Nemechek Out 4 Weeks? UPDATE 3 Hamilton Jr in: Joe Nemechek, injured in a test session crash last week at Dover, may miss four to six weeks from the series schedule. Nemechek was at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for a brief time Thursday, but returned to his motorhome late in the afternoon. His mother, Martha Nemechek, said he still suffered pain in his neck but was getting better every day. Nemechek broke his right shoulder blade, right elbow and suffered a small lung bruise in the accident, which totaled his Grand National series car. Bobby Hamilton Jr. is driving Nemechek’s #33 Winston Cup car this weekend at Charlotte, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive his # 87 Chevy in Saturday’s Carquest 300 Grand National race. Nemechek’s Winston Cup car owner, Andy Petree, said Hamilton Jr. would likely drive the #33 at Dover on June 3. Beyond that, he said nothing was set(That’s Racin’)(5-24-2001) UPDATE: FSN’s Totally NASCAR reports that Joe Nemechek said he won’t race again until at least Pocono on June 17th. Also reported that there was no word on who if anyone will drive Nemechek’s BGN car at Dover next week(FSN’s Totally NASCAR)(5-25-2001) UPDATE 2: At this point, Joe Nemechek’s BGN sponsor, Cellular One has graciously allowed the team to sit out the Dover race. Nemechek will be making up that race to them at Kentucky with Jeff Fuller driving the #87 Chevy. Nemechek’s next planned BGN race will be at Chicago. As far as his Cup plans, right now Nemechek is focused on getting healthy and helping #33 team owner Andy Petree obtain a new sponsor for the #33 car, and has not considered or discussed any other options beyond the 33 for the 2002 season and beyond(5-28-2001) UPDATE 3: Bobby Hamilton, Jr. returns to the #33 Oakwood Homes Chevrolet this week, and will compete for Andy Petree Racing in Sunday’s MBNA Platinum 400 at the one-mile, high-banked Dover Downs International Speedway. Hamilton, Jr. is running for regular driver Joe Nemechek, who was injured in a crash during BGN testing at Dover a couple of weeks ago. Nemechek, who has a broken right scapula and broken right arm near his elbow, missed The Winston weekend and this past week.s Coca-Cola 600 at Concord, N.C. Hamilton finished 39th last week in the 600 but was running consistently before a crash near the midway point of the race. These races are important ones to Petree, who is in the middle of a search for sponsorship for the #33 car next season. Petree and Oakwood Homes announced several weeks ago that due to the current state of the manufactured housing industry, Oakwood Homes will not be a primary sponsor on Joe Nemechek.s #33 Oakwood Homes Chevrolet beginning next season. That means Petree is seeking sponsorship for 2002. Oakwood has already said it would look at stepping back should a primary sponsor for next season want to begin this year(Williams Compamy)(5-29-2001)
