McDonald’s Racing and PPI Motorsports will announce the team’s NASCAR Winston Cup driver for the 2001 season, Tuesday, August 29th at Noon/et(McDonalds PR) UPDATE: hearing that Andy Houston will be named as the PPI driver and ESPN2’s RPM 2Night is reporting the same thing(8-28-2000) UPDATE 2: Andy Houston has been named driver of the McDonald’s NASCAR Winston Cup entry to be fielded by PPI Motorsports, beginning in the 2001 season. Today’s announcement was made by Cal Wells III, PPI Motorsports owner and next season’s McDonald’s Winston Cup team owner. Houston, of Hickory, N.C., made an impressive debut in the Winston Cup Series earlier this month – Aug. 20 in the 400-mile race at Michigan Speedway. After starting 35th, he patiently picked his way through the field, and ran as high as sixth. While running 12th with 44 laps remaining, Houston was forced to retire from the race with an expired engine in the #96 RMHC.com Ford. In order to get a jump-start on the 2001 season, PPI Motorsports is considering to enter Houston in four additional Winston Cup races this season – Charlotte, Rockingham. Phoenix and Homestead. Houston will drive the #96 Ford Taurus, the same number and car manufacturer he will compete in next year with the McDonald’s/PPI Motorsports team. Houston, his wife, Lorie and three-year old son, Collin, reside in Hickory, NC. Andy’s father, Tommy Houston, is a legend in Busch Grand National racing. He raced in the Busch series from 1982 to 1996 and holds the Busch record for most career starts at 417. He also has the Busch series record for most consecutive starts (360), making him one of the most constant and consistent drivers in the formative years of the modern-day NASCAR Busch Series. Tommy’s 24 wins place him third on the all-time race wins list(in part from a McDonalds PR)(8-29-2000)
