hearing that the #19 Braun Racing team and driver Chad Blount may be without a sponsor soon, hearing that APP-American Petroleum Promotions may be leaving.
UPDATE: A reliable source inside Braun Racing reports that the #19 car with Chad Blount will not be going to Nazareth this week due to sponsorship issues. As a result, Blount asked for his release and it was granted. The team will have a new sponsor announcement next week for Lowe’s. Rumor has it it will be a current Cup driver in the seat. These developments do not affect the #30 with Steadman Marlin and Keystone Light at all.(BGN Racing.com)
UPDATE 2: on Fox Sport’s Net’s Totally NASCAR, it was reported that Chad Blount asked for and was granted his release from the team. The team will not be going to Nazareth. Hearing one of the Ganassi Racing drivers will be in the car at Charlotte.(5-15-2003)
UPDATE 3: Casey Mears will drive the #19 Dodge for the remainder of the 2003 season.(Speed Channel’s coverage of Wonston qualifying)(5-16-2003)
UPDATE 4: Chip Ganassi Racing officials confirmed Saturday rookie Winston Cup driver Casey Mears will enter at least two Busch Series races this season, including next weekend’s Carquest 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Mears will drive the #19 Dodge fielded by Braun Motorsports. The team’s former driver, Chad Blount, asked for and received a release from the team after it developed sponsorship problems. Braun Motorsports currently gets car bodies and engines from Ganassi. Mears is also running in four ARCA races this season with Ganassi for additional seat time. Mears drove full time in the Busch series last season.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-18-2003)
UPDATE 5: plans are to run at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Dover with Microsoft as the sponsor, and then see where things stand after Dover and if a full sponsor can be found.(Fox Sports Net – Totally NASCAR)(5-20-2003)
