#14 Circle Bar Racing crew chief Ray Stonkus has been placed on medical leave and will not attend the OReilly 200 at the Memphis Motorsports Park and subsequent events in the following weeks. Substituting for Stonkus at the track will be veteran Truck Series crew chief Fred Wanke. Stonkus has developed a medical condition that has prohibited him from flying resulting in the reduction of events out of driving distance. While Stonkus recuperates, he will remain at the teams headquarters in Concord, NC, maintaining the current stable of trucks for the series summer stretch. Stonkus will remain as the teams crew chief with Wanke only taking over at-track responsibilities. Wanke was a logical choice to assist the team because of his relationship with Stonkus that developed in the mid 70s and early 80s. The two have a tremendous amount of knowledge to draw from which will help Crawford remain a consistent competitor at the track. I am not coming in to take over as crew chief, stated Wanke from the teams shop Wednesday afternoon. Rick and Ray called me and asked me if I was interested in helping them out. I responded by saying I would help this team any way I could, as long as everyone knows that this is still Rays team and as soon as he is well enough to resume his regular duties hell return to calling the shots at the track. This weekends event at the Memphis Motorsports Park will be the first event since Dover of 2000 that Stonkus has missed. Stonkus has led a resurgence of Circle Bar Racing since joining the team collecting 1 win, 2 poles, 25 top-five and 41 top-ten finishes in 56 events.(Circle Bar Racing PR)(6-19-2003)
