Hut out….Kenny in NOW? UPDATE 2 Official: hearing Kenny Wallace may take over the #23 Bill Davis Racing / Hills Bros Dodge ride from current driver Hut Stricklin as soon as this week at Darlington, with the exception of Talladega (where he will drive the #33 1-800-CALLATT Chevy and Martinesville due to his BGN team). Supposedly Scott Wimmer will drive the #23 at Talladega and it is unknown who will drive it at Martinsville. Assuming Hills Bros will stay with the #23 for the rest of the year.(8-27-2002) UPDATE: Kenny Wallace’s plans to join Bill Davis Racing [BDR] in 2003 apparently have taken on an accelerated schedule. Wallace, scheduled Tuesday night on ESPN’s show RPM2Night to announce his plans to join BDR with sponsor Stacker2 in 2003, will replace current BDR driver Hut Stricklin in the No. 23 Dodge this weekend at Darlington, SC, ThatsRacin.com has learned. The driver change was confirmed Tuesday when an updated entry list, provided by NASCAR, showed Wallace in the #23 Dodge at Darlington. A BDR spokesperson would not comment on the driver change, only to say more information would be available later in the week. Wallace is expected to compete in the #23 for the remainder of the 2002 season, except for the October race at Talladega, where he was already scheduled to drive for car owner Andy Petree; and Martinsville, which presents a conflict with Wallace’s current BGN schedule. Stricklin has struggled this season, his first with BDR. In 22 starts he failed to qualify for one race and road racer Tom Hubert filled in for another Stricklin is 33rd in points with no top-10 finishes. His best finish was 11th at Talladega in April. His best start was 21st at Rockingham. Wallace has made 10 Winston Cup starts this season for a variety of teams. His best finish was 10th at Rockingham while driving as a substitute for Steve Park’s #1 Dale Earnhardt Inc.-owned Chevrolet.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-27-2002) UPDATE 2: Effective immediately, Kenny Wallace will take over the driving duties for the #23 Hills Bros. Coffee Dodge for the remainder of the season.. After a lengthy discussion, car owner, Bill Davis, and driver, Hut Stricklin, have agreed to take this opportunity to maximize efforts for all parties involved for the 2003 NASCAR season. “I am very grateful to Bill Davis Racing and Hills Brothers Coffee, and I consider this as a chance to allow the team to get things in place and get a head start on next year,” said Stricklin. “It will also allow me to explore my options for the future. Hills Brothers Coffee is a great sponsor and I will continue involvement with the company for the remainder of the year.” “All of us at Bill Davis Racing respect Hut and his family, “said car owner, Bill Davis.. “He is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet in this sport and I think a lot of him.. We announced earlier this week that Kenny will be driving the #23 Stacker 2 Dodge beginning in 2003, and we see this as a opportunity to get a head start on next season and work toward building the team chemistry and consistency that is essential to run up front in the Winston Cup Series.”(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-27-2002)
