March 22 – Jayski’s NASCAR history - Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site

Congrats to ESPN’s Mike Massaro and wife Kristin on a new addition to the family, Anthony Joseph, born on Wednesday, a motorsports writer names his son A.J., seems fitting.(3-22-2003)

Benson To Drive Eagle One Paint Scheme At Richmond: Johnny Benson will drive the #10 Eagle One Wax-As-U-Dry paint scheme at Richmond International Raceway on May 3rd. Valvoline’s Eagle One brand includes premium waxes, polishes and cleaners. Wax-As-U-Dry is a much easier way to wax your vehicle. Wax As-U-Dry is specifically designed to wax your car as you dry it. A special blend of water reactive polymers and waxes provides that just hand waxed look in one simple spray-on formula that saves time and effort (MBV PR). See an image of the scheme on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(3-22-2003)

Goo Goo for Rusty UPDATE: hearing that #2-Rusty Wallace will feature a Goo Goo Dolls (rock band) scheme at Chicago in July.(3-20-2003)
UPDATE: see an image of the scheme on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(3-22-2003)

#99 Darlington Engine Problem Found: Paul Andrews, crew chief for #99-Jeff Burton, says that a problem with the bearings caused Burton’s engine to blow during last weekend’s race at Darlington. “The bearings are coated and it looks like something with the coating might have messed up the bearings,” Andrews said. That batch of bearings was in all the Bristol engines at Roush Racing, forcing the team to change the bearings in all its Bristol cars this week.(Roanoke Times)(3-22-2003)

Final TV Ratings for Darlington: Final Nielsen Media Research figures show that Fox’s broadcast of last Sunday’s Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 Winston Cup race from Darlington drew 2 percent more viewers than a year ago. Figures in today’s Sports Business Daily show that the race drew a 5.9 rating and 15 share, up from 5.8/14 last year. The Daily says the race was viewed by some 9.3 million people, and MotorsportsTV.com notes that it was the fifth straight week that a Winston Cup race was the nation’s most-watched weekend sports event. MotorsportsTV.com also noted that Fox’s average 6.5/16 this year (up 7 percent over 2002) means that it draws more viewers than the next two sports this season combined, the PGA with 3.4/8 and the NBA with a 2.9/7.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-22-2003)

DW vs Jeff Burton? Apparently there’s a bit of ill-will between TV’s Boogety, Boogety, Boogety-man, Darrell Waltrip, and Winston Cup driver Jeff Burton. Waltrip’s ire stems from comments made by Burton during Darlington rain delay coverage. Burton, who is among the best analysts in the sport, commented that driving these cars now takes everything that a driver can muster; and that drivers are up on the wheel for every foot of every race. Waltrip, at the time of Burton’s comment, fired back that modern day cars have power steering and air conditioning. Waltrip’s day, which was quite a while before he retired in 1999, saw him drive real cars, with manual steering and no spoilers. Apparently, Waltrip talked about Burton’s comments all week with anyone who would listen. The disagreement appears to be on par with countless other generation gap issues, when the old guard reminds the youngsters, how hard things were in the past.(Ford Racing Correspondent)(3-22-2003)

DW on Weaties Box UPDATE: Three-time NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip of Franklin will be featured on an upcoming Wheaties box as part of General Mills’ Legends of Racing Series.(Tennessean)(3-20-2003)
UPDATE: Wheaties announced today the release of a new special-edition package honoring auto racing legend Darrell Waltrip. One of the most dominant drivers of his time — he was named NASCAR’s Driver of the Decade for his dominance in the 1980s — this racing champion with 84 Winston Cup victories will now be featured on The Breakfast of Champions.(full story at Allwaltrip.com)(3-22-2003)
Harvick wins at Bristol: #21-Kevin Harvick won the Channellock 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway just beating #33-Tony Raines, who finished 2nd for the third time in his Busch career. It is Harvick’s 9th career Busch Series win. “How about Tony Raines? He’s going to win some races, not just in the Busch series but in Winston Cup, too, before long,” Harvick said. The race was slowed 13 times by caution – one short of the record – for 78 laps. There were eight lead changes among seven drivers. Harvick led 97 of the 250 laps, the most of any driver. The rest of the top five were #57-Jason Keller, #37-David Green and #20-Mike Bliss. Points leader, #92-Todd Bodine finished 9th and is still looking for a sponsor.(ThatsRacin.com)
For results, see ThatsRacin.com, BGN Racing, MotorsportsOne or NASCAR.com.(3-22-2003)

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March 22 – Jayski’s NASCAR history