Atwood out? UPDATE: the Augusta Chronicle is reporting – Sources close to Casey Atwood’s team [#7 Sirius Satellite Dodge] said the driver probably will be [released] at the end of the season. Atwood already has struck a deal to drive a limited schedule on the BGN #27 Brewco?] next year. The team may not hire a replacement driver since one of the car owners, Jim Smith, was [charged] this week and charged with illegally dumping hazardous materials at his chrome plating plant in California.(Augusta Chronicle) AND Atwood said he ”has heard reports” about his job being in jeopardy but the 21-year-old driver said he has one year remaining on his contact and expects Evernham to honor it. ”As far as I know I’ll be back. Ray hasn’t told me anything different,” Atwood said. ”We haven’t talked about it.”(Tennessean)(10-6-2002) UPDATE: Dodge has expressed its disappointment with the #7 team’s performance this season. Casey Atwood’s best finish this season was 11th, in June at Pocono, and he has been higher than 30th in points just once this season. “We’re looking for the performance of this team to get better over the next six races,” co-owner Jim Smith says. “Sirius is locked in for next year and wants to extend the contract, but they told us we need to make improvements.” Atwood, 22, has hinted he would be happier back in the Busch Series, but he is under contract for another year. Smith says he and partner Ray Evernham have not discussed bringing in a replacement driver.(Sporting News)(10-7-2002)
