#32 Team Past News and Rumors
2005 News

  • Hamilton Jr. released from #32 ride UPDATE: PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced that Bobby Hamilton Jr. will no longer be the driver of the #32 Tide/Downy Chevrolet. “I want to thank Bobby for his efforts over the past year and a half,” said Cal Wells III, owner of PPI Motorsports. In 44 starts for PPIM, Hamilton Jr. has produced three top-15 and 13 top-25 finishes. “I wish Bobby nothing but the best as he pursues his options for next season,” stated Wells. PPI Motorsports, based in Hickory, N.C., fields the #32 Tide/Downy Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Since joining the series in 2000, the team has earned two wins, three pole positions, ten top fives and 26 top tens. The team also owns multiple titles and victories in off-road and open-wheel racing and celebrates its 25th year in racing this season.(PPI Motorsports)(12-22-2005)
    STATEMENT: the official statement from Bobby Hamilton Jr. regarding his release from PPI: "Today [Thurs] PPI notified me that I was terminated. I'm looking forward to talking to teams about the opportunities that are still out there for next year and beyond. I've been a full time driver in Busch or Cup for five years, I've won races, I'm still just 27, and I know I can drive. While I don't agree with PPI's decision, I have only best wishes for Cal and the whole team as they prepare for next season.(Motorsports Management PR)(12-23-2005)

  • Kvapil to PPI? UPDATE 4 Official: Travis Kvapil recently received his release from #77 Penske Racing, but he is not expected to be out of work for long. Kvapil, 29, is the latest candidate for the #32 PPI Motorsports ride. Bobby Hamilton Jr. has not been re-signed.(Sporting News), Ricky Craven has also been rumored to be going back to the #32, but that seems like a slim chance.(12-12-2005)
    UPDATE: been told that Hamilton Jr. is signed thru 2006 with PPI Motorsports and has not been released from his contract.(12-13-2005)
    UPDATE 2: Bobby Hamilton, Jr. will return to the #32 Tide Chevrolet in 2006. He is still under contract to Cal Wells, who can't find an upgrade in talent on the current NEXTEL Cup unemployment line and will most likely stay with the second generation driver.(RacingOne)(12-14-2005)
    UPDATE 3: hearing Kvapil will be named the new driver of the #32 Tide ride, could be as soon as today [Wed].(12-21-2005)
    UPDATE 4: Cal Wells made a move on Thursday that should stop the #32 from spinning out. Wells announced that Travis Kvapil is replacing Bobby Hamilton Jr. in the #32 PPI Motorsports Chevrolet in 2006. Kvapil, 29, was released from the #77 Penske Racing Dodge at the end of last season. Although he finished 33rd in the Nextel Cup standings, that was three positions higher than Hamilton Jr., who failed to qualify at Charlotte and was replaced on the road course races. Regardless, Hamilton had an average finish of 32nd. In Hamilton's defense, his engines were inconsistent at the start of the season. Wells did his best through a lease program with Richard Childress Racing but engine failures led to two DNFs. Secondly, Hamilton lost crew chief Harold Holly midseason. Danny Gill filled in until after the first race of the Chase, when Hamilton gained the ever-so-savvy James Ince. But the relationship never took off, as the driver appeared to be mailing it in towards season's end. The stark comparison must be made between Hamilton and Ricky Craven, Hamilton's predecessor in the #32. Craven ran only 26 races in 2004 and finished 34th -- two positions ahead of Hamilton, who competed in 33 events. Craven finished 27th in 2003 and a PPI career-high 15th in the 2002 standings. Wells simply couldn't afford to let the downward spiral continue. Although Kvapil's rookie season was a struggle, his championship in the Craftsman Truck Series is proof of his ability to win and points race. His demeanor on and off the track has been compared to fellow Wisconsinite Matt Kenseth. Kvapil's desire to succeed combined with Ince's strong work ethic will help overcome the obstacles facing a single car team until Wells can find the funding to expand his operation.(Sporting News)
    AND PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced that 2003 Truck Series Champ Travis Kvapil will be behind the wheel of the #32 Tide/Downy Chevy for the upcoming 2006 Nextel Cup season. “PPI Motorsports is excited to have Travis join the Tide Racing team,” said Cal Wells III, owner of PPI Motorsports. “I believe he will be a strong addition to our organization especially under the tutelage of crew chief James Ince. The two of them, along with the new crew we have assembled, have the ability to reach the goals set forth by this organization. We have experienced some unfortunate setbacks over the last two seasons and I am determined to get PPI Motorsports back in contention for race victories in 2006. I believe Travis can certainly make that happen for us and I am proud to have him on board.” Kvapil, a native of Janesville, Wis., will embark on his second full season in NASCAR’s premiere series after competing last year for Penske-Jasper Racing where he recorded two top-10 and 18 top-25 finishes. He was able to join PPIM when Penske-Jasper Racing released him after a joint decision was made by Penske and sponsor Kodak not to field the #77 car in 2006. “As the saying goes, when one door closes another will open,” said Kvapil. “I feel fortunate that the door to PPI Motorsports has opened to me. I want to thank Cal for giving me the chance to drive one of the most recognizable race cars in NASCAR. Tide has been in the sport for a long time and has experienced a lot of success in the past. I am honored and will do everything I can to become a part of the Tide winning tradition. All of the resources to succeed are in place here at PPI Motorsports so I am excited to get the season started.”(PPI Motorsports)(12-22-2005)

  • Hamilton Jr. released from #32 ride: PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced that Bobby Hamilton Jr. will no longer be the driver of the #32 Tide/Downy Chevrolet. “I want to thank Bobby for his efforts over the past year and a half,” said Cal Wells III, owner of PPI Motorsports. In 44 starts for PPIM, Hamilton Jr. has produced three top-15 and 13 top-25 finishes. “I wish Bobby nothing but the best as he pursues his options for next season,” stated Wells. PPI Motorsports, based in Hickory, N.C., fields the #32 Tide/Downy Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Since joining the series in 2000, the team has earned two wins, three pole positions, ten top fives and 26 top tens. The team also owns multiple titles and victories in off-road and open-wheel racing and celebrates its 25th year in racing this season.(PPI Motorsports)(12-22-2005)

  • Craven back at PPI #32? Already having turned down what he termed "intriguing offers" to fill full-time rides in Busch and Truck, Ricky Craven's plan is essentially to sit on the sidelines and wait for temporary openings to appear in the Nextel Cup circuit next season. The goal is to impress owners in whatever limited opportunities he has, thereby putting himself in position to secure a permanent seat in 2007. There's an outside chance Craven could return to the Nextel Cup circuit with former boss Cal Wells for the coming season. Talks with the PPI Motorsports team continue, though it's getting late in Silly Season and circumstances would need to change for that offer to be acceptable. Craven is interested in signing a one-year deal with a competitive, multi-car operation that will give him a crack at achieving the coveted win that drives his determination to this day: victory at New Hampshire International Speedway. And he's confident that opportunity will come along. "I absolutely believe I'll be racing again, and I expect to race Nextel Cup," Craven said. "I just don't know where, or when, or who it will be with. At this time it doesn't appear it's going to be full-time in 2006, and I'm okay with that."
    Wells and Craven parted ways prior to the finish of 2004, but the driver would not deny that it is Wells with whom he is currently negotiating his Cup return. As the only driver in the past five years to win as part of a single-car team, Craven said after the split he would return only to a multi-car outfit. He intends to honor that statement -and it could be part of a PPI expansion. "The fact is, Cal and I have had discussions," said Craven, who has raced for eight owners in parts of 11 Cup seasons. "Cal is a friend, and although the circumstances in 2004 were uncomfortable for both of us, we'd certainly entertain racing together again. Part of my criteria is that he become a bigger company, because that is key in all of us having success together. He certainly is headed in that direction. He's working hard to build his race team and his company, and I'm not sure that's going to happen, but I wouldn't rule out racing with the Tide team again. We've had discussions, but we're not there. I think it's a stretch to think that could happen right now." It is expected that Bobby Hamilton Jr., who replaced Craven, will be out of the #32 Tide car next season after he finished 36th, but the point is fast approaching when it will be too tough to start a second team in time for the season opener at Daytona in February.(Concord Monitor)(12-7-2005)

  • Craven may start Truck team, looking for Cup ride: Ricky Craven said Monday he doesn't expect to race full time next year. "I'm not going to pursue full-time Busch or Truck Series opportunities and it's late in the game for Nextel Cup," said the 39-year-old Craven, who has run 278 Nextel Cup races in his career. "I'm not saying it won't happen [in Nextel Cup], but I don't expect it this late." He reiterated he doesn't want to drive for a single-car Cup team or a team that doesn't have the resources to be competitive. "I'm not interested in just racing. I don't want to be a field-filler. That's not how I want to race," said Craven. "I've established my criteria for that. I am interested in racing in the Truck Series part time. It's a wonderful series. I may even pursue that with my own team. If I did that, I would still have an opportunity to race Nextel Cup." He indicated he would be interested in a part-time ride for a good, established Nextel Cup team, also. There are rumors circulating that Bobby Hamilton Jr., who replaced Craven in the Tide #32 Nextel Cup Chevy 16 months ago, won't return to drive for PPI Motorsports and team owner Cal Wells III next season. Would Craven return to the team with which he won two Nextel Cup races, the only single-car team to do so over the last five years, and posted 10 top-fives and 24 top-10s in their 3 1/2-year relationship? "I certainly have an interest in helping Cal. We're friends. We'll see. But it needs to be a different situation," said Craven, referring primarily to Wells' ability to land a second team and sponsor.(Bangor Daily News)(11-22-2005)

  • Driver Change at PPI? UPDATE: hearing Bobby Hamilton Jr. will probably not return as the driver of the #32 Tide Chevy for PPI Motorsports in 2006. Dave Blaney has been rumored for the #32 ride as well as the #22 Caterpillar Dodge ride, IF the #77 shuts down, Travis Kvapil could head to either the #22 or #32 teams.(11-17-2005)
    UPDATE: #32 Car owner Cal Wells still isn't revealing his plans for 2006, but he said that tentative plans to do some deal next season with Doug and Robert Yates didn't get off the planning board. There has been considerable speculation about Wells, a longtime Chevy man, and the Yateses, with Fords, doing a team together. But Wells said he'll remain with Chevrolet. "I've heard everything, and things are going on that will be exciting - but I'm not part of that," Wells said. "There was a door that opened and closed a couple of weeks ago. Doug and I are good personal friends, and I would do whatever he might want. I have immense respect for Doug. And we kicked around some ideas, that probably got talked about around the garage. But all of that was incredibly premature." So what will Wells have for 2006? "We're all racing for our jobs, Bobby Hamilton Jr. included," Wells said. "But Bobby is my driver today, and we'll see where it goes."(Winston Salem Journal)(11-22-2005)

  • Hamilton Jr. tests at Gateway: #32 PPI Motorsports and driver Bobby Hamilton Jr., tested the #32 Tide Chevy at Gateway International Raceway on Tuesday, November 8 in preparations for this weekend’s event at PIR.(PPI Motorsports)(11-10-2005)

  • #32 Tests at Kentucky: #32 PPI Motorsports and driver Bobby Hamilton Jr., will be testing at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday, November 2 in preparations for this weekend's event at Texas Motor Speedway. Chassis #67 will be utilized.(PPI Motorsports)(11-2-2005)

  • Driver Change - Hamilton Jr. In, Chaffin Out: on Speed Channel's NASCAR This Morning, it was mentioned that Bobby Hamilton Jr.. who failed to qualify for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday in the #32 Tide Chevy, will take over the #92 Chevy that Chad Chaffin qualified. Chaffin was to start 43rd as will Hamilton Jr.
    AND PPI Motorsports (PPIM) through a partnership with car owner Bob Jenkins will race the #32 Tide/Downy Chevrolet with driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. in today’s Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “Bob and I forged a relationship at Talladega a few weeks ago,” said Wells. “And he was gracious enough to continue the partnership with PPIM at Atlanta. We are looking forward to fielding our #32 Tide/Downy Chevrolet in today’s event as well as accomplishing our goal for the weekend which is a top-25 finish.”(PPI Motorsports)(10-30-2005)

  • Dickerson-Wells split: #32 Tide Car owner Cal Wells had hired Eddie Dickerson, a well-known chassis man, to engineer new cars, but the two split two weeks ago.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-28-2005)

  • What's up with Blaney for 2006: Dave Blaney, who will be replaced by Clint Bowyer in the #07 RCR car in 2006, has spoken with team owner Cal Wells [#32 Tide Chevy] but is waiting to see how Silly Season shakes out before committing to a ride.(Sporting News)(10-17-2005)

  • Driver changes at Talladega: #00 - Bobby Hamilton Jr. replaced Mike Skinner; #34 - Mike Skinner replaced Hermie Sadler..Tide is going on the #00 and Aaron's going to the #34 for the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.(NASCAR Stats Services)(10-1-2005)
    AND the deal was with the #34 Front Row Racing team and #32 owner, Cal Wells, which failed to make the race with driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. So Wells made a deal with Chris Edwards, owner of the #34 Ford that Hermie Sadler qualified for the race. But since the #34 is a Ford this week [usually a Chevy], the Wells made a deal with Jenkins and Mike Skinner, moving Skinner to the #34 Ford and using the #00 car, which is really the #92 [owners points #192 Bob Jenkins the owner] and will run the #32 in the race with Tide as the sponsor. Running the race will NOT get the #32 team owner, Cal Wells, any owners points for the race, driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. will of course get drivers points since he will start the race in the car, but has to start in the rear of the field due to the drivers change. Sadler was supposedly compensated for letting the switch happen as well as the owners of the #34 and #192 [#00]. The #00/92 was an odd deal already, as a deal between Jenkins and #00 [#100] team owner Michael Waltrip to run Skinner and Aaron's along with the #00, similar to the deal between Waltrip and Bill Davis Racing to run the #00 Dodge with Aaron's and Kenny Wallace a few weeks ago.(10-2-2005)

  • New Crew Chief for the #32: PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced today that James Ince, team manager of the #32 Tide/Downy Chevy driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr. in the Nextel Cup Series will take on the additional role of crew chief effective immediately. Danny Gill, who has served as crew chief since July 20, has been released from PPIM to pursue new opportunities. “I was fortunate two weeks ago to have James Ince join my organization,” said Wells III, owner of PPI Motorsports. “We have been trying to do this for a very long time. He is a proven winner and with his vast array of experience, he was my first choice for the team manager position. However, after further review of the Tide team’s on-track performance, I feel it is necessary to have him assume the role of crew chief for the remainder of the season. I am trying to do everything I can to give Bobby all the necessary elements to excel in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and I feel James is the one who can help raise the overall performance level of this race team. Both driver and crew chief are winners so I believe this is a win-win situation for everyone involved. I want to thank Danny Gill for his assistance during our team’s transition period after the departure of Harold Holly, he came to us highly recommended by Bobby Hamilton Sr. and I appreciate everything he has done for PPI Motorsports and the Tide Racing program. I wish him much success in the future.”
    Ince is no stranger to the crew chief ranks in NASCAR racing. A native of Springfield, Missouri, Ince has won in every series he has ever raced. At the helm, he has led NASCAR veterans Johnny Benson, David Green, Kevin Lepage, Ted Musgrave and Rich Bickle to their best all-time finishes. The spotlight was heavily shown on Ince starting in 2000 when he was paired for three seasons with driver Johnny Benson. Together they produced a total of 14 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes in NASCAR’S premier series. Their best result came in November 2002 when Ince guided Benson to his first career Nextel Cup victory at North Carolina Speedway. Ince’s most recent endeavor in the Cup Series was earlier this season when he served as crew chief for driver #66-Hermie Sadler during the first two events.(PPI Motorsports)(9-19-2005)

  • Ince to PPI Racing UPDATE on Hamilton Jr.: former crew chief James Ince is back on the NASCAR Nextel Cup tour. #32 car owner Cal Wells has hired Ince to become team manager for driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. along with Eddie Dickerson, a veteran car builder and shop foreman. How driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. might fit into all this is unclear. Hamilton hasn't said much about his plans for 2006, and has been dodging questions on the issue for the past month.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-11-2005)
    UPDATE: Bobby Hamilton Jr. Saturday denied reports that his Nextel Cup [#32 PPI Racing] team is about to fold. "I know that's been going around but there's nothing to it," Hamilton, a Nashville native and fourth-generation racer, joined Cal Wells' PPI Motorsports team around mid-season last year, replacing Ricky Craven. He signed a three-year contract. Hamilton said of reports that began circulating during last week's race at California and continued in the days leading up to last night's race at Richmond International Raceway. "We've been hiring some new people and making plans and I expect to be back next year." Hamilton posted his best finish (11th) in the season's third race at Las Vegas Speedway. Since then the team has struggled, with an average finish of 30th. The Hickory, N.C.-based team fields only one car, and Wells said that puts it at a disadvantage to multi-car teams in terms of testing and technology. Wells said he would like to give Hamilton a teammate if he can find sponsorship for a second car. Hamilton was a winner in the Busch Series, and Wells continues to express confidence in his ability to compete in NASCAR's top division. Hamilton, while frustrated, likewise said he has faith in the team's potential. "It has won before (with Craven) and if we can get all the pieces to fit together it can win again," he said.(Tennessean)(9-12-2005)

  • Hamilton Sr. to run Indy, maybe more, not retire?: Bobby Hamilton [#04] will try to qualify for the Aug. 7 Brickyard 400, his first race in NASCAR's top tier since he left at the end of the 2003 season. "If I can qualify, I'll be in the race," said Hamilton, who won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship last year and is currently third in the standings. "It's a no-pressure thing and I'm looking forward to it." Hamilton said he is dabbling in Nextel Cup for two reasons. He hopes to transfer some of the chassis technology to his truck racing team, and also help his son, Bobby Jr., get his [#32] car up to speed. Bobby Hamilton Jr. has struggled in his first full Nextel Cup season. "We're working together, helping each other," the senior Hamilton said. "We were at Indy testing last week and I had the quickest lap and Little Bobby the second-quickest. After Indy I may run a few more Cup races on some tracks that we need help on." Hamilton purchased the Nextel Cup car from PPI Racing, the team for which Bobby Jr. drives, and rebuilt it at his racing complex in Mt. Juliet. "It's a good car," he said. "I'm anxious to race it. I've still got a lot of buddies over there and it'll be fun to see them," said Hamilton, who has run five Busch Series races this season for Sadler Racing [#95] in addition to his full-time truck schedule. Hamilton hopes to eventually evolve his truck racing team into a Nextel Cup team, with his son driving for him. Earlier this year Hamilton said he intended to retire from driving at the end of this season in order to oversee his team and develop young drivers on a full-time basis. Since then those plans have become less definite. "I'll do what I think is best for my race team," he said. "It's hard to predict the future."(Tennessean)(7-27-2005)

  • Huffman out of the #12 Truck ride? Hamilton Jr. in? UPDATE: it was reported on Speed Channel's coverage of the Memphis Truck Series race by Ray Dunlap, that Robert Huffman, driver of the #12 Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Toyota in the Truck Series, would be replaced for the final ten races of the 2005 season with a Nextel Cup regular with "a clean uniform" but the driver couldn't be named due to contract issues. Word is that Bobby Hamilton Jr. could be the driver, not sure if that means Hamilton Jr. leaves the #32 PPI Racing job or will run double duty...but Chevy in Cup and Toyota in Trucks, both teams factory backed, seems unlikely.(7-23-2005)
    UPDATE: Hamilton Jr. will run the #12 Toyota for DW in all but one or two races. Hamilton Jr. will do double duty, running the #32 car in all but one race as Ron Fellows will run the #32 car at Watkins Glen, so Hamilton will be free to run the #12 Truck at Nashville on the same weekend.(7-24-2005)

  • Holly leaves #32 team UPDATE 3 sabbatical over, Holly to #44 Busch team: hearing that #32 PPI Motorsports crew chief, Harold Holly has left the Tide team and driver Bobby Hamilton Jr., been told Danny Gill will assume crew chief duties at Chicagoland Speedway.(7-5-2005)
    UPDATE: two Nashville, TN TV stations [NBC affiliate WSMV-TV and CBS affiliate WTVF-TV] reported and interviewed driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. and he confirmed that Harold Holly has left the #32 car as crew chief. It was a mutual decision between Holly and #32 car owner Cal Wells. Holly wants to get back to Busch for less hectic schedule and it was time for a change. The new crew chief will be Danny Gill (Hamilton drove ARCA car with him as crew chief).(7-6-2005)
    UPDATE 2: Contrary to published reports, Harold Holly remains under contract with PPI Motorsports and is currently taking a sabbatical leave for several weeks. Filling in for Holly is Danny Gill.(PPI Motorsports)(7-6-2005)
    AND Call Wells told Claire B. Lang XM Satellite NASCAR Radio this morning that Harold Holly is still working for him but is on a several week sabbatical. "What's Harold's doing is he's on a short sabbatical. He's reviewing our performance challenges. He's reviewing where we're coming up short, what we need to evolve and to change," Wells told CBL. Wells said they've hired Danny Gill to come in and straighten out the shop because the prouduct they have been delivering to the crew chief has not been of the quality that Wells said he's been proud of in the past. Wells further said that Bobby Hamilton Sr. assisted in the hiring of Danny Gill to help square away things in the shop. Gill will cover things for the next couple of weeks as Harold delves into, "where our challenges are." Wells says " Harold's going to come up with some thoughts and ideas and direction that is going to make us better." Wells told CBL that he wanted to clairify that, "Harold Holly is still with PPI, that rumors to the contrary are inaccurate and that Harold is a good friend a confidant a supporter and I am a supporter of him."(XM Satellite NASCAR Radio)(7-6-2005)
    UPDATE 3: Labonte/Haas Racing announced today the appointment of Harold Holly as crew chief of the #44 U.S. Coast Guard Shield of Freedom Chevrolet beginning this weekend at the NASCAR Busch Series event at Pikes Peak International Raceway. See more on my Busch Series site.(7-18-2005)

  • Bobby Sr. tells Bobby Jr. to move on: That's the advice Bobby Hamilton Sr. offered his son, #32-Bobby Hamilton Jr., in regards to Hamilton Jr.'s ride with Cal Wells' #32 team. Ron Fellows, a road racing specialist, will drive for Hamilton Jr. this weekend because the team is outside the top 35 in car owner points and must qualify to make the race. Asked what he's told his son during this season, Hamilton Sr. said: "To find something else to drive," he said. "I mean, there's too many chiefs and not enough Indians there. They've got just enough employees to survive, barely get to a race track and survive a Nextel Cup deal. I think the world of the owner [Wells]. I know the crew chief and driver have a ton of talent together. Hopefully, they can land back on their feet someplace else.''(Roanoke Times)(6-25-2005)

  • Hamilton Jr. could go work for his Dad....if: Bobby Hamilton Jr. has one year left on his contract, but should his status in the #32 Tide ride change, he has a backup plan--race for his father. Bobby Hamilton Racing fields three teams in the Craftsman Truck Series and just opened a new shop. With sponsorship, BHR could start a Cup team. "We haven't figured out what we're doing yet," Hamilton Jr. says. "If Tide leaves--and there's been pretty strong rumors about them leaving--you have to be prepared for what happens. Dad's deal is there. It's always been there, but you hate to throw this deal away based just on rumors."(Sporting News), see my #32 Team News page for those past rumors.(6-13-2005)

  • Tide 2 Go at Pocono: The #32 PPI Motorsports Chevy for Bobby Hamilton Jr.'s paint scheme continues to be Tide to Go. It is promoting Procter and Gamble’s new instant stain remover that helps eliminate fresh food and drink stains. Tide to Go works well on tomato juice, ketchup, BBQ sauce, grape juice and coffee. It is convenient to carry in a briefcase, car, purse and kitchen. It is available in stores now.(PPI Motorsports)(6-10-2005)

