#23/93 Team Past News and Rumors
NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages
Past 2006 News
Bad Boy Mowers back on the #23: #23-Mike Skinner will run a third car for Bill Davis Racing in the Daytona 500 with Bad Boy Mowers as the primary sponsor. The #23 Bad Boy Mowers Dodge Charger at Daytona International Speedway is Chassis No. 62 … It was last run in the 2004 Daytona 500 and helped carry Scott Wimmer and the Cat Racing team to a third-place finish (started 26th). Bad Boy Mowers is teaming up with Bill Davis Racing to sponsor Mike Skinner and the #23 team in the 2006 Gatorade Duel and Daytona 500. This will not be the first time Bad Boy Mowers, Inc. has participated in the NEXTEL Cup Series with Davis. Bad Boy Mowers was an associate sponsor on the #23 car at Texas Motor Speedway in April 2004, when Dave Blaney brought home an 11th-place finish, and then last year Bad Boy Mowers teamed up with Skinner and BDR at Talladega Superspeedway in May. Founded in 1998 and based in Batesville, Ark., Bad Boy Mowers, Inc. is a manufacturer of zero-turn commercial lawn mowers. Rick Viers will serve as crew chief of the #23.(BDR PR)(2-8-2006)
Allied Steel Bldgs to Bill Davis Racing: Allied Steel Buildings Inc is taking a next step in their NASCAR involvement by joining Bill Davis Racing Teams during this year’s events. Allied is expanding its NASCAR involvement after serving as a part-time associate and primary sponsor of the #50 Arnold Motorsports car during the 2005 season. “Allied Steel is still fairly new to this sport, so it is an honor the company has chosen to come on board with us. It’s also an honor to get to carry the Allied Steel banner. It is a great company with great standards,” said Bill Davis, team owner and president. “We are really thrilled to be a part of NASCAR as a full-time sponsor for the new 2006 season,” said Allied’s President, Michael Lassner. “It’s such an honor to be affiliated with Bill Davis and his racing teams. They plan to be one of the best on the race track this year and we will do everything that we can to help them make that happen,” said Lassner.(eMediaWire), no word on which of BDR's teams it will be a sponsor for or at what level, primary or as an associate.(1-31-2006)
Three Teams to field Camry's in 2007 Cup Series UPDATE: hearing that Bill Davis Racing [#22,23], Michael Waltrip Racing [#55] and Team Red Bull will run the Toyota Camry in 2007 when Toyota enters the series. In addition to Red Bull, other sponsors that will be associated with the Toyota teams are Caterpillar (Bill Davis Racing) and NAPA (Michael Waltrip Racing). Team Red Bull will be based in Mooresville, NC, and stock car veteran Marty Gaunt [Penske] will serve as the team's general manager. Who will drive for Red Bull? how many teams/cars? not sure, Robby Gordon, who owns his own team has been sponsored by Red Bull. And have heard that Kevin Harvick, who drivers the #29 RCR Chevy, could be one of the drivers for Red Bull team. Expect these teams, but doubt the Red Bull drivers, in part to be announced at Toyota's Press Conference at Lowe's Motor Speedway tonight.(1-24-2006)
UPDATE: One veteran race team with close to 20 years of stock car experience, another with an owner who has been driving race cars for more than 20 years, and a third totally new team will all be running the Toyota Camry in the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.
Bill Davis Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull will all utilize the "Most Popular Car in America" when the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season kicks-off next February with the Daytona 500, Toyota and teams announced.
Bill Davis Racing has been a regular competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series since 1993, while Michael Waltrip Racing has primarily been involved in the Busch Series. Team Red Bull is new to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, although the company has been heavily involved in worldwide motorsports. In addition to Red Bull, other primary sponsors that will be associated with the Toyota teams are Caterpillar (Bill Davis Racing) and NAPA (Michael Waltrip Racing). Caterpillar has been associated with Bill Davis Racing for nine years and NAPA has had a relationship with Michael Waltrip for five years.
"Based on our motorsports experience, we know the importance of working with experienced teams and partners," said Jim Aust, vice president of Toyota Motorsports and president and CEO of TRD, U.S.A. "We have developed excellent relationships with Bill Davis and the Waltrip family --- and look forward to developing a similar relationship with the Red Bull team as Toyota joins one of the world's most competitive racing series."
"Next year -- 2007 -- marks Toyota's 50th anniversary in America and seeing a Toyota Camry -- America's best-selling car -- in the NEXTEL Cup Series will be a great way to celebrate this milestone," said Kim McCullough, TMS corporate manager, marketing communications. "The response to Toyota's involvement in the Craftsman Truck Series has been very positive, and we look forward to building on that acceptance at the next levels -- in both NEXTEL Cup and Busch racing."
The Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in America for four straight years and eight of the past nine years. Assembled at Toyota's Georgetown, Ky. plant, more than six million Camry models have been sold in the United States since its debut 23 years ago. The all-new 2007 Camry, a complete redesign from previous models, was recently introduced at the North American Auto Show in Detroit.
Bill Davis has been involved in NASCAR competition for 18 years. During his tenure as a NASCAR team owner, the Arkansas-native has worked with some of the sport's top drivers and claimed numerous honors, including the 1991 Busch Series Rookie-of-the-Year award with driver Jeff Gordon, and a 2002 Daytona 500 win with driver Ward Burton. Bill Davis Racing has 18 victories, 38 poles, 104 top-five finishes and 257 top-10 finishes as a NASCAR team owner. In 2004, Bill Davis Racing partnered with Toyota to field three Tundras in the Craftsman Truck Series. In two seasons participating in the NCTS, the Bill Davis Racing drivers have combined for two wins, 11 poles, 22 top-five finishes and 41 top-10 finishes. The team will again field three Tundras in the series in 2006.
Michael Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, formed his own race team nearly a decade ago in Sherrills Ford, N.C. Established primarily as a Busch Series team -- where Waltrip would collect four wins and six poles -- the organization began fielding cars in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series on a limited basis over the past few years. In order to better prepare for the expansion of his team, Waltrip announced plans last August to develop, design and create 'Waltrip Racing World' -- an interactive, high-tech race shop that will feature more than 125,000 square-feet of shop space, buildings and housing when completed.
Team Red Bull will be based in Mooresville, N.C., and stock car veteran Marty Gaunt will serve as the team's general manager. Although Red Bull is new to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition, the world's leading energy drink company has been increasingly involved in global motorsports over the last decade. Red Bull owns and operates two Formula One teams -- Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso -- plus is an active supporter of action and adventure sports, music and culture, along with motorsports.
In 2004, Toyota became a regular competitor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) -the first new manufacturer in elite NASCAR competition in more than 50 years. In its inaugural NCTS season, a Toyota Tundra recorded four wins, five pole positions and 25 top-five finishes. During last year's Craftsman Truck Series campaign, four Toyota drivers -- Todd Bodine (five), Mike Skinner (two), David Reutimann (two) and Brandon Whitt (one) -- combined for nine Tundra wins and Toyota drivers recorded 13 poles. This season, Toyota will again field five teams and nine drivers in the NCTS, including defending series champion Ted Musgrave. Toyota made its initial move into the NASCAR ranks in 2000 with the introduction of a V6-powered Celica in the Goody's Dash Series. In three years in the Dash Series, Robert Huffman won 10 races and earned Toyota it's first-ever NASCAR championship when he claimed the 2003 driver's title.
Powering all of Toyota's American racing programs is TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) in Costa Mesa, Calif., and High Point, N.C. A subsidiary of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., TRD serves as the North American racing arm for design, development and assembly of Toyota's factory racing engines. In addition, TRD is also the source of high-performance aftermarket products for both street performance and grassroots racing Toyotas. From the race track to the aftermarket product segment, TRD plays a key role in providing Toyota with an enhanced performance image.(Toyota Motorsports Site)(1-25-2006)
Dodge and Bill Davis Racing lock horns in lawsuit: A multimillion-dollar breach of contract lawsuit between DaimlerChrysler and Bill Davis Racing is expected to get under way today in U.S. District Court in Detroit. DaimlerChrysler says Bill Davis Racing, based in North Carolina, violated the terms of a six-year contract in 2003 by passing confidential information to Toyota. The suit says Davis was helping the Japanese automaker develop a prototype Tundra truck for NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series. At the time, Davis was under contract to prepare DaimlerChrysler vehicles for the NASCAR Winston Cup series, now the Nextel Cup series. After terminating the contract and suing Davis, DaimlerChrysler says it learned that Davis had signed a contract in February 2003 to provide a car to General Motors for the Winston Cup series. DaimerChrysler is seeking $6.5 million in damages and an injunction to prevent Davis from divulging confidential automotive data acquired from DaimlerChrysler. Davis has denied the charges, countersued and is seeking $8.5 million to $9.8 million from DaimlerChrysler for breach of contract. Davis intends to run two Dodges in the Nextel Cup series this year with drivers Michael Waltrip and Dave Blaney. In the truck series, he will run three Toyota Tundras with drivers Johnny Benson, Mike Skinner and Bill Lester. U.S. District Judge George Steeh will preside over the trial, which is expected to last 2-3 weeks.(Detroit Free Press)(1-18-2006)
Carter to Bill Davis Racing UPDATE 2: although it was announced at Penske Racing that former #2 crew chief Larry Carter was staying there in another capacity, saw this reported on FoxSports.com in a Darrell Waltip article: "With my brother Michael being over at Bill Davis Racing, he's bringing NAPA and some resources. Davis brought back Dave Blaney, who is one of those consistent guys. If you put Blaney in a good car next year, Michael and Blaney could work well together next year. They brought in Larry Carter from the #2 car to help them. That's going to be a big plus. Derrick Finley has a few years under his belt as a crew chief. I see good things happening at Bill Davis Racing. But Michael has to stay out of trouble and finish races — that's got to be his number 1 priority.(FoxSports)(12-28-2005)
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing will field three teams at Daytona; Mike Skinner will pull double duty between trucks and the #23 Cup car. Former Penske South [#2] crew chief Larry Carter has been retained as a consultant and will primarily assist Skinner's team through Speedweeks.(Sporting News)(1-9-2006)
UPDATE 2: Crew chief Larry Carter, who led #2-Rusty Wallace into the Chase for the Nextel Cup in Wallace's final year in Cup racing, was a victim of a reorganization at Penske Racing South after Kurt Busch was named driver of the team's #2 Miller Lite Dodge at the end of last year. This week at Daytona, Carter was in Daytona helping driver Mike Skinner test a pair of #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodges. He said he hoped to have his next career step in place shortly. "I don't really know yet what I'm doing but I've got a couple opportunities that I'm looking at, and I'm probably going to be making a decision this week," Carter said. "There's nothing official yet, and I'm just down here helping Bill Davis with a couple of his cars, so we'll see what happens by the end of this week and into next week."(NASCAR.com)(1-12-2006)
BDR to have three teams at Daytona: Bill Davis Racing will field three teams at Daytona; Mike Skinner will pull double duty between trucks and the #23 Cup car. Former Penske South [#2] crew chief Larry Carter has been retained as a consultant and will primarily assist Skinner's team through Speedweeks. Dave Blaney returns to BDR in the #22 Caterpillar Dodge and will be reunited with former Richard Childress Racing crew chief Kevin Hamlin. Michael Waltrip will make his debut for the organization in the #55 NAPA Dodge in February--the #22 and #55 will test next week, but former Winston West driver and current rear tire changer Tom Hubert will sub for Waltrip. Tony Anderson, a six-year BDR veteran who was the chief mechanic for the 22, has been promoted to car chief.(Sporting News)(1-9-2006)
Past 2005 News
Benson to run #23 at Atlanta: The Challenger brand, which already graces a full line of quality tractors, combines and hay tools, is making its debut as a Nextel Cup Series primary sponsor by riding on board with Johnny Benson and the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge at Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. Atlanta is Challenger’s home track, as the corporate headquarters for parent company AGCO Corporation are located in Duluth, Ga. Next week’s appearance in the NASCAR garage will not be the first association between NASCAR and Challenger. The Challenger brand made its initial Nextel Cup sponsorship debut as a new associate sponsor of the #22 Caterpillar car this August in the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and has been along for the ride every weekend since. It will continue its associate program with the No. 22 team through 2006. The last couple of years, HOLT CAT in Dallas, Texas, has supplied Texas Motor Speedway with several Challenger wheel tractors that are used for year-round maintenance of the 1,500-acre complex. For more information on any of Challenger’s full line of agricultural products visit www.challengerag.com. For further updates regarding Benson’s Nextel Cup run in Atlanta, check in at www.billdavisracing.com.(10-20-2005)
No Cup for Lester in 2005...maybe 2006: Bill Lester's bid to become the first African-American driver to compete in NASCAR's top series since 1986 will be delayed until next season. Mike Brown, general manager for Bill Davis Racing, had said the team hoped to have Lester compete in select races this season, depending on sponsorship. Brown said Friday at Kansas Speedway that Lester's debut likely will take place early next year. It could happen at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a track Bill Davis Racing excels.
"We do have some plans for Lester in '06,'' Brown said. "Right now, it's hard to say what it will be, one or two races or as many as 10. It just hasn't really come together as fast as we hoped. The key is we want to do it right. Another six months is not going to make a huge difference to try to do it the right way.'' The 44-year-old Lester competes in the Craftsman Truck series for Bill Davis Racing. He ranks 18th in the points. No African-American has competed in the Cup series since Willy T. Ribbs. He drove in three races in 1986.(Roanoke Times)(10-8-2005)
Kenny Wallace to a new team? MORE: during Speed Channel's Inside Nextel Cup show, Kenny Wallace mentioned he would be driving some races for Joe Garone and Furniture Row Racing in some Cup races this year, that is why Johnny Benson will drive Michael Waltrip's #00 State Fair Corn Dogs Chevy at Michigan this weekend. Furniture Row Racing is running a limited Busch Series schedule in 2005 with Jerry Robertson and is based in Colorado. Supposedly Wallace's first race with the team will be at Dover International Speedway in September. Also hearing championship crew chief and former winning team owner Andy Petree will be the crew chief for Wallace.(8-16-2005)
UPDATE: Kenny Wallace will not be driving the #00 MWR car in the Michigan Nextel Cup race. The Reason is the #00 for Michigan has been outsourced to BDR [Bill Davis Racing]. BDR will use it's complete #23 car team and driver (truck series driver Johnny Benson) to run the race. This does not effect the rest of the year or the relationship with MWR.(Kenny Wallace site)(8-17-2005)
Bill Lester to make Cup start? UPDATE No: NASCAR's top series could soon have its first African-American driver in nearly 20 years, as Bill Lester and team owner Bill Davis have discussed the possibility of putting Lester in a Nextel Cup car later this season. "We've kicked it around, definitely," Lester said Saturday. Lester, 44, has been a regular in NASCAR's Craftsman Trucks Series — stock car racing's equivalent to Class AA baseball — since 2002. If he qualified for a Cup race, he would become the first African-American driver to race in NASCAR's top series since Willy T. Ribbs, who ran three races in 1986. Lester said he has made it clear to Davis that his goal is to race in the Nextel Cup, and Davis has been receptive. "It's just a matter of all the planets lining up," Lester said. A graduate of the University of California-Berkley with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science, Lester quit a high-paying job at Hewlett-Packard in the late 1990s to pursue his hobby, sports-car racing, full time. He ran his first NASCAR race in 1999, a Busch Series race on the road course in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Bobby Hamilton hired him to drive in the trucks series in 2002 and he moved to Davis' team last season. So far, Lester has shown speed but hasn't achieved consistent good finishes. He ranks 18th in the trucks series points standings this season, qualifying on the pole for two races but finishing in the top five only once.(USA Today)(8-7-2005)
UPDATE: Bill Lester, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver of the #22 Toyota Tundra sponsored by Office Depot at Nashville Superspeedway, confirmed on Friday, he has had NO contact will Tim Brown, the 1987 Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame and nine-time Pro Bowl honoree from the Oakland Raiders. Brown announced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this past weekend he was starting a new diversity NASCAR Nextel team and looking for a veteran driver from another NASCAR series to be his main driver. Lester also insisted that he has had NO conversation with Bill Davis on a project that will see Lester behind the wheel of the #23 NASCAR Nextel Dodge for at least one race before the end of the 2005 season. According to Lester, "It's just talk!"(Insiderracing.com)(8-14-2005)
Benson to drive #23 car at Atlanta: Through an agreement with Bill Davis Racing, the Challenger brand is a new associate sponsor on the #22 Caterpillar Dodge, driven by Scott Wimmer, through the end of the 2006 racing season – and, in addition, is the primary sponsor on the #23 Dodge, driven by Johnny Benson, in the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 Nextel Cup race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway this October. The Challenger brand graces a full line of quality tractors, combines and hay tools. The #22 Caterpillar Dodge carried the Challenger brand on board for the first time in this past Sunday’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. For more information on any of Challenger’s full line of agricultural products visit www.challengerag.com.(Johnny Benson site)(8-11-2005)
Kenny in the #00 with Davis: Aaron's Sales & Lease and Kenny Wallace Racing have put together a deal with Bill Davis Racing to field the #00 Dream Machine [Dodge?] in Saturday Nights Pepsi 400 at Daytona. If more information is available it will be posted.(Kenny Wallace site)(6-28-2005)
UPDATE: Wallace was originally listed in the #23 HIstory Channel Dodge and is now list in the #00 Aaron's Sale and Lease Dodge for Bill Davis. This was an announced race for Wallace in the #00 Michael Waltrip Racing Chevy, not sure what happened. Either way, if qualifying gets rained out, neither team [#23/00 Davis, #00 MWR] would not have enough race attempts to make the race. Mike Skinner qualified the #23 for the Daytona 500 and other races as the team runs about once a month, Skinner was unavailable as the Truck Series runs at Kansas on Saturday at 3:00pm/et.(7-1-2005)
Skinner in the #23 at Michigan: Mike Skinner will again pilot the #23 History Channel AUTOMANIAC Dodge in this weekend’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Batman Begins 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Skinner most recently raced the #23 AUTOMANIAC car in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May. He was scheduled to drive the same car at Dover International Speedway just a couple of weeks ago, but rain forced NASCAR to cancel the Friday afternoon qualifying session, putting the brakes on the #23 Bill Davis Racing team’s plans to race that weekend. Since Skinner and the #23 BDR team do not run a full-time schedule in the Nextel Cup Series, they did not have enough owners’ points to make it into the show at Dover. The make-up date for the missed Dover race has yet to be designated. Skinner’s recent NASCAR Nextel Cup Series entries are part of The History Channel’s recent launch of its inventive new series—“AUTOMANIAC.” Hosted by pro wrestling and feature film star Bill Goldberg, AUTOMANIAC episodes focus on unique vehicles that have made a mark in history in the last century, including gangster cars, muscle cars, extreme bikes and more. The AUTOMANIAC series premiered on The History Channel at the beginning of June and airs every Wednesday at 10:00pm/et. To learn more about AUTOMANIAC, go to www.historychannel.com.(Bill Davis Racing)(6-16-2005)
Skinner back in the #23 at Dover: Bill Davis Racing confirmed Sunday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that Skinner and Scott Wimmer will team up at least two more times this year to compete in the upcoming NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races at Dover International Speedway and Michigan International Speedway this month. Skinner most recently raced in the Coca-Cola 600 at LMS this past weekend, but fell out of competition early due to engine problems (started 22nd, finished 41st). He also piloted the #23 BDR Dodge last month at Talladega Superspeedway, where he was taken out of contention in the 25-car pileup on lap 132 of the 194-lap event (started 34th, finished 42nd). In February, he had an impressive performance in the #23 during the two weeks of Speedweeks competition, qualifying 13th during the time trials and finishing third—neck-and-neck with the Dale Earnhardt Inc. cars—in the first Gatorade 150 Duel, which lined him up seventh to start the 47th running of the Daytona 500. With barely 13 laps left to run in the 500, Skinner was collected in the ninth and final caution of the race, relegating him from a top-10 run to a 30th-place finish.
