Curtis Markham tested a Joe Gibbs Racing car during BGN testing the last two days at Daytona. However, Markham doesn’t know if he will be in the car for the Feb. 17 NAPA 300. “Joe Gibbs gave me the opportunity to test, and we’re doing all we can to get ready for the 300,” said Markham, who has competed in the GN race here three of the last six years. “With any luck, maybe I’ll be behind the wheel.” Markham worked for the team as a special projects manager last year, helping coach drivers Jason Leffler in the Busch Series and Coy Gibbs in the Truck Series. He also ran a couple of GN races with the Gibbs stable. The GN ride opened up a couple of weeks ago after Leffler was released by the team after he signed a contract with Chip Ganassi for the 2002 season. Complicating matters, the team lost its sponsor around the same time. “We’re exploring all our options,” Markham said. “We don’t want to make a hasty decision. We want to make sure it’s somebody who fits in with our program. We want to run the Busch Series so we can build a winning team and then a championship team around him. Sounds like me, doesn’t it?”(Speed Magazine)(1-26-2001)