  • Fellows in the #32 at Infineon Raceway: PPI Motorsports announced that veteran road course driver Ron Fellows will climb behind the wheel of the #32 Tide/Downy Chevy for the upcoming NASCAR Nextel Cup event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, on June 26. PPIM’s owner, Cal Wells III made the decision based on NASCAR’s current qualifying rules. Bobby Hamilton Jr., remains the driver of the Tide ride. “I want to stress the fact that I have the utmost faith in my driver, Bobby Hamilton Jr.,” said Wells. “Unfortunately, our team has suffered a string of bizarre circumstances that has equated to 37th place in the NASCAR Nextel Cup owner points. I felt, as did Bobby Jr., qualifying would be a major concern at Infineon since we may have to race our way in. Therefore, I believe it is in the best interest of the team to turn to one of the best road course racers in motorsports to help improve our results. Fellows can not only help our owner points but also provide the Tide team with a legitimate shot at winning at the race.”
    “It’s no secret I do not have the experience or the professional road course schooling needed to feel comfortable about qualifying successfully at a road course,” added Hamilton Jr., who has raced only three times in his career at Watkins Glen in the NASCAR Busch Series. “The Tide team is not in a situation to take chances so putting Fellows in the car is a good decision.”
    Fellows, 45, is recognized as one of North America’s best road course drivers. From Mississauga, Ontario, he has a vast array of NASCAR experience after wielding Chevrolets in all three NASCAR series. To his credit, he has five NASCAR victories and has won in every level of competition he’s raced. Currently, he drives full time in the American Le Mans Series for Corvette Racing. His most recent win came last month at Road Atlanta. Fellows and teammate Johnny O'Connell drove the new Corvette C6.R to its first victory as well as tying the ALMS record with 22 career wins.(PPI Motorsports)(5-26-2005)
    Watkins Glen too? from a GM Pres Release, comments by #32 Team Owner, Cal Wells: "And I think we'll bounce back and dig in. And, you know, we've got Ron (Fellows) driving for us at the road courses and I'm sure he'll get it in the show there. So, I think we'll be fine. We'll claw our way back." Sounds like Fellows will drive at Watkins Glen in August also?(GM RP)(5-27-2005)

  • Tide to Go at Charlotte on the #32: #32-Bobby Hamilton Jr. will be sporting a new paint scheme for his sponsor Tide for both the Nextel All-Star Challenge festivities and the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Tide to Go, a new instant stain remover that helps eliminate many fresh food and drink stains on the spot will be featured on the #32 PPI Motorsports Chevy.(PPI Motorsports)(5-21-2005)

  • Tide to Roush? UPDATE: hearing that Tide could be the new sponsor for the #6 Roush Racing Ford in 2006, leaving the #32 PPI Motorsports team [Bobby Hamilton Jr. driver] at the end of the season. Mark Martin currently drives the #6 and is retiring from full-time Nextel Cup racing after 2005 [supposedly going full-time Truck Series racing] and Pfizer/Viagra is in it's fifth year of sponsoring the #6 team. As rumored, Ricky Craven could be reunited with Tide and take the wheel of the #6 Ford in 2006. Craven ran the Tide colors from 2001 thru late 2004 with PPI Motorsports.(5-17-2005)
    UPDATE: been told the Roush part of this is not true, that Tide plans to honor their contract thru 2006.(5-17-2005)

  • Hamilton Jr. has troubles in Nashville UPDATE: #32-Bobby Hamilton Jr. hurried home from Saturday night's Nextel Cup race in Phoenix to compete at Music City Motorplex [see image of Hamilton's car there] yesterday afternoon, but made an early exit with a badly-rumpled car and equally-ruffled feathers. Hamilton and Mark Day crashed while jockeying for second place just 10 laps into the debut of the track's new All American Late Model Challenge Series. The front of Hamilton's car was crushed and he said he had no control of his steering when he came down pit road and smacked into Day's parked car. ''This is why Mark Day is where he's at now,'' said Hamilton, who is in his first full season in NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series. ''Someday when he's sitting around explaining to his kids why he never got anywhere in racing, he can tell them (stuff) like this is why.'' Hamilton had planned to run four of the remaining five Challenge Series races, but after yesterday's incident he said: ''I won't be back. If they can't control their competitors any better than this, I don't want any part of it. I come in here on my day off to race and help the track get a little publicity, and something like this happens.'' Hamilton claimed the incident was a carryover from a highly-publicized rift between Day and former Fairgrounds driver Deborah Renshaw. Renshaw quit racing at the track because of the controversy and now drives in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Bobby Hamilton Sr. ''Day ran off Deborah because he couldn't beat her,'' Hamilton said, ''and now he pulls something like this.'' The senior Hamilton, who was watching the race from track-side, said: ''Day just put him in the wall.'' Day, a veteran racer from Clarksville [TN], was asked to give his version of the incident but declined comment.(in part from the Tennessean)(4-25-2005)
    UPDATE - could face charges? Hamilton, Jr.'s first appearance at the famed Nashville Fairgrounds track (now called Music City Motorplex) in years ended with fist flying and police cars cruising the pits. And the incident could lead to Hamilton, Jr. facing an arrest warrant. The incident that got the fracas started began 10 laps into the All-American Late Model Series Challenge when Hamilton and Mark Day’s cars touched on the back straight, shortly before entering turn three. The incident sent Hamilton’s car into the outside wall, severely damaging the front end. With hampered steering, Hamilton limped his car around the track for more than a lap. His crew later said that he was unable to turn the car into the pits, so he was forced to stay on the track. According to Hamilton, he finally regained enough control to navigate onto pit road, where he made contact with Day's car, which was pitted behind Hamilton's stall. One of Day’s crewmembers, William Scogin, who was checking the left front of Day’s car, was slammed into the pit wall by Day’s car when Hamilton’s car hit it. A brawl immediately ensued, with both crews going after each other. The antics caused a red flag that parked the remaining field on the back straightaway until track officials could gain control of the situation. Scogin, who met with Metro Nashville Police at the track, told MTRN that he was considering swearing out a warrant on Hamilton, Jr. for vehicular assault. Day said that he was surprised by Hamilton’s actions after the incident. Day insisted that the on track incident was a racing accident. Hamilton, who started fourth, was racing Day for second at the time of the crash. Hamilton’s crew later claimed that the damage to Hamilton’s car caused the pit road crash and that Hamilton didn’t intend to hit Day’s car.(Middle Tennessee Racing News)(4-26-2005)
    UPDATE 2: Nextel Cup driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. and local driver Mark Day have each been fined $1,000 and they and their crew chiefs have been suspended from racing at Music City Motorplex after an incident on Sunday. The two were involved in an accident in turn four. Day drove to the pit area. Hamilton's car, which received front-end suspension and steering damage, struck Day's car when entering his assigned pit box directly in front of Day's pit. Crews from each team scuffled but were quickly subdued by officials. Hamilton blamed Day, who would not comment after the race. ''Firm action is required to prevent these types of situations from continuing,'' track president Joe Mattioli said. ''Competitive racing is one thing, but we cannot and will not allow this type of behavior.''(Tennessean)(4-27-2005)

  • Hamilton Jr. tests at Martinsville: #32-Bobby Hamilton's team was the only NEXTEL Cup team testing at Martinsville Tuesday, joining almost a half-dozen NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams. Hamilton won't be back for a second day of testing on Wednesday, but several NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers will be testing, including Ricky Craven, Todd Kluever and Justin Allgaier, all coming back for a second day, and Bill Lester, Shieage Hattori, Johnny Benson, Mike Skinner and Brandon Whitt will join them. Because of the possibility of rain, Darrell Waltrip, David Reutimann and Robert Huffman have moved their Truck Series tests to Thursday, joining David Starr, Bobby Labonte, Regan Smith, Tam Topin, Alex Yontz, Bill Lester, Johnny Benson, Mike Skinner, Todd Bodine, Steve Park and Brendan Gaughan. Tickets for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, April 10, and the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, on Saturday, April 9, may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for both events also may be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-23-2005)

  • Hamilton plans to retire after 2006 season; Cup team for Jr. UPDATE no retire: #4-Bobby Hamilton plans to hang up his own helmet at the end of next season. ''I'll race this year and next year, that's my plan,'' he said. ''I've got some bright young drivers racing for me and it's going to be fun to devote my time to running the team and helping them develop. ''I've got hundreds of trophies from the early days stored at home,'' Hamilton said. ''Eventually I plan to bring them all here and fill an entire wall with the stuff that Little Bobby and I have collected over the years.''
    :'Little Bobby'' is Bobby Hamilton Jr., Hamilton's 27-year-old son who is in his first full season in Nextel Cup [#32 Tide Chevy]. Sometime in the future Hamilton hopes to expand his team into the Nextel Cup Series, with his son doing the driving.(Tennessean)(3-8-2005)
    UPDATE: Contrary to published reports, Sirius Speedway (MRN/Sirius Satellite Radio) is reporting that Bobby Hamilton has no plans to retire following the 2006 season. In fact, Hamilton is currently negotiating a three-year sponsorship deal that would keep him in the truck at least through the end of the 2007 campaign.(3-11-2005)

  • Give Kids the World Schemes returns...at California: Tide Racing returns to the track at California Speedway Feb. 25-27 with a special paint scheme honoring longtime charitable partner Give Kids The World, a nonprofit resort for children with life-threatening illnesses. The #32 Tide/Give Kids The World Chevrolet will feature star decals that have been signed by children who visited Give Kids The World Village during “An Evening with the Stars” - a special event Feb. 14 at which children signed their names on the decals and posed for photographs with a replica star-covered Tide race car and Tide driver Bobby Hamilton, Jr. FOX Sports analyst Jeff Hammond also participated as the event’s emcee. Along with this special car at Fontana, Tide will be represented by a local family who recently visited Give Kids The World Village. The Marks family of Los Angeles visited Give Kids The World in April 2003 at the wish of Zachary, now age seven. Called “Zachie” by his family and friends, Zachary was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis, Type 1 (also referred to as NF1). Many children's manifestations of NF1 are skin tumors, café-au-lait spots and internal tumors. Zachary has two tumors, one in his optic pathway which impairs his vision and another in his brain. He receives treatment every Friday, but is doing extremely well. Zachary has a twin sister, Cassandra (Cassie) and an older brother, Nicholas (Nick), age 14. His parents, Joyce and Ron, own an audio/video company in Los Angeles. The entire family will attend Sunday’s race as honorary members of the Tide Racing/Give Kids The World team. As the star-filled paint scheme shows, the stars at Give Kids The World are the children - and the stars that adorn the #32 Tide/Give Kids The World Chevrolet in Fontana help symbolize the more than 67,000 children the Village has served to date from all 50 states and more than 50 countries worldwide. For more information about Give Kids The World, please visit www.gktw.org.(PPI Motorsports Site)(2-25-2005)

  • a 'cool' Tide look for Daytona: The heat is being turned up on NASCAR NEXTEL Cup teams preparing for the start of the 2005 season as well as the sport’s most prestigious event, The Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20. However, for PPI Motorsports and its driver, Bobby Hamilton Jr., they’re managing to keep cool in their blue #32 Tide ride. “I’ll be driving a totally different looking car,” explained Hamilton, Jr., who will be driving in his first-ever Daytona 500 as well as running his first full season in NASCAR’s premiere division for PPI Motorsports in the #32 Tide-sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo. I’m really excited that Tide is running this special car celebrating the recent launch of Tide Coldwater.”
    “The neon orange Tide car has been an Icon in NASCAR for 18 years, but not at this race,” commented Bev Larkin, spokesperson for Tide. “Tide is changing the paint scheme to a ‘cool blue’ to call attention to Tide Coldwater, the latest addition to the Tide family of detergents. Our expectation is to raise awareness of the benefits of washing in cold water and make millions of NASCAR fans aware of the fact that they could potentially save up to $63 a year* just by using Tide Coldwater and switching the temperature dials on their washing machines to cold.” The paint scheme, created exclusively for Daytona, showcases Procter and Gamble’s (P&G) newest laundry detergent, Tide Coldwater. Tide Coldwater was designed to deep clean in cold water and be fabric-and-color safe. The concept behind the new detergent is to give consumers the opportunity to wash their clothes in cold water saving money and energy. Tide Coldwater debuted in most grocery, mass and club stores nationally last month. When the #32 Tide Coldwater Chevrolet Monte Carlo takes to the race track at The World Center of Speed for Speedweeks, P&G along with the Alliance to Save Energy are asking race fans and consumers to “take the plunge” by accepting the “ColdWater Challenge” at www.coldwaterchallenge.com. The challenge dares consumers to wash in cold water to save up to $63/year. Also by taking the challenge, fans will receive a free product sample and find more money-and-energy saving tips. In addition, Tide Coldwater has donated $100,000 to the National Fuel Funds Network, which assists state and local groups that help low-income families pay their energy bills.(PPI Motorsports Site). See an image of the scheme on my #32 Team Schemes page.(2-11-2005)

  • Wells 2nd Team? Gaughan? another team? Cal Wells has been looking for a sponsorship deal for a second Cup team for the past few years, given the difficulty of being a single-car team on the tour. Now it appears he has finally put together that deal - with Brendan Gaughan. Gaughan drove last season for Dodge's Roger Penske as a rookie, but Gaughan is now without a Cup ride. Gaughan has an 18-race Dodge truck deal in place for this season with the Las Vegas team his father sponsors. Now, according to unconfirmed reports, Wells is ready to announce hiring Gaughan to drive this season as teammate with Bobby Hamilton Jr. But other sources say that while Gaughan is ready to announce a new Nextel Cup ride, it may not be with Chevy's Wells but rather with a car owner working for another manufacturer..(Winston Salem Journal)(1-27-2005)

  • Gaughan and 2nd PPI team? UPDATE 2: hearing former #77 Cup driver [and current #77 Truck Series driver] Brendan Gaughan may be running a 2nd PPI Motorsports Nextel Cup team [#96?], not sure if full-time or limited schedule. PPI Motorsports currently fields the #32 Tide Chevy for Bobby Hamilton Jr.(1-18-2005)
    UPDATE: Brendan Gaughan would neither confirm nor deny a published report that he is close to signing a deal that would have him running the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season in a second PPI Motorsports Chevrolet. PPI, which is owned by Cal Wells, fields the #32 Chevy for Bobby Hamilton Jr. Gaughan only said that he is committed to running 18 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races -- including all that are companion events on Nextel Cup weekends -- in the #77 Orleans Racing Dodge. Steve Park will return to the Las Vegas-based team this season and drive the #62 Dodge in all 25 races. Gaughan reiterated last weekend during truck testing at Daytona International Speedway that he had not ruled out the possibility of also competing in the Nextel Cup Series this season. "I may be looking at a few things (in Nextel Cup)," Gaughan said. "There's talk about a lot of things. I let everybody talk. I listen to all the deals. You never know what might be there. A lot of people have called and expressed some interest (and) I've called a few people and expressed interest. I'm fortunate right now that people look at my last season and think something else had to be wrong besides the driver. My sponsor thinks that and a lot of teams think that. I'm at a point in my life where I can kind of do it like I want and right now I want to come run 18 truck races with my Orleans guys."(Las Vegas Sun)(1-22-2005)
    UPDATE 2: Defending Grand American Rolex Series Daytona Prototype co-champion Max Papis has become a fixture around NASCAR garage areas, and has even tested cars for owner Ray Evernham, among others. Last week at Daytona, Papis said he had established a relationship with owner Cal Wells, and Thursday Wells confirmed he'd love to put a program together for the personable Italian. "I'd love to run him in the two road course races," Wells said of the driver who was named to the 12-man field for the IROC Series on Wednesday. Wells also said that, despite rumors to the contrary, he was not ready to announce any definite plans for the second Nextel Cup team he has been attempting to launch since last season. "When the economy is right, the performance hasn't been there," Wells said. "But I think Bobby (Hamilton Jr.) and Harold (Holly, crew chief) will bring that."(NASCAR.com)(1-23-2005)

    2004 News

  • Super 8 re-ups with PPI: Super 8 Motels has announced the renewal of its associate sponsorship of PPI Motorsports' #32 Chevrolet for Bobby Hamilton Jr. in the Nextel Cup Series. Financial terms of the deal were not announced.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(12-18-2004)

  • Beam leaves PPI? UPDATE: hearing team Manager/crew chief Mike Beam has left the #32 Tide Chevy / PPI Motorsports (Cal Wells' team) and will be the new crew chief for Michael Waltrip's #99 Aaron's Dream machine Busch team.(10-7-2004)
    UPDATE: Cal Wells says Beam wants to work in one of the other more time-friendly series so that he can spend more time at home. Beam is already mulling over offers in both the Busch and Truck Series.(FoxSports/Totally NASCAR)(10-8-2004)

  • Congrats! Chris Williams, gasman and mechanic on the #32 Tide Chevy that Bobby Hamilton Jr. drivers, became a first-time father on Monday, September 20th. Mother, Karie, delivered a baby boy named Cameron Bailey at 6:30 p.m. weighing in at 8 lbs., 3 oz.(PPI Motorsports)(9-24-2004)

  • Craven's Last Start in the #32: Ricky Craven will make his final appearance in the #32 Tide Chevrolet this weekend at his home track, New Hampshire International Speedway. Craven will also take his first turn behind the wheel of a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series truck in the companion race this weekend at NHIS. He will drive the #47 ACXIOM Chevrolet. The #32 Tide Chevrolet will feature a special paint scheme at New Hampshire this weekend for a new product, "Tide with a touch of Downy." Tide with a touch of Downy is a combination of the cleaning technologies of Tide and the softness and freshness technologies of "Downy Through-the-Wash". "Downy Through-the-Wash" is a new formula of Downy that contains detergent-compatible softness technologies to deliver softening even when it's added to the wash cycle. Look for Tide with a touch of Downy in these three scents - Clean Breeze, April Fresh and Soft Ocean Mist - and experience a touch of softness you never imagined from Tide! The #32 team debuted this paint scheme last month at Bristol and will also run this paint scheme at Martinsville this fall [with Bobby Hamilton Jr. driving](PPI Motorsports PR)(9-15-2004)

  • Hamilton Jr. takes over the #32 Tide car starting at California / UPDATE 6: It was reported on Fox Sports Net's Totally NASCAR show that PPI Motorsports is building cars for 2005 #32 Tide Chevy driver, Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Hamilton Jr. may be in one of those PPI Motorsports Chevy's by Martinsville on Oct 24th. No word on if it will be in the #32 Tide Chevy [and Craven out?] or if he will run PPI Motorsports 2nd car, #96, that Johnny Benson tested in May.
    MORE Sources close to Bobby Jr.'s future Cup team, the 32 Tide Chevrolet, say that cars are already being built for Bobby Jr. and that he could be in that car some time this year. Perhaps as early as Martinsville.(FoxSports)(8-26-2004)
    UPDATE: during Speed Channel's NASCAR Live on Friday afternnon, Bob Dilner said he was told Ricky Craven will be in the #32 Tide Chevy for the rest of the 2004 season.
    AND Car owner Cal Wells was noncommittal about reports that Bobby Hamilton Jr. might replace Ricky Craven in his cars before the end of the season, but Wells said he would like to have Hamilton in his car for the last four or five races. "But we're committed to finishing the season the way we are.... but anything can happen," Wells said. That indicates it could be up to Craven what happens next.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-28-2004)
    UPDATE 2: Cal Wells will keep Ricky Craven in the #32 Tide Ford the until season's end, even though his '05 driver, Bobby Hamilton Jr., was recently released from his Busch Series ride. If Craven were to find an opening, Wells says he would not be opposed to plugging Hamilton into the spot early to gain familiarity with the team.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(8-30-2004)
    UPDATE 3: hearing that Ricky Craven is out of the #32 Tide Chevy immediately and Hamilton Jr. will run the car at California and test at Hickory this week to get acquainted.(8-30-2004)
    UPDATE 4: Despite recent pronouncements that such a deal would be unlikely, it now appears NASCAR Busch Series driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. will get an early start in his Nextel Cup ride with PPI Motorsports for next season. Barring last minute disapproval from PPI's sponsor, Procter & Gamble [Tide], Hamilton Jr. should take over the driving duties for the #32 Tide Chevrolets beginning this weekend at California Speedway.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-31-2004)
    UPDATE 5: Bobby Hamilton Jr.'s Nextel Cup career could begin sooner than expected. Fox Sports Net's Sean Pragano has learned that Hamilton has asked to be in California on standby to drive the #32 Tide Chevrolet contingent upon contract negotiations between current driver Ricky Craven, owner Cal Wells and sponsor Procter and Gamble. Hamilton Jr.'s former Busch Series crew chief Harold Holly is expected to take over crew chief duties for Mike Beam on the #32 as soon as Hamilton takes over that ride, again, as early as this weekend.(FoxSports)(9-2-2004)
    UPDATE 6 - Hamilton Jr. In; Craven will run at NHIS: PPI Motorsports announced today that Bobby Hamilton, Jr. will assume driving duties for its #32 entry in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series starting with this weekend's event at California Speedway. Ricky Craven will return to the #32 entry for one more race, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at New Hampshire International Speedway held on September 19, 2004. Owner Cal Wells III said, "We are very grateful Ricky Craven chose to allow us the opportunity to get a head start on the 2005 season and let us put Bobby Hamilton, Jr. behind the wheel of the #32 car. This will give Bobby Jr. and the team a chance to work together for the remaining events to build a foundation for next season. We are also very excited to be taking Ricky back to New Hampshire this fall." Mike Beam will continue to serve as crew chief for the remainder of the 2004 season. Harold Holly, who was hired to serve as crew chief for Hamilton, Jr. in 2005 for the #32 team, will also play a role in Hamilton, Jr.'s transition with PPI Motorsports this season.
    "Harold has already made considerable contributions to next year's program," said Wells. "We had announced previously that Harold and Bobby Jr. would start testing under the PPI Motorsports banner, and Harold has been working on building cars for Bobby Jr. in preparation. We understand Harold has obligations to his current employer and do not want to distract him from his duties. However, Harold will be atop the pit box on race day to acclimate both himself and Bobby Jr. to the organization." Bobby Hamilton, Jr. has 20 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup starts to date, including six in the #09 car during the 2004 season.(PPI Motorsports PR)(9-2-2004)

  • More Downy for Craven at Bristol:The #32 Tide Chevrolet that Ricky Craven drives will debut a new paint scheme at Bristol this weekend for a new product, "Tide with a touch of Downy." Tide with a touch of Downy is a combination of the cleaning technologies of Tide and the softness and freshness technologies of "Downy Through-the-Wash". "Downy Through-the-Wash" is a new formula of Downy that contains detergent-compatible softness technologies to deliver softening even when it's added to the wash cycle. Look for Tide with a touch of Downy in these three scents - Clean Breeze, April Fresh and Soft Ocean Mist - and experience a touch of softness you never imagined from Tide! The No. 32 team will also run this paint scheme at New Hampshire International Speedway and Martinsville this fall.(PPI Motorsports PR)(8-25-2004)

  • Wells to shut down engine dept, signs with RCR: Cal Wells, owner of the #32 Tide Chevy, just signed a 2-year engine contract with Childress to supply all his engines and will shut down his own engine department. "I just couldn't keep up," Wells said.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-23-2004)

  • Craven's 2005 Plans? Not Telling, to the #31?: Ricky Craven, current driver of the #32 Tide Chevy, who announced last month that he was leaving PPI-Motorsports/Tide Chevy team after this season with two years left on his contract, doesn't want to talk about his plans beyond this season. "I've had discussions [with other teams] but I'm still a month away from talking about that," said Craven Friday morning. It is important for me to continue to focus on this program. I'm 100 percent committed to finishing the year out the right way and all the team members know that. I want to finish what I started with Cal [PPI Motorsports owner Cal Wells III]. It's absolutely critical for me to run well in the next couple of months and for the team to finish strong," said Craven. He pointed out that he has raced with "a lot of these people for four years. I've gone to Victory Lane [twice] with them. It's a fabulous group of people. There's concern, speculation and uncertainty from their standpoint [about their futures] and I'm trying to help with all that. We may not be in the middle of a playoff run but there's still a lot to race for." The latest speculation has Craven taking over Robby Gordon's ride in the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Gordon is considering starting his own Nextel Cup team if he and Childress decide to part ways. Childress has a three-car team with #29-Kevin Harvick, Gordon and recent addition #30-Jeff Burton, who left Roush Racing to hook up with Childress. Burton will debut for RCR this weekend at the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Scott Miller, Craven's crew chief last season, has recently been named team manager for Harvick's team. Craven will make his debut in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sept. 18, the Sylvania 200.(Bangor Daily News)(8-21-2004)

