 2001 - and his BAR-Honda has been unreliable all season with a string of mechanical failures. Pollock ruled out a return to the struggling CART series, but said the driver might listen to offers from NASCAR teams.(Yahoo Sports)(7-18-2003), don't see this happening,it would be a HUGE paycut.
- Johnson signs with an agency: Wilhelmina Artist Management has signed Jimmie Johnson, driver of Hendrick Motorsports' No. 48 Chevrolet in the Winston Cup Series, to its growing list of athletes, today's SportsBusiness Daily reports. WAM spokesperson Danielle Rausch told The Daily that the company will meet with Johnson next week to determine specifics of a marketing plan. Other athletes represented by WAM include the NFL's Eddie George, NBA players Stephon Marbury and Matt Harpring and PGA Tour player Matt Kuchar.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(7-18-2003)
(7-17-2003)
- Reggie White Accuses Jesse Jackson of Wasting NASCAR's Money: Reggie White, one of the National Football League's greatest defensive players of all time, has accused Jesse Jackson of taking "a quarter of million dollars from NASCAR and not do[ing] anything with it. "It's really disappointing to me that Jesse and his organization would take a quarter of a million dollars from NASCAR and not do anything with it to try to get black drivers into the sport," White said in an interview on FOX News Channel's Fox & Friends Wednesday morning. NASCAR has reportedly given at least $250,000 to Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition as part of an effort to increase the number of minority racers in the sport.(see full story at CNSNews.com)(7-17-2003)
- Marcis Racing to make 2003 debut at NHIS: #71-Marcis Racing just launched a brand new web site at www.marcisracing.com [same address as the old site]. The site contains news, pictures, stats, FAQs, and souvenirs, and it also has a section called "Dave's Stories". This section will be updated periodically with racing stories of his career, as told from Dave Marcis. Marcis Racing will be fielding a car at New Hampshire this weekend with 2000 ASA champ Tim Sauter driving. It's a brand new car, and the engine is coming from Richard Childress Racing.(PR)(7-17-2003)
- Nice Gesture by DW: Darrell Waltrip earlier this week donated 30 children's car seats to the Martha O'Bryan Center. The seats went to children of needy families who live in the James A. Cayce Homes.(Tennessean)(7-17-2003)
- Stewart Wins: Fans poured into Thompson International Speedway Wednesday to see reigning Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart put on an exhibition match race with fellow driver Jimmy Spencer. But they got much more than a match race. Stewart surprised the crowd by entering the regularly scheduled 30-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series SK Modified feature. Starting from the back of the field, Stewart put on a clinic, using racing lines that most wouldn't dare on his way to winning the SK feature.(Hartford Courant)(7-17-2003)
- Paul Andrews son to run Busch North race: The #0 Penfold Motorsports Team will have a new face behind the wheel in this weekends New England 125 NASCAR Busch North Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway. One of this years top rookie of the year contenders, Tim Andrews, has been named to drive the teams car at the Magic Mile on Saturday. Bob Harrison will serve as Andrews crewchief and Penfold will be on hand as a consultant. Penfold plans to return to driving duties at Watkins Glen in August. No word yet on any further events scheduled with Andrews in the Penfold Motorsports car.(North East Racing), Andrews is the son of #99 crew cheif, Paul Andrews.(7-17-2003)
- Brickyard 400 Testing part II - Tuesday News and Speeds: A second round of NASCAR Winston Cup Series private testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway gets underway Monday, July 14 [and 15th]. Drivers scheduled to test are: #0-Jack Sprague, #01-Mike Wallace, #02-Hermie Sadler. #07-Ted Musgrave, #2-Rusty Wallace, #4-David Reutimann, #5-Terry Labonte, #7-Jimmy Spencer, #9-Bill Elliott, #10-Johnny Benson, #11-Brett Bodine, #21-Ricky Rudd, #30-Steve Park, #31-Robby Gordon , #37-Derrike Cope, #38-Elliott Sadler [15th/16th], #42-Jamie McMurray, #43-Christian Fittipaldi, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #49-Ken Schrader, #54-Todd Bodine, #57-Mike Skinner, #79-Billy Bigley Jr. #81-John Andretti and #88 Dale Jarrett [15th/16th]. NASCAR.com is reporting that the #88 team decided not to test and headed back to North Carolina.(7-11/14-2003)
UPDATE - Fittipaldi wrecks: #43-Christian Fittipaldi's car crashed today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during testing for next month's Brickyard 400. Fittipaldi hit the outside wall of turn 2 on the 2-1/2 mile oval, track officials said. He was taken to the track hospital for an examination, after which he was released and cleared to drive. The crash did extensive damage to the right side of Fittipaldi's car. #54-Todd Bodine, fastest Monday, also crashed, but was not injured.(Indianapolis Star)(7-16-2003)
UPDATE 2: #25-Joe Nemechek turned the fastest lap on an extra day of NASCAR Winston Cup Series testing July 16 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, circling the legendary 2.5-mile oval at 181.029mph. #2-Rusty Wallace was second fastest at 180.989, while Nemechek’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, #48-Jimmie Johnson was third at 180.157. Johnson remained fastest overall among the 38 drivers that have taken part in private test sessions at IMS on either July 8-9 or 14-16, after recording a lap of 182.028 on July 15. #20-Tony Stewart’s track record, set during qualifying for the 2002 Brickyard 400, is 182.960. Persistent thundershowers and storms washed out all but 37 minutes of practice July 15th, so NASCAR granted teams another day of practice. Weather conditions today were sunny with light winds and a high temperature in the mid-80s – more to the liking of teams and similar to what drivers will encounter when they return for the 10th Brickyard 400 on Aug. 1-3. The only accidents to take place during 2003 NASCAR testing at IMS occurred approximately 30 minutes apart in the morning. At 9:40am/et, Petty Enterprises driver Christian Fittipaldi was approaching the apex of Turn 2 when the #43 Cheerios Dodge veered right and made hard contact with the SAFER Barrier. Fittipaldi was unhurt, and despite the incident, he was pleased with the team’s progress. “We don’t know exactly what happened,” he said. “Either something broke on the car or a tire blew as I was coming through the turn. Then suddenly, the car just went straight, just washed out from underneath me, and I hit the outside wall. I hadn’t even (considered) that I hit the SAFER Barrier. It was still pretty hard. As long as it works, if you guys say, it’s safer, I’ll take it. It was still pretty hard. “Since we arrived the first day we only got better and better, today we’re running race runs with 15 lap tires on it, and it wasn’t bad. We’re just getting more and more competitive. We learned a good amount of stuff from the first day to today.” Thirty minutes later, #54-Todd Bodine hit the SAFER Barrier in Turn 1. “Blew a right front (tire),” Bodine said. “No warning, no nothing. Don’t know if we ran over something, or what.” Bodine said he believes the Speedway’s SAFER Barrier, the Speedway’s energy-absorbing barrier system that was installed in May 2002, saved him from injury. “Hallelujah – Tony George, thank you,” Bodine said of Speedway President and CEO George. “That hit should have hurt, and I don’t even have a headache. Nothing. I feel like I just climbed out from practice. Thank you, Tony George, that’s all I can say.” #38-Elliott Sadler and the Robert Yates Racing team will test Thursday. Drivers scheduled to test next week include #99-Jeff Burton (July 21-22) and #12-Ryan Newman (July 22-23). Reserved-seat Race Day tickets for the Brickyard 400 remain available.(Brickyard 400 site)
The top five overall after five days of testing are:
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 182.028
#81-John Andretti, 181.246
#0-Jack Sprague, 181.235 [no longer with the team, no word on who may drive - David Green?]
