March 25 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 25, 2000

• • • Greed and Notes: Greed seems to be a theme on the Winston Cup tour this spring. According to one top official, NASCAR is considering assessing a 10-percent fee on major tour car sponsors that aren’t already an “official whatever-it-is” of NASCAR. See this an notes on Fox owner buying GM Motors? Templates? Dodge/Ford? Spencer’s oil at PitNow(3-25-2000)
  • • #14 Rumors UPDATE 2 #41 close?: hearing Rick Mast, driver of the #41 Chevy could be AJ Foyt’s next driver if he can get out of his contract with #41 owner Larry Hedrick(3-24-2000)
      UPDATE: Rick Mast is the leading candidate to take over the driving duties for the #14 Pontiac’s owned by A.J. Foyt, The Charlotte Observer has learned. Mast, who currently drives the #41 Chevrolets owned by Larry Hedrick, is expected to meet with Foyt following this weekend’s Food City 500. Should Mast move to Foyt’s team, a new driver would have to be found for Hedrick’s team or it may close its doors(That’s Racin’) close up? first I had heard that part of it
      UPDATE 2: Mast is tight with Hedrick pending a solid sponsor opportunity. Bliss may get another chance at Texas or Trickle may drive again(SpeedVision)(3-25-2000)
  • • #75 Crew Chief switch CORRECTION: Wayne Orme will not be the crew chief on Wally Dallenbach’s #75 Ford this weekend. Orme is still part of car owner Darwin Oordt’s team, but the team will go with a crew chief-by-committee this weekend(Similar to the #94 team setup). Engineer Walter Giles and consultant Alex Astor will work with Dallenbach at Bristol(The State)
      CORRECTION: Have been informed that Alex Astor is not a consultant with the team(3-25-2000)
  • • Common Engines? word spread Friday that NASCAR intends eventually to make all manufacturers run an Chevy/GM SB2-pattern engine, although this was not confirmed by NASCAR. Dodge, rumor has it, has been instructed to follow the GM configuration, and Ford supposedly would be told to do the same at its next revision(see more at SpeedVision)(3-25-2000)
  • • Common Templates: most sources indicate that Common Templates will be a reality in CUP for the 2001 season and some announcement will be happening in the next few weeks(3-25-2000)
  • • AJ’s First: Did you know? until Friday, #14 team owner, AJ Foyt had never been on the grounds of Bristol Motor Speedway(Gaston Gazette)(3-25-2000)
  • • Earnhardt Jr: Dale Earnhardt Jr. failed to qualify in the top 10 for the first time this season. He was the only who had done it thru five races, he qualified 12th at Bristol(3-25-2000)
  • • Tire Problems? Goodyear is raising a lot of eyebrows in the NASCAR garage, as well as the ire of more than a few drivers, with some of its new tires this season. One driver reported that none of the drivers like the tire being used at Bristol(PitNow)(3-25-2000)
  • • No Switch: A week ago, the Darlington garage area was full of talk that Jimmy Spencer, No. 26, would switch car numbers with teammate Darrell Waltrip, #66, so that Waltrip could be eligible for more of the provisional starting positions he has needed to make the field in four of the season’s first five races. It never was an issue, Spencer insisted Friday(Gaston Gazette)(3-25-2000)
    • Marlin subs and wins: Sterling Marlin subbing for BGN teammate David Steele in the #82 ChannelLock Chevy in the BGN race at Bristil came from 16th to win the race, with Steele serving as his spotter. Why was Marlin in the car? Steele only made 2 of the 5 previous races, so the thought was to let Marlin run the car and Steele to watch. Plans are for Steele to return to the #82 next week at Texas(SpeedVision and other sources)(3-25-2000)

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