  • Hamilton Jr. will not be a rookie: Bobby Hamilton Jr. will not be running for 2005 Raybestos Rookie of the Year as he started 10 races in one season, 2001, a driver cannot start more then seven Cup races in one season and run for the award.(7-29-2004)

  • Hamilton Jr./Holly to PPI? UPDATE 2 - OFFICIAL: The stir in the Winston [um..Nextel] Cup garage today came courtesy of Cal Well II’s PPI Racing team, which announced late last night that they’d be parting company with driver Ricky Craven at the end of the year. Wells’ #32 crew chief Dave Carpentier status with the team, is solid, according to him, “I’ve still got over two years left on my contract and I plan on honoring my commitment to the team.” Wells’ team has been in the news in recent weeks said to be looking at elements of Team Rensi Motorsports, run by brothers Sam and Ed Rensi, along with business partner Gary Weisbaum. Ed, who fields the #25 Ford in the Busch Series, did confirm with TFR that he’s spoken to Wells about his talent and that there will be a change at the end of the year as a result of those talks.
    “Cal Wells approached me before Dover and told me that he wanted to talk to both Harold [Holly] and Bobby [Hamilton Jr.] about going over to PPI,” Rensi told TFR today. “I said – and I take this position with anybody who has ever worked with me, if you’ve got an opportunity to improve yourself God bless you. I’ll do everything I can to help you. Harold has made a tremendous contribution to our team as has Bobby. They’re both very talented young men who are on the upslope in their careers and Nextel Cup is something that everybody dreams of and I’m certainly not going to stand in their way. I wish them the very best. Harold is a very good friend of ours,” Rensi added. “He’s not only an employee but he’s a damn good friend. We’re happy to have him working for us. Both of those young fellows are moving forward. Cal did it the right way. [Wells] came and chatted about it and talked about it. I’ve know Cal since his days with McDonald’s and I said, ‘Hey man, if you’ve got a position for him and you can treat him right and help them further their careers, I’m all in favor of it.’ In fact I’ve said all along if Bobby and Harold can get the right kind of a situation that would make them happy and further their careers, I’d drive them over there. I’m frankly disappointed that they’re not going to stay in the Ford family because Ford has done so much for us but I can’t control that.” Rensi has asked Harold Holly to help the team with the team re-building project. “Harold and I and Sam and Gary have had continuing conversations and we’re going to kind of let Harold direct us to who he thinks our next crew chief ought to be,” Rensi told TFR. “Harold is a good friend of the family. The last two years have been terrific. I love working with the guy and we said, ‘Hey Harold, have you got any ideas about who we ought to hire as crew chief?” While the deal between Hamilton and Well’s in not quite done the paperwork on Holly has been completed, according to team members on Rensi’s operation. TFR asked Rensi about his once talked about plan to move to Cup, and where they stand now. “Money,” answered, in a word. “I’m not going to go Nextel Cup racing unless I have the money to do it the right way. How are you going to compete with DEI and Childress without money? You can’t do it.”(Team Ford Racing Site)(7-24-2004)
    UPDATE: Cal Wells' pending split with Ricky Craven at the end of the season is not unexpected, given the team's slump. Since last year's win at Darlington, things have gone slowly downhill. Now Wells says he could within the week announce Bobby Hamilton Jr., 26, in the car for next year, with Harold Holley as crew chief. Wells also said, again, that he would like to expand to a second team. With only 35 full-time Cup teams, and with 43 spots on the grid available each weekend, it would seem likely that Wells could put something together.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-26-2004)
    UPDATE 2 - OFFICAL: PPI Motorsports announced today it has signed a driver-crew chief team to helm the #32 Tide Chevrolet full-time in 2005: Bobby Hamilton, Jr., and Harold Holly. Hamilton, Jr., currently drives the #25 car in the NASCAR Busch Series. He owns five Busch wins, of which four were earned with Holly as his crew chief, and finished a career-high fourth in the series in 2003, just 43 points behind champion Brian Vickers. Hamilton, Jr., also has 19 Cup starts to his credit, including five to date this year in the #09 Dodge. Holly currently serves as crew chief for Hamilton, Jr., and the #25 Busch Series team. After joining the team, Holly quickly helped propel them to a series-best four wins in 2003 and into championship contention this season. Holly also has championship experience, having earned the 2000 NASCAR Busch Series title with the largest margin in history (616 points) as crew chief to driver Jeff Green. From 1999-2001, Holly and Green earned 13 wins, 13 poles, 56 top-fives and 72 top-10s, finishing no less than second in championship points each year. Overall, Holly has amassed 25 wins in 248 Busch series starts to date. By signing Hamilton, Jr., and Holly in tandem, Wells hopes to capture the same chemistry that has propelled the duo to four wins and championship contention in the NASCAR Busch Series.
    "We are excited about Bobby's potential in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series," Wells said. "He's been a standout performer in the Busch series and has several Cup starts already to his credit, and he's definitely ready for a shot at full-time Cup racing. Harold, with his championship experience and proven ability to lead and motivate a team, is a tremendous asset to our overall organization. We expect the two to be a strong, positive force for our team and in the Cup garage."
    "All I can say is I'm more than ready to go Cup racing," said Hamilton Jr., who has turned down full-time Cup rides in the past to wait for the right time in his career. "I'm excited about this chance to drive full time in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series for PPI Motorsports in the #32 Tide Chevrolet. What makes this even better is the chance to keep working with Harold. He's been a great leader for our Busch team and has inspired all of us to perform at our best and achieve what we set out to do. I'm also grateful to the people at Team Rensi Motorsports for giving me the opportunity to drive for them the past two seasons and wish them all the best."
    "Working with PPI Motorsports represents a great opportunity for me to transition full-time into the Cup series, something I've wanted to do if the right chance came along," said Holly. "The environment is very similar to what I've been accustomed to, and I believe that Bobby and I together can find success with this team. I'm looking forward to getting started." Both Hamilton, Jr. and Holly will begin testing under the PPI Motorsports banner later this month. Current #32 crew chief Mike Beam continues to serve as the team's crew chief this season and will help oversee the transition. PPI Motorsports, based in Hickory, N.C., fields the #32 Tide Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Since joining the series in 2000, the team has earned two wins, three pole positions, ten top fives and 20 top tens. The team also owns multiple titles and victories in off-road and open-wheel racing and will celebrate its 25th year in racing in 2005.(PPI Motorsports)(7-28-2004)

  • Mike Beam resumes Crew Chief role for Tide Team: Cal Wells has reinstated crew chief duties to competition director, Mike Beam for the #32 Tide Racing team. Beam returned to PPI Motorsports as competition director at the end of 2003 after a one-year absence from the team, while Dave Charpentier was hired as crew chief. "Mike Beam has been operating as the crew chief on the Tide team for some time now," said owner, Cal Wells. "Despite the fact that we announced last week that Ricky Craven will be parting ways with PPI Motorsports at the end of the season, I am committed to making sure the team has all the right elements in place to perform to their potential for the rest of the 2004 season. Mike and Ricky have a successful history together which is why I decided to make the change. Chemistry between driver and crew chief is essential at the competition level of NEXTEL Cup racing and I need to make sure I'm providing the best combination to make our Tide team run up front. I need to make sure Ricky has what he needs in making decisions about the car and calling the races." While with PPI Motorsports during the 2001 and 2002 season, Beam and Craven scored one win at Martinsville in the spring of 2001, and three pole positions at Michigan, Rockingham and Darlington.(PPI Motorsports PR), no word on what Dave Charpentier is doing or if he is still with the team, as reported the other day, he is quoted as saying he is signed thru 2006 with PPI.(7-26-2004)

  • Craven to Retire? UPDATE 2 to Roush: Ricky Craven announced last night he will be separating from his team at the end of the 2004 NASCAR season and possibly retiring [see past news on the #32 Team News and Links page]. After a disastrous start to the season, Craven, of Newburgh, Maine, said car owner Cal Wells decided to terminate his contract at the end of the 2004 season. With two years left on his contract, financial terms were settled. "We've had a lot of heated discussions and it's mutual and I agreed to finish this year,'' Craven said. ``This is a performance business. I'm going to work as hard as I can for the rest of the 2004 season.'' Craven then speculated that after the season he may retire from NASCAR.[but doesn't expand of offer anymore](Portland Boston Herald)
    HOWEVER an excerpt from the Press Herald: "I still have a passion to compete," said Craven, the popular driver from the tiny Maine town of Newburgh. "I still hate to lose. I still have the hope and desire to succeed in this business and to compete at this level. I'm interested in exploring the options that might be available to me next year."(in part from the Portland Press Herald)(7-23-2004)
    UPDATE: Q: ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT POTENTIAL RIDES FOR 2005?)
    A - Craven: "Part of the strategy of announcing this weekend and going into the second half of the season is that this is the beginning of the end of our association (with Cal Wells). We still have a lot of racing left. But I absolutely intend on racing next year and for a few more years. But if I'm not, I'll capitalize on the time off to teach my boy to go bird hunting or chase a moose in northern Maine or do something that has been completely opposite of what I've done for 25 years."(GM PR)
    AND Craven could be getting a look-see from Bill Davis for a possible second-team shot.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-25-2004)

    UPDATE 2: Despite Craven’s struggles this season, he has attracted some interest to drive for a new team in 2005. One owner who could be interested is Jack Roush, whose five-car team includes Siemens 300 winner Kurt Busch, defending Nextel Cup points champ Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, Mark Martin and Greg Biffle. “Ricky Craven is on my short list of people that I think can do a nice job in these cars,” said Roush. Roush runs Fords and Craven’s best year came in 2002 when he was driving a Ford for PPI-Motorsports. Craven finished 15th in points with nine top-10 finishes, including three top-fives, and two poles. Craven said, “If I get what I consider an opportunity that I can enjoy and be competitive or productive for 2005, then great. I’ll look forward to that. But I won’t just race part time. I’m not interested in just being here. The bottom line is I want to have a good ride. I definitely would like to race a couple more years,” said the 38-year-old Craven. “I’m still relatively young. When I came back to Cal [in 2001], I ran in the top 10 [at various stages of races] every week. For two and a half years, we were very, very competitive. I felt like I had earned that. I earned that through my years of Busch North and Busch Grand National. and even my frustrations in Winston Cup led me to the win at Martinsville and the win at Darlington. That’s the way I want to end my career.”(Bangor Daily News)(7-26-2004)

  • Craven out of the #32? DENIED [he is in the car at NHIS] UPDATE 5 Official - Parting Ways after 2004: hearing that driver Ricky Craven and the #32 PPI Motorsports team have parted ways. Not sure who will drive the car at New Hampshire, but hearing a future pairing for the team could include driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. and his Busch crew chief, Harold Holly. Johnny Benson could end up in the car a race or two, but is supposedly commited to PPI's 2nd car, the #96 Chevy which supposedly will run 10 races later this season. Seems like odd timing, if true, as one of Craven's best tracks is New Hampshire International Speedway, the next race.(7-13-2004)
    UPDATE: a PPI Motorsports spokesperson says.....NOT TRUE.
    UPDATE 2: Ricky Craven denied a rumor Wednesday that he has been fired from his NASCAR Nextel Cup team. Craven said that he has not lost his ride in the Tide Chevrolet for the PPI Motorsports Team as rumored on the Jayski.com Web site. "There's no truth to it at all. I have no idea where it [the rumor of being fired] came from and how it got started," said Craven, who is spending time with his family in their vacation home on Moosehead Lake in Greenville during a rare off-week in the Nextel Cup schedule. Team owner Cal Wells III could not be reached for comment. Craven is under contract to PPI Motorsports through the 2006 season.(Bangor [Maine] Daily News)(7-15-2004)
    UPDATE 3: Insider Racing News is hearing that that Harold Holly has signed to take over crew chief duties on The Cal Wells owned #32 Team at the end of the 2004 season. Holly is the current crew chief for #25-Bobby Hamilton Jr. in the Busch Series. Hamilton Jr. stated last week that 2005 would be the time for him to move up to the Nextel Cup Series but no word on whether he would follow Holly to the #32 team.(Insider Racing News)(7-21-2004)
    UPDATE 4: hearing there will be some sort of announcement at NHIS that PPI Motorsports and Craven will announce, they will part ways at the end of the 2004 season, hearing Holly is signed for 2005 and negotiations are on for Bobby Hamilton Jr. to drive the car in 2005.(7-22-2004)
    UPDATE 5 - Wells & Craven to part ways after 2004 season: Joint statement released today [Thurs night] by PPI Motorsports team owner, Cal Wells and driver, Ricky Craven: "PPI Motorsports and Ricky Craven remain committed to each other and to getting the #32 team into the top-25 in points this season. Together, PPI Motorsports and Craven have evaluated the team's performance-related challenges and agree that it is in their mutual best interest to part at the end of 2004 and explore opportunities for 2005 and beyond. Both Cal and Ricky want to see the best for each other and remain focused on the second half of this season."(PPI Motorsports PR)(7-23-2004)

  • Craven to test at Kentucky: Kentucky Speedway's weekly calendar shows that Ricky Craven is expected to test PPI Motorsports' #32 Chevrolet on Wednesday. The track says fans are permitted to watch from the Fan Center but cautions that schedules are subject to change.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(7-12-2004)
    UPDATE: been told Craven is NOT testing at Kentucky this week.(7-13-2004)

  • Craven ride in jeopardy? DENIED 2: #32-Ricky Craven could be one of the first drivers to be on the way out of their present rides. Craven has had a miserable campaign, with no top-10 runs and a best finish of 16th. He’s 31st in points driving for Cal Wells’ PPI Motorsports.(Alton Telegraph)(6-13-2004)
    UPDATE: #32-Tide Chevrolet car owner Cal Wells denies a published report driver Ricky Craven’s job is in jeopardy. "I don’t know where it came from" said Wells prior to the start of Sunday’s Pocono 500. Wells added, "Despite the pathetic performance we’ve had so far this year I think we’ve got a reasonable shot at getting a program (second team) for next year. We’ve been looking around a lot, so maybe that’s part of it, I don’t know. It’s a chemistry thing and we haven’t hit it." Craven is in the first of a new three year contract with the Tide team.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show/Sporting News)(6-13-2004)
    UPDATE 2: Wells hasn't ruled out moving crew chief Dave Charpentier to a different position, saying the team "hasn't hit on the chemistry" yet.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(6-14-2004)

  • Tide Racing Proud New Partner of Victory Junction Gang Camp: Tide, the number-one selling laundry detergent in America and sponsor of the #32 Tide/Downy Chevrolet driven by Ricky Craven in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, announced today it has become a proud new partner of Victory Junction Gang Camp, a camp offering weekly sessions for children with life-threatening illnesses beginning this June in Randleman, NC. Tide’s relationship with Victory Junction includes the following elements:
    Official sponsorship of Victory Junction’s laundry hut, freshly painted in Tide orange, yellow and blue and officially named “Tide’s Soap Box Racer”
    Brand-new Whirlpool appliances in the laundry hut, courtesy of Tide
    Annual supplies of Tide laundry detergent and Downy dryer sheets to meet the needs of Victory Junction on a year-round basis Tide NASCAR racing simulator and slot car game for Victory Junction’s recreational facilities.(PPI Motorsports PR)(5-27-2004)

  • Benson to test the #96 PPI Chevy: Johnny Benson is testing the #96 Chevy for PPI on Monday, May 10th and Tuesday, May 11th. PPI is looking to secure sponsorship towards the last third of the season, and if they receive the sponsorship, then Benson would be the driver. They are using this test to acclimate Benson to PPI and working with the team. The hopes are to run the race in the fall at Lowe's Motor Speedway.(5-11-2004)

  • 2nd PPI Team? UPDATE: PPI Motorsports may have a couple cars and a couple crew chiefs in the mix this week when it tests at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, KY. PPI owner Cal Wells III has long craved a second team to run alongside Ricky Craven's #32 Tide Chevrolet. He said the search is picking up steam. "It's a little premature to be talking about a second team," Wells said. "We've been working on some sponsorship opportunities and they're cooking pretty good. We're not quite zeroed in yet on what we're going to do, we're just talking away on it. We're going to take Rick to Kentucky this week (to test)," Wells said. "We're looking at maybe running two cars, the number 32 and 96, to sort through a couple of issues we've got." Former Cup crew chief Joe Garone, who most recently has been a high-ranking official at NASCAR's research and development center in Concord, N.C., will accompany PPI, Garone said at Martinsville. Garone has left NASCAR and is looking to get back into the Nextel Cup garage as a crew chief. Wells said his sponsorship talks might result in a limited program of races later this season. "Our talks have got us close to, not a full deal, but maybe a few races later in the season, in the second half of the year," Wells said. "We're probably looking at something in the last third of the season."(NASCAR.com)(4-22-2004)
    UPDATE: Johnny Benson could become a second driver for Cal Wells, as teammate with Ricky Craven, depending on how sponsorship works out. Wells and Craven haven't had great luck this season and Sunday, Craven's engine broke just seven laps into the race.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-27-2004)

  • Seven Cup Drivers to run Special Chevy Trucks: The Chevrolet Silverado All-Stars, pairing NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers with superstar musical celebrities in the Truck Series. Michael Waltrip will be the first of seven different drivers to pilot the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado in individual races during the 2004 NCTS season. His musical partner, Sheryl Crow, will be featured in the special paint scheme for the first All-Stars race - the Charlotte Tailgate 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 21. Following the program debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway with Michael Waltrip, the following Chevy drivers with their specific musical partners will pilot the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado: Robby Gordon, Bristol (August 25); Tony Stewart, Richmond (September 9); Ricky Craven, New Hampshire (September 18); Bobby Labonte, Martinsville (October 23); Driver To Be Announced, Phoenix (November 5); and Ward Burton, Darlington (November 12). Serving as primary sponsor of the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado is Acxiom, a worldwide data services company. This Silverado entry will be campaigned by Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, with whom Acxiom has been partnered since 1998 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.(GM PR)(3-13-2004)

  • Craven Hosts 7th Annual Snowmobile Charity Ride and raises over quarter of a million for charity: Ricky Craven hosted his 7th Annual Snowmobile Ride for Charity on Saturday, January 31, 2004 in Greenville, Maine. Craven, through the generous support of the riders and businesses involved, raised $253,500 for various charities, the largest amount he has ever raised in one year. Over 575 riders participated in the ride this year (the largest number they have hosted to date), and for a donation of $125, each rider shared in a 60-mile snowmobile ride through the hills of Moosehead Lake, an autograph session with Ricky and owner of PPI Motorsports, Cal Wells, and received breakfast and lunch. Around 500 prizes were given away thanks to the sponsors of the event: Arctic Cat, Tide, VIP Discount Auto, Brake Service and Wal-Mart. In addition, there were special raffle items given away, including a 2003 GMC Truck, an Arctic Cat ATV, and an Arctic Cat snowmobile.
    Five charities received a sum of $48,500 each: The Marrow Foundation, the international leader in the facilitation of unrelated marrow and blood stem cell transplantation; Children's Miracle Network, an International non-profit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 children's hospitals throughout North America; The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine and New Hampshire, a foundation that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses in order to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy; The Travis Roy Foundation, a foundation designed to help with care and research for victims of paralysis, created on behalf of Travis Roy who was paralyzed in his first shift in his first college hockey game; Give Kids the World, a charity that allows children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to stay in a special village and enjoy the many Central Florida theme parks and attractions. Additional donations were made to Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club and to the Greenville school system.
    For his charitable work, Craven was the recipient of the 2003 NASCAR USG Person of the Year award, which recognizes a driver for his off-track efforts. In addition to the award, Craven was given $100,000, all of which he donated to the charity ride ($50,000 of which went to the charity ride and the other $50,000 was split between the five charities before the event, each receiving $10,000 before the charity ride donation). Over the seven-year history of the ride, Craven has been able to donate a total sum of $820,110 to the charities involved.
    “This year’s snowmobile ride was so rewarding,” said Craven. “It gets bigger and better every year, and I am so grateful to everyone that supports this cause, because it takes a lot of people to make it successful. I want to thank everyone from the riders to the corporate sponsors who make this possible, but there are many people behind the scenes that donate their time and hard work to make this event so great. From the committee that works all year long on this, to the workers of the event including the talented trail groomers, I cannot thank each of them enough for their efforts. I want to also recognize my mother, Nancy, who spends all her time making this event a success. I’m very blessed that we have so many people who believe in this cause and I hope we can continue to grow this event year after year because it really does touch so many lives!”(PPI Motorsports PR)(2-4-2004)

    2003 News

  • New #31 Team Members: Scott Miller has returned to Richard Childress Racing as team manager for the #31 car after working with #32-Ricky Craven for a year at PPI Motorsports as the crew chief. Miller will join crew chief Chris Andrews and driver Robby Gordon along with newly named car chief Todd Osborne, who came from Ganassi Racing's #40 car. Andrews inherited the pit crew from RCR's #30 team, which he describes as "awesome."(Yahoo Sports/Sporting News)(12-31-2003)

  • Craven to test at Kentucky CORRECTION: Kentucky Speedway says Ricky Craven is scheduled to test PPI Motorsports' Nextel Cup entry Wednesday and Thursday. While testing is closed, the track says fans can watch from the front of its fan center. The team, which fielded the #32 Tide Pontiac for Craven this season, is scheduled to switch to Chevrolet next year in the wake of General Motors' decision to end its Pontiac NASCAR program.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(12-2-2003)
    CORRECTION: being told the dates for this test are wrong and the #32 will test at Kentucky on Dec 17th and 18th after wind tunnel testing on Dec 10th. Fans can watch from the front of the Turn 3 Fan Center.(12-3-2003)

  • No 2nd Team for PPI: PPI Motorsports team owner Cal Wells III is determined to avoid the collapse that saw the #32 Tide Pontiac driven by Newburgh's [ME] Ricky Craven plummet from seventh to 27th in the Winston Cup points standings over the final 26 races of the 36-race season. It is Craven's worst finish in his three seasons with PPI Motorsports. They were 21st in their first year together and 15th in 2002. Mike Beam, who was the crew chief in 2001 and most of 2002, will return as the competition director for the Tide racing program, and David Charpentier will replace Scott Miller as the crew chief. Craven said having Beam and Charpentier on board are positive developments. Wells said he was "very pleased" to have them on board and indicated there will also be personnel changes in the engine program. The PPI Motorsports team built its own engines for the first time this past season instead of leasing them, but the Tide Pontiac's average qualifying position was a dismal 26th. The team failed to finish 10 races, six more DNFs than it had a year ago. Four were the direct result of engine failure. Wells and Craven praised Miller for the job he did as a crew chief. "He was in a tough position. He was hired at the end of 2002 and he came in during a transition period because two people had left: Mike and [race engineer] Roy McAuley," said Craven. "It was like having a sixth man coming off the bench and having him play a couple of positions. I certainly appreciate Scott." Wells said Miller "didn't have the right chemistry" with Craven. Wells did say there won't be a second team as he and Craven had hoped. So they will again be a single-car team competing against the multi-car teams that dominate the point standings. Wells pointed out that "three months ago, I would have said the chances were nine out of 10 that we'd land another sponsor and a second team." But it didn't work out. "That was pretty disappointing," said Craven, whose two wins over the last three years are tops among single-car teams. Pontiac has pulled out of Winston Cup racing, so the Tide logo will be on a Chevy next season. They also hope to keep the pit crew together.(in part from the Bangor News)(11-27-2003)

