“The Washington Erving Motorsports(WEM) Winston Cup Series entry for 1998 isn’t dead yet, but last rites certainly are in order. Without a primary sponsor, the team formed by former football star Joe Washington, basketball great Julius Erving and their partners has fallen woefully behind in preparation for the season, which begins next month. Meetings with potential backers continue, but Rich Bickle, who has a letter of intent to drive for the team, said Thursday that he was trying to put together his own deal to race in any of NASCAR’s top series this season.”(Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel), and WEM still has not signed a sponsor and is working out of Barry Owen’s shop in Lexington, NC. It’s choice of drivers (Rich Bickle) has not signed a contract yet(NASCAR Online)(1-24-98)
