Two-time Busch series champion Randy LaJoie was released Monday from his ride with Evans Motorsports and the #7 Chevrolets, ThatsRacin.com has learned. LaJoie, 41, finished 11th in Sunday’s race at The Milwaukee Mile. He is 16th in points with four top-10 and two top-five finishes this season. He also won poles at Nashville and Nazareth this season. LaJoie could not immediately be reached for comment. Former Busch champion and current Winston Cup rookie Greg Biffle is a candidate to replace LaJoie for the remainder of the 2003 season, sources said. LaJoie has 15 wins in his career and won series championships in 1996 and 1997. He joined Evans Motorsports in 2001. His best season with the team was 2002, when he was 11th in points. Evans Motorsports, owned by Ed Evans, is partners with Nemco Motorsports, owned by Winston Cup driver Joe Nemechek.(ThatsRacin.com) AND Evans Motorsports announced this morning that Randy LaJoie driver of the #7 Kleenex Chevy has been released from the team. Evans plans to try several different drivers in the #7 car over the next several weeks. Cup driver and the defending Busch Series champion Greg Biffle will drive at Daytona this week. Biffle will also drive other select races for the remainder of the year. Expect Winston Cup veteran and this years only three time Busch Series winner Joe Nemechek to drive a few races as well.(Evans Motorsports PR via BGNRacing.com) JAYSKI NOTE: it seems doubtful Biffle would drive since the team fields GM cars, Biffle was to drive a Dodge truck at Lowe’s in May and Ford objected.(6-30-2003)
UPDATE – LaJoie Fined? Evans Motorsports also said it was fining LaJoie $25,000 for comments it deemed detrimental to the team and Nemco Motorsports, which fields Nemechek in the Busch Series.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(7-1-2003)
UPDATE 2: XM Radio is reporting that Ford has concerns that Biffle will be driving a GM car in the Busch Race at Daytona, this may end up being a one-race deal only.(XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio – Subscription Required) AND Ford Motor Co. has expressed concern with Roush Racing’s decision to allow its Winston Cup rookie, Greg Biffle, to compete in the NASCAR Busch series with a team which fields General Motors cars. On Monday, Evans Motorsports released driver Randy LaJoie from its #7 Chevys and issued a news release indicating that Biffle, last season’s Busch champion, would drive the for the team at Daytona and “other select races for the remainder of the year.” However, Ford and Roush officials disputed that claim Thursday. Roush spokeswoman Stephanie Smith said Biffle’s participation was approved only at Daytona and the team and Biffle would discuss any future races next week. “We are disappointed that Greg Biffle will be competing in a (Pontiac) in the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway and we have had conversations with Roush Racing to air our concerns,” said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. Roush currently fields Fords for Biffle, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch and points leader Matt Kenseth in Winston Cup. In May, Ford nixed Biffle’s plans to compete in the inaugural NASCAR Truck series race at Charlotte in a Dodge owned by Ultra Motorsports. On Thursday, Ford officials again expressed displeasure with Biffle competing in a non-Ford product. “We understand Roush Racing’s desire to find an economical way to get Greg some valuable seat time, especially at an important track like Daytona,” Davis said. “We will resolve this. This will absolutely not have an adverse affect on our long-term racing partnership.” Smith agreed. “It’s about giving Biffle an opportunity to be in an environment where he can go win and get more track time in quality equipment,” Smith said. “Ford is a longtime fabulous partner and we don’t want to do anything to upset them. But we really want to make sure that we do everything we can within reason to help Greg get more track time and improve.”(ThatsRacin.com)(7-3-2003)