Skinner’s upcoming Nextel Cup Series entries are part of The History Channel’s launch of its inventive new series—“AutoManiac.” Hosted by pro wrestling and feature film star Bill Goldberg, AutoManiac episodes will focus on unique vehicles that have made a mark in history in the last century, including gangster cars, muscle cars, extreme bikes and more. The AutoManiac series premieres on The History Channel tonight (June 1) at 10:00pm/et. The #23 History Channel AutoManiac Dodge made its Nextel Cup debut this past weekend in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and will run this weekend in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway, as well as later this month in the Batman Begins 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 19. To learn more about AutoManiac, go to www.historychannel.com.(Bill Davis Racing)(6-1-2005)
Skinner in the #23 at LMS: Mike Skinner will run the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600. Skinner most recently raced the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge last month at Talladega Superspeedway, where he was taken out of contention in the 25-car pileup on lap 132 of the 194-lap event (started 34th, finished 42nd). He also raced the #23 at Daytona International Speedway in February.(Bill Davis Racing)(5-25-2005)
Skinner to run the #23 at Talladega: Bill Davis Racing says it will enter Mike Skinner in the team's #23 Dodge in the May 1 Aaron's 499 Nextel Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. Bad Boy Mowers Inc. will sponsor the entry for Skinner, who is driving for the team in the Craftsman Truck Series this year. Skinner also drove the car in the season-opening Daytona 500, where he finished 30th after being caught in a wreck.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-13-2005)
Sad News: Bill Davis’ father, Jake Davis, passed away with Bill and the rest his immediate family at his side in Little Rock, Ark last night. Jake was 79 years old. Bill is the owner of Bill Davis Racing which fields the #22 and #23 Dodge Nextel Cup teams and the #5, #22, #23 Truck Series teams. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church (4823 Wood Lawn Rd., Little Rock, AR 72205), or to the charity of donor's choice. More info on Mr. Davis and services at ruebelfuneralhome.com(2-24-2005)
#23 picks up a sponsor UPDATE: seen on Speed Channel's Daytona 500 practice coverage, the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge with driver Mike Skinner has Argent Mortgage on the hood of the car.(2-16-2005)
UPDATE: This weekend, Argent Mortgage is teaming up with Mike Skinner and the #23 Bill Davis Racing team in
the 47th running of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Daytona 500. “We are all excited and very proud to get to represent Team Argent
this weekend. They have such an elite list of accomplished athletes who are already part of their sports sponsorship program and Argent Mortgage is such an innovative company,” said Bill Davis, BDR team owner. “After the strong show Mike Skinner and the entire team have put forth so far this last week, I plan to add on to Team Argent’s past successes this Sunday.” Argent Mortgage is a leading national mortgage lender. The company works exclusively with independent mortgage brokers and bankers across the country, providing lending services in 48 states. “We are very pleased to partner with Bill Davis Racing and Mike Skinner for the Daytona 500,” said Wayne Lee, president of Argent Mortgage Company. “This team shares the same characteristics that have made Argent Mortgage a leading national mortgage lender — speed, teamwork, determination and innovation — and we are proud to have the Argent
name associated with such a great organization.” This Sunday will mark Skinner’s ninth consecutive Daytona 500 start. In 14 NASCAR Cup career starts at Daytona International Speedway, Skinner has scored two poles, four top-five, seven top-10 and nine
top-15 starts. He also has three top-five, five top-10 and six top-15 finishes at DIS as a NASCAR Cup Series driver.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(2-19-2005)
#23, Skinner, Benson and Lester? possible sponsors: Mike Skinner said Davis is trying to convince two companies to sponsor the #23 Dodge. He said three scenarios for filling the seat are under consideration. "He's thinking about splitting the races between me and one of our other truck drivers, Johnny Benson, and maybe even Bill Lester from the truck team," Skinner said. "He's thinking about hiring an up-and-coming youngster, and he's thinking about letting me and Johnny do most of the races and then let the new driver get some seat time."(High Point Enterprise)(2-11-2005)
Past 2004 News
Davis-Dodge Lawsuit pushed back to June: The start date for the trial in the Daimler-Chrysler/Bill Davis Racing lawsuit has been postponed once again. The trial, which was set to begin May 3, will now start June 21 at 9 a.m. in federal district court in Detroit. Judge George Steeh granted the delay Friday after attorneys for both sides requested it. The deadline for filing depositions is now Feb. 1. Final pre-trial orders are to be filed by June 6 with the final pre-trial conference slated June 13. The new trial date is 25 months after Daimler-Chrysler sued BDR in Michigan district court in May 2003. The suit alleges BDR breached its contract for Dodge support for its Cup team for helping Toyota with development work as it prepared for entry in the NASCAR truck series this year. Daimler-Chrysler terminated its Dodge support of BDR's Cup team and is requesting return of over $1 million in factory support for the balance of 2003. BDR succeeded in moving the trial to federal court in June 2003 and later that month counter-sued, alleging Daimler-Chrysler had no basis to terminate the contract because Toyota is not a rival of Dodge in the Cup series. Toyota is a rival of Dodge in the truck series. The trial was first scheduled for August 17 of this year, originally delayed to Dec. 20 and then moved to May 3 of 2005.(High Point Enterprise)(12-21-2004)
Davis shuts down Busch team; Dodge lawsuit update: Bill Davis Racing has shut down the #23 Busch Series [the article incorrectly refers to the series as Grand National, which it hasn't been since 2002] team in the wake of driver Kenny Wallace leaving and taking sponsor Stacker2 with him. Wallace is expected to become the new driver at ppc Racing. The plate includes one full-time effort in the Cup series with the #22 Dodges driven by Scott Wimmer, a possible part-time effort with the #Dodges in the Cup series, and three full-time Toyota entries driven by #22-Bill Lester, #5-Mike Skinner and #23-Johnny Benson in the NASCAR truck series. Wile said fielding the #23 team in the Cup series is dependent on sponsorship and it is unlikely Davis would do it out of his pocket as he did this year. Davis' plate also includes fighting an on-going legal action brought by Dodge parent Daimler-Chrysler in May of 2003. The case, once set for trial next Monday, is now scheduled to be heard in federal district court in Detroit beginning May 3. A pre-trial conference is scheduled April 26. The delay, according to court documents, was granted because both sides had trouble getting depositions during the racing season. Daimler-Chrysler alleges Davis violated his contract for Dodge factory support for his Cup teams by aiding a competitor when he helped Toyota with development work as it prepared for entry into the truck series this year. Daimler-Chrysler is asking that Davis return over $1 million dollars in factory support for the balance of 2003 after the lawsuit was filed. Daimler-Chrysler terminated its contract with Davis when it filed the suit. Davis filed a counter-suit in late June 2003 claiming Daimler-Chrysler had no grounds to terminate the contract because Toyota is not a competitor of Dodge in the Cup series.
Wallace replaces Jason Keller at ppc Racing, which won the 2000 Busch Series title with Jeff Green. Wallace joined Davis when he brought Stacker2 as sponsor of the #23 Cup team in 2003. He dropped down to replace Wimmer in the Busch Series car this year when Stacker2 decreased its sponsorship. Wallace finished this season ninth in points with no top-five finishes. Davis leaves the Busch Series tour after fielding a team for the past seven years and a total of 12 seasons since beginning his operation with Mark Martin in 1988. Davis' drivers won a total of 11 Busch Series races. Wimmer won five times, and Martin and Gordon won three times each.
Wimmer produced Davis best Busch Series season with four wins and a third-place in points in 2002. He added another victory in 2003.
Martin had single victories in selected races in 1988, 1989 and 1990. He was replaced in 1991 by Gordon, who won three times in 1992. Davis moved to the Cup level the next season and disbanded the Busch Series team until reviving it in 1998.(High Point Enterprise)(12-14-2004)
BDR Engine builder to Ganassi? Terry Elledge, a noted engine builder who has been working for car owner Bill Davis [Racing, #22/#23] the past several years, is being wooed by Dodge owner Chip Ganassi, according to team sources.Winston Salem Journal)(10-15-2004)
#23 BDR Team hopes to get sponsor: Mike Brown, general manager at Bill Davis Racing, said he has "guarded optimism" that the team will find a sponsor for a second full-time team next season with Shane Hmiel expected to be the driver. Hmiel is scheduled to drive for the team at Kansas City, Atlanta and Homestead this season. Brown said the team decided not to run Hmiel this weekend because he is competing in a Craftsman Truck race at California Speedway. He won the truck race last week at Las Vegas.(Roanoke Times), that would give us at least one Raybestos Rookie of the Year Candidate in 2005.(10-3-2004)
Hmiel to run more races for Davis: Bill Davis Racing, has hired Shane Hmiel to run five Cup races this season beginning with Sunday's Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway and hopes to sign him to a full-year deal for next year.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
AND one of the races will be at Richmond International Speedway.(BDR Site)(9-3-2004)
Hmiel to run at California for Davis: Bill Davis Racing will run a second Cup [#23] car September 5 at California. Shane Hmiel will be the driver. "Everybody has an eye on Shane," Bill Davis says. "He's fast. He's a racer. He has proven that." Davis hopes to find sponsorship to run the car for the entire 2005 season.(FoxSports.com)(8-24-2004)
Lopez leaves BDR? UPDATE: hearing #23 Crew Chief, Philippe Lopez, and Bill Davis Racing has parted ways and Lopez may be heard to Joe Gibbs Racing or RCR.(8-14-2004)
UPDATE: Philippe Lopez, the veteran crew chief just hired by car owner Joe Gibbs to help Jimmy Makar and Zipadelli in testing.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-23-2004)
NO IDEA: what Dave Blaney's plans are after this weekend, if I hear or see anything, it'll be posted....(8-13-2004)
UPDATE: That leaves Dave Blaney, Childress' current driver, out of a ride. But Bill Davis says he'd pick him back up if he could find a sponsor.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-14-2004)
#23 gets sponsor for Daytona: Race Rock Supercharged Restaurant in Orlando would be the primary sponsor on the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge this weekend in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Race Rock Supercharged Restaurant in Orlando has been open for eight years and has become the must see location for tourists with over one million visitors per year. Bobby Moore, president of Race Rock Supercharged Restaurant in Orlando, is a former elephant trainer, a racing enthusiast but more recently a successful restaurant entrepreneur that has assembled some of the biggest names in racing to make Race Rock a success. Richard and Kyle Petty, Mario and Michael Andretti, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Geoffrey Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Don Prudhomme, John Force, Darrell Gwynn, Dave Schultz, and Scott Parker are all owners of Race Rock. Tony Raines will drive the #23 for Bill Davis Racing and Race Rock Supercharged Restaurant this weekend. It will mark Raines’s first start for Bill Davis Racing. For more information on Race Rock Supercharged Restaurant in Orlando, please visit www.racerock.com.(BDR Site)(7-1-2004)
Raines in the #23 at Daytona UPDATE: Tony Raines will drive a second [#23] car for Bill Davis Racing at Daytona next weekend. Dave Blaney had driven the car until leaving to join Richard Childress Racing full time.(Roanoke Times)(6-26-2004)
AND Raines will supposedly also run at Indy in the Brickyard 400 for Davis in the #23 Dodge.(6-29-2004)
Davis not happy with Blaney leaving: Car owner Bill Davis was not pleased at Blaney's decision to join Childress. Davis said he had a verbal agreement with Blaney to field a car for him here and at other tracks this season.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-19-2004)
#30 driver at Michigan? UPDATE it's Blaney: The question of who runs for him [in the #30 AOL Chevy] at Michigan, [team owenr Richard] Childress said, will likely be decided Monday or Tuesday. Sauter is 28th in the standings entering today's Pocono 500. For the moment "I don't know," Childress said of his Michigan driver. "Right now Johnny Sauter is hired to drive the car, and he doesn't have (competing) commitments. But...."(Winston Salem Journal), see past rumors [from April] on the #30 Team News and Links page.(6-13-2004)
UPDATE [from June 11th - see quote: With Dave Blaney stepping in for Johnny Sauter for this weekend's Nextel Cup race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., there is speculation that Sauter is on his way out of the #30 car with Richard Childress Racing. The official word is travel commitments would not allow Sauter to make it back and forth between this weekend's Busch Series race in Gladeville, Tenn., where he is competing, and Pocono. Sauter did not return a phone message, but his father, Jim Sauter, said a permanent driver change could be on the way based on discussions with his son. "I think it's more than (travel)," Jim Sauter said. "That's just as far as they're concerned, a way of getting around it with the media. If Childress was going to keep him around, he would have left him in there. It doesn't look good."(Wisconsin State Journal), the entry lists for MIS have Sauter listed in the #30.(6-15-2004)
UPDATE 2 - Blaney In; Sauter still with RCR: Dave Blaney has been named to take over driving duties of Richard Childress Racing's #30 AOL Chevy, replacing rookie Johnny Sauter. Blaney, who is in his seventh season in the Nextel Cup Series, has logged 155 career races with his first start coming at North Carolina Speedway in 1992. Most recently, Blaney drove a limited Cup schedule for Bill Davis Racing, making eight starts during the 2004 season. "This sport has gotten so tough and complicated, sometimes tough decisions have to be made," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "Our sport is driven by business decisions and that is what this driver change is, a business decision. Blaney has a strong, consistent driving style that will fit well with the No. 30 team. As a veteran racer, Dave will work well with our crew chief Kevin Hamlin to get the America Online Chevy up front." Blaney, 41, of Hartford, Ohio, currently lives in High Point, N.C. with his wife Lisa and their three children. The 1995 World of Outlaws champion, along with his family, owns Sharon (Ind.) Speedway. "I am really honored to be driving for Richard Childress," Blaney said. "I look forward to getting back to racing every weekend and can't think of a better opportunity for me than with a great team like RCR and a great sponsor like America Online." Sauter will remain under contract with RCR and drive additional Nextel Cup Series events throughout the 2004 season, to be named at a later date. "I still feel very strongly about Johnny's ability as a young driver," said Childress. "That is why I wanted to keep him under contract with RCR to run the additional Cup races for us this season and help us with testing." Sauter said he will use the change to focus on his Busch ride with Brewco Motorsports [#27]. "I am happy about remaining under contract with RCR to do some testing as well as running a limited number of Cup races," he said. As announced last week, road course specialist Jim Inglebright will drive the #30 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on June 27.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-16-2004)
Fans Looking to sponsor Blaney UPDATE 2: There is a drive to get an extra race for Dave Blaney, who presently is driving the #23 Bill Davis racing Dodge in a limited number of Cup races, by fan driven donations. The total has reached over $11,000 dollars in pledges. See more at quickestlap.com, go to the Dave Blaney forum.(3-16-2004)
UPDATE: Grassroots effort looks to place #23 Bill Davis Dodge on the track at Michigan. The fans of NASCAR driver Dave Blaney have had enough. Frustrated with the lack of sponsorship for their Hartford, Ohio driver, they decided to take matters into their own hands and personally raise the funds to put Blaney in another race. An offhand idea tossed out on Dave Blaney's internet message board on Quickestlap.com quickly materialized into a very real possibility when over $11,000 was pledged in less than four hours. Word of the campaign quickly spread through the internet underground, popping up on sites like jayski.com and sending the total to over $20,000 in 24 hours. Blaney is currently running a very limited schedule in the #23 Bill Davis Dodge, with plans to race only four more races this year unless sponsorship is found. Yet Blaney and crew chief Phillipe Lopez certainly don't look like a part-time team. They nearly won this year's Bud Shootout before being taken out in a racing accident, and a solid 15th place finish at Daytona followed by an 11th place finish at Atlanta have only served to whet the fans' appetites to see more of this hard-charging racer. The fans are hoping to put the car on the track at Michigan if they can raise the $100,000 needed for sponsorship. The fans are currently accepting pledges in the Dave Blaney Forum on Quickestlap.com, but will not actually begin collecting the funds until they are nearer to their goal. All race fans are welcome to join the effort to show sponsors, the media, and NASCAR that fans truly can make a difference.(PR)(note, this is money 'pledged', no money has been collected yet)(3-17-2004)
UPDATE 2: Fueled by mainstream media coverage and the internet underground, the Fan Sponsorship pledge drive for NASCAR driver Dave Blaney is picking up steam. What began as an offhand comment on the Quickestlap.com message board has exploded into a grassroots effort to put the unsponsored #23 Bill Davis Dodge back on the track for one more race this year.
"The response from fans has been overwhelming," said Joe Danyi, webmaster of Quickestlap.com. "We've received pledges ranging from
$20 to $1,200 from people all over the country. We even have race fans from Canada joining in."(3-19-2004)
Current Amount 'Pledged': $65,661 [of $100,000 needed] as of 5/3/04
ENDED: with Blaney's full time ride in the #30, I imagine this has ended.(6-17-2004)
Blaney to run the #23 at Dover: Bill Davis Racing announced the addition of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Inc. as a primary sponsor of the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge for the MBNA 400 “A Salute to Heroes” at Dover International Speedway. Headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, Ollie's Bargain Outlet has 31 locations stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. In addition to serving as a primary sponsor of the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge this weekend at Dover, Ollie’s is already a primary sponsor of the #43 Curb-Agajanian team piloted by Aaron Fike in the NASCAR Busch Series. Mark Butler, the CEO of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, remarked that “the Bill Davis Racing #23 NASCAR team is a perfect partner for Ollie’s. Despite not having a full-time sponsor in 2004, the #23 team has fielded a number of very competitive entries in Nextel Cup races this year. “As we recently opened a store in Dover and are looking forward to expanding with more stores in the Delaware area, we believe that sponsoring a team in such an extremely popular and widely covered sporting event as the MBNA 400 ‘A Salute to Heroes’ will help us promote our company’s commitment to providing quality products at cheap prices in Delaware. The #23 Bill Davis Racing team has competed in a limited schedule this year due to a lack of full-time sponsorship, but it certainly does not
appear that Dave Blaney has been driving for anything less than a full-time team; Blaney has notched four top-20 finishes in five Nextel
Cup Series starts as driver of Bill Davis’s #23 car. “I am excited to pilot the #23 Bill Davis Racing Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Dodge at Dover this week. We have a great team working on that car, and we will build on some positive things we took away from our performance in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte last weekend.” Headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, Ollie's Ollie’s Bargain Outlet was founded in 1982 by Mr. Mort Bernstein and Mr. Mark Butler. Ollie’s purchases By buying overproduced, overstocked and discontinued goods from manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers and offers a compelling value to its customers by selling these , Ollie's is able to sell its products at prices typically 40% to 50% below suggested retail prices. Please visit www.olliesbargainoutlet.com for more information.(Bill Davis Racing PR), Blaney was listed in the #7 Ultra Motorsports Dodge at Dover, no idea if they will field the car with another driver [Steve Park?] or withdraw.(6-2-2004)
Blaney at Lowe's, Whelen's, Bo-Dyn Bobsled: Accession Consulting Inc. joins Bill Davis Racing as an associate sponsor for Dave Blaney in the #23 Dodge. Accession Consulting Inc. is a healthcare information system consulting company that was founded in 2003 by a small team of industry experts that were hand selected from some of the country's largest and most successful organizations. Accession Consulting Inc. provides its clients, not only with the system expertise, but also with the project management’s capabilities to ensure a successful project. With a focus on patient care and medical records, Accession Consulting Inc. brings high-tech expertise and a clear vision of the future to their clients, ensuring their short and long-term success. Accession Consulting Inc. is an established leader in PACS and RIS implementations with several highly successful projects recently completed.
