Hut and Hills Bros to the #75? Lopez to the #90 UPDATE 2 Hills Bros STAYING: Anonymous sources indicate that Hut Stricklin and Hills Bros Coffee may be moving to the #75 Galaxy Motorsports team. The Galaxy Motorsports front office says “I can’t comment on anything at this time.” Racin.net has heard rumbles from the garage and from Hills Bros racing site(only on the unreliable message boards) that the #75 Galaxy Motorsports might be trying to lure Hills Bros sponsorship along with driver Hut Stricklin. Sources say Junie, who’s old fashioned, has a hand shake agreement with Hills Bros & driver Hut Stricklin. This old fashioned agreement brought up speculation that Hills Bros might move to Kenny Wallace and the #27 ride after the #90 team failed to make Martinsville(which was squashed by Hills Bros) but, now that the team missed Talladega with Yates Motors the Hills Bros site stated Hut Stricklin will drive for Hills Bros and will be in Atlanta in a Hills Bros Ford and the end of this year…they failed to mention if that Ford would have #90 on it(pure speculation). Also rumor has it now that Hut & Hills Bros might unite with #75 Galaxy Motorsports and hire Phillipe’ Lopez as crew chief after being released(he left wasn’t released) from the #14 AJ Foyt team(Racin.net), so far none of my sources have heard this and seems to be quite a few holes, but we’ll see(4-25-2001) UPDATE: Hills Bros Coffee Racing team owner Junie Donlavey has hired Felipe Lopez as a consultant for his #90 Cup team that fields Fords for veteran driver Hut Stricklin. “I think Felipe is an excellent addition to the Hills Bros Coffee Racing team,” Donlavey said. “He has experience with Hut and they communicate well with each other.” Lopez was released earlier in the season by Foyt Racing and was previously employed by Dale Earnhardt Inc. to work as crew chief with driver Steve Park. “I’m excited to work with (crew chief) Bobby King and Hut,” Lopez said. “I’m here to help them get back on track and to help Bobby continue the excellent job that he’s been doing. I feel they have the pieces laid to make this a competitive team. I’m here to help them get to that point.” Lopez worked alongside of Stricklin in 1996 and two races in 1997. The duo combined for Stricklin’s career-best, second-place finish at Darlington in 1996. “I’m happy to see us get Felipe,” Stricklin said. “He has a lot of experience that can help this young team gel together as we progress through the season. He’s a good friend and understands Bobby and myself very well.” Lopez’s first race with the Hills Bros Coffee Racing team will be this weekend at California Speedway in Fontana, CA(Keystone Marketing PR)(4-26-2001) UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey denied Internet reports that sponsor Hills Brothers would be leaving his Richmond-based team. Donlavey said he had been in contact with the CEO of the parent company of Hills Brothers. “He assured me they would be with us all year long,” Donlavey said. “We have a good relationship with Hills Brothers.” Philippe Lopez, former crew chief for A.J. Foyt’s team, has joined Donlavey’s team as a consultant to crew chief Bobby King on a race-to-race basis. Driver Hut Stricklin had failed to qualify for three of the past four races before securing the 30th spot yesterday for tomorrow’s NAPA 500 at California Speedway. “We’re right on the edge of good vs. bad,” Donlavey said. “We need that tip to push us to the good side.”(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-28-2001)
