#23 Team News and Links Page
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(not posting new unofficial sites anymore: too many have no updates, are old, driver bashing)
#23 Team Past News and Rumors
(NOTE: some older links may not work)
- Management Reorganization at BDR: Bill Davis, President of Bill Davis Racing (BDR), announced a reorganization of the company's management team. Davis, who with wife Gail has fielded teams in NASCAR for over 20 years, has added several key personnel and shifted several others within the organization. All changes are effective immediately. NASCAR veteran Marty Gaunt has been named Vice President of Bill Davis Racing. Gaunt, a native of Toronto, Ont., Canada, began his tenure in NASCAR in 1996 and has held similar positions at Penske Racing and Team Red Bull. Gaunt was also part owner of Red Horse Racing. "It's an honor for me to able to be a part of Bill Davis Racing with Bill and Gail," stated Gaunt. "Bill has fielded teams for 21 years now and to be considered to be a part of the reorganization is a great opportunity. I'm excited about the tasks at hand and ready to get started."
Mark Chambers, who previously served as team manager of BDR's Craftsman Truck Series effort, will now assume the role of the general manager of Bill Davis Racing. Chambers, who has been with the team since 2006, takes over the GM role from Mike Brown, who will move into the position of Chief Financial Officer.
"I'm confident the modifications we've made to our management and front-office staff will make our entire organization stronger," stated Davis. "Our Truck Series program continues to thrive, but there isn't any doubt that the Cup Series program has struggled this year. Our partnership with Caterpillar is over 10 years strong, and we owe it to them and to ourselves to make sure we have the best possible people in the most important positions. We have great partners in Caterpillar and Toyota and we hope to continue our affiliation with them for many years to come. I'm confident the changes we've announced today will ensure a strong future for this team." In addition, Davis has hired Jim Thomas as the organization's Director of Marketing. Thomas, a Florida native, has been the Director of Business Development for Sullivan Worldwide Marketing Group, a leading strategic marketing and planning agency to the United States motorsports industry. Prior to that, he spent several years within the financial arm of Southeast Toyota.(BDR)(4-7-2008) Comment here
- BDR not moving: Mike Brown, general manager for Bill Davis Racing [#22, #27, #36], says the team is not looking to move to the Charlotte [NC] area. The team, based in High Point, N.C., is one of the few Cup teams based outside the Charlotte area. Petty Enterprises announced last week it would move from Level Cross to Mooresville, N.C., after this season, in part to be able to be closer to the Charlotte area in hopes of attracting more crew members. “I understand what the Pettys are doing and if that’s right for them, that’s good,” Brown said. “Right now, we don’t see that as something that we’re entertaining.” Brown estimates that 25% of the team’s 300 employees are based in the Charlotte area. “We’re really happy with where we’re at,” Brown said.(Roanoke Times)(11-14-2007)
- Bill Davis Again Denies Sale Rumors UPDATE: Interviewed on Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway Tuesday, Davis once again denied reports that Jacques Villeneuve or his agent, Craig Pollack, have purchased the team, saying that he and his wife maintain 100% ownership.(Sirius Speedway)(10-31-2007)
UPDATE - Villeneuve rules out BDR purchase: Jacques Villeneuve has categorically stated that he has no interest in buying into NASCAR team Bill Davis Racing.