  • Beam leaves RCR for Wells UPDATE plus a new crew chief for the #32: Crew Chief Mike Beam has left Richard Childress Racing and the #30 AOL Chevy team to become the team manager for car owner Cal Wells’ operation.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(11-19-2003)
    UPDATE: PPI Motorsports today announced it has hired former Tide Racing crew chief Mike Beam as competition director for its racing programs. Beam is joined by David Charpentier, who will serve as crew chief for the #32 Tide Chevrolet driven by Ricky Craven. Scott Miller, crew chief for the #32 Tide Pontiac in 2003, is exploring options both within and outside of the team's engineering group. Beam, a veteran NASCAR Winston Cup Series crew chief, returns to PPI Motorsports after serving as crew chief for Richard Childress Racing's #30 AOL Chevrolet in 2003. As competition director, Beam will help focus the organization's in-house operations toward increased performance. He will also work with Charpentier and the crew of the #32 Tide Chevrolet to ensure the team's at-track competition needs are met. Beam served as crew chief for PPI Motorsports' #32 Tide Racing program from 2001-2001 and helped lead the team to its first NASCAR Winston Cup Series win (Martinsville, October 2001), three pole positions, and seven top-five finishes.
    Charpentier, former engineering manager for Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), entered the professional motorsports ranks after seven years in the Navy's nuclear power program and consulted for several teams, including Sabco Racing, Rudd Performance Motorsports, Butch Mock Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports. In 1999, Charpentier joined DEI and was instrumental in the team's growth from one to three successful Winston Cup teams.(PPI Motorsports PR)(11-24-2003)

  • Fire Supression in the #32: #32-Ricky Craven is the only driver in the field whose car is equipped with a fire suppression system designed to deploy dry chemical powder following a rear-end collision. A Scottsdale, AZ-based company manufactures the device.(Arizona Republic)(11-2-2003)

  • #250 for Craven: #32-Ricky Craven will make his 250th career Winston Cup start today at Phoenix.(11-2-2003)

  • PPI to the Wind Tunnel: PPI Motorsports [#32 Tide Pontiac] will take two cars to the Aerodyne Wind Tunnel in Mooresville, NC. on Wed., Oct. 22. The two new chassis have bodies that incorporate the rules changes NASCAR has instituted for the 2004 season. Crew Chief Scott Miller, on the Wind Tunnel Test: "We're taking two 'down force' cars to the tunnel. The main reason we're doing that is just that that's the way it shook out in terms of scheduling. This is a baseline test to see the difference in down force the new rules package creates. We expect to see less down force than we presently have, due to the tighter tolerances on the templates and the smaller rear spoilers. We'll use this test as a benchmark to determine which areas we need to improve on."(PPI Motorsports)(10-22-2003)

  • 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)

  • Tide and Craven re-up with PPI Motorsports: Longtime NASCAR Winston Cup Series primary sponsor Tide has extended its sponsorship of the #32 Tide Pontiac fielded by PPI Motorsports through 2006. Tide representatives made the announcement today during a team gathering at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. Downy has also extended its commitment to PPI Motorsports with a renewal of its longtime associate sponsorship of the Tide Racing Program, and 2004 marks the introduction of a new Procter & Gamble brand to the PPI Motorsports stable: Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash. Newly-launched Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash, a revolutionary car care system that gives you a spot free clean and shine with no need to hand dry, is currently being introduced to NASCAR through a five-race NASCAR Busch Series program [with #17/98 Wally Dallenbach]. The brand's blue and green logo will appear on the #32 Tide Pontiac beginning next February at Daytona.(PPI Motorsports PR)
    AND PPI Motorsports announced today it has extended its contract with Ricky Craven to serve as driver of the #32 Tide Pontiac in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series through 2006. Since joining PPI Motorsports in 2001, Craven helped earn the team's two wins to date: a career first for both Craven and PPI Motorsports in Martinsville (October 2001); and this season's dramatic, .244-second-margin victory in March at Darlington Raceway. Currently in his ninth season of NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition, Craven has earned a total of two wins, six pole positions, 17 top fives, and 24 top tens. He also owns Rookie of the Year titles in NASCAR's Winston Cup (1995), Busch (1992), and Busch North (1990) series, along with the 1991 Busch North Series Championship title.
    "I'm very proud to be part of the Tide team, and I'm excited about our future," Craven said. "We've already established some pretty incredible milestones together, and I'm looking forward to achieving even more of our goals as a team in the years to come."(PPI Motorsports PR)(10-11-2003)

  • Sponsor Rumor - Wells 2nd team: Subway [Jared and Subs] to the 2nd Cal Wells/PPI Motorpsorts team?(10-1-2003)

  • Kodak to PPI with Nemechek? UPDATE: Kodak was expected to make an announcement this week about its future in NASCAR, but that has apparently been delayed. The company has just announced a major change in its business, away from film toward digital, and it's unclear how that might play in its marketing plans. Kodak apparently won't be back with [#4 Morgan McClure] Larry McClure next season. Kodak could sponsor Cal Wells' proposed second team, with Joe Nemechek.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-28-2003)
    UPDATE: According to a Cal Wells team member, the rumor of Joe Nemechek driving a second Pontiac for the team sponsored by Kodak, appears to be absolutely false. The unnamed source said that no additional parts, tools or evidence of a second car have been spotted anywhere on the Wells premises.(Insider Racing); seems to be an odd rumor as Wells himself has stated he is close to signing a sponsor for a 2nd team.(9-29-2003)

  • more on Wells 2nd team effort: Cal Wells has been working on a second team, and though the team isn't any closer to announcing its plans, Wells says, "Decision time is imminent." More from Wells: "We have to have the money to do this, but we are really, really close. Our organization is developed to a point where we could really get things done if we have the opportunity with a second team." Wells says he has talked to Joe Nemechek about driving for his team and adds that his objective is to find the "proper teammate" for driver Ricky Craven.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(9-24-2003)

  • #32 Crew Gets $700 From Benny: The seven PPI Motorsports crewmen who go over the wall to service the No. 32 Tide Pontiac received a very special award prior to the start of the Sylvania 300 last weekend. NBC/TNT announcer Benny Parsons presented the crew with a check for $700, or $100 per crewman. When Parsons was at PPI's shops last week to interview team members for an unrelated piece that was to air during the New Hampshire race broadcast, he was shown a replay of one of the Tide crew's pit stops from the recent race at Richmond International Raceway. The videotape showed the Tide crew performing a four-tire pit stop in 12.9 seconds. Parsons has an ongoing "wager" with all NASCAR Winston Cup teams, in which any crew that completes a four-tire stop in under 13 seconds receives $100 per man. What did Parsons say about forking over the cash? "I guess I'll have to keep a closer eye on these guys."(PPI Motorsports PR)(9-18-2003)

  • 2nd Team for Wells in 2004? UPDATE 2: #32-Ricky Craven, whose single-car team has struggled at times in a sport dominated by multi-car operations, may soon get some help. "I believe Cal is well on his way to having a second team, as early as next year," Craven said this week at Darlington, referring to car owner Cal Wells III. Wells fielded two cars in 2001, but dropped back to one after losing a sponsor.(Charleston Post and Courier)(8-24-2003)
    UPDATE: hearing Busch Series driver Scott Riggs [#10 Nesquik/ppc Racing Ford] could end up in the 2nd PPI Motorsports Ride and the team is close to signing a sponsor.
    However being told that the team has brought in at least two other drivers to talk to in the past week who were not Riggs.(9-2-2003)
    UPDATE 2: Cal Wells may again be close to a second Winston Cup team, and if he can put it together, Joe Nemechek has a good shot at the ride.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-15-2003)

  • Did You Know? Entering the weekend, #32-Ricky Craven has completed more laps at New Hampshire International Speedway than any other NASCAR driver, making his way around the Magic Mile 6,673 times throughout his days on the Busch North, Busch and Winston Cup series. He will relinquish his lead temporarily today, when Mike Stefanik (6,609 laps) gains 100 in the Featherlite Modified competition, but Craven will regain his distinction when he climbs into his No. 32 Tide ride for Sunday's Sylvania 300.(Concord Monitor)(9-12-2003)

  • New Tide site: New Look for Tide Racing Website - Procter & Gamble, Tide's parent company, recently relaunched the Tide Racing website, which features a newly revamped design. Fans visiting the site can find information on the Tide Racing team, read about the history of Tide's 16-year involvement in NASCAR, and purchase Tide Racing merchandise. Fans can see the new design of the site by visiting www.tideracing.com.(PPI Motorsports PR)(9-10-2003)

  • All the way from Alaska: Special Guests - If an award were given out to the couple that traveled the farthest to attend this weekend's NASCAR Winston Cup (NWC) event at Richmond International Raceway, Joyce and Bob Gilliam would definitely be in the running. The couple, who are both over 60 years old, are flying in from Anchorage, Alaska, to attend their first NWC race. The Gilliam's are the Grand Prize winners in Super 8 Motels' Race Weekend Getaway Sweepstakes. The couple will serve as Honorary Pit Crew members on Ricky Craven's #32 Tide Pontiac pit crew on Saturday night, and will meet Craven prior to the event. Super 8 Motels, Inc. is an associate sponsor of the #32 PPI Motorsports team.(PPIM PR)(9-4-2003)

  • Craven Tests at Milwaukee: #32-Ricky Craven and the PPI Motorsports (PPIM) team spent Wed., Sept. 3, testing at The Milwaukee Mile track in Wisconsin. The team tested with chassis No. 49, the same car it plans to use in the Sept. 14 NASCAR Winston Cup event at New Hampshire International Speedway. PPIM used the last of its five "official" tests at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this year, so the team is now testing at tracks that do not host Winston Cup events.(PPIM PR)(9-4-2003)

  • Craven's Store Damaged by Fire UPDATE: An early morning fire has gutted Ricky Craven Motorsports North store along Searsport Avenue. The fire was reported to authorities at 6:30am. The store is owned by Ricky Craven, a Newburgh native who races on NASCAR's Winston Cup Circuit. Lowell Keene told VillageSoup that he noticed some black smoke coming from the rear of the building but could not see any flames. More info at the Belfast VillageSoup.(8-31-2003)
    UPDATE: A fire gutted a store owned by Winston Cup driver Ricky Craven on Sunday. The state fire marshal's office is investigating the cause. Waldo County officials learned of the fire around 7 a.m. Sunday when a caller reported smoke inside Ricky Craven Motorsports North. The store was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported. The business, which opened in September 2000, sold all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and racing paraphernalia associated with Craven, a native of nearby Newburgh. Lauri Matheson, Craven's sister and manager of the store, described the fire as a setback that would not put an end to the business. "We are ready to fight and build a new business," she said. "It's life, it does happen. We're not going anywhere." Matheson said in addition to merchandise, trophies and other memorabilia were destroyed. "A lot of it's priceless," said Matheson, adding that a temporary office was being opened. Craven learned of the fire just before the Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C., his sister said. "Then he went out there and raced a great race," Matheson added. Craven, who won at Darlington in March, finished eighth Sunday.(Charlotte Observer/AP)(9-1-2003)

  • Tide Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Give Kids The World Coloring Contest at Darlington Design, Die Cast Raise Awareness and Funds for Non-Profit Village for Children with Life-Threatening Illnesses
    Imagine a place where all your meals are served in a gingerbread house; where a bunny rabbit named Clayton is mayor and tucks you into bed each night; where you could eat ice cream any time you wanted; where wishing wells burp and grandfather clocks snore; where Christmas is celebrated every Thursday, complete with gifts for everyone and a visit from Santa Claus…
    For children with life-threatening illnesses, the Give Kids The World Village is just this place. And a little of that magic is being brought to this year's Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway with a special Tide/Give Kids The World paint scheme on Ricky Craven's #32 Tide Pontiac.
    Fifth Anniversary of Coloring Contest
    Since 1999, Tide and Give Kids The World have invited children who visit the Village to create a paint scheme for one race on the #32 Tide Pontiac. This year's winning design was created by 19-year-old Lisa Healey of Amherst, N.Y., and pays tribute to every contest winner to date, including Vanessa Alvarez (2002, Loudon), Colin Albo (2001, Charlotte), Heather Mason (2000, Phoenix), and Tiffany Rich (1999, Martinsville).
    Lisa visited the Village in 1998 with her brother, Russell, a wish child who battled leukemia. Russell has since passed away, but their time together at the Village served as inspiration for Lisa's contest-winning entry. Lisa and her family are also attending the Southern 500 to watch "her" car compete in Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup Series event.
    Die Cast Fundraiser
    In addition to the special paint scheme, Tide has produced 50,000 1/64th-scale collectible die cast cars featuring Lisa's design. Racing Champions donated the cars to help Tide raise funds for the Village - an effort that has produced more than $1.3 million in the past five years. Cars are available online at Blair.com, and all proceeds go directly to Give Kids The World.
    100% of the proceeds from these cars goes directly to Give Kids The World. Offer valid until December 31, 2003, or as supplies last.
    Give Kids The World
    Give Kids The World is a non-profit resort that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Wish-granting organizations coordinate transportation to Orlando, while Give Kids The World provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, attraction tickets, and meals for a weeklong, fantasy vacation for more than 5,000 families each year. Since its founding in 1986, Give Kids The World has welcomed families from all 50 states and 50 countries. For more information, please visit www.gktw.org.
    Program Partners
    Tide is joined this year by two of its #32 Tide Racing partners in support of Give Kids The World: Blair Corporation (and its website, Blair.com), the nation's premier multi-channel direct marketer providing apparel and home products to the value-conscious consumer; and Super 8 Motels, Inc., the world's largest economy motel chain.

  • Race Fan Reenlists at PPI Motorsports' Shops: Petty Officer First Class Brian Wilkes, a 10-year veteran of the United States Navy, has been a race fan for as long as he can remember. When Wilkes, a resident of Hickory, N.C., learned he could choose the site of his reenlistment ceremony, he immediately thought of a way to incorporate his love of NASCAR into this special day. On Tuesday, Aug. 26, Wilkes stood among family and friends, and a dozen or so #32 Tide Pontiacs, as he recited his oath of enlistment at PPI Motorsports' sho in Hickory. Following the ceremony, PPI driver Ricky Craven posed for photos and signed autographs for the Officer and his guests. Wilkes and his entourage were then given a tour of PPI's facilities.(PPI Motorsports PR)(8-28-2003)

  • Maine Times: Ricky Craven - From Newburgh to Daytona by Steve Craig

  • Craven to be honored in his hometown: Ricky Craven will return to his hometown of Newburgh, ME, Wed., July 30. Craven will be honored with signs that will be placed on the main roads around the town. The signs will read, "Welcome to Newburgh, Maine, hometown of NASCAR driver Ricky Craven." State representative Brian Duprey, who introduced the legislation that secured permission to place the signs, says that Craven means a lot to the local area. Maine State Representative Brian Duprey: "Ricky's a big hometown hero from a small town. He's helped to put Newburgh on the map, and he's never forgotten where he's from. I'm sure this means a lot to him, but it also means a lot to the community. We're proud to call him one of our own." Ricky Craven: "I'm very humbled by this honor. I'm extremely proud of where I'm from. Even though I spend a lot of time in North Carolina, I keep ties to the area through my home on Moosehead Lake, my business and my charity Snowmobile ride. I'm just a kid from a small town who got lucky, so I try everyday to make the people of Maine proud."(PPI Motorsports PR)(7-30-2003)

  • Soap Box Derby UPDATE add Stewart: #32-Ricky Craven and #25-Joe Nemechek will fly to Akron, OH, following the final practice session at Pocono Raceway on Saturday afternoon. The two drivers will attend the 66th-annual All-American Soap Box Championship at Derby Downs in Akron, where they will present trophies to the winners of the event. Craven and Nemechek will also take part in a special match race in adult-sized soap box racers.(PPI Motorsports PR), also for more info, see the All-American Soap Box Derby site.(7-22-2003)
    ADD STEWART: Following Saturday's final practice for the Pennsylvania 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway, Home Depot Chevrolet driver Tony Stewart will fly to Akron, Ohio to participate in festivities surrounding the 66th running of the All-American Soap Box Derby. The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer and title sponsor of the All-American Soap Box Derby, invited Stewart to take a break from his Winston Cup duties to join the 430 youngsters competing for more than $50,000 in scholarship awards. "Soap Box racing is all about the kids," said Stewart, who started racing go-karts at age seven and was a three-time karting champion.. "I've been in their shoes, where you're doing all you can to be your best, and testing your hard work against a bunch of other kids who are doing the same thing.. Being in Akron is the payoff for all of their efforts, and I'm happy to share in the excitement with them."(True Speed Communication PR)(7-23-2003)

  • Craven Remembering a Friend: #32-Ricky Craven will honor the memory of a friend this weekend at New Hampshire International Raceway. The visor of Craven's helmet will carry decals reading "In memory of Allen Brann 1943-2003." Brann, who passed away from a heart attack in January, was the track photographer for many years at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine, and was the vice-president and co-founder of the Maine Vintage Race Car Association. Ricky Craven: "Allen was a great guy. He was one of the few individuals with such a wonderful loyalty to the sport of auto racing. I remember him well from the first days of my racing career and have always admired and appreciated him. This is just a small way of remembering him and his contributions to the sport."(PPI Motorsports PR)(7-17-2003)

  • Andy Houston back to PPI: Driver Andy Houston is exploring new racing options. Houston began the 2003 season as the driver of the #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports truck in the Truck Series. He posted the team's best-ever finish in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, bringing the truck home in the fifth position. Houston and Ballew decided to part ways recently due to the lack of sponsorship for the team. "Since I can't be in a good quality ride right now, I want to stay on top of things with the latest technology," explained Houston. "I want to stay sharp in the driver’s seat so I am prepared when a good ride opens up." While Houston is currently assisting PPI Motorsports in their testing efforts, he continues to look for a successful team to drive for. "I love being back with Cal Wells and the PPI crew, however, I want everyone to know that I am available if a ride opens up. I have agreed to help Cal and Ricky [Craven, driver of the #32 Tide Ford] until I can find a more permanent position within the racing community." Houston made his Cup debut with Wells in 2001, running 17 races in the #96 McDonald's Ford before McDonald's reduced their primary sponsor efforts.(globalPERFORMANCE Company PR)(6-8-2003)

  • Craven is the First Quarter NASCAR USG Person of the Year: Despite temperatures in the single digits back on January 25, well over 500 winter weather enthusiasts joined NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Ricky Craven in his home state of Maine to participate in the sixth annual Ricky Craven Charity Snowmobile Ride. The event totaled nearly $200,000 in contributions that were targeted to numerous charities, the most money raised in the history of the ride. For his efforts in staging the event and generating significant charitable funds, Craven has been named the 2003 First Quarter NASCAR USG Person of the Year. USG, the Official Building Products Supplier of NASCAR, is in its first year as sponsor of the NASCAR USG Person of the Year program. The award is designed to honor drivers, not only for their accomplishments on the track, but for their community service contributions and charitable efforts. For the purpose of determining the NASCAR USG Person of the Year Award winner, the NASCAR Winston Cup season has been divided into four quarters in which drivers are nominated for their off-track efforts. A select group of panelists will select one of the four quarterly finalists as the NASCAR USG Person of the Year. This award will be presented the week of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Awards Ceremony in New York City, along with a prize of $100,000. The prize will be divided evenly between the driver and the charity of his/her choice. In addition to the NASCAR USG Person of the Year, USG also sponsors the Driver of the Race Award, which goes to the eligible driver who wins each of the 36 NASCAR Winston Cup championship events. Each USG Driver of the Race Award winner receives $2,500 with an additional $2,500 going to the charity of his/her choice.(NASCAR PR), this used to be the True Value Person of the Year.(5-2-2003)

  • Wrong tires? Ricky Craven's crew apparently got the left-side tires on the right and the right sides on the left on the last stop.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-14-2003)

  • So What Happened to Craven? #32-Ricky Craven will start 38th here on Cal Wells III's owner provisional points after posting no speed during qualifying. Craven took the #32 Tide Pontiac Grand Prix out after #30-Jeff Green's run. But Craven backed off, claiming there was oil on the racetrack. In his post-qualifying comments, Green admitted his #30 AOL Chevy was carrying a little too much oil in its tank, and it affected his second lap. "I guess we blew some oil out and [it] got on our right rear tire up off [Turn] 4, going to the white flag," Green said. "I smelled the smoke, so I knew I wasn't going to be able to go another lap." NASCAR officials, however, said that Craven officially had taken the green flag and would not be allowed to make another attempt.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(3-29-2003)

  • WOW! now that was a great race: #32-Ricky Craven won the The Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 is on at Darlington Raceway by a few inches [2/1000th's of a second] with him and #97-Kurt Busch beating and banging the last lap, both slapping the wall a few times. Busch had no power steering the last 10 laps. It is Craven's 2nd career Winston Cup win and he is the 40th driver to ever win a Cup race at Darlington [thanks Mike Joy]. It is the first career win for #32 Crew Chief Scott Miller and the first win by a single car team since Craven won in 2001. Crave last won at Martinsville in Oct 2001, 46 races ago. Busch has 3 top fives this year, all 2nds. #77-Dave Blaney was 3rd, his first ever top five finish in 116 races [the best for Jasper Racing since Robert Pressley finished 2nd at Chciago in 2001]. Only 10 drivers finished on the lead lap. After a wild start, only 4 cars ended up in the garage. Kind of funny, the two best finishes this year so far are at the tracks rumored to lose their spring race dates [Rockingham and Darlington]. #17-Matt Kenseth keeps the points lead at 760, with #20-Tony Stewart at 703. If five races so far this season, there are five different pole winners and five different race winners.
    See my Darlington Race Info Page for my race rundownm cautions and notes.
    Re-Air: the race will be re-aired on Speed Channel, Wed, Mar 19th, 8:00pm/et (enhanced) and Thurs, Mar 20th, 1:00am/et and at 3:00pm/et.
    Result Links at: Jayski's Darlington Race Results
    ThatsRacin.com, NASCAR.com or Motorsports One.(3-16-2003)

  • Craven could be honored in hometown: A bill before the transportation committee would allow the state to put signs up in Newburgh, Maine, honoring the town as the home of the NASCAR driver. Lawmakers on the transportation committee are being asked to authorize roadside signs honoring Ricky Craven in his hometown of Newburgh. Craven was Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 1995, and since then has staged a couple of comebacks. Craven finished fourth in the Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway on Sunday.(wlbz2.com)(2-26-2003)

  • Craven's ride most successful yet: The 6th annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity raised a stunning $185,122 for the Children's Miracle Network, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the National Marrow Donor Program, the Travis Roy Foundation and Give Kids the World. After checks totaling nearly $35,000 each were passed out to the charities, Craven also donated $1,000 to the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club and $10,000 to the Greenville [ME] school system.(Central Maine Daily Sentinel)(1-27-2003)

    2002 News

  • Audible Alert tested by Craven: After the final Cup race in November at Homestead, #32 PPI Motorsports conducted a private test of the Audible Alert driver notification system. Driver Ricky Craven voiced his support for the Audible Alert system following testing, stating "The product has lots of potential. The idea of having a closed system to alert each of the 43 drivers at the same time is a great idea. Hopefully this is a product that will make Winston Cup racing safer for all of us drivers."
    "Ricky (Craven) thought it had potential, and everyone that Audible Alert has come into contact with has liked it," said Jeff Huber, General Manager of PPI Motorsports. "There would probably be a couple of drivers alive today if this device had been accepted a couple of years ago. I sincerely believe that NASCAR is taking a good look at it." There is great promise for the Audible Alert system, with other top touring series critically evaluating the potential use of the driver notification system for 2003, including ASA and ARCA.(Racefan)
    What is the Audible Alert System? it is the first ever sound-based track warning system. A short audible alert tone is used to notify every driver of changing track conditions and associated flags at exactly same time. This will reduce the dangerous multiple car accidents that occur when one driver reacts to a caution while the car behind is still racing at full speed. Re-starts are improved drastically by using the green alert tone to notify every driver simultaneously when the track goes green.(Invader Technologies site)(12-19-2002)

