Kirby Testing the #49? UPDATE in at Kansas: hearing the BAM Racing #49 Cup team is testing with Stuart Kirby at Kentucky on Wednesday and Thursday, 9/11 & 9/12.(9-11-2002) UPDATE: Twenty-year-old Stuart Kirby, the Bowling Green, Ky., native who has run under the watchful eye of several top Winston Cup owners, will drive the BAM Racing’ #49 MNR Productions Dodge in Sunday’ Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway. “We are so excited to have a driver with Stuart’ skills and talent in our car at Kansas,” said Beth Ann Morgenthau, owner of BAM Racing. We had been watching him for several races, and really appreciated his abilities. The more we watched what he could do, the more we thought he had a solid future in Winston Cup racing,” she said. “Obviously, this one race wont make or break him but we are very anxious to see how he handles himself. Kirby has started eight races in the BGN this year, driving for [#34] car owner Jimmy Spencer. “As the word started getting out at Dover this past weekend, it was amazing how many people kind of eased over and asked about him,” Morgenthau said. “When we said, Yeah, he’ going to be running at Kansas for us, just about every one said the same thing – That’ a great decision.” Kevin Lepage ran a solid race at Dover this past weekend for BAM Racing before an accident put him out of the event late. The team appeared to be headed to a top-25 finish prior to that. Like many first-year teams, BAM Racing has tried several drivers this season. “We want to be the best race team we can possibly be,” Morgenthau said. “Every person at BAM is working very hard to reach that goal. Weve tried different things with the car and different things in the car. And the progress is there because of it. Many of the changes have been really good ones. Bringing in Scott Eggleston as crew chief a few weeks ago has made a profound difference. And each driver has added something to our effort by design,” she added. “The things that have remained constant – Ernie Elliott’ engines, for example – have been great for us as well. Were looking forward to a really good weekend for this MNR Productions Dodge.”(Williams Company PR)(9-23-2002)