The 1997 Formula One world champion has been linked to a purchase of the team he is racing for since his manager Craig Pollock expressed an interest in buying a NASCAR team, but Villeneuve claims that he will not be involved in any takeover bid. Villeneuve said: "Over the last few weeks there has been persistent speculation that I am considering some form of purchase of the Bill Davis Racing organisation. "In spite of my consistent denial of these claims, the questions and speculation continue, so I want to set the record straight, one time only. I am not interested in buying the BDR business, or any other NASCAR team. I have not been considering such a purchase, and I will not be changing that position." Villeneuve added that he wants to remain totally focused on his racing in NASCAR, where he is currently preparing for his rookie season in the Sprint Cup in 2008.(Autosport.com)(11-3-2007)
- Pollack talks about interest of buying BDR: Jacques Villeneuve's manager Craig Pollock says he is interested in buying a Nextel Cup team while admitting he has held talks with Bill Davis Racing, the team for which his driver is currently competing in NASCAR. The former Formula One team principal and Champ Car team owner said in an interview with Le Journal de Montreal that he has held talks with a number of Nextel Cup teams, evaluating different options to become involved as a team owner. Pollock is understood to be in serious talks with Bill Davis to buy equity in his NASCAR squad, which currently fields two cars in Cup and three in the Craftsman Truck Series. Jacques Villeneuve is expected to race for the team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup next year."I'm interested in having an active participation in a NASCAR team, preferably the one where Jacques drives," said Pollock. "It's the best way to make sure that my driver has access to the best equipment available." It had been reported during the weekend at Martinsville and on Canadian radio that Jacques Villeneuve was the one actually buying BDR, something that Pollock categorically denies. "Jacques has never spoken with a team with the intention to invest in it," he added. Bill Davis would not confirm that he has already sold his team to Pollock, but has admitted openly that he is looking for the right partner to buy into his team in a time when funded investors have shown massive interest for getting involved in NASCAR.(Autosport.com), see the #22 Team News and links page for past news and rumors on the possible sale of BDR.(10-23-2007)
- Stremme? Mayfield to Haas? UPDATE 2 Mayfield in the #66 NOW: hearing that both David Stremme, currently driving the #40 Dodge for Chip Ganassi [but out of a job at the end of 2007] has also talked to Haas CNC Racing about driving for them in 2008; also hearing that Jeremy Mayfield, currently driving the #36 Toyota for Bill Davis Racing [but out of a job at the end of 2007] has talked to Haas CNC Racing about driving for them in 2008. Haas CNC Racing has already signed Scott Riggs [now in the #10 Dodge at GEM] to drive one of their cars for them in 2008, either the #66 Chevy currently driven by Jeff Green], the #70 Chevy [currently Johnny Sauter] or a possible third team. Stremme is also being rumored to others rides, including #10 GEM Dodge, Michael Waltrip Racing and Penske Racing [if Horish decides not to run Cup in 2008 in their third car].(10-9-2007)
UPDATE Mayfield to Haas? on Sunday's SPEED Report, Bob Dilner reported that it looks like current Haas CNC Racing drivers, Jeff Green and Johnny Sauter will not return in 2008 and that Jeremy Mayfield is now the leading candidate to join the team. Scott Riggs was recently signed to drive for the team in 2008. Dilner also mentioned that Tony Furr could ended up back with Haas as Mayfield's crew chief, but Furr denied that.(10-22-2007)
UPDATE 2: Jeremy Mayfield will replace Jeff Green in the Haas CNC Racing #66 Chevrolet, effective immediately, team general manager Joe Custer said Monday morning.
Mayfield also will join Scott Riggs in the driver lineup for next season but the alignment of the two drivers with car numbers in 2008 has not been determined, Custer said. Green is 27th in the series points standings. "[Green] did a good job for us, and we appreciate everything he did," Custer said. His replacement in the #36 Bill Davis Racing team for this weekend at Atlanta has not been announced. As far as the status of current Haas CNC Racing driver Johnny Sauter, Custer said Sauter (who is 31st in points) is under contract with the team and that "we're working through that" for 2008.(SceneDaily.com)
AND Bill Davis Racing (BDR) announced that Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson will share driving duties of the #36 Toyota Camry for the remaining four events on the 2007 Nextel Cup schedule. BDR and Jeremy Mayfield, who had been behind the wheel since the season began, have parted ways effective immediately. Skinner, who currently leads the battle for the Craftsman Truck Series championship in his Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra, will pilot the #36 Camry this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway and again the following
weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Benson, driver of the #23 Toyota Tundra for BDR, will take over the reigns of the #36 Toyota Camry beginning with the event at Phoenix International Raceway and will finish out the season in the car [last race at Homestead].(BDR PR)(10-22-2007)
- Villeneuve buys Bill Davis Racing? UPDATE 3: Auto123.com's contributor Bertrand Godin has learned earlier today a rumour indicating that Jacques Villeneuve and Craig Pollock have purchased the Bill Davis Racing Team [#22, #27 and #36 in Cup, #5, #22, #23, #27 in Truck]. According to a reliable source, Villeneuve and his business manager since 1992, Craig Pollock, have recently purchased Bill and Gail Davis' stock-car racing team. This is the team that currently runs Villeneuve in the Craftsman Trucks series and in the Nextel Cup. The new team, based in High Point, North Carolina will apparently continue to field the current drivers, as well as a Sprint Cup car for Villeneuve.(Auto123.com)(10-19-2007)
UPDATE: Team owner Bill Davis insisted on Saturday that he has not sold his organization as published reports indicated. That doesn't mean he won't. The owner of Bill Davis Racing said several parties have expressed an interest in purchasing his company that includes two Nextel Cup cars driven by Dave Blaney and Jeremy Mayfield, who will be replaced by Formula One star Jacques Villeneuve next season. "Like any team our size, we have to be realistic and look at all of our options with what's going on in the sport right now," he said before practice at Martinsville Speedway. "We've had a lot of interest, a lot of very interested people, and a lot of things that are for real. We just have to do our due diligence and make a smart, logical choice."(ESPN.com)(10-20-2007)
UPDATE 2: Bill Davis sees all that is going on around him in Nextel Cup racing and is not ashamed to say that his operation needs help. So he has hung out the "For Sale" shingle at Bill Davis Racing. Part of it? All of it? Even Davis doesn't seem to be sure yet. But he's willing to listen to all offers, and indeed is in the process of doing precisely that. Jacques Villeneuve indicated that he is not interested in owning BDR -- but didn't rule out the fact that his business manager, Craig Pollock, might have some interest. Davis said he would like to retain at least part-ownership in the team that bears his name.(NASCAR.com)(10-21-2007)
UPDATE 3: Bill Davis said reports that he’s selling his High Point NASCAR team may be premature, but he won’t flat-out deny reports he may be selling part of his team to Jacques Villeneuve, perhaps a very significant part. Davis has signed Villeneuve to run his Toyotas next season on the Nextel Cup tour, as teammate with Dave Blaney. And Villeneuve is spending this fall running NASCAR Trucks, to warm up for 2008. Now comes word that there is much more to the Davis-Villeneuve deal than the two are letting on. Davis hedged when pressed on the situation. “We’re not in position to make any comment right now,” Davis said.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-22-2007)
- Villeneuve, BDR consider competing in COT race at Phoenix: #27-Jacques Villeneuve and Bill Davis Racing, coming off positive results in the former Formula One champion's Cup debut Sunday at Talladega, are contemplating running another Cup race before the end of the season. Mike Brown, general manager at BDR, said the team had several meetings Monday to discuss the feasibility of Villeneuve competing in the Car of Tomorrow race at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 11. Villeneuve, who also has an Indianapolis 500 win on his resume, qualified sixth at Talladega and finished 21st. Villeneuve, who will drive in the remaining Craftsman Truck series races this year, will drive in the Cup series for BDR next season. "We've talked to Jacques about it, and he wants to do it and we want to do it," Brown said of adding Phoenix. "We're kicking it around, and we really want to do it." Brown said the team wants Villeneuve, who will participate in the two-day COT test later this month at Atlanta, to get in some testing time at a track comparable to the one-mile Phoenix track. Villeneuve has raced an open-wheel car at the track, so it's not a completely unknown entity to him. Villeneuve possibly could test at Nashville or New Smyrna.(ESPN.com)(10-9-2007)
- Villeneuve's rides to promote UNICEF at Talladega: This week’s truck race will be Jacques Villeneuve’s second, having debuted in Las Vegas on the weekend of September 22. As was the case when he debuted in Las Vegas, Villeneuve has never driven a truck at Talladega. Villeneuve will debut title sponsorship from the United Nations’ UNICEF children’s charity on both his # 27 truck and Cup car. As part of the relationship, visitors to the UNICEF.org website will be asked to donate $27 to charitable causes as part of an initiative called ‘Going the extra mile’.(Bill Davis Racing PR), see an image of the car at the UNICEF site of my #27 Team Schemes page.(10-5-2007)
