Buckshot to lose ride? UPDATE: Car owner Kyle Petty danced around reports that Buckshot Jones would be fired this week. Petty, who also owns the #44-Dodge he drives and a similar #43-Dodge for John Andretti, said Petty Enterprises has a five-year contract with Jones and sponsor Georgia Pacific. Then he admitted he’s told the entire race team they’re on notice to deliver better results. Jones, a University of Georgia graduate, had no top-10 finishes last year. He finished 41st in the point standings after failing to qualify for six races. Joe Nemechek, whose team will fold today if it doesn’t secure sponsorship, already is rumored to replace Jones.(Augusta Chronicle)(3-11-2002) UPDATE: For Petty Enterprises, the race was an upbeat one. John Andretti crashed, but the Dodges of Buckshot Jones and Kyle Petty finished 12th and 15th, respectively. Oddly enough, after the best finish of his Petty Enterprises tenure, the subject of Jones job security came up. “A lot of people are on the hot seat,” said Kyle Petty, who heads the team as well as driving for it. “Were on the hot seat: Petty Enterprises with General Mills (Andretti’ sponsor) and Georgia Pacific (Jones). The way weve run for a year, if the sponsors arent screaming, there’ a problem with that. Theyre screaming a little bit. They want us to run better. Theyre not mad at us, but they want us to run better. When that happens, a lot of times rumors start.” Petty added that Jones job security was as great as his, but that either could be out of a job as driver if circumstances dictated the move. “(The Georgia Pacific #44 Dodge) is (Jones) car,” Petty said, “it has been for the past year, and it will be in the future, as far as were concerned.” Petty added that if he decided to give up his driving career, he would hire someone else to drive the team’ #45 Dodge.(Gaston Gazette)(3-11-2002)
