#90 Team Past News and Rumors (NOTE: some older links may not work)
Contact Status: Driver: ?. Sponsor: ?
Former Team Owner Donlavey Draws a Crowd at RIR: Few people in motorsports are as popular, respected and gracious as Junie Donlavey. The Richmond, Va., native fielded [#90] Ford-based cars in NASCAR’s top division for more than 50 years, dating to the old Daytona Beach highway/beach course, and the first Southern 500, Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400. His list of drivers includes many of stock car racing’s top-50, several of them in most meaningful halls of fame. But the sport began passing him by in the mid-90s and left him in its dust in recent years. He had neither the finances, nor the personnel nor the business connections to keep up with the mega-teams that seemed to have unlimited funds. Despite not fielding cars since 2002 and keeping only two employees on the payroll, Donlavey’s presence in the garage at Richmond on Saturday attracted a throng of drivers, crewmen, officials and fans. “This is what I miss the most,” said Donlavey, whose only Cup victory in 863 starts came with Jody Ridley at Dover in 1981. “I miss the people and the friendships and the story-telling you can only get in racing, Oh, I’ve still got eight or nine cars in my shop [across town from RIR], but I’ve sold a bunch of them, too. I’ve got people coming to see them all the time, from ARCA and NASCAR and some other series. I’ll get rid of ‘em if I can because I don’t have any use for them. There’s no way in the world I’d try to make a comeback now. As far as racing’s concerned, I’ve done all I’m gonna do.”(Ford Racing)(9-13-2006)
No Donlavey entry at Daytona..but he'll be there: Junie Donlavey is making his annual February pilgrimage to Daytona Beach, Fla., but for the first time in 50 years, his #90 Ford won't be in tow. The Richmond-based car owner, who will turn 81 on April 8, will skip Daytona 500 qualifying after attempting to make the Great American Race every season since the 1959 opening of Daytona International Speedway. Before the 2.5-mile track was built, Donlavey raced on the beach course. He campaigned cars for more than 100 drivers on NASCAR's premier circuit but hasn't competed full time in the Nextel Cup Series since losing a sponsor at the midpoint of the 2002 season. Donlavey Racing attempted only the season opener in each of the past two years, and its cars haven't stayed abreast of rule changes in NASCAR. "I just don't have anything to take down there," said Donlavey, who attended yesterday's news conference at Richmond International Raceway as a proponent of bringing a NASCAR Hall of Fame to the track. Though the team isn't operational, Donlavey still keeps occasional hours at his Southside shop. He spends much of his time at a new house on Lake Shawnee in Powhatan County and said he hasn't missed the grind of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-3-2005)
VA Car Owners to be Inducted into VA Hall of Fame: Three legendary car owners will be inducted into the Virginia Motorsports Hall of Fame on Dec. 11. Junie Donlavey, who has fielded Cup cars out of Richmond for more than 50 years, and Glen and Leonard Wood, whose Stuart-based team won 96 Cup races, will be honored at World of Sports Complex in South Boston.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(12-3-2004)
Junie tours Daytona renovations; unsure of team plans: Legendary NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team owner Junie Donlavey made a surprise visit to historic Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday and took a tour of the infield renovation site with Speedway President Robin Braig. Donlavey toured the multi-million dollar, multi-faceted infield renovation site that includes a new state-of-the-art tunnel, waterfront specialty vehicle parking, new NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series garages, new Gatorade Victory Lane and a uniquely-designed Fan Zone with prime viewing of the garages and inspection bays.