- Drivers Don't Like Villeneuve Debuting at Talladega: #24-Jeff Gordon thinks it's a big mistake for former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve to attempt to make his Nextel Cup debut next week at Talladega Superspeedway. "I love Jacques, but that's not the right decision to make," Gordon said Friday. "I didn't think it was the right decision last year for David Gilliland, either. Nothing against their talent or anything else, but that race in the Chase? Why? If you want to run a race, go to Atlanta or another 1.5-mile oval." Gordon said he was surprised NASCAR gave it approval for Villeneuve to debut on the giant 2.6-mile oval. The Oct. 7 event is the first restrictor-plate race in the Car of Tomorrow.(ESPN.com)
AND: #5- Kyle Busch was shocked to learn that former Formula 1 and CART champion Jacques Villeneuve will attempt to make his Nextel Cup debut next weekend at Talladega. "He's doing what? Holy cow, that's not good," Busch said when asked for his reaction to Villeneuve racing at Talladega. "You've got to start somewhere but the Cup Series at Talladega definitely isn't the place to start."(SPEEDtv.com)(9-29-2007)
- Villeneuve to attempt Talladega: Jacques Villeneuve will make his Nextel Cup race debut next weekend, five weeks earlier than originally planned, in the ‘UAW-Ford 500’, at the famous Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Villeneuve, who sat in a ‘Cup’ car for the first time just 24 days ago, was initially scheduled to race the ARCA and Craftsman Truck races at Talladega – steps one and two on the NASCAR ladder – whilst watching the main ‘Cup’ event on Sunday, along with over 143,000 trackside spectators. Villeneuve’s fast-track to ‘Cup’, the top step of the NASCAR ladder, has been made possible only with the approval of NASCAR. His recent performance in his debut ‘Car of Tomorrow’ test, also at Talladega, where he ran more laps than any other driver, and successfully ‘bump-drafted’ his way through the pack, without making enemies of the more experienced drivers, is seen to have eased that same process of approval. Having made his NASCAR race debut in the Craftsman Truck event at Las Vegas just last weekend, Villeneuve now faces a new challenge, where he will again be focused initially on qualifying his #27 car (43 cars will start the race, of which 36 are guaranteed a place based on pre-earned team points – Villeneuve does not have the benefit of such team points, either earned or inherited). In addition to Sunday’s 500-miler, Villeneuve will contest Saturday afternoon’s Craftsman Truck event, the 94-lap ‘Mountain Dew 250’, which is exactly half the length of Sunday’s flagship ‘Cup’ race. Earlier this week, the 36-year-old Canadian tested an ARCA car at Talladega.(BDR PR)(9-28-2007)
- Villeneuve tests truck at Chicago, debut at Vegas, could run Cup race UPDATE: Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula One champion and 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner, will drive seven races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Bill Davis Racing in anticipation of racing full time next season. Villeneuve tested in a Craftsman truck [the #27 Toyota], which uses a stock-car chassis with a pickup body, in Chicago on Monday. He is expected to make his debut on the third-tier NASCAR circuit at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 22. "We're planning on running him in the last seven truck races, starting in Vegas," said Michelle Marckwardt of Bill Davis Racing. "It's possible he may run a Nextel Cup car at the end of the year."(Detroit Free Press)(8-28-2007)
UPDATE: Former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve made his debut behind the wheel of a Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra machine Monday and Tuesday at Chicagoland Speedway. Villeneuve, who has not raced on an oval track since 1995, when he won both the Indianapolis 500 and the CART Indy Car Championship, spent Monday acclimating himself to the #27 truck. After watching teammate Mike Skinner run a few laps, Villeneuve hit the track in his Tundra. By his 12th lap, Villeneuve's lap time was 31.67 seconds [170.508mph] around the 1.5-mile tri-oval and within six tenths of a second of Skinner's times. Villeneuve finished the day only two tenths of a second slower than the Craftsman Truck Series Championship leader. The team made a number of changes to the truck throughout the two-day test session, but Villeneuve never slowed. His lap of 31.00 seconds [174.194mph] Tuesday proved to the other Craftsman Truck Series teams attending the test just how talented he really is. "It was a great test," Villeneuve said. "I missed racing on ovals, so it has been a lot of fun the last few days. I definitely learned a lot. The truck has a lot more grip then I thought it was going to have. It turns very well. It took a little getting used to at first, but I am very comfortable in it now."