  • New #32 Crew Chief: PPI Motorsports has hired Scott Miller as the crew chief of the #32 Tide Pontiac driven by Ricky Craven. Miller, a past employee of PPI, has a long history of involvement with NASCAR Winston Cup racing as well as other forms of motorsports. Beginning his racing career as a motocross rider in AMA, Scott progressed to racing Formula Vees and then into NASCAR's Winston West division where he won a number of poles and was a race winner. After moving from behind the wheel in 1985, Scott worked in open wheel racing and eventually moved into Winston Cup in 1995. In 1997, Scott joined Richard Childress Racing as a chassis/shock specialist. Crewing with the legendary Dale Earnhardt #3 Goodwrench team, Scott worked with the team for over 3 years that included a number of victories. In 2000, Scott worked with PPI Motorsports on the McDonald's team before returning to RCR in 2001.(PPI Motorsports PR)(12-11-2002)

  • Wells' new crew chief to leave? UPDATE 2: Widespread garage reports tell Ford Racing that Cal Wells’ choice for crew chief of the #32 is ready to leave the team. Within the past two weeks that Wells indicated that he was going to swap current crew chief Mike Beam with team engineer Roy McCauley. That plan appears to have taken on a shaky path now that McCauley is in play for another job in the garage.(Ford Racing)(11-17-2002)
    UPDATE: Cal Wells is trying to shake up his race team, which went winless this season, despite several strong runs by Ricky Craven. And Wells' crewmen are wondering what Wells might do. Wells has already decided to move Mike Beam, his crew chief the past few years, to a new position and promote chief engineer Roy McCauley to crew chief. But Beam is trying to move on to another team, and McCauley is considering his options, also. Beam says he would be content "for things just to stay the same, but that's not what Cal wants." McCauley would say only that he doesn't have any offers on the table.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-18-2002)
    UPDATE 2: Roy McCauley and PPI Motorsports have parted. McCauley was the team's lead engineer before stepping in for Mike Beam as crew chief for Ricky Craven toward the end of last season. Beam joined Richard Childress Racing and will be crew chief for Jeff Green on the #30 AOL Chevy.(Sporting News)(12-9-2002)

  • Beam to ppc Racing #10? UPDATE nope - Beam to RCR: former #32 PPI Motorsports Cup crew chief, is expected to announce a move to the ppc Racing [BGN] team of Scott Riggs [#10] in the upcoming weeks.(Winston Cup Scene need subscription and Acrobat to read online)(11-29-2002)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing made some changes to its race teams Monday, announcing veteran Mike Beam as driver Jeff Green's new crew chief for the 2003 season. Beam served as crew chief for PPI Motorsports and driver Ricky Craven most recently. Beam replaces Todd Berrier, who will oversee RCR's research and development program. Beam's career as a crew chief began in 1981 with Kyle Petty. Since then, he's worked with many notable drivers, including Richard Petty, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Sterling Marlin, Elliott Sadler, and for the past two seasons, with Craven. Beam has three victories (two with Elliott and one with Craven), 16 poles, 55 top-five and 153 top-10 finishes. He also has six top-10 finishes in the season point standings.(ThatsRacin.com)(12-2-2002)

  • Childress still looking for #30 Crew Chief, Beam?: Car owner Richard Childress is still working on finding a new crew chief for the #30 AOL team and driver Jeff Green. Sources have told PRN's "Garagepass" Ricky Craven's crew chief Mike Beam might move over from the Tide team to take that job. Beam was supposed to be stepping down from the #32 crew chief and be more of a manager for the team.(11-26-2002)

  • Wells' new crew chief to leave? UPDATE Beam to leave? Widespread garage reports tell Ford Racing that Cal Wells’ choice for crew chief of the #32 is ready to leave the team. Within the past two weeks that Wells indicated that he was going to swap current crew chief Mike Beam with team engineer Roy McCauley. That plan appears to have taken on a shaky path now that McCauley is in play for another job in the garage.(Ford Racing)(11-17-2002)
    UPDATE: Cal Wells is trying to shake up his race team, which went winless this season, despite several strong runs by Ricky Craven. And Wells' crewmen are wondering what Wells might do. Wells has already decided to move Mike Beam, his crew chief the past few years, to a new position and promote chief engineer Roy McCauley to crew chief. But Beam is trying to move on to another team, and McCauley is considering his options, also. Beam says he would be content "for things just to stay the same, but that's not what Cal wants." McCauley would say only that he doesn't have any offers on the table.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-18-2002)

  • Update on Beam: Mike Beam will be the crew chief of Cal Wells III’s #32-Ford through the end of this year. After the season Beam will step aside and turn over the lead wrench duties to Team Engineer Roy McCauley. Beam is looking for something a little easier on the travel schedule with Wells’ operation. The reports of Beam being a spotter for the team were twisted somewhat, in that Beam spotted for driver Ricky Craven last week, but it was because the team’s regular spotter couldn’t make the trip to Atlanta. Considering the speed associated with the track Beam did the job rather than risk Craven’s safety on a beginner in the spotters stand.(Ford Racing)(11-2-2002)

  • Beam Fined: NASCAR officials announced today that Mike Beam, crew chief of the #32 Ford in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, has been fined $500 for a rule violation last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Beam was penalized under Section 12-4-Q in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book ("Any determination by NASCAR officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules.") for use of unapproved jacking bolts.(NASCAR PR)(10-30-2002)

  • New #32 Crew Chief UPDATE: during an interview with Ricky Craven by NBC's Matt Yocum, it was mentioned that Engineer Roy McCauley would become the crew chief for the team in 2003. Mike Beam will be the spotter and is already doing so.(10-27-2002)
    UPDATE: Ricky Craven said Sunday that crew chief Mike Beam will be his spotter next year and that engineer Roy McCauley will be the team's crew chief.(Roanoke Times)(10-28-2002)
    UPDATE 2: Ricky Craven has a new crew chief, with car owner Cal Wells - an engineer-oriented man - promoting chief engineer Roy McCauley to the job and moving current crew chief Mike Beam to another position.(Winston Cup Journal)(10-29-2002)

  • PPI Tests 2003 Pontiac: PPI Motorsports, which will run Pontiacs next season, built a downforce and superspeedway Grand Prix and tested both at the wind tunnel. Driver Ricky Craven ran 10 laps in the downforce car last week at Homestead and was scheduled to test the other car at Talladega. Owner Cal Wells expects the team's first in-house engine to be completed by December. Richard Childress Racing will build the team's restrictor-plate engines.(Sporting News)(10-28-2002)

  • PPI signs plate engine deal with Childress: #32 team owner Cal Wells III said the in-house engine program he had announced several weeks ago for his PPI Motorsports team was still coming together well, he did have one piece of the puzzle in place. "We're real pleased to have been able to do an agreement with Richard Childress for the restrictor plate engines for next year, starting with the Daytona 500," Wells said. "We're going to be able to focus on our higher-powered stuff -- all our open motors -- without having to worry about the science of restrictor plate racing next year." PPI will have plenty on its plate, considering they will switch from Fords to Pontiacs next season for driver Ricky Craven. "We'll look at doing our own restrictor plate engines in the fall of '03 looking to '04. We've got some personnel lined up and we're actually going to start at Rockingham," Wells said. "We're lining it all up (a chief engine builder), but we're not there (ready to announce it) yet." While he said Robert Yates Racing's engine department would not build GM engines next season, he did not discount the possibility that his program might be similar to the one employed by Petty Enterprises, which this season employed former Yates engine builder Mike Ege to do its Dodge engines.(NASCAR.com)(9-30-2002)

  • #32 gets new assoc sponsor for 2003: - Blair Corporation, a national direct marketer and cataloger, has signed a multi-year agreement to sponsor the #32 Tide entry of PPI Motorsports and driver Ricky Craven. Blair Corporation will provide the PPI Motorsports team with team clothing and apparel from its Custom Wear line beginning in 2003. In addition, the company's Blair.com website logo will appear on the #32 Tide Pontiac beginning with the 2003 Daytona 500.(PPI Motorsports PR)(9-24-2002)

  • Yates to build Chevy/GM Engines? Robert Yates' long-term goal may be to ease out of the car-owner business and concentrate on organizing a major engine-building operation, similar to Cosworth, according to men close to him. Already Yates, a Ford man for more than 15 years, has men building Dodge engines, and he will have men building Chevrolet engines next year for Pontiac's Cal Wells. One question is whether Yates would turn his Winston Cup teams over to son Doug Yates, who is an integral part of the family's engine building division.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-23-2002)
    UPDATE: Doug Yates says 10 of his former engine builders are working with Cal Wells' new in-house program at PPI Motorsports. Wells currently leases engines from Yates, but the team will build its own when it switches from Ford to Pontiac next season.(Sporting News)(9-24-2002)

  • Engine Stuff: Larry Lackey, the Robert Yates' motor room specialist who was involved in last week's garage fight with Ricky Rudd, is expected to move to Kyle Petty's Dodge team, according to sources. And Cal Wells' new GM engine operation next season, which will be Wells' first in-house venture, is expected to be handled by specialists moving over from Yates' operation.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-16-2002)

  • No 2nd PPI team? It doesn't appear as though #32-Ricky Craven will have a teammate when he makes the move from Ford to Pontiac with the PPI Motorsports team. That was the word from PPI Motorsports owner Cal Wells III Tuesday. "Right now, it's way up in the air. We'll most likely be a single-car team again next year. My preference would be to get a second car but I don't feel we're in the right place for that opportunity to happen right now. But we'll work at it," said Wells. Wells said he is excited about the opportunity with Pontiac and that they will build the engines themselves. He is in the process of hiring an engineer to head up the engine program.(Bangor Daily News - need to register to read)(9-13-2002)

  • #32 Team Will wear special uniforms at NHIS: Wednesday will mark the one-year anniversary of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. When the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit hits New Hampshire International Speedway for this weekend's New Hampshire 300, Ricky Craven and his #32 Tide Ford Taurus racing team will be wearing official FDNY and NYPD shirts, courtesy of Adam Mazy and Eric Rowan.Craven, a native of Newburgh, Maine, had an opportunity to get re-acquainted with Mazy, who works for Tower Ladder 79 in Staten Island, N.Y., and his cousin, New York City police officer Rowan, earlier this year at Pocono.(Ford PR)(9-10-2002)

  • PPI Racing to do their own engines? UPDATE: NASCAR.com's The Buzz has learned that Cal Wells III and his #32 PPI Motorsports team will do their own engines beginning in 2003, when the team -- with driver Ricky Craven -- plans to switch from the Ford Tauruses it currently runs to the newly designed 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. Wells' team currently employs Ford engines from Robert Yates Racing, and is extremely pleased with the power output. However, unlike Roush Racing -- which has heavy Ford involvement but has built GM engines for the NASCAR Busch Series -- Yates does no GM engines. Wells plans to announce the head of his engine program this week.(NASCAR.com)(9-1-2002)
    UPDATE: Having recently made the decision to switch to Pontiacs for 2003, PPI Motorsports has announced that they will build their own engines for the #32 Tide entry. Longtime engine partner, Robert Yates Racing Engines, only builds Ford powerplants-thus leaving the Cal Wells' operation searching for a replacement to compliment their new program next year. "A lot of thought and decision-making went into this process," said team owner Cal Wells. "Certainly we benefited an enormous amount from the relationship with Robert and Doug Yates. With the power and reliability provided by Yates, we didn't have to think about what was under the hood. We ultimately realized that if we were going to be as competitive as they are week to week, we had to build our own motors. So as we move forward with our new friends at Pontiac, we will take on this responsibility directly," he added. Historically, PPI has managed every aspect of their motorsports operations. From building their own cars to developmental engineering, all facets of the successful racing program have been under PPI's performance umbrella.(PPI PR)(9-7-2002)

  • Wells to Pontiac, Ford not Happy UPDATE: When Cal Wells III announces Saturday morning that he’ll trade in his Ford hardware for Pontiac hardware for his 2003 program it will come as no surprise that Ford Motor Company is displeased with Wells’ decision, but not for the reason that might come readily to mind. It’s not that Ford is upset Wells is making a move that he believes will help his team, which has not finished in the Top-10 since the June 2 race at Dover, become stronger. No, far from it, because Ford understands that everyone needs to keep their best interests in mind when planning their future. Rather the displeasure comes from the way Wells went about his separation from the company that helped him break into NASCAR racing. Until Thursday, Wells had a handshake deal with Ford Racing Technology’s North American Racing Operations Manager, Greg Specht to continue using Ford hardware for the 2003 season. Specht, who has repeatedly said that he’ll take a man at his word — and handshake — had no doubt of Wells’ intentions to honor his word. Specht’s better nature was truly tested, however, when Wells made the call on Thursday telling Specht that Wells was making the switch. “I was very disappointed when I got a phone call from Cal [Thursday] morning to inform me that while he had not signed a deal with Pontiac, he intended to sign a deal with Pontiac,” Specht said in a visible departure from his normally mild-mannered disposition. “Just back at Sears Point [Calif.] we shook hands on an agreement that I had presented to him and that I had followed up with in writing; and they had told us that they hadn’t signed that agreement because they were working on some language with their sponsor that didn’t have any impact on our deal. They just wanted to make sure there weren’t any legal terms that conflicted with our deal. I was very disappointed and now know what a handshake means to Mr. Wells and I will act appropriately in the future.” But Specht doesn’t live in a void. How could it be that he didn’t hear the rumors that Wells was making a run for Pontiac? Well, to be honest, Specht did hear the rumors, but he just didn’t believe that Wells had anything but honorable intentions and that the commitment made at Sears Point would be honored. “I heard the rumors and a couple of times I was about to get on my phone and call Cal and say, ‘I’m hearing these rumors that you’re talking to Pontiac,’ said Specht. But assurances were offered by Wells’ organization. “One of his people, his lawyer in fact, called my guy who handles my contracts and said, ‘Don’t pay attention to those rumors. We don’t have a problem with you guys. We’re just waiting to get this legal language cleared up.’” Another burr under Specht’s saddle is that when Wells began looking at Winston Cup Racing, Ford worked with him and tailored a program to help the newcomer avoid the pit falls that can consume a new car owner in this sport.(more at Ford Racing) AND PPI Motorsports will use the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix for its NASCAR Winston Cup program for driver Ricky Craven next season, team owner Cal Wells III announced Saturday morning at Michigan International Speedway.(NASCAR.com - see a nice image of the car there)(8-17-2002)
    UPDATE: Yesterday Pontiac executives said that Cal Wells would be moving from Ford to Pontiac, apparently with an engine deal with Richard Childress.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-18-2002)

  • Wells Announcement? Cal Wells this week is expected to officially announce his decision to switch from Ford to Pontiac, a move that could allow him to start a second team for 2003.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-13-2002)

  • Wells - Ford? Pontiac?: Last week it was reported that [#32] Cal Wells III was in all likelihood going to be staying in the Ford camp for the 2003 season. Since that time, however, TFR confirmed the move to Pontiac was a far more likely possibility than him staying with Ford. One GM-type, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that they understood the GM deal with Wells was completed, but hadn’t seen the signed contracts. The GM source also told TFR that Richard Childress would be providing power to the effort, and displacing Robert Yates Racing as the motor supplier to the PPI organization. The announcement is slated to come next week at Michigan International Speedway.(Ford Racing)(8-11-2002)

  • Nadeau to 2nd Wells team? It's likely [Jerry] Nadeau will drive a second car being fielded out of Cal Wells' shops.(Augusta Chronicle)(8-9-2002)

  • Wells announcement soon: Cal Wells is expected to announce his decision - Ford or Pontiac - at Michigan later this month. A major question for Wells is who would build his engines [rumor is Childress]. If he stays with Ford, he can renew with Robert Yates.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-5-2002)

  • Tide to go Retro at Indy/IRP: Tide Racing will be celebrating 15 years as a primary sponsor in NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing this weekend at the Brickyard. In addition to their regular #32 Winston Cup entry of Ricky Craven, they will also sponsor Darrell Waltrip's #17 Craftsman Truck in the Friday event at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Both teams will sport Tide's "retro" look, which goes back to their original Tide "America's Favorite" logo for the paint schemes and white crew uniforms. Some stats: Tide's involvement began in 1987 with Hendrick Motorsports and Darrell Waltrip. Tide sponsored teams have raced to 19 victories including the Daytona 500 (Waltrip, 1989) and the Brickyard 400 (Rudd, 1997). Tide drivers have included Darrell Waltrip (1987-1990), Ricky Rudd (1991-1999), Scott Pruett (2000) and Ricky Craven (2001-present). Tide as a sponsor has 5 victories at Martinsville, 3 victories at Lowe's Motor Speedway, 2 victories at Dover and one victory at Daytona, Atlanta, Bristol, Darlington, Michigan, New Hampshire, Phoenix, Rockingham and Indianapolis -Of the Tide victories, Waltrip won 9, Rudd won 9 and Craven has one.(PPI PR), see my Paint Scheme Gallery for images of the #32 car and #17 truck.(7-31-2002)

  • Mike Beam Fined: NASCAR officials have fined Mike Beam, crew chief for the #32 Ford, $2,500 for a violation that occurred during Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. Beam was penalized under Sections 9-4A and 12-17-A(3): "The crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members; crew member Pat Smith entered the car servicing area without a helmet."(NASCAR PR)(7-30-2002)

  • NASCAR, Craven, Nadeau and the Soap Box Derby: NASCAR's recently announced affiliation with the All-American Soap Box Derby (AASBD) will be highlighted Saturday, as Jerry Nadeau and Ricky Craven are scheduled to attend the derby's World Championships in Akron, OH. NASCAR and the All-American Soap Box Derby announced a multi-year partnership on July 5. NASCAR's involvement with the tradition-rich event is part of NASCAR's Youth Program initiative, designed to introduce young people to the motorsports industry, and more specifically NASCAR, and its numerous opportunities. NASCAR's Youth Program initiative also includes the Diversity Summer Internship Program and support of the Urban Youth Racing School. Nadeau and Craven are scheduled to fly from Pocono Raceway to Akron Saturday afternoon, after the final practice session for the Pennsylvania 500. Both are eager to view the AASBD World Championships, being held for the 65th year. The All-American Soap Box Derby is for competitors ages 9-17, who work with family members to build competitive cars, hoping to reach the World Championships. Through their presence on Saturday, Craven and Nadeau plan to send a message that the All-American Soap Box Derby is a huge event and a great American tradition, encouraging young people everywhere to participate. Nadeau competed in the AASBD, and nearly qualified for the Akron event. At the age of nine, he finished third in a regional qualifier in his hometown of Danbury, CT. "I'm excited about going to Akron and seeing the kids there," said Nadeau, driver of the #44 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge. "I've got something to share with them. I can remember my and my dad building my soap box car. And I remember I was so nervous the first year I raced."(NASCAR PR)(7-27-2002)

  • No Decision from Wells yet AND - UPDATE: #32 car owner Cal Wells insisted he still hasn't signed a deal with Pontiac, although insiders say that deal is all but completed. Will Wells have two teams? He's still hopeful, and talking with three potential sponsors. "One sponsor is driver-specific, the other two aren't," Wells said. "One sponsor says he wants to get things wrapped up in the next two to three weeks ... but they told me the same thing two or three weeks ago."(Winston Salem Journal)
    AND Ricky Craven said Saturday it was "very, very reasonable and realistic" that he would get a teammate at his Cal Wells-owned PPI Motorsports organization next season. Wells originally field two cars in 2000, but scaled back to a one-car operation in the middle of last season. "The whole program at PPI was built around the concept of two cars or perhaps three, but Cal’s done a wonderful job this year scaling down and re-budgeting," Craven said. "We’ve become much more efficient and I think the results show that. In the long-run we certainly need to be part of a multi-car team." PPI has also had discussions this season about switching from Ford to Pontiac next season but Craven said he is playing no role in those discussions. "I’m completely removed from it," Craven said. "I’ve been doing this for several years. I’ve built equity with the people from General Motors, the people from Ford. I’ve built friendships."(ThatsRacin.com)(7-20-2002)
    UPDATE - Nadeau? Cal Wells’ switch from Ford to Pontiac is probably going to be announced in Indianapolis during the Brickyard 400 weekend in August. What that probably means is that Ricky Craven will have a teammate in 2003. Jerry Nadeau, perhaps?(Gaston Gazette)(7-21-2002)

  • More on Wells and Pontiac and 2nd team: Pontiac is luring Cal Wells from Ford. Wells, whose driver is Ricky Craven, is getting help from Pontiac in finding sponsorship for a second team. If Wells is able to start a second team at PPI Motorsports, IndyCar driver Max Papis could wind up being the driver.(Augusta Chronicle)(4th of July 2002)

  • Give Kids the World back on the #32: Ricky Craven and 9-year old Vanessa Alvarez of nearby Hayward, CA unveiled the 2002 #32 Tide/Give Kids The World Ford, which will be run later this year [in July] at New Hampshire. Give Kids The World is a non-profit resort for children with life-threatening illnesses whose one wish is to visit Central Florida's best-loved attractions. More than 4,500 children from around the world visit each year. As part of their stay, children are encouraged to submit a special paint scheme for the Tide Ford. Vanessa, who suffers from a form of leukemia, was selected as this year's winner. This signature design benefits the Give Kids The World Village through the sale of die-cast replicas of the race car. After unveiling the car at San Francisco's Chrissy Park, Craven spoke about what the Give Kids The World charity means to him and the fact that the special paint scheme will adorn the #32 Tide Ford at NHIS. "Give Kids The World is such a magical place for these children," he said. "Being able to run this special paint scheme at New Hampshire in July is really special. I've always enjoyed such a great following in New England and, hopefully, this car will bring even more recognition to the Give Kids The World Village," he added.(PPI Motorsports PR). See my Paint Scheme Gallery for a image of the scheme.(6-26-2002)

  • Wells closer to 2nd team but no M&M's? M&M's balks at Yates $$? #32 Car owner Cal Wells is in the market for a second driver, but he says M&M Mars is no longer one of the sponsors he's negotiating with. Until two weeks ago, Wells was in the running for that sponsorship. "But now they're going in a different direction," Wells said. According to one source, M&M has been looking at signing on with Robert Yates, but according to team sources Mars officials balked at the asking price.(Winston Salem Journal)
    AND - more Pontiac news: Joe Gibbs Racing will switch from Pontiac to Chevrolet next year. The official announcement is being held up by Pontiac being willing to announce a new addition to its team lineup to replace the Gibbs teams. Cal Wells, who presently fields Fords for Ricky Craven, said it will probably be four weeks until he makes a decision. Wells would like to add a second team, which Pontiac might be able to assist him in doing, but he is also happy with the Ford engines he currently leases from Robert Yates and is concerned he will not be able to secure as potent a deal with General Motors.(Gaston Gazette)(6-24-2002)

  • More on Wells to Pontiac - engines from Childress? UPDATE: Owner Cal Wells faces some big decisions in the coming weeks. Should he stay with Ford, where he always will be behind Jack Roush, Roger Penske and Robert Yates in the pecking order, or accept a lucrative offer from Pontiac, where he would have more clout? "There's a lot of upside to the General Motors relationship, but the power solution (engines) is the biggest factor," Wells says. Wells has been ecstatic with the motors he has received from Yates and would be hard-pressed to find a comparable deal, but Richard Childress has offered his support should Wells convert to GM. Wells also is courting four sponsors for a possible second team, but the Pontiac deal is not contingent on Wells fielding two cars. Driver Ricky Craven says he thinks a second team would help, but he is pleased with the efficiency of the current operation. "I don't want it to become counterproductive, worrying about a second team," he says. "We're very good at doing more with less."(Sporting News)(6-11-2002)
    UPDATE: Cal Wells said he should know in four weeks if he'll switch from Ford to Pontiac next season, and he said he should know in six weeks if he'll land that sponsor that would allow him to expand to two teams. Wells says he is talking to several potential sponsors, "some not in the sport right now, and some that are not happy with where they are now." However, Wells' Pontiac announcement has been expected for three weeks. Richard Childress may be willing to provide engines. Childress hasn't been in the customer engine business. Wells engines this season are provided by Robert Yates.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-15-2002)