"Nobody will ever believe what you're doing here," Donlavey said. "This is unbelievable because it's laid out so good and it's for the benefit of the fans and car owners and crews. It's perfect. You had somebody with a lot of knowledge to be able to layout something like this." Donlavey, who still enters a car in races from time to time, has one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victory to his credit with driver Jody Ridley back in 1981 at Dover, Del. At Daytona International Speedway, Donlavey won three consecutive Hershey's 300s between 1972-74 with driver Bill Dennis and captured a Gatorade 125-mile qualifier with Schrader in 1987. Standing inside the new NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series garages, Donlavey said he was unsure if he will attempt to qualify a car in next year's Daytona 500. But after touring the new Daytona infield, he says he'll definitely consider it. "I hadn't thought much about it, but I'm hoping that we can get something together and do it," Donlavey said Race fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the massive construction project can visit DAYTONA USA and take the Speedway Tour, which costs $7.50 plus tax. The Oldfield Grandstand is also open and free to the public. The Speedway's Web site, www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com, will also have weekly updates on the infield renovation project. Tickets for Speedweeks 2005 events, including the 47th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS PR)(10-27-2004)
Henrikson and Donlavey to team up at Lowe's and maybe Homestead: ARCA veteran A.J. Henriksen said he will attempt to qualify Junie Donlavey's Ford for the UAW-GM Quality 500 on Oct. 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He also might attempt the #90 for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(Richmond Times Dispatch), and whatever happened to Kevin Ray and the Buttpaste #90 Ford?(8-23-2004)
Where is the #90 car? Junie Donlavey's #90 Ford is at Pocono Raceway this weekend, but his hauler is parked outside the Nextel Cup garage. Driver Kevin Ray will start 38th in today's ARCA 200. He originally had planned tomorrow's Pocono 500 as the second of a six-race foray into the Cup series, but the team elected to regroup after failing to pass inspection in its debut at Dover International Speedway last week. Ray, an ARCA veteran, still is planning to attempt the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway in three weeks. "There's not near as much pressure here as through the other gates over there," Ray said, motioning toward the chain-link fence separating the ARCA and NASCAR garages. "We just need to get everything going in the right direction, so we thought we'd take a step back and make what we got work."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(6-12-2004)
Donlavey back in action UPDATE: hearing that legendary car owner, Junie Donlavey will enter the #90 Donlavey Racing Ford in 12 NEXTEL Cup races starting with Dover in June. Kevin Ray will supposedly be the driver. Sponsors will be Boudreauxs Butt Paste and RacingUSA.com. What is this Butt Paste? It is a product for babies, to help with diaper rash, RacingUSA.com sells NASCAR stuff, like diecast.(5-25-2004) UPDATE: Racing legend Junie Donlavey will make his return to the track as a car owner next weekend for the MBNA America 400 at Dover International Speedway. Donlavey Racing in conjunction with TRIX Racing [ran ARCA and some Cup races as the #79 a few years ago - from NJ], will once again field its' #90 Ford with up and coming driver Kevin Ray behind the wheel. The team will enter twelve events this season and hopes to run a full schedule in 2005. "We are very excited to be back in the NEXTEL Cup Series and I feel like we have assembled a great team to run these select races, and a really aggressive driver in Kevin Ray," said Donlavey. Kevin Ray is the twenty-six year old son of John Ray, who fielded a Grand National car for such racing legends as Dale Earnhardt, Johnny Rutherford, and several others. A native of Eastaboga, AL, Ray has grown up around the sport of stock car racing and has been addicted since his go-cart days at age ten. He has since seen success at many different levels of racing including quarter-midgets, mini-sprints, late models, and legends cars. Kevin has also competed in both the ARCA and Busch series, as well as the NASCAR All-Pro Series. He is excited to be making his NEXTEL Cup debut next week with a legend like Junie Donlavey. "I am extremely excited about making my first NEXTEL Cup Series start at Dover next week," said Ray. "I have never driven at Dover, however my confidence is really ramped up for this event and all of the events on our schedule, and I feel confident about both my ability and the ability of the team members we have selected."