Blaney will carry the names of nearly 200 individuals on the #23 Whelen Dodge’s decklid. The names inscribed were part of a promotion
to support the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, whose mission is to construct superior equipment for the U.S. men’s and women’s bobsled teams. For every $50 worth of Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project apparel purchased, a single name was added to the car’s decklid.
AND In an effort to support the United States bobsledding program, Whelen Engineering and Bill Davis Racing have a promotional opportunity in place that will allow fans to have their names inscribed on the trunklid of the team’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup car that will be driven by Dave Blaney during the Coca-Cola 600, May 30 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte. For every $50 worth of Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc. apparel purchased (excluding taxes and shipping), a single name will be added to the trunklid of Blaney’s #23 Dodge; 100 percent of the profits from the sale of the apparel will go to the bobsled project. The apparel can be purchased by going to Whelen’s web site (www.whelen.com) and clicking on MOTORSPORTS. Each contributor will receive a photo of the trunklid. The offer ends May 7. The Bill Davis Racing entry for the Charlotte race will have primary sponsorship from Whelen Engineering, a maker of emergency lighting and early warning sirens, based in Chester, Conn.(BDR PR)(5-26-2004)
Blaney Sponsor at the Nextel Open: Dave Blaney will drive the #23 Finish Line Dodge in this weekend's NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge for Bill Davis Racing. Finish Line Dodge is located at exit 49B off Interstate 77 in Statesville, NC. Finish Line Dodge is one dealership in the Bertolami Automotive Group, which also owns Finish Line Ford and Toyota West.
"This is an incredible opportunity for our automotive group," said Gary Reece, President of the Bertolami Automotive Group and General Manager of all dealerships. "Bill and Gail Davis have been personal friends of mine for quite some time and it was an incredible opportunity to do a one race deal with them. We saw it is a great opportunity to do a business deal together where we could cross promote the dealership with this unique sponsorship opportunity.
"We're located in Statesville, where many of the NASCAR teams are within minutes of our dealership," added Reece. "Our employees are really charged up about having Dave Blaney in the #23 Finish Line Dodge for such a fun and exciting race. They are all looking forward to seeing the Finish Line Dodge car finish up front in the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge this weekend. We'll definitely have some fan support in the stands."
Blaney will have to race his way in by winning the NASCAR NEXTEL Open or by fan voting at www.nascar.com in order to advance into the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. The winner of the event will transfer and the driver with the most fan votes will also transfer. Blaney is slated for a spectacular run after a successful test session last week with the #23 Bill Davis Racing team. Blaney was among the quickest teams at the test session.(BDR PR)(5-20-2004)
Blaney in the #7? NASCAR.com's Chevy American Revolution 400 ar RIR Entry List has Dave Blaney listed in the #7 Dodge Ultra Motorsports Dodge.(5-11-2004)
NASCAR Team joins in Support for U.S. Bobsledders: In an effort to support the United States bobsledding program, Whelen Engineering and Bill Davis Racing have a promotional opportunity in place that will allow fans to have their names inscribed on the trunklid of the team's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup #23 car that will be driven by Dave Blaney during the Coca-Cola 600, May 30 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. For every $50 worth of Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc. apparel purchased (excluding taxes and shipping), a single name will be added to the trunklid of Blaney's #23 Dodge; 100 percent of the profits from the sale of the apparel will go to the bobsled project. The apparel can be purchased by going to Whelen's web site (www.whelen.com) and clicking on MOTORSPORTS. Each contributor will receive a photo of the trunklid. The offer ends May 7. The Bill Davis Racing entry for the Charlotte race will have primary sponsorship from Whelen Engineering, a maker of emergency lighting and early warning sirens, based in Chester, CT. The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project was founded in 1996 by NASCAR racer Geoffrey Bodine, who felt the World Cup and Olympic bobsled teams were competing with inferior equipment, manufactured outside of the United States. Bodine believed that American technology, especially race car engineering, could be successfully applied to bobsled fabrication to help make the USA team more competitive. He joined forces with Bob Cuneo of Chassis Dynamics out of Oxford, Conn. to form Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc., a non-profit organization. Whelen Engineering, which also sponsors the #31 Marsh Racing Ford at select NASCAR Busch Series races, is a major corporate sponsor of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project.(DMF Communications PR)(4-12-2004)
Blaney's tenative schedule: NASCAR Radio - XM Satellite Channel 144 reports during an interview with #23 crew cheif, Philippe Lopez, said the #23 team and driver Dave Blaney would run at Talladega [as #22 Wimmer will need a drafting partner], at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May - with Whelen sponsoring the car, Daytona in July, at Michigan [mentioned the fan effort and support] and at Indianapolis.(4-7-2004)
Blaney Back in Action: Dave Blaney will compete this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway in the #23 Dodge. Bill Davis, owner of the #23, has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Batesville Speedway. Mooney Starr, the owner and promoter of Batesville Speedway, has been a long-time supporter of local dirt track racing and felt this would be a unique way to help a longtime friend and also give something back to the local racing community. The #23 Bill Davis Racing entry will be sponsored by Batesville Speedway and also carry decals of it’s two primary events in 2004, the Alltel 100 for Modifieds and the Comp Cams Topless 100 for Late Model Stocks. Bad Boy Mowers of Batesville, AR will also lend support to Davis’ #23. Bad Boy Mowers, established in 1998, manufactures a zero turn radius commercial mower catering to experts in the commercial turf industry. Batesville Speedway is located in Locust Grove, Arkansas. It is a 3/8-mile, red clay oval nestled in the foot hills of the Ozark Mountains in North Central Arkansas. For more information on the event or sponsors, please visit www.batesvillespeedway.com or/and www.badboymowers.com.(BDR PR)(4-1-2004)
Blaney Assoc at Texas: Earlier in the week it was announced that Mooney Starr and the Batesville Speedway would be primary sponsor for the Dave Blaney's #23 Dodge, owned by Bill Davis Motorsports Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway, Sunday April 4. Starr announced today that an associate sponsor has been added to the package. Bad Boy Mowers of Batesville, Arkansas will join the Batesville Speedway, The Alltel 100, and the Comp Cams Topless 100 as sponsors for Blaney. Bad Boy Mowers [and I just bought a John Deere] of Batesville manufactures a zero turn radius commerical mower. The company, started in 1998, has since moved into a 30,000 square foot production facility in Batesville, and is providing a superior product to experts in the commerical turf industry. Bad Boy mowers can be seen at their website, www.badboymowers.com. Bad Boy Mowers looks forward to their participation the upcoming Nextel Cup event at the Texas Motor Speedway, and their one race assocation with Starr, Bill Davis
Motorsports, and Dave Blaney.(PR)(3-25-2004)
Blaney sponsor for Texas: Batesville Speedway owner and promoter Mooney Starr has entered into a one-race sponsorship deal with Bill Davis Motorsports to back Dave Blaney's #23 Dodge in the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway. Blaney's Dodge will carry the Batesville Speedway as a sponsor, but also appearing on the car will be Starr's two primary events in 2004, the Alltel 100 for Modifieds, and the Comp Cams Topless 100 for Late Models. According to Starr, he wants to feature the primary sponsors of those two events as well as his track.(midsouthracing.com)(3-22-2004)
More races for Blaney: #23-Dave Blaney, who qualified 14th for Sunday's Atlanta race in a second entry for Bill Davis Racing, is tentatively scheduled to run four more Nextel Cup races this season for BDR - Texas, Charlotte, July Daytona and Indianapolis, team officials confirmed. The team is still looking for full-time sponsorship to allow Blaney to drive the #23 Dodge on a weekly basis as teammate to rookie Scott Wimmer.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-13-2004)
What is up with Blaney? Bill Davis canceled Dave Blaney's #23 entry at Las Vegas but still plans to run him at Atlanta. "The funding didn't come together, so rather than do a half-hearted effort, we tested Atlanta and plan to run Dave there," Mike Brown said. "That's all we have on the agenda right now."(Winston Salem Journal)(3-6-2004)
Blaney to run more Cup races: #23-Dave Blaney's next race with Bill Davis Racing is scheduled for March 14 at Atlanta, but the team's sponsorship situation could add races to his schedule. "We found some sponsorship for Atlanta and I think Las Vegas is still up in the air, and after that it will be just race-to-race," Blaney said. "I felt like we had a great car at Daytona. It was a shame we got knocked out of the pack we were drafting with because of a couple pit stops that were off. If we could have hung up there in front, we could have helped Scott and we both could have had a great day." Blaney also has a 10-race deal [#31 Whelen] in the Busch Series this season, but would like to return full time to BDR in Cup, if possible. "This is the team I would like to run for if I can. I would like to put something together to run as much as we can," he said.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-20-2004)
A Sponsor for the #23 and Blaney in the Shootout? UPDATE: hearing that Whelen will be the sponsor of the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge and driver Dave Blaney in the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona on Frb 7th.(1-28-2004)
UPATE: In continued efforts to promote the fact that Whelen products [www.whelen.com] are designed and manufactured in the United States of America, Whelen Motorsports has negotiated an agreement to sponsor the Bill Davis Racing #23 Dodge in the 2004 Budweiser Shootout and the Daytona 500. The car will be driven by Dave Blaney and it will be painted and decaled to look just like their trademark Marsh Racing #31 Busch Series Ford. This is a one weekend deal only. Also, the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc. logo will be displayed on the rear quarter panels of the Whelen #23 Nextel Cup Dodge. It is their hope and mission to attract other companies to join them in their support of the USA Olympic and World Cup Bobsled Teams by providing funds for the design and manufacture of the most competitive bobsleds possible. These bobsleds are built in Oxford, CT and more will be heard about their support of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc. in the future.
The schedule for the Whelen #23 NEXTEL Cup races are as follows:
Budweiser Shootout - Saturday, February 7th @ 7:30 p.m. on TNT (70 laps, 175 m)
Gatorade Twin 125's - Thursday, February 12th @ 1:00 p.m. TNT (50 laps, 125 m)
Daytona 500 - Sunday, February 15th @ 12:00 Noon on NBC (200 laps, 500 m)(Whelen PR)(1-28-2004)
Bill Davis Racing News and 2004 plans; Blaney to test the #23 at Daytona: Bill Davis Racing has expanded its operation to include two Craftsman Truck Series teams. Shelby Howard, an Indiana native, will compete in the #23 Toyota truck with Dave Fuge Jr., as his crew chief. Bill Lester will drive the #22 Toyota truck for Bill Davis Racing’s second entry in the Craftsman Truck Series with the experience of Jeff Hensley as his crew chief.
Kenny Wallace returns to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2004 with Stacker 2 backing the #23 Chevrolet. Wallace has amassed 10 poles, nine wins, 58 top-five and 131 top-10’s in his Busch Series career. The #23 will return with the same Busch team that led Scott Wimmer to victory lane five times in the last two seasons. Chris Rice will return as crew chief for the #23 Stacker 2 team.
Scott Wimmer will compete for Rookie of the Year honors in the #22 Caterpillar Dodge under the tutelage of Frank Stoddard. The team got a jumpstart on the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season after competing in the final four races of 2003. Wimmer scored his first top 10 finish in just his second start with the team. The crew kicks off Daytona testing this week with Wimmer behind the wheel for just one day, before heading off to Las Vegas to get married to longtime girlfriend Jody Ambrose. Dave Blaney will fill in for the final two days of
testing for Wimmer.
Dave Blaney will also test the #23 NEXTEL Cup entry at Daytona International Speedway for Bill Davis Racing in preparation for the
2004 Speedweeks. Discussions regarding sponsorship for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series are ongoing and once they have been finalized, an announcement will be made at that time.(BDR PR)(1-5-2004)
Past 2003 News
#23 has a sponsor? needs a driver? Blaney? Benson? UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing [BDR] crew chief Phillipe Lopez has two new cars ready for the second week of Daytona testing, which starts Jan. 13, and two additional cars for the Las Vegas test on Jan. 26. The only piece missing from the #23 car puzzle is a driver; sources say BDR has a sponsor lined up. Former Davis pilot Dave Blaney is on the short list, as is Johnny Benson. If a driver isn't enlisted this week, expect Kenny Wallace to test the car.(Yahoo Sports/Sporting News)(12-30-2003)
AND: From the Johnny Benson Fan Club web site [dated 12-28]: At this point in time, it doesn't look like Johnny will be competing full time in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Since the notification of his release, Johnny has been taking to several owners and owners have been talking to him - but a full time ride has not transpired.(JBFC Site - check out the 'Renewal Contest' while there)(12-31-2003)
UPDATE: Toward the end of last season, PPI Motorsports owner Cal Wells said that, sponsorship permitting, he would start a second team and [Johnny] Benson would be the leading candidate to drive. But when sponsorship fell through, the second team and deal with Benson were put on hold. "I'm still talking to (PPI)," Benson said. "I'm still thinking that's where I'd like to end up." But for now Benson is in driver limbo. With mandatory testing for the Daytona 500 beginning this week, time is running out if he hopes to secure something for opening day.(ESPN)(1-4-2004)
Kenny Wallace and Stacker 2 to Present $5,000 to FDNY Station 23: NASCAR fans continue to recognize the heroic deeds of the Fire Department of New York City two years after the Sept. 11 tragedy. Stacker 2, “The World’s Strongest Fat Burner” and sponsor of the No. 23 cars that competed in NASCAR’s top two divisions this year, asked fans to donate $1 to FDNY Stationhouse 23 at five NASCAR races this season. The fans responded with donations totaling $5,000.
Stacker 2 Dodge driver Kenny Wallace and Bob Emilian, vice president of retail marketing for Stacker 2, will present a check for $5,000 to the Thomas R. Elsasser Fund on behalf of FDNY Stationhouse 23 in a Dec. 3 ceremony at the firehouse. Capt. John Bendick of Engine Company No. 23 will accept the check for the foundation. The Elsasser Fund supports families of active FDNY members that died while not in the line of duty. Race fans in the midway area during a race weekend in which this fundraiser was being held came to the Stacker 2 Splash of Energy Tour display and donated $1 to “The Lion’s Den,” Fire Department of New York City stationhouse number 23. Fans were also entered into a drawing to win a helmet signed by all Winston Cup and Busch Series drivers. All proceeds from this drawing went directly to the firehouse.
The program was developed by NVE Pharmaceuticals, the parent company of Stacker 2, in order to pay tribute to all the men and women that were lost in the Sept. 11 attacks. The cars of Stacker 2 drivers Wallace and Scott Wimmer carried a special “The Lion’s Den” decal throughout September as a tribute to the heroic Station 23. “It is such a great thing that Stacker 2 is doing for the fallen heroes of 9/11,” Wallace said. “Stacker 2 really is passionate about giving back to society, and that is why they are such a great sponsor. I am proud to drive for them.” The program began at Dover (Del.) International Speedway in conjunction with The Stacker 200 presented by YJ Stinger, a 2003 Busch Series race. The other four tracks that hosted the program were Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.; Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park; Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. “This program is near and dear to everyone’s heart here at NVE because of our close proximity to New York City,” said Bob Occhifinto, President/CEO for NVE. “We all knew people that lost their lives in the terrible attack on our country. We feel it is our duty to try to repay all the heroic men and women who put their lives on the line everyday for the citizens of the United States.”(Keystone Marketing PR)(12-2-2003)
#300 for Wallace: #23-Kenny Wallace is scheduled to make his 300th career Winston Cup start at Homestead.(11-11-2003)
Stacker 2 to sponsor Dirt Series: Officials from NVE Pharmaceuticals and the Xtreme Dirt Car Series today announced a major marketing partnership agreement between Stacker 2® the “World’s Strongest Fat Burner!TM” and America’s premier dirt Late Model racing organization. The marketing partnership, which will last 10 years, will now see the series renamed the Stacker 2 Xtreme Dirt Car Series and the annual championship trophy will be “The YJ Stinger Cup,” named in recognition of YJ Stinger, the extreme energy drink, made by the manufacturers of Stacker 2®. The original Stacker 2 formula is designed for those who are in need of a powerful, thermogenic dietary supplement and extreme energizer. This powerful formula may help create a thermogenic response, crush nagging cravings and deliver an extreme boost of energy. Stacker 2 contains the original powerful thermogenic ingredients that have helped men and women nationwide. Stacker 2 and YJ Stinger, owned by NVE Pharmaceuticals of Andover, N.J., have marketing agreements in place with NASCAR drivers Kenny Wallace and Scott Wimmer. They are also the title sponsor of NASCAR’s Busch Series race “The Stacker 200” in Dover, Del., at Dover International Speedway. Stacker 2 and YJ Stinger can also been seen prominently in all broadcasts of the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) as they are its #1 sponsor. “Stacker 2 is extremely excited about the new sponsorship entitlement of the Xtreme Dirt Car Series, and the opportunity to touch the hundreds of thousands of loyal fans who follow this sport,” said Bob Occhifinto, President/CEO of NVE. “The Xtreme Dirt Car series has exciting racing action and we feel that it is a perfect fit for our company." It was also announced that Stacker 2 is now a major associate sponsor of the Northern Xtreme Dirt Car Series and many other future Xtreme properties to be named in the near future. In other developments, Stacker 2 Xtreme Dirt Car Series driver Jimmy Mars, of Elk Mound, Wis., will be the driver of the new Stacker 2 “House Car” on the 2004 Stacker 2 Xtreme Dirt Car Series tour across America. Stacker 2 will also have a strong presence in the SPEED Channel broadcasts of Xtreme Dirt Racing as Kenny Wallace will be doing a substantial amount of color commentary for the televised racing events. In addition, Wallace will be working on a promotional basis with the Stacker 2 Xtreme Dirt Car Series. The new Stacker 2 Xtreme Dirt Car Series show car will be unveiled Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida at the Stacker 2 “Splash of Energy Tour”display.(Keystone Marketing PR)(11-15-2003)
Stacker2 and Wallace back to Busch UPDATE yes: Stacker2 will sponsor a Busch Series entry for [Bill] Davis next year, and Kenny Wallace will be the driver.(Winston Cup Scene via BGNRacing.com)(10-17-2003)
UPDATE: QUESTION: What are your plans for next year?
Kenny Wallace Answer: My plans for next year are to run the Busch Grand National Series with Bill Davis and go for the championship and to win races and to also run a handful of Nextel Cup races.
QUESTION: Will Stacker 2 be your BGN sponsor next year?
Kenny Wallace Answer: Myself and Stacker 2 and Bill Davis have got a great relationship. There is no negativity in my camp. We are just looking at going back and trying to be competitive and win the championship in the Busch Series with the people who have been good to me at Stacker 2.