  • More on Wells to Pontiac - engines from Childress? Owner Cal Wells faces some big decisions in the coming weeks. Should he stay with Ford, where he always will be behind Jack Roush, Roger Penske and Robert Yates in the pecking order, or accept a lucrative offer from Pontiac, where he would have more clout? "There's a lot of upside to the General Motors relationship, but the power solution (engines) is the biggest factor," Wells says. Wells has been ecstatic with the motors he has received from Yates and would be hard-pressed to find a comparable deal, but Richard Childress has offered his support should Wells convert to GM. Wells also is courting four sponsors for a possible second team, but the Pontiac deal is not contingent on Wells fielding two cars. Driver Ricky Craven says he thinks a second team would help, but he is pleased with the efficiency of the current operation. "I don't want it to become counterproductive, worrying about a second team," he says. "We're very good at doing more with less."(Sporting News)(6-11-2002)

  • PPI 2nd Team? #32 Tide car owner Cal Wells confirmed he's working on adding a second team to his operation, and he said it depends on how well Ricky Craven performs.(Winston Salem Journal), also past reports have PPI looking to switch to Pontiac in 2003.(6-1-2002)

  • Hawk and PPI: Expanding their services provided, Hawk Sports Management is pleased to announce an agreement with Procter & Gamble (Tide Brand), PPI Motorsports and Ricky Craven to become the administrator of the Team 32's licensing program. Effective immediately, Hawk Sports Management will be coordinating licensing efforts with existing licensees, working out details with pending programs and seeking out new opportunities. Don Hawk, President of Hawk Sports Management reflects on the addition. "We will provide a "one-stop shop" facility for current and interested licensees. We are focusing on streamlining the licensing and approval process to help facilitate product offerings; thereby, providing a focal point for the three entities, which we call Team 32." Hawk, well known in the NASCAR world due to his past relationship with Alan Kulwicki and Dale Earnhardt, continues, "Through licensing efforts we will be able to enhance Team 32's objective of building fan awareness and support." Craven expressed his satisfaction, "Don and I hooked up some 18 months ago and the relationship has been comfortable and rewarding. I am truly looking forward to this expansion of his services." "Certainly Don Hawk has been a premier name for representation of drivers and sponsors in this sport, and we are very fortunate to have him on our team from this point on. The wealth of experience that he brings to the table will enable the Tide Brand and Ricky Craven to continue to get the recognition they deserve," comments PPI team owner Cal Wells. Hawk Sports Management provides consultative services in the area of sponsorship programs, endorsements, licensing, sport celebrity appearances and marketing concepts to a diverse client base. The company, formed in 1998, counsels entities involved in the well-known NASCAR auto racing circle as well as the PGA Tour. Further expansion is anticipated in other sports arenas.(PPI PR)(5-31-2002)

  • Craven Named First Quarter Winner True Value Person of the Year: Ricky Craven, driver of the PPI Motorsports #32 Tide Ford, has been named the recipient of the True Value Person of the Year for the first quarter of 2002. This award is presented to the driver who most exemplifies the strong combination of on-track performance with off-track contributions to society. In the performance category, Craven already has two Bud Pole Position Awards, coming at Rockingham in February and Darlington in March. He also has two top-five finishes in 2002, at Rockingham and Atlanta. As for his off-track contributions, Ricky Craven hosted the 5th annual Snowmobile Ride for Charity in his home state of Maine on January 21st. The charity ride raised over $114,000, which went to benefit charities such as Give Kids The World, Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Marrow Foundation, Children's Miracle Network and the Travis Roy Foundation. He was also the recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association's Pocono Spirit Award and received an honorary certificate from the 25th annual PRIDE Conference's Race Against Drugs Program for spending a day speaking to students at their conference. "It's truly an honor to receive such recognition, even though I personally don't relish the attention," said Craven. "What is most important is the attention it brings to the charitable foundations that I support," he added.(PR-PPI Motorsports)(5-3-2002)

  • Craven in the Breeze: PPI Motorsports' Tide Racing Team is set to unveil the Tide "Clean Breeze" car this weekend at California Speedway. The team plans to run the "Clean Breeze" car at California, Richmond and both upcoming events at Lowe's Motor Speedway in the month of May. "The special paint scheme represents the launch of Tide Clean Breeze laundry detergent," said Brian McNamara, Brand Manager of Tide for Procter & Gamble. "The new Tide Clean Breeze is a clean and natural fresh scent. For the first time, the fresh scent of laundry dried outdoors comes to you indoors," he added. The look is a departure of the traditional #32 Tide paint scheme as it combines elements of clouds and sky on the right front quarter panel and the entire TV panel.(PPI Motorsports PR), see an image of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery(4-24-2002)

  • #32 Crew is the NAPCM Pit Crew of the Week: Ricky Craven's #32 Tide Crew - consistent pit stops in the 15 second range and a competitive intensity makes the Tide Crew the NAPCM pick this week. Other stop times listed on NAPCM website.(NAPCM PR)(3-27-2002)

  • Wells back to two teams? #32 Team Owner Cal Wells said he is still trying to return to fielding two Winston Cup cars, but that probably won't happen before 2003. Right now, Wells is focused on building the Ricky Craven operation. Competing for sponsor dollars has become increasingly difficult in recent months - Wells said that he needs a solid single-car showing before he can compete with other teams for money to fund his second team.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-24-2002)

  • New #32 Assoc Sponsor: Diamond Cut Jeans, a privately owned company manufacturing unique jeans, featuring a gusset sewn into the stride, has signed an agreement with PPI Motorsports to be an associate sponsor of the #32 Tide Ford beginning in 2002. The Diamond Cut Jeans logo will be featured prominently on the rear quarter panel of the team's Ford Taurus fleet, driven by Ricky Craven. The PPI Motorsports road crew and personnel will exclusively wear their jeans at all NASCAR events. Diamond Cut Jeans, headquartered in Nocona, TX, currently sell through 400 retail outlets in the United States and Canada with more being added daily.(PPI Motorsports PR)(2-4-2002)

  • Craven and snowmobiles: The fifth annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity was held on Saturday in Greenville, Maine and raised a record $114,640, topping the $82,310 raised in 2001. In five years the annual event has raised over $350,000 for its various charities which include the Marrow Foundation, Maine's Children's Miracle Network, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire, the Travis Roy Foundation, and Give Kids the World. Special thanks go to this year's title sponsors, Arctic Cat, Wallace & Associates, and Tide Racing.(Ricky Craven Site)(1-29-2002)

  • Tide and Craven extend with PPI: Tide and PPI Motorsports jointly announced today they have renewed Tide's primary sponsorship of the #32 Tide Ford in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series through 2004. In conjunction, PPI Motorsports has also extended its contract with Ricky Craven to drive the #32 Tide Ford through 2004. Having just concluded its second year in Winston Cup competition, the PPI Motorsports Tide Racing program has earned its first win (57 starts), its first pole (53 starts), four top fives and eight top tens. The team's first win also marked the first career victory for Craven, who finished the 2001 season ranked 21st in points and was named "Comeback Driver of the Year" by The Sporting News.(PPI Motorsports PR)(1-16-2002)

  • The Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity has raised over $260,000 since it began in 1998. In 2001 alone the Charity Ride raised an all time high $82,310 for its various charities. Join Ricky in a special snowmobile ride for life that supports The Marrow Foundation, Maine's Children's Miracle Network, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire and Maine, the Travis Roy Foundation, and Give Kids the World. Minimum donation to participate in the ride is $125. In an effort to assist individual participants with raising money for the event, you are encouraged to recruit sponsors who can pledge money toward your total donation. Participants must be 13 or older to operate a snowmobile in the charity ride. Donations If you can not participate in the ride, you can still make a donation! Send them to:
    Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity
    P.O. Box 2223
    Bangor, ME 04402-2223
    For more info see the Ricky Craven site: Snowmobile Ride for Charity Page

  • Craven wins award: Ricky Craven has been named the fourth-quarter winner of the NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award. Craven joins previous quarterly award winners Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon on the list of nominees for the annual award. The 2001 award will be presented at the NMPA's annual convention Jan. 20 in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Spirit Award recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(1-3-2002)

    2001 News

  • Craven wins at Martinsville in the Old Dominion 500, his first ever career Winston Cup win and PPI Motorsport's first ever Cup win. Craven's win came in his 174th career Cup start and the 159th driver to win a Cup race. The win puts Craven into the 2002 The Winston. The top 10:
    1)  #32-Craven
    2)  #88-Jarrett
    3)  #22-Burton
    4)  #18-Labonte
    5)  #99-Burton
    6)  #10-Benson
    7)  #6-Martin
    8)  #12-Wallace
    9)  #24-Gordon
    10) #40-Marlin
    Some notes: the #'s 4-Bickle,13-Salder(twice), 25-Nadeau, 2-Wallace, #93-Blaney have spun. #77-Pressley had something break, spun and backed into the wall. The #'s 43, 01, 71 and 14 got togther with the #43 and #01 spinning; #8-Earnhardt spun and backed into the wall doing slight damage; #66-Bodine got spun out by #22-Burton on pitroad; #33-Nemechek and #1-Wallace got together and Nemechek spun out. #55-Hamilton bumps #29-Harvick and passes Harvick and then #29-Harvick spins out Hamilton who loses many positions, Harvick was then held for a lap by NASCAR for rough driving
    See That's Racin' for Old Dominion 500 results and see my Driver's Points page for the standings(10-15-2001)

  • Craven honors: #32-Ricky Craven is paying tribute to University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh - who this week passed away after a battle with cancer - in his own way. During this Sunday's Winston Cup race at Kansas Speedway, the side panel of Craven's #32 Tide Ford will carry an "In Memory of Shawn Walsh" decal depicting the University of Maine Black Bears logo. Craven will also wear a smaller version of the decal on his helmet. "Learning that Shawn lost his battle with cancer was incredibly sad news," said Craven. "He accomplished so much in his tenure at the University of Maine and had an unbelievable impact on not just the school's hockey program, but on all of us who watched and admired what he and his teams achieved. He will be missed."(PPI Motorsports PR)(9-30-2001)

  • #500 for Beam: #32 PPI Motorsports crew chief, Mike Beam, will crew chief his 500th race today at Dover(FSN's NASCAR This Morning)(9-23-2001)

  • Give Kids the World: On May 13, Colin Albo, his sister and grandparents visited Give Kids The World. Colin thought it was just another day to play at the Castle...but his grandparents were keeping a secret. Representatives from Procter & Gamble, along with race car driver Ricky Craven, were all at the Village to tell Colin that his artwork was selected as the new paint scheme for #32 Tide car. Colin created his masterpiece with the use of a blow pen. Each year, the racecar gets repainted for one race with a special design created by a guest of Give Kids The World. Colin's artwork will be applied to the #32 Tide Ford for the October 7 race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Colin's design is also featured on a die-cast collectible car, which is now available for a $5 donation with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Give Kids The World. See their site at www.gktw.org (Ricky Craven Site)(9-21-2001)

  • Wells/PPI Motorsports in Trouble? Some who should know believe owner Cal Wells is worse off than many believe and could be out of the game after this season. Wells faces the loss of McDonald's, sponsor of his #96 team, and is negotiating with Tide, sponsor of his #32. The McDonald's unrest has kept Andy Houston's #96 out of the past two races, and although the team will return at Indy, it may run only a limited schedule the rest of the way. McDonald's plans, meanwhile, remain entirely unclear, although most believe the company will not be a team sponsor next year. Wells is trying to keep a brave face on his two-year-old effort, which began with much fanfare at Daytona in 2000 but has been hobbled by misfortune from the start. He said he expects to be able to clarify the McDonald's/96 situation by mid-week. He adds that he and Tide are on good terms and that he hopes to have that side solid by the end of the season. Wells recently re-signed Ricky Craven, driver of #32.(SpeedVision)(7-30-2001)

  • Craven Re-ups with Wells: PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced today it has extended its relationship with Ricky Craven, driver of the #32 Tide Ford in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, by renewing his contract to drive for the team in 2002. The agreement keeps intact PPIM's annual option to maintain its contract with Craven for forthcoming seasons. "Ricky's experience and motivation have been a tremendous asset to both the Tide team and the development of our overall racing program," said Owner Cal Wells. "By renewing our agreement with him now, we bring some consistency to the #32 team that will help us move closer to our long-term competition objectives." "I'm having the time of my life racing with Tide and PPI Motorsports," said Craven. "We've already had some great runs, and it excites me to know that the Tide team has the potential to get the job done on any given weekend. I'm looking forward to taking that momentum into next season." "Ricky continues to be a great representative for Tide on and off the track," said Tide brand manager Brian McNamara. "We are thrilled that he will be behind the wheel for us next season."(PPI Motorsports PR)(7-20-2001)

  • PPI Layoffs? UPDATE 2 changes, crew chief: hearing that PPI Motorsports laid off some employee's on Tuesday. No word on who or why, supposedly like a dozen were let go
    UPDATE: PPI Motorsports' Joe Garone has announced his resignation from his position as crew chief of the #96 McDonald's Ford driven by Andy Houston. Garone has accepted a position with NASCAR's research and development project in Hickory, NC, but will remain as crew chief on the McDonald's Ford through July. In a move not related to Garone's departure, PPI Motorsports has also undertaken a company-wide restructuring resulting in the reduction of 14 staff positions effective today. This reorganization brings the total number of PPI Motorsports employees to 97. The restructuring was based on a thorough evaluation of the company's organizational chart and department-by-department staffing after observing the operating structures of several top teams in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. PPI Motorsports, LLC, a motorsports company based in Hickory, N.C., also fields the #32 Tide Ford with Ricky Craven as the driver(PPI Motorsports PR)(5-30-2001)
    UPDATE 2: hearing some of the layoffs included some of the pit crew members for one or both teams(6-2-2001)

  • Winston Open and the Pits: from the PPI Motorpsorts site, an explanation of what happened - Ricky Craven and the Tide team posted a strong run during the first segment of the two-leg Winston Open competition at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Starting fourth, Craven jockeyed between fourth and fifth for most of the caution-filled 30-lap run and stood in third when the race's third caution flag flew on Lap 28. With only three laps to go, it was clear the first segment would end under yellow - sending then-leader Johnny Benson to The Winston. This also put Craven in second position behind Ricky Rudd for the start of the 16-lap No Bull Sprint, the last race for a wildcard Winston starting position. As the field passed the entrance to pit lane on Lap 29, both Rudd and Craven understood pit lane to be closed and stayed on track. However, a late green flag was displayed at the entrance to pit lane - after Rudd and Craven had already passed it - that allowed the rest of the field to pit on Lap 29. To confuse matters even more, rules for the Winston Open (distributed earlier that evening at the drivers' meeting) explicitly stated that pit lane would be closed on Lap 29 - causing even more frustration for the Tide team and Rudd's crew. In spite of valiant efforts by both teams, NASCAR officials would not rectify the situation -- forcing both Craven and Rudd to pit out of sequence and forfeit their race-leading positions and any reasonable shot at winning the No Bull Sprint. Craven returned to the field in 22nd position and within 12 laps worked up to a strong 11th (six laps were run under caution), but nothing could quite make up for "what could have been" for the Tide team. Tide team owner Cal Wells on the situation: "It's just unbelievable. There were two infractions here by NASCAR - one was not opening pit lane for everyone, and the second was breaking their own rules by opening the pits on Lap 29. It's just incredibly frustrating. The lack of communication was astounding. We had a great Tide car today with a real shot at winning the second race, and it just went away like that. We've talked to the officials, and so has Yates, but there's nothing we can do about it."(PPI Motorsports Site)(5-22-2001)

  • PPI and Technolgy: Stratasys, Inc., a rapid prototyping equipment manufacturer based in Minneapolis, MN, has joined PPI Motorsports as a key partner in the NASCAR Winston Cup team's progressive engineering program. Stratasys makes rapid prototyping equipment that builds solid models directly from three-dimensional CAD (computer aided drawing) files. The company's patented fused deposition modeling (FDM®) technology is used at PPI Motorsports to create highly accurate plastic prototypes that can be tested, analyzed and improved by the team's design group before the fabrication process begins. This season, PPI Motorsports began designing and building its own race cars for NASCAR Winston Cup competition. As part of this undertaking, the engineering group utilizes a Stratasys FDM 3000® system to develop components - from small parts to larger assembled pieces - for its in-house fleet(PPI Motorsports Site)(5-20-2001)

  • Penalties UPDATE: NASCAR Officials announced today the suspension of a NASCAR Winston Cup Series crew chief for rules violations discovered in inspection prior to Sunday's NAPA 500 at California Speedway in Fontana, CA. Mike Beam, crew chief of the #32 Ford Taurus, received a two-race suspension (until May 22, 2001-suspended from the next two NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship or Invitational Events) and a $5,000 fine for not having the manufacturer's date visible on the seat belts. Beam was penalized under Section 12-4-Q in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book, "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform... or have not been approved by NASCAR..." Along with the above-mentioned penalty, Beam was issued another $500 fine for rules violations (roof camera shell not within the proper dimension) discovered in inspection prior to the Talladega 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. He was penalized under Section 12-4-Q, "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform... or have not been approved by NASCAR..." Robin Pemberton, crew chief for the No. 2 NASCAR Winston Cup Series team, was penalized for rules violations (fuel cell top rack) discovered in inspection prior to the NAPA 500 at California Speedway in Fontana, CA. Pemberton was fined $500 and penalized under section 12-4-Q in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book. Additional fines were levied against the following crew chiefs for rules violations discovered in inspection prior to the Talladega 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and were penalized under Section 12-4-Q in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: #96-Joe Garone, Roof camera shell not within proper dimension, $500; #28-Michael McSwain, Fuel cell top rack, $500; #8-Tony Eury, Sr, Fuel cell top rack, $500; #15-Scott Eggleston, Fuel cell top rack, $500; #1-Paul Andrews, Lightened lug nuts, $500(NASCAR PR)(5-2-2001)
    UPDATE: PPI Motorsports will not appeal the seat belt related fine and two-race suspension of Tide crew chief Mike Beam announced yesterday by NASCAR. Statement by Cal Wells, owner, PPI Motorsports, regarding the penalty: "As safety conscious as this team is, we would never do anything to impede the safety systems in our race cars. It's not uncommon - nor against the rules - to remove the manufacturer name labels from seat belts to help tighten the buckles. There was an error in judgment at the car prep stage when the date labels, not just the manufacturer name labels, were also removed from what are essentially new belts. We are extremely frustrated and embarrassed by the penalty and Mike's suspension, especially since this was not his mistake. However, I have to commend NASCAR for being consistent in enforcing the importance of paying attention to seat belts and other safety elements in Winston Cup cars." Roy McCauley, race engineer for the No. 32 Tide Ford, will serve as interim crew chief for the next two races(Richmond and The Winston)(PPI Motorsports PR)(5-4-2001)

  • Winn Dixie on the #32: Winn-Dixie has joined the PPI Motorsports Tide team as an associate sponsor for the Talladega 500 this weekend. The Winn-Dixie logo will appear on the rear "TV" panel of the #32 Tide Ford driven by Ricky Craven, as well as on Craven's driver's suit and helmet(PPI Motorsports Site)(4-19-2001)

  • New Seat: #32 and #96 team owner Cal Wells just received a full-blown prototype of his proposed new Winston Cup seat, which he plans to crash test soon(Winston Salem Journal)(3-31-2001)

  • #32 to look different at Texas: The familiar orange #32 Tide Ford has undergone a minor facelift for the Cup race at Texas, courtesy of regional grocery chain Albertsons. Albertsons has joined the Tide team as a race sponsor for the popular Texas Winston Cup event, adding their blue and white logo to the rear "TV panel" of the Tide Ford for race weekend(PPI Motorsports Site), no images seen yet(3-29-2001)

  • Sad News: Condolences to Mike and Scott Beam, whose sister, Kathey, died of cancer March 15. Mike is the crew chief for PPI Motorsports driver Ricky Craven and Scott is the shop foreman for Jason Keller's ppc Racing organization(Winston Cup Scene - need subscription to read online)(3-22-2001)

  • Safety in the Pits: Cal Wells (owner of the #32 and #96) has ordered his over-the-wall pit crew to wear new lightweight helmets during pit stops this season. Jack Roush tried that a year ago and learned that crewmen didn't feel that comfortable in the helmets. But Bill Simpson, a veteran safety innovator, has come up with new versions. As frequently as crew men are hit on pit road, NASCAR should order all teams to add that piece of safety equipment(Winston Salem Journal)(2-21-2001)

  • Snowmobile Ride Helps Out: The fourth-annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity, held this past weekend at Moosehead Lake in Greenville, Maine, raised an all-time high of $82,310 for five selected charities: The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children's Miracle Network, the Marrow Foundation, the Travis Roy Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The event's founder and annual host is Maine native and #32 Tide Ford driver, Ricky Craven. Approximately 450 participants, 300 of whom were riders, took part in Saturday's (Jan. 27) event. The day began with an 87-mile snowmobile ride around Moosehead Lake in Maine, followed by a drawing for prizes and an autograph signing session with Craven. With a significant increase in the amount of funds raised each year, the Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity has contributed more than $262,400 to charitable causes since 1998. Contributions are raised through entry fees ($125 per person), door prize tickets and event sponsors, including this year's two primary partners: Arctic Cat, a snowmobile manufacturer, and New Hampshire-based financial consultancy Wallace & Associates(PPI Racing/Ricky Craven PR)(1-30-2001)

  • Craven signs another deal: Hawk Sports Management announced Wednesday that they signed Ricky Craven to a multi-year agreement. This comes following the announcement that Craven will drive the PPI Motorsports #32 Tide Ford in 2001(Speed Magazine). The offical press release in part - Hawk Sports Management announced that they have signed NASCAR Winston Cup Driver, Ricky Craven to a multi-year agreement. This comes following the announcement that Craven will drive the PPI Motorsports #32 Tide Ford in 2001. "The existing relationship between PPI Motorsports and HSM makes the agreement with Ricky a natural fit," said Don Hawk, President of HSM. "I am very excited to have the opportunity to represent Ricky." HSM will handle Craven's personal endorsements and business and will seek out sponsorship opportunities as it relates to his position as the driver of the PPI Motorsports #32 Tide Ford. Hawk Sports Management was formed in 1998. During the 2000 SpeedWeeks in Daytona, it was announced that Don Hawk would leave DEI to dedicate all his time to his own consulting company. His involvement of the sport began in 1987 while assisting Alan Kulwicki and the Wood Brothers in developing sponsorship programs. He joined Kulwicki fulltime in 1992 and in 1993 joined Dale Earnhardt, Inc. where he helped to build one of the most successful business entities in motorsports history(1-4/6-2001)