#25-Joe Nemechek, 181.191
#2-Rusty Wallace, 180.989
See Wednesday's speeds at Brickyard400.com - Wednesday Speeds
See All speed [so far] at Brickyard400.com - July Speeds.(7-17-2003)
- Hamilton Jr in the #7? UPDATE: haven't heard this, but read it: ....And Bobby Hamilton Jr. could be in the #7 Winston Cup car before the season is over.(Danville Register and Bee)(7-16-2003)
UPDATE: been told the Hamiltion Jr. to the #7 car is off base and will not happen as Bobby Hamilton Jr. is 100% focused on winning 2003 Busch Series title.(7-17-2003)
- Craven Remembering a Friend: #32-Ricky Craven will honor the memory of a friend this weekend at New Hampshire International Raceway. The visor of Craven's helmet will carry decals reading "In memory of Allen Brann 1943-2003." Brann, who passed away from a heart attack in January, was the track photographer for many years at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine, and was the vice-president and co-founder of the Maine Vintage Race Car Association. Ricky Craven: "Allen was a great guy. He was one of the few
individuals with such a wonderful loyalty to the sport of auto racing. I remember him well from the first days of my racing career and have
always admired and appreciated him. This is just a small way of remembering him and his contributions to the sport."(PPI Motorsports PR)(7-17-2003)
- Ernie Irvan at Hickory Motor Speedway: On Thursday night July 17th, Winston Cup racing great Ernie Irvan and Garrett Dyer Ford of Hickory are bringing the USCS "Thunder in Carolina" to Hickory Motor Speedway for the first time ever. The special weekday evening show will serve as leg one of a three race swing for the 700 Horsepower winged Outlaw style sprint cars that will continue on to Ace Speedway on Friday and Southern National Speedway on Saturday. "The greatest spectacle in short track racing" as USCS founder Pete Walton has dubbed the United Sprint Car Series "Asphalt Thunder" tour will be joined at Hickory by the HMS Super Truck and Mini Stock divisions. Ernie Irvan will serve as the events Grand Marshall and will meet and greet fans from 6:30 to 7:30pm.(Hickory Motor Speedway site)(7-17-2003)
- Sad News: Dick Trickle’s father Leo Trickle, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2003. He had been hospitalized for many years and had recently become more ill. The funeral was held in Wisconsin Rapids, WI with many friends and family gathering in Rudolph, WI, Dick’s hometown to spend time with the family. Dick wants to pass along that the family is doing well and that they know now that he’s resting in peace.(Dick Trickle Fanclub Newsletter)(7-17-2003)
- Names on the Decklid of the #77: As part of a special promotion, over 100 people donated $50 or more to the American Diabetes Association to have their name appear on the decklid of the #77 Jasper Ford during the Winston Cup Race on July 20 at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Joe Kane, whose stepdaughter Katherine has diabetes, was the spark plug for this fundraising event. Joe e-mailed Doug Bawel, team co-owner and President of Jasper Engines & Transmissions in Indiana, hoping to reach Dave Blaney, an old high school friend, who now drives the #77 Jasper Ford in NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition. Bawel also has a young son with diabetes and was eager to help. The result of their collaboration has been dubbed, "Katherine's Cure." For every $5 raised for "Katherine's Cure," Jasper Engines & Transmissions contributed $1, up to a maximum of $20,000. Thanks to the generosity of Jasper Engines & Transmissions, racecar enthusiasts and friends of the diabetes communities throughout New England will have the opportunity this weekend for their names to join Blaney in competition at NHIS. Sponsors also will receive a glossy photo of the car displaying all the names, signed by Blaney. Attendees at this weekend’s New England 300 at NHIS will also have the opportunity to register for the New Hampshire and Maine walks, visit with ADA staff and receive current information on ADA research, information and advocacy programs. Katherine Dearden, Mr. Kane's stepdaughter, is an adorable and articulate young lady, who also happens to have diabetes. During her interview for the Youth Chair position for America's Walk for Diabetes in Augusta, Katherine was asked what is the one thing that diabetes interferes with. She said, "Nothing." Simply because she and her family won't let it. Katherine enjoyed, among other activities, the abundance of snow in Maine this past winter, as she is a cross-country ski enthusiast. She will join all the participants at the NHIS event this weekend.(Jasper Motorsports Notes)(7-17-2003)
- Spotters Team Doing Well: NASCAR Spotter Mike Calinoff (for Matt Kenseth-Cup & Jason Leffler-Truck), along with his fiancé Jenn, own MJ Motorsports which field cars in the Hooters Pro Cup Series and on Wisconsin's Super Late Model circuit. In the past two weeks, 18-year-old Kelly Bires has won back to back features at The Dells (WI) Motor Speedway, including the 100-lap North America Cup event. He is second in the point standings. This Tuesday night, Bires will compete along with NASCAR Winston Cup stars Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch in the Miller Lite Nationals at Slinger (WI) Superspeedway. Team ASE, CARQUEST and Snap-On Tools sponsor the team.(PR)(7-17-2003)
- Sprague Released from the #0 ride, Andretti in UPDATEs: The Sporting News has learned that rookie Winston Cup driver Jack Sprague has been released from his ride with Haas/CNC Racing, and he will be replaced by John Andretti, who himself was released by Petty Enterprises a month ago. Andretti, 40, will take over for Sprague this weekend at New Hampshire and also next weekend at Pocono. However, because of a prior commitment to race the #81 for Chance 2 Motorsports at the Brickyard 400, Andretti will not be in the #0 for that race. Haas/CNC has yet to name a fill-in driver for the Indy race. Haas/CNC Racing also has not named a replacement beyond the Brickyard 400. Andretti has won two Winston Cup races in his career, the last coming at the 1999 Martinsville spring race. Andretti has a history with #0 Crew Chief, Tony Furr, winning the Pepsi 400 at Daytona while with the #98 Cale Yarborough team. No word on Sprgaue's plans.(Sporting News)(7-16-2003)
UPDATEs and comments: Haas CNC Racing, which fields the #0 NetZero HiSpeed Pontiac in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, and Jack Sprague announced a mutual decision to part ways effective immediately. "Gene Haas gave me a great opportunity to move into the Winston Cup Series this season," said Sprague, who has driven the NetZero Pontiac since the start of the season. "Unfortunately, being a rookie team with a rookie owner, rookie crew chief and a rookie driver, and not having a great deal of Winston Cup knowledge, we started off behind the eight ball. Haas CNC Racing made changes along the way to try to make the team more competitive, but we never really got a handle on it. After eight years of winning races and championships, this year's been very frustrating for me, and I'm sure it has been equally as frustrating for them. That said, we decided to part ways and try to find success apart." The Haas CNC Racing team posted its best qualifying effort of the season when the NetZero Pontiac lined up in fifth place at Lowe's (Concord, N.C.) Motor Speedway in May. The team's highest finish of the season was a 14th-place effort in the season opening event at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February. "The Haas CNC Racing team hasn't achieved the goals we set for ourselves prior to the start of the season," stated Joe Custer, General Manager. "Everyone involved with this organization has high expectations for success. Jack Sprague is a talented race car driver, but we thought it would be in everybody's best interest to make a change at this stage of the game. We feel confident we can continue to build this race team into a winning organization. We appreciate all that Jack Sprague has done for the NetZero Racing Program," commented Brian Woods, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for NetZero. During our three years together in this sport we have experienced the kind of success that most only dream about. We understand that it's the team's prerogative to do what it thinks will enhance the success of its organization. We wish Jack and his family success in all their future endeavors and look forward to future accomplishments with Haas CNC Racing."(NetZeroRacing)
