Jack Roush is talking to Hank Parker Jr. and his Busch Series sponsor General Nutrition Center about fielding a second full-time Busch team in 2003. Parker currently is without a ride for the coming season.(Times Argus)(11-7-2002)
UPDATE: hearing that Roush may be starting a 2nd full time BGN team with Hank Parker Jr, but doubtful it’ll be GNC as the sponsor, hearing Roush hired a bunch of people for a 2nd full time effort. Still no word on the #9 Jeff Burton BGN team or a sponsor for the team.(1-3-2003)
UPDATE 2: A sponsorship deal with TrimSpa is nearing completion that would send Hank Parker Jr. to Roush Racing for the 2003 BGN season, NASCAR Winston Cup Scene reporter Rick Houston has learned. Under the deal, Parker would be a full-time teammate with Stanton Barrett. No number has been assigned to the effort, although there’s a possibility Parker could use the #53 he ran with his family-owned team a few years ago. Parker was left without a ride at the end of 2002 when his Team Jesel program lost its sponsorship. TrimSpa is a fat-burning product of Cedar Knolls, N.J.-based Nutramerica.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(1-16-2003)
UPDATE 3: Hank Parker Jr. showed up at Daytona International Speedway for the opening two-day segment of NASCAR Preseason Thunder for the BGN with a “teammate” — Roush Racing driver Stanton Barrett. The pair shared one set of crewmen for the #60 Odoban Ford shoed by Barrett and the #53 Taurus that was driven on a limited number of runs in the afternoon by Parker. Parker, a two-time winner in the Busch Series, said he hopes the announcement of his program should come soon. “This is a great opportunity, but it’s still not 100 percent done,” Parker said. “It’s just one of those deals that when it all works out it’s going to be real exciting.” Parker said the program would be for a full season. That would mark the first time that Roush’s organization, which will field five fulltime Winston Cup teams in 2003 along with two Craftsman Truck Series teams, would have two full-time Busch programs.(NASCAR.com)
UPDATE 4: Negotiations between Roush Racing and TrimSpa officials have reportedly hit a snag, delaying and possibly killing a deal that would have put Hank Parker Jr. behind the wheel of a Roush car for the 2003 Busch Series season. NASCAR Winston Cup Scene reporter Rick Houston says sources indicate that the sponsorship could still happen a few races into the season, but add that the prospects for Parker racing for Roush in the season-opening Koolerz 300 at Daytona appear bleak.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)
UPDATE 5: Speed Channel reported during their BGN testing coverage that the sponsorship fell thru and things are still up in the air.(1-21-2003)
UPDATE 6: Since Hank Parker Jr. is a free agent at this point, most consider him the top choice for Busch Series – or even Winston Cup – owners who want to make an early season change in the driver’s seat. That’s all well and good, but it’s still difficult for Parker to face Daytona without a ride.(Winston Cup Scene)(1-30-2003)