"Jacques did very well," said BDR Truck Team Manager Mark Chambers. "He gives incredible feedback and adapted to the truck extremely well. Overall, I would have to say that he was very impressive on and off the track. He will be a great asset to BDR." Villeneuve will make his first career NASCAR start in the Craftsman Truck Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 22. He will then compete in the remainder of the NCTS events for Bill Davis Racing. The 36-year old champion could possibly make his Nextel Cup Series debut before the end of the 2007 season.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-28-2007)
- Villeneuve could be headed to Cup in 2008: Bill Davis Racing plans to field a full-time Sprint Cup entry for former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve in 2008, team owner Bill Davis said Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Davis said the plan right now is to run Villeneuve in the #22 Craftsman Truck Series entry later this season, as well as test the Car of Tomorrow. BDR will also field a car for Villeneuve in the ARCA race at Talladega in October in preparation for the Daytona 500 in 2008, Davis said. Then? "And then we'll go Cup racing next year," Davis said. Davis said that Villeneuve's jump to Cup doesn't necessarily mean he'll be in the #36 Toyota and that a three-car team "is a possibility." Veteran Nextel Cup crew chief Slugger Labbe will lead Villeneuve's team, Davis said. Villeneuve will debut in NASCAR during a CTS test at Chicagoland Speedway on Monday. The hope right now is debut him in a CTS race next month in Las Vegas. "It is an experiment, if you will," Davis said. "But he's pretty confident he can do it, and we are, too. I think it'll work out just fine."(ESPN.com)
AND: If all goes according to plan, 1997 Formula 1 World Driving Champion and 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve will replace #36-Jeremy Mayfield next year in a Bill Davis Racing Nextel Cup Toyota. Team General Manager Mike Brown said over the next six weeks, Villeneuve will undergo an intensive testing program that will include seat time in a Craftsman Truck Series entry and possibly an ARCA car at Talladega Superspeedway in October. “That’s what we hope to do, that’s what he feels like he’d like to do,” Brown said when asked if Villeneuve would drive a BDR Cup car next season. “Obviously, the whole NASCAR program is new to him, so we’re going to put together an aggressive test program for him. The truck … is much like the COT car we’ll be racing next year. Obviously, he’s got to go through the validation process with NASCAR, so we’re looking at places we can go run him in trucks, maybe in the ARCA series … an aggressive test program, not only with the trucks, but with the COT cars … Kentucky (Speedway), all the different places we can go to.” Brown said sponsor 360 OTC likely will not be back with BDR next season.(SPEEDtv.com)(8-25-2007)
- Villeneuve to test truck for Bill Davis Racing: Following an invitation from Toyota NASCAR team Bill Davis Racing, former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will make his NASCAR debut behind the wheel of a Toyota Tundra truck on Monday, August 27 at Chicagoland Speedway in Illinois. Having won both the IndyCar series and the legendary Indy 500 event, Villeneuve is no stranger to oval racing, although he last did so in 1995. For a driver with an almost unequalled resumé, the 36-year-old father of one is fully accepting of his ‘rookie’ status, and is focused on learning as much as he can, as quickly as he can. Speaking from Bill Davis Racing’s High Point, N.C. HQ, Jacques Villeneuve commented, “We have spent the last few months considering a number of NASCAR options and were in agreement that the truck offers the closest reference point to the Car of Tomorrow. Bill Davis Racing was aware of my interest in NASCAR and approached my management team with a view to allowing me to test within its truck program. I’m glad we were able to work that out, and having spent the day with the team for my seat fitting, I am really looking forward to working with Bill and his staff.” Villeneuve’s long-term manager, Craig Pollock, added to the picture, stating, “There’s been a lot of speculation about when Jacques would arrive in NASCAR. Bill Davis’ kind invitation coincided with our decision to start within Craftsman Truck, so the fit was both timely and natural.”(BDR PR)(8-23-2007)
- #36 team to get #23 owners pts: Q) Butch Leitzinger is in the #23 car this weekend for Bill Davis Racing, but why not put him the #36 for owner points?
