Skinner to have Surgery UPDATE 4 Gordon in NOW: Mike Skinner: “I’m going to have surgery on my left knee sometime later in the season. The doctors are going to replace my ACL and repair my MCL but I don’t know just yet when we’re going to do it. I’ve got to sit down with Richard and work that out. I need to do it soon so I have time to do the rehab and be 100-percent when the next season rolls around. I’ve definitely decided to have knee surgery so now I’ve got to get it scheduled and find a time to say good-bye to Richard and the guys. Finding a good time to say good-bye to a man’s race team is a hard time to find. I’ve still got some thinking to do about it.”(RCR Racing)(9-20-2001) UPDATE: it was reported on Friday’s FSN’s Totally NASCAR that Skinner may leave the #31 RCR team early to get the sugery done as it would take 4-6 months to heal and that he hopes to make an announcement on his 2002 plans very soon and wants to be 100% for his new team when the 2002 Daytona 500 rolls around in February. Rumors have Skinner in either the #4-Kodak Chevy, the #33-APR Chevy or the #77 Jasper Motorsports Ford in 2002(9-22-2001) UPDATE 2: while it’s not yet official, but Robby Gordon is already busy cutting commercials as new driver for Richard Childress’ Cingular-sponsored team next season. And Gordon could be back in Childress’ Chevy within the next few weeks, possibly by Charlotte, depending on when or if Mike Skinner decides to step out for extensive knee surgery. “It would be very easy to put Robby in the car (if Skinner goes into the hospital), and that would be the most logical choice, since we already have some time with him,” team manager David Smith said. “Mike has discussed it (surgery) with us, and we’ll just work around it if it comes up.”(Winston Salem Journal) – also hearing the strongest rumor for Skinner in 2002? the #4 Kodak Chevy ride and the #77 ride and Skinner are making rounds(9-23-2001) UPDATE 3: Robby Gordon might be in the No. 31 by Oct. 14 at Martinsville(Sporting News)(9-24-2001) UPDATE 4: Robby Gordon will drive the #31 Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse Chevy for the remainder of the Cup Series season to allow Mike Skinner the opportunity to have surgery on his injured left knee. The move brings to a conclusion Skinner’s seven-season tenure as a driver for Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Reconstructive surgery has been scheduled for Oct. 2 as a result of Skinner aggravating the injury in a crash at Richmond. Gordon will also pilot the #21 Rockwell Automation/Brant Motorsports Chevrolet for RCR in the BGN at Kansas and Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(RCR Racing PR), no announcement was made on the 2002 driver of the #31 car which will have Cingular as it’s sponsor in 2002(9-25-2001)
