DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 06: A detail view of skid marks on the SAFER barrier forming
DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 06: A detail view of skid marks on the SAFER barrier forming "The Darlington Stripe" seen following the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 6, 2015 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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April 13 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

April 13, 2020 at 5:43 AM

April 13, 2002

  • Shepherd still hopes to run Cup: Morgan Shepherd hasn’t totally shelved his Winston Cup dream, either. He has 481 Cup starts and four Cup wins under his belt, and his last Cup foray came in 1999, when he drove one race for Junie Donlavey. His last full-time season was a 23-race stint in 1997. His last Cup win came in 1993, in Atlanta. “Our plans were to be here at Martinsville,” Shepherd said of Sunday’s Virginia 500. “We had a guy who was supposed to help us with the engine up here and at the last minute he backed out. We’re ready to go Winston Cup racing. We’ve got the shop and facilities, but just don’t have the money to operate.” The fact a Cup engine costs approximately $40,000 doesn’t help. So Shepherd has cast his lot with NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck series, where he ran 16 races last season and finished 26th in the final points standings. His nine DNFs were a bit harder to swallow. Shepherd Racing was formed in 1998 with a $25-million-dollar sponsorship agreement to field a Cup team, but the insurance-company sponsor pulled out of the deal, leaving Shepherd on his own. Last year’s $3,000 donation from a fan group was his sole source of outside aid. “We’re still racing without money,” Shepherd said. “So there’s only so much we can do. Our goal is to build our Christian team that we set out to do, and do things to help change people’s lives. We’re just looking for a sponsor.”(CNN/SI, NASCAR.com)(4-13-2002)
  • DW to race more Truck races? a few reports mention Darrell Waltip saying he is consdiering running CTS races at Richmond and Indianapolis Raceway Park.(4-14-2002)
  • DW and Petree have tough luck in CTS race at Martinsville: #17-Darrell Waltrip finished 34th with a broken rear end and #33-Andy Petree finished 31st after an accident took him out.(4-14-2002)
  • More Andretti/Indy 500: #43-John Andretti had wanted to talk this week to team owner Kyle Petty more about Andretti driving in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. Busy schedules kept them apart. Petty said he didn’t want Andretti, who drove in both races in 1994, to compete at Indy because of the need to focus on the Winston Cup team. Andretti said he wanted to further discuss the issue. It appears unlikely that Andretti will compete in the Indy 500, although he still has a ride available.(Roanoke Times)(4-14-2002)
  • Evernham and Elledge to meet again UPDATE: Ray Evernham, co-owner of Ultra/Evernham Motorsports, said he and co-owner Jim Smith have met with Jimmy Elledge about the crew chief position with driver Casey Atwood and the #7 Dodges and plan to meet again this weekend. Elledge started the 2002 season as crew chief for #88-Dale Jarrett, but left that position last week. He is a former crew chief for #55-Bobby Hamilton.(ThatsRacin.com), past news on the #7 Team News and Links Page.(4-12-2002)
    UPDATE: Jimmy Elledge said he’s been offered the job as crew chief for #7 Casey Atwood, but he said he wants to wait and consider his next move before jumping.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-13-2002)
  • More The Winston – Moving? RJR’s contract with LMS expires after this year’s running of The Winston event and there are questions over whether the race will return, and if it does, whether it will return to Charlotte. RJR’s Winston Cup director Rich Habegger admitted Wednesday that a decision had not been made on the future of the race and that talks would get underway in the next couple of months. The drivers of course enjoy the benefits of running two consecutive weeks near their home base, a rarity in the Bataan Death March of NASCAR’s schedule. But proximity aside, reigning NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon said that he feels that Charlotte is the perfect venue for a high-stakes, no-points, let’s-see-who-can-drive-this-thing-the-hardest shootout. For his part, LMS president H.A. ‘Humpy’ Wheeler has no plans to give up his hold on the race without a fight.(Speed Channel)(4-11-2002)
    UPDATE – A new location for The Winston? The Winston, NASCAR’s all-star race, could be moving from its long-time home at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said negotiations are under way with Winston, which sponsors the race and the Winston Cup Series, about changing the location — and possibly the rules — of the race. “The Winston originated as a fans’ all-star race that would be moved from venue to venue, but over the years we got away from that,” Hunter said. Hunter said fans and other track owners are asking for the race to be moved. “We’re reviewing all the options,” Hunter said. “Even to the point of the rules and procedures that have changed over the years.” Tracks he mentioned as possible hosts include Richmond, California, Martinsville and Las Vegas. “You want to take it to a place where they can race, that’s not a one-groove track,” he said.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(4-13-2002)