A): Great question. I [Tom Jensen] just went to the Nextel Cup garage here and spoke with Mike Brown, general manager of Bill Davis Racing. He said that the owner points the #23 gets this weekend will be credited to the #36. It's the same team, but sponsor Caterpillar wanted both cars with consecutive numbers this weekend, so BDR asked NASCAR if it was OK to change numbers but still have the points go to the #36 and NASCAR approved it.(FoxSports/Tom Jensen)(6-23-2007)
- Two CAT cars at Sonoma, no #36, Mayfield sits out: There will be two Cat/Bill Davis Racing entries at the road course this weekend. Dave Blaney will be joined this weekend at Bill Davis Racing by road racer Butch Leitzinger who will drive the #23 Caterpillar Racing entry at Infineon Raceway. Jeremy Mayfield will return to his regular ride in the #36 360 OTC Toyota next week at [Loudon] New Hampshire International Speedway. Leitzinger has made three starts in Nextel Cup Series competition - all at Watkins Glen International -
and has finished as high as 12th. Leitzinger takes a break from his American LeMans Series driving duties with Dyson Racing to compete in the event at Infineon Raceway for BDR. The 38-year old from Homestead, Pa., has won the 24 Hours of Daytona three times, the World Sportscar Championship twice and both the CanAm Championship and IMSA GTU Championship. He has also posted three victories in NASCAR's Busch North Series and a podium finish in the Busch Series event at Watkins Glen International. The #22 Caterpillar Toyota Blaney is scheduled to drive this weekend at Infineon Raceway is COT 11. The team has tested this Toyota Camry at Virginia International Raceway twice during the last several weeks in preparation for this event. The team has prepared COT 9 for Leitzinger to drive this weekend. Though this car wasn't tested at VIR, Leitzinger spent several days testing with the team at that track. Tom Hubert, a native of
Cottonwood, Calif. and rear tire changer for the #22 Caterpillar Racing team, will once again compete in the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series event at Infineon Raceway Saturday afternoon. Hubert finished fifth in the race last year after starting in the 11th spot.(BDR PR)(6-19-2007)
- Skinner could run more races for Davis: Mike Skinner is testing Bill Davis Racing's #23 Toyota this week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but Skinner said Monday he likely won't drive the car in the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at the track on March 11.
Skinner will drive the #23 in the Daytona 500 as a teammate to Dave Blaney and Jeremy Mayfield and could be in the car in more Nextel Cup races in 2007. Skinner drives the #5 Toyota for Davis in the Craftsman Truck Series. "We might possibly run more [than the Daytona 500]," Skinner said. "I'm not going to run a lot, I don't think. We are going to focus on the truck. I'd like to run there and Indy, maybe a handful. We'll see what happens with sponsorship and see if Bill Davis wants to do some R&D with the 23 car. He might run Johnny [Benson] a couple races, might run me a couple of races." The reason Skinner is testing the #23 at Vegas is to help Davis' other Cup teams. Blaney is guaranteed a starting spot in the first five races in the #22, but Mayfield's #36 car is not. "We are not really trying to put big numbers up there right now," Skinner said. "The purpose for the 23 car - I don't think the 23 is going to come back to run this race - we are doing some research and development for the 22 and 36 and [to see] if we can help the 22 and 36 do better. They need to do really well the first five or six races, especially the 36, so they have a shot at some success this year."(SceneDaily.com)(1-31-2007)
- Skinner to attmept the Daytona 500 in the #23: Mike Skinner will start testing next week in Daytona in his #5 Toyota Tundra Truck - then head right into the 2nd Nextel Cup test in the Bill Davis Racing #23 Toyota in preperation to make the Daytona 500 with Tommy Baldwin leading the attempt.(mikeskinner.com)(1-6-2007)
- Lester's Cup hopes dim: Bill Lester's chances of landing a Nextel Cup ride in 2007 have dimmed with news that he has left the Bill Davis Racing fold to sign a full-time Craftsman Truck Series deal with #15-Billy Ballew Motorsports. Lester, who became the first black driver to start a Nextel Cup race in 20 years when he qualified for the March race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway had been looking at securing a limited Cup programme at least in 2007 with BDR and Toyota, for whom he has driven the last couple of Truck seasons with. However no that Lester has left the BDR fold that now looks unlikely. While Lester has at least secured a full time ride in one of the top three NASCAR series,' Billy Ballew Motorsports do not have a Cup or Busch Series program and Lester must now seek occasional Cup outings around his NCTS commitments.(crash.net)(12-18-2006)