  • Craven to the #32? UPDATE 7 It's Official: hearing from very good sources that Ricky Craven will leave the #50 Midwest Transit team and take over the wheel of the #32 Tide Ford at PPI Motorsports. No word on who will drive the #50 Chevy in 2001 AND see story at the Fayetteville Observer: Craven looks for Winston Cup ride by Thomas Pope(link updated). Doesn't mention the #32 ride but says Craven is leaving the #50. The #01 is still open, the #7 is filled and like I said, I hear he will drive the #32 Tide Ford(12-16-2000)
    UPDATE: hearing Craven will announce his 2001 plans on Wednesday, Dec 20th(12-19-2000)
    UPDATE 2: while sources continue to tell me Craven will drive the #32 Tide Ford in 2001, it looks like no official announcement will be made for a week or two(12-20-2000)
    UPDATE 3: Less than a month ago Ricky Craven said he planned on being behind the wheel for the Midwest Transit Co. team for the 2001 Cup season. On Friday, Craven changed his mind and resigned as the driver of the team in order to pursue other driving interests, he confirmed on Tuesday. "It was absolutely a matter of being fair to everyone,” Craven said of his decision to leave the #50 team and try to iron out a deal with an undisclosed race team. My intention is to compete full time in Winston Cup next year and so it was a decision that was made with that in mind,” Craven said. Industry rumors point to Craven as a potential driver of the #32 Tide car owned by Cal Wells and the Precision Preparation Inc. Motorsports team. Craven wouldn’t “speculate on … speculation” on Tuesday, but admitted that he was close to ironing out a deal that would give him the security he seeks. “I am hoping that things can be finalized soon and an announcement made before we leave for Christmas,” Craven said.(Bangor Daily News)(12-21-2000)
    UPDATE 4: hearing that it was reported on WMTW, a local Maine ABC affiliate that Ricky Craven will announce his new deal with the PPI #32 team at the Winston Cup Preview January 6th.(12-23-2000)
    UPDATE 5: Ricky Craven, who resigned from his duties as driver for the #50 Midwest Transit Racing team owned by Hal Hicks on Dec. 15, is in line to drive the #32 Ford owned by Cal Wells, according to published reports. WMTW-TV in Maine reported Saturday that Craven will announce a deal with Wells on Jan. 6 at the Winston Cup Preview show in Winston-Salem, N.C. Wells has said that driver Scott Pruett is still under contract for the 2001 season.(USA Today)(12-24-2000)
    UPDATE 6: Cal Wells, owner of PPI Motorsports, has scheduled a teleconference for 3:30pm/et on Wednesday, January 3rd, to make what the announcement calls team/driver announcements. The teleconference should answer questions surrounding the #32 Winston Cup team for which Scott Pruett drove in the 2000 season. There has been speculation that Pruett will be replaced in that ride, perhaps by Ricky Craven, for 2001, but the team has officially said only that Pruett was under contract for 2001(That's Racin')(1-2-2001)
    UPDATE 7 - Craven to the #32: PPI Motorsports announced the following new team appointments in a reorganization of the company’s two-car entry in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series: Ricky Craven, 34, of Concord, N.C., has been named driver of the team’s #32 Tide Ford. Mike Beam, who recently joined PPI Motorsports’ senior management team, will serve as crew chief for Craven and the #32 Tide Ford. Joe Garone, current NASCAR program manager for PPI Motorsports, has been named crew chief for the #96 McDonald’s Ford driven by Andy Houston. Scott Houston, who had been serving as crew chief for the Tide Ford since the October Charlotte race, has returned to his duties as project coordinator for PPIM’s engineering department. Pat Smith, crew chief for the McDonald’s/PPI Motorsports Busch and Cup efforts last season, has been named car chief for the #96 McDonald’s Ford. Nick Harvey, PPI Motorsports’ Atlantic program manager for the past four years, will take on administrative duties for the team’s two-car Winston Cup effort in support of Garone’s more focused role.(PPI Motorsports), from NOL: Pruett remains on the PPI payroll and could drive for the team again at some point in the future(1-3-2001)

    2000 News

  • Changes at PPI and the #32? UPDATE 4: hearing that Scott Pruett and PPI Motorsports may part ways and that Kevin Lepage is a possible candidate for the driver of the #32 Tide Ford. ALSO hearing that Mike Beam, who recently left the #21 Wood Brothers team as a crew chief to take the #75 Galaxy Motorsports Team Manager job will be the new crew chief of the #32 Tide Ford. No word on what would happen to Scott Houston who was named as the crew chief of the 32 a few months ago, but the #96 McDonald's Ford of PPI Motorsports could be a possibility since Andy Houston, Scott's brother is the driver for that car(12-13-2000)
    UPDATE: hear it is true, that is/was the sponsor's decision. Beam is now with PPI Motorsports but it may be as a Team/General Mgr or/and crew chief
    UPDATE 2: hearing now that Beam has come aboard PPI in an unspecified capacity, but that Pruett has NOT been released and is still with the team but that the team is "looking at everything", including driver, to improve in 2001
    UPDATE 3 - Beamed named: Mike Beam has joined Hickory-based PPI Racing, which will field two Winston Cup teams next season. Team spokesperson Amy Riley said Beam's role for now is to work with team manager Joe Garone through an off-season evaluation of the Cal Wells-owned team's first year in NASCAR, in which Scott Pruett drove the #32 Fords. Rookie Andy Houston will join the team as driver of the #96 Fords next season(That's Racin'), no word on why Beam left the #75 Galaxy Motorsports team only a month after leaving the #21 Wood Brothers team to go there. No comment on if Pruett will drive the #32 car in 2001(12-14-2000)
    UPDATE 4: Beam was hired away from Galaxy Motorsports to join PPI, not as a crew chief, but as a senior consultant to team manager Joe Garone as well as crew chiefs Scott Houston (32 car) and Pat Smith, who moves up from the Busch car to lead the No. 96 team. The team made no statements about the future of Scott Pruett as the driver of the #32 car except to say that he is still under contract through the year 2001, and is planing to be the driver of the Tide-sponsored Ford(SpeedVision)(12-15-2000)

  • NASCAR Announces Penalties: NASCAR announced they have penalized #4 Cup Series crew chief David Ifft following the race at Phoenix for improperly attached weight. Ifft was fined $10,000. Ifft was penalized under Section 12-4-W in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "Any car using added weight... attached improperly..." and Section 12-4-A: "...actions deemed detrimental to stock car racing..." AND NASCAR announced they have penalized #32 Scott Pruett for intentionally running into the car driven by Robert Pressley during the cool-down lap at Phoenix. Pruett, driver of the #32 Tide Ford, was fined $10,000 and penalized under Section 12-4-A in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "...actions deemed by NASCAR Officials as detrimental to stock car racing..."(NASCAR PR)(11-14-2000)

  • Tide Gives: In line with their commitment to Give Kids The World, Tide Racing has donated $35,000 to the organization following Scott Pruett's race performance at Phoenix. Tide had pledged a $100 donation to Give Kids The World for every lap Pruett completed in the 312-lap Phoenix event. Pruett, driving a specially-painted #32 Tide/Give Kids The World Ford Taurus in honor of the charity, completed 310 circuits around the one-mile oval to earn a total of $35,000 (rounded up by Tide) for the day. Give Kids The World is a non-profit resort for terminally ill children whose one "wish" is to visit Central Florida's theme parks and attractions. Tide Racing annually conducts a car coloring contest for children who visit the resort, inviting them to design their own paint scheme for the #32 Tide Ford in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. This year's winner, Heather Mason (13, of Berkeley, Ill.), attended the Phoenix race to watch her very own car compete. In addition to Tide Racing's monetary donation, Mattel has produced and donated 75,000 commemorative miniature die cast cars based on Heather's design. For a five-dollar donation to Give Kids The World, the cars can be obtained either on the Tide merchandise trailer or through the Give Kids The World website, www.gktw.org. Scott Pruett also created a special matching helmet, worn throughout Phoenix race weekend, which he has signed and donated for an auction at Give Kids The World to help raise additional funds(PPI Motorsports PR)(11-9-2000)

  • Wells cars inspected after race: After the race, NASCAR officials impounded the two Fords owned by Cal Wells, the #32-Scott Pruett and #96-Andy Houston cars. The officials apparently suspected irregularities in the cars, perhaps due to a tip from someone at a rival team. No penalties were announced(Gaston Gazette)
    AND Scott Pruett finished 34th after a final-lap crash with Robert Pressley. Andy Houston, Wells' other driver, was 36th. Pruett and Pressley apparently exchanged words after their crash. NASCAR officials interviewed Pressley after the race in an effort to assess what happened. The cars of Houston and Pruett were torn down after the race as NASCAR officials checked the wiring harness. Officials found no problems with the devices(Times Dispatch)(11-6-2000)

  • PPI leaves CART: PPI Motorsports, who field the #32 Tide Ford and the #96 McDonalds Ford on the Cup circuit will leave the CART series at the end of the 2000 season. Lack of sponsorship for 2001 is the reason given(ESPN2's RPM2 Night) and Multiple team sources revealed Wednesday that Cal Wells III is closing the PPI Motorsports California shop, and disbanding both his Champ Car team and his off-road organization as soon as the season ends. Sources cited insufficient sponsorship, loss of team members to rival outfits and also the defection of driver Cristiano da Matta(SpeedVision)(10-26-2000)

  • Pruett Scheme UPDATE: the #32 Tide Ford fielded by PPI Motorsports and driven by Scott Pruett was to run a special fan designed "Give the Kids the World" Tide car at Lowes Motor Speedway but failed to make the race, but the team announced that the car will return at Homestead to show off its multicolor livery(PPI Site)(10-7-2000)
    UPDATE: A special paint scheme will be run on the #32 Tide Ford driven by Scott Pruett at Phoenix(not Homestead as previously reported). The signature design benefits Give Kids The World. Heather Mason, 13, of Berkeley, Ill., created the outer-space themed design featured on the Tide Ford. Heather’s paint scheme was the winning entry in the annual Tide race car coloring contest at Give Kids The World. Heather, who is battling an inoperable brain tumor, first visited the Give Kids The World village in 1997. Why Phoenix and not Homestead as was planned after Lowes? Heather will have the opportunity to see her grandfather, Chuck Castle, of Mesa, AZ for the first time in three years during her visit to Phoenix for race weekend. Castle retired to Mesa from the Chicago area five years ago(PPI Site). See an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Gallery(10-25-2000)

  • PPI Assoc Sponsor: DP Technology, software developer of the ESPRIT CAM system, today recently their official sponsorship of PPI Motorsports. This new partnership through the 2002 NASCAR season enables PPIM to use ESPRIT's powerful CAM software in their race shop to machine parts for the company's NASCAR Winston Cup cars. Currently, PPIM fields the #96 Happy Meal Ford with Andy Houston and the #32 Tide Ford driven by veteran CART racer Scott Pruett(DP Technology PR)(10-21-2000)

  • PPI Crew Chief: After thorough evaluation and discussion, PPI Motorsports and Brad Parrott, crew chief for the #32 Tide Ford in Cup, have mutually agreed to part ways. Parrott has elected to pursue other opportunities outside of PPI Motorsports. PPI Motorsports has named Scott Houston, who served as the interim crew chief on the #32 Tide Ford this past weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway, to the position full-time effective today. Houston, 35, of Hickory, N.C., has worked as an engineering liaison for PPI Motorsports for the past year. In August, Houston also served as crew chief for PPIM's McDonald's Busch series effort with driver Chad Little at Michigan Speedway, where the team qualified 11th and finished 10th - their best Busch series performance to date. Brother to newly announced PPIM/McDonald's Winston Cup driver Andy Houston and son of legendary NASCAR Busch Series competitor Tommy Houston, Scott grew up working on stock cars and served as crew chief on his father's successful Busch series efforts for eleven years(PPI PR)(10-12-2000)

  • #32 Crew Chief for Lowes UPDATE 3 Parrott?: crew cheif of the #32 Tide PPI Motorsports Ford, Brad Parrott, is taking the week off with Scott Houston handling the crew chief duties for driver Scott Pruett. Explanation: PPI Motorsports is trying to resolve some management issues and improve the management structure of the team(RPM 2Night)(10-4-2000)
    UPDATE: Crew chief Brad Parrott, three months on the job with car owner Cal Wells and Scott Pruett, is sitting out a few days, for unexplained reasons. ''I hope Brad will be back Monday, we just need some time to sit down and talk,'' Wells said(PitNow)(10-5-2000)
    UPDATE 2: hearing that if Brad Parrott leaves the #32 Tide Ford/PPI Motorsports team, he may end up with the #75 Galaxy Motorsports team in some capacity(10-7-2000)
    UPDATE 3: Brad Parrott, after three months on the job as crew chief for car owner Cal Wells and driver Scott Pruett, is apparently moving on, possibly to the Wally Dallenbach-Darwin Oordt team, another Ford team that gets its engines and some technological help from Robert Yates. Parrott wouldn't confirm anything yesterday except to say he would be talking with Wells today(PitNow)
    UPDATE 3: hearing Parrott has cleaned out his office at PPI and will go back to Robert Yates Racing(10-9-2000)

  • Pruett Scheme: the #32 Tide Ford fielded by PPI Motorsports and driven by Scott Pruett was to run a special fan designed "Give the Kids the World" Tide car at Lowes Motor Speedway but failed to make the race, but the team announced that the car will return at Homestead to show off its multicolor livery(PPI Site)(10-7-2000)

  • Alabama Paint Scheme for the #32: the #32 Tide Ford of Scott Pruett will carry a special University of Alabama crimson color scheme for the upcoming Winston 500 at Talladega(Shoals Times Daily)(8-23-2000)

  • Pruett to run a truck: Scott Pruett, who drives the #32 Tide Ford in the Winston Cup series for Cal Wells/PPI Motorsports, will drive the #32 Kenmore Ford truck in the CTS race at Chicgao Motor Speedway on August 27th, the day after the Cup race at Bristol. PPI Motorsports, will join Billy Ballew Motorsports to field the #32 Kenmore/Tide Ford pickup. Billy Ballew Motorsports will supply the race trucks, mechanics and pit crew(PPI Motorsports Site)(8-11-2000)
    UPDATE: Pruett won't be able to qualify the truck for that event, so his PPI Motorsports teammate Anthony Lazzaro will qualify for him Aug. 26. Pruett will be in Bristol, Tenn., for the Winston Cup race that night.(Speed Magazine)(8-13-2000)

  • Tide, Pruett and GKTW: Tide will team up with Give Kids the World and have a special paint scheme on the #32 Tide Ford driven by Scott Pruett in the Cup series. The car is blue with stars. There was a contest for kids to design the car and four of the five finalists helped Pruett unveil the #32 GKTW/Tide car with driver Scott Pruett; Jason, Heather (winning design), Jake and Lisa. The 5th finalist, Alberto, could not make the event. The car will be raced on October 8th in Charlotte, NC at Lowes Motor Speedway. See the car at the Give Kids the World site(7-31-2000)

  • Congrats to #32 Tide/PPI Racing Team owner Cal Wells and his CART driver Cristiano da Matta for Wells first CART win(SpeedNet)(7-31-2000)

  • PPI Motorsports to combine operations: PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced it will operate its NASCAR and CART programs from its Hickory, NC, location beginning next season. The Hickory facility, which was established in late 1999 to house PPIM's Tide Winston Cup and McDonald's Busch teams, will operate as a full-service race shop for PPI Motorsports' CART and NASCAR teams in 2001 with centralized fabrication, carbon shop, machining, parts, travel, transportation, marketing communications, hospitality services, and administrative resources. This consolidation will require the relocation of both personnel and equipment from PPIM's facility in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, current home of PPIM's CART and off-road racing programs, at the close of the 2000 racing season. PPIM's off-road team and other business interests, including the Precision Service Racing Group (PSRG) and the Toyota Motorsports Garage, will continue to operate from smaller, separate facilities in Southern California. PPIM's three-building, 57,000-square-foot Hickory facility will add a fourth, 37,000-square-foot building to accommodate the company's CART operation alongside its 2001 Tide and McDonald's Winston Cup efforts. Wells selected the Hickory location due to its proximity to most NASCAR and CART venues - a decision that, among other benefits, amounted to a savings of 27 travel days for the race team and 115 on-the-road days for team transporters as based on the current CART schedule(PPI Motorsports PR)(7-19-2000)

  • New #32 Crew Chief: Brad Parrott, brother of the #88 crew chief Todd and son of Roush Team Mgr and crew chief legend Buddy Parrott, will take over the crew chief position of the #32 PPI Motorsports Tide Ford ride of Scott Pruett, effective as of Monday, July 3rd. Brad was working with his brother on the #88(RPM 2Night)(6-30-2000)

  • Liquid Cooled Brakes? Wire Harness? UPDATE 3: hearing the #32 Tide Ford driven by Scott Pruett had some sort of brake system cooled by the radiator(and the engine cooling system) at Sears Point. Also hearing the car had a different type of wiring harness that NASCAR didn't say was illegal but told the team not to show up at Daytona with it
    UPDATE: NASCAR officials announced Tuesday they have penalized #32 Cup crew chief Joe Garone for an illegal liquid brake cooling device discovered in post-race inspection at Sears Point. Garone, crew chief of the #32 PPI Motorsports/Tide Ford, was fined $50,000. In addition to the fine, driver Scott Pruett will suffer a loss of 50 driver points and a reduction of 50 owner points also has been levied against car owner Cal Wells. Garone was penalized under Section 12-4-Q in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform... or have not been approved by NASCAR..."(NASCAR PR) The loss of owners points drops the team one spot behind the #27 Eel River Racing team in the provisionals, could be costly if the team doesn't qualify well in the next few weeks. The Provisional/Owners Points page and the Drivers Point Page have been updated to reflect the point deduction(6-27-2000)
    UPDATE 2: When contacted for comment, Garone indicated that the pieces found were a pump and vacuum line which had been disconnected but not removed from the car following tests at Carolina Motorsports Park near Kershaw, S.C.(SpeedVision)(6-28-2000)
    UPDATE 3: The following comments were issued Wednesday by PPI Motorsports team owner Cal Wells III regarding the NASCAR-assessed penalty against crew chief Joe Garone and the team: "What NASCAR has termed as 'an illegal liquid brake cooling device' was an inoperable pump and tubing, which were remnants of a removed brake mist cooling system that was used in the car during a Monday, June 19 test at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, S.C. We used a brake mist cooling system during that test to preserve the brakes while we conducted a final round of aero mapping and gear testing on our sole road course Cup car. The key components of the system, including its activation elements, were removed from the car before it was transported to Sears Point. The pump and tubing, which were not connected to each other or to the brakes and thus completely disabled, were left in the car due to the tight turnaround after the Pocono rain delay. Leaving those two elements in the car, however inoperable, was our oversight. We regret the error."(PPI Motorsports PR)(6-29-2000)

  • McDonald's to Stay: McDonald's officials yesterday denied reports they will drop all NASCAR sponsorships at the end of the season. Curretnly they are on the #94 Cup car and the #97 BGN car(PitNow)(6-10-2000)

  • Pruett Double Duty: PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced that its Winston Cup driver, Scott Pruett, will assume driving duties for Busch driver Anthony Lazzaro in future Busch series races that coincide with Winston Cup events this season. Pruett, who continues to drive the #32 Tide Ford in all NASCAR Winston Cup Series races, will drive the #97 McDonald's Ford beginning at Dover. Lazzaro, who remains under contract with PPI Motorsports, will drive the #97 McDonald's Ford at the Milwaukee Busch event on July 2. Additional race dates for Lazzaro are still being considered. The decision to run Pruett in future Busch events was reached after an in-depth evaluation of the McDonald's Busch program's current configuration and its potential to step up to Winston Cup competition next season. The team is evaluating other drivers to field the McDonald's Ford in Winston Cup competition beginning next season. At the same time, they are working diligently toward finding other driving opportunities for Lazarro(PPIM PR)(6-2-2000)

  • Pre-Race Accident UPDATE: Four persons were slightly injured in the pit area by debris from an explosion during the pre-race show. The show involved several military planes flying over the track, with explosions of plywood structures timed to appear as though the track was being bombed by the planes. One of the staged explosion's scattered some plywood debris from props along the front straightaway. Each was standing behind pit wall. Two people walked away from the scene and refused treatment. Two were treated and released from the infield care center with minor abrasions. Wayne Deloria, pit crew coordinator for the #32-Scott Pruett Ford, later returned to the care center complaining of dizziness and appeared disoriented. He was taken by ambulance to Carolinas Medical Center for precautionary tests(SpeedVision and That's Racin')(5-29-2000)
    UPDATE: Wayne Deloria, a pit crew coordinator for Scott Pruett's Winston Cup team who was injured during a prerace show Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, is recovering well, team spokeswoman Pam Colbert said Wednesday(St Petersburg Times)(6-1-2000)

  • PPI News: PPI Motorsports, #32 and #97(BGN) Cal Wells teams, announced today it has retained Don Hawk and Hawk Sports Management, a motorsports business consultancy, to help facilitate the strategic growth of its NASCAR programs and business interests. Prior to focusing on his consulting business, Hawk Sports Management, Hawk was employed as president of Dale Earnhardt, Inc(PPI Motorsports PR)(5-22-2000)

  • Another Crew Chief Change? UPDATE yep: hearing Doug Richert and the #32 Tide team have parted ways
    UPDATE: PPI Motorsports and Doug Richert, crew chief for the #32 Tide Ford driven by Scott Pruett, have mutually agreed to part ways. Richert has opted to pursue other opportunities while PPI Motorsports focuses on restructuring the current management team for the Tide Winston Cup crew. Joe Garone, current program director for PPI Motorsports' NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch teams and former crew chief for the #94 McDonald's Ford, will temporarily fulfill crew chief duties on the #32 Tide Ford and ultimately take a more active role in the actual competition management of PPIM's Tide Winston Cup team. Additional overall management support comes in the form of increased leadership roles for Roy McCauley, engineer for the #32 Tide Ford, and Pat Smith, crew chief for PPI Motorsports' #97 McDonald's Ford Busch car(PPI Motorsports PR)(5-2-2000)

  • Wells 2000 Plans? UPDATE: Cal Wells, who is a rookie owner in the NASCAR ranks, is not ready to commit to a pair of Winston Cup teams for 2001 and plans to have it all sorted out by October. Wells fields a Cup(#32 Tide team with Scott Pruett) and Busch team(#97 McDonald's with Anthony Lazarro). The original plan was to run one Cup team and elevate the Busch team after the 2000 season(Daily Bulletin)(4-26-2000)
    UPDATE: Clarification From PPI Motorsports. To eliminate any confusion resulting from Tuesday's (April 25) NASCAR Winston Cup Series weekly teleconference, Cal Wells III and PPI Motorsports will field two Winston Cup teams in 2001 with primary sponsorships from Tide and McDonald's. When asked about the status and timetable of his McDonald's-sponsored Busch team, Wells said, "It's in its infancy. We'll have it all sorted out by October." Wells was referring to the team and driver being sorted out by October to complete his implementation of elevating the McDonald's Busch team to a Winston Cup program in 2001(PPI Motorsports)(4-27-2000)

  • Pruett to test UPDATE: #32 Scott Pruett and the PPI Racing team will test this week at Texas(3-20-2000)
    UPDATE: Testing today and Tuesday at Texas was Pruett and #5-Terry Labonte and #45-Adam Petty(Winston Cup Radio(PRN)) note: Petty was in a Chevy...not a Pontiac and Labonte posted the fastest speed at 184mph(TMS Site)(3-21-2000)

  • Computers and PPI: #32 Tide Ford owner, Cal Wells, sent his team to Daytona with a half-dozen computers to help record real-time measurements as rookie Scott Pruett tested at Daytona last Thursday and Friday. The data acquisition systems were collecting information such as water and oil temperatures, engine RPM, maximum speed, speed changes, transmission shifts and weather conditions(Speed Magazine)(1-24-2000)

  • Pruett to run BGN: #32 Tide Cup and #97 McDonald's BGN Team owner Cal Wells III announced that Scott Pruett will be the substitute driver for the McDonald's/PPI Motorsports entry at Daytona in the 2000 BGN season opening race. Pruett, whose main ride is with the Cal Wells-owned #32 Tide Ford on the Winston Cup circuit, is substituting for Anthony Lazzaro, a PPI Motorsports teammate and the primary driver of the #97 McDonald's Ford Taurus. Lazzaro is required to sit out the Daytona opener due to a racing injury and a six-week recovery period that prevented him from meeting NASCAR's eligibility requirements for rookie entry in a superspeedway race. He is fully recovered from the injury and will make his Busch Series debut, Feb. 26, at Rockingham. Pruett and Lazzaro will both drive the McDonald's car in the upcoming Busch test session, Jan. 24 and 25 in Daytona(PPI PR)(1-21-2000)

  • Testing: hearing that Scott Pruett in the #32 Tide Ford and Anthony Lazarro in the BGN #97 McDonalds Ford will be testing at Lakeland, FL on Monday Jan 3rd and Tuesday Jan 4th(1-2-2000)