Co-primary sponsors for the selected races will be Boudreaux's Butt Paste, and RacingUSA.com. Both are veteran sponsors and both are
looking forward to being involved with Ray and Donlavey. Boudreaux's Butt Paste is a company based out of Covington, Louisiana. The product was originally developed over twenty years ago by local pharmacist George Boudreaux in response to his customers' need for a diaper rash medication. The product worked so well that George Boudreaux began selling it to other fine pharmacies and is now sold throughout the country in Walmart, Target, soon to be Walgreens, as well as in many other grocery and drug chains. It's not just for diaper rash anymore, however. Over the years, the product has shown to be effective in treating things like, rashes, minor burns, chapped lips, insect bites, and many other skin ailments. It is used by many collegiate as well as professional athletes around the country to prevent chafing. After features on Oprah, ESPN-Game Day, and in magazines like People, buttpaste.com has seen a sharp increase in interest and in sales. George Boudreaux has previously sponsored Kim Crosby in both the ARCA and the Busch Series, and is excited to be making the jump to the NEXTEL Cup Series with Junie Donlavey and Kevin Ray. The Co-Primary sponsor on the #90 Ford will be RacingUSA.com. RacingUSA is based right in the backyard of Kevin Ray in Hoover, Alabama and is the most frequently shopped, independently owned site on the internet for NASCAR merchandise. Since it's inception in 1999, RacingUSA.com has shipped more than 100,000 internet orders and has also been continually rated "Excellent" by NASCAR fans in both the United States and Canada. RacingUSA.com also has a long history of supporting multiple youth organizations as well as drivers in the NEXTEL Cup, Busch, Craftsman Truck, and ARCA Series'.(Victory Lane Motorsports Management PR)(5-26-2004) IMAGE: see an image of the car on my 2004 Cup Paint Schemes page.(5-27-2004)
#90 Gets a Sponsor for the 500: The #90 Ford owned by Junie Donlavey and driven at Daytona by Andy Hillenburg, will be sponsored by Nashville's Music City Motorplex [www.musiccitymotorplex.com], which may be part of a Daytona 500 first — a race track sponsoring a race car. Hillenburg will attempt to qualify the #90 Ford for Donlavey. Motorplex President Joe Mattioli, a longtime friend of Donlavey, announced the sponsorship yesterday. ''It'll be fun,'' Mattioli said, ''and it will give our track some national exposure.''(Tennessean)(2-12-2004)
Donlavey's team Back [make it 46]: For the 54th consecutive year, Junie Donlavey has brought his Richmond, Va.-based team to the motorsports mecca by the beach. Donlavey, whose team hasn't attempted to qualify for a Cup race since last year's Daytona 500, has entered his No. 90 Ford in this year's season-opening race. Morgan Shepherd is listed as the driver, but Donlavey still is working out details of who will pilot the car. He expects to know by today. The team owner doesn't have a sponsor for the 500-mile event, which has become a recurring theme. Donlavey last fielded a full-season effort in 2001. He contemplated shutting down his garage on Old Midlothan Turnpike after losing a sponsor midway through the 2002 season.(Richmond Times Dispatch), NASCAR has Andy Hillenburg listed as the driver.(2-7-2004)
Donlavey Racing to run Nashville ARCA race: This weekend, Junie Donlavey's ARCA team, featuring driver Jason Hedlesky in the EMP Stewart Components Ford, will try to earn a spot in the lineup for Saturday's Waste Management 200. EMP Stewart Components is an industry leader in high performance cooling systems. "We took Jason to Nashville when the track first opened," Donlavey said from his shop in Richmond, Va. "It was one of the weekends the Winston Cup Series was off, and I went there to watch practice and qualifying. Jason had difficulty with the car on his second qualifying lap, and it got too beat up to fix before race time. What a difference two years makes. Jason has made terrific strides, and I've been proud of the progress he has made during a sporadic driving schedule. I look for him to accomplish a career-best finish there this weekend." Waste Management, Superior Logistics Services and Accu Industries are associate sponsors of the team this weekend, and Donlavey and Hedlesky will sign autographs and answer questions for the 200-300 Waste Management employees at the race.(Keystone Marketing PR)(8-7-2003)
Donlavey car at MIS in ARCA: NASCAR Winston Cup Series #90 team owner Junie Donlavey has always been known to give a young driver a helping hand. A perfect example is the support he has given to his team manager's ARCA effort for the past couple of years. For this week's ARCA race at Michigan International Speedway, Donlavey has additional help. Jason Hedlesky, a native of Clinton, MI, will drive the EMP Stewart Components Ford in Saturday's Flagstar 200. EMP Stewart Components is an industry leader in high performance cooling systems. This will mark Hedlesky's fourth trip in as many years to MIS. He has been headed for top-10 finishes the past two seasons until engine and pit road glitches spoiled his effort. The only competition Hedlesky has seen this season is The Winston Open in May at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Donlavey will be accompanying the team to Michigan to help Ford celebrate its 100th Anniversary. Donlavey has been associated with Ford for more than 50 years and received the Spirit of Ford award.(Keystone Marketing PR)(6-11-2003)
