March 27, 2001
- Mercedes Benz In NASCAR:? No – April Fools: Been getting email about a story in a recent Mercedes Benz Newsletter(called The Star), a story talking about Mercedes Benz competing for three years starting with 2002 starting at the Daytona 500 with an announcment at the end of April. Been told that this is an April Fools joke(3-27-2001)
- Junie switches engines: Hills Bros Coffee Racing Team owner Junie Donlavey has announced a decision to switch to Robert Yates Racing engines for the remainder of the season. Donlavey Racing fields the #90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford driven by veteran Hut Stricklin. The team will use Yates horsepower and engineering for the remainder of the 2001 season. “We went through this engine change with the understanding that Mark Smith with Tri-star motors was doing an outstanding job,” Donlavey said. “We have an obligation to be on the track and we decided to try something new so we can represent Hills Bros Coffee in the manner in which they expect.” Yates Racing engines are currently run by eight teams in the Winston Cup Series and have a win, seven top-five finishes and two poles in the 2001 season. Donlavey Racing will begin using Robert Yates Racing engines this week at Texas Motor Speedway for the Harrah’s 500.(Keystone Marketing)(3-27-2001)
- California Testing: Jeff Burton, driver of the #99 Citgo Supergard Ford, along with Shawna Robinson, the first woman to attempt to compete in a Winston Cup race in 12 years, will be at the speedway April 2nd and 3rd to test. The two-day test session will serve as a tune-up for the drivers heading into the NAPA AUTO PARTS 500 weekend, April 27-29.(California Speedway PR)(3-27-2001)
- Questions on the Earnhardt probe: More than a month after Dale Earnhardt died at Daytona, the detective leading the death investigation knows little more about how Earnhardt died than he did Feb. 18. From Day 1 of the case, according to the lead investigator, Robert Walker, Daytona Beach police have abandoned previous procedures and blocked detectives from making routine inquiries about the death of Earnhardt. Some points noted in the story: Walke was ordered by a supervisor on the night Earnhardt died not to attend the driver’s autopsy or to inspect and photograph the racer’s wrecked car; Earnhardt’s helmet and racing suit went to his family and have never been examined by police or the Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office; NASCAR never told Walker about the broken seat belt it later blamed for Earnhardt’s fatal head injury; Police have done more thorough investigations of previous racing deaths at Daytona. For example, after the 1994 death of racer Rodney Orr at Daytona, Walker attended the autopsy and examined the car. See Full story(very long) at That’s Racin’: Earnhardt investigation was unusual, detective says(3-27-2001)
- TV Ratings at Bristol: For the sixth consecutive week, FOX Sports scored a solid overnight rating for its coverage Sunday of the Winston Cup race from Bristol. The 5.3 overnight rating, 12 share was a tenth of a point higher than last week’s Darlington overnight, which jumped to a 6.1 final national rating.(SpeedVision)(3-27-2001)
- Labonte Honor Postponed: Corpus Christi City Council members gave the green flag on Tuesday to renaming Nueces River Park after NASCAR drivers Terry and Bobby Labonte. The unanimous vote to change the name to Terry and Bobby Labonte Park was great news for NASCAR fans like David Gibson, a state construction inspector. In a time when news about athletes often is negative, such as drug abuse or domestic violence, it is great to recognize role models like the Labontes, said Gibson, 56.(Caller-Times 2/28) AND A ceremony to rename Nueces River Park in Corpus Christi, TX after NASCAR drivers Terry Labonte and Bobby Labonte has been delayed until June, officials said. The Labonte Brothers Special Recognition Committee initially wanted to rename the park to coincide with the April 1 NASCAR Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth(Caller-Times 3/18)(3-27-2001)
- Bass to Expand: Five months after expanding his Charlotte-based gallery, Sam Bass is once again expanding — this time to Texas. Members of The Speedway Club at Texas Motor Speedway will now have the opportunity to experience the artwork of Sam Bass, NASCAR’s premier artist, first-hand as the new Sam Bass Gallery is set for it’s grand opening on Saturday, March 31. The gallery, located on the 8th floor of The Speedway Club(Catchfence)(3-27-2001)
- Skinner in the #21 at Texas – Dillon too sore: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) named Mike Skinner as the driver for its BGN #21 Rockwell Automation team this weekend at Texas while fulltime driver Mike Dillon recuperates from injuries sustained from a March 24 crash at Bristol. “Mike (Dillon) took a hard lick at Bristol so he’s pretty sore and stiff,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. “He also took a hard lick a couple of weeks ago testing in Nashville. Everyone knows racing at Texas Motor Speedway can be very tough. So, to do what’s best for our team and for Rockwell Automation, we’ve asked Skinner to step in for now to get the job done.” Skinner, the fulltime driver for the RCR #31 Lowe’s team in Cup, has earned one win (3/13/99 at Atlanta Motor Speedway), two poles, and two top-five and five top-10 finishes in 28 BGN starts since 1987. “Mike Dillon has been a part of the Rockwell Automation family for four years now and, more than anything, we want him to be 100 percent healthy,” said Ryan Kurek, NASCAR/sports marketing manager for Rockwell Automation. “We are excited that Mike Skinner has volunteered to help the Rockwell Automation Racing team during this situation. We know it means a lot to Dillon and the No. 21 team to have a RCR driver in the seat at Texas, and believe that this is the best solution for everyone involved.” None of Dillon’s injuries were serious and a CT scan proved negative. His status will be reevaluated after this weekend.(RCR PR)(3-27-2001)
- #16 Team Suspends Operations UPDATE: the #16 Team Rensi Team with driver David Donohue, has suspended operations effective immediately, citing lack of a sponsor. The #61 team with Randy Tolsma will continue(ESPN2’s RPM 2Night)(3-26-2001)
UPDATE: Due to lack of sponsorship interest Team Rensi Motorsports will put the No. 16 Nascar Craftsman Truck Series entry, driven by David Donohue on idle effective immediately. “This is by far the toughest decision Ed, Sam and I have had to make” stated Gary Weisbaum, Vice President of Marketing for Team Rensi Motorsports. “Both of our Nascar Craftsman Truck Series entries need sponsors and we have no choice. Should funding materialize, our goal will be to get David back on the racetrack as quickly as possible.” This decision will not affect Chad Chaffin, driver of the No. 25 NASCAR Busch Series car or Randy Tolsma, driver of the No. 61 NASCAR Craftsman Truck.(Team Rensi PR)(3-27-2001)
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