AND Haas CNC Racing announced that veteran John Andretti will take over driving duties for the upcoming Winston Cup events at New Hampshire International Speedway and Pocono Raceway. "We are thrilled that there was someone available to us of John Andretti's caliber, with his vast amount of Winston Cup experience," stated Joe Custer, Haas CNC Racing General Manager. "We're excited that he has agreed to come on board for the next couple of races. Following the races at New Hampshire and Pocono, we'll evaluate how things are going and move forward from there." Andretti, who hails from Indianapolis, Indiana, has been racing full-time in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series since 1994. He has scored four pole positions and two Winston Cup victories during his career, the last of which came in Martinsville in 1999 with Petty Enterprises. He and Haas CNC Racing crew chief Tony Furr have a history together, winning the 1997 Pepsi 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. "I feel really good about being reunited with Tony Furr," said John Andretti. "The Haas CNC Racing team is an excellent organization. I look forward to being behind the wheel of the No. 0 NetZero HiSpeed Pontiac for the next couple of races."(NetZeroRacing)(7-17-2003)
- ESPY's NASCAR goes 1 for 2: EPSN's annual awards show, the ESPY's aired Wed, July 15th on ESPN. Some NASCAR related nominations include:
Best Breakthrough Athlete nominees: with Jimmie Johnson going against LeBron James, Yao Ming, Clinton Portis and Alfonso Soriano.
Best Driver: Tony Stewart is up against Gil de Ferran, John Force, Sam Hornish, Jr., and Michael Schumacher.(7-16-2003)
UPDATE - results 1 for 2:
Best Driver was won by Tony Stewart
Best Breakthrough Athlete was won by baseball player Alfonso Soriano. See more at EPSN's ESPY's Page, see story at Foxsports(7-17-2003)
(7-16-2003)
- #29 Fined, Penalized and Loss of Points: NASCAR officials announced today that Todd Berrier, crew chief of the #29 NASCAR Winston Cup Series team, has been fined $25,000 due to a rule infraction discovered last week at Chicagoland Speedway following the Tropicana 400. In addition, NASCAR has penalized the team's driver, Kevin Harvick, 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship driver points and team owner, Richard Childress, 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship owner points.
During the event's pre-race inspection process, the rear suspension of the #29 Chevy was found to have an unapproved travel limiting device, a violation of Section 12-4-Q of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rule Book (parts and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing).(NASCAR PR)(7-16-2003)
- Nadeau at Loudon this weekend: The United States Army NASCAR team will have a special visitor at this weekend's New England 300 here at New Hampshire International Speedway. The visitor, whose appearance will most likely offer an added inspiration to the team, will be Jerry Nadeau, driver of the black and gold #01 U.S. Army Pontiac. The 32-year-old Danbury, Conn. native is currently on a recovery path from a May 2 accident at Richmond International Raceway where he sustained head, lung, shoulder and rib injuries. Nadeau's appearance at Loudon will be his first race since the accident. "We're all proud of Jerry," said crew chief Ryan Pemberton. "He has worked so hard in therapy to get to the level where he can attend a race. His presence will definitely give us a big lift." Mike Wallace, who has been the team's substitute driver during Nadeau's recovery, shares Pemberton's feelings. "First of all it shows that Jerry's recovery is getting better," said Wallace. "His presence will not only be good for the team, but it will be good for him. People want to see him and wish him the best and I am sure he has missed seeing everyone. Hopefully, Jerry's visit. will turn our luck around." Wallace is referring to the last two races in Daytona and Chicago where the 01 Pontiac. got collected in each as a result of a multi-car crash. "It's bound to turn in our favor," said Wallace, the middle of three racing brothers. "I look forward to New Hampshire - the track has been repaved and from what I have heard it has plenty of grip. That's good news. We're going to go after it and show that this U.S. Army team is better than the results of the last two weeks." The New Hampshire race begins the second half of the 36-race Winston Cup points schedule. "I think we've experienced every kind of emotion possible during the first half of the season," said Pemberton. "The excitement of the U.S. Army sponsorship, a new team, good, bad and unlucky races results, Jerry's accident, Jerry's recovery and working with different drivers in Jason Keller, Mike Wallace and Boris Said. It hasn't been dull."(US Army Racing PR)(7-16-2003)
- Pit-crew competition won by #15 crew: At the halfway point of the NASCAR Winston Cup season it appears that Michael Waltrip's pit crew is well on its way to collecting the $200,000 season bonus that goes to the champion of the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade. Waltrip's NAPA pit crew became the first team to win three McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championships this season when the No. 15 crew outscored the participating field in Sunday's Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Waltrip's #15 Chevrolet, owned by Dale Earnhardt Inc., spent the least amount of aggregate time off the track - 190.368 seconds. Jeff Burton's pit crew came in second with a time of 193.689 and Tony Stewart's crew was third at 225.375. The pit crew victory increased the lead for Waltrip's team. After 18 races, the No. 15 crew has a commanding lead with 681 points. Dale Earnhardt's pit crew is second with 609 points and Bobby Labonte's crew is third with 582. Waltrip's pit crew also leads in prize money with $60,000 collected -- $20,000 for each McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship victory. The team's other pit crew wins were at the season-opening Daytona 500 (Feb. 16) and at Dover (June 1). "The best part about leading this competition, is our team is just that - a team," said crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe, "The McDonald's/POWERade pit crew challenge is a great way for other people to see how this group has jelled since its inception. There are forty-some crew members that make up the NAPA team and only eight of them really ever get any credit for the success we've enjoyed this year. Those guys that make up the guts of the NAPA team put the everyday pieces into place, which allow the over-the-wall guys to excel in each of their positions. I am extremely proud of our over-the-wall team, but it's the overall effort that impresses me the most." The over-the-wall pit crew for Waltrip's team consists of: Brian Chase (jackman), Jeff Opal (gasman), Chris Crumley (front tire changer), Greg Osborne (rear tire changer), Shawn Ward (front tire carrier), Chad Walter (rear tire carrier) and Pete Rondeau (catch can).
