Dodge in BGN at RIR UPDATE 2:Steven Christian, a short-track racer from Sugar Hill, is set to be the first driver to race a Dodge Intrepid in the BGN. Christian, who made his stock car debut at Dixie Speedway in 1986, will test an Intrepid at Greenville-Pickens Speedway today(Wed) and plans to enter the BGN race at Richmond on Sept. 7. Plans are to run as many as five races this season, and if all goes well, the full schedule next year. That would mean that Dodge, which walked away from NASCAR in the late 1970s but now fields Cup and Truck Series entries, is racing in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions. Christian will drive for veteran mechanic Jim Edwards, who will help Dodge find as many as four young drivers to enter the BGN next year and work their way to Winston Cup. Edwards said Christian, 31, got the ride because he’s young and experienced, and he has a sponsor, Lucas Oil. Christian is third in points in the Hooters ProCup Series, which uses cars almost identical to those on the Busch Series but with less powerful engines. He ran a few laps in the new #94 Dodge on Monday at Peach State Speedway and was impressed with its performance. “It was outstanding for a car that is brand new from one end to the other,” he said. “There were no leaks; the body didn’t rub anywhere, and the engine was real responsive.” Edwards said the Intrepid body has been approved by NASCAR, but the team is awaiting an Aug. 1 bulletin that will give them the OK on the engine.(AJC)(7-25-2001)
UPDATE – BGN Dodge and Testing News: A sneak preview of Dodge’s first foray into the BGN will be on display at Richmond International Raceway on Tuesday and Wednesday. Steven Christian will be testing a Dodge on the .75-mile oval in preparation for the Autolite/FRAM 250 Busch race at RIR on Sept. 7. Michael Waltrip, Hal Goodson and Carl Long also will be testing Busch cars at RIR. The sessions are open to the public, and gates will be open from 8:00am to 5:00pm/et each day(Richmond Times Dispatch)(8-12-2001)
UPDATE 2: Steven Christian, attempting to be the first Dodge to make a BGN race, failed to do so at Richmond, ran a speed of 121.294mph, which was 39th. 36 Team make the race by speed, then provisionals are used, Christian with a new team had none to use and missed the field(9-6-2001)
