NASCAR Personnel Moves in the future? UPDATE 3 – Nelson and Darby: Gary Nelson may indeed have other duties in the organization by next year, NASCAR officials say. Nelson was rumored last fall to be on the way out, but NASCAR President Mike Helton insisted in December that Nelson would stay in place for the time being. Darlington Speedway’s John Hunter said Friday, however, that Nelson’s duties would change and perhaps expand, possibly by the end of this year, noting that Nelson would remain with the company in some unspecified capacity. Asked about successors, Hunter agreed that present BGN director John Darby is a likely candidate, and that others not currently in NASCAR, or in NASCAR garage roles, also are on the radar(SpeedVision)(1-13-2001) UPDATE: Gary Nelson’s duties could pass to subordinates Buster Auton and Brian DeHart as the season goes on. NASCAR is developing a research facility in Dale Jarrett’s old Busch shop in Conover/Hickory, N.C., and it appears likely that Nelson is being pointed in that direction. SpeedVision hear conflicting reports on Busch Series director John Darby, a) that he would be offered Nelson’s job for 2002 and would take it, and b) that he would be offered Nelson’s job and turn it down, preferring his present role(SpeedVision)(3-19-2001) UPDATE 2: Circle Racing Online’s NASCAR sources say the current garage talk about the future of Gary Nelson as Winston Cup Series Director is heating up, yet again. We first got a rippling of a possible “promotion up and out” for Nelson at last year’s Phoenix Winston Cup race. Supposedly, his days were numbered until February of 2001. Well, it’s at tribute to his staying power (or the general infidelity of vile garage talk rumors) that it’s months later and Nelson still stands at the highest position in the Competition section of NASCAR’s staff. But that was before Dale Earnhardt’s death at this year’s Daytona 500. The resulting public relations debacle for NASCAR has lately revived talk of Nelson’s movement to a different position. The latest “best-case” version is that Nelson may head up NASCAR’s new safety R&D facility in Hickory, NC, and that other BGN Director John Darby will move up to take his place. Darby’s vacant BGN position would then be filled by current CTS Director Wayne Auton(Circle Racing Online)(5-15-2001) UPDATE 3: Rumor has it that Busch Series director John Darby is in line to replace current Winston Cup director Gary Nelson at the end of the 2001 season. Nelson, who took the director’s job ten years ago, is expected to move to NASCAR’s research and development department in Hickory, N.C. Before taking the director’s job, Nelson was a top-notch crew chief, winning 21 Winston Cup races in 258 starts. Even though the change is effective at the end of the season, the official announcement is expected before then.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(9-1-2001)