- Lester's plans up in the air: Bill Lester said his racing plans for 2007 likely won't be set before this season ends at Homestead, Fla., next month. "It's just like last year," Lester said. "I didn't do a deal until Homestead, and I don't expect anything to be different." Lester, who drives the #22 Toyota for Bill Davis Racing, said he would like to return to the truck series and run some Nextel Cup events. He ran two Cup races this year, at Atlanta in March and at Michigan in June.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Bill Davis Racing announced it's 3-driver Truck Series team at Atlanta and Lester was not part of that announcement.(10-29-2006)
- Lester hopes to run Cup in 2007: Craftsman Truck Series driver Bill Lester's plans for next year are uncertain, but he remains optimistic about finding sponsorship to run in the Nextel Cup Series. Lester said running a part-time Nextel Cup schedule could be a possibility rather than a full-time return to the truck series. "It's still up in the air, but we're hoping to see what shakes out," he said. "The biggest thing is communicating that we need support." Lester is the only African-American competing in NASCAR's top three touring series. He has made two Cup starts this season, qualifying 19th at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March as the first black driver in NASCAR's premier series in nearly 20 years.(USA Today)(9-16-2006)
- Lester to attempt to makes 3rd Cup start at Calif: Craftsman Truck Series driver Bill Lester is looking forward to attempting his third Nextel Cup start in this weekend's SONY HD 500 at California Speedway. Piloting the #23 Waste Management Dodge Nextel Cup entry for Bill Davis Racing, Lester became the first black driver to compete in a Nextel Cup race in 20 years when he
qualified for the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March in his first appearance behind the wheel of a Nextel Cup racecar. This weekend, along with the pressure of qualifying and racing in the Nextel Cup series, and the numerous demands for media interviews and appearances, Lester will have the additional attention of a large contingent of family and friends following his every move. Bester was raised on California, got his first laps in a race car on Northern California tracks, graduated from UC Berkley, and many of his immediate family members reside in California.(LM Motorsports Marketing PR)(9-1-2006)
- Blaney back with BDR in 2007: Bill Davis Racing Competition Director Tommy Baldwin confirmed that Dave Blaney will drive one of the two [#22, #23] BDR entries in 2007, and said an announcement should come soon regarding the other seat.(NASCAR.com)(8-5-2006)
- Checkers could sponsor Lester or another team in 2007: If #23-Bill Lester lands a Nextel Cup ride in the future - he has only two starts, both this year, but drives for Bill Davis Racing, which has two open seats for its Toyota program in 2007 - he may already have met his sponsor: Tampa-based Checkers/Rally's. Lester, who has a partial sponsorship deal with the official drive-through of NASCAR for his BDR Truck series program, is well-liked within the company. This season he became just the sixth African-American to qualify for a race in NASCAR's top series. "He helped us secure the deal (to become a NASCAR sponsor in 2005)," said Checkers vice president of marketing Rich Turer. "Bill participated in our final meeting with our franchise advisory council two years ago at Homestead-Miami (Speedway). Bill was our invited guest and NASCAR brought him in specifically to talk about this match. We have 800 restaurants, and some of them are very urban and are more minority-driven in the customer base, and we had some franchisees that were concerned about our investment against that. Bill was able to come in and talk to them and have dinner and spent a lot of time. He's great. We're not a huge sponsor of Bill - we sponsor a few races for him a year - but he remains near and dear to my heart because he really helped make secure some of the important franchise votes we needed to get the deal done." Turer said the company is in discussions with two teams about a full-season Nextel Cup sponsorship for 2007. Turer did not name teams, but noted the company's right to use race-winners' images in its advertising reduces the pressure to sign a high-profile driver.(St Petersburg Times)(7-4-2006)
