hearing that ARCA driver Stuart Kirby is a canidate for the #31 Whelens Chevy ride for the 2002 BGN season(1-16-2002)
UPDATE: This season, Kirby hopes to make a transition to the NASCAR Busch Series, where there’s a possibility he’ll drive the #31 car for 8 to 10 races.(NASCAR.com/AP)(1-27-2002)
UPDATE 2: hearing Winston Cup driver, Johnny Benson (#10 Valvoline Pontiac) will drive a limited schedule in the #31 Whelen Chevy. Kirby will not drive for the team and may expand on his schedule with Jimmy Spencer(see news below).(2-28-2002)
UPDATE 3: hearing there will be a press release today (April 1st) announcing that Johnny Benson will be driving the #31 Marsh Racing Whelen Chevy in a ten BGN races this season with the first being at Richmond on May 3, followed by New Hampshire on May 11. James Ince, Benson’s Winston Cup Crew Chief on the #10 Valovoine Pontiac, will serve as the Crew Chief for team when Benson drives and the #10 Cup crew will also serve as the crew for the #31. Benson will be talking about the BGN deal on Speed Channel’s Inside Winston Cup TV show, FSN’s Totally NASCAR and RPM2 night on Monday (actually Tuesday at 1:00am/et)(4-1-2002)
UPDATE 4: Benson will drive in five races with a possibility of more being added. Besides the two mentioned above, three races planned are: Dover in June, Chicagoland and Michigan in August.(PR)(4-1-2002)
