Atwood out at end of season? UPDATE 2 not according to Atwood: 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) UPDATE 2: Casey Atwood said yesterday that he has not been told by team owner Ray Evernham to run well or else. Atwood said he is aware of Evernham’s apparent ultimatum last week at Talladega, when he told reporters Atwood had six races remaining this season to prove himself. ”I don’t know what that meant,” said Atwood. ”Ray hasn’t told me anything. We haven’t talked about any changes.” There have been printed reports that Evernham contrary to his promise not to put pressure on his young driver when he signed Atwood two years ago has ratcheted up expectations. After his comments late week Evernham was asked by The Tennessean if he expected Atwood to return to the team next season. He declined to answer, except to repeat his comment that Atwood had the remainder of the season to ”prove” himself. Amid growing speculation that Atwood’s job is in jeopardy, his car owner, Jim Smith, reportedly is having serious business problems. According to published reports, Smith has been charged with illegally dumping unapproved material at his chrome plating company in California. Atwood’s PR director, Amy Hunerberg, said yesterday that, ”We’re not in a position to comment” on the report. Atwood said neither his team owner’s legal problems nor the increased pressure from Evernham have affected him. Atwood said he has explored running a few BGN races next season for his former Brewco Motorsports team, but that does not mean that he expects to be out of Winston Cup.(Tennessean)(10-9-2002)