For the season standings, who has won each week, the top 10 last race, see my Pit Crew Page.(DMF Communications PR)(7-16-2003)
- David Reutimann to test Pocono, may run there: David Reutimann will be testing for Morgan-McClure Motorsports [#4 and #04] at Pocono Raceway on Thursday, July 17th in preparation for the Pennsylvania 500 and may end up running for the team there. Johnny Sauter will be Busch racing at Pikes Peak (CO) next week.(XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio - Subscription Required)
UPDATE: team sources tell me they will NOT be testing at Pocono on Thursday due to testing an extra aday at Indy after being rained out on Tuesday.(7-16-2003)
- Stewart Gets a Peak at Homestead: About 45 minutes before midnight on July 7, a dark-haired man in a rental car pulled up to the main gate of Homestead-Miami Speedway, asking the security guard to see the track. The unexpected visitor whipped out an official NASCAR ID card. OK, it was enough for Bruno to at least make a phone call, despite knowing he would probably wake his boss, track vice president of operations Al García. ''Hey, Al,'' Bruno said. ``You'll never believe this, but I've got Tony Stewart here. I swear. I have his ID.'' García, who indeed had been sleeping, was ''shocked'' and not exactly convinced. He asked Bruno to put the man claiming to be the defending Winston Cup champion on the phone. The voice on the other end said: ``Hey Al, I'm coming back from the Keys and can't get on my plane for another hour or two." Stewart went on to explain that he had been scuba diving in Key Largo (on the day after the Pepsi 400 in Daytona Beach) and needed 12 hours to decompress between diving and flying. So, since he still had time to kill and just happened to be in the neighborhood, Stewart figured he would drop by to see how the $10 million reconfiguration project to add 18 to 20 degrees of banking was progressing. García was now convinced, and a few minutes later the champion driver and the security guard were driving around the apron of the 1.5-mile oval in the dark in Stewart's rental car. Stewart said Tuesday it was difficult to see much with only the headlights of his car, ``but it looked like they did a lot of work in a short amount of time. From what the guy told me, they are going to put up one more foot of dirt and then start paving. I'm excited to see what it's going to be like.'' When told that the computer simulation done by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. shows that there will be three distinct racing grooves on the track, which will have unique variable banking, Stewart was about as convinced as García was when he first heard that Stewart was at his track at midnight. ''We'll see,'' Stewart said. 'I hope it's not like the Dynos [short for dynamometer, a machine that measures an engine's horsepower]. A Dyno will say this motor is better and we should win and then when we don't, the guys will say, `But the Dyno said we should win.' I've never got a paycheck or a trophy from a Dyno.''(see full story at the Miami Herald)(7-16-2003)
- SC Racing Museum gets more cash: Spartanburg City [SC] Council has decided to increase its contribution to a South Carolina Racing Museum. Council gave initial approval Monday to increasing its 10-year commitment from $200,000 to $300,000 annually. The money will help pay for renovations and design work for the $20 million racing museum that could open as early as 2005 in an old mill building. The city will use money from more than $1 million expected in annual hospitality tax collections. The hospitality tax is charged on prepared food and beverages sold in the city and must be used to benefit tourism. Museum development director Paul Ianuario expects race fans to stop by on their way to events in Charlotte, Atlanta and elsewhere. Fans also may make the South Carolina Racing Museum part of day trips. The museum will offer an interactive experience focused on the history of drivers and owners from the late 1930s to the present. A visitor may walk through a section with equipment from an old textile mill and buildings designed to reflect what life was like for drivers and owners at that time. Tim Brett, president of Brett Public Relations in Greenville is working with the museum project. He said they have enough money to begin renovations and design but still need to raise $8 to $10 million to fully fund the project. Money and donations have come from grants, from events such as the Legends race, from individuals and from businesses such as the donation of land from Piedmont Natural Gas. Jimmy I. Gibbs Limited Liability Co. would agree to invest in the mill building and donate space to the museum. It also will provide a $1 million contribution for interior renovations, according to a memo from city community development director, Ed Memmott. If the museum fails to open or operate as expected, the Gibbs company will buy the museum from the city for the amount invested, the memo stated.(Greenville News)(7-16-2003)
- Double Cars for Morgan-McClure at NHIS UPDATE 2 for the remainder of the season?: The Morgan-McClure team has two cars entered in the New England 300 at New Hampshire this weekend. Johnny Sauter will drive the #4 Kodak Pontiac and David Reutimann [who is testing for the team at Inmdy this week] will attempt to get the #04 Kodak Pontiac in the race.(Fox Sports Net's Totally NASCAR Show)(7-15-2003)
UPDATE: Morgan-McClure Motorsports made a major announcement Tuesday regarding the upcoming New England 300 NASCAR Winston Cup event at New Hampshire International Speedway. For the first time in its 20 year history, the Abingdon, Va.-based team will field two Winston Cup cars. The #4 Kodak Easy Share Pontiac will be driven by 25-year old Johnny Sauter with Chris Carrier as the crew chief and Steve Gray as the car chief. Sauter was behind the wheel of the #4 Kodak Grand Prix at Chicagoland. It was the Necedah, Wis.-native's first time in a Winston Cup car. He currently competes in the Busch Series, having moved up from the ASA ranks. The #04 Kodak Perfect Touch Pontiac will have David Reutimann, 33- year old Zephyrhills, Fla.-native, as the driver. Tim Brewer will step into the crew chief position while Morgan-McClure Motorsports veteran Robert Larkins will serve as car chief. Reutimann tested in Indy this week for the Brickyard 400 in the #4 Kodak Pontiac. He has competed in 10 Busch Series events with two top-fives and two top-10 finishes. He joined the upper ranks of NASCAR from the All Pro Series.