  • More 2003 Pontiac News UPDATE and some more: Winston Cup series director John Darby confirmed Friday morning NASCAR has examined a completed 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix and finished its initial analysis. “We basically have completed a walk-around view of it and an initial template fit,” Darby said. “We’ve talked about some different areas of the car, which they are now going back and going to work on. The next step from them will be to make an official presentation and the car will go to the wind tunnel and then for a track test.” The final presentation by Pontiac officials must be complete by July 1, with NASCAR making final approval by Oct. 1. #18 crew chief Jimmy Makar said he hoped to have a final version of the 2003 Pontiac within a month-and-half. “We’ll have something we feel we can submit by then,” Makar said. “Things are gong well. We’ve been to the wind tunnel several times, NASCAR has looked at the car. I think all the beginning process is done.” Darby also confirmed officials with Chevrolet have indicated they, too, plan to submit changes to the Monte Carlo body style in time to use in the 2003 season.(ThatsRacin.com), see some images of a [possible] 2003 Pontiac on my NASCAR Past News/Rules page(4-12-2002)
    UPDATE: The final version is still in the works, but the 2003 Pontiac is being reviewed by officials. The car could be submitted for NASCAR approval within six weeks. Right now, NASCAR officials are taking a look at the preliminary model and making suggestions for potential changes. The car has a unique nose, but is in many ways similar to existing cars competing in the series. “[NASCAR has] seen it, they’ve been in the wind tunnel with it,” said Bobby Labonte’s crew chief, Jimmy Makar, who has helped develop the car. “They’ve told us the things they want us to change on it. I think they’re fairly happy with what we’ve got now.” Makar said the NASCAR track test could take place at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(Richmond Times Dispatch) AND NASCAR held a wind-tunnel test last week of Pontiac’s new common-template Grand Prix, and to study some of its 2003 car design options, particularly the ‘big greenhouse’ model, which would provide more headroom. NASCAR would like to cut 20 percent of the downforce off these cars for next season, according to engineering sources, and part of the testing so far has included raising the front air dam five inches off the asphalt.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-13-2002)
  • Big Cars in 2003? NASCAR is leaning toward OKing the new ‘big greenhouse’ model for the April 2003 race at Talladega and phasing in the new car, first at Talladega and Daytona, then at the intermediate tracks, and finally at the short tracks. Such a phase-in would keep car owners, who have nearly two dozen cars each, from taking such a big financial hit all at once. NASCAR is also testing what is being called ‘the two-by-four,’ a greenhouse that is two inches taller and four inches wider, to move the driver’s head away from the rollbars.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-13-2002)
  • Gordon and Earnhardt Jr speak: After finishing his qualifying run, #31-Robby Gordon climbed from his car, walked right over to #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and struck up a conversation. “I asked him if he was OK with me starting behind him,” said Gordon, who was third after his run, but got bumped down to 11th. Gordon said his feud with Earnhardt Jr. at Bristol is over. “It’s racing,” Gordon said. “We don’t have any grudges. One thing that’s nice about Winston Cup is we have 36 weekends to get at it. Texas was rough for us, but we’re happy to be starting where we’re at.”(News and Advance)(4-13-2002)
  • Abuse of Testing? Some Winston Cup crews complain that other teams are abusing NASCAR’s seven-test limit lately by claiming to be testing ARCA cars. NASCAR officials said they would review the situation.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-13-2002)
  • Common Templates in 2003? UPDATE: With plans for a newly designed Pontiac Grand Prix already in motion, NASCAR also has told General Motors to have a common template Monte Carlo ready for the 2003 Daytona 500. A minimum of three different Monte Carlos are being developed collectively by Richard Childress Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Inc. However, the construction of a new Monte Carlo for the 2003 racing season was not by choice of GM. The sanctioning body met with GM’s NASCAR Key Partners Group — JGR, RCR, Hendrick’s and DEI — and requested that they have a “common template” Monte Carlo ready to roll for the 2003 Daytona 500. A common template car will incorporate a universal design among all four makes where the construction of the greenhouse is nearly identical. Only subtle cosmetic changes would differentiate one car from another. But in principle, the cars would be aerodynamically equal. Speculation is that NASCAR was not happy with the continual lobbying for aerodynamic concessions that stole the headlines over Speedweeks. A common body style shared by all four manufacturers would eliminate the constant arguing over who has the best car. RCR is working on the Monte Carlo for submission that is a combination between a speedway car and a downforce car. DEI is working on the speedway (Daytona/Talladega) specific car, while Hendrick concentrates on the baseline intermediate piece that will be ready for the wind tunnel in the next two weeks. While Chevrolet contends it currently is six percent deficient in aero horsepower, the new changes should make the cars more competitive. But GM is certainly under extreme time constraints with just four months remaining to have the cars ready for initial submission to NASCAR in July, and for final submission by Oct. 1.(in part from the Sporting News)(4-11-2002)
