Waddell Wilson, the NASCAR veteran who is helping A.J. Foyt put together his new Winston Cup team, said things are coming along well. Wilson said the team now has six people on payroll and about 15 more committed to join next season. One job that hasn’t been filled is driver, but Wilson said that is Foyt’s department. Foyt, according to Wilson, will be in Charlotte next weekend, perhaps to officially announce his decision to race with Pontiacs and possibly name a driver( That’s Racin’ ) — UPDATE 1: Expect A.J. Foyt’s Conseco NASCAR Winston Cup team to field Pontiacs in 2000, and if he can work out the details, sign Johnny Benson to drive it( SpeedVision ) — UPDATE 2: A.J. Foyt’s new Winston Cup team will field Pontiacs. He just doesn’t know yet who will be driving them. Except for the driver, everything seems to be falling into place for Foyt’s new Winston Cup entry. The team will be sponsored by financial services provider Conseco Inc., Foyt has acquired a race shop in Mooresville, N.C., and he has hired some key personnel, including team manager Waddell Wilson, crew chief Terry Wooten, engine builder Gregg Wilson and fabricator Bobby Watson( GoRacing and NOL ) — UPDATE 3: Gregg Wilson will head up the team’s in-house engine department. Wilson, the son of team general manager Waddell Wilson, has been working with Fischer Engines, which builds the engines used by Geoffrey Bodine’s #60 Chevrolets. Foyt said he may also lease engines from Joe Gibbs Racing if the team falls behind in its preparations( That’s Racin’ ) AND Johnny Benson and Rick Mast are the two men on Foyt’s list, but Benson appears less than interested in the option( PitNow ), Mast? — UPDATE: ….the driver of his Conseco-sponsored car will not be Johnny Benson. Billy Boat, a former sprint-car standout who now drives one of Foyts two IRL cars, may be the leading candidate. The driver of Foyts other entry, Kenny Brack, has a road racing background, and Foyt has said publicly he doesnt think Brack, the 1998 IRL champion, is ready for NASCAR. Scott Sharp is another IRL driver who has expressed some interest in the Foyt ride(Gaston Gazette)