Mast on Totally NASCAR on Thursday: On Thursday's Totally NASCAR, Krista Voda and producer Alan Dietz sit down with Rick Mast to talk about his sudden retirement and the dangers of carbon monoxide at the racetrack. There is a phantom menace that silently drifts in and out of our lives on a daily basis. It cannot be seen, smelled, or detected before it has already done damage to its victim. See the show on Thursday, March 6th at 6:00pm/local on Fox Sports Net and at 6:30pm/et on Speed Channel.(read more at FoxSports)(3-5-2003)
Donlavey Plans Up in the air: Junie Donlavey's #90 Ford team missed qualifying for the Daytona 500 for the third consecutive season yesterday. Kirk Shelmerdine started 24th and finished 23rd in the second 125-mile qualifying race at Daytona. Shelmerdine needed to finish at least 15th, and Donlavey estimated his #90 Ford needed to be a half-second faster per lap to have a shot at making the field. "We just didn't have what we needed," he said. "This was a week of 'Let's go down and test and see how far off we are.' " The team has no plans to attend any upcoming Winston Cup races, but Donlavey will keep his shop open and continue to hunt for sponsorship. He left open the option of returning this year.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-14-2003)
Junie Donlavey Targets Daytona 500 UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey, owner of the #90 Ford, doesn't possess a driver or a sponsor, but he does hold the will to bring his Richmond-based Winston Cup team to Daytona International Speedway this week to attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500. An offseason search for financial backing has proved fruitless, but the team decided to finish preparing a superspeedway car and make the trip.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-2-2003) UPDATE: Kirk Shelmerdine will run the #90 Freddie B's Ford fielded by Donlavey Racing at the Daytona 500. Freddie B's is in Winston-Salem, NC. See a drawing of the car on my Paint Schemes Gallery.(2-3-2003) UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey has hired a driver who is well known for his accomplishments in the Winston Cup Series but not for what he's done behind the wheel. Kirk Shelmerdine, who helped guide Dale Earnhardt to four Winston Cup championships between 1986-92, will attempt to qualify Donlavey's #90 Ford for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16. Shelmerdine retired as a crew chief in 1992 and since has driven part time in several series, including Cup, CTS, BGN and ARCA. Shelmerdine contacted Donlavey last Friday, and a deal was worked out Saturday. Shelmerdine is bringing sponsorship to the Richmond-based team from a restaurant in Winston-Salem, NC. Donlavey, who missed nearly all of last year's second half, received a steady stream of well-wishers while standing at the back of his hauler yesterday. "It's good to be back," said Donlavey, who is attending his 53rd Daytona 500 as a car owner. "I've met so many nice people doing this, and they're worth more to me than all the money in the world."(Richmond Times Dispatch) AND Kirk Shelmerdine has a one-race deal to run for car owner Junie Donlavey, with quarterpanel sponsorship from the Sioux Indian Tribe of Minnesota and Freddie B's Sports Bar in Winston-Salem.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-8-2003)
Rick Mast Retires: After suffering from acute and chronic exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning, veteran driver Rick Mast is retiring from Winston Cup racing, NASCAR Winston Cup Scene reports this week. Mast told reporter Rea White that he cannot risk further exposure to carbon monoxide. Mast, who was to announce his retirement at a news conference today, plans to work with NASCAR to help other drivers avoid suffering long-term effects from exposure to the invisible gas. Mast, a 45-year-old Virginian who began competing in the Winston Cup Series on a part-time basis in 1988 and a full-time basis in 1991, ran in nine races last year before being sidelined by the illness.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter and ThatsRacin.com), see Mast's stats at MotorsportsOne.(1-22-2003)
Mast Update: been told by some readers that Rick Mast [who last drove in the Cup series last May in the #90 Ford] was interviewed by WDBJ 7 on January 16th 2003. In the interview the News stated that Mast's ailment was diagnosed in November of 2002. Mast stated that on a scale of 0% to 100% where 0% is dead and 100% is perfect health when he stopped driving, he was at 20% and he is now at 80%. Mast would not comment about his ailment, except to say that he has been working closely with NASCAR and a statement would be forth coming within a few weeks.(1-17-2003)