Larry McClure, owner-President of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, is quoted as saying: "Morgan-McClure Motorsports is proud to make a positive addition of the #04 Winston Cup Pontiac to its racing stables. We wanted a second car for some time and now seemed like an opportune time to act. We feel we have two very talented young drivers to give an opportunity to drive in Winston Cup. This will give the team time to work with both drivers. Having the support of Kodak to field this project was helpful. Johnny Sauter did a good job for the team in Chicago last week. Even though we had an unfortunate tire problem, he continued to remain focused on his efforts. David Reutimann has made great progress in the Winston Cup car this week on one of the circuit's toughest tracks. He has never been behind the wheel of a Winston Cup car before. The team is pleased with his progress and performance. This is an exciting opportunity for Morgan-McClure Motorsports and Kodak. The guys at the race shop are working a non-stop pace to ensure that both cars are competitive. We hope to have a double-shot of success in New Hampshire."(Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(7-16-2003)
UPDATE 2: Beginning this weekend at New Hampshire, Morgan-McClure Motorsports will begin fielding two Winston Cup teams for most of the remainder of the 2003 season. Both teams will compete for most of the rest of the season, but the drivers may change.(ThatsRacin.com)(7-16-2003)
- NASCAR Experimental Escape Hatch: Ken Schrader Discusses Test: Ken Schrader, driver of the #49 At&T Dodge for BAM Racing, Tested NASCAR's Experimental Escape Hatch [or as NASCAR calls it - Alternative Exit] Recently. NASCAR has made no announcements regarding it. Schrader's comment's: “NASCAR just called me up and asked if I would go over to the Tech Center there in Mooresville (N.C.) and try out the new escape hatch. To me it’s a wonderful improvement, looks fairly easy to implement, and it’s not complex. Personally I can’t see any draw backs . . .you know, makes perfect sense. It’s going to make a big difference, especially after an accident that ends with the driver’s side up against the wall. Now, you can’t get out of the driver’s side in that situation, because a lot of these walls are higher than the top of the car. With the escape hatch you can get out just as quickly as any other situation.. It’s also easier for emergency workers to get to the driver in that situation. You still have to unfasten all the safety equipment, so as far as it saving time in other situations, I’m not sure it will. However, now it’s impossible to get out with the wall right beside you - with the escape hatch you will be able to. I look for the thing to be implemented soon. Personally, I think it’s great.”(Williams Company of America PR)(7-16-2003)
- Final Chicago TV Ratings: Sunday's Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway had a final overnight rating of 4.9 on NBC, making the race the weekend's most-watched sporting event on television. (Figures compiled by Nielsen Media Research.)(NASCAR PR)(7-16-2003)
- Homestead banking to get pre-race testing: The new banking being installed at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be tested for three days prior to the season-ending Nov. 14-16 weekend featuring NASCAR's three national series. The tentative schedule has Truck teams testing Monday, Nov. 10; the Busch Series is slated for Nov. 11 and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series is set for Nov. 12. All three days, there will be two sessions: 9:00am - 12:00noon/et and 1:00-5:00pm/et.(NASCAR PR)(7-16-2003)
- New Hampshire Nuggets: Did You Know #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. has scored only one top-10 finish in seven races at New Hampshire. #22-Ward Burton won the New England 300 last July. It marked his only top-five finish in 15 races at New Hampshire and only
top-10 finish there in his last six races at the New England superspeedway. #19-Jeremy Mayfield has scored only one top-10 finish in
the last 14 races at New Hampshire. #24-Jeff Gordon has led 912 laps in 16 races at New Hampshire [may be why Gordon is all the oddsmakers favorite this week], almost twice as many as closest competitor #99-Jeff Burton who has led 595. Burton led all 300 laps in September 2000. He also led the fewest laps of a race winner in July 1999 (two of 300 laps).(Insider Racing News)(7-16-2003)
- Roush wants more races? Car owner Jack Roush said he wants to add more races to the Winston Cup tour. Listen to the gasping in the NASCAR garage. "Who says we're burning drivers out?' Roush said.'If these were milk farmers, they'd be milking cows twice a day. If they were hay farmers, they would be bailing hay every day. What we do is carry a very exciting entertainment product 36 times a year, and I think we need to race 40 times or more."(see full story at Winston Salem Journal)(7-16-2003)
- Andretti to Toyota? Trucks? DENIED The latest on Toyota: John Andretti may get the call to Truck duty next season for the Japanese giant.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-15-2003)
UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing has no plans to reenter the truck series in the foreseeable future.(Team Sources)(7-16-2003)
- Stewart Says NO: Tuesday morning, Tony Stewart again denied rumors that he was leaving Joe Gibbs Racing and said no other teams have contacted him.(NASCAR.com)(7-16-2003)
- Why did Harvick run out of gas at Chicago? Kevin Harvick's team discovered a fueling problem this week that prevented the car from getting all the fuel possible on its final stop Sunday, a team official said. The team thought it had filled the car with fuel on that stop. Harvick ran out of fuel while running second with about two laps to go. He finished 17th. The team was not specific on the fueling problem but said that all three Richard Childress Racing cars had the same issue and changes were being made to correct the problem. Harvick stopped with 69 laps left Sunday. With 17 laps of caution - where cars get better fuel mileage at the slower speeds - run after that final stop, Harvick should have had plenty of fuel to finish the race.(Roanoke Times)(7-16-2003)
(7-15-2003)
- Simpson vs NASCAR may be resolved UPDATE suit dismissed: Safety manufacturer Bill Simpson's lawsuit against NASCAR over the death of Dale Earnhardt is scheduled to start Sept. 13 here [Indianapolis] in Federal Court but it may have been decided Monday. NASCAR president Mike Helton and Simpson met for three hours Monday afternoon with U.S. Federal District Court magistrate Sue Shields and the result of that meeting will be announced Tuesday. "There will be a joint statement issued tomorrow by NASCAR out of Daytona Beach and that is all we can say," said attorney James H. Voyles, who along with Robert Horn, are representing Simpson. Helton declined to speak to reporters as he left the building, as did Simpson. Judge Sarah Evans Barker was scheduled to preside if the suit went to trial but Shields requested an audience with Helton and Simpson on Monday. And Tuesday's announcement will likely reveal an out-of-court settlement, state that the case has been thrown out or that the suit will make it to trial, as scheduled, in two months.(see full story at ESPN.com by Robin Miller)
