#27 in Trouble? UPDATE 3 – Sponsor For Atlanta: Team sources say the Eel River Racing team may be nearing the end of the line. The Pontiac team and driver Kenny Wallace have competed in the seasons first three races without major sponsorship, and the latest blow occurred supposedly when NASCAR refused to allow a proposed sponsorship from Penthouse magazine. The crewman said the team was operating practically on a “day-to-day” basis, with parts and other materials ordered over the winter still stacked up and unopened in a warehouse(Gaston Gazette)(3-5-2001) UPDATE: From Kenny Wallace – “Again I have to comment on rumors that have no foundation. Once again Monte Dutton has written an article which simply has very little truth to it. Don’t get me wrong, I respect Monte, but that article simply does nothing more then take our team apart from the inside out and scare away sponsors, not just from the 27, but all of NASCAR. The Eel River Racing Team, is where ME, KENNY WALLACE, drove Sunday, and WILL drive next Sunday, and the rest of the season. SIMPLE.”(Kenny Wallace Site)(3-7-2001) UPDATE 2: A spokesman for the Eel River Racing team disputed suggestions the team is in imminent danger. While still sponsorless, he said the team was still running full speed ahead at present and operating “as if we had sponsorship.” He also said the rumor that NASCAR had prevented the team from accepting sponsorship from Penthouse magazine was groundless.(Gaston Gazette) UPDATE – Sponsor for Atlanta: Williams Bros. Lumber Company, an Atlanta based Building Material and Lumber Supplier, has agreed to be the primary sponsor of the #27 Kenny Wallace Pontiac for this Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This one race sponsorship will be Williams Bros. first on the NASCAR circuit, they have sponsored several local drivers at local and southeast tracks and earlier this year sponsored Mark Gibson in the ARCA race at Daytona. Jerry Johnson and Sonny Calhoun, the owners of Williams Bros., are big race fans and are very excited about the sponsorship. The #27 Pontiac race car will be white with several large red and black WB logo’s on the fenders and bumpers. The hood will remain blank due to no long term sponsorship.(3-9-2001)