Donlavey at Daytona? UPDATE: hearing the #90 Donlavey Racing team has a new Ford Taurus ready to take to Daytona for testing the the Daytona 500, no word on a driver or a sponsor.(1-3-2003) UPDATE: Junie Donlavey is hoping to field a car in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16, but the Richmond-based team owner said he isn't expect-ing to attend the upcoming test sessions at the 2.5-mile speedway. Donlavey's #90 finished 42nd in the standings last season and would be slated to test Jan. 14-16 with teams that placed in the even-numbered positions. Donlavey hasn't hired a driver for the car, which missed more than half of 2002 after losing its primary sponsor. The team still is hunting for financial support, and Donlavey said he is planning to meet with potential sponsors in a few weeks. "I'm not going to have someone drive it until I have a sponsor," Donlavey said.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(1-5-2003)
Mast News: Cup driver Rick Mast was on Fox Sports Net's NASCAR This Morning, interviewing Ganassi Racing people about their motor coaches [a taped interview from April 2001], Steve Waid of Winston Cup Scene, one of the hosts of the show mentioned that Mast is at 70% and that doctors determined he suffered from some sort of toxcity and there is no word on when or if he will return to racing. From the Fox Sports site: John Roberts: It's been awhile since we heard from "The Rickster," but Steve Waid, I understand you had a chance to talk to him. Steve Waid: Yeah, I spoke to him this past week. "The Rickster" is doing just fine. He's in great spirits. He says he's about 70 percent. The doctors have determined that he did suffer from some kind of toxicity. No decision yet whether he'll be racing again. He certainly hopes to be. But for the time being, guys, he's doing just fine. He's in great spirits, and we wish the best for "The Rickster." We'd like to see him back in the car.(11-17-2002)
Hooper in the #90 at Phoenix: Once again, Lance Hooper will endeavor to compete in two top series NASCAR events, the CTS and Cup races, this weekend at Phoenix. This won't be the first time Hooper has attempted a double duty weekend. At Dover this June, he ran in the CTS race and the BGN MBNA 200, coming from the back of the field to finish 23rd. Hooper belongs to a rather elite group of only seven drivers, including Kenny Schrader and Tony Stewart, who have raced in all three of NASCAR's top series this year. Ingles Market continues their associate sponsorship of Hooper for both the Cup race and the CTS. Their sponsorship of Hooper extends back through five years for ARCA, CTS, BGN, and WC races. This year, Ingles co-sponsored Hooper's truck, BGN Dover ride, and Bristol WC August run. "We are really grateful for Ingles Market's loyalty to us through the last five years," states Hooper." Not only have they been a great associate sponsor, they have provided the food for our team for many races." Hooper will be trying to make the field for Phoenix in the # 90 Ford (not the #47 as listed on the entry list), a partnership between Junie Donlavey and Roger Smith, from Naples FL. Hooper drove Smith/Dovlavey's car in August for the Cup Bristol race. Within hundreds of a second to qualify on time, Hooper took a provisional and not only improved his start by 12 positions, but loaded an almost unscathed car at the end of the night, despite the usual Bristol melee.(Lance Hooper Racing PR), NOTE: the #90 team is out of provisionals and will need to make the field on speed)(11-5-2002)
Mast Update: On ESPN2's RPM2Night it was mentioned that Rick Mast, while still having no firm idea on what is wrong, the Doctor's suspect he has long term carbon monoxide poisioning. Mast says he feels 50% and has no idea when he will be able to race again.(10-21-2002)
Junie Honored: Longtime team owner Junie Donlavey of Richmond got another lifetime achievement award Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The latest is the Smokey Yunick Award, named for the late NASCAR pioneer.(Daily Press)(10-14-2002)
Donlavey Racing to run at Lowe's Motor Speedway: #90 Winston Cup Series car owner Junie Donlavey could not make it back to the track in time for his hometown race at Richmond International Raceway, he figured making his return in NASCAR's unofficial hometown would be the next best thing. Lucas Oil will sponsor Donlavey's #90 Ford Taurus in the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, NC. Donlavey will also receive backing from Suburban Franchise, Superior Logistics Services, and Hawk Sawblades. In typical Donlavey fashion, he is putting a rookie behind the wheel of the Lucas Oil Ford. Jason Hedlesky, who has competed in five ARCA events in the last three years at Lowe's Motor Speedway, will slip into a Winston Cup car for the first time as a driver.. He has been an ARCA competitor for the past three seasons and had two 14th-place finishes (Atlanta and Michigan) in 2000, which