Hearing that #34 team owner, Frank Cicci has been forced to lay off the majority of his Busch Series team because of their sponsors inability to make their payments per the contract. The team has tested and prepared a car for Bristol but does not have a sponsor. If a sponsor can be found in time, Mike McLaughlin will still drive the car at Bristol. Following Bristol, not sure what the team or McLaughlin’s plans are for the rest of the year.(8-15-2003)
UPDATE: Contrary to published reports, the LesCare Kitchens/Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly sponsorship program in the NASCAR Busch Series has been put on temporary hold and has not been terminated. “LesCare Kitchens officials are the ones responsible for putting Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly back on the race track in 2003, and rumors that they have severed their ties with this race team are not true,” Cicci stated Friday. “LesCare has put a temporary hold on the sponsorship as this vendor-supported program awaits additional funding to carry us through the remainder of the season,” he added. Cicci has announced that as a result of this sponsorship hold by LesCare with his team, driver Mike McLaughlin is available to other NASCAR Busch, Craftsman Truck or Winston Cup Series teams that may be in need of a driver. Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly is seeking additional Busch Series sponsorship for both McLaughlin and veteran Busch and Winston Cup Series driver Todd Bodine, who with his wife, Lynn, have purchased an ownership interest in the race team. A 2-car team operation for 2004 is currently being developed. The race team, which had signed a 11-race sponsorship agreement for 2003 with LesCare back in March, has run six races under the LesCare Kitchens banner to date. McLaughlin earned a season-best ninth place finish in Daytona in July and was 13th at Richmond in May.. The team has five more races on its schedule to run this season under the LesCare Kitchens arrangement that includes Bristol, TN next weekend and the upcoming races in Richmond, Charlotte, Memphis and Homestead-Miami.(Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly PR)(8-16-2003)
