March 24, 2001
- #50 Changes? hearing that Team Manager Charley Pressley and the #50 Midwest Transit Racing team have parted ways effective immediately(3-24-2001)
- CBS Show: CBS’ show “48 Hours” has completed filming for a piece it is doing on Petty Enterprises and Kyle Petty. The segment is scheduled to run in late April (hearing April 19th or 21st) and be part of a show dedicated to comebacks(Roanoke Times)(3-24-2001)
- New Cup team UPDATE a little history: Eric Smith, of Akron, New York, will again become the First and only Native American in the NASCAR Winston Cup during the modern era(1972-present) and the Arca RE/MAX series this year. Smith plans to compete in an extensive schedule with #92 entry in the Arca RE/MAX with a limited schedule in the #49 entry in the NASCAR Winston Cup series in 2001. Smith is a Native of the Iroquois Indian Nation and the Tonawanda Band of Senecas located in upstate New York. He is currently the only Native American competing in NASCAR Winston Cup and ARCA RE/MAX. With his appearances in the NASCAR Winston Open at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1995 and 1996, Smith became the only Native American Indian ever to compete in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in the modern era. With a broad background in electrical engineering technology, Eric is also a professional fixed wing and helicopter pilot. After serving in the US Marine Corps for a 1 1/2 year tour in Vietnam, Eric began his life long career in stock car racing. Jim Michael, a native of Binghamton, NY, will again serve as crew chief for the NWC#49 and Arca RE/MAX#92 entries if he is free from his current situation(E & E Motorsports PR)(3-22-2001)
UPDATE – history: after I posted the above, I got a few inquiries about the statement (before it was corrected) that Eric Smith was the first ever Native American driver in NASCAR Winston Cup. Been told that a driver from 1957 thru 1970 Roy Tyler was the first (or one of the first) Natice American drivers in the Cup (then Grand National series). A reader sent me some info from an old copy (1969) of the SCR Magazine: Roy Tyner was born in Lumberton, N.C. “…with half the blood that pulsed through him carrying the heritage of the Lumbee Indians. One suspects that the other half might be found to consist of gasoline, grease, and a trace of Wynn’s Friction Proofing. Roy is proud of his Indian blood. The boyish humility and half-embarrassed grin that prevail when he is talking about himself, fade and are replaced by an air of authority when he speaks of his ancestry. The Lumbees were composed of bands of Indians who broke away from their own tribes. There were Cherokee, Comanches….” “The names of his children, India Dawn and Forrest Truitt, reflect his heritage….”(thanks Phil) and from the Forty Years of Stock Car book – Vol 2 – Tyler’s best finish was a 2nd at Greenville Pickens, SC in 1959. And ironically Stooges Racing site even has a story with some images of Tyler and his cars, see it at Ask The Stooge: Roy Tyner(3-24-2001) - Engine News UPDATE and tires?: NASCAR is considering a cost-cutting one-engine rule for Winston Cup weekends at tracks with races 300 miles or shorter, such as Martinsville, Richmond, Loudon and perhaps Sears Point and Watkins Glen. At those tracks, teams would have to run the same motor all weekend, barring some emergency. The thinking is that a team could use one motor as long as the driver doesn’t have to put more than 500 total miles on it over the weekend, including qualifying and practice. Some teams are generally against the one-engine rule for longer races or for big tracks(Winston Salem Journal)(3-18-2001)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials, who have been under criticism for not doing more to curb the cost of racing, are moving to cut costs for Winston Cup team owners on two fronts: by limiting the number of tires each team can use during a race weekend, and by limiting teams to one engine per weekend at many tracks. The rules could go into effect by Richmond in early May(Winston Salem Journal)(3-24-2001) - 3rd RCR Driver? ESPN2’s RPM 2Night reports that the scheduled press conference to announce the Richard Childress Racing 3rd driver for the #30 AOL Chevy has been postponed until next week at Texas. Jeff Green is rumored to be the driver for it’s limited 5-7 race schedule. And what about 2002? (see below for one story and…) AutoRacing1 is reporting: According to our sources, Austin Cameron was seen wearing an AOL shirt and cap at a store. When our sources asked him “what’s the deal with you wearing AOL stuff” Austin replied “It’s something in the works between me AOL and a big named Cup Owner.” When asked if is is with RCR he said “Possibly…. we’re working on a deal right now.” When asked if you do come too an agreement will you go straight to Cup, Austin said “Probably not…….will probably run a double weekend.” Then from the NASCAR press conference yesterday… What are your plans for a third team? Richard Childress: “We took a step back because that’s where we originally had Kevin lined up to do those races, and Atlanta was actually going to be his first race with the America Online car. So now, what we’ve done is we’re going to make the announcement of the driver this weekend. We’re going to run seven races and we’ll give that schedule out at Bristol as well. We’re excited about it. It’s a great company and great people to be with. I feel you need the third team. That’s one thing that Dale and I had talked about in depth this past winter, about what we needed to do at RCR to keep these teams stronger.”(3-24-2001)