represent his career-best efforts.. Hedlesky qualified ninth and finished 15th in the ARCA event at Charlotte this season. Hedlesky has also been Donlavey Racing's team manager since 1999. Hedlesky had a great run in the ARCA series race earlier this year at Michigan.. Hedlesky qualified 14th and was in third place when he came to pit road for a scheduled stop and was trapped on pit road by a caution period.. Hedlesky finished 17th. The Clinton, MI native also has one CTS start, at Michigan he started 22nd and finished 31st earlier this season. Prior to the Oct. 13 event, Donlavey will receive the Smokey Yunick Award, recognizing his lifetime achievement in auto racing, which has spanned the life of NASCAR.. Previous winners of the Smokey Yunick Award include Bill Simpson, Ralph Moody, Banjo Matthews, Bud Moore and Cotton Owens.(Keystone Marketing PR)(10-4-2002)
Junie Donlavey to Receive Smokey Yunick Award: Longtime NASCAR Winston Cup #90 car owner Junie Donlavey will be honored with the Smokey Yunick Award, recognizing lifetime achievement in auto racing, prior to the Oct. 13 UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR Winston Cup event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The award, instituted several years ago by legendary car owner and mechanic Smokey Yunick who passed away May 11, 2001, annually recognizes an individual whose lifelong efforts have had a major impact on the motorsports industry. Through the years, Donlavey and his Richmond, Va.-based race team have fielded Winston Cup cars for more than 70 drivers, 14 of who were included among the list of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. A Navy veteran, Donlavey tried his hand behind the wheel in the late 1940s and quickly saw his talents were better suited to owning and building race cars. He began fielding a modified stock car in 1949 and had Bob Apperson in the driver's seat when NASCAR went superspeedway racing for the first time on Sept. 4, 1950, at South Carolina's Darlington Raceway. The blue ribbon panel that annually determines the Smokey Yunick Award recipient unanimously selected Donlavey to receive this year's award. Previous winners of the Smokey Yunick Award include Bill Simpson, Ralph Moody, Banjo Matthews, Bud Moore and Cotton Owens.(LMS PR)(9-17-2002)
Donlavey still looking for sponsor, hopes to return: Junie Donlavey still is hunting for sponsorship for his #90 Ford for next season and doesn't anticipate making a full-time return to Winston Cup this season. The 78-year-old team owner said he also would like to step away from the day-to-day operations in the future. "The ideal situation would be to be involved not in the mainstream of it but kind of on the edge," Donlavey said. "I'd like a way to have time to talk to everybody and have someone else run it. That would be the perfect situation." Donlavey's team likely won't be on the entry list for its hometown race, Saturday's Monte Carlo 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Without a regular driver since Rick Mast fell ill in May, Donlavey is leery about trying to make the RIR race with a fresh face.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-3-2002)
Mast UPDATES: been asked, didn't know, Lee Spencer answered some email at the Sporting News on what is up with Cup driver Rick Mast: " Q: What's going on with Rick Mast? I heard he was having health problems and that doctors were running tests on him. Could you please bring me up to date? A: Mast had been suffering from severe headaches and over several months lost an extreme amount of weight. He says he felt "deathly ill" after his last race in May at Richmond. With NASCAR's help, Mast saw specialists at the Mayo Clinic, but they were unable to give him "definitive answers." Although doctors found no signs of cancer, they did not rule out the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.(Sporting News) AND #90 Team Owner Junie Donlavey confirmed to XM/NASCAR Radio's Chris McClain in an interview on Tuesday that Rick Mast is suffering from Carbon Monoxide poisoning. AND II: ESPN2's RPM2Night host, John Kernan recorded an interview today for RPM Now on ESPN radio this weekend and plans to run a portion of it on RPM2Night tonight (6:30pm/et on ESPN2). Mast says the doctors have still not determined what is wrong with him and says carbon monoxide is a possiblity, but it has not been confirmed. Mast is also going out to Colorado in a couple of weeks for some more extensive tests.(8-22-2002)
Hooper in the #90 at Bristol? UPDATE: hearing the #90 Donlavey Racing Ford will be driven at Bristol by Lance Hooper.(see a few images of the car on the Hooper site. UPDATE: Legendary Car Owner, Junie Donlavey, will make his return to Cup at Bristol. Donlavey will be assisting driver Lance Hooper, Roger Smith and former Winston Cup owner Richard Jackson in their efforts to make their first start of the season. Lucas Oil will serve as primary sponsor with JJ Baker Homes, Ingles Markets and Suburban Lodges of America as associate sponsors of the #90 Donlavey Racing Ford. "Richard is a good friend of mine. He approached me about helping Lance and Roger out and I thought it would be great opportunity for all those involved," Donlavey said. Donlavey Racing is still under operation in Richmond although it is in a scaled back manner. "We will be back," Donlavey said. " We are actively searching for sponsorship to run some races later in the year and a full season next. I enjoy being at the track and competition that is involved in this sport."(Keystone Marketing PR), see images of the car at my Paint Scheme Gallery.(8-19-2002)