QUESTION: Kenny, Do you think your Busch car will be a Dodge or Chevy like the #23 Stacker 2 Busch car is now?
Kenny Wallace Answer: Basically I'm just going to go into the car that Scott Wimmer drove this year.(Racers-Chat Kenny Wallace Chat)(11-11-2003)
Kenny to visit a school: Kenny Wallace will visit Richmond County Senior High School Thursday, November 6th as part of “YJ Stinger’s Race to Bee Safe” program. The Race to Bee Safe program is designed to teach teenagers the importance of safe driving and good car maintenance. Students sign a promise to practice safe driving. The promise will act as an informal contract between the student and the student’s parents. The promises will also be used in a drawing for prizes, including tickets to the Nov. 8th Target House 200 NASCAR Busch Series event at North Carolina Speedway.(BDR PR)(11-6-2003)
Schrader to the #23? HOWEVER: [hi Mags!] Kenny Schrader [currently with the #49 BAM Racing team] is being courted for a ride with Bill Davis as teammate with rookie [#22] Scott Wimmer, according to sources.(Winston Salem Journal), past rumors have current #23 driver, Kenny Wallace and sponsor Stacker 2 going to the Busch Series, another rumor had Steve Park under consideration for the #23 ride.(11-3-2003)
HOWEVER hearing there may be a non-change in the works...meaning that Kenny Wallace and Stacker 2 may be staying in the Cup Series and not moving to the Busch or Truck Series.(11-3-2003)
Bill Davis 2nd Team looking for a sponsor; Driver could be Park? UPDATE: Bill Davis is a car owner [#22/#23/#27] juggling a lot of balls at the moment. And he has much more on his plate than just watching Scott Wimmer in his top [#22] car. Davis is also trying to put together a package for his second team, now that Kenny Wallace is expected to step back to either the Busch or truck series, though still running for Davis. And Davis will be playing next season without any official factory support. General Manager Mike Brown concedes that a lot of things are still up in the air, even this close to the end of the season. "On the Cup side, we're actively pursuing a second sponsor (for the team Wallace drives for). We have a couple of good leads, and we'll see how it plays out. Stacker2 (the current sponsor) is about to announce its intentions; they're remaining with us and Kenny, just with a change in how they market their products in the Winston Cup series. So if we get our second Cup deal done, there will probably be a new driver in that." There is speculation that it may be Steve Park. But, said Brown, "We wouldn't shy away from bringing another rookie in the fold," even though Scott Wimmer, the man taking Ward Burton's place, has only half a dozen Cup races under his belt. "There are some good rookies out there. A lot of times the sponsor dictates the driver, because of the marketing they're looking for."(in part from the Winston Salem Journal)(10-31-2003)
UPDATE - Wallace not leaving BDR...but? Kenny Wallace denied a report that he won't be back in Bill Davis Racing's #23 Dodge next season. And there is speculation that Wallace could be the next to go, perhaps to the Busch Series in a Davis car. "Is there?" Wallace said after qualifying Friday. But he denied he was leaving. "Everything's the same," Wallace said before ducking into the team's hauler.(NASCAR.com)(11-1-2003)
Barker to be honored and UPDATE: This year Robert 'Bootie' Barker (crew chief for the #77 - currently on leave) will be one of only eleven receiving a 2003 ARETE. The ARETE Honors is a tribute to athletes who, by overcoming adversity, or by displaying pure excellence, exemplify the spirit of ARETE. Whether over an extended period or one heroic instant, their performance was such that humankind could not fail to recognize it. Known as the most inspirational award in sports, the ARETE Honors for Courage in Sports will pay tribute to select individuals who, by their refusal to accept limitations, demonstrate the best of mankind. The ARETE Honors will be hosted by Jim Nantz and aired on November 2, 2003 on CBS.(Intersport PR)(10-24-2003)
UPDATE: Robert (Bootie) Barker, no longer Dave Blaney’s crew chief in Cup, is working for the rest of the season with the Busch Series team of Ashton Lewis Jr. Barker will likely work at Bill Davis Racing in some capacity next year.(Gaston Gazette)(10-26-2003)
Barker to Wells? or Roush? Andrews to Martin's team? Robert "Bootie" Barker, on leave of absence from Jasper Motorsprts #77, might be a crew chief candidate for one of Roush Racing's cars or Cal Wells' second car next season. Paul Andrews, crew chief for Jeff Burton, could be headed to teammate Mark Martin's #6 Ford, though owner Jack Roush says there has been no discussion about a change.(FoxSports/Sporting News)
AND Robert (Bootie) Barker’s is expected to go back to Bill Davis Racing, his former employer.(Gaston Gazette)(10-20-2003)
Wallace/Stacker2 Push Safety: Kenny Wallace regularly pushes his speedometer beyond 100 mph while he's working, but his message to Martinsville High School students on Thursday was about obeying the speed limit. "I have to hold a valid driver's license to drive in Winston Cup races," he said, "so I can't go out on the streets driving like Speed Racer. I tell the kids there's a time and place for these things." Wallace drives the #23 Stacker 2 Dodge on the Winston Cup circuit, but he seemed equally enthusiastic about taking time off from his duties as a professional driver to talk to kids about driving smartly and avoiding accidents by following traffic laws. And though his lecture was filled with humorous anecdotes and jokes, his message was a serious one: "Kids are excited to get their driver's licenses, but there's a lot of responsibility that goes along with driving." Wallace's appearance at Martinsville High was part of a new program called "Race to Bee Safe." The program is supported by - and named after - one of Wallace's sponsors, Y.J. Stinger, an energy drink manufactured by NVE Pharmaceuticals of Newton, NJ, that features a yellowjacket as its logo. Martinsville Police Officer Brian Lawson, the school's resource officer, also participated in the safe driving program and gave students some statistics about car accidents. In 2002, 178 people between the ages of 16 and 20 were killed in car accidents in Virginia, he said. Of those accidents, 50% of the victims were not wearing seatbelts and 44 percent of the accidents were speed-related, he said. "You may not like getting tickets," Lawson said. "But when you start taking money out of people's wallets, they pay attention." The students, most of whom indicated they planned to get their licenses within a year, said they thought the program was informative and will make them think when they drive. Lizzie Holyfield, a junior, admitted to being in a couple of minor accidents in which she backed into other cars. She said she will pay more attention when she drives and found the program to be informative. "I learned that just because you're a NASCAR driver doesn't mean you're out speeding all the time," she said.
Of course, with a world-renowned Winston Cup driver on the stage, the event wasn't limited to only talk. Wallace brought along a NASCAR-certified racing seat and coaxed a volunteer - Hope Dodson, daughter of Robert and Beth Dodson of Martinsville - onto the stage to demonstrate the seat and get a feel for how NASCAR drivers are constrained during the four-hour races. Following his talk, Wallace handed out T-shirts, signed autographs and fielded questions from the audience. When asked if he had ever been in a wreck while not racing, Wallace admitted to one accident. While driving to a wedding - in the bride's car - he tried to pass a camper on a two-lane road, accidentally bumped it and ended up in a ditch, he said.
He also answered 'yes' when asked if he ever had received a speeding ticket, saying he had gotten them usually when he was late for something or not paying attention to his speed. He followed by once more cautioning students to start out early enough to be on time and watch the speedometer. Another student - as concerned with racing as safety - asked Wallace to name his favorite and least favorite tracks. He said his least favorite was Atlanta, simply because he hardly ever finishes in the top 10 there. When talking about his favorites, he named several short tracks - Martinsville, Bristol, Richmond and Phoenix. "I grew up on short tracks," he said, adding that he likes the way his car feels and runs on these tracks. So while Wallace will spend several hours in Martinsville on Sunday at speeds quite a bit higher than the 55 mph limit on most Virginia highways, he said when on those roads, it is smart to stay at the limit. "I don't finish a race and get out on the road and floor it," he said. "Just remember, a license is a privilege. It can be taken away at any time."(Martinsville Bulletin)(10-18-2003)
Kenny Wallace will visit Concord High School Oct. 9th as part of “YJ Stinger’s Race to Bee Safe” program. The Race to Bee Safe program is designed to teach teenagers the importance of safe driving and good car maintenance. The tour will visit high schools in six markets that host Winston Cup races this fall. Students will sign a promise to practice safe driving. The promise will act as an informal contract between the student and the student’s parents. The promises will also be used in a drawing for prizes, including tickets to the Oct. 10th Little Trees 300 NASCAR Busch Series event at Lowe’ s Motor Speedway.(PR)(10-8-2003)
Davis Racing down to one team in 2004? Owner Bill Davis is expected to scale back to one Cup team next season. Ward Burton is leaving the #22 Dodge, and Scott Wimmer, who is seventh in Busch Series points, is the favorite to take the ride in 2004. Kenny Wallace, who drives Davis' #23 in Cup, will drive Davis' Busch car in 2004 with Stacker2 as the sponsor.(Sporting News/Yahoo Sports)(10-6-2003)
Kenny to the Truck Series? #23-Kenny Wallace will be back with Bill Davis next season, but apparently as the team's new Toyota Truck tour driver rather than in Davis' second Cup car.(Winston Salem Journal); have heard Stacker 2 will continue to sponsor Wallace, wearever he ends up.(10-4-2003)
Stacker 2 cars to run decal: The Station #23 program was developed to pay tribute to the fallen firefighters of Station 23 FDNY (Midtown Manhattan), who were performing their jobs of saving lives when tragedy struck on September 11, 2001. The name of their station is “The Lion's Den.” Through the common grief following September 11th, a special bond was created between Station 23 FDNY and Station 23, Grand Terrace (San Bernardino County FD) in Grand Terrace, California. The two have become “sister stations” and Station 23, Grand Terrace, has since adopted the name “The Lion's Den” in honor of the fallen firefighters. “The Lion's Den” decal being placed on the #23 Stacker 2 Busch and Cup cars feature both "sister stations" and will be included on the team cars throughout the month of September.
AND Stacker 2 will play host to several celebrities this weekend. In addition to drivers Scott Wimmer and Kenny Wallace, the ever-popular sponsor will entertain Chris “Y2J” Jerrico of the WWE on Saturday. Sunday it is the all-star lineup of HBO’s popular series, The Soprano’s. Guest will include: Vince Curatola, who plays Johnny Sack; Jeff Marchetti, who plays Petey; and Joe Gannascoli, who plays Vito Spatafore. Vince Curatola will sing the national anthem for Sunday’s All America 400. Also, FDNY fire captain John Benedict will be on hand to participate in the pre-race festivities.(Bill Davis Racing)(9-18-2003)
'Herman' announces teen help program with Stacker 2: NVE Pharmaceuticals and NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Kenny 'Herman' Wallace announced Sept. 9 the launch of a new program designed to teach teen-agers the importance of safe driving and car maintenance. "YJ Stinger's Race to Bee Safe" program will bring the driver of the #23 Stacker 2 Dodge to high schools in six markets that host Winston Cup races this fall. The markets are Dover, Del.; Charlotte, N.C.; Martinsville, Va.; Atlanta; Rockingham, N.C.; and Miami. Local law enforcement representatives will also participate. Students will sign a promise to practice safe driving. The promise will act as an informal contract between the student and the student's parents. Students that sign the promise will become eligible to win prizes, including a pair of tickets to one of the weekend's races in their area. Wallace will speak to students about safe driving and routine car maintenance. He will draw from his own knowledge as a licensed driver for 24 years and more than 20 years of racing experience. Wallace is also the father of three young daughters, one of them a 16-year-old newly licensed driver. The Race to Bee Safe program also launches a contest in which students can design the trunk art for Wallace's car. One winner will be selected from the six markets. The winning design will appear on Wallace's car in a 2004 Nextel Cup race at the winner's home track. The winner will also receive four VIP tickets to the race and diecast replicas of the No. 23 Dodge, featuring the winning design. YJ Stinger is Stacker 2's extreme energy drink, totally ephedra-free and available in three lightly carbonated flavors: Sinful Citrus, Pounding Punch and Enraged Raspberry. Enraged Raspberry is also available in a Sugar Free formula [and is very tasty]. This product is not intended to be a meal replacement or a dietary supplement. NVE Pharmaceuticals of Newton, N.J., exclusively manufactures, distributes and markets the entire Stacker 2 line of products (The World's Strongest Fat Burner) and YJ Stinger.(Keystone Marketing PR/Stacker2racing.com)(9-10-2003)
Stacker 2 cars to carry special decals: The Station #23 program was developed to pay tribute to the fallen firefighters of Station 23 FDNY (Midtown Manhattan), who were performing their jobs of saving lives when tragedy struck on September 11, 2001. The name of their station is “The Lion's Den.” Through the common grief following September 11th, a special bond was created between Station 23 FDNY and Station 23, Grand Terrace (San Bernardino County FD) in Grand Terrace, California. The two have become “sister stations” and Station 23, Grand Terrace, has since adopted the name “The Lion's Den” in honor of the fallen firefighters. “The Lion's Den” decal being placed on the #23 Stacker 2 Busch and Cup cars feature both "sister stations" and will be included on the team cars throughout the month of September.(Bill Davis Racing see the cool decal there)(9-4-2003)
Kenny on the hot seat? Another question facing Bill Davis' team is the future of driver Kenny Wallace. Brown denied speculation that Scott Wimmer would step up from the Busch tour to replace Wallace. 'There have been a lot of people speculating that, because we've said Wimmer is ready for Winston Cup,' Brown said. 'But we've been exploring other sponsorship opportunities there. Kenny has always been an integral part of the Stacker2 brand -- he's responsible for getting us and them hooked up. So Kenny will always have a place in that car as long as Stacker2 wants to use him.'(Winston Salem Journal)(8-4-2003)
Kenny Wallace wins in NJ: After meeting with fans and signing autographs, the quartet of Winston Cup drivers, Michael Waltrip, Sterling Marlin, Steve Park and Kenny Wallace, battled in their own 30-lap main event at Wall Township Speedway in NJ. While Waltrip and Marlin took turns leading early, Kenny Wallace took control off a restart with eight laps remaining to grab his first ever Wall Township Speedway win by a half car length. Waltrip, Marlin and Park followed. "This is great! Not only can I say that I've raced at Wall, but I can also now say that I have won at Wall," Wallace said. "I know all of us had a great time here today. The track is great and the people are real nice. We all had a lot of fun." See more to the story at Jerseyracing.com.(7-29-2003)
Helton Testifies UPDATE: NASCAR President, Mike Helton, testified at a House Energy and Commerce Committee in Washington, DC on Thursday [along with many leaders of others sports], towards the end of the NY Times story........Stock car racing also came under fire at the hearing. Representative Jan Schakowski , a Democrat from Illinois, asked why at least one ephedra company [Stacker 2] had been allowed to sponsor a racing team and promote its products at racetracks. Mike Helton, president of NASCAR, has set limits on how much ephedra was acceptable in tests of drivers. But he also said that the driving teams and tracks were owned by various individuals, and NASCAR could not set a blanket policy covering them as well.(New York Times and see more at energycommerce.house.gov and nascar.alanjones.us)(7-25-2003)
UPDATE: NASCAR president Mike Helton testified before a Senate subcommittee this week in Washington, D.C. about the use of Ephedra. NASCAR has not banned the use of Ephedra but does test for it. Helton acknowledge that NASCAR may consider a more specific policy.(Fox Sports Net's Totally NASCAR) and more info on the subject at nascar.alanjones.us: NASCAR 'does' have policy against ephedra(7-26-2003)
Herman to run special scheme at Daytona UPDATE: #23-Kenny 'Herman' Wallace will run a special Stacker2 scheme at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona promoting the new energy drink, YJ Stinger. YJ Stinger, the newest energy drink from Stacker 2 [NVE Pharmaceuticals], is set to launch this summer and comes in three flavors: Pounding Punch, Sinful Citrus and Enraged Raspberry.(mentioned by Kenny Wallace in Speed Channel's Inside Winston Cup TV progran)(6-24-2003)
UPDATE: NVE Pharmaceuticals, the parent company of Stacker 2, "The World's Strongest Fat Burner," has announced it has created special paint schemes for Kenny Wallace and Scott Wimmer in NASCAR events at Daytona International Speedway this weekend and at Dover International Speedway in September. The special schemes will coincide with the launch of new energy drink YJ Stinger, an extension of NVE's current Stacker 2 product line. Kenny Wallace will drive the #23 YJ Stinger Red Dodge in the Winston Cup Series race while Scott Wimmer will pilot the #23 YJ Stinger Green Chevrolet in the Busch Series race. YJ Stinger is a new energy drink that comes in three great tasting flavors: Pounding Punch, Sinful Citrus and Enraged Raspberry. It is scheduled to launch in stores around the country the middle of July. "Stacker 2 is about creating marketing programs that inject enthusiasm for our brands into our consumers, and we know they'll be revved up about YJ Stinger when we unveil the YJ Stinger cars that Kenny and Scott will drive," said Bob Emilian, Vice President of marketing for NVE Pharmaceuticals. "Once we have the fans energized, we'll give them ample opportunities to use up that energy at our interactive exhibits outside the tracks." The YJ Stinger energy drink can be sampled at tracks around the country. Look for the "Splash of Energy" display, scheduled to appear at 12 tracks.(Keystone Marketing), see images of the cars on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(7-2-2003)
Davis back to GM in 2004? #22 and #23 Team Owner Bill Davis, although he's officially off the Dodge deal, is expected to keep running Dodges the rest of this season because of his huge inventory of parts and pieces. But next season, he might well be back with General Motors, possibly with Pontiac.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-16-2003)
Schrader and Wallace at Quincy: Quincy's Mark Burgtorf won the 25-lap Ken Schrader Night United Midwest Promoters (UMP) late model feature at Quincy Raceways, a feat which seemed at best improbable, if not totally impossible, at the onset. The stars of the night were supposed to be NASCAR Winston Cup drivers Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace. Burgtorf, a 10-time Quincy track champion, was forced to use a 500-horsepower IMCA spec engine against a 20-car field which featured 800-horsepower UMP power plants in 11 of the first 14 cars on the feature grid. Denny Woodworth of Quincy, Mike Hammerle of St. Charles, Mo., Gary Webb of Bluegrass, Iowa, and Johnny Johnson of West Burlington, Iowa, rounded out the top five. Wallace, using a car owned by Iowa driver Jody Wood, was never a threat and finished otuside the top 10. Schrader did not run his late model, but not by design. Schrader's crew could not get the No. 99 Federated Auto Parts late model out of its hauler, being unable to get the door opened. That frustration ended a three-day run of sour luck for Schrader. On the way to Quincy, the rig Schrader and Wallace were riding in was involved in an accident near St. Louis. That delayed their scheduled 5 p.m. arrival in Quincy by about two hours. Schrader was able to race his modified Tuesday night. The modified was in a second hauler. He won a heat race and finished sixth in the feature, but said he was disappointed in not being able to run a late model like most of the fans were expecting.(Herald-Whig)(6-11-2003)
Stacker 2 VP leaves: The Vice President of Marketing for Stacker 2, Karen Finocchio has resigned from NVE Pharmaceuticals the manufacturer of Stacker 2 to pursue a business of her own as a one stop media shop. Karen Finocchio, was the person behind building NVE pharmaceuticals brand Stacker 2 "The Worlds Strongest Fat Burner" with a highly targeted media plan. For the rest of the release and contact info, see my Press Release News and Links page.(6-4-2003)
Bill Davis Racing Responds To Dodge's Decision To Terminate Agreement: Bill Davis [#22 CAT and #23 Stacker 2 Dodges] Racing [BDR] is surprised by the decision of Daimler Chrysler's notification to terminate their agreement with Bill Davis Racing and to file suit alleging that Bill Davis Racing has breached its agreement with Daimler Chrysler. Bill Davis Racing firmly believes that it has not breached the Daimler Chrysler agreement and that there is no justifiable reason for Daimler Chrysler asserting a claim that it has breached such an agreement. Bill Davis racing is confident that it will prevail in the litigation and that the court will agree that is has not breached its agreement with Daimler Chrysler. Bill Davis Racing will continue racing the Dodge Intrepid in NASCAR's Winston Cup Series.(BDR PR)(6-4-2003)
NASCAR gives a car and engine to Toyota? UPDATE 2 NASCAR denies: Another of the big stories here concerns car owner Bill Davis, who spent most of the day repeating 'No comment.' The bottom line is Dodge's one, big happy family isn't so happy, or as big, anymore, with the abrupt decision by DaimlerChrysler to cut Davis' two-car operation out of the fold a little more than a year after Davis and Ward Burton put Dodge in victory lane at Daytona. When Dodge returned to NASCAR's top division three years ago, it came with Ray Evernham, Petty Enterprises and Davis. Since then, Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske have jumped on the train, and those two Indy-car giants have been overshadowing Dodge's original threesome. Dodge's decision to drop factory support of the Davis team, because DaimlerChrysler officials hint the team has been providing technical advice to Toyota, was the talk of the Winston Cup garage yesterday ... except in Davis' hauler, where he and his crew were mum. 'No comment for the foreseeable future,' is all Davis is saying this weekend.
