March 18 -Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 18, 2004

• • • Special Mobil Scheme for Newman: #12-Ryan Newman is scheduled to run a special Mobil 1 30th Anniversay paint scheme at the California race on May 2. See my #12 Cup Team Paint Schemes page to see the image.(3-18-2004)
    • Did ya know? Brendan Gaughan was on fire during Sunday’s Golden Corral 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Literally. Gaughan lost several laps when he was forced to pit after an electrical fire erupted in the cockpit of his #77 Kodak Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge. “I had a fire for a good five, six laps and kept going ‘maybe it will go out, guys,’ ” Gaughan said, “and finally it wasn’t going to go out so we had to come in and put it out. I believe in Bill Simpson. What can I say; I feel safe in my Impact stuff.” Impact Racing is the new company safety pioneer Bill Simpson formed after he parted ways with Simpson Safety Equipment in 2001.(Las Vegas Sun)(3-18-2004)
    • Robby Gordon’s Pit Crew Pockets Win In Atlanta; Stewart’s crew takes over first in point standings: The #31 pit crew for Robby Gordon squeaked by Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew to capture the McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade in Sunday’s (March 14) 500-mile NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. While Gordon’s crew grabbed the $20,000 weekly prize, the pit crew for Tony Stewart moved into first place with 154 points. Kurt Busch’s crew stands second, one point behind at 153. Earnhardt’s crew, the reigning McDonald’s/POWERade champion, is third with 148 points. Last week’s point leader – Elliott Sadler’s crew – dropped to fourth with 143 points. Though Earnhardt’s No. 8 Chevrolet found its way to winner’s circle in Atlanta, it was Gordon’s Cingular Wireless Chevy that spent the least amount of time on pit road. Gordon’s pit road time of 281.691 seconds was just over a second quicker than Earnhardt’s time of 282.864. Jeff Burton’s Ford was third at 284.833. “The guys work hard at the shop and at the track,” said Chris Andrews, crew chief of the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet. “Between working on cars, spending time in the gym and at pit stop practice, they’ve managed to bang out 13 to 14-second, and sometimes even 12-second stops every weekend. “We made seven stops Sunday and gained track position every time we came down pit lane. Our over-the-wall crew is a competitive group of guys. I don’t think this will be the last time I will be asked to comment about their performance this year for the McDonald’s/POWERade championship.” Gordon’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Ira-Jo Hussey (front-tire changer), Kevin Nervegna (front-tire carrier), Timmy Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Matt Kreuter (rear-tire carrier), Ron Liddell (gasman), Mike Moore (jackman) and Coy Hedrick (catch can).(DMF Communications PR), see my Pit Crew News Page for top 10 at Atlanta and the season standings.(3-18-2004)
    • Runt Retires: Shelton “Runt” Pittman the Head engine builder for #4 Morgan McClure Motorsports retired after the Daytona 500 race. He was one of NASCAR’s premire engine builders for many years. He will be sorely missed at MMM racing and the entire racing community.(3-18-2004)
    • Official NASCAR Windshield: Visteon has signed an agreement to be the exclusive manufacturer of Officially Licensed NASCAR Performance Windshields. Today’s announcement marks the second Visteon Aftermarket product line to be Officially Licensed NASCAR Performance products; the first was radiators.(biz.yahoo.com via Insider Racing News)(3-18-2004)
    • Earnhardt Jr. to Drive Corvette at American Le Mans Series Race at Infineon Raceway: #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., winner of the 2004 Daytona 500 and one of the biggest stars in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing, will bring his skills to a different form of the sport when he drives a Corvette in the Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma American Le Mans Series event at Infineon Raceway on July 18. Earnhardt will make a rare foray outside of stock car racing when he joins the General Motors Chevrolet Corvette racing team in the Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma, presented by the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, July 16-18. He will co-drive with veteran road-racer Boris Said in a third Chevrolet Corvette C5-R fielded by Corvette Racing, the car carrying Earnhardt’s famous #8. Infineon Raceway will offer a special discounted ticket offer related to Earnhardt Jr.’s appearance during the race weekend. Fans can purchase