  • Pruett Testing and a kids Book UPDATE: hearing Scott Pruett will continue his testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Wednesday, testing the PPI Racing/Cal Wells Winston Cup Ford(anon source), yes look for Musgrave to be there helping out in preparation for the CarsDirect.com 400 next season(11-15-1999) -- BOOK: Pruett and his wife Judy have written a childrens book: Twelve Little Race Cars by World Weaver books, looks cute(thanks Mark for the heads up)(11-16-1999) -- UPDATE: Pruett and Musgrave tested a 1999 Ford Taurus and a 2000 Taurus with a 99 nosepeice. Musgrave was a tad faster then Pruett with speeds in the 163-164mph range. Luckily no wrecks and the team had a slew of computers and people there at the test. Pruett left early as he had the flu, but Misgrave finished up the testing. The LVMS site(11-17-1999) -- UPDATE: Full report on the test at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Site - PPI Test(11-18-1999)

  • Pruett Tests at Talladega UPDATE: hearing that Scott Pruett is testing the #32 Tide PPI/Cal Wells Ford at Talladega on Monday and Tuesday(Nov 8-9th)(11-8-1999) -- UPDATE: Scott Pruett and the PPI Motorsports team wrapped up a two-day test session Wednesday at Talladega Superspeedway. Pruett is making the jump from CART to Winston Cup in 2000, and this week's testing at Talladega marked only the second time Pruett's team has been together to prepare the Cal Wells-owned Ford Tauruses for their rookie season. No Speed listed(Talladega Superspeedway Site)(11-10-1999)

  • Wells Testing UPDATE: hearing that the #32 Cal Wells' Winston Cup team is testing at Darlington today and tomorrow(Tuesday and Wednesday) -- UPDATE: Scott Pruett's first day of testing got off to a late start because of rain, but overall the team was pleased with the apparent results. Pruett did not get a Darlington stripe on his debut day, and seemed to be catching on to driving a Winston Cup car by the end of the day. Pruett plans to test all day on Wednesday, November 3rd. Ted Musgrave is at Darlington helping the team test(11-2-1999)

  • PPI News: A Hickory-based NASCAR team is doubling the size of its headquarters and thinking about building a much larger facility as it boosts its presence on the racing scene. Precision Preparation Inc.(Cal Wells) is building a 32,000-square-foot facility across First Avenue Court S.E. from its two existing buildings, which have a total of 25,000 square feet. But even that's not enough space, says Tim Wardlaw, facilities manager for Precision Preparation and they hope to expand their operation. The company fabricates car bodies for Winston Cup and Busch Series vehicles and assembles the cars. Driver Scott Pruett will take over Precision Preparation's Tide-sponsored Winston Cup car next year, and driver Anthony Lazzaro will move to Busch Series. The shop's 50 employees simply need more space to work, Wardlaw says. Real estate sources in the area say team owner Cal Wells is looking for a site for a premier NASCAR shop in Catawba County, something larger than DAJ Racing's Conover shop, which is owned by Winston Cup driver Dale Jarrett. But Wardlaw is hesitant to talk about those plans. Until then, he's preparing to occupy the building currently under construction. The company expects to move in around mid-November(Business Journal of Charlotte)(10-26-1999)

  • Musgrave News: Ted Musgrave has been exploring his options since discovering he would not be returning to the #75 Butch Mock Motorsports team next season. One possible scenario has Musgrave working as a driver/consultant for Cal Wells' new operation. A part time driving deal with testing. Musgrave said he had also been approached by Robert Yates, who "asked me about my situation last week," Musgrave said. "It seems a lot of the bigger teams are going to R&D situations, especially with Dodge coming in. There will be a number of opportunities for test drivers."(SpeedVision)(10-22-1999)

  • Richert Gone: Doug Richert, crew chief most of this season for Kenny Irwin in Robert Yates’ #28 Texaco/Havoline Ford, left the team after Sunday’s race at Talladega to take up his new duties as crew chief for Cal Wells’ start-up Winston Cup operation(#32 Tide Ford). Raymond Fox, Yates’ long-time right-hand man, will run the show for the rest of the season. The Cup team plans to begin testing with Pruett in three weeks at Darlington. Meanwhile, National Speed Sport News reports that Wells has been sued by long-time CART partner Frank Arciero over ownership of Cristiano da Matta’s contract(Racer Magazine)(10-18-1999)

  • Richert UPDATE 2: Buddy Baker mentioned on TBS's Happy Hour coverage that the he would say on the race telecast Sunday were current #28 crew chief, Doug Richert would be going in 2000. Richert will not be back with the #28 in 2000 as Michael McSwain will come over with 2000 #28 driver Ricky Rudd. Some rumors have Richert going to the #98 or #75 -- UPDATE: But I now hear it'll be to the new #32 Tide Ford team owned by Cal Wells(10-9-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Per RPM2Nite - Doug Richert will move to the new Cal Wells Cup team(10-10-1999)

  • Richert UPDATE 2: Buddy Baker mentioned on TBS's Happy Hour coverage that the he would say on the race telecast Sunday were current #28 crew chief, Doug Richert would be going in 2000. Richert will not be back with the #28 in 2000 as Michael McSwain will come over with 2000 #28 driver Ricky Rudd. Some rumors have Richert going to the #98 or #75 -- UPDATE: But I now hear it'll be to the new #32 Tide Ford team owned by Cal Wells(10-9-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Per RPM2Nite - Doug Richert will move to the new Cal Wells Cup team(10-10-1999)

  • Wells Driver: Cal Wells announced Wednesday that he had hired CART/Trans-Am/IMSA veteran Scott Pruett as the driver of the #32 Tide Ford for next season in the Cup series. Wells was hoping to announce his crew chief on Wednesday, but has had to put that off until Friday. Wells said that he has it narrowed down to two guys that are current NASCAR crew chiefs, but declined to elaborate further. Wells also shot down the rumors surrounding a possible Chrysler effort, or that he was looking at the recently-released Ray Evernham as a crew chief, says he has never met Everhham.(Racer Magazine)(10-6-1999)

  • Finally...Wells, an announcement UPDATE: A spokesperson for Cal Wells' Precision Performance Inc. said Wednesday the team will announce its Winston Cup plans for the 2000 season next week at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. The name most often being mentioned lately as the likely driver is Scott Pruett(from CART).(That's Racin')(9-30-1999) -- UPDATE: Cal Wells is expected to announce on Wednesday that Scott Pruett will drive a #32 Tide-sponsored Ford for Precision Preparation Inc. Motorsports next season in Winston Cup. At 39, Pruett would be the elder statesman among the 2000 candidates for rookie of the year, joining Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Dave Blaney(maybe Mike Bliss)(SpeedVision)(10-6-1999)

  • Wells Driver? Scott Pruett may actually get Cal Wells ride in NASCAR Winston Cup, with Pruett's CART seat going to an Indy Lights driver, perhaps Didier Andre or Felipe Giaffone(SpeedNet), hear this was reported on ESPN2's CART2Day pre-race show on Sunday(9-29-1999)

  • No Cup for Little Al: IRL team owner Rick Galles says two-time Indy winner Al Unser Jr. and he have agreed to run next season together in the Indy Racing League. However, they have not signed a contract, Galles said(SpeedNet)(9-28-1999)

  • Wells Crew Chief: Cal Wells has talked to several prospective drivers and crew chiefs in the Winston Cup garage. As he prepares to start his team in 2000, Wells has offered top dollar for a stellar pair. The latest addition to his wish list is Hendrick Motorsports' Andy Graves, crew chief for Terry Labonte(Times-Dispatch)(9-27-1999)

  • Yates Engines: Besides building Ford engines for his #28 and #88 teams, Robert Yates Racing will build engines in 2000 for the two Travis Carter teams(#66 and #23?), the #75 Butch Mock-Galaxy Motorsports team and the new Cal Wells Tide team(Winston Cup Today Radio) Yates is looking into leasing Butch Mock's engine shop(Winston Cup Scene)(9-24-1999)

  • Unser to the IRL: A meeting this week in Indianapolis between Tony George, Al Unser Jr. and Rick Galles left Galles feeling "very carefully excited" about the prospect of Unser returning to his Pep Boys Indy Racing League team. At Unser's request, the three men met Monday to discuss the future — Unser's and the IRL’s. Galles indicated Friday that Unser is ready to sign with his team, and expected something to happen within the next three weeks. Unser, who could not be reached Friday, apparently is weighing his options. Galles said Unser has received significant offers, particularly in NASCAR. The rumors have been across the board — CART, NASCAR and the IRL. Among the most intriguing were whispers about Unser drivng Cal Wells' Winston Cup car (or CART car, depending upon the source), and another about Unser joining Ron Hemelgarn's IRL team to rejoin crew chief Owen Snyder and cousin Robby Unser(Racer Mag)(9-18-1999)

  • Hamilton to Wells? UPDATE 2: A new name has risen to the forefront in Cal Wells III's search for a Winston Cup driver -- Bobby Hamilton. Hamilton, winner of three Winston Cup races, is suffering through a woeful season driving Larry McClure's #4 Chevrolet. This year he has only one top-five finish and is 15th in the point standings. With Al Unser Jr.'s decision not to pursue the ride, Hamilton has apparently replaced Wally Dallenbach Jr. as the frontrunner to drive Wells' Tide-sponsored Ford in 2000(SpeedNet)(9-11-1999) -- UPDATE: Hamilton hasn’t commented on his status with Morgan-McClure Racing, but the veteran is in a contract-signing year with the Virginia-based team(Times-Dispatch)(9-13-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Hearing Morgan-McClure has spoken with Steve Grissom about driving for the team, not sure if this in case Hamilton leaves or for the 'rumored' 2nd team(9-14-1999)

  • Dallenbach: Despite reports that Wally Dallenbach has spoke with the management at MB2 Motorsports(#36 M&M's Pontiac), he insists that simply isn't the case. He spoke to crew chief Ryan Pemberton to let them know he was interested, but not the owners. He says if he had the choice, he'd be leaning towards the #36 ride, if offered to him. Dallenbach, as reported in the past, has been speculated as the lead candidate for the Cal Wells Cup ride. Although Dallenbach was expecting to hear from Wells on Monday, their signals were crossed and never touched base. Hopes to speak on Tuesday or Wednesday. Wells said personal committments in California and this week's CART race in Monterrey, would keep him from making a final decision until next week, but he has pared down the applicants to Dallenbach, Al Unser Jr., Scott Pruett, and an unnamed Winston Cup driver with contractual considerations. Dallenbach plans to have his mind made up by the time he leaves for Richmond(in part from SpeedVision)(9-8-1999)

  • Wells Driver: Cal Wells and his Precision Performance Inc. are close to signing a driver for their Tide-sponsored car for next season. Wally Dallenbach remains at the top of Wells' list and is expected to hear from Wells Monday, sources say. Dallenbach is also under consideration for the #36 M&M's Pontiacs. Driver Ernie Irvan announced Friday he was retiring from the Winston Cup series effective immediately. Jerry Nadeau is driving the car for the remainder of the 1999 season. Dallenbach met with MBII Motorsports over the weekend to discuss the job, sources said(That's Racin') -- AND Wally Dallenbach said that he's going to wait another week before making a decision on next year's team. Dallenbach, according to sources, is looking at the Wells team and the Ryan Pemberton-Jay Frye team. Wells is debating between Dallenbach and Al Unser Jr. for his Cup team, but Unser has taken himself out of consideration, according to sources. Dallenbach is to meet this week with Wells(PitNow)(9-6-1999)

  • Pruett..Hmmm..UPDATE: sources at the track tell me that CART driver Scott Pruett is at Bristol as observer. So is Anthony Lazzaro, who will drive for Cal Wells in the BGN, and the two have been walking around the infield together. Wonder if Pruett is under consideration for the Cal Wells Cup ride(8-27-1999) -- UPDATE: Scott Pruett didn't have anything better to do this weekend so he's spending it in Bristol, TN., at the Cup race. Pruett, who competes in CART, said nothing more should be made from his visit. He drives for Cal Wells, who plans an entry in NASCAR racing next year. Wells hasn't yet hired a driver but Pruett said he's not a candidate, primarily because he is in the first season of a three-year contract on the CART circuit. However, Pruett said he might drive Winston Cup cars sometime in the future. Wells said he hopes to announce his stock-car driver by mid-September(SpeedNet)(8-28-1999)

  • Wells Crew Chief UPDATE: The round of musical crewchiefs and drivers continues in '99 as country.com Motorsports has learned that current #45 Pontiac crewchief James Ince is leaving the Tyler Jet Motorsports team. Ince has signed to head up the crewchief duties at the new Cal Wells Winston Cup effort; this would indicate that former Bill Elliott crewchief Joe Garone will head up Wells' BGN team in 2000. It's unknown when Ince will make the switch to Wells' team, but sources indicated that Tyler Jet is already looking at various replacement crewchiefs(TNN Motorsports) -- UPDATE: from Tyler Jet Motorsports via James Ince -- Recently erroneous reports surfaced on country.com that James Ince, crew chief of the No. 45 10-10-345 Pontiac, had signed a deal to crew chief for Cal Wells' new team next season. Ince has a three-year contract with Tyler Jet Motorsports and has no plans to make a change. "I signed on here for the long term," Ince said. "We have struggled the past couple of weeks, but we have been doing some testing and trying to resolve the performance issues that we have right now, and I have no intentions of leaving (car owner) Tim Beverly high and dry just because we have had a couple of rough weeks." Wells will enter the sport in the year 2000 with a Winston Cup and Busch Series team and has made numerous contacts throughout the garage this year. Ince joined Tyler Jet Motorsports in May of this year after a seven-year stint with Roush Racing. Since Ince came on board the team has earned two top-10 and four top-20 finishes and vaulted 13 positions in the point standings in just nine races. "I'm looking forward to a long relationship with Tim and the 10-10-345 team. We have put together a really strong team here and I think we have shown what this team is capable of, despite a couple of bad weeks. We are working very hard to turn things around and get back to where we were last month. Bristol is just the place for us to prove that this weekend."(James Ince via TJM)(8-26-1999)

  • Damaged Goods? Al Unser Jr. has publicly expressed interest in a Winston Cup ride, but the widespread perception in the Cup garage area is that the two-time Indianapolis 500 champion is somehow damaged goods. Unser's CART decline, plus personal problems stemming from a divorce and the illness of his daughter, has reportedly taken a toll on the 37-year-old driver, who may also be headed to the Indy Racing League(SpeedNet)(8-23-1999)

  • More Little Al stuff: from a reader - NBC-6 here in Charlotte reported that Cal Wells has offered Little Al his ride in Winston Cup next year, but there isn't enough money in it for Little Al's liking so they are going to go back to the drawing board with tide this week supposedly. And...on RPM2Nite, Robin Miller from the Indianapolis Star News(SpeedNet) reported that Cal Wells offered his Cup Tide ride for next year. Jayski Note: most indications now are that Wally Dallenbach is headed for this ride, not Unser, who is more likely to stay in CART or go to the IRL(8-23-1999)

  • Dallenbach/Wells/Yates: Wally Dallenbach says that car owner Cal Wells is getting a bum rap from some quarters of the garage. Dallenbach said that he's been quite impressed with what he's seen during his negotiations with Wells for a ride next season. Dallenbach has a meeting this week with Tide executives and if he passes that test, he could be offered the ride. He also has a meeting next week with another Winston Cup team owner, whom he declined to name, but who is reported to be Robert Yates(PitNow) There is apparently a meeting set for early next week between (Wally) Dallenbach and representatives from Procter & Gamble, the company that makes Tide detergent. Dallenbach is one of the drivers whose name has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Kenny Irwin in the #28 Fords owned by Robert Yates. Dallenbach said he has talked with Yates, but also said that Yates and Wells have agreed not to go after the same driver for next season. Wells' Winston Cup team will apparently be using Yates-built engines next season(8-21-1999)

  • Dallenbach: TNN's Raceday(on Sunday, just got a chance to watch it) reports that Wally Dallenbach as the probable driver for the new Cal Wells Ride Ford ride in 2000(8-18-1999)

  • The Wells driver list: Cal Wells, who owns Precision Performance Inc., has talked to at least seven drivers about his Tide-sponsored Winston Cup ride for the 2000 season. According to sources, Wally Dallenbach, who currently drives the #25 Bud Chevy's for Hendrick Motorsports, has emerged as the leading candidate for that ride. Wells has also talked with Cup drivers Jeremy Mayfield(#12), Ward Burton(#22), John Andretti(#43), Steve Grissom(no team) and CART drivers Al Unser Jr. and Scott Pruett about the ride. Mayfield and Burton both turned Wells' offer down, sources said. The PPI team is currently working out of two 25,000-square-foot buildings in Hickory, N.C., while a permanent motorsports complex is completed nearby. Wells, who has said he will use Robert Yates engines, has purchased several Fords from Yates(That's Racin'/Jim Utter)(8-13-1999)

  • Cal Wells rumors: Cal Wells, one of NASCAR's newest car owners, is offering prospective crew chiefs $2.5 million over three years. That $830,000-a-year contract would be a little better than some of the best of the current deals. The top four or five crew chiefs on the tour are making $650,000 a year and up. Among the men on Wells' wish list is Andy Graves, Terry Labonte's crew chief, according to sources(PitNow) Al Unser Jr and Wally Dallenbach are the hottest rumored drivers for the new Tide ride(8-10-1999)

  • More Wells news: New car owner Cal Wells just hired four men away from Larry Hedrick's #41 team(PitNow), no idea who(8-10-1999)

  • Wells meeting: Wally Dallenbach Jr. will meet on Monday with Cal Wells about driving Wells’ Tide-sponsored car on the circuit next year. Dallenbach vows not to sign another one-year contract with anyone. He did so a year ago with Hendrick Motorsports, which is why he is back in the unemployment line(Gaston Gazette/Monte Dutton)(8-9-1999)

  • Unser Out, Moore In: Well that ends all the Greg Moore speculation. Greg Moore and Gil de Ferran have signed to drive for Roger Penske's CART team in 2000. Al Unser, Jr will leave the team. Unser has announced no plans for 2000, but he will be(an is) in the Cup rumor mill bigtime(Cal Wells, Yates, the #30). So there will be no Greg Moore to Cup in 2000, well at least full time(first saw on RPM2Nite/Racer Mag Site)(8-7-1999)

  • It's BGN news but it's pretty big so....PPI Motorsports and McDonald's Racing have named Anthony Lazzaro as the driver for the McDonald's NASCAR Busch Series Team, which will begin competing on a full-time basis next season. The selection was made from more than 20 candidates after an extensive evaluation process, which culminated with on-track test sessions at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway last Thursday(July 29). Lazzaro, 32, of Acworth, Ga. (suburb of Atlanta), currently drives a Formula Atlantic car for PPI. He is leading the points chase for the 1999 KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship and earned his third win of the season this past weekend (Aug. 1) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. Lazzaro's first NASCAR assignment will be to attend Friday's (Aug. 6) Busch Series Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The plan is to run a few BGN races later in the year to prepare for the next year's opener in Daytona. Born in Charleston, S.C. and raised in Georgia, Lazzaro started racing go-karts at the age of 11. He accepted a job as a mechanic after high school to finance his competition efforts, working through ten years of karting championships, Formula Ford wins and sports car victories, including a class win (GT3) at this year's 24 Hours of Daytona. He began racing full time in 1995 and joined PPI as a Formula Atlantic driver in 1998(McDonald's PR), here is a link to a Lazzaro's Profile(8-3-1999)

  • Bodine? Todd that is, seems to be rumored to a few Cup rides, the #28 Yates Ford, the new Wells Tide ride and his BGN team moving up to Cup. Hmmm...not sure if Bodine would take another shot with a brand new team(8-2-1999)

  • Al Unser Jr to Cup? Hearing rumors that Al Unser Jr may be considering moving from CART to Cup with the Cal Well's Tide team. Unser's contract with Penske is up at the end of the 1999 season. Rumor has Little Al supposedly driving the Cup car and pulling an Indy 500/Coca Cola 600 double, like Andretti and Stewart have done(8-1-1999)

  • Wells down to 3: Cal Wells, who is starting BGN and Cup teams for the 2000 season, has narrowed his choice to BGN drivers for his McDonald's BGN team down to three(no names mentioned) but is not close to a Cup driver for his Tide operation yet(WC Today Radio and WC Scene) Hopes are for Wells to have his BGN driver run a few BGN races later in the 1999 season so the driver is eligible for all the tracks in 2000(7-30-1999)

  • CART Moore news: Greg Moore and Al Unser Jr., who both become free agents at the end of this season, have at times expressed interest in giving stock cars a try. Moore, 24, a Canadian, has been the hotter topic of late and seems in no hurry to dispel the rumors who says he has two or three opportunities 'over there'(NASCAR). Moore, who can command a multimillion-dollar deal in CART, confirmed with USA Today that he has talked with Wells. See full story at: Moore confirms NASCAR talks(TSN)...but in a WC Scene story about Cal Wells, Wells states that he was talking to a CART driver but that the deal fell through(7-30-1999)

  • Dallenbach/Wells? Unser? Wally Dallenbach said that his plans are now unclear. But he is seen as one of the front-runners for the Tide-sponsored ride with new car owner Cal Wells. According to one top car owner, Wells has opened his wallet in an effort to get his new operation off the ground and is offering as much as $2.5 million to land the right Cup driver. Steve Grissom is reported to be on Wells' list of potential drivers for his new McDonald's sponsored Busch team, which is to be promoted to a full Cup team in 2001(PitNow). Jayski Note: other rumors have Al Unser, Jr, whose CART/Penske contract runs out this year, as a possible driver for Well's Cup deal, but most think he'll stay in CART or go to the IRL and no matter what happens drive in the 2000 Indy 500(7-24-1999)

  • Wells Drivers: Hearing that Wally Dallenbach and Steve Grissom have spoken to new Cup owner(Tide) for the driver opening on the new team(7-16-1999)

  • Wells/Yates? in a Winston Cup Scene story about Cal Wells and Robert Yates, it was mentioned that Wells has approached Yates about supplying BGN and Cup engines to his new teams. Yates declined the BGN request as he does not build them but gave Wells prices for the deal, back in May(7-16-1999)

  • Dallenbach? where might Wally Dallenbach end up? actually hearing many rumors he may go back to....SABCO and I hear he is talking to Cal Wells about the Tide ride(7-14-1999)

    Well's Shop: Cal Wells, owner of Precision Performance Inc(PPI) said he can’t talk about the potential contract with Tide/Proctor & Gamble for another six weeks. Wells has rented a shop in Hickory, N.C., and has 20 people working to build cars out of his Ford chassis. He has an option to purchase land at two sites -- one on the edge of Catawba County(NC) -- and plans to build permanent facilities there. Currently, he’s working on getting set up and finding a driver(looking for a young criver). Wells does not deny he is talking with some existing teams about potential sharing of resources but did say he is not on the list of owners trying to buy Butch Mock’s #75 team(Times-Dispatch and That's Racin')(7-10-1999)

  • More Tide Stuff: Procter & Gamble is in final negotiations to take its sponsorship to Precision Preparation Inc., a racing company owned by Cal Wells. Wells owns a two-car team in the open-wheel CART series and is starting a BGN team with McDonald's sponsorship next year. The Indy-car owner is building a shop for his NASCAR team in Hickory, N.C. P&G offered Rudd an opportunity to drive the PPI car if a deal is worked out, but he declined. Wells and Jack Roush were courting P&G, and that was the part of the deal that seemed to upset Rudd(Times-Dispatch)(7-2-1999)

  • Tide leaves Rudd: Procter & Gamble, Tide Brand informed Rudd Performance Motorsports (RPM) today that they have pursued other sponsorship opportunities for the year 2000. RPM has several options regarding sponsorship for the future that may encompass a multi-car situation. An expected announcement is scheduled to be released within the next month(RPM PR), hearing that Tide may be the sponsor for Larry McReynolds Cup team if that all works out(see TV story below)(6-30-1999) -- UPDATE: RPM2Nite says a new Cup team owned by Cal Wells will have Tide as the sponsor which is interesting as Wells is starting a BGN team with McDonald's as the sponsor in 2000(7-1-1999)

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