I am hearing that in a unique marketing move, Federated Auto Parts will campaign in three NASCAR venues in 1999. The Staunton, Va based sponsor announced today that they will enter 8 Cup, 3 BGN and 6 Craftsman Truck races for next year in addition to sponsoring the truck race at Nashville for the fourth year. Truck driver Boris Said will compete in 3 truck races and 2 Cup races, all road course venues. Ernie Irvan will handle the driving chores in 3 BGN and 3 CTS. The rest of the oval Cup race driver duties will be decided shortly. The big picture here is to get set up for a possible full-time Cup effort in perhaps…2000(Racin’ with Russ), this means they will not race a full truck schedule in 1999 and I am not looking to speculate what Irvan’s plans are for 2000.(12-16-98) — Complete story at NASCAR Online: Irvan-Simo Racing branches out . Ok folks, keep this straight — Ernie Irvan will run three BGN races in a Chevy: Michigan, Dover and Richmond(spring events). Irvan will also run truck races at Martinsville, Richmond and possibly Fontana. Irvan-Simo will run eight Cup events, with Boris Said driving a Ford at Sears Point and Watlins Glen and possibly Texas. The driver for the other five events at Fontana, Indy, NHIS, Charlotte and Homestead is not known at present. Said would also drive the Ford truck at Portland, Heartland Park(KS), Nashville and Fontana. Jerry Baxter will be the crew cheif for the Cup and Truck events, no crew chief named for the BGN effort. Have heard no car or truck #’s mentioned. I assume the #28 or #44 will be used in the trucks. All teams sponsored by Federated Auto Parts (no news on the site about this yet)(12-17-98) — Irvan will run the three BGN events in a Pontiac supplied by Hensley Motorsports(WC Today)(12-18-98) (12-18-1998)
