Leitzinger to run at Watkins Glen: Cicci-Welliver Racing will return to this year’s Global Crossing@the Glen Winston Cup race in August with accomplished road racer Butch Leitzinger. The team’s first choice would have been road race specialist Ron Fellows, who won last year’s Lysol 200 BGN race at Watkins Glen. Fellows had already committed to return to the Glen with Joe Nemechek’s team. Boris Said, another road race veteran, was also not available. Cicci-Welliver chose Leitzinger, who finished a close second to Fellows in the Lysol 200. The two-time world sports car champion and three-time 24 Hours of Daytona winner will drive the #34 Chevy owned by Frank Cicci Jr., and cousins Scott and Jeff Welliver. They had considered gambling on other road racers who were inexperienced in NASCAR racing, such as Champ Car(CART) driver Max Papis. Cicci said they are still negotiating for a sponsor to complete the deal. It is likely that the New York State Tourism bureau will return as the primary sponsor with its “I Love New York” campaign. Leitzinger, of State College, has made only a few NASCAR appearances, all on road courses. He has three Busch North Series wins: two at Line Rock Park, Conn., and one at the Glen. He finished 20th in his last Watkins Glen Winston Cup race in 1996 in the No. 29 Cartoon Network Chevy. Todd Bodine had been Cicci-Welliver’s primary Winston Cup fill-in driver at Watkins Glen, competing twice in the past, including last year. In 1997, Bodine and Cicci-Welliver Racing earned the pole qualifying spot. Bodine is now competing full time in Winston Cup with the #66 Haas-Carter team(Elmira Star Gazette)(2-8-2001)