Donlavey back at RIR? #90 team owner Junie Donlavey is contemplating a return to Winston Cup racing later this year. Donlavey has approached Robert Pressley about driving for the team in the Sept. 7 Monte Carlo 400 at his home track, Richmond International Raceway, and the UAW-GM 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Oct. 13. Donlavey has been idle since competing with Hermie Sadler at Pocono Raceway June 9.(Winston Cup Scene - need subscribtion to read)(8-15-2002)
Berrier back in the #90 car at Daytona, team will run at Chicago also UPDATE 2 to close up?: Ed Berrier will return to drive Junie Donlavey's #90 Ford at Daytona this weekend. The Richmond-based team also has committed to running the July 14 race at Chicagoland Speedway. After losing its sponsor, Donlavey's operation skipped the June 23 race at Sonoma, CA. Berrier, who drove 10 races for Donlavey Racing in the 2000 season, will become the team's fourth driver this season. Rick Mast started 2002 behind the wheel but has been sidelined since May with an undetermined illness [still no word on his condition]. Hermie Sadler and Gary Bradberry also have driven for Donlavey during the past few races.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-2-2002) UPDATE - close up? No Chicago? Donlavey, at 78 one of the most respected and well-liked residents of the Winston Cup garage, plans to close his Richmond, VA., racing shop after this week. As is usually the case, money is the issue. Donlavey has run out of sponsors and says he can't fund the team from his back pocket.(Greenville News), so Daytona and Done?(7-5-2002) UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey's #90 team was one of two that failed to qualify for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Donlavey said he is reconsidering whether he will take his team to Chicagoland Speedway next week while his team hunts for sponsorship. "I think we'll back it down the next couple of weeks and see if we can put something together," the 78-year-old said.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-6-2002)
Nothing new on Rick Mast: #90 team owner Junie Donlavey said Rick Mast's medical problem has not been diagnosed. Mast stopped driving after losing weight and suffering from severe fatigue. "They've found out a lot of things that's not wrong with him," Donlavey said. "In analyzing the problems he's got, it's almost like he's got carbon monoxide poisoning. He's losing weight. He has no energy. He sleeps all the time. He said it's hard to concentrate. All they know is he doesn't have cancer or a lot of other stuff. I'm not sure he'll ever come back around again."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4th of July 2002)
Berrier back in the #90 car at Daytona, team will run at Chicago also: Ed Berrier will return to drive Junie Donlavey's #90 Ford at Daytona this weekend. The Richmond-based team also has committed to running the July 14 race at Chicagoland Speedway. After losing its sponsor, Donlavey's operation skipped the June 23 race at Sonoma, CA. Berrier, who drove 10 races for Donlavey Racing in the 2000 season, will become the team's fourth driver this season. Rick Mast started 2002 behind the wheel but has been sidelined since May with an undetermined illness [still no word on his condition]. Hermie Sadler and Gary Bradberry also have driven for Donlavey during the past few races.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-2-2002)
Rick Mast's Condition? been asked quite a bit about ailing #90 driver, Rick Mast, have not heard a thing, if I do, it'll be posted.(6-27-2002)
Donlavey Retiring/Closing Team? UPDATE: 78-year old Junie Donlavey, who owns the #90 Cup team, said on Saturday that he's thinking of retiring. Sauer pulled their sponsorship from the team after the Pocono race [actually it was a part season deal]. Driver Rick Mast has been absent from the team for several weeks with an undiagnosed illness. Donlavey has been fielding Winston Cup cars for 52 years and he wants to go to Daytona one more time and is still searching for a sponsor as he says he can't do it out of his own pocket, but it's not looking very good. "I'm going to find a way to go to Daytona in July," said Donlavey, "I just want to be there for one more race."(Insider Racing News) AND Longtime Winston Cup team owner Junie Donlavey said Sunday that his team will not be at Sears Point next weekend and may fold if it can't find a sponsor. However, Donlavey does plan to take his team to Daytona next month.(USA Today)(6-17-2002)
