Lepage and Morgan-McClure part ways UPDATE 4 Hamilton Jr in for 7 races – Skinner signs for 3 years: Morgan-McClure Motorsports and Kevin Lepage have agreed to terminate their relationship for the remainder of the 2001 Cup season, effective immediately. Larry McClure states he feels the team needs to explore all avenues in preparation for the 2002 season. McClure enjoyed working with Kevin Lepage and his wife, Donna. Morgan-McClure wishes them the best in the future.(M-M PR), no word on who will drive at Lowes this week, but one report has Bobby Hamilton Jr AND FSN’s Totally NASCAR reported that Hamilton Jr will be the driver for the remainder of the season with the exception of Martinsville UPDATE: Morgan-McClure Motorsports announces Bobby Hamilton, Jr., as the driver for the upcoming UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Hamilton, Jr., who drives the #26 Carroll Racing BGN entry on a full time basis, will step into the #4 KODAK MAX Film Monte Carlo for the remainder of the 2001 season, with the exception of Martinsville. Hamilton, Jr., who became familiar with the Abingdon-based team while his father served as the driver from 1998-2000, has three Winston Cup Series starts this season at Charlotte, Dover and Michigan. The starts came in the #33 as a result of an injured Joe Nemechek. While continuing his driving duties in the BGN, Hamilton, Jr., will concentrate on working with Morgan-McClure in the Cup Series. He hopes to gain seat time and experience, not only in Cup, but in gaining knowledge to help in his BGN efforts as well(Morgan-McClure PR)(10-1-2001) UPDATE 2: hearing Rich Bickle could be the driver for the Martinsville race(10-2-2001) UPDATE 3: Along with Skinner, former driver of the No. 31 Richard Childress-owned Chevrolet, taking over behind the wheel for M-M, there is speculation that Hamilton Jr. will become the driver of a second M-M Winston Cup team in 2002, pending a sponsorship. Hamilton Jr. will not be able to race the #4 car at Martinsville Oct. 14 due to the fact the BGN series will be racing in Memphis that weekend. McClure said he will be looking for a more experienced driver who has run at Martinsville before(BGN does not run there).(Bristol Herald Courier), Dr. Pepper maybe. And yes, if Hamilton Jr runs all 7 races, he will had run 10 races in 2002 and will not be eligible for any future Rookie of the Year awards(10-2-2001) UPDATE 4: Morgan-McClure Motorsports has signed Mike Skinner to a three-year deal that will put him behind the wheel of the #4 Chevy starting in 2002. Skinner is scheduled to undergo knee surgery in Florida on Wednesday morning. He delayed the surgery a day, he said, in order to participate in a teleconference to make the announcement. He said he anticipated being ready for pre-season testing in January at Daytona.(NASCAR.com)(10-2-2001)