- What’s Up with: Geoffrey Bodine, see an AP story at the ESPN site: Bodine admits returning too quickly. A few tidbits – Bodine was at Bristol this weekend with his brothers, Brett and Todd, who will race in Sunday’s Food City 500. He’s been out of ride a this season and is looking to get a program together so he can run again this year(3-24-2001)
- The Burton Seat: A revolutionary racing seat being developed for Winston Cup drivers has further tests scheduled. Among those involved in the seat project is Jeff Burton, PPI Racing and Dr. John Melvin, a Michigan-based biomechanical engineer and one of the world’s leading authorities on racing injuries. The carbon fiber seat, which was constructed in England, is in the United States, Burton said. Crash testing has been scheduled for the seat, although Burton did not say when. Crash tests were performed on an earlier prototype in October. Burton says that the seat has been designed to incorporate the HANS device, for head and neck support.(more at the Roanoke Times)(3-24-2001)
- Fuel Cell Changes? Mike Skinner’s fiery crash at Darlington has NASCAR officials planning safety changes in the fuel-cell area. The top piece of Skinner’s fuel cell, a cast aluminum piece with a safety-check valve to prevent spillage, was sheared off when Skinner backed into the wall after being hit by Rusty Wallace. NASCAR is looking at making the safety-check valve piece more “crushable.”(Winston Salem Journal)(3-24-2001)
- #15 and DEI? UPDATE 2: have heard it was reported on Fox Sports Net show on Tuesday night that some crew members have left or were released from the #15 DEI team
UPDATE: hearing Car Chief Mike Kelly and Front Tire Changer Tim Sheets are two of the three who left(3-21-2001)
UPDATE 2: Three members of Michael Waltrip’s team are no longer a part of the DEI operation. Car chief Mike Kelly, front-tire changer and tire specialist Tim Sheets and shop mechanic Steve Durne have left. Kelly now works with Casey Atwood’s #19 team at Evernham Motorsports and Sheets is now with Morgan-McClure Motorsports, which fields the #4 Chevys(That’s Racin’)(3-24-2001) - New Changer for the #10: Two team members who changed the rear tires on Johnny Benson’s #10 car last year will be back in that role this weekend. They will replace two crewmen who’ve moved to the crew of #36 Ken Schrader, Benson’s teammate(That’s Racin’), AND Two pit crew members for the #10 MBV Motorsports Pontiac have been relieved of their duties at the track. Those two individuals, which were unnamed, still hold positions at the team’s shop, but were replaced at the track by two former pit crew members of the #36(NASCAR.com Buzz) (3-24-2001)
- Ingle to the TV Booth/Studio? Bill Ingle, the former Winston Cup crew chief who most recently was the crew chief for driver Dennis Setzer at the #46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports team, could be heading to a television career. If that is the case, look for chief mechanic Todd Meyers, who built TKO Motorsports into a CTS contender before the team had to suspend operations earlier this season due to a lack of sponsorship, to fill the role for Setzer. Meyers replaced Ingle — who was absent while attending to personal business — at the most recent CTS race, at Mesa Marin Raceway, where Setzer was running third late in the race before he hit the wall and ended his chances(NASCAR.com Buzz)(3-24-2001)
- More #4? Gordon Notes UPDATE 6 Gordon gone/Lepage In for now/Mast in the mix? $4 Million? during Fox Sports Net practice coverage, a few things were mentioned. That they heard that Kevin Lepage was fitted for the seat in the #4 car. Robby Gordon’s and Morgan-McClures lawyers are talking. Gordon would only say he has a 5-year contract. The chassis being run at Darlington is a Morgan-McClure chassis not a Gordon Chassis as rumored and not a third party chassis such as Laughlin or Hopkins. Lepage seen talking to a Kodak crew member(3-17-2001)
UPDATE: Robby Gordon has heard all the rumors, that car owner Larry McClure is planning to make a driver change quickly, that Kevin Lepage might be the man in McClure’s cars. But Gordon said he’s not going gently into the night. He’s got a five-year contract with McClure, he plans to live up to his part of the bargain and he doesn’t plan to be the fall guy in any sponsor debates. But now again there are more rumors of a pending change. Lepage said he can’t say anything. Gordon said he’s not giving up without a good fight.(Winston Salem Journal)(see next story for more)(3-18-2001)
UPDATE 2: Controversy continues to shroud the Larry McClure team. This weekend, Robby Gordon pointed to his five-year contract and said he’s staying with the team. Kevin Lepage said on a Grand National prerace show that he’ll be in the McClure car in a matter of time. Crew chief David Ifft said he doesn’t want to spend a whole year with the team. And McClure, for his part, isn’t saying much(Richmond Times Dispatch)(3-19-2001)
UPDATE 3: Morgan-McClure Motorsports/Kodak and driver Robby Gordon have agreed to terminate their contract. This change is effective immediately. A driver for the No. 4 Chevrolet for the this weekend’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway will be announced on Thursday. Morgan-McClure will name a permanent driver at a later date(Morgan McClure PR), still hearing Kevin Lepage will be the driver at Bristol but may not be the permanent driver(3-21-2001)