a ticket for Friday’s racing action for $8. Also in honor of Earnhardt Jr., there will be an $8 discount for a full-weekend pass ($42). Ticket information is available online at www.infineonraceway.com or by calling 800-870-RACE. The three-car team for the event will reunite Earnhardt with the Corvette team, a bond that began at the 2001 running of the 24 Hours of Daytona where Earnhardt, Jr., and his father, the late Dale Earnhardt, finished fourth overall in their first-ever sports car race. The Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma will get the green flag at 11:30 a.m. (PDT) on Sunday, July 18, and will be televised live in North America by CBS Sports and in Europe on MotorsTV. The American Le Mans Series Radio Web will have live coverage online at www.americanlemans.com (Infineon Raceway PR)(3-18-2004)
    • #4 Tests at Bristol, looking for a sponsor: #4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports was at Bristol Motor Speedway Wednesday for a test session in preparation for the upcoming Food City 500 on March 28. The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team had two cars to test, one with sponsor decals and one without. After the end of the 2003 season, the #4 Monte Carlo ended its long running sponsorship with Kodak. Prior to this year’s Daytona 500, team manager Larry McClure entered into an agreement with YOKETV for primary sponsorship of the car over the course of this year’s 36-race schedule. But last week in Atlanta the Morgan-McClure team showed up for the running of the Golden Corral 500 with the YOKETV sponsor decal missing from their car. “The best thing for me to say is that we have some differences and we are trying to work them out,” said McClure of the current status of the contract. “Then, depending on whether it does come back and we hope it does, we are looking in some other directions and right now we don’t have anything in the other direction. “We’re just talking to some other folks and hoping something will happen.” McClure is optimistic something can be worked out with YOKETV to continue until year’s end but reiterated that the sport is definitely too expensive to continue without sponsor dollars to pay the bills. “There is a possibility (to continue the current sponsorship) but we just need to shore up some things,” added McClure. “If that happens, then we’ll be OK. If it doesn’t then we hope that we get something else and if we do, we’ll be fine throughout the year. We plan on continuing as of now and just see what transpires in the next little bit.” When asked the team’s plans for the immediate future, and whether the sponsor decals will be on the car this weekend at Darlington, McClure said, “we know we are going to run Darlington, Bristol, Talladega and I think Texas is in there. Past that, we’ll need to get something (worked out). At this time, the YOKETV won’t be on the car (at Darlington). Tomorrow, it may be if we get things worked out. If we can work out the details, we’d love to have them on the car.” The team’s driver, Kevin Lepage, said the team is focused on doing its job on the track and not letting other happenings be a distraction. “I don’t think it affects anything,” said Lepage, whose best finish this year was 22nd at Rockingham. “He’s (McClure) committed to the race team to do his best effort to give us the best equipment, both in the motor department and the cars and the people week to week.”(Kingsports Times News/Bristol Herald Courier)(3-18-2004)
    • Childcare Network to Sponsor Bandolero Racing in the Southeast: Childcare Network, a child development company based in Columbus, Ga., has signed an agreement with 600 Racing to serve as a sponsor of all INEX-sanctioned Bandolero racing this year in Georgia and the Carolinas. The Childcare Network Bandolero Series will visit numerous race tracks across the Southeast and includes the Hardee’s Summer Shootout Series at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and the Thursday Night Thunder Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
      Childcare Network, Inc. is a leading provider of education and childcare services in the southeastern United States. The company operates 117 schools in seven states providing affordable, high-quality developmental education and care to children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 12 years.
      Designed for drivers 8 years of age and older, Bandoleros are tube-framed spec race cars that feature sleek fiberglass bodies and are powered by 570cc Briggs & Stratton engines. INEX-sanctioned Bandolero racing is divided into three divisions: Bandits for drivers ages 8 to 11; Young Guns for those 12 to 15; and Outlaws for competitors 16 years of age and older.