AND The surprising Dodge move has some key Winston Cup figures thinking that Toyota may be preparing to jump into Winston Cup racing sooner than expected. Tony Stewart said he has been told that NASCAR officials have given his Texas car to Toyota engineers for scrutiny -- NASCAR confiscated that car for uncertain reasons, and the sanctioning body hasn't given it back. Greg Zipadelli, Stewart's crew chief, said NASCAR also has given a Robert Yates' Ford motor to Toyota for detailed examination, in order to give Toyota a quicker jump out of the box. Stewart and Zipadelli are angry over those developments.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-31-2003)
UPDATE - denied bt NASCAR: NASCAR strongly denied published reports that it gave parts confiscated from the Winston Cup garage to the Toyota startup effort. One such written account attributed Tony Stewart and crew chief Greg Zipadelli saying NASCAR had given Toyota the #20 Home Depot Chevy, which was confiscated during the Texas race weekend. The same report indicated NASCAR had given Toyota the Robert Yates Racing engine confiscated during The Winston weekend. However, NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communication, Jim Hunter, addressing both allegations said that the parts are still in NASCAR’s impound in the Concord, N.C., Research and Development Center. Hunter added, “We spoke with [Joe] Gibbs last Tuesday about getting the parts back to the car, that we're going to give him and he's working to comply with the requirements. NASCAR would never give a competitor a confiscated part," Hunter added. "It would be foolish to put confiscated parts back into circulation."(Team Ford Racing)(6-1-2003)
UPDATE 2 - more: Hunter said on an XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio interview that the #20 team would be getting most of the car back, but not the body as it didn't conform with the template rules. And that the story that NASCAR gave the car and the #88 engine to Toyota was ludicrous [ludicrous speed?] saying why would NASCAR want to put illegal parts back into circulation.(XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio - Subscription Required), heard this 'rumor' was started as 'fun' by a Cup driver/crew chief., to see if it would get picked up.(6-4-2003)
Dodge Sues Davis: A lawsuit filed by Dodge's parent company, DaimlerChrysler, alleges that Davis' team breached its contract by building and testing a prototype Toyota vehicle for NASCAR's Craftsman Truck series. Toyota has announced plans to enter the truck series next season — leading to speculation that the Japanese automobile industry giant eventually will field cars in the marquee-level Winston Cup series. NASCAR rules require teams to race approved "American-made" cars, but Toyota manufactures several models at U.S. plants. In the lawsuit, DaimlerChrysler alleges that at least one member of Davis' team represented Toyota at a NASCAR wind tunnel test in Marrietta, GA, on April 30. The suit says NASCAR officials performed aerodynamic tests on a Toyota prototype that bore decals from Davis' team and was powered by a Dodge engine. The suit says this violates a clause in Davis' contract with DaimlerChrysler that requires Davis and his team to "represent, endorse or otherwise promote" Dodge products. The suit, filed in a Michigan state circuit court on May 23, does not ask for a specific dollar amount in damages. But as a reward for racing Dodges, DaimlerChrysler pays its designated "factory" teams an annual sum believed to be in the low seven-figure range. The suit estimates that Davis' team has spent only 50-60% of this year's money, and asks for the remainder to be repaid. The suit also says DaimlerChrysler "fears that (Davis' team) has or will share DaimlerChrysler's confidential information with Toyota, in violation of the agreement," and wants the courts to force Davis' team to keep secret any confidential information they have obtained from Dodge. DaimlerChrysler officials declined comment Monday. Officials from Toyota and Davis' team did not return messages seeking comment. NASCAR vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter could not say for certain whether officials tested a Toyota prototype in the presence of Davis team members on April 30, but he said wind tunnel testing is common in NASCAR's approval process for new vehicles.(USA Today)(6-3-2003)
Toyota to help Davis with $$? Regardless of what Bill Davis' problems might be with Dodge, Toyota officials are saying privately that money will not be a problem for Davis, that they'll do whatever it takes. Dodge officials are declining to confirm reports that they have filed legal papers in Michigan over the issue or to describe the gist of those papers. The Dodge-Davis story was one of the biggest this weekend, along with worries about Toyota increasing among Winston Cup tour teams. According to two sources, Toyota's entry into NASCAR's Truck series could lead both General Motors and Ford officials to reconsider their companies' sponsorship support. If Ford and GM back off, the Truck tour could become a Dodge vs. Toyota battlefield, with the Japanese car maker challenging the German automaker.(more at the Winston Salem Journal)(6-2-2003)
More Toyota Stuff: Just say the word 'Toyota' in the Winston Cup garage here [Dover], and you can feel the shivers. Yes, the Japanese auto maker, even though it has yet to put a truck or a Winston Cup car on the race track, is already scaring the heck out of NASCAR regulars. Not just because they believe that Toyota's racing department is willing to spend money. Not just because Toyota has some good engineering talent. But because, rivals say, Toyota men have already upped the ante in ruthless behind-the-scenes battling for some of stock-car racing's key technical secrets and because many Winston Cup regulars fear that NASCAR officials will do for Toyota what they feel NASCAR did for Dodge - bend over backward to help the new car manufacturer make a successful entry into NASCAR. "Toyota is going to come in here and run teams right out of this sport,' said a top Winston Cup team owner."
Some notes:
--Over the winter, Dodge executives said they were angry at Toyota for moves they said it was making to hire Winston Cup engine builders who could provide proprietary secrets about engine designs.
--At least one Chevrolet team has provided engine builders to help Toyota with its new designs.
--Last week NASCAR approved Toyota's new cylinder head, according to NASCAR sources. And Toyota did more than that, providing NASCAR with some of the sophisticated 3D computer programs used in the CAD-CAM designing of those heads. That could be a precedent-setting move if NASCAR now insists that rival car makers provide the same computer programs.
--Tony Stewart said that NASCAR has given his Texas Chevy to Toyota to study.
--Crew chief Greg Zipadelli said that NASCAR has given a Robert Yates Ford engine to Toyota to examine.(Winston Salem Journal) and see past news on my Toyota page.(6-1-2003)
And more on Dodge and Davis: Dodge has no immediate plans to expand the number of factory-backed Winston Cup programs, despite cutting ties last week to Bill Davis Racing. "Something like that would not come as a direct, hasty response to what has occurred," said Todd Goyer, manager of Dodge Motorsports. "I can't say what will happen down the road, however." Last week, Dodge severed its contract to provide factory support to BDR's Winston Cup teams with drivers Ward Burton and Kenny Wallace. The manufacturer would not comment on the specific reason for its move, with Goyer saying only that BDR's actions were "intolerable." Speculation in the Winston Cup garage Friday was BDR was involved with Toyota and its plans to enter the NASCAR Truck series next season. Goyer would not directly respond to that issue, saying instead: "As a hypothetical question, it's safe to say if a Dodge team was working with another manufacturer, we would have concerns." BAM Racing, which fields the #49 Dodges for Ken Schrader, hopes to pick up some of backing previously directed to BDR. BAM currently receives little factory support from Dodge. "The Dodge people know what their plans are for the rest of the year. Anything they can do for us, the gratitude would certainly be unlimited," said Eddie Jones, BAM's general manager. "They are already doing the things for us they can. They had a limited number of contracts and we weren't one of them. But they have been doing everything they could because they have seen our loyalty to the brand." Although it has no full-time primary sponsor, BAM has entered every race this season and has used Dodges since it began a part-time schedule last season. BDR officials again Friday declined to comment on the situation.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-31-2003)
Dodge Splits with Bill Davis Racing UPDATE 2: A top Dodge Motorsports official confirmed Thursday that the automaker has terminated its contract with Bill Davis Racing [BDR]. Davis fields the Winston Cup Dodges of 2002 Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton and Kenny Wallace. Davis also fields Chevrolets in the Busch Series for Scott Wimmer. Todd Goyer, manager of Dodge Motorsports, said the contract was terminated prior to last weekend's Coca-Cola 600. Goyer would not comment spcifically on what prompted Dodge's decision, but called BDR's actions "intolerable." He would not provide specifics. A spokeswoman for the Davis team said she was not aware of the change late Thursday afternoon. The loss of factory support means BDR will not receive information and engineering data provided to Dodge programs. BDR could also lose wind-tunnel time and the use of factory-supplied parts for its teams. Bill Davis Racing ran Dodge bodies in last weekend's race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.(ThatsRacin.com). There have been many rumors that BDR has been working with Toyota for the Truck Series, which will run the that series in 2004.
AND Dodge Motorsports has terminated its contract with Bill Davis Racing, cutting off all support and access to information for drivers #22-Ward Burton and #23-Kenny Wallace. Todd Goyer, managing director for Dodge Motorsports, said Thursday the contract was broken before last week's Coca-Cola 600 because of a "material breach of agreement."
"We do have enough reason to reach the conclusion that we did," Goyer said. There has been speculation Davis has been in discussion with Toyota, which will become the first foreign automaker in NASCAR next season when it enters Tundras in the Truck Series. Goyer would not comment further on what led to the split with BDR. Davis can still use Dodge Intrepids for Burton, Wallace and Busch Series driver Scott Wimmer [but run's Chevy's in Busch], but he'll now have to pay for all of his equipment. He'll also be shut out of the information sharing that goes on between Dodge teams. That access can be vital, considering NASCAR heavyweights Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi and Ray Evernham are part of the Dodge contingent. "Factory support means they have access to the technology that all the Dodge teams have and all the information sharing," Goyer said. "It's access to all the technical aspects, plus the marketing support and use of the Dodge brand name." Davis will also lose access to Dodge's wind tunnel in Michigan. Wind tunnel time is one of the greatest expenses in racing and Dodge teams were able to save considerably by having one in-house at the DaimlerChrysler headquarters. The manufacturer now has four official teams - Penske Racing [#2/#12], Chip Ganassi Racing [#40/#41/#42], Evernham Motorsports [#9/#19/#91] and Petty Enterprises [#43/#44/#45] - and nine drivers. #49-Ken Schrader drives a Dodge for BAM Motorsports, but the team does not receive factory support.(Charlotte Observer/AP)(5-29-2003)
UPDATE suspposedly BDR tested a Chevy at Dover with Wimmer the week before the Coke 600 for the Cup race, then it was announced Wimmer would not run at Dover.
AND also the Jim Smith's Ultra Motorsports #7 Sirius Dodge and Jimmy Spencer is a Dodge factory team.
UPDATE 2: all interviews with either Dodge folks, Bill Davis or the drivers pretty much are 'No Comment' on the situation. The only thing mentioned was that it was a face-to-face meeting with Dodge and Davis during the Coke 600 race weekend.(5-30-2003)
#23 to test in South Carolina: The #23 Stacker 2 team will test at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC, to shake down their road course car they plant to race at Infineon Raceway in Sears Point, Calif., later this month.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(5-29-2003)
Rusty and Kenny Help Out the Boy Scouts: Rusty and Kenny Wallace were in the Orangeburg, SC on Wednesday for the annual Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts of America's "Friends of Scouting" dinner function held at the Tourville Lodge at Buckridge Plantation. Eight years ago, Wallace traveled to Orangeburg to lend his support for what has become one of the most successful scouting fund-raisers in the country. In that first year the event raised a substantial amount of $12,000. Now, eight years later, the annual support has become even more substantive as the donations have increased to over $100,000, leaving Wallace quite pleased with the results of the 2003 fund-raising effort. Wallace has helped the organization to raise in excess of one million dollars over the eight years that the driver has been involved.(Times and Democrat)(5-22-2003)
Kenny Wallace to run a Card's car UPDATE 2: Kenny Wallace will run a Michael Waltrip owned/loaned #99 St Louis Cardinals Chevy in the Busch Series race, none mentioned, but it makes sense that is would be at Gateway Int'l Raceway near St Louis. See an image of the car on my Busch Series Paint Schemes Gallery.
UPDATE: hearing the Kenny Wallace Cardinals car is in collaboration with Bill Davis Racing.(3-26-2003)
UPDATE 2: Kenny Wallace will return to his hometown track, Gateway International Raceway, to compete in the NASCAR Busch Series event on May 10, 2003. Wallace, born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, will sport the colors of hometown baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals, on his car. The entry will be collaboration between Bill Davis Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing. “I am really grateful to Bill Davis who made this whole deal possible,” said Wallace. “This is my dream and he has helped me fulfill it. Bill has an excellent Busch Series program in place and he is providing me an awesome opportunity. I’m also grateful to my good friend, Michael Waltrip, who is providing me all his crew and equipment for the race weekend. They do a great job over the wall for Michael during the Busch races, so I’m confident in their ability as well.”(Kenny Wallace site)(4-20-2003)
Toyota Stuff - Ganassi and Davis? Things have been pretty quiet on the Toyota front lately, but work on the Japanese company's new NASCAR Tundra racer is well under way. The two NASCAR teams expected to play a big role in Toyota's truck venture next season are the ones owned by Chip Ganassi and Bill Davis, although neither is willing to confirm anything. Davis' suspected Toyota truck operation, according to team sources, is being run at a secret shop that is being called Area 54, a take-off on the U.S. government's top-secret flight base, Area 51. Where might that shop be? According to sources, it's probably at Davis' old Busch shop in Thomasville, NC.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-14-2003)
No Gas For Herman: #23-Kenny Wallace finished 12th Sunday but had to work his way back from two laps down to do that. Wallace lost the ground when he made a green-flag pit stop before the rest of the field came in under yellow. Wallace was forced into the stop because, on an earlier stop, he didn't get a full load of fuel in his Dodge. "The track only had three gas pumps open," said Wallace, whose team was lined up at the gas pumps to get its fuel cans filled.. "When I pitted we couldn't put gas in our car because we didn't have gas. So I had to pit again. We easily had a top-five car. I came from the back three times and I was two laps down and made them up. What are you going to do?"(ThatsRacin.com)(4-14-2003)
How did Johnson end up ahead of Wallace? been asked this quite a bit today, after #48-Jimmie Johnson got together with #23-Kenny Wallace towards the end of the race, Johnson spun and lost the lead draft and Wallace continued on, BUT Wallace ran out of fuel a few hundred feet after the incident with Johnson and finished 17th, Johnson finished 15th.(Speed Channel's Inside Winston Cup - Kenny Wallace, also the #77 crew chief, Bootie Barker is the hot seat guest this week)(4-7-2003)
NASCAR considering Ephedra ban: NASCAR gives random drug tests but does not check for ephedra, which has been banned by other sports leagues but is sold in malls and grocery stores. Kevin Triplett, NASCAR's managing director of business operations, says an ephedra ban "is something we're looking at." Ephedra, which is extracted from an Asian plant, is banned in college sports, the Olympics, the NFL and minor league baseball. Although supplement manufacturer Stacker 2 sponsors Kenny Wallace's race #23 car, Triplett says that would not stop NASCAR from considering an ephedra ban. Karen Finocchio, vice president of marketing for NVE, Stacker 2's parent company, says the company stands behind its ephedra supplement but notes it also offers an ephedra-free version. She says users should follow the extensive set of guidelines printed on the bottle. "Take it as directed," she says. "Consult your physician. ... Know your limitations."(USA Today)(3-26-2003)