UPDATE 4: Kevin Lapage has been named to drive the #4 car at Bristol, a permanent driver will be named at a later date. Gordon was on ESPN2’s RPM 2Night Thursday and says he has talked to some Cup owners and IRL teams
see more on my #4 Team News and Links page(3-22-2001)
UPDATE 5: ESPN2’s RPM 2Night reports that Rick Mast has talked to #4 Owner Larry McClure about driving the Kodak Chevy(3-24-2001)
UPDATE – $4 million? the price tag for Robby Gordon’s release? According to one source of the Winston Salem Journal, it was $4 million, to buy out the rest of his five-year contract with car owner Larry McClure(Winston Salem Journal) AND from an AP Story: Gordon, a former Indy-car driver, said he doesn’t want to go back to open-wheel racing. Although he said he’ll probably run in the Indianapolis 500 in May, he’s looking for sponsorship for the stock car he owns and operated last season in Winston Cup(AP/That’s Racin’)(3-24-2001)
Pardus to run the BGN: Management of The Outdoor Channel, Inc. announced the signing of an eight race agreement with Jim and Judie Motorsports to compete in the BGN. Dan Pardus, who ran The Outdoor Channel Chevy at the ARCA event in Daytona this February, will continue on as driver of the #32 Monte Carlo. His first race will be April 14th in Nashville, TN. The tentative schedule for the remainder of the season includes: Charlotte on May 26th, Chicago on July 14th, Michigan on August 18th, Darlington on September 1st, Charlotte on October 6th, Phoenix on October 27th, and Homestead-Miami on November 10th. All of the events are companion events to NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series, with the exception of Nashville(Outdoor Channel PR) AND The team bought three GN-ready Monte Carlos from Bill Amick, father of GN and Truck Series driver Lyndon Amick. The team will abandon the ARCA Series in favor of competing in the BGN(Daytona Beach News Journal), Pardus run in a Winston Cup race at Daytona in 1999 and attempted a few in 2000 but didn’t make the field(3-24-2001) - Dillon ok: #21-Mike Dillon was involved in one of the many accidents at Bristol and was taken to the hospital for a CAT scan and x-rays, but they were negative and Dillon was released(3-24-2001)
- English Driver to debut UPDATE: Steve Hodgson will attempt to qualify at Bristol Motorspeedway this weekend, for the Cheez-it 250, Busch race. He is driving for the #6 Whelen/Woodway Chevrolet. Steve Hodgson resides in Mirfield England and is twice Eurocar champion(3-22-2001)
UPDATE: Wood Way is a sponsor along with Whelen. Stevie Hodgson has been racing since he was 12 and has won championships in every division he has entered. He is the first driver in Eurocar history to win back-to-back championships, three national championships, four regional championships, three rookie of the year titles and over 200 victories. In 1999 he was the guest commentator on Sky Sports NASCAR boradcasts in England and Ireland five times. He has won races and championships on oval and road courses and is excited about “showing his stuff” on the Busch circuit. Whelen, in conjunction with Joe Bessey, will give Hodgson that chance this weekend at Bristol. See an image of the car at my BGN Paint Sceheme page(PR). Hodgson will start 43rd and used the last provisional to make the race and the car is black not white like the image sent me(3-24-2001) - Ribbs to test at Martinsville but….:NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Willy Ribbs will test at Martinsville on Monday, Mar 26th, but he ’ll be in a Busch car. There is no testing in the Craftsman Truck Series (I didn’t know that, I guess unless NASCAR Mandated), and the only way he could get seat time there was in a BGN car(which do not run at Martinsville). The Busch car is owned by Ribbs’ truck owner Bobby Hamilton(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-24-2001)
- Robinson to run some BGN UPDATE 3 and Earnhardt: Aaron’s and Michael Waltrip Racing announced a new member to the #99 Aaron’s “Dream Machine” team, NASCAR driver, Shawna Robinson. Robinson will take the wheel of the #99 Aaron’s “Dream Machine” Chevrolet for three Busch Series events this year: Texas(3-31), Nashville(4-14) and Talladega(4-21). Robinson will continue her driving duties for Michael Kranefuss in the ARCA RE/MAX series(and the Cup series) as well as the three races for Michael Waltrip Racing’s #99 Aaron’s “Dream Machine” team(Cox Marketing Group)(3-10-2001)
UPDATE: Robinson is the only woman to win a pole in Busch Series history, capturing the top spot in Atlanta in 1994. She has been racing for over 10 years and had hoped to run a limited Winston Cup schedule this season, but could never line up the necessary sponsorship(Sporting News/AP)(3-11-2001)
UPDATE 2: it was mentioned on FX’s BGN race coverage that Michael Waltrip may put Kerry Earnahrdt in the #99 BGN car for a few races in 2001, as thanks for Dale Earnhardt setting up the #15 NAPA Cup ride for him(3-13-2001)
UPDATE 3: Kerry Earnhardt, the son of the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr., has agreed to drive in the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race June 16th. Earnhardt will drive the #99 Aaron’s Rent Chevy owned by Michael Waltrip Racing(Kentucky Speedway PR)(3-24-2001)
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