hearing that Greg Connors [former #50 Cup crew chief] with the #32 Jim and Judie Motorsports for 2002. Supposedly they have put together a 2002 15-race BGN deal for which sponsor Outdoor Channel is doubling their 2001 commitment, allowing for more testing and hiring of Connors. Dan Pardus is the driver of the #32 car(12-7-2001) UPDATE 2: #32 BGN owner, Jim Gardner announced Friday a sponsorship package, that will enable his team and driver Dan Pardus to race a minimum of 15 BGN races during the 2002 season. At a time when a number of BGN and Cup shops are closing in the face of sponsorship woes, Jim and Judie Motorsports’ primary 2001 sponsor, The Outdoor Channel, nearly doubled its commitment to the team for the 2002 season. Part of stepping up to that next level is the team’s newfound ability to hire a full time crew chief, something they’ve not had before. “Greg Connors, who was with Mid-West, will be joining us in January,” said Gardner. Connors, who was in the Junie Donlavey and Cale Yarborough shops before joining the Midwest Transit Racing as crew chief early in the 2000 season, worked with drivers Ricky Craven, Rick Mast and Rich Bickle during his stay at Midwest. After an on-again, off-again 2001 season, Midwest Transit closed its shop last fall in the wake of a legal dispute between the team’s former partners, Hal Hicks and Mike Witters. In another first for the team, the new deal will provide enough funds for the team to build its own car. “We’re hanging the body on it right now”, said Gardner, whose team has previously fielded only secondhand race cars. With the new deal Pardus and Gardner will also test more than ever before, up to the maximum seven tests allowed by BGN(Daytona Beach News Journal)(12-8-2001)