UPDATE: The following joint statement is issued by Bill Simpson and NASCAR in connection with Mr. Simpson's voluntary dismissal of his defamation and false light invasion of privacy lawsuit against NASCAR pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. "Simpson and NASCAR are happy to announce that they agree that it is in the best interest of racing that they direct their time, energy and resources away from litigation and toward their joint goal of improving safety for professional racing drivers. Any misunderstanding between the parties, and the public, which gave rise to this litigation, can now be put to rest." NASCAR said it is pleased that Simpson dismissed his lawsuit. NASCAR President Mike Helton said, "We recognize that Bill has contributed significantly to the safety of motorsports for over 43 years, and we are glad the issue has been resolved." Simpson intends to supply teams and drivers with safety products from his new company. "I'm looking forward to doing what I do best," Simpson said, "and that's helping drivers and teams be as safe as they can at the track." This statement is the only consideration for the dismissal and the parties do not intend to discuss this matter further.(NASCAR PR), and see past news on the lawsuit on my Lawsuits Page.(7-15-2003)
- More on Stewart and Gibbs UPDATE 3 announcement today? NO DENIED: Will Tony Stewart stay at Joe Gibbs Racing? The reigning Winston Cup champion's contract runs through the end of next season, but team owner Joe Gibbs knows his driver is receiving feelers from other teams wondering if he could get out of his contract to drive for them next season. "I'd say there's probably a lot of people that have been trying to come after him," Gibbs said. "One thing about this sport is that if you're real good, chances are there's going to be some people knocking at your door." Gibbs said the team's management is "kind of working on" a contract extension with Stewart and would prefer to re-sign him to a long-term extension. Gibbs recently re-signed teammate Bobby Labonte to an extension, and Stewart's crew chief, Greg Zipadelli, has told Stewart that Gibbs wants to talk to him about an extension. Gibbs seems confident that Stewart will want to stay put. "I know that I feel real good about our relationship," Gibbs says. "I think we speak the same language. I think what Tony's interested in, first and foremost, is where he can win the most races. I feel pretty good about that."(USA Today)
AND Tony Stewart's future is a hot issue in the Winston Cup garage, but Cary Agajanian, his business manager, yesterday declined to comment on widespread reports that Target has targeted the NASCAR champion with plans to buy out the final year of his contract with Joe Gibbs and move him to Chip Ganassi's Dodge team, replacing Casey Mears. Doug Duchardt, the head of GM racing, said he expects Stewart to remain in the Chevy camp. "There is probably interest in Tony, but certainly we want to keep Tony and Joe Gibbs Racing in Chevrolets for a long time, so we're working that through with Joe." The prospect for Stewart in a Ganassi ride? "I'd be surprised if that's the case," Duchardt said.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-14-2003)
MORE UPDATES: Amid rampant speculation that Tony Stewart might consider testing NASCAR's open market or even returning to the Indy Racing League, the reigning Winston Cup champion and team owner Joe Gibbs said this weekend they are in the process of negotiating a contract extension. Gibbs recently re-signed his other driver, 2000 Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte. Stewart's contract expires at the end of next season, which will be his fifth with Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart said the only holdup is finding time for him and Gibbs to sit down and talk. "Joe's been gone and I've been gone, but I know he re-signed Bobby already and Greg (crew chief Zipadelli) talked to me about Joe wanting to sign me soon," Stewart said. "So I'm sure it will happen pretty soon." Sponsor Home Depot has agreed to up the ante knowing Stewart's asking price is bound to increase. Gibbs said he's not surprised that rumors have surfaced about other owners being interested in Stewart, who has finished in the top 10 of the standings in all four of his Winston Cup seasons and has won 16 races. "There's probably a lot of people that have been trying to come after him," Gibbs said. "One thing about this sport is that if you're real good, chances are there's going to be some people knocking at your door." But Gibbs said he's confident of keeping the 32-year-old driver. "We're hard at work for the future trying to get something done," the former NFL champion coach said. "We like long-term deals, and that's what we're kind of working on."(Indianapolis Star)
HOWEVER the Winston Salem Journal continues to report....Tony Stewart will hold a press conference today at which he may discuss rumors of a possible contract buyout by Target in a deal that would move him to Chip Ganassi's Dodge team. Those reports come amid Stewart's contract renegotiations with Joe Gibbs.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-15-2003)
UPDATE 3: been informed that Stewart is NOT holding a press conference today and is simply the third guest on the Winston Teleconference, following Ricky Craven and Call Wells. The #20 team and Stewart has had numerous interview requests from New England media as they prepare for the New England 300, and they thought that making Tony available via the Winston Teleconference would be the best way to take care of those interview requests. Mr. Mulhern's report in the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal is inaccurate.(Team Sources), see my #20 Team News and Links page for the past rumors over the last few days.(7-15-2003)
- Odd Rumor; Jarrett and DEI? Denied UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt, Inc., is looking at Dale Jarrett [NOTE: signed thru 2006 with Yates], according to sources. Ty Norris, the general manager of DEI, said: 'If Dale Jarrett was on the market, and if DEI were looking for a driver, there's not a more experienced guy, with tons of class, who sponsors love, and who has tremendous ability ... but we're still hot and heavy in our sponsor search. And if you rated it hot, medium or cold, we're pretty cold right now. "When we have a sponsor who is ready to sit down and talk about what driver they'd like, we'll approach it then. But there's not an organization in this garage that wouldn't love to have Dale Jarrett. Dale and I are friends, and Dale is friends with Dale Jr. But I've never had a conversation with him about driving for us ... except 'who wouldn't want him to drive for you.''(Winston Salem Journal)(7-14-2003)
UPDATE: Can You Address Jarrett's Situation? “We do the same thing to other teams. When they get down we put some pressure on them, too. Everybody would love to have Dale Jarrett drive their race car. That’s natural. In a way, it’s flattering to us that other teams would be interested because we think the world of Dale. Dale and I have talked and we’ve come a long way together as an organization. He started that 88 team and we expect him to finish out his career in that car. Our goal is to give him something good to drive and for him to give us good feedback to make it good.”
What is Dale’s Contract Status? “We’re working on an extension for Dale right now. We have a contract through next year with him and we’re working on an extension. UPS is signed for three more years after this, so things are real solid there. It’s embarrassing to us and Ford and UPS, and that’s really the biggest thing. We’re gonna have good and bad days, but UPS is a great sponsor and we’re letting them down right now. That’s what we’ve got to do a better job of and that’s a lot of our responsibility. The big brown truck doesn’t need to run in the back.”(commnets by RYR's Doug Yates at Ford Racing)(7-15-2003)
- To the Dyno's UPDATE: hearing that NASCAR put the following cars on the chassis dyno : #12, #20, #48, #15, #99, #42, #38 and #19. Odd, no Richard Childress Racing cars even though the #29 ran 2nd until two laps to go and the #31 finished seventh.(7-13-2003)
