March 17, 1998
- I hear Hardee’s will definitely be sponsoring a Winston Cup car before the end of this season. No idea who the driver or team will be but the car plans on making it’s debut around July 4th.(Pepsi 400?), doesn’t sound like DW, maybe Bud Moore or Washington-Erving??(3-17-98)
- Just In: A press release was released that Ron Hornaday will be at the wheel of the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo for Darlington and Bristol. No statement as to who would drive the car afterwards(3-17-98)
- The Rules Change: Beginning with Sunday’s TranSouth 400 at Darlington (SC) Raceway, Fords will be required to use 55-inch wide rear spoilers on their new Tauruses and any leftover Thunderbirds remaining in their racing fleets. That’s two inches narrower than the spoiler width of 57 inches that Fords, Chevrolets and Pontiacs have all been using for Winston Cup competition. Here is the breakdown:
Ford Taurus: Rear spoiler must be 55 inches wide and 4.75 inches tall. Front air-dam clearance is 5 inches.
Ford Thunderbird: Same as Taurus, except spoiler must be 4.5 inches tall.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo: Rear spoiler must be 57 inches wide and 5 inches tall. Front air-dam clearance is 5 inches.
Pontiac Grand Prix: Rear spoiler must be 57 inches wide and 5.375 inches tall. Front air-dam clearance is 4.625 inches.
The rules are not in effect at Daytona and Talladega(That’s Racin – David Poole)(3-17-98)
- In a RPM2Nite interview DW says he and his wife Stevie have paid all of the bills since February and will be able to do so for a few more weeks. He said he has a few sponsorship possibilities. Unless he gets sponsorship, DW plans to run some Tim Flock lookalike cars this week at Darlington and the following week at Bristol to help raise money for Flock’s increasing medical bills. Even mentioned running the #300 like Flock once did in the 1950’s. DW also would not confirm or deny if he has talked Dale Earnhardt about taking over the #1 Pennzoil ride(RPM2Nite)(3-17-98)
- Mike Skinner is still very sore after his accident at Atlanta and will start the Darlington race but will have Morgan Shepherd standing by as a relief driver. Shepherd plans on attempting to make the race with his own #05 Pontiac team but has told Richard Childress that the #31 will be his top priority if he is needed.(RPM2Nite) – No idea what happens if Shepherd makes the race and Skinner needs relief and at this point don’t plan on speculating(3-17-98)
- The #18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac that won the Atlanta race is in Detroit at a GM wind tunnel for private team testing and will run at Darlington(RPM2Nite)(3-17-98)
- Sparky from iRACE hears that the Caterpillar/American Equipment Racing team has released David Green as driver, and that Green may be a candidate to fill in for the injured Steve Park. Green, you may remember, was tabbed to substitute for Park’s car owner, none other than Dale Earnhardt himself, at Watkins Glen after The Intimidator was banged up in ’96. Others in the hunt for the Pennzoil seat include Rich Bickle and Mike Wallace, but we suppose they would also be candidates for the Cat car.(iRACE)(3-17-98)
- Testing at Texas was rained out on Monday, Sterling Marlin, Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek, Wally Dallenbach, Ricky Craven and Jerry Nadeau were on hand. They’ll try again Tuesday(WinstonCup Today)(3-16-98) – Defending Craftsman Truck Series champion Jack Sprague joined his Hendrick Motorsports teammates for the test. Sprague said he is supposed to drive a “research and development” car for the team.(Thatsracin)(3-17-98)
- I hear Darrell Waltrip is in the process of selling part of his race team to a businessman in Texas(3-17-98)
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