March 18 -Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 18, 2002

• • • Personal Stuff – Gordon News UPDATE: Racer Jeff Gordon’s wife files for divorce – story at the Palm Beach Post: Brooke Gordon, wife of NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, filed for divorce on Friday after more than seven years of marriage. Their marriage is “irretrievably broken as a result of the husband’s marital misconduct,” according to the document. The couple has no children.(3-16-2002)
      AND: Four-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon declined to comment Saturday on reports from Florida that his wife of more than seven years, Brooke, has filed for a divorce. “I am not going to comment on it,” Jeff Gordon said at Darlington Raceway, the site of Sunday’s Dodge 400 race. “I hope you guys will respect me at this time and we will release something next week.” Marital misconduct is defined legally as any conduct that undermines the marital relationship or behavior that forces one spouse to assume extra burdens in a marriage.(ThatsRacin.com) and a column from NASCAR.com: Report: Brooke Gordon files for divorce(3-16-2002)
      UPDATE: Statement From Jeff Gordon:
      “As you are probably well aware, Brooke has filed for divorce. Being a personal matter, I hope that everybody will respect our privacy as we work through this difficult time. I also hope everybody will understand that it would be improper for me to discuss or comment on this matter publicly. I appreciate the support I’ve received from my family, friends and those in the racing community.”(Jeff Gordon Site)(3-18-2002)
    • Andretti a clone? UPDATE 2 image and some Star Wars/Cheerios PR: hearing the #43 Cheerios Dodge and driver John Andretti will sport a special Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones movie scheme in 2002. The movie is scheduled for release in May, been told the scheme will run in The Wintson and the Coca Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway(2-5-2002)
      UPDATE: Got an image of the scheme, check it out on my Paint Schemes Gallery.(2-6-2002)
      UPDATE 2: Cheerios announces three special edition Star Wars paint schemes and have designed a special paint scheme for Episode I, Episode II and a Trilogy edition. On their site [www.starwars.cheeriosracing.com], folks can check out each new car design, view them from different angles, pick a favorite and compare them with other. Images can be downloaded. Beginning in May in select states, specially marked packages of Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Honey Nut Chex and Golden Grahams will be offering a FREE mail in for three collectible 1:64 die cast cars with #43 Cheerios Star Wars special edition paint schemes. Collect all three special edition paint schemes: Episode I, Episode II and the Trilogy car. In conjunction with the FREE mail-in offer, John Andretti will be driving a new, one-time-only Light Side vs. Dark Side Star Wars paint scheme in May at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway to commemorate the movie premier.(PR)(3-18-2002)
    • More One Engine News UPDATE: NASCAR yesterday tightened its one-engine rule, requiring teams to get NASCAR approval for any engine change. Some teams have been practicing with one engine, then changing for qualifying.(Winston Salem Journal). Previously, teams could use a different engine for the first practice session but couldn’t change engines once the car was qualified unless gaining approval from NASCAR.(News and Record)(3-17-2002)
      UPDATE: On Saturday, NASCAR said it was amending his single engine rule to include possible reduction in owner and driver points to teams that change engines.(Augusta Chronicle)(3-18-2002)
    • Baseball, Texas and Benson UPDATE: Brandweek magazine is reporting that Major League Baseball is planning a NASCAR-related promotion and licensing deal around the April 7 Winston Cup Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, today’s Sports Business Daily says. Brandweek says MBV’s #10 Pontiac driven by Johnny Benson will display an MLB Opening Day logo. The promotion will also see Benson and his team attend a Rangers game during the race weekend, and Rangers players are expected to be on hand for the race. The magazine also says the 200,000 fans expected at the race will receive a fan guide with the complete 2002 MLB schedule.(Winston Cup Scene – Daily Newsletter)(3-14-2002)
      UPDATE: the scheme is a MLB Opening Day/Radio Shack scheme, see my Paint Schemes Gallery for an image of the scheme.(3-18-2002)