    UPDATE: So what about the common template Chevrolet? “Not a ‘common template’ car, but we have discussed doing a (new) 2003 Monte Carlo,” Car Owner Ricchard Childress said. “Heck, there isn’t a common-template car out there. The Dodges and Fords don’t have the same templates because they don’t run the same every week; they’re not under the same rules.”.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-13-2002)
  • Happy Hour Practice at Martinsville is over. #20-Tony Stewart was the fastest at 93.061mph, 2nd fastest was #55-Bobby Hamilton at 92.783 and #40-Sterling Marlin at 92.642. Slowest were #90-Rick Mast at 91.135 and #14-Darrell Waltrip (subbing for Stacy Compton) at 90.335. #71-Andy Hillenburg did not practice. See ThatsRacin.com for Saturday’s ‘Happy Hour’ speeds. Happy Hour will be televised per tape delay at 7:00pm/et tonight on FX with Darrell Waltrip in the #14 with a microphone.(4-13-2002)
  • Childress to be honored: NASCAR team owner and former driver Richard Childress will be honored during Speedway Children’s Charities 22nd annual Charity Ball Friday, May 24, at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Charlotte. This event, held in conjunction with the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, will be themed “A Welcome Champion.” Sponsored by UAW-GM Motorsports, the gala affair is annually Charlotte’s largest black-tie benefit as well as one of the most successful fundraisers for the Charlotte Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. See my Racing Charity Page for more info.(LMS PR)(4-13-2002)
  • Kimmel Wins at Nashville: Frank Kimmel, who is running the Cup race at Martinsville for Travis Carter in the #26 Advance Auto Parts/Pork the other white meat Ford, won the ARCA race at Nashville, after starting from the pole the. Kimmel will start last in the Cup race as Joe Nemechek qualified the car but will not have to fall back far as the car made the field by taking a provisional, 41st.(in part from ThatsRacin.com)(4-13-2002)
  • #97 Deck Lid Confiscated: NASCAR officials confiscated the rear deck lid of Kurt Busch’s #97 Ford following Friday’s pre-qualifying inspections. It was tagged and put on display outside the NASCAR hauler. The team had to replace the deck lid before Busch’s car was allowed to practice. NASCAR director of business operations Kevin Triplett said the deck lid was taken because it “failed to fit the Ford template.”(ThatsRacin.com)(4-13-2002)
  • Gordon wins MW Windows Pole Award and Windows: MW Windows will be the first pole day award winners to give a house full of doors and windows. Shortly after MW Windows announced its sponsorship of Pole Day for the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway, officials with the company decided they wanted to do more than that, though. So in addition to presenting a trophy to the Virginia 500 pole winner, MW will give a house full of windows and doors in the pole-winner’s name to a local Habitat for Humanity chapter during pre-race ceremonies for the Virginia 500 on April 14. And it’s not a one-race effort either. The manufacturer of windows and door products for the residential construction industry will donate doors and windows to Habitat for Humanity chapters twice a year. One donation will come after MW Pole Day for the Virginia 500 and the other after MW Pole Day for the Old Dominion 500. The Martinsville-Henry County and Franklin County chapters of Habitat for Humanity will be the recipients each year.(Martinsville Speedway PR), Jeff Gordon won the pole and got the award.(4-13-2002)
  • Riggs wins in his 7th start – ties record: #10-Scott Riggs led only once for the final 47 laps Saturday as he got his first BGN victory in just his seventh start on the circuit at the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway, tying a record for the quickest victory by a rookie. Johnny Rumley also won in his seventh start, in 1993. #24-Jack Sprague took four tires in his final stop and finished second for a second consecutive week. He was followed by #25-Bobby Hamilton Jr. who came from a lap down for his best-ever BGN finish, #23-Scott Wimmer and #57-Jason Keller as Fords filled three of the top five positions. Sprague took over the points lead. See ThatsRacin.com for Saturday’s Grand National race results.(4-13-2002)
  • White loses spot: NASCAR officials disallowed a qualifying speed by #46-Dennis Setzer, but the big loser was a young driver from Concord named Dana White. Setzer’s punishment? He dropped from fifth in the qualifying order to 33rd (the first provisional slot). The problem was in the right-front springs in Setzer’s Chevrolet, according to officials. What was interesting was the fact the disqualification of Setzer cost White a spot in the starting field. By giving Setzer a provisional, NASCAR took one away from White. The move also enabled Brendan Gaughan, whose Dodge is sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts, the 32nd starting position, based on his average speed. Had Setzer’s truck not been declared illegal, White would have made the field and Gaughan would have been sent packing.(Gaston Gazette)(4-13-2002)

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