So, what is up with Stacker 2 and the Ephedra controversy? Should driver Kenny Wallace and Bill Davis Racing be worried about the federal Department of Health and Human Services' recent warning that users of ephedra, the controversial diet-supplement ingredient, face "potentially serious risks."? "They told me to go racing, you know?" Wallace said of his sponsor. "We have a two-year contract, this year and next year, and they have a lot of other products besides ephedra products. They have an ephedra-free product, and they're coming out with a new line of power bars. Really, any more than that, that's pretty much all I know. All I know is what anybody else would know." In the sports world, ephedra is under fire because of its association with the deaths of two professional athletes, Minnesota Vikings tackle Korey Stringer (fall 2001), and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler (Feb. 17, 2003). Both were believed to be taking a product [supposedly NOT Stacker 2] containing ephedra when they collapsed during workouts and later died. The Department of Health and Human Services issued its warning approximately two weeks after Bechler's death, and the nutritional supplement industry awaits further backlash that could include a congressional investigation of the substance. Stacker 2 is owned by NVE Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures nutritional, supplement-type products, according to Karen L. Finocchio, vice-president for marketing. Advertised -- and memorably, by Wallace -- as a fat burner, Stacker 2 comes with ephedra, in "light" form, and ephedra-free. If there's a day when it must be sold only ephedra-free, Finocchio says the company will do just fine. "We're real confident," Finocchio said. "We've had no problems. People are real receptive. They know the hard work we put behind our product." NVE plans to introduce a line of ephedra-free meal replacement products (protein bars, drinks, etc.) in four to six weeks, said Finocchio, adding that the company has promoted Stacker 2, including the ephedra-free form, in NASCAR for three to four years, and in the World Wrestling Entertainment arena for five years. Finocchio said company revenues stream from multiple products, not just Stacker 2, therefore any future federal ban won't affect NVE's ability to back Wallace. "I still believe strongly -- and we also believe in the industry -- it's safe if taken as directed," Finocchio said of ephedra. "I mean, of course you would consult your physician before you take anything, herbal or otherwise. And our label is a peel-back label. We go to the expense of having that so that we can have every possible scenario on the label." Wallace doesn't use Stacker 2. Not because of any discomfort, but because he has no fat-burning problems. Nor does he need to boost his metabolism. The commercials -- spoofs starring Wallace, fellow Winston Cup drivers Elliott Sadler, Tony Stewart, Busch series driver Scott Wimmer, and WWE wrestler Paul Wright (a.k.a. The Big Show) -- are a staple of Stacker 2's promotion. NVE began as Wallace's Busch sponsor and transitioned to Cup with him this season.(full story at CNNSI)(3-13-2003)
A New Stacker 2 Commercial and Info about Stacker 2: If you've seen the Stacker 2 TV commercials, featuring Winston Cup driver Kenny Wallace, you've seen the work of Belvidere native Karen Sweigert Finnuchio. Finnuchio, a member of Belvidere High School's class of 1977, wrote and produced the zany ads for the diet product. Finnuchio is the marketing vice president for Stacker 2, which has its headquarters in Sussex County, N.J. She directed her company into NASCAR last year after a stint as a sponsor for World Wrestling Federation. Finnuchio put together the deal to have Wallace -- the youngest brother of Rusty Wallace -- sponsored by Stacker in the Busch Series. On top of that, a one-year sponsorship of the Busch race at Nazareth Speedway was in he cards. Finnuchio, Stacker and Wallace move to the big time this year. Wallace will drive the #23 Stacker 2-sponsored Dodge in the Winston Cup Series for owner Bill Davis. Wallace is teamed with Ward Burton, last year's Daytona 500 winner. Wallace, known around the garages as "Herman," said a new Finnuchio-written and produced commercial will be shot early next month at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "It'll be the best one yet," Wallace said. "There will be six or seven drivers in it, and maybe a surprise. It's a real Hollywood production when we do it, and Karen pulls it all together and is still fun to work with." Wallace said that despite being a wired, fun-loving person out of his car and in front of the TV camera, he's all business behind the wheel.(Express Times)(1-23-2003)
Past 2002 News
Kenny signs with IWC: Kenny Wallace and Speed Channel have signed a 1 year contract to place Kenny as the Official Permanent Guest Host of the show "Inside Winston Cup". If Johnny Benson, Michael Waltrip or Ken Schrader can't make the show, Wallace will be on the show as a replacement. Alan Bestwick hosts the show, which airs on Monday's at 7:00pm/et on Speed Channel. Wallace will also be appearing every Sunday on RPM 2 Night on ESPN2 starting at Daytona. He will tape the segment after the drivers meeting on Sunday mornings.(KWR PR)(12-6-2002)
Stacker 2 to sponsor a BGN team too: hearing Stacker 2, who will sponsor the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge and Kenny Wallace in 2003 on the Cup circuit, has signed with the #23 Bill Davis BGN team and driver Scott Wimmer as the primary sponsor for half the 2003 season and the other half of the season they will be the secondary sponsor with a company called Stamina RX, which is a natural alternative to Viagra. Stacker 2 is coming out with a line of high protein, low carb protein bars and a meal replacement drink [like Slim Fast in a way] and plans are to use the BGN and CUP cars to promote both Stacker 2 diet aids and the new line.(11-4-2002)
Geoffrey Bodine in the #23 at Martinsville for practice/qualifying: Kenny Wallace, who is the primary driver of the #23 Hills Bros. Coffee Dodge, will be unable to be at Martinsville on Friday and Saturday this weekend, as he will be in Memphis competing in the BGN race. Wallace took over the full-time driving duties for the #23 car at Darlington earlier this year; however, his primary obligation for the remainder of the 2002 season is to the #48 Stacker 2 car in the BGN Series. Geoffrey Bodine has been chosen to fill in for the absent Wallace. "When Kenny agreed to take over the driving duties for the No. 23 car earlier this year, we knew there would be two races, Talladega and Memphis, in which he had conflicts with the schedule," said car owner, Bill Davis. "At Talladega, we chose a Bill Davis Racing driver, Scott Wimmer, to substitute for Kenny.. We couldn't use Scott at Memphis, as he had the same conflict that Kenny does. Both those drivers are in a points battle in the Busch Series, so both of them need to put their full attention to that event. Fortunately, Geoffrey (Bodine) agreed to fill in for Kenny and we are very grateful to him coming in and helping us out in this situation.. The plan is to have Geoffrey practice and qualify the No. 23 car and then have Kenny start from the rear on Sunday. His knowledge and experience at a track like Martinsville will be an asset to this team.". Equipment:. Wallace and the Hills Bros. Coffee Racing Team are taking the same car to Martinsville that competed earlier this year at the fall Richmond event where it finished 14th and at the fall Loudon event where it finished 18th.(Bill Davis PR)(10-15-2002)
Wimmer in the #23 at Talladega: Scott Wimmer, Bill Davis' BGN driver, will drive the #23 Hills Bros. Coffee Dodge at Talladega this weekend. Kenny Wallace took over full-time driving duties of the #23 car at Darlington earlier in the season, but before he signed on with Bill Davis, Wallace had already committed to driving for car owner, Andy Petree, and the #33 car for the Talladega event.. BDR needed to find someone to fill in for Wallace at the Talladega event due to the conflict, and felt Wimmer was the logical choice. Martinsville is the only remaining event that Wallace will be unable to compete in the #23 car, as his first priority for the remainder of the 2002 season is the Stacker 2 BGN car and he will be racing in Memphis that weekend. A driver has yet to be named to fill the vacancy.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(10-1-2002)
Davis on Baldwin and Stoddard UPDATE: Bill Davis had an interesting week after he read in the newspapers that his crew chief, Tommy Baldwin, was entertaining a contract offer from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to fill the position vacated by Paul Andrews with Steve Park’s Chevrolet. Andrews left DEI last week to assume the crew chief job with Jeff Burton #99 Ford entry. Davis had several choice comments about Baldwin’s handling of the situation, and sources told teamfordracing.com that Ty Norris, general manager for DEI, also was unhappy with the public airing of contract negotiations in the media. Davis, addressing his crew chief possibilities said that he’s spoken with Frankie Stoddard this past week, and that he believes Baldwin will stay put where he is. "Frankie Stoddard and I have talked, but we haven’t talked about official job description capacity, yet,” said Davis. “I’d love to have Frankie. He’s one of the best crew chiefs in the garage. Tommy Baldwin seems to talk to [the media] more than he does me. I assume he’s staying. We’ll sit down and talk next week. I figure he’ll be crew chief for the [No.] 22 for a long time.”(Ford Racing)(9-15-2002)
UPDATE: Tommy Baldwin is expected to re-sign with Bill Davis Racing [BDR], despite reports that he was leaving the organization to take the same role at DEI on the #1 Chevy with driver Steve Park. However, insiders at BDR say Philippe Lopez will not be returning to the #23 car with driver Kenny Wallace since the Hills Brothers sponsorship subsidizes his salary.(Sporting News)(9-16-2002)
UPDATE announcement...this week? hearing the rumored hiring of crew cheif Frank Stoddard by Bill Davis Racing could come as early as this week (Wednesday?) AND Sunday morning on NASCAR This Morning, crew chief Tommy Baldwin said he expects to stay with Bill Davis Racing and the #22 Dodge next season.(9-17-2002)
Andrews In, Stoddard out at the #99 UPDATE Stoddard to Davis?: Roush Racing announced that Paul Andrews has been hired as the crew chief of the #99 CITGO Ford, effective immediately. Andrews has been a Winston Cup crew chief since 1988 when he was teamed up with the late Alan Kulwicki. In 1992 the pair won the Winston Cup Championship in addition to racking up two wins and six poles. Andrews has achieved 12 total Winston Cup victories in addition to 74 top-five and 145 top-10 finishes. Andrews was most recently crew chief of the #1 car of Steve Park (see next story). "Paul will make a great addition to the #99 CITGO team," said Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 CITGO Ford. "The CITGO team has been running really well and we're looking to build on that with the addition of Paul. Frank has done a magnificent job helping to build a Winston Cup championship contending team," said Burton. "But after long consideration, we both think we're better served to take the next step forward by revamping the chemistry of the team, by making this change." Former Crew Chief Frank Stoddard has been offered a choice of other management positions within the Roush Racing organization, and his decision will be announced in the near future. "I'm proud to have been crew chief for a start up team that has been able to win 17 times and earn three top-five seasons' point finishes," said Stoddard. "And I think the addition of Paul Andrews to Roush Racing will be a positive one for the organization."(Roush Racing PR)(9-4-2002)
UPDATE: hearing some rumors that former #99 crew chief, Frank Stoddard could be heading to Bill Davis Racing as the crew chief for Kenny Wallace and the #23 Hill Bros Coffee (Stacker2 in 2003) Dodge.(9-6-2002)
UPDATE 2:You’ll likely be reading tomorrow about Frankie Stoddard’s big deal with Bill Davis to take over as crew chief of the #23, Kenny Wallace, Dodge. The story, while intriguing – and possible, will be premature if it should make it to print. Davis said, “We’ve been good friends with Frankie for years. Of course we’re interested in talking with him —when he’s ready.” Stoddard’s wife, Heidi, works for Davis and told TFR that Frankie is going to take a little rest this weekend and clear his mind. Frankie will have options with Roush, but nothing has been offered firmly to the displaced crew chief.(Ford Racing)(9-7-2002)
Wallace released from DEI and... Kenny Wallace has been released from his DEI contract in 2002. Wallace was hired to first drive the #1 car for Steve Park, and be on stand-by for the rest of 2002 in case there was another need for him in any of the DEI cars. DEI decided that since it was obvious that their drivers were no longer in need of substitutes and that they were paying a full driver salary to someone that was sitting at home on Sundays watching the race on TV, that the contract could be ended, and see a full press release of the Wallace/Petree/ATT deal at Kenny Wallace Racing site.(8-30-2002)
Hut out....Kenny in NOW? UPDATE 2 Official: hearing Kenny Wallace may take over the #23 Bill Davis Racing / Hills Bros Dodge ride from current driver Hut Stricklin as soon as this week at Darlington, with the exception of Talladega (where he will drive the #33 1-800-CALLATT Chevy and Martinesville due to his BGN team). Supposedly Scott Wimmer will drive the #23 at Talladega and it is unknown who will drive it at Martinsville. Assuming Hills Bros will stay with the #23 for the rest of the year.(8-27-2002)
UPDATE: Kenny Wallace's plans to join Bill Davis Racing [BDR] in 2003 apparently have taken on an accelerated schedule.
Wallace, scheduled Tuesday night on ESPN's show RPM2Night to announce his plans to join BDR with sponsor Stacker2 in 2003, will replace current BDR driver Hut Stricklin in the No. 23 Dodge this weekend at Darlington, SC, ThatsRacin.com has learned. The driver change was confirmed Tuesday when an updated entry list, provided by NASCAR, showed Wallace in the #23 Dodge at Darlington. A BDR spokesperson would not comment on the driver change, only to say more information would be available later in the week. Wallace is expected to compete in the #23 for the remainder of the 2002 season, except for the October race at Talladega, where he was already scheduled to drive for car owner Andy Petree; and Martinsville, which presents a conflict with Wallace's current BGN schedule. Stricklin has struggled this season, his first with BDR. In 22 starts – he failed to qualify for one race and road racer Tom Hubert filled in for another – Stricklin is 33rd in points with no top-10 finishes. His best finish was 11th at Talladega in April. His best start was 21st at Rockingham. Wallace has made 10 Winston Cup starts this season for a variety of teams. His best finish was 10th at Rockingham while driving as a substitute for Steve Park's #1 Dale Earnhardt Inc.-owned Chevrolet.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-27-2002)
UPDATE 2: Effective immediately, Kenny Wallace will take over the driving duties for the #23 Hills Bros. Coffee Dodge for the remainder of the season.. After a lengthy discussion, car owner, Bill Davis, and driver, Hut Stricklin, have agreed to take this opportunity to maximize efforts for all parties involved for the 2003 NASCAR season. "I am very grateful to Bill Davis Racing and Hills Brothers Coffee, and I consider this as a chance to allow the team to get things in place and get a head start on next year," said Stricklin. "It will also allow me to explore my options for the future. Hills Brothers Coffee is a great sponsor and I will continue involvement with the company for the remainder of the year."
"All of us at Bill Davis Racing respect Hut and his family, "said car owner, Bill Davis.. "He is one of the nicest guys you'll meet in this sport and I think a lot of him.. We announced earlier this week that Kenny will be driving the #23 Stacker 2 Dodge beginning in 2003, and we see this as a opportunity to get a head start on next season and work toward building the team chemistry and consistency that is essential to run up front in the Winston Cup Series."(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-27-2002)
Kenny Wallace announcment Tuesday - OFFICIAL Wallace and Stacker2 to the #23: per the Kenny Wallace Racing site: "The Announcement" will be held Tuesday at 6:30pm/et on ESPN2's RPM2NIGHT, and at 6:40 on KennyWallaceRacing.com, also on FSN's Totally NASCAR on Tuesday Night 6:00pm/local and Speed Channel at 6:30pm/et. Wallace's 2003 plans.(8-26-2002)
Some past rumors.....Kenny Wallace to the #23? UPDATE: Kenny Wallace is expected to drive Bill Davis' #23 Dodge, with Stacker 2 as the primary sponsor, in 2003. Davis says that if Hills Brothers, the current sponsor on the #23, re-signs during the next two weeks for next season, he might field a third team. Hut Stricklin currently drives the #23.(Sporting News)
UPDATE: Wallace was on ESPN2's RPM 2 Night and said he has a deal is basically done and to look for announcement just after the Brickyard 400, but he wouldn't comment on the specifics.(7-22-2002)
UPDATE 2 - Kenny Wallace and Stacker 2 Sign Multi-Year Deal With Bill Davis Racing: NVE Pharmaceuticals and Bill Davis Racing have inked a multi-year deal with Kenny Wallace and Stacker 2. Wallace will drive the #23 NASCAR Winston Cup Dodge beginning in 2003 and will carry Stacker 2, "The World's Strongest Fat Burner' as its primary sponsor. Wallace, a veteran driver in both the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series ranks, is thrilled about the opportunity of returning full-time to NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition for Bill Davis Racing. "This is a dream come true for me," said Wallace. "I'm so lucky to have a sponsor that's so supportive and their involvement in NASCAR. Competing on the Winston Cup level is no easy task, as the competition is so close these days. You have to be with a team that can win races, and Bill Davis Racing has proven that. I feel very fortunate that I'll have the opportunity to be part of an organization with such great history. Bill's a racer and he knows what it takes to win. He's committed to giving his teams everything they need to run up front and that's where I plan to take the Stacker 2 Dodge - to the front! "
Davis, felt Wallace and Stacker 2 were a perfect addition to Bill Davis Racing.
"I'm very excited about Kenny and Stacker 2 coming aboard," said Davis. "Stacker 2 is extremely committed to their involvement in NASCAR. They do a lot of creative things to compliment their involvement as a sponsor. The ads are humorous and who could be a better spokesperson for Stacker 2 than Kenny? I've known Kenny since he was a kid and we're great friends. He comes from a strong racing family and while his personality is fun and light-hearted, his will to win is very serious. I watched what he was capable of while subbing for Steve Park in the #1 DEI car. He did an amazing job and we feel it's just the beginning of what he can do behind the wheel of a race car. We're committed to provide them with the necessary tools needed to be successful on the Winston Cup level."
NVE Pharmaceuticals is also excited about the move to a full-time NASCAR Winston Cup team.
"We have had such success with our NASCAR sponsorship that we are ready to take it to a new level," said Karen Finocchio, Vice President of Marketing for NVE Pharmaceuticals. "Moving to the Winston Cup Series was the next step in our marketing program and we are 100 percent committed to Kenny. We know Kenny has the talent to compete at the Winston Cup level, so we were looking for an outfit that could provide him with the resources to be competitive. Once we met with Bill, we were immediately impressed with his organization. He runs a first-class racing operation and we knew we had found a home for us and Kenny."