UPDATE: Tony Stewart didn't win Sunday, but his engine man, Mark Cronquist, won the post-race chassis dyno battle, according to NASCAR sources. That leads credence to reports that Roger Penske no longer has a big edge under the hood, although Ryan Newman and Elliott Sadler had motors equal to Stewart's. The surprise was that Jeff Burton's engine was considerably off, by some 40 horsepower, according to one engine specialist.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-15-2003)
- #99 Team Getting Calls UPDATE: In the two weeks since CITGO announced it was leaving the sport of NASCAR Winston Cup auto racing, the phones at Roush Racing have been ringing. The calls are inquires from potential sponsors to take the primary sponsor place on Burton’s #99 Ford. “In just two weeks we’ve got three prospects already,” Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said, today. “Two of them are from outside of the sport, and we feel good about that.” Smith added, “Hopefully next week there’ll be another one. We feel pretty good about it.” Interestingly, calls from the new-to-the-sport sponsors came as a result of advertising agency recommendations. This trend of agency involvement, if it should continue, will help owners market their team more easily as the ad agencies frequently can help a third party realize the value of NASCAR type racing. “Both of [the new companies to the sport] work with agencies we work with. They view this as a great opportunity for bringing in a couple of clients that they’ve been working on in other projects. Over time, probably the last five years, the mainstream agencies are more familiar with motorsports now and will take a look at it now.”(Ford Racing)(7-14-2003)
UPDATE: hearing reports that Mayflower Transit is considering becoming the primary sponsor of the #99 Ford in 2004.(7-15-2003)
(7-14-2003)
- Get Well Jeff: Gell Well Wishes go out to former Championship Crew Chief and current NASCAR on FOX analyst Jeff Hammond [and a very good Darth Vader]. Jeff had his gall bladder removed today and is resting comfortably at home.(7-14-2003)
- Andretti to test for DEI and may run the Brickyard 400: John Andretti, released last month by Petty Enterprises, is scheduled to be at the Speedway on Monday testing a Dale Earnhardt Inc. car. DEI executive vice president Ty Norris said if the test goes well, Andretti will be given a chance to qualify it for the Aug. 3 race. "We talked to John on Saturday morning. He's excited about the opportunity and we're excited to give it to him," Norris said. "You'll have the Andrettis and Earnhardts working together at Indy. That's kind of neat." Andretti will be driving the #81 Chevrolet that Jason Keller failed to qualify this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Chicago-based sponsor Kraft Foods, after missing the race in its backyard, decided Indy was the next-best option.(Indianapolis Star)(7-14-2003)
- Andretti and Ganassi? UPDATE and more on Stewart: Rookie Casey Mears may be on the hot seat at Chip Ganassi's, and crew chief Jimmy Elledge said he realizes the team will have to pick up its performance the second half of the season [seems to have done pretty good at Chicago so far]. Mears' best finish is a 15th at Las Vegas, and his average is 29.0. 'I'm sure the boss isn't too happy this team is on this side of the garage (34th in the standings),' Elledge said. 'I haven't heard anything ... but if we don't pick up, we may all be looking for jobs.' John Andretti [sure won't be Michael] is one name being mentioned for the ride. Andretti was under consideration for the ride last fall.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-12-2003)
UPDATE: Chip Ganassi was adamant: Casey Mears will not be released in the near-future, nor is Tony Stewart signed to be his replacement. “As far as I know, Tony Stewart is still under contract,” Ganassi says. “But who in his right mind wouldn't consider hiring a former Winston Cup champ if he was available?” Ganassi, whose Cup teams use Dodges, says Joe Gibbs, Stewart's current boss, can offer the driver more, but that's rubbish. Sterling Marlin proved last year that Ganassi's equipment is capable of winning a NASCAR championship. The bigger prize for Stewart could be winning the Indy 500, a feat Ganassi accomplished with Juan Montoya in 2000. Stewart already is building his relationship with Dodge through his World of Outlaws team, and DaimlerChrysler would be thrilled to have him behind the wheel of an Intrepid in Winston Cup.(Sporting News)
AND As quickly as that buzz was killed, a new one emerged: Ganassi was supposedly working on a deal with John Andretti, who was released in June by Petty Enterprises. The rumors are fueled in part by Casey Mears' mighty struggle as a Winston Cup rookie. Yesterday in the Tropicana 400, he started a five-car chain-reaction crash before eventually going into the wall himself on lap 233. "I read all the same rumors," said Ganassi, who also fields cars for Sterling Marlin and Jamie McMurray. "That's what they are -- rumors. We like the job all the guys are doing. I wouldn't be surprised if you would see all three of them back here next year."(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)(7-14-2003)
- did ya know? that #17-Matt Kenseth failed to finish on the lead lap for only the second time all year at Chicago? he was 12th, 1 lap down.(7-14-2003)
- #38 Wins Kelly Stewart, driver of the #38 M&M's/RYR Hauler [see an image of the hauler on my 2003 Cup hauler Schemes page] win the International Truck Challenge race at Chciagoland Speedway on Sunday morning.(XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio - Subscription Required) - have not been able to find any results, columns or standing on this at the International or NASCAR.com sites.
AND The International Truck and Engine Corporation held its third annual International Truck Challenge at the Chicagoland Speedway over the past weekend. With a perfect score of 200 and a time of 54.67 seconds, Kelly Stewart, team hauler driver for Elliott Sadler's #38 M&M's Ford, won this year's International Truck Challenge, which pits drivers against each other on an obstacle course for the chance to win a handsome cash prize and bragging rights for the winning team driver. Stewart came in 47.46 seconds before the second place finisher Tommy Mullis, team hauler driver for Dale Jarrett's #88 UPS Taurus Racing Team, to take the win. After receiving the winning check for $5,000 Stewart said, "I knew this was a one-shot event. I tried not to think about it too much and just wanted to be in the top three." Stewart, who is in his third season with Yates Racing, drives the same 9400i model for the #38 team. "I like the way it pulls. It upgrades in the mountains better than other haulers I've driven." Terry Cook, driver of the #29 Truck Series Power Stroke truck, drove the course first to challenge the hauler drivers. Cook scored 195 points and completed the course in 1:44.83.
As part of the company's exclusive four-year sponsorship program with NASCAR, International Truck and Engine Corporation developed the International Truck Challenge as a way to showcase the skill of NASCAR's rig drivers and the high performance International equipment that helps them do their jobs. The primary CDL licensed team hauler from each NASCAR Winston Cup team gets the chance to demonstrate their capabilities by competing in a series of timed obstacles that test drivers' nerves and driving prowess. The 2003 International Truck Challenge kicked off Friday, July 11 with qualifications at the drag strip adjacent to Chicagoland Speedway where eighteen drivers attempted the course. The top three qualifiers based on style points and time advanced to Sunday's finals. Prior to the Winston Cup Tropicana 400, Stewart, Mullis and third place finisher Peter Jellen from the #18 car competed in front of early arrivers and to the amusement of the pit crews.
