March 31, 1998
- UPDATE: Gary Bradberry said during a interview on WNOX in Knoxville, TN that he and the #78 Pilot Ford team will attempt to make the Texas race, but after that they will skip some races so they can build some more cars and test. He said that the team would probably skip short tracks races and/or road courses(3-30-98) – Have not seen or heard this elsewhere, so not sure what is up with the team(3-31-98)
- Ricky Craven was supposed to drive the #2 Ricky Craven Motorsports/New Holland Chevrolet in the BGN race at Texas this weekend, since Ron Barfield will drive in the Truck race in Homestead, Jeff Green will substitute for him this weekend in that ride. Craven is also scheduled to drive the #2 Busch car at both Dover races this year.(no idea who will driver there yet)(3-31-98)
- Kyle Petty will be driving John Andretti’s #96 Big A Auto Parts BGN car at Texas as Mike Stefanik has a conflict of schedules.(John Andretti Fan Page)(3-31-98)
- Randy LaJoie will fill in for Ricky Craven in the #50 Budweiser car for at least the next two races(Texas and Martinsville), if not the rest of Ricky’s recuperation period(depending on BGN conflicts)(3-31-98)
- Mark Cronquist is expected to be promoted to head engine builder for Bobby Labonte, with John Wilson moving to another position, according to sources close to the team.(JournalNow)(3-31-98)
- NASCAR officials announced fines, in the amount of $2,000 dollars each, to two drivers, Mike Waltrip and Mike Dillon. The fines stem from an incident in the pits where the two met after wrecking on lap 214 of Moore’s Snacks 250 in Bristol. NASCAR, after reviewing tapes and talking with officials on the scene determined that the actions were “detrimental to automobile racing or to NASCAR.”(GoRacing)(3-31-98)
- Jason Keller and the #57 BGN Progrossive Motorsports Chevy team will be running a one race test sponsorship for The Justin Boot Company in the Coca Cola 300 at the Texas Motor Speedway. Justin Boots, headquartered in the Ft. Worth area, is the very involved in rodeo event sponsorship, but this will be their first venture into team sponsorship. The team is currently in 10th place in the BGN points. The team is still seeking sponsorship for the balance of the seaon.(3-29-98)
- NASCAR legend Tim Flock died today from the liver and lung cancer that invaded his body. The strong battle that Flock mounted against the sickness spanned a three month period but in the end he was not able to fight on. Flock, who met the press at the old Charlotte Raceway in mid-January to kick off NASCAR’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, was a strong man with a clear booming voice that still felt the excitement of driving a race car in his heart. The youngest of three brothers, Tim Flock had a very successful career that showed 40 wins in 187 starts as well as two championships (1952 and ’55) in what would be called the Winston Cup series today. Flock retired from a full time schedule in 1956 and his last race came in 1960. Flock was perhaps most remembered for having a pet monkey ride with him while he drove races. The last time the monkey rode with Flock in a race it got loose and started to bother the driver. Flock figured it cost him $750.00 to stop and hand the monkey over to the crew chief as he lost a position on the track. As mentioned Flock was the youngest of three racing brothers as both his brother Bob and Truman Fontell “Fonty” Flock ran in the NASCAR series. Flock is survived by his wife Frances and sons Richard, Donald and Carl and daughters Joy Kirkpatrick and Peggy Black. Flock said earlier this year, “I’m proud of my record and I hope people never forget what I’ve done.” We won’t Tim.(GoRacing – Tim Flock Passes at 73 also see the story at TNN: Tim Flock: Racing Loved Him Back), Memorial donations honoring NASCAR pioneer Tim Flock can be made to: Hospice at Charlotte, 1420 E. Seventh St., Charlotte, NC 28204.(3-31-98)
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