Anthony Lazzaro will make his BGN debut in the McDonald’s #97 Ford Taurus, Feb. 26 at Rockingham. Lazzaro’s original plan was to make his debut at the Feb. 19th Daytona season opener, but due to a racing injury and a six-week recovering period, he was unable to meet NASCAR’s eligibility requirements for rookie entry in a superspeedway race. Lazzaro suffered a fracture of the thoracic T-3 vertebra in an accident while running fourth with seven laps remaining in last year’s (Oct. 16) ARCA race at Talladega. The injury prevented him from competing in three ensuing BGN races, which would have given the NASCAR rookie the needed seat-time to be eligible for the Daytona opener. Although Lazzaro will not compete in the Daytona opener, PPI Motorsports will enter the #97 McDonald’s Ford with a substitute driver. Wells said he will make a final decision on who the substitute driver will be in the next three to four weeks(McDonald’s PR)(1-7-2000)