- Lester to make second Cup attempt in Michigan: Bill Lester will attempt to make the second start of his Nextel Cup career this weekend at Michigan, driving the #23 Waste Management car for Bill David Racing. Lester became the first African-American to qualify for a Cup race since Willy T. Ribbs did so at MIS in 1986. Lester qualified 19th at Atlanta in March. In doing so, he was just the sixth African-American in Cup history to qualify for a race.(BillLester.com)(6-14-3006)
- Lester easily makes the race at Atlanta: Bill Lester became the first African-American driver to qualify for a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race in 20 years, while Kasey Kahne took the pole for Sunday’s Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Lester’s #23 Waste Management Dodge was the fastest among the cars that needed to qualify on time with the 19th fastest lap of 190.502 mph. Lester joins Charlie Scott, Wendell Scott, George Wiltshire, Randy Bethea and Willy T. Ribbs as the only African-Americans to accomplish this feat with Ribbs being the last in 1986. "I'm so excited, I'm relieved, I'm enthused, I can't wait for Sunday's race," said Lester, who is from Atlanta. "My wife knew my heart and soul was in racing and she supported me 110 percent."(RacingOne)(3-18-2006)
- PE: #23-Bill Lester's team was a PE [Post Entry] for the race at Atlanta and didn't get credited Drivers/Owners Points. Teams need to have the entry blank into NASCAR 13 days before the race.(3-20-2006)
- Lester gets assoc sponsor for 3 races: Valvoline, with its 110-year history of firsts in motorsports, is seeking a new first – a historic partnership in NASCAR Nextel Cup competition with driver Bill Lester. Valvoline will be an associate sponsor on Lester’s #23 Dodge Charger for three races – Atlanta (March), Michigan (June) and California (September). The car will carry Valvoline’s legendary red, white and blue decal on the B-pillar and Lester will sport the colors on his uniform.(Clear!Blue PR)(3-17-2006)
- BDR/Lester plan full 2007 season: Bill Lester’s #23 Waste Management Team is scheduled to compete at Atlanta Motor Speedway, at Michigan Speedway in June and at California Speedway in September. More races are expected to be added to the 2006 schedule as additional sponsorship and Lester’s commitments in the Craftsman Truck Series permits, with an eye on the entire NEXTEL Cup schedule in 2007. Atlanta’s Championship Group handles program management and business development, and is expected to announce additional program details over the coming months.(Bill Davis Racing)(3-17-2006)
- Lester to make Cup debut at Atlanta UPDATE 2: Bill Lester is expected to announce at a Tuesday news conference that he'll attempt to make the Cup race next weekend at Atlanta in a Bill Davis Racing car [#23?]. If Lester makes the race, he would become the first African-American to compete in a Cup race since Willy T. Ribbs in 1986.(Roanoke Times)(3-12-2006)
UPDATE: Lester will attempt to qualify for Sunday's Nextel Cup Golden Corral 500 in a Bill Davis Racing car sponsored by Waste Management. At stake is a chance to become the first African-American in NASCAR's premier series since Willy T. Ribbs finished 37th at Michigan International Speedway on June 15, 1986. Despite huge growth in attendance and TV ratings the last two decades, NASCAR has lagged in attracting minority fans and competitors. Waste Management will sponsor him in Cup races at Michigan on June 18 and at California Speedway on Sept. 3. Lester said there's an option for more races. He will be one of an expected 17 drivers vying for eight unprotected spots in the 43-car field at Atlanta.(USA Today)(3-14-2006)
UPDATE 2: Truck Series driver Bill Lester will make history this weekend, piloting the #23 Waste Management NASCAR entry for Bill Davis Racing in the Golden Corral 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.(AMS Site)
Lester would become the sixth black driver to compete in NASCAR's top series since the sport's inception in 1949. The late Wendell Scott drove in 495 races from 1961-73 with one victory at Jacksonville (Fla.) Speedway in 1963. No other African-American has competed in more than three races. Willy T. Ribbs was the last African-American to race in the Cup series, competing in three races in 1986.(Roanoke Times), see an image on the #23 Team Schemes page.(3-15-2006)
