Atwood out of the #7, Leffler in; Atwood in the #91 at Homestead UPDATE 4 OFFICIAL and New Engines: Jim Smith, who co-owns the #7 Dodge with Ray Evernham has decided Casey Atwood will not drive the car in the final two races at Phoenix and Homestead. Jason Leffler, who runs for Smith on the Craftsman Truck Series will take Atwood’s place. Atwood won’t be totally out in the cold because he’s actually under contract with Evernham Motorsports and will drive his #91 Research and Development Dodge at Homestead…the car he’s been testing at the Florida track the last two days.(PRN’s Garage Pass Radio Show)(11-5-2002) UPDATE – Evernham bought out? LTN Radio Network radio show plans to report that #7 co-owner Jim Smith bought Ray Evernham out of his portion of the #7 Dodge after discovering the motor that was used Sunday at Rockingham in the #7 was “significantly short” on horsepower, as compared to the #9 and #19 cars. Smith immediately released Casey Atwood and placed Jason Leffler in the #7 beginning this week at Phoenix. No word on who will supply engines this week at Phoenix. UPDATE 2 – Furr leaves in middle of race – this is interesting stuff: Before Atwood was released on Monday, both Buddy Barnes and subsequent crew chief Tony Furr did all they could to get Atwood acclimated to the program. Ray Evernham kept his end of the bargain by offering Furr whatever resources he needed to bring the car up to speed. In the last two weeks, Furr had Kevin Lepage standing by and running laps in Atwood’s car just to give them a baseline and Lepage’s times were far superior to Atwood’s even though he didn’t fit in the seat. Last Sunday, with 150 laps to go at Rockingham, Furr told Atwood if he wasn’t going to race, he was heading for the house and did. According to my [Sporting News] sources, Evernham and Jim Smith were in the process of dissolving their partnership on Tuesday and Jason Leffler will finish out the year in the No. 7.(Sporting News)(11-6-2002) UPDATE 3: however, Fox Sports Net’s Totally NASCAR reports that “Atwood will be entered at Phoenix and Homestead in Ray Evernham’s #91 Dodge. He tested that car at Homestead earlier this week.(Fox Sports)(11-7-2002) UPDATE 4 a and b: Ray Evernham, president and CEO of Evernham Motorsports, and Jim Smith, owner of Ultra Motorsports, have agreed to end their joint venture Ultra/Evernham Motorsports. Ultra/Evernham fielded the #7 Sirius Satellite Radio Dodge driven by Casey Atwood in the Winston Cup Series this season. Beginning with this weekend’s race at Phoenix International Raceway, the #7 Sirius Satellite Radio Dodge will be solely owned and operated by Smith’s Ultra Motorsports team. The Sirius Dodge will be driven by Jason Leffler in the Checker Auto Parts 500 under the Ultra Motorsports banner. “Jim and I formed this team at the end of last season to give Casey some additional seat time in Winston Cup,” Evernham said. “Without Casey driving the No. 7, there was no reason for us to continue our relationship. Sirius has been a great partner, and I wish them and Jim the best of luck in the future.” Atwood will drive the #91 Dodge, fielded by Evernham Motorsports, during the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Atwood and Evernham are discussing opportunities for 2003 and will be making a separate announcement once a decision has been made. Smith will continue to operate the #7 Sirius Satellite Radio Dodge in 2003. A driver for the team has not yet been determined. AND Sirius Satellite Radio and Ultra Motorsports today named Jason Leffler as the interim driver of the #7 Sirius Satellite Radio Dodge. Leffler, a former USAC sprint car champion and current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) driver, is slated to finish out the season with the #7 team, beginning this weekend at the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Leffler, who currently sits fifth in the NCTS standings, will also compete in the final two truck events at Phoenix and Homestead-Miami, as well as driving the #7 Sirius Dodge for the final two Winston Cup races this season.(Golin Harris PR’s)(11-7-2002) UPDATE 5: When the partnership between Ray Evernham Motorsports and Ultra Motorsports dissolved this week, so did the engine deal. Evernham Motorsports, as part of the initial agreement, was to provide the engines for Casey Atwood and the #7 Sirius Satellite Dodge. But, when Atwood was let go just prior to the partnership spilt earlier this week, Ultra was in need of some horsepower. So, Mike Ege Engines will now be the power-plant providers for the #7 Dodge for the last two races of the season. It’s unknown whether or not the deal will continue into next year. Ege currently provides motors for the three teams of Petty Enterprises. (NASCAR.com)(11-8-2002)
