March 27, 1999
- #90 Sponsor: Donlavey Racing and Stanton Barrett has a one-race deal for the PRIMESTAR 500 with Suburban Lodfges of America, Inc, an economy extended stay hotel company(NOL) that could turn into a full-time deal(Times-Dispatch), failed to make the race(3-27-1999)
- #94 Assoc Sponsor trouble? Service Merchandise is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It is not known how it will affect sponsorship of the #94 McDonald’s Ford team of Bill Elliott(NSSN)(3-27-1999)
- Bouchard Update: Ken Bouchard, driver of the #84 Three Stooges Beer Chevrolet, is still at Parkland Memorial Hospital. His test results were negative and he is in stable condition(TMS Page)(3-27-1999)
- Raybestos and #28: It’s a week or so old, but saw this in last weeks Winston Cup Scene – Raybestos Brakes has signed on for three more years as an associate sponsor with Robert Yates Racing and the #28 Texaco Ford of Kenny Irwin(WC Scene)(3-27-1999)
- No New Monte: According to Richard Childress, owner of the #3 Goodwrench car driven by Dale Earnhardt and the #31 driven by Mike Skinner, the possibility of running a new Chevrolet is now a dead issue. See the complete story at It’s official: No new Monte in ’99 by Lee Spencer (SpeedVisoin/iRace)(3-27-1999)
- Earnhardt Honors: Dale Earnhardt will honor Garry Sanders, a Sansom Park firefighter who was killed recently when trying to rescue people from a burning church. Sanders’ brother, Steve, is a member of the Texas Motor Speedway rescue crew and prior to his death, Garry had been trying to earn enough hours to be permitted to work race events. His goal had been to work in Earnhardt’s pit area during a Winston Cup event at the track. To honor Garry Sanders, Earnhardt will carry decals on his car Sunday that say, “In memory of Garry Sanders.” In addition, Steve Sanders will work in Earnhardt’s pit in the Primestar 500(Dallas Morning News – Notes)(3-27-1999)
- DW/#66 in Trouble? UPDATE 5: The Speedwords website has been hearing of discontent and outright anger in the #66 Winston Cup team of Darrell Waltrip, primarily in the last two weeks though some say it goes back farther than that. DW is out of provisionals (as best as anyone understands that “rule”), crew chiefs have come and gone and now there is talk of an impending split of the team itself. Track side reports of tension in the pit and garage area possibly fed by on-track performance that appears to be spiraling downwards all lend credence to the reports. Late yesterday Speedwords was told that at least two prospective crew chiefs have quietly turned down offers from the #66 team. Sources close to the team also said last night that key figures in the Travis Carter owned operation are seeking a way out of what even hopeful supporters are now considering a bad situation. Though publicly displaying his game face, this has to be a tough time for DW and everyone involved with the team(Speedwords) Yikes!(3-25-1999) — I hear there was a story on Waltrip echoing the same in Thursday’s USA Today print edition, but I could not find it online and have not seen Thursday paper. UPDATE 2: Also I hear if DW is not up to speed for 1st round qualifying, look for another driver(Jeff Green??) to make an attempt in 2nd round(3-26-1999) — UPDATE 3: see a story of That’s Racin’ at Waltrip faces prospect of going home by David poole and from SpeedNet’s Notes by Monte Dutton: Rumors circulated late Friday that Travis Carter, Waltrip’s car owner, was considering putting another driver in the car for today’s second-round qualifying session. Waltrip has needed a provisional to make the field in all five events and no longer has that option since the team fell out of the top 25 in car-owner standings last week. Carter was apparently considering Matt Kenseth, Todd Bodine and several other Busch regulars, although Waltrip would almost certainly be the driver on Sunday if someone else can get the #66 Ford in the field. Carter left the track abruptly and was unavailable for comment(SpeedNet) — UPDATE 4: The Travis Carter owned teams both had trouble in the session with Jimmy Spencer qualifying 40th and Darrell Waltrip qualifying 44th. Waltrip’s run must have been a disappointment as he ran a time 4/10ths of a second slower than he practiced earlier in the day. Waltrip’s #66 car was covered and the team hauler locked as the team left the track early(Speedway Scene) — UPDATE 5: DW made the race and that’ll quiet things down for at least two weeks. Many articles out there now about the situation including: Waltrip Overcomes Fears, Qualifies for Texas Race from the WRAL Auto Racing page and Waltrip produces hot lap when he needs it from That’s Racin'(3-27-1999)
- Pearson news: Due to lower back pain resulting from Thursday’s crash in Busch practice, Larry Pearson will climb out of the #00 Cheez-It Pontiac at the first opportunity in Saturday’s Coca-Cola 300. Tentatively Jimmy Spencer is slated as the relief driver(TMS Pit Notes)(3-27-1999)
- The return of Jr Johnson UPDATE 2: NASCAR Lengend, Junior Johnson will soon return to NASCAR racing as part of a BGN team. Johnson will be at a press conference at the former Smokin’ Joes Cup race shop in Hamptonville, NC, on Monday at 11am/et to formally announce the formation of the team. Johnson will talk about his involvement with the team, announce the team’s sponsor, Overton’s Inc. and introduce the team’s driver, one that has extensive NASCAR experience. Another press conference will be held on Tuesday at 11am/et in Greenville, N.C., at the home office of Overton’s(NOL) — Junior Johnson is lending his name to a new Busch Grand National team being formed. Does this mean the legendary ex-driver and car owner is ready to get back in the sport? No. In return for the use of his name, the team will use shops owned by Johnson(SpeedNet) and some hints are given in this story(posted 3-24) by Larry Woody at – Laid-back Johnson just an advisor now(Tennessean), mentions Johnson as more of an advisor and Overton’s as well as a driver Chris Cook, who hopes to make his BGN debut in the April 3 BellSouth Mobility 320 in Nashville. In the story it also mentions that Cooks team rents a shop Johnson owns in Hamptonville(3-27-1999)
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