March 23, 2001
- Jeff Burton to Childress? um…NO – UPDATE 3: it was reported on the radio show The LTN Hour NASCAR Radio Show(RA) last Sunday(3-18), that while Jeff Green will drive the #30 AOL Chevy fielded by Richard Childress Racing this year in seven races, there will be a big surprise who will drive the #30 car next year and said it will be Jeff, but not Green and will come from a Ford team. That leaves…Jeff Burton, one catch I see a problem with, Jeff Burton has a contract with his current team owner Jack Roush through 2005. Also said that Jeff Green will move up to Winston Cup with his current BGN team, ppc Racing in 2002
AND from this weeks Winston Cup Scene: Jeff Burton, who’s been with Ford his entire Winston Cup career, was also rumored to be in the running for the full-time AOL ride. Despite Burton’s terrible start, Burton denied the rumor, as did Childress. “I’m very committed to Roush Racing. I’m very committed to (primary sponsor) Citgo,” Burton said. “I have no desire to leave Roush Racing. We are a team that has been in the top five in points the last four years and we’ve won a lot of races the last four years. The fact we’ve gotten off to a slow start isn’t my team’s fault.” Asked if Burton was being considered for the AOL ride, Childress said, “Right now, no. I haven’t talked directly to Jeff. Nobody (has). I wouldn’t even throw his name in the rumor mill.” As for ppc Racing, they tried unsuccessfully to put together a limited Winston Cup program for Green this year. Green would like to stay with team owners Greg Pollex, John Bender and Bob Campbell, if possible.(Winston Cup Scene – need subscription to read online)(3-22-2001)
UPDATE: Green apparently will have to prove himself to stay in the #30 car for 2002. Other drivers whose names have come up in connection with the ride are Stacy Compton and Roush Racing drivers Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle(Dallas Morning News)
UPDATE 2: from The Morning Buzz radio show on 100.3 WHEB, and Rock 101 in New Hampshire. They had Frank Stoddard, #99 Crew Chief on the show this week (as they do each week) and today they interviewed Jeff Burton. Their first question was about the rumors of his move to Childress. He flatly denied the rumors, and added that the story makes him “furious”. He said he has “no idea” where the story came from, and that there is no truth at all to it. He wants everybody to know for a fact that he is NOT leaving Roush Racing – Also an announcement is expected at Bristol on Friday about Jeff Green driving this year(3-22-2001)
UPDATE 3: Jack Roush uses direct reasoning as he states his case and makes the point that he is always willing to address the fodder that climbs the grapevine. NO, Jeff Burton isn’t leaving Roush Racing to drive for Richard Childress Racing. NO, Burton and Martin didn’t demand that the organization lease engines from another organization until the reliability and horsepower woes are resolved. And NO, heads aren’t rolling in the engine departments at Livonia (Mich.) and Mooresville (NC).(Sporting News)(3-23-2001)
- ESPN and NASCAR: been getting this question a lot, ‘Why is ESPN2’s RPM 2Night not showing race footage of the Winston Cup races and only still photos?’ – the answer: Mark Quenzel, the senior vice president of programming for ESPN, said he’s baffled by NASCAR’s intransigence in the RPM2Night affair. It was his network, he said, that carried many of NASCAR’s races for nearly 20 years when no other network was interested. Now NASCAR has been barring ABC-ESPN reporters from the Winston Cup garage this season. ESPN are still not allowed to use highlights for the NASCAR events, unfortunately. It is a little awkward having to use still photos of the races. (Brian)France said he wants to be a good business partner with Fox and NBC and help get Fox’s new NASCAR shows off and running. He said ESPN should use its 11:00pm SportsCenter to carry Winston Cup coverage, instead of the motor sports specialty show RPM2Night. Is Fox part of the problem? NASCAR executives and Winston Cup team owners and their sponsors are finding Fox to be a little tougher than they expected. “I really don’t know,” Quenzel said. “Fox is in a difficult position.”(Winston Salem Journal)(3-23-2001)
- Cup teams test at Kentucky UPDATE 3: #32-Ricky Craven and #96-Andy Houston are testing PPI Motorpsorts Fords at Kentucky Speedway, Tuesday March 20th and Wednesday March 21st. #19-Casey Atwood will test his Dodge on Wednesday(Kentucky Speedway PR)(3-19-2001)
UPDATE: Ricky Craven and Andy Houston began a two-day test at Kentucky Speedway on Tuesday. The #32 Tide Ford and the #96 McDonald’s Ford worked on chassis and aerodynamic set-ups. It was Craven’s first trip to the $152 million super speedway, which is situated just outside of Cincinnati, OH, the home base of his primary sponsor Procter and Gamble. “I had heard a lot about the track and how good it was to run on, but I had no idea just how nice it was until I pulled in, ” said Craven. “It is definitely a fast track. I would love to have the Winston Cup dates include Kentucky”(Kentucky Speedway PR)(3-20-2001)
UPDATE 2:NASCAR Winston Cup Driver’s Ricky Craven and Andy Houston tested for the last two days at Kentucky Speedway™. The #32 Tide Ford and the #96 McDonald’s Ford of PPI Motorsports worked on chassis and aerodynamic set-ups for future races. Both cars turned laps on Tuesday and Wednesday. The session, Wednesday though, was delayed until the afternoon because of overnight showers. Evernham Motorsports postponed its scheduled Wednesday test with the #19 Dodge Car, driven by Casey Atwood(Kentucky Speedway PR)(3-22-2001)
UPDATE 3: hearing the #50 Blairs.com Chevy will test at Kentucky with driver Rick Mast next week, March 27th and 28th(3-23-2001)
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997