    • Stewart to Skip the Indy 500? Even before his nasty crash Sunday, Tony Stewart apparently was re-evaluating his plans for May. Stewart has had discussions with Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske about running in the Indianapolis 500, but his NASCAR team officials said he has been weighing one other option: None of the above. Team officials said owner Joe Gibbs is not standing in the way of Stewart again doing Memorial Day double duty with either Ganassi or Penske. It’s up to the driver, and he hasn’t decided. Last year, Stewart ran in the Indy 500 and then the Coca-Cola 600, a night race at Charlotte.(Indianapolis Star), see more on my #20 Team News and Links page.(3-18-2002)
    • Smith blames Evernham UPDATE um..no?: #7 car owner, Jim Smith, is not happy. Smith said he doesn’t blame driver Casey Atwood for the stumbling start this season — finishes of 35th, 39th, 41st and 32nd — but instead suggested that Ray Evernham, with whom Smith merged teams, is not giving Atwood proper support. ”We’re not going to stand for this running 20th stuff,” Smith said. ”We’re going to consolidate the teams and start sharing information.” (more at the Tennessean)(3-16-2002)
      Jim Smith, co-owner of the #7 Sirius Dodge, denies rumors that there has been a lack of cooperation between his squad and partner Ray Evernham since Ultra Motorsports inherited Casey Atwood. “Ray’s given us a tremendous amount of support,” Smith says. Smith, who released crew chief Kevin Cram last week, hopes to find a pit boss who will easily interface with Evernham’s #9 and #19 teams.(Sporting News)(3-18-2002)
    • Burton to be honored: Ward Burton, the first Virginian to ever win the prestigious Daytona 500 and driver of the #22 Caterpillar Dodge, will be officially honored by Halifax County, VA, the town of South Boston, VA., and the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce, April 13 at his hometown track, South Boston Speedway. Burton’s victory will be celebrated in pre-race ceremonies preceding the Textilease 300 presented by “Little Trees”. The evening also features twin 50s for the NASCAR Textilease Late Model Stock Cars and 300 laps for the ASA series. The weekend of April 13 and 14 is a great one for race fans in Southside Virginia, with Martinsville Speedway, only 60 miles west of South Boston, hosting the Virginia 500 on April 14. Many Virginia and motorsports dignitaries are expected to celebrate with Burton at the Speedway, as well as family, friends and fans. Race fans in attendance wearing a Ward Burton hat or shirt, or with a Ward Burton poster, will be given the chance to win two Weekend VIP Suite passes for the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway, July 26 through 28. A large banner is being produced to commemorate Burton’s Daytona victory, as well as congratulating South Boston graduates Elliott Sadler and Geoffrey Bodine on their top-three Daytona 500 sweep. The banner will also feature names of individuals and businesses that have joined the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation Club 22. Throughout the Winston Cup season, race fans and businesses can join Club 22 for a $22 donation to the Foundation. Members will receive a Foundation decal and quarterly newsletters along with recognition on the Speedway’s banner. Information will be available to join the Club 22 at the April 13 event at the Speedway.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(3-18-2002)
    • Helton leaves MRO: MRO founder and senior pastor Max Helton is leaving the racing ministry to start another designed to work with some other series worldwide. The new ministry will be called International Motorsports Services, and he’ll work with Formula One and other worldwide series. Helton will also work with a nationwide program that will try to help troubled marriages stay together. Helton retired from his role as full-time chaplain two years ago but remained employed by MRO. He founded the ministry nearly 14 years ago.(RacingOne)(3-18-2002)
    • NASCAR Honored: NASCAR was honored Wednesday with the 2002 American Legion National Commander’s Public Relations Award, in recognition of the sanctioning body’s tradition of patriotic displays during the televising of pre-race ceremonies. NASCAR President Mike Helton accepted the award during a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, site of the American Legion’s annual Washington Conference. The award was presented to Helton by American Legion National Commander Richard J. Santos. The national anthem is played before every NASCAR race, and tributes to United States armed forces – including the dramatic jet “fly-overs” – have long been NASCAR pre-race staples. The American Legion noted that the playing/singing of the national anthem and the tributes are routinely televised in their entirety.(NASCAR PR)(3-18-2002)

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