#96 to skip NHIS? Pocono? UPDATE 5 Official Statement: hearing that the #96 PPI Motorsports team and driver Andy Houston will not be running at New Hampshire or Pocono and still hearing rumors that McDonald’s is pulling out UPDATE: ESPN2’s RPM 2Night is reporting that Houston and the #96 team will not run any races until the Brickyard 400 on August 5th (skipping NHIS and Pocono)(7-16-2001) UPDATE 2: on Tuesday’s RPM 2Night it was reported that Andy Houston wanted to make sure folks know that he has not been released from the #96 McDonalds PPI Motorsports ride and has heard nothing official from the team about missing any races. PPI Motorsports says they have having ‘challenges’ regarding the McDonalds sponsorship. Also am hearing PPI released a bunch of employees who worked on the #96 and McDoanlds is very close to leaving the team and it is not sure what their future involvement in the sport is.(7-18-2001) UPDATE 3: Team Rensi Motorsports announced today, Andy Houston will drive the #25 Team Marines Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo in this weekends CARQUEST Autoparts 250 at Gateway International Raceway. Team Rensi Public Relations Representative, Shelly DeCaro stated, David Donohue will continue his development and relationship with Team Rensi Motorsports by testing and making appearances scheduled for the Marine Corps Recruiting Command.(Team Resni PR)(7-18-2001) UPDATE 4: PRN’s Garage Pass radio show reports the reason the #96 McDonalds PPI Motorsports Ford is not running the next two weeks is that McDonalds is not sending anymore payments and feels they have fullfilled their monetary obligations(7-19-2001) UPDATE 5: PPI Motorsports and McDonald’s are currently engaged in proactive discussions regarding the McDonald’s #96 Winston Cup entry driven by Andy Houston. While this joint evaluation continues, the decision has been made not to enter the #96 Ford in the next two Cup events at New Hampshire and Pocono. PPI Motorsports is reviewing their staff requirements and is adjusting accordingly. At present, no further comment can be made(PPI Motorsports PR) AND from a McDonalds PR: Statement by Georgina Roy, McDonald’s manager of sports marketing: “Since McDonalds and PPI Motorsports are currently in discussions relating to the sponsorship program in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the PPI-owned McDonald’s #96 Ford Taurus will not compete in this weekend’s New England 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and in next week’s Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway.”(7-19-2001)