Name........... Points Time
1st #38-Kelly Stewart. 200.... 54.67
2nd #88-Tommy Mullis 200.... 1:42.13
3rd #18-Peter Jellen.... 195.... 1:44.83 (Ketchum.com PR) no season standings found....yet.(7-14-2003)
- NASCAR Seeking $150 Million Fuel Deal: NASCAR's asking price to replace ConocoPhillips' 76 as its official gasoline brand is $15 million a year in barter and cash for at least 10 years, Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal reports this week. Staff writer Terry Lefton says the current deal is valued at $5 million to $6 million a year, mostly barter as fuel for the Winston Cup, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series. The story says the probable contenders include ExxonMobil, Shell, Sunoco and BP/Amoco.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(7-14-2003)
- Early TV Ratings for Chicago: NBC’s broadcast of the Tropicana 400 Winston Cup race from Chicagoland Speedway easily outdistanced all other sports events in the overnight ratings from Nielsen Media Research, according to the Sports Business Daily. The race drew a 4.9 rating and an 11 share to finish well ahead of the 3.6/10 that Fox drew for its Major League Baseball broadcast. The race will need a bump from smaller television markets, however, if it’s going to match last year’s final figures of 5.3/14 or 2001’s 5.6/14.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(7-14-2003)
- Pennzoil gone...may stay as an assoc: Dale Earnhardt Inc. officials are looking for a company to replace Pennzoil as the sponsor of the No.1 car after this season, a team official said Sunday. Pennzoil's contract expires after the season, and the company will not renew that contract. Ty Norris, executive vice president of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., says that the group is talking to Pennzoil about remaining as an associate sponsor on the No.1 car along with those of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip.(Roanoke Times)
AND DEI's No. 1 team will lose Pennzoil after this year, and Kraft had emerged as a possible replacement. Kraft already has associate deals with the three DEI teams, but team president Ty Norris said he does not expect Kraft to go too far too fast. "They step up their program every year," he said. "It's one thing to take a step, and it's another to take a running leap to a Winston Cup primary. We've talked to them about it. Right now they're pretty happy with the program they have. It makes sense for them financially, and they're comfortable with their level of spending right now." As for anything DEI might have going for the 1 car as of now, Norris said, "You look at it cold, medium, hot, I'd say we're pretty cold right now."(Speed Channel)(7-14-2003)
- Censorship? The roar of powerful engines is an integral part of the racing experience for most fans. But, for a growing number of NASCAR spectators, the sounds of cars is only a muffled distraction. Instead, they put on their headphones and tune into the radio frequencies that give them the behind-the-scenes conversations between pit crews and drivers, and a host of other colorful voices. The unguarded comments of drivers, crew chiefs, track officials and TV crew members may be in limited supply. One of the rumors around NASCAR is that new title sponsor Nextel might have some say in monitoring those communications. After all, that is their business.(Beacon News)(7-14-2003)
- Why? #12-Ryan Newman's win paid $191,000, but runner-up #20-Tony Stewart topped that with $213,468, thanks to contingency money from sponsors.(CNNSI/AP)(7-14-2003)
- Michelin vs Goodyear? Denied: Michelin is testing NASCAR-type stock car tires in Europe, according to sources familiar with the situation, and that may revive speculation about the future of the French tire maker in NASCAR racing. But Stu Grant, head of Goodyear racing, dismisses any talk about another tire maker infringing on NASCAR turf: 'Absolutely not. We're full-speed ahead on our relationship with NASCAR. We're committed to our involvement to Winston Cup, Busch and Truck. And I don't see anything changing in that at all.'(Winston Salem Journal)(7-14-2003)
- USA Today Commets on NBC: NBC offered a more informative Bill Weber-led prerace show on Sunday's Tropicana 400 than Fox has done on NASCAR. But NBC also had difficulty coming up with replays that sufficiently showed the crashes of Bobby Labonte and Mike Wallace late in the race and referred to cars by numbers. Third-year analyst Wally Dallenbach remained largely a no-show in providing insight.(USA Today)(7-14-2003)
- Hendrick not moving Vickers up: But Rick Hendrick denies plans to bring Brian Vickers up from the Busch Series.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-14-2003)
- Sauter in the #4 at NHIS: Johnny Sauter is expected to return to Morgan-McClure Motorsports' #4 Kodak Pontiac next weekend at New Hampshire. Sauter was 35th Sunday in his Winston Cup debut. Team officials confirmed that Sauter would not test with the team this week at Indianapolis, as previously hoped. The team is considering using Busch driver David Reutimann at the test.(ThatsRacin.com)(7-14-2003)
- Black Flag from ThatsRacin.com - the #18 Fire: Even though Newman did win, the "something huge" he talked about nearly happened on Lap 215 when Bobby Labonte's Chevrolet caught fire when it backed into the wall and had its fuel cell erupt during a seven-car crash. Labonte allowed his car to roll down the banking to the apron and immediately began scrambling out of the cockpit. He squeezed out just as track safety crews arrived. "I'm fine," he said after the scary incident. "I smell like a barbecue pit, but I'm OK."
The Black Flag: How many more times do we need to see drivers scrambling out of burning race cars to get things moving? Hey, NASCAR, hire a traveling safety team already and end the madness of racing back to the yellow flag so the safety vehicles can get rolling when a wreck happens. And, while you're at it, get those escape hatches in the cars' roofs, too.(ThatsRacin.com)(7-14-2003)
AND The most frightening moment came when Bobby Labonte's #18 car burst into flames when he backed into the wall after getting tagged by #10-Johnny Benson, caught up in a tussle with #41-Casey Mears on the 215th of 267 laps. "I thought I had it made," Labonte said of his dramatic crash. "And then we had this problem with the fuel cell blowing up, and it made for a bad scene. It looked worse than it was. I smell like a barbeque pit, but I'm fine." NASCAR confiscated his car for further examination.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-14-2003)
- Petty Sorry: After finishing 27th at Chicago, #45-Kyle Petty apologized for being too harsh on his engine builder, Mike Ege, last week at Daytona. Only one of three Petty Enterprises cars qualified for the Pepsi 400. "They worked 96 hours straight to send us to Chicago with something different, and in 98 hours, they made some big gains," Petty said. "My hat's off to them. There's daylight at the end of the tunnel. We just have to keep plugging at it."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-14-2003)
- The Meaning of the Nextel Deal Teleconference: NASCAR will hold a teleconference with car owners this week to review the meaning of the new Nextel deal to the sport and, more importantly to the owners, the sponsor pool. According to one owner, the NASCAR teleconference this week will cover in more detail what Nextel has purchased from NASCAR, and what the owners will have to steer clear of when they’re speaking to potential sponsors. In a letter to the teams that was issued two weeks ago it was explained, in fairly clear-cut terms the definition of “competing with Nextel.” And the list of exclusions is lengthy, according to team sources.(Ford Racing)(7-14-2003)
- PF2 Motorsports postpones Cup debut: After taking the first half of the season off, Fred and Pam Bickford were looking forward to debuting in the Winston Cup Series at the New Hampshire Speedway. With Rich Bickle as their driver, they were getting a team geared up for the New England 300 on July 20th, 2003. Unfortunately, time has not been on their side. "The Winston Cup arena is the most competitive motorsports playing field today," commented Bickford. "We want to be sure that when we debut in the series that our equipment and team effort are as well prepared as it needs to be competitive with the rest of the competitors. We don't feel like that is where we are right now." PF2 has used the resources from Pam Bickford's [#94] Busch Team to train a crew as well as getting everyone acquainted with the NASCAR process. "If we brought our current program to the track right now it wouldn't be in our best interest and it would be a step in the wrong direction," replied Bickford. With this knowledge, they will postpone their debut to a later date. Excited to return to the Winston Cup Series, Rich Bickle has to agree with the Bickfords. "Pam and Fred are committed to this program and getting it off in the right direction. If they don't think we're ready to run the series yet, I trust their judgment. I think that is the right decision and I look forward to when we are back at the track," replied Bickle. "I know I will be giving 150% effort behind the wheel of the No. 94 insure94.com / knotlessboatrope.com Chevy." PF2 Motorsports will announce their debut at a later date.(PF2 Motorsports PR)(7-14-2003)
(7-13-2003)
see the July 7-13, 2003 Archived News Page
(7-6-2003)
see the June 30-July 6, 2003 Archived News Page
(6-29-2003)
see the June 23-29, 2003 Archived News Page