      600 Racing, which also builds Legends Cars and Thunder Roadsters, is a subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For information on the Childcare Network Bandolero Series, contact 600 Racing at (704) 455-3896 or visit www.600racing.com.(LMS PR)(3-18-2004)
    • Sad News: Former Winston Racing Series Champion Raymond Hooper Sr. passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 11th in Paducah, KY. Hooper Sr., 66, was the 1970 NASCAR Winston Racing Series Champion at Saugus Speedway in Santa Clarita, CA. Hooper Sr. was the father of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Busch Series, and Nextel Cup series driver Lance Hooper, and West Coast driver Ray Hooper Jr. Funeral services were held this past Saturday in Paducah. Hooper Sr. is survived by his wife Sharon, daughter Donna Tudor, and sons Ray Jr. and Lance. Condolences can be sent to The Hooper Family, C/O Sharon Hooper, P.O. Box 4326, Mooresville, NC 28117.(3-18-2004)
    • Fraud Case, ‘NASCAR’ vehicles seized: Seven people, including three Colorado residents, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver Tuesday for committing fraud in a high-yield investment scheme that defrauded more than 1,000 people of about $56 million. During the investigation authorities had already seized the Redstone Castle in Pitkin County, some NASCAR race vehicles, and more than $17 million in cash from several bank accounts. Total assets seized, including cash, were worth about $24 million.(Denver Business Journal)(3-17-2004)
      the cars are from a NASCAR touring team – Southwest.www.usdoj.gov(3-18-2004)
    • Seven Cup Drivers to run Special Chevy Trucks: The Chevrolet Silverado All-Stars, pairing NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers with superstar musical celebrities in the Truck Series. Michael Waltrip will be the first of seven different drivers to pilot the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado in individual races during the 2004 NCTS season. His musical partner, Sheryl Crow, will be featured in the special paint scheme for the first All-Stars race – the Charlotte Tailgate 200 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 21. Following the program debut at Lowe’s Motor Speedway with Michael Waltrip, the following Chevy drivers with their specific musical partners will pilot the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado: Robby Gordon, Bristol (August 25); Tony Stewart, Richmond (September 9); Ricky Craven, New Hampshire (September 18); Bobby Labonte, Martinsville (October 23); Driver To Be Announced, Phoenix (November 5); and Ward Burton, Darlington (November 12). Serving as primary sponsor of the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado is Acxiom, a worldwide data services company. This Silverado entry will be campaigned by Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, with whom Acxiom has been partnered since 1998 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.(GM PR)(3-13-2004)
      UPDATE – Stewart to run a truck at Richmond in Sept: Tony Stewart will defend his back-to-back NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wins at Richmond International Raceway September 9, 2004. Stewart will pilot the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado, featuring a special paint design depicting country music recording sensation Sara Evans. Tony Stewart has won the past two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Richmond International Raceway. Last year Stewart came from a starting position of 27th place to capture the checkers in the Virginia is for Lovers 200. Sara Evans’ album Born to Fly is approaching double platinum sales marks after its release in 2000. Evans garnered Video of the Year at the 2001 Country Music Association Awards, and has since released another hit album-Restless. The Chevrolet Silverado All-Stars will pair NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers with superstar musical celebrities in select NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races. Partnered with pop star Sheryl Crow, Michael Waltrip will be the first of seven different drivers to race the Silverado at different races this season. Robby Gordon, Ricky Craven, Bobby Labonte and Ward Burton will also steer the Silverado as part of the Chevy All-Star program. Tickets to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 200 on Thursday, September 9 are $30 a piece (general admission seating only) and include admission to the IROC Series race. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult admission. For more information on September’s race weekend in Richmond, visit www.rir.com or call 1-866-455-RACE (7223).(RIR PR)(3-18-2004)
    • Sad News: Former Winston Racing Series Champion Raymond Hooper Sr. passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 11th in Paducah, KY. Hooper Sr., 66, was the 1970 NASCAR Winston Racing Series Champion at Saugus Speedway in Santa Clarita, CA. Hooper Sr. was the father of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Busch Series, and Nextel Cup series driver Lance Hooper, and West Coast driver Ray Hooper Jr. Funeral services were held this past Saturday in Paducah. Hooper Sr. is survived by his wife Sharon, daughter Donna Tudor, and sons Ray Jr. and Lance. Condolences can be sent to The Hooper Family, C/O Sharon Hooper, P.O. Box 4326, Mooresville, NC 28117.(3-18-2004)
    • UPDATE on injuries at Atlanta: Crawford suffered a fractured left foot, and Gordon fractured her right ankle. Crawford was treated and released. Joey Clanton, who hit the wall on Lap 88 in an unrelated incident, was given a CAT scan, which came back negative. He was released. Parker Jr. suffered a back injury and will be held overnight at the hospital. It is believed that Parker’s injury will not require surgery, and Parker could be released as early as Sunday.(NASCAR.com)(3-14-2004)