NVE Pharmaceuticals is the only manufacturer of The World's Strongest Fat Burners, Diet Products and Herbal Energizers. Look for the release of the Stacker 2 High Protein Liquid Lunch drink and the new high protein, low carbohydrate meal replacement bar. See their site at www.nveusa.com or www.stacker2.com.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-27-2002)
Hubert in the #23 at The Glen? UPDATE 3 Yes: hearing Tom Hubert will drive the #23 Hills Bros Dodge at Watkins Glen.(7-31-2002)
UPDATE: been told that Hubert will NOT drive the #23 at Watkins Glen, assuming Stricklin will drive the car.(8-1-2002)
UPDATE 2: been told one again, that Hubert WILL drive the #23 at Watkins Glen, at this point, be best to wait for something official.(8-2-2002)
UPDATE 3: Tom Hubert will pilot the #23 Hills Bros. Coffee Dodge at Watkins Glen this weekend, serving as a one-race substitute for driver, Hut Stricklin. Hubert's duties at Bill Davis Racing include serving as a general mechanic for both Ward Burton's #22 Caterpillar Dodge and Hut Stricklin's #23 Hills Bros. Coffee Dodge during the week and changing rear tires for the #22 Caterpillar Dodge on the weekends. Hubert also assists as a test driver for Bill Davis Racing. Crew Chief of the #22 Caterpillar Dodge, Tommy Baldwin, will take Hubert's place as tire changer on the #22 car while Hubert is driving the #23 car this weekend. Hubert has extensive road course experience, including leading laps at Watkins Glen during the BGN race in 2000. The Hills Bros. Coffee Racing team is taking the same car to Watkins Glen that competed earlier this year at Sears Point. Road Course Testing: Hubert and the Hills Bros. Coffee Racing team tested Virginia International Raceway on Monday, July 29th (road course) to gear up for the NWC event at Watkins Glen International.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-5-2002)
Car# could be the holdup for Sadler/M&M's announcement/Stricklin could stay in the #23 if a sponsor is found: Sources said that 'a roadblock' had sprung up in the negotiations and that it was unclear if the problem was squabbling over car numbers or if the problem was related to contract problems between Yates and incoming sponsor M&M Mars. Mike Brown, general manager for Bill Davis, said, "We're the holdup. The guy at M&Ms likes number 27, but that's our number, for Scott Wimmer. Let them use number 89 or something." Brown and Davis, of course, have to worry about Hut Stricklin's place next season with the High Point team. Brown said that Hills Brothers may leave the Stricklin team next year as the primary sponsor, and the team would have to find a sponsor to keep Stricklin with the team. "We're not opposed to that," Brown said, "but it's a question of whether the pieces will come together."(Winston Salem Journal)(8-3-2002)
DEI and BDR switch? Park to Davis? Wallace to DEI? BUT this is different.......now comes word of a behind-the-scenes deal between Bill Davis Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. - a deal which would put Kenny Wallace in the DEI cars that Steve Park currently drives [#1 Pennzoil Chevy] and put Park in some of Davis' cars [#23 or #27], to work with Tommy Baldwin, who was his crew chief on the Busch North Series. Wallace would bring Stacker2 to DEI, and Pennzoil would go with Park to Davis. But the whole thing may be too complicated to put together. A few weeks ago Buckshot Jones made a hard run at landing a ride for next season with Davis. Then two weeks ago Kenny Wallace, with $11 million of sponsorship from Stacker2, appeared headed to Davis.(Winston Salem Journal)
BUT Kenny Wallace appears to be the leading candidate to replace Hut Stricklin in the #23 Dodge at Bill Davis Racing. Mike Brown, team manager at Bill Davis Racing, said an announcement could come in about two weeks. He said published reports that Steve Park will be driving for Davis next season aren't true. "We've talked to Steve about driving for us, but we haven't offered him a contract," Brown said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(8-2-2002)
UPDATE: A spokesman for team owner Bill Davis said Steve Park hasn't been offered a contract for 2002, but Davis wants him if sponsorship comes through. Mike Brown, the team's general manager, said Davis and Park have talked at length about Park replacing Hut Stricklin in the #23 Dodge. But Brown said it would be "premature" to assume the deal has been done.(Daily Press)(8-2-2002)
Park to Davis? UPDATE: Bill Davis confirmed last week that Hut Stricklin won't return to the #23 Dodge next year. (Neither will Hills Brothers Coffee, by the way). On Sunday, the long-time team owner said Steve Park will replace Stricklin in the stable that also includes Ward Burton.(Daily Press), also hearing Tom Hubert will drive the #23 Hills Bros Dodge at Watkins Glen.(7-31-2002)
UPDATE: been told that Hubert will NOT drive the #23 at Watkins Glen, assuming Stricklin will drive the car.(8-1-2002)
UPDATE 2: also hearing that both Park and Kenny Wallace could be coming aboard, making it a three car team and keeping Scott Wimmer in the Busch Series for another year.(8-1-2002)
de Bidart Angry About Wallace’s Plans: Kenny Wallace says that he and sponsor Stacker2 are on their way to Bill Davis Racing and the Winston Cup circuit in 2003, and Innovative Motorsports owner George de Bidart is not happy about it. Stacker2 officials have told de Bidart the company will return, reportedly with a different product, to his team next year for a second Busch Series season. He’s also on the lookout for a veteran driver to replace Wallace next year. Still, the Winston Cup program he’d been planning won’t come to fruition, and when de Bidart and Wallace spoke by telephone July 18, the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based team owner expressed his profound displeasure with the turn of events. Despite their differences, de Bidart vows to keep Wallace in his car through the end of the year because of his commitment to Stacker2 and the effort they’ve put into promoting the driver. Likewise, Wallace not only insists his team won’t fall into a lame-duck funk, but he guarantees a win with de Bidart before the end of the year.(Winston Cup Scene - need subscription to read online)(8-1-2002)
Park and Earnhardt Jr test at VIR UPDATE: Just a day after surviving a horrific cash in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono, both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and teammate Steve Park were back at work today, testing their road-racing cars at VIRginia International Raceway. Despite the accident, and despite being admittedly sore and bruised, both were lapping the 2.225-mile North Course at VIR today in searing heat, as temperatures hovered around the 100F degree mark. Many of the Winston Cup teams have discovered VIR as an ideal place to refine their road-racing set-ups for the races at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, and Watkins Glen, NY. "We can learn a lot about road-course racing at this track," said Earnhardt. "When you don’t have a lot of road-racing experience, like me, every lap on a road course counts for something. We’re testing and learning a lot of new things." He said the proximity of VIR to the team’s home base in Mooresville, N.C., is an important factor. It’s only a two-hour drive from the Dale Earnhardt, Inc., headquarters. Park, whose first-ever Winston Cup win came at Watkins Glen in 2000, was here trying to put things into place for a repeat performance.(VIR PR)(7-29-2002)
UPDATE: Tom Hubert tested the #23 at VIR on Monday (along with Steve Park and Dale Earnhardt Jr.), and said that he would not be driving the car at the Glen. He works as a mechanic for Davis, and has done occasional testing with the team.(8-1-2002)
Hills Bros not expected back on the #23 UPDATE:: during an interview on FSN's Totally NASCAR, #23 (and #22 and #27) team owner, Bill Davis, says he doesn't expect Hill Brothers Coffee back as a sponsor in 2003 and it looks like it was a one-year deal.(7-24-2002)
UPDATE: word is that car owner Bill Davis is signing a $12 million sponsorship deal with Stacker2 and driver Kenny Wallace for the #23 ride. Where the Davis-Wallace deal leaves Hut Stricklin, currently Ward Burton's teammate on the Davis roster, is unclear; Stricklin's sponsor, Sara Lee's Hills Brothers coffee, must tell Davis by Aug. 15 if it wants to ante up for another season. But five of Hill's key racing executives were released in a shakeup in early June, leaving the future of that sponsorship cloudy.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-26-2002)
Kenny Wallace to the #23? UPDATE: Kenny Wallace is expected to drive Bill Davis' #23 Dodge, with Stacker 2 as the primary sponsor, in 2003. Davis says that if Hills Brothers, the current sponsor on the #23, re-signs during the next two weeks for next season, he might field a third team. Hut Stricklin currently drives the #23.(Sporting News)
UPDATE: Wallace was on ESPN2's RPM 2 Night and said he has a deal is basically done and to look for announcement just after the Brickyard 400, but he wouldn't comment on the specifics.(7-22-2002)
Hills Bros leaving the #23? UPDATE 2: Hills Brothers will apparently not be returning as a major sponsor next season, according to team sources who say that car owner Bill Davis is searching for a new sponsor [for the #23].(Winston Salem Journal)(7-10-2002)
UPDATE: Team owner Bill Davis is still working to re-sign Hut Stricklin’s sponsor. Hills Bros Coffee has about 30 days to decide to pick up its option to sponsor Stricklin’s #23 team next season, Davis says.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(7-11-2002)
UPDATE 2: Hut Stricklin and Bill Davis Racing are negotiating with sponsor Hills Brothers Coffee to extend its contract beyond the 2002 Winston Cup season. Garage buzz has Hills Bros. leaving after 2002. Stricklin says otherwise. "We're still in the middle of negotiating with Hills. We'll have to wait and see what the status is on them and see what they do. That'll probably have a lot of bearing on what I do. I want to stay here. This is the first time in many years that I've raced for a team that I really like a lot."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(7-14-2002)
No Changes at the #23 UPDATE 3 Nadeau not in the #00?: Mike Brown, general manager for Bill Davis' race team, denied a report that a shakeup was imminent on his [#23] second team, with driver Hut Stricklin. According to team sources there has been some discussion about putting Jerry Nadeau in that car, perhaps as early as Daytona. Brown denied those reports.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-22-2002)
UPDATE: Michael Waltrip says he will not be fielding a Cup car for driver Jerry Nadeau at Chicagoland because Nadeau has indicated to him he has a ride lined up in the series with an established team for the second half of the season. Nadeau is driving Petty Enterprises' #44 this weekend in a one-race deal and sources said he may have a deal worked out with Bill Davis Racing to move to the #23, currently driven by Hut Stricklin. In two separate interviews Saturday, owner Bill Davis gave varied answers on the subject. He first said, "I don't know where all that came from about the 23 team. Hut's the man in the 23." Then later, Davis said simply, "No comment," to questions about Stricklin's future with the team. Nadeau denied having signed with any team. "As far as my racing career, I'm just looking to get planted somewhere, whether it's the rest of this year or next year and there are opportunities," he said.(ThatsRacin.com). It was reported that Nadeau would drive a #00 Aarons Rent Chevy at Chicago, owned by Waltrip.(6-22-2002)
UPDATE 2: on FSN's NASCAR Today, Nadeau said he was running a car for Michael Waltrip at Chicago.(6-23-2002)
UPDATE 3: There was talk Jerry Nadeau might replace Hut Stricklin in the #23 Dodge, but crew chief Philippe Lopez says he has been assured by owner Bill Davis that Stricklin is solid through the end of the season. Lopez points to the team missing Daytona and the changing tire compounds as reasons for the slow start. Nadeau will drive a Winston Cup car owned by Michael Waltrip in the July 14 race at Chicagoland Speedway. Nadeau says he has fielded calls from several owners but wants a situation in which he believes he will enjoy the team.(Sporting News)(6-24-2002)
Stricklin Tests Bristol: #23-Hut Stricklin tested at Bristol Motor Speedway this week in part to test the track after a pedestrian tunnel was put in underneath turn.(News and Record)(2-27-2002)
Past 2001 News
Blaney ties best: #93-Dave Blaney matched his career-best finish of sixth place Sunday at Homestead. Blaney has finished sixth three times this season and is still looking for that first career top five(11-13-2001)
#93 Crew Chief on the move? UPDATE: hearing current #93 Bill Davis Racing crew chief, Doug Randolph will be moving over to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2002, supposedly as the crew chief of the #01 car (Jimmy Spencer?)(10-21-2001)
UPDATE: Beginning with this weekend's race at Rockingham, Philippe Lopez has joined the #93 Amoco/Siemens Dodge team as Crew Chief for driver Dave Blaney. Lopez, 38, comes to the Bill Davis Racing Team after serving in the same capacity for several NASCAR Winston Cup Series standouts, including three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip, Steve Park and Ward Burton. Lopez and new BDR driver for 2002, Hut Stricklin will again join forces in the 2002 Cup season as Crew Chief and driver of the Hill Brothers Coffee Dodge at BDR. Stricklin will also join Burton and Blaney in a third BDR Dodge Intrepid for the Winston Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in two weeks. In addition to Lopez, Jimmy Penland will take over as Car Chief for the #93 Dodge, replacing Car Chief Tom Hubert who assumed the job on an interim basis in mid-summer. Penland moves to the #93 team from a similar role with Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin, Jr. with the #22 Caterpillar Dodge team at BDR. Doug Randolph, Crew Chief for the #93 team since July, 2000, has left BDR for another position in the sport. Lopez joins the #93 Amoco/Siemens team on a weekend when they return to a track (NCS) where Blaney performed well during in the spring, qualifying 16th and finishing ninth. The team will also feature its green-and-yellow BP car design at Rockingham for the fourth and final time during the 2001 season.(BDR PR)(11-1-2001)
Stricklin to the #93? UPDATE Yep and #23?: It appears [Hut] Stricklin is headed for Bill Davis' #93 Dodge, which is without a sponsor and driver (Blaney) for 2002. You can bet the sponsor [Hills Bros Coffee] weighs heavily in the decision. (Sporting News)(10-24-2001)
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing will field the #93 Dodges for Hut Stricklin in 2002, ending the long period of rumors and speculation concerning Stricklin's move. He joins Ward Burton at Bill Davis Racing, replacing the departing Dave Blaney. Hills Brothers coffee comes along as the sponsor(SpeedVision), no word on Phillipe Lopez as the crew chief(10-26-2001)
AND Stricklin and Hills Brothers have a letter of intent with Bill Davis Racing for 2002. Lopez said he is meeting with Davis about his potential role this week.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-27-2001)
UPDATE 2: rumor has it that Bill Davis Racing will switch from the #93 to #23 for the 2002 season(10-31-2001)
#93 Crew Chief on the move? UPDATE: hearing current #93 Bill Davis Racing crew chief, Doug Randolph will be moving over to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2002, supposedly as the crew chief of the #01 car (Jimmy Spencer?)(10-21-2001)
UPDATE: Doug Randolph, crew chief for the Dave Blaney [#93] team, is moving to Chip Ganassi's program next season.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-29-2001)
#93 Crew Chief on the move? UPDATE: hearing current #93 Bill Davis Racing crew chief, Doug Randolph will be moving over to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2002, supposedly as the crew chief of the #01 car (Jimmy Spencer?)(10-21-2001)
UPDATE: Beginning with this weekend's race at Rockingham, Philippe Lopez has joined the #93 Amoco/Siemens Dodge team as Crew Chief for driver Dave Blaney. Lopez, 38, comes to the Bill Davis Racing Team after serving in the same capacity for several NASCAR Winston Cup Series standouts, including three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip, Steve Park and Ward Burton. Lopez and new BDR driver for 2002, Hut Stricklin will again join forces in the 2002 Cup season as Crew Chief and driver of the Hill Brothers Coffee Dodge at BDR. Stricklin will also join Burton and Blaney in a third BDR Dodge Intrepid for the Winston Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in two weeks. In addition to Lopez, Jimmy Penland will take over as Car Chief for the #93 Dodge, replacing Car Chief Tom Hubert who assumed the job on an interim basis in mid-summer. Penland moves to the #93 team from a similar role with Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin, Jr. with the #22 Caterpillar Dodge team at BDR. Doug Randolph, Crew Chief for the #93 team since July, 2000, has left BDR for another position in the sport. Lopez joins the #93 Amoco/Siemens team on a weekend when they return to a track (NCS) where Blaney performed well during in the spring, qualifying 16th and finishing ninth. The team will also feature its green-and-yellow BP car design at Rockingham for the fourth and final time during the 2001 season.(BDR PR)(11-1-2001)
#93 Close to a deal? #93 car owner Bill Davis said he's close to putting together a driver and sponsor deal for his second Winston Cup team for next season, after Dave Blaney's decision to move to the [#77] Doug Bawel-Ryan Pemberton team, replacing Robert Pressley.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-21-2001)
More Hills Bros: The sluggish U.S. economy has left Sara Lee's Hills Brothers coffee sponsorship as the hottest item in the Winston Cup garage, although it's estimated to be only a $6 million deal, not that much in a sport where top teams spend as much as $15 million a year. The battle for that deal is down to car owners Bill Davis [#93], Andy Petree [#33] and Cal Wells [#96]; the sponsorship comes with a driver, Hut Stricklin. According to team sources, Sara Lee wants to see some serious financial numbers from those owners before making a commitment.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-20-2001)
Bill Davis Racing Keeps Two: Bill Davis Racing is now looking for both a sponsor and a driver for its # 93 Dodges after Tuesday's announcement that Dave Blaney would leave the team at season's end to drive the #77 Fords for Jasper Motorsports in 2002. Bill Armour, a team spokesman for the #93 team, said Wednesday that Davis intends to field a two-car Dodge team next year, filling the seat Blaney is vacating with a new teammate for Ward Burton and his #22 Dodges.(That's Racin')(10-18-2001)
More on Stricklin: With Hills Bros.’ backing, [Hut] Stricklin is considered a serious contender to replace Joe Nemechek in Andy Petree’s #33 Chevy. Petree has been seeking sponsorship for that team almost all season after Oakwood Homes announced it was pulling out after 2001. Stricklin confirmed that Hills Bros. has also talked with Cal Wells about the #96 team that lost McDonald’s as its primary sponsor and ran its last race of the season two weeks ago at Kansas. Stricklin may also be in the mix for the #93 car of Bill Davis and several others.(Anniston Star)(10-17-2001)
Blaney in the #77? Pressley Out UPDATE 3 YEP: Latest silly season rumors have Dave Blaney moving to the #77, but insiders say he could be trying his hand at Indy cars next season if Bill Davis doesn't find a sponsor for the #93 team.(Sporting News)(10-8-2001)
UPDATE: The word around the Winston Cup garage Friday was that Robert Pressley would be out of the #77 Jasper Engines Ford following the 2001 season. Rumor has it Dave Blaney is set to take over the ride(NASCAR.com Buzz) AND Robert Pressley said he most likely would not be back with the Jasper Motorsports team after this season(Roanoke Times)(10-13-2001)
UPDATE 2: Pressley has informed the Jasper Motorsports team that he will not return next season. Crew chief Ryan Pemberton is staying, though, and has signed a multiyear contract. The team also appears to have additional sponsorship for 2002(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-14-2001)
UPDATE 3: ESPN2's RPM 2Night reports that Dave Blaney has been named the driver of the #77 Jasper Engines Ford in 2002. No word on where Pressley will go or who will drive the #93 Bill Davis Racing Dodge if they find a sponsor for 2002. Pressley will drive the #77 for the remainder of the 2001 season(ESPN2's RPM2Night)(10-16-2001)
Park to the #93? here is a new one - There's also a lot of speculation around if and when Steve Park returns to the 1 car at Dale Earnhardt Inc. The Dave Blaney ride doesn't have a sponsor, and I know Tommy Baldwin, Ward Burton's crew chief for Blaney's teammate Ward Burton, would like to have Steve Park come drive for Bill Davis(FSN's Totally NASCAR)(10-10-2001)
Blaney and Team Stays in 2002: Owner Bill Davis said he'll field a team for Dave Blaney no matter what in 2002. Currently, Davis is searching for a sponsor to replace Amoco. "We don't have anything yet, but we're talking to some people and have some things in the works," Davis said Aug. 24. "We're certainly going forward. We're going to race next year."(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read online)(8-30-2001)
Special #93 Scheme at Bristol UPDATE No, now at Richmond: In a special one-race arrangement, Dave Blaney will feature primary sponsorship from Mac Tools as well as a special paint scheme on his #93 Amoco/Siemens Dodge during the Bristol race weekend. The colorful one-race-only paint scheme will also be available for a limited time in die-cast form at traditional NASCAR retail outlets.(Bill Davis Racing Site) see the Paint Schemes Gallery(8-20-2001)
UPDATE: After planning to run a special Mac Tools-themed paint scheme at Bristol, Blaney was forced to a back-up car with the traditional Amoco/Siemens colors when a practice accident damaged the #93 Mac Tools Dodge too severely to be repaired before the race. The team will run the special paint scheme again in two weeks during the Saturday night race at Richmond International Raceway following next week's event at Darlington(Bill Davis Racing)(8-28-2001)
Cingular Sponsorship moving? UPDATE 3 the #33? #93? RCR? At least four teams are vying for a major sponsorship with Bell Atlantic/Cingular Wireless (Actually it is BellSouth not Bell Atlantic which is Verizon), according to NASCAR sources. The company currently sponsors Jason Leffler and car owner Chip Ganassi. Among the car owners expected to be talking with the company are Richard Childress and Bill Davis. Childress and Mike Skinner are assessing their situation, Childress says, but an announcement could still be a month away, according to Childress. Childress has made it official that Jeff Green will drive an AOL-sponsored car for him next season, ending months of debate(Winston Salem Journal)(7-16-2001)
UPDATE: hearing the #33 Andy Petree Chevy driven by Joe Nemechek and currently with sponsorship by Oakwood Homes (who will leave at the end of 2001) will get the Cingular sponsorship in 2001. Cingular currently sponsors the #01 Dodge driven by Jason Leffler(8-8-2001)
UPDATE 2: also hearing Cingular could end up on the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy's that Jimmie Johnson will drive in 2002(8-9-2001)
UPDATE 3: The battle for the Cingular Wireless sponsorship is down to Bill Davis vs. Richard Childress, according to sources close to the situation. That would leave Chip Ganassi and Andy Petree still searching for sponsors for next season(Winston Salem Journal)(8-11-2001)
Gail Davis hurt: Gail Davis, wife of Winston Cup team owner Bill Davis, crashed her motorcycle while driving across Virginia en route to Pocono on Thursday. Davis didn't break any bones or suffer a concussion, and she returned to her High Point, NC, home(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-28-2001)
Amoco to end sponsorship of #93 at end of season UPDATE Siemens to step up?: BP announced Tuesday that it will not renew its sponsorship of the #93 Amoco Ultimate Dodge and driver Dave Blaney for the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. "This partnership has been a good one over the past four years and we wish everyone at Bill Davis Racing every success in the future," said Alan McGown, Manager, Motorsports. McGown said that BP still plans complete support behind the 2001 program, including a three-race schedule in October for a BP-branded car similar to the #93 entry driven by Blaney in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. last month. Amoco joined Bill Davis Racing as primary sponsor of former World of Outlaws champion Blaney for an abbreviated (20 races) rookie NASCAR Busch Series season in 1998. Blaney finished sixth in the Busch Series points in his first full NASCAR season (1999) and collected six pole positions—all in track-record time—in only 59 Busch Series starts. He graduated to the Winston Cup Series last year and finished third in the rookie-of-the-year battle behind Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(Bill Davis Racing)(7-3-2001)
UPDATE: Dave Blaney has lost his sponsor for next season. Amoco announced this week that it will end its four-year relationship with Blaney and Bill Davis Racing at the end of the season. Siemens, which is an associate sponsor of the #93 Dodge, might have a more significant role with the team in 2002.(AJC)(7-6-2001)
Stewart Wins, Blaney 4th: Tony Stewart was the winner of the 100-lap DIRT 358 modified race at Lebanon Valley Speedway Thursday night. I Love NY and CARQUEST Auto Parts presented the evenings event. It was two in a row for Stewart fresh off his victory last Sunday in the Winston Cup race in Sonoma, California. It was the first time Stewart has won in a DIRT-modified style car. An overflow crowd saw Stewart take this historic victory. Dave Blaney was also in competition Thursday night as well. Blaney won his heat and finished the feature a very respectable fourth(Lebanon Valley Speedway Cite)(6-29-2001)
Davis Back at Daytona: #22 and #93 Cup car owner Bill Davis is resting at his Arkansas home as he continues to recover from complications that developed after the removal of a kidney stone. Davis is expected to return to the track for the Daytona race in three weeks(Roanoke Times)(6-18-2001)
#93 and BP UPDATE 2 an image: during a NASCAR.com chat with #93 driver Dave Blaney - Q) any special paint schemes this season? A) Right now, there is a green and yellow BP car in the drawing board. I do not know when or where that will show up(NASCAR.com Chat Transcript)(3-29-2001)
UPDATE: hearing the BP scheme will run in the Coca-Cola 600(5-13-2001)
UPDATE 2: The #93 Amoco Dodge Intrepid will feature a new paint scheme for the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, highlighting the current reimaging of the Amoco and BP gas stations nationwide with a special green-and-yellow design displaying the BP shield on the car's hood. The new look for Dave Blaney and the Amoco Dodge will also be featured in three NASCAR Winston Cup Series races in the fall-the UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte on October 7, the Talladega 500 at Talladega (AL) Superspeedway on October 21 and the Pop Secret 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C. on November 4.(Bill Davis Racing PR), see an image of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery(5-16-2001)
Testing News: #20-Tont Stewart and #93-Dave Blaney completes a two-day Goodyear tire test today at Michigan and #10-Johnny Benson participated in a two-day Goodyear tire test Monday and Tuesday at PoconoRoanoke Times), no speeds reported. Commenst by Benson: The #10 Valvoline Pontiac team feels like it received a high compliment this week when Goodyear asked the team to take part in
Goodyear’s tire test on Monday and Tuesday in Pocono. In addition to gaining track time without having to use one of his seven NASCAR-allotted tests during the season, driver Johnny Benson said taking part in the test, usually limited to the better NASCAR Winston
Cup teams, is a compliment to his crew. Benson said the work done by Goodyear has produced better and safer racing in the 2001 season. “Its an honor for us as well as an opportunity for us to get on the track without costing us a test. As a driver it will help me get a
good balance and a good feel for Pocono as well as help Goodyear out and I think most race fans know how important Goodyear is to all of
us. Goodyear has a good plan as far as what they want to bring to the track, but I think they want to know for sure what they want to do.
