April 9, 2001
- Seat Safety News: The cocoon-like racing seat being developed by PPI Racing went through a series of crash tests last week, and team officials said they saw “extremely positive results.” Team officials plan to share their results with NASCAR officials soon. Jeff Burton and Dr. John Melvin, a Michigan-based biomedical engineer, also are involved with the project. The next step is to have a driver run test laps while using the seat to check its practical applications. Any changes needed there and based on the original crash testing will be made for a second prototype seat, which will undergo more testing(Roanoke Times)(4-9-2001)
- Earnhardt NOT replaced in IROC UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt’s entry will not be filled in the remaining three International Race of Champions (IROC) events this season. Earnhardt, a four-time IROC series champion – including the past two seasons – died in the Daytona 500 in February. According to sources, IROC officials will issue a news release this week explaining their decision not to use a replacement driver in Earnhardt’s car the remainder of the season. Earnhardt had 11 wins in 58 starts in the IROC series, with his last victory coming in the 2000 season opener at Daytona. He was series champion the past two seasons. In addition, Tony Stewart is expected to continue to fill in for Gil de Ferran, last season’s champion of CART. Stewart substituted for de Ferran in the season opener because de Ferran had injured his foot in a CART test session weeks earlier. Since de Ferran has not had any practice or test sessions in the IROC cars, he is not expected to compete this season(That’s Racin’)(3-25-2001)
UPDATE: True Value IROC officials announced they will run an 11-car field for the remaining three races of the 2001 True Value IROC schedule. In tribute to four-time True Value IROC champion Dale Earnhardt, the 12th car will remained parked. Series President Jay Signore said, “Dale’s career in the series is one to be revered. He accepted a record 17 invitations to represent his sport and went on to capture the title four times. The decision to start only 11 cars in honor of Dale is a first for us, but one we believe is well deserved. With the support of all the competitors and Dale’s family, we will keep the 12th car parked as a tribute to honor and remember Dale as the champion’s champion.” An 11-time winner in the True Value IROC series, Earnhardt won back-to-back championships in 1999 and 2000 adding to his previous triumphs in 1990 and 1995. He most recently added to his legend during the season opener in February at Daytona International Speedway. While battling for the lead, Earnhardt’s Pontiac Firebird was sent into the infield grass where he never missed a beat. He returned to the track at full speed and finished the event in seventh place. Eventual winner of the race, Dale Jarrett cited the incident as, “proof that Dale Earnhardt was one of the best race car drivers in the world.” Race one from Daytona will be rebroadcast on ESPN2 Saturday, April 14, at 8:00pm/et. The True Value IROC series will continue with race-two at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 21.(IROC PR)(4-9-2001) - Photo Privacy Issues takes step backwards UPDATE: A judge allowed a student newspaper to challenge the sealing of the Dale Earnhardt autopsy photos and test the constitutionality of a new law that restricts access to such images. Circuit Judge Joseph Will said Thursday he wants to try to answer the many legal questions that remain on whether the public has the right to view autopsy photos. The NASCAR legend’s widow, Teresa Earnhardt, protested the decision. Allowing the challenge negates a compromise reached with the Orlando Sentinel to permanently seal the autopsy photos after an independent medical expert had viewed them and written a report, her lawyers argued. “Is she basically back to square one with her privacy rights?” Earnhardt attorney Judson Graves asked the judge. The judge responded, “Yes, I think so.”(AP/ESPN)(4-5-2001)
UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt’s widow appealed again to keep her husband’s autopsy photos private, fearing they will wind up on the Internet for everyone to see. “I want to let the NASCAR community and the people of Florida know just how much pain this ordeal is causing my family,” Teresa Earnhardt said in a statement released at Martinsville Speedway, site of Sunday’s race. (see full story on That’s Racin’/AP: Earnhardt’s widow seeks help in autopsy photo fight and Teresa’s comments at: `We just want it to end,’ Teresa Earnhardt says )(4-9-2001) - Sader Bros Returns: The #95-Sadler Brothers race team is excited to have Steadman Marlin on board. Steadman is the son of former Sadler driver and two time Daytona 500 winner, Sterling Marlin. The team is planning to run the upcoming ARCA and BGN races at the new Nashville Superspeedway April 13 and 14.(Sadler Bros Site)(4-9-2001)
- #43 Scheme UPDATE: not sure when but hearing the #43 Cheerios car and driver John Andretti will run a ‘Helping Hands’ scheme sometime this season(4-6-2001)
UPDATE: hearing this could be a ‘Hamburger Helper’ scheme(4-9-2001) - Lepage and #4 Close to deal? Due to his performance in the #4 Kodak Chevy, Kevin Lepage may well get himself a full-time gig with Morgan-McClure Motorsports. Rumor has it serious negotiations between Lepage and team owner Larry McClure are underway(NASCAR.com Buzz)(4-9-2001)
- Black Boxes?: A General Motors representative said Sunday that NASCAR will mandate data record systems “black boxes” in the cars by the end of the season. The “black boxes,” record data on the crash upon impact(NASCAR.com Buzz)
AND: Expect an upgrade for GPS boxes in Winston Cup cars before the end of the season, according to General Motors. Once NASCAR gives teams the green light to install more sophisticated black boxes, it will enable them to gather accurate g-force data and arrive at a better understanding of what happens to a car on impact in a crash. NASCAR and the race teams would be able to use the information to aid the development of new safety measures.(Sporting News)(4-9-2001) - What were those Ribbons? been asked, didn’t know, here ya go – NASCAR on FOX’s crew wasn’t making a flashy fashion statement with those brightly-colored ribbons last week at Texas Motor Speedway. The team was showing its support for autism awareness. The jigsaw-puzzle design represents the puzzling nature of autism, but the bright colors is meant as a sign of hope for finding a cure. Autism is a complex neurological disorder that affects the development of the brain. It often makes communication and the ability to interact with others incredibly difficult and, in some cases, nearly impossible. The disorder affects one in 500 people. Wearing the ribbon has become a tradition at FOX Sports. NFL on FOX broadcasters began sporting the colorful emblem in 1999, and Major League Baseball on FOX broadcasters followed suit last year, showing support for FOX Sports director Artie Kempner, who has a son with the disorder and serves as the president of the Autism Society of Delaware. The NASCAR on FOX crew plans to wear the ribbons throughout April, which is National Autism Awareness Month. For more information on autism, contact the Autism Society of America at 1-800-328-8476 or www.autism-society.org. (Fox Sports)(4-8-2001)
- Sader Bros Returns: The #95-Sadler Brothers race team is excited to have Steadman Marlin on board. Steadman is the son of former Sadler driver and two time Daytona 500 winner, Sterling Marlin. The team is planning to run the upcoming ARCA and BGN races at the new Nashville Superspeedway April 13 and 14.(Sadler Bros Site)(4-9-2001)
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