Jason Schuler, who competed part time in the #17 Visine Chevy for Reiser Enterprises, has been released from the ride. Schuler ran the BGN events that Matt Kenseth did not, Kenseth moved up to full time Winston Cup in 2000. The 2000 season was Kenseth’s last of the original contract with sponsor Visine. Reiser said he hoped to have a new second driver in place within a couple of weeks. Schuler has been in contact with several teams and could have his plans set by then, as well(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(11-17-2000)
UPDATE: Reiser Enterprises’ deal with Visine runs through 2001, and there is an OPTION for 2002 and the team has Kenseth under contract for a partial BGN schedule in 2001(11-18-2000)
UPDATE 2: Matt Kenseth said he plans to compete in 20 BGN races in 2001 for the team owned by his Winston Cup crew chief, Robbie Reiser. Kenseth competed in 20 events in 2000 for Reiser’s team and registered four wins, at Daytona, California, Dover and Charlotte. Rookie Jason Schuler drove in the team’s remaining events, making 11 starts but failing to post a top-10 finish. Schuler has left the team and Kenseth said Reiser was working to find a driver to share duties in the #17 Chevys with Kenseth for the season. Kenseth said his BGN appearances would likely be limited to races held in conjunction with Winston Cup events(That’s Racin’)(12-10-2000)
UPDATE 3: Co-owner and team manager John Reiser of Reiser Enterprises announced that 20-year-old rookie Clay Rogers would share driving responsibilities in the Visine Chevy with veteran Matt Kenseth. Rogers, a native of Mooresville, NC, is slated to compete in 12 events in the NASCAR Busch Series. In addition, Reiser obtained services from road course specialist Boris Said to pilot the Visine Chevy at the Watkins Glen International BGN race in New York on July 8. Rogers’ competitive racing career began at age 10 driving go-karts in the World Karting Association. In five years Rogers accumulated one track championship title, two national championship titles and two state championship titles. He tallied an impressive list of 87 wins in those five seasons. In 2000 Rogers became a full-time driver in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series and finished seventh in the points standings and finished second for rookie-of-the-year honors. His season ledger noted one win, four pole awards, nine top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 20 races. Rogers debuts in the #17 Visine Chevy at the second race on the circuit at North Carolina Speedway(The Rock) on February 24. Following his first appearance at NCS, Rogers’ events include: Nashville, April 14; New Hampshire, May 12; Nazareth, May 20; Kentucky, June 16; Gateway, July 21; Pikes Peak, July 28; Indianapolis Raceway Park, Aug. 4; Bristol, Aug. 24; Richmond, Sept. 7; Memphis, Oct. 13; and Homestead-Miami, Nov. 10. Kenseth’s complete list of races features: Daytona, Feb. 17; Las Vegas, March 3; Atlanta, March 10; Darlington, March 17; Bristol, March 24; Texas, March 31; Talladega, April 21; California, April 28; Richmond, May 5; Lowe’s, May 26; Dover Downs, June 2; Milwaukee, July 1; Chicagoland, July 14; Michigan, Aug. 18; Darlington, Sept. 1; Dover, Sept. 22; Kansas, Sept. 29; Lowe’s, Oct. 6; Phoenix, Oct. 27; and North Carolina Speedway, Nov. 3.(Visine Racing PR)(1-24-2001)
