April 6, 2000
- Sad News: NASCAR Legend Lee Petty passed away this morning. Condolences and thoughts out to the Petty family. AP story at the WRAL site also a story at SpeedVision. A private graveside service for family members only has been scheduled this week. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Level Cross United Methodist Church Building Fund, 10142 U.S. Highway Bus. #220 North, Randleman, N.C. 27317.(Williams Company)(4-5-2000)
UPDATE: see a nice tribute at the Official Petty Racing Site. Some stat pages at Total Sports: Lee Petty’s career stats and Winston Cup’s 50-win club. And from a Keystone Marketing PR: Statement by W.C. “Junie” Donlavey RE: Lee Petty – “Lee Petty was one of the finest drivers that ever sat in a race car, and he was one of the true pioneers of the sport. He taught the drivers what it meant to really devote your time and effort to racing because he was very successful at it. He was just a fine fellow and very tough competitor. It was an honor to have known him and to have been a part of the series when he raced in it because it brings back a lot of memories. He was one the first ones to really make racing a career. When he started, he really went at it and made it a full time deal when others were just playing. I always admired him for really putting an effort in it to make the sport what it is today. He was one of the ones that devoted lots and lots of time to making it a true profession.”(4-6-2000)
- Made in the USA: A Monroe, N.C., apparel company is fighting foreign competition by appealing to customers where they live – at the track. Encore Textiles has launched a billboard campaign aimed at getting NASCAR fans to think twice about buying foreign-made T-shirts and other apparel from trackside vendors at speedways around the Winston Cup circuit. See full story at the Charlotte Observer: `Made in U.S.A.’ goes trackside(4-6-2000)
- Sad News: Dover Downs Founder Passes Away. John W. Rollins Sr., the trucking magnate who became a behind-the-scenes force in American politics, died Tuesday while napping at his office. He was 83. See stories at the Delaware News site: Void is left in ‘Big John’s’ wake and Self-made man earned it the old-fashioned way and the NOL story(4-6-2000)
- Steele Out? UPDATE 2: Hearing #82 ChannelLock/SABCO driver may be replaced. A spokesman for the team confirmed that an announcement is due soon, possibly within the next day or so, about Steeles future with Team SABCO. Steele, who was signed by Sabates late last year, has qualified for just two of seven Busch Series races this season, finishing 23rd at Daytona and 34th at North Carolina Speedway(goracing)(4-5-2000)
UPDATE: Derrick Gilchrist has been named interim driver of the #82 Channellock/Team SABCO Chevy beginning with the BellSouth Mobility 320 Presented by Ericsson at Nashville. Open wheel stand-out and Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender, Dave Steele began the season behind the wheel of the #82 Chevy. Steele qualified the car solidly into the first two events before experiencing problems in the following three. After stepping in to qualify the Channellock Chevrolet in the Cheez-Its 250, Sterling Marlin drove to victory lane at Bristol. Steele returned to driving duties the next weekend at the Texas, however, after turning in competitive practice times he crashed during his qualifying run. Winston Cup regular Jeff Fuller stepped in to qualify the car during second-round, but was not quick enough to make the field. “We got together after Texas to decide what direction we were going to go,” said Armando Fitz, VP of Operations for Team SABCO. “It was a mutual decision between all parties that Dave just wasn’t ready to run a full Busch schedule. It was at that time we began the search for a replacement driver and Derrick was atop our list.” Gilchrist began his stock car career in the NASCAR Slim Jim All-Pro Series in 1996 where he finished eighth overall in points. The following season, he was named Most Improved Driver finishing seventh overall. In 1998, the Asheville, N.C.-resident earned the runner-up spot with three poles, three victories, 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes – more than any other driver in the series. Last year, the 23-year old ventured into the ASA claiming three wins in his rookie campaign. Gilchrist captured the pole position and came home second in last year’s season finale ARCA event at the Atlanta, his first-ever start in the series. “When the offer came to drive the Channellock Chevy, I couldn’t pass it up,” said Gilchrist. “SABCO has put together a competitive team…and that was obvious in Bristol. It’s now my job to duplicate what Sterling did and get the Channellock Chevy to Victory Lane.”(SABCO PR) no word on his status with the #15 Andy Petree team(4-5-2000)
UPDATE 2: Derrick Gilchrist is still under contract with Andy Petree Racing. Andy Petree has “loaned” Gilchrist to SABCO to drive the Channellock car for a limited number of races. Gilchrist will be driving an Andy Petree Racing NASCAR Busch Series entry on behalf of Hot Tamales and Albertson’s for 10 more races this season. Also hearing Mike Skinner will driver up to six races for Petree(4-6-2000)
- #19 News: Emerald Performance Group(EPG) has named BGN ROTY contender, P.J. Jones, as driver of the #19 Chevy for the remainder of the 2000 season. Jones was released from his contractual obligations with the #74 BACE Motorsports team on Wednesday of this week. Jones will join EPG effective immediately, driving the #19 Yellow/Kobalt Mechanics Tools/Pameco Chevy this weekend at Nashville. Jones has raced in all seven events in the 2000 season, highlighted by a 13th-place start at Darlington and a 24th-place finish at Atlanta. At age 30, Jones’ racing résumé is quite full. He has six NASCAR Winston Cup races already under his belt, driving for Melling Racing in 1993. Early that same year, he captured a win in the GT3 class at the Rolex 24 of Daytona. Jones recorded an impressive run in the NASCAR Truck Series in 1995, finishing 17th in overall point standings while competing in only 13 of the series’ 20 events. Before returning to NASCAR this season, Jones raced in the CART Fed Ex Championship Series from 1996-’99, with his best finish (2nd) at Nazareth Speedway, a stop on this year’s NASCAR Busch Series schedule. Jamie Skinner will continue to be involved with the #19 Busch team. Skinner’s driving duties have been revised to include four races this season: 9/8 Richmond, 10/29 Memphis, and twp other races yet to be determined(Grandstand Communications). Mike Skinner is no longer part of the team and will not drive the car(WC Scene)(4-6-2000)
- Starr gets a ride: David Starr has been hired to drive Michigan-based John Conley’s #7 Chevy in the CTS, beginning this weekend at Martinsville. Next week, Starr will try to qualify the #16 Pontiac owned by Wayne Day in the BGN race at Talladeag. Mike Starr owns Team Texas High Performance Racing School, based at Texas Motor Speedway. David is an instructor there. Starr hopes the Conley deal will work out and that he and the team will run the rest of the races(Dallas Morning Star)(4-6-2000)
- Powers Update: the #5 Powers Motorsports team today that they will attempt to compete in the upcoming Gateway International Raceway Dodge sponsored event. ” We have totaled overhauled both of our trucks and feel that Gateway will be a good shot at us making our first race” Mike Hammerrle Crew chief said. The team missed the Daytona event and has been completly overhauling both trucks in their eforts to return to the series. “I need to make one of these events to help display our teams capabilities to any potential sponsors we are talking to” team owner / driver Tom Powers said. “Bill richardson has really worked hard on getting our horsepower where it needs to be now it’s up to me”. The team is still searching for sponsorship that would allow for them to compete in as many as seven races this year. “We would like to thank the people at Precision Engineered Race Components for all there assistance in our retooling of theses trucks. For additional information Please contact us @706-782-1437 (Powers PR)(4-6-2000)
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