      UPDATE II on Injuries: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Hank Parker Jr. was expected to be released from Atlanta Medical Center about 12:00noon/et Sunday and return to Charlotte, NC. He sustained a back injury in an accident in Saturday’s truck race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which also sent Rick Crawford and Tina Gordon to the hospital. Crawford suffered broken bones in his left foot and Gordon broke her lower-right leg. Both were released Saturday. Joey Clanton was involved in another accident and went to the hospital for a precautionary CT scan. He was also released Saturday.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-14-2004)
      UPDATE III 3-15-2004: Both Alabama drivers injured in Saturday’s NASCAR trucks series race are out of the hospital and recovering. Tina Gordon marked her 35th birthday on Sunday at home in Cedar Bluff with a broken bone in her lower right leg. No cast was required, and doctors have told her to keep weight off the leg for a week. Rick Crawford of Mobile, who broke some bones in his left foot, was released from an Atlanta hospital on Saturday. The crash came in the first race for the trucks at Atlanta. Gordon’s truck was hit twice as it spun down the backstretch. Crawford clipped the rear end, then Hank Parker Jr. slammed into Gordon. Parker was the last driver discharged from Atlanta Medical Center. He was released on Sunday after treatment for a crushed vertebra.(Alabama Live)(3-15-2004)
      UPDATE – Parker: Following the accident, Hank Parker, Jr. was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center and held overnight for observation. All precautionary tests came back negative and Hank was diagnosed as having a compression fracture of his L-2 vertebrae. After being released from the hospital Sunday afternoon, Hank had this to say, “It was a heck of a hit and my whole body is pretty sore, but I’ll get plenty of rest and be ready to get back on the track at Martinsville.” He continued, “My crew gave me a real hot rod, and I was looking forward to a great finish in my Sport Clips Toyota. I really appreciate Sport Clips sponsoring me for this one race deal, as well as the ongoing support of Toyota, Jenkins and Jenkins Attorneys at Law, and White House Foods. I especially want to thank all the fans for their thoughts and prayers; it means a lot to me to have their support.“ Parker Jr. and the #21 Toyota Tundra will make their next appearance on April 17, 2004, at the Kroger 250 when the Truck Series returns to action at Martinsville.(Catchfence)(3-16-2004)
      UPDATE – Gordon: Tina Gordon is at home in Cedar Bluff, Alabama resting comfortably after a crash on lap 45 of the EasyCare Vehicle Service contracts 200 on Saturday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Gordon suffered a concussion as well as a broken right fibula in the accident. On a positive note, these injuries were not to the same leg that was broken in a crash two years ago in Charlotte. Doctors did not cast the right leg, but did put it in a boot. Gordon will have to stay off of the leg for one to two weeks to let the fracture heal itself. While things do look positive for the next race, Gordon’s injuries will be evaluated again in a couple of weeks and a decision on her prognosis for the Martinsville race will be made at that time.
      Tina would like to thank Duke and Rhonda Thorson and everyone else at ThorSport Racing as well as her sponsors, Vassarette lingerie and Microtel Inns & Suites for all of their support. Gordon and her family would also like to thank Ed Clark, Angela Revell, and the rest of the staff at Atlanta Motor Speedway for their help in getting her entourage to and from the hospital on Saturday. Tina’s thoughts are with Rick Crawford and Hank Parker, Jr., and she is hoping for a speedy recovery for them as well. She would also like to say thanks to all of the drivers and fans who have called and written with get well wishes.(Victory Lane Motorsports Management PR)(3-16-2004)
      Updates: Three drivers injured during last Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway anticipate returning to competition next month at Martinsville Speedway.
      The three – Rick Crawford (No. 14 Circle Bar RV & Motel Ford), Tina Gordon (No. 13 Vassarette/Microtel Chevrolet) and Hank Parker Jr. (No. 21 SportClips Toyota) – were involved in a Lap 45 incident on the 1.54-mile track’s backstretch.
      Crawford sustained two fractures to the left foot; Gordon incurred a break of the fibula in her right leg. Both were treated at Atlanta Medical Center and released last Saturday (March 13) to the care of their personal physicians. Parker, hospitalized overnight for further evaluation of a compression fracture of the L-2 vertebra and released this past Sunday, continues to be evaluated by his personal physician.
      Also, Joey Clanton (No. 40 Optech Chevrolet), involved in a Lap 88 incident, also was transported to Atlanta Medical Center where he underwent CAT scans. The scans were negative and Clanton was released, also last Saturday. All four competitors have stated their intentions to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ next event, the Kroger 250, on April 17 at Martinsville.(NASCAR PR)(3-18-2004)
    • Edwards to race in USAC race: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points leader #99-Carl Edwards will pilot a USAC Silver Crown car this Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway. Edwards, who drives the #99 Superchips Ford for Roush Racing, will be driving for RE Technologies of Memphis, Tenn. It will be Edwards’ 12th start in the Silver Crown Series. His best finish is third at Indianapolis Raceway Park last August.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-18-2004)
    • Hines to race at Irwindale: Mopar’s Tracy Hines will return to his midget racing roots, as he will compete in the Mopar Twin 25’s at Irwindale Speedway in California on March 27. Driving the No. 11 Wilke-PAK machine supported by Mopar sponsorship, Hines will take a break from his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series duties to make another attempt at the coveted $50,000 bonus the prestigious event offers. The Mopar Twin 25’s at Irwindale will be held March 27, 2004. Tickets can be purchased for the event by calling (800) 515-8445. For more information regarding the Mopar Twin 25’s, log on to www.twin25s.com or www.midgetmadness.com.(MOPAR PR)(3-18-2004)

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