March 27, 1998
- From the Tribute to the Labontes Page: Terry Labonte will be running a different paint scheme in the #5 Kelloggs Chevy, starting in Texas, and in 6 other random events during the rest of the season. The car is mostly yellow, with red, white, and green pinstripes slashing up the of the car, and that only Cornelius the rooster will be on the hood and quarterpanels. Also there will be Fruit Loops car to run in Charlotte, not sure if it will be The Winston, Coke 600, or the UAW-GM 500. The car will be very similar in color to the Spooky scheme, but would feature Toucan Sam, rather than Frankenstein.(3-27-98)
- It’s Official: Three of auto racing’s most prolific names joined forces Friday when Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Pennzoil announced that three-time Winston Cup Champion Darrell Waltrip will drive the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo until Steve Park returns from injuries suffered March 6 at Atlanta. The Pennzoil Monte Carlo Waltrip will drive this weekend at Bristol was built by Darrell Waltrip Motorsports and is the same car Waltrip drove here last August. This weekend it will be maintained by a mixed crew of employees from both Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Darrell Waltrip Motorsports. The Pennzoil crew will resume fielding the car next week at Texas Motor Speedway. See more of the story at DW’s Official Page: Darrell Waltrip’s Hot News(3-27-98)
- Who is Tim “T.J.” Beverley, DW’s new owner? This via Pennzoil: T.J. Beverley’s career in aviation began as a line boy, pumping gas at an airport near Chicago. He eventually moved into aircraft sales and parlayed that sales experience into a business that has become one of the world’s leading dealers of corporate aircraft. Beverley founded Tyler Jet Aircraft in March of 1986. The company initially had two employees, Beverley and a secretary, and was housed in a one-room office at the airport in Tyler, Texas. Today, Tyler Jet Aircraft includes both sales and interior refurbishment divisions in addition to an FBO operation. The company, of which Beverley is the president and sole proprietor, specializes in the sale of mid-size and large corporate jet aircraft and has nearly 150 employees. Beverley is also active in commercial and residential property development. Racing Background: An avid automotive enthusiast, Beverley was involved in motorsports as a sports car owner and driver for nearly 10 years. His driving career started in open-wheeled Formula Fords and included two seasons in the Shelby Can-Am Series. His driving resume also includes an appearance in the 1989 24 Hours of Daytona, this country’s premier sports car race. He has held competition licenses in both the Sports Car Club of America and the International Motor Sports Association. Beverley has also attended stock car driving schools at four different race tracks. Hobbies: When time away from his businesses allows, Beverley enjoys boating, water skiing and snow skiing. Residence: Tyler, Texas, Children: Austin, Brent, Christin and Alaina(Pennzoil)(3-27-98)
- Some type of merger may be in the works between Penske Motorsports and Bill France’s International Speedway Corporation, according to sources close to the situation. The two public stock companies haven’t been generating a lot of thrills on Wall Street lately, despite the bull market. The France family owns about 62 percent of ISC.(JournalNow)(3-27-98)
- Check this out from the Go200mph newsletter: Darrell Waltrip will drive the #1 car until Park returns (Estimated by Indy now). When Park returns, plans are for DW to go back and drive the 17 car for the remainder of the season and all of 1999. The car that he qualified today was one of his and the two teams will combine resources and crews for Sunday’s race. By next week, the #1 Crew will be handling the business at hand. The #17 crew will begin building new cars as Dale Earnhardt Inc. steps up to the plate and helps the #17 Team with Sponsor and Marketing efforts. Tim Beverly of Texas is the new owner and will have Earnhardt’s assistance as the two teams (1 & 17) will form an alliance and become a unified team. Translation – Park and Waltrip to be teammates.(3-27-98)
- Two Morgan Shepherd fans footed the tire bill for Shepherd to attempt the TranSouth 400 last week at Darlington. Charlie and Michelle Sprinkle of Blythewood, SC provided the funds to allow Morgan to attempt the race, which he failed to do. Goodyear tires Cup uses cost $353 a piece. Shepherd also mentions that he is talking with a potential sponsor and hoped to have something finalized soon so he could be ready for the Coca Cola 600 in May(WC Scene)(3-27-98)
- Jim Long is working this weekend as the crew chief for the #8 Stovola Bros Circuit City Ford and driver Hut Stricklin. Long said on RPM2Nite that it was a 99% done deal that he would stay full-time(RPM2Nite)(3-27-98)
- I didn’t see qualifying but I hear Jeff Burton and Todd Bodine were sporting slightly different paint schemes in qualifying today. Jeff Burton’s usually all black
car, was painted in all purple from the windshield forward covering the hood
and nose of the car, w/ black Exide logos on the hood. Todd Bodine’s usually plain orange, had a new neon-day-glow orange color.(thanks Dave of the Labonte Tribute page)(3-27-98) - Buddy Barnes will be the permanent crew chief for Lyndon Amick and the #35 BGN Pontiac(WC Scene)(3-27-98)
- Michael Waltrip wrecked his primary #21 Citgo Ford during practice and had to go to his backup. Ken Irwin tagged the wall during his qualifying run but didn’t do much damage(3-27-98)
- 47 cars are scheduled to make a qualifying run at Bristol for the Food City 500. So four drivers will go home after second round qualifying. Bristol has 22(RPM2Nite said 21) front stretch pit stalls.(3-27-98)
- Hmmm…an interesting twist to the DW saga: “After a long talk with Dale Earnhardt, D.W. has decided to drive the Pennzoil Chevrolet in Bristol. As reported last night, we said D.W. would remain the driver of the #17 as a result of the sale of his team to a Texas businessman. Earnhardt and Darrell had a long chat, and the
result was he would help Earnhardt out this weekend in Bristol. Waltrip will drive the #17 Monte Carlo after Bristol for the remainder of the season for the new owner who is a friend of Rick Hendrick.”(Quote from WESH Website via the StockCar Fans newsletter, story at the WESH News site)FALSE(3-27-98) - Blaire Dalton, 24, of Fort Belfour, Va. has been selected the newest Miss Winston Cup for R.J.Reynolds Tobacco Co.’s Sports Marketing Enterprises. The 1997 N.C. State graduate has a degree in communications. Dalton will assist the Winston Cup operations
staff at NASCAR Winston Cup events with the other Miss Winston Cup, Renee Perks.(SpeedNet)(3-27-98) - Current crewman Billy Ryan will serve as interim crew chief this weekend at Bristol for the Ricky Craven owned #2 New Holland BGN Chevy while the team is interviewing for the job. The teams driver, Ron Barfield, will remain behind the wheel. Vic Kangas left the team last week(NE Racing)(3-27-98)
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