Am hearing all kinds of reports that something is going on with the #30 team today, what?? not sure, could be the sale of the team?? Shut down?? Sponsor gone?? one thing I hear is that owner Chuck Rider has sold to the Barry Dodson group. Apparently, this was finalized today. Team keeps going. Not sure on sponsor or driver — UPDATE PR: Bahari Racing owner Chuck Rider announced today that he has sold the team to Eel River Racing, LLC, a newly formed team owned by Boston businessman Jack Birmingham. Birmingham said 1990 Daytona 500 champion Derrike Cope will remain as the driver of the team for the remainder of the season, but the team and Cope are free to contract with others for the 2000 season. Jimmy Dean, Bryan Foods, State Fair Brand Corn Dogs and Rudys Farm will continue to serve as rotating sponsors on the #30 Pontiac Grand Prixs. Rider has agreed to be an officer of the newly formed team, which will be known as Bahari-Eel River Racing. Birmingham, 57, is a native of Boston, and has homes in Osterville, Mass., and Vero Beach, Fla. Eel River flows through Osterville where Birmingham resides during the summer months. Rider formed Bahari Racing in 1987. His teams have earned 16 top-five and 69 top-10 finishes over that span, accumulating more than $7.5 million in earnings. Cope said his goal is to have a competitive rebirth during the remainder of the season. Bob Tomlinson, who served as Cale Yarborough Motorsports team manger when Cope was the driver from 1993-94, will serve in the same capacity at Bahari-Eel River Racing. Devin Birmingham, a marketing expert employed at Kellogg Co., will be part of the management team(Bahari PR) — UPDATE: full story at That’s Racin’: Rider announces sale of Bahari’ Racing by David Poole and from SpeedNet: Cope was in the 2nd year of a three-year commitment with Bahari’ Racing, but with the circumstances the way they are, he has been able to come to terms on being released from any 2000 commitment( SpeedNet )