They need somebody to test the tire and make sure there aren’t any problems. By that I mean we will run and hopefully show them the type of tire wear and tire temperatures they want to see. It’s a safety thing. They need to make sure there are no problems when every one
gets to Pocono in June. We will make laps for them this week. I think we will gain small bits of knowledge. It’s not a full-blown test where you get to change springs, change shocks and anything else to make your car faster. Goodyear is looking for us to turn consistent fast laps so they can evaluate their tire. We are going to Pocono with a few less crew guys than we normally would at a regular test. This still gives me a good feel as far as the track goes and the tires go. We have to get the car to where it is balanced. So we can work some
there. To get right down to it, if the car is decent we will bring it to Pocono in June. If it isn’t then we will bring another car. This week will give us a good idea of what we want when we race there.”(MBV Motorsports PR)(4-25-2001)
Nadeau, Stewart and Blaney hit the dirt at Lowes UPDATE: Jerry Nadeau plans to drive a new DIRT modified owned and prepared by Hendrick Motorsports employees and veteran DIRT mechanics Charlie Langenstein and Ray “Rizzo” Schepler in the April 7 Eckerd 100 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series event at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The Eckerd 100 is scheduled to be Nadeau’s inaugural race in a big-block DIRT modified and his first dirt-track appearance in nearly a decade. The Eckerd 100 is slated to be the first of three to five races Nadeau runs this season in the #2L R&C Motorsports Ventures DIRT modified. Tony Stewart is slated to drive the #20 GE Sealants & Adhesives-Extreme Silicone Tech/TEO entry owned by long-time DIRT Motorsports supporter Brian Goewey while Dave Blaney, a veteran of the DIRT Modified ranks whose father still campaigns a similar car in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, is entered in a #74 TEO machine also owned by Goewey. The Eckerd 100 will be run in conjunction with the April 5-8 Food Lion AutoFair, one of the nation’s largest car shows and automotive swap meets. More info at the LMS Site(4-5-2001)
UPDATE: 10,846 fans cheered during the inaugural Eckerd 100 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series event Saturday night at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Steve “The Hurricane” Paine of Waterloo, N.Y., and Brett “The Jet” Hearn of Sussex, N.J., shared the victory podium as the New York-based DIRT Motorsports organization brought its unique brand of modified stock car racing to the Carolinas for the first time. Both Paine and Hearn took home $5,000 for their victories. Paine started fifth in the first 50-lap event and took the lead on lap 20 en route to his second straight Super DIRT Series feature victory of the season. Hearn finished second in the first race with Billy Decker third, Alan Johnson fourth and Pat Ward fifth. Nadeau finished 31st in the 1st feature, Stewart finished 14th in the 1st and 13th in the 2nd feature and Blaney finished 35th in the 1st and 23rd in the 2nd feature(LMS Site) and see a story and pictures at Speed Illustrated(4-8-2001)
#93 and BP: during a NASCAR.com chat with #93 driver Dave Blaney - Q) any special paint schemes this season? A) Right now, there is a green and yellow BP car in the drawing board. I do not know when or where that will show up(NASCAR.com Chat Transcript)(3-29-2001)
Blaney to run in the BGN: Dave Blaney, driver of the #93 Amoco/Siemens Dodge Intrepid in NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition, has agreed to join DIRT Modified owner Bryan Goewey in a limited BGN effort for the 2001 season with veteran owner/crew chief Mike Greci directing the program. The agreement marks the second time that Blaney, the 1995 World of Outlaws champion, has driven for
Goewey. The Busch Series deal with Blaney is the second NASCAR effort as an owner for Goewey, a former DIRT
Modified and NASCAR Featherlite Busch North Series driver, who is entering his 15th season as a modified owner with Team Goewey. Goewey ran a limited Busch North Series schedule as an owner/ driver in 1994, with a best-
finish of fourth at Watkins Glen with Crew Chief Greg Zipadelli—now Crew Chief for WC standout Tony Stewart. The team—which will use engines prepared by Bill Davis Racing and Head Busch Engine Builder Brad Thrower—will operate out of the Team Goewey race-shops in Latham, NY where Goewey’s trio of DIRT Modified cars are housed. The BGN Team is starting with a plan to run five races—including both races at Charlotte—and then go from there. In an unusual move, Goewey is offering up visibility to potential sponsors on his Busch cars—which will be Chevrolets—but also on his DIRT Modified entries as well as the #10 World of Outlaws team owned by Blaney
and driver by Dale Blaney, Dave’s brother and the seventh-place finisher in last year’s WoO standings. Team Manager/Crew Chief Mike Greci, most recently served as Team Manager/Crew Chief in the Busch Series for Innovative Motorsports, which whom he won the July, 1999 race at Pikes Peak International Raceway with 1998 Rookie-of-the-Year Andy Santerre(BDR PR). No word on Car #.(1-19-2001)
Past 2000 News
Blaney career best: #93-Dave Blaney finished 8th at Phoenix, his first ever career top 10 and his best career finish, Blaney also was the best finishing ROTY candidate(11-5-2000)
#93 Assoc Sponsor: hearing that #93-Dave Blaney will have a new associate sponsor on his rear trunk
lid for the Pocono race, a one race deal, the sponsor will be Billows Electric Supply, Inc. of New Jersey. Colors
of the company are Green, White/Gray, and black...the logo is a cartoon like bee(7-20-2000)
#93 Changes? UPDATE: hearing the #93 Bill Davis/Amoco team and crew chief Gil Martin have parted ways, and also hearing crewmen Shane Westerberg and Mark Karan have left the team
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing announced Tuesday the team had parted ways with Gil Martin, the crew chief for series rookie Dave Blaney. Doug Randolph has been named the new crew chief for Blaney and his #93 Amoco Pontiacs and will begin his new duties at Pocono this weekend. The 35-year old Randolph joined Bill Davis Racing in February 1999 as car chief for Davis' other entry, the #22 Caterpillar Pontiacs driven by Ward Burton. Martin asked for and was granted his release from BDR(That's Racin')(7-18-2000)
Blaney's brother wins: Dale Blaney, brother of Winston Cup driver #93-Dave Blaney, won his first World of Outlaws race Tuesday night at Farmer City Raceway. Dale drove the DB Motorsports #93 Amoco Maxim, Dave owns the team(TNN)(6-15-2000)
Get Well: Bill Davis' dad Jake is ill but doing better, get well Jake. Davis owns the #22 and #93 Cup team as well as the #20 and #22 BGN teams(5-24-2000)
Blaney to run a few BGN events: Bill Davis Racing today announced a driver change for the #20 AT&T sponsored Busch Series car previously driven by Mike Borkowski. Their 1999 BGN driver and current Winston Cup regular, Dave Blaney will handle the driving chores at Charlotte, May 28, and Dover on June 3. A permanent replacement will be announced prior to the June 10th race in South Boston, VA. Blaney drives the #93 Amoco Pontiac in Cup for Davis(Bill Davis PR)(5-18-2000)
Lowe’s Motor Speedway Testing Notes I: Winston Cup rookie-of-the-year contender Dave Blaney spent time on both dirt and pavement during the day. Before testing his Winston Cup machine on the 1.5-mile tri-oval, the 1995 World of Outlaws sprint car champion gave media members rides around the new four-tenths mile The Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in a unique two-seat sprint car. The two-seat car is owned by the Dave Blaney Outlaw Driving Experience, a school in which fans can experience the thrill of sprint car racing(LMS PR)(5-10-2000)
Bill Davis Notes: Bill Davis Racing hopes to move into their new facility within the next three weeks. The new facility will house both NASCAR Winston Cup operations and the existing facility will become the new NASCAR Busch Series operation(BDR PR)(4-27-2000)
Bill Davis Racing, Dodge Update: A spokesman for the Bill Davis Racing team said Tuesday that "no decision" had been made yet on the team's rumored switch to Dodge for the 2001 racing season. Davis, at Daytona for BGN testing with Mike Borkowski, was unavailable for comment Tuesday. However, team spokesman Bill Armour said in a telephone interview that Davis had talked with officials of Dodge's Motorsports program. But no decision has been made yet(goRacing)(1-25-2000) -- UPDATE: and from a story posted in the Daily Press of VA by Al Pearce, something I missed: "Most of the media - avowed cynics that we are - figured Petty (Richard) blew off the gathering because he didn't want to face the inevitable questions about switching to Dodges for 2001. "It's a done deal," fellow Pontiac team-owner Bill Davis says quietly. "Everybody knows that they're(Petty) going Dodge next year. And we're going to do it, too. They're doing it right, believe me."(Daily News)(1-26-2000)
Davis and Dodge? UPDATE 5: heard from a few sources that Bill Davis Racing(#22 and #93) will switch from Pontiac to Dodge in 2001?(1-11-2000) -- UPDATE: The latest Dodge team buzz has Bill Davis Racing as a candidate. He didn't "dodge" the question. And has had discussions with Dodge(TNN Media Tour Coverage)(1-15-2000) -- UPDATE 3: in what is becoming the second worse kept secret in CUP (just behind Petty going to Dodge rumor), many reports coming in that the Bill Davis Racing team(#22 and #93) will switch for the 2001 season. Supposedly the announcement will come during Speedweeks at Daytona(1-22-2000) -- UPDATE 4: Davis said there has not been an announcement, but his team is considering a move when the manufacturer returns to Winston Cup racing(Times-Dispatch)(1-23-2000) -- UPDATE: Been hearing from many readers that AutoWeek quotes Bill Davis as saying his Winston Cup team (Ward Burton and Dave Blaney) will switch from Pontiac to Dodge in 2001 to run the Intrepid along with Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises (Kyle and Adam Petty, John Andretti). The story also says speculation is focusing on veteran Bill Elliott and Casey Atwood as Evernham drivers(1-25-2000)
Davis and Dodge? UPDATE: heard from a few sources that Bill Davis Racing(#22 and #93) will switch from Pontiac to Dodge in 2001?(1-11-2000) -- UPDATE: The latest Dodge team buzz has Bill Davis Racing as a candidate. He didn't "dodge" the question. And has had discussions with Dodge(TNN Media Tour Coverage)(1-15-2000)
2000 News
#93 News: Gil Martin has signed a three-year contract extension at Bill Davis Racing (BDR) to continue as crew chief for Amoco Ultimate Team 93 and driver Dave Blaney, a contender for the 2000 Raybestos NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie-of-the-Year award. The 39-year old Martin, a former co-owner and crew chief of the now-defunct #81 FilMar Racing Winston Cup and Busch Series teams, came to BDR in August, 1997 to help build a partner program for the #22 Caterpillar-Polaris team and driver Ward Burton at Bill Davis Racing(BDR PR also seen at Racer Mag)(12-20-1999)
Bill Davis Engines: Engine builder Terry Elledge recently signed a three-year contract with Bill Davis Racing. It is the first official contract between the two since Elledge joined Bill Davis Racing at the conclusion of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup season(Catchfence via a PR)(12-15-1999)
Blaney Paint: Dave Blaney, attempting to make his 2nd Winston Cup race of 1999 in the #93 Bill Davis owned Amoco Pontiac, will feature a special paint this week at NHIS/Loudon. Blaney's car will car the colors and logos of "Wild Wild West", the movie featuring Will Smith and Kevin Kline(Amoco PR)(7-8-1999)
NHIS Testing UPDATE 2: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be at NHIS on June 23rd testing for his second Winston Cup race(NE Racing)(6-17-1999) -- UPDATE 1:I hear Ward Burton and Dave Blaney will be testing the Bill Davis Cup cars at Loudon next Tuesday and Wednesday(June 22-23) (6-18-1999) -- UPDATE 2 I hear BGN/BGNN driver Ted Christopher will test his new Winston Cup Car at New Hampshire on Wed, June 23rd(6-23-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Some speeds(approx) - #22-Burton 128.7mph ; #93-Blaney 128.8mph; #8-Earnhardt, Jr 129.2mph; Earnhardt wrecked one car but was able to test the 2nd car(6-24-1999)
#93 News: the #93 Amoco Pontiac will be driven at South Boston by Tom Hubert, a part-time Craftsman Truck Series and Winston Cup driver and current Bill Davis Racing employee. Dave Blaney will be at Michigan attempting to make his first Cup race with the #93 Amoco Pontiac. Should Blaney qualify for the KMART 400 at Michigan this weekend, it will NOT be his first Winston Cup start. In 1992, Blaney earned a spot in the fall Winston Cup race at Rockingham for fellow Ohioan Stan Hover, starting 36th and finishing 31st. Although he failed to qualify for the Busch Series race at Michigan in 1998, Blaney has two ARCA starts (1996-97) at Michigan. For Crew Chief Gil Martin, his first start with Blaney and Amoco Ultimate Team 93 will be his 75th NASCAR Winston Cup start, extending back to his 1993 debut with Jeff Burton at New Hampshire(Bill Davis PR)(6-7-1999)
Interesting Comparison/Stewart-Blaney Press Conference: In 36 Busch Series races (1996-98) prior to his full-time Winston Cup debut at Daytona this February, Tony Stewart posted seven top-ten finishes, earned six top-five and 12 top-ten starting spots (including two pole positions at Rockingham in 1998) and won $364,585. In 34 Busch starts entering Dover, Dave Blaney has registered seven top-ten finishes, eight top-five and 18 top-ten starting positions (including track-record pole efforts at Charlotte, Atlanta and Texas) and has won $390,657. Dave Blaney and Tony Stewart will participate in a press conference at the Adam's Mark in Philadelphia, PA on Thursday, June 3rd at 12noon/et(in part from a Bill Davis Racing PR) No idea what it's about(6-2-1999) -- UPDATE 1: never found out what this was about, possibly just to promote the race in the Philly area(6-5-1999)
Michigan Testing UPDATE 1: Robert Pressley and the #77 Jasper Engines Ford team will test at Michigan next Monday and Tuesday(May 17-18th)(That's Racin')(5-11-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Dave Blaney is also testing the #93 Amoco Pontiac, at Michigan on Monday and Tuesday, heard Blaney ran a lap of 181.360mph, just short of Ward Burtons 181.405 pole speed last year. Blaney plans to make his first Cup start at Michigan in June. Pressley was not at the test as reported but Bobby Hamilton was there(5-18-1999)
Davis 2nd Cup Team: As reported here off and on for the last year or so, Bill Davis Racing will have a 2nd Cup full time team in 2000. The #93 Amoco team with driver Dave Blaney and crew chief Gil Martin will move up from the BGN ranks. The #93 Amoco Ultimate Team 93 and driver Dave Blaney will test its Winston Cup cars at Michigan Speedway next Monday and Tuesday(May 17-18) in preparation for its first WC start at the two-mile oval June 13. Blaney will also enter the Cup events at New Hampshire in July, Indianapolis in August, and Miami and Atlanta in November as the team gears up for a full Winston Cup season in 2000(Bill Davis PR)(5-11-1999)
Blaney to Cup: As reported here for the past few months, Bill Davis also plans to go to two teams in 2000. Dave Blaney is scheduled to follow the same timetable as Tony Stewart and move into a second Davis Pontiac(#93) on the Winston Cup circuit next season. Amoco, Blaney's sponsor on the Busch circuit this season, has not decided if they will follow Blaney to Winston Cup in 2000. Blaney will attempt to qualify for five Winston Cup races in 1999(Inside Motorsports)(4-6-1999)
#93 Cup Schedule UPDATE 1: Plans are for Blaney to run the following five races: Michigan 6/13; Loudon 7/11; Indy 8/7; Homestead 11/14 and Atlanta 11/21(1-4-1999) -- UPDATE 1: In 1999, Dave Blaney will spend five weekends in a Winston Cup car as a teammate of Davis’ other driver, Ward Burton. Blaney will attempt to make the Cup lineup at Michigan in June, at Loudon, NH, in July, at Indianapolis, and in theseason-enders at Homestead, FL, and Atlanta. Blaney’s arrival in Cup will provide Burton with a much-needed teammate. And though it will be some time before he will able to Burton something he doesn’t already know about Cup cars, he’s looking forward to the day he help make Davis’ team one of NASCAR’s elite.(Fayetteville Observer-Times)(2-19-1999)
#93 to Cup: As reported months ago, the #93 Amoco Bill Davis team will run some Cup races in 1999 with Dave Blaney. No idea when or where yet(11-15-98)