March 29 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 29, 1999

• • • Rusty Tests UPDATE: I hear Rusty Wallace tested at Greenville Pickens Speedway on Wednesday(3-25-1999) — UPDATE: Mentioned during the CBS Broadcast that Rusty and the team did test and ran over 200 laps(3-29-1999)
    • LaJoie Crewmember: Kyle Green, a crewmember on the No. 14 Federated Auto Parts Ford driven by Randy LaJoie, was taken to the QualityCare Network Infield Care Center after being knocked down on pit road by a tire. He was treated and released. Green was back carrying tires over the wall during next pit stop(TMS Notes)(3-29-1999)
    • Special Visitor: Rusty Wallace had a special guest at TMS Sunday. Former pro baseball star Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams attended the Primestar 500. Williams appears with ex-baseball star Lee Smith in a current Miller Lite television commercial. Williams helped the Philadelphia Phillies to a pennant in 1993, but perhaps is best known for his wild pitching style(Jayski Note: his motto was that he pitched like his hair was on fire)(TMS Notes)(3-29-1999)
    • Money Raised: Speedway Children’s Charities collected over $61,000 a the Winn Dixie Speedway Children’s Charities live memorabilia auction held Saturday afternoon at the speedway. They raised over $50,000 Wednesday at the Fort-Worth Star Telegram Speedway Children’s Charities Celebrity Golf Tournament at Tour 18 in Flower Mound, Texas(TMS Notes)(3-29-1999)
    • Rumored Paint Scheme Stuff: From Sue’s ADNASCAR Newsletter – Dale Earnhardt was supposed to run a “Taz” paint scheme for the Winston Select but the scheme has been canceled due to the postponement of the introduction of the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. A new paint scheme will be announced on 4/11/99. Gordon’s Winston Car: Jeff Gordon is scheduled to run the Stars Wars paint scheme on the BGN Chevy at Charlotte and possibly run a Superman scheme on the #24 Chevy, with some sort of Chromalusion paint splash for the Winston. Look for an official announcement 4/20/99 that Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will run “Connected Theme” Cars, not sure where or if this is for the BGN Charlotte race. Another possible paint schemes for the #5 Terry Labonte chevy, Universal Studios/Islands of adventure, featuring marvel supper hero land (spiderman), The lost continent(3-29-1999)
    • Goodyear Statement on the Tires: Goodyear statement (from Phil Holmer, Goodyear Marketing Manager, Stock Car Racing): TMS basically a brand new track compared to last year. Teams didn’t have the critical Saturday afternoon hour practice due to rain. With rain all night, the track was green (rubber washed off) for Sunday’s race. Teams were going on the best information they had for race setups. After Goodyear engineers reverified the minimum tire pressure recommendations with team during the race, the last half of the race went in a normal fashion. Tires are being returned to Goodyears Akron Technical Center for further analysis. (For your information: Air pressure is an integral part of tire design and if a tire is used outside of the specified range, it is subject to abnormal stress.)(TMS Notes)(3-29-1999)
    • Hard Licks Update: Some tough licks for Jeff Gordon, Mike Skinner and Jimmy Spencer. Both Gordon’s and Skinner’s accidents looked like right rear tires went down. During an interview at lap 128, Gordon said they took X-Rays and he didn’t think anything was broken but he was mighty sore. UPDATE on Gordon: X-rays showed that Gordon didn’t break or chip anything and he expects to be back in the #24 Chevy at Bristol(Infobeat/AP). Mike Skinner was taken off the track on a stretcher and seemed shook up. Skinners owner, Richard Childress interviewed and said that Skinner probably has a right broken should blade. UPDATE on Skinner: Skinner sustained a hairline break in the right shoulder blade(shame one he injured at Texas in 1998). Jimmy Spencer tangled with Robert Pressley a few laps from the finish and seemed groggy. UPDATE on Spencer: Jimmy Spencer, driver of the #23, was treated and released from the QualityCare Network Infield Care Center(TMS Notes). Bobby Labonte gutted it out, came home with a 3rd place finish and luckily never took a hard hit like Gordon, Skinner or Spencer. Bobby Hamilton was overcome by fumes and the flu and was relieved by Kenny Wallace, who fell out early. Randy LaJoie, who blew an engine in the #14 was to get in, but could not fit in the seat properly.(3-28/29-1999)
    • The return of Jr Johnson UPDATE 2: NASCAR Legend, 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) — some hints are given in this story 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) — UPDATE 1: Junior Johnson’s race shop on U.S. 421 in Yadkin County is back open for business, with Kevin Sassar setting up a Busch operation for Chris Cook, a Late Model driver from Nashville. Johnson, who retired as a NASCAR team owner three years ago, will offer some advice to the team(PitNow) — UPDATE 2: see a Press Release on my BGN/CTS Silly Season Page(3-29-1999)
    • Team Debut: RDS Motorsports out of Burlington, NC, will make their first BGN attempt at Nashville this weekend with 19 year old driver R.D. Smith. They will have associate sponsorship from Carolina Auto Center but are still looking for a primary sponsor for the #79 Chevy. Crew chief is Chris Rice. Nashville is the first of a planned five race limited BGN schedule in 1999(3-29-1999)

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