April 16, 2003
- The WINSTON 2003 – news and rules announced: The winner of NASCAR’s all-star race, The Winston, will enjoy a million-dollar payday in 2003. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and its Winston brand today announced the purse increase and revisions to the format for the 2003 edition of The Winston. Like last year, it’ll be “Survival of the Fastest” as drivers will be eliminated from the grid following both the first and second segments, leaving just the 14 fastest drivers to compete for the million-dollar winner’s share of a $3.5 million purse in the final 20-lap dash around Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Also new in 2003, the “Survival of the Fastest” format will apply to The Winston Open. Only one winner from the Winston Open will advance to The Winston. The No Bull Sprint has been eliminated. As in years past, The Winston Open will be 30 laps, but this year, those laps will be divided into two segments of 20 and 10 laps, respectively.. After the first 20-lap segment, the top-14 cars will advance to the final 10-lap segment. There will be a caution period between segments during which teams may pit, but will lose track position. The Winston Open is composed of drivers and teams who participated in a NASCAR Winston Cup event during the current or previous season and are not otherwise eligible for The Winston.
The Winston Open and The Winston will be held on Saturday, May 17th.
The Winston Open Qualifying: Qualifying session will consist of two laps for each team with the quickest lap determining that team’s qualifying position.
The Winston Qualifying: Qualifying procedures for The Winston continue to focus on team performance. Each team will complete three laps around Lowe’s Motor Speedway with a mandatory four-tire pit stop during the qualifying attempt. Drivers will have to obey the pit-road speed limit entering pit road, but there is no speed limit exiting pit road. The green flag and checkered flag must be taken on the track. The total elapsed time of the pit stop and laps will determine the pole position for The Winston. The winning team will earn $50,000.
The Winston Open: This 30-lap event is for all NASCAR Winston Cup teams that are not already eligible for The Winston. In the first segment, all laps count including caution laps. The race will be divided into two segments of 20 and 10 laps, respectively.. After the first 20 laps, there will be a caution period. The top-14 cars will advance to the final 10-lap segment with the winner of the race advancing into The Winston. For the second segment of The Winston Open, only green-flag laps count. If a late-race caution occurs, every attempt will be made to ensure a green-flag finish.
The Winston: This race will be 90 laps [135 miles] and run in three segments of 40, 30 and 20 laps. The field will be inverted for the final segment as determined by fan voting.
Segment No. 1: The first segment will be 40 laps. (At the present, the field for The Winston would be 23 cars — 18 race winner from 2002, one race winner from 2003, two NASCAR Winston Cup champions not otherwise exempt, one car owner (#38) not otherwise exempt and the Winston Open winner). Teams must make a mandatory green-flag, four-tire pit stop at some point during this segment, and each team must complete the final lap on the racetrack. All laps count including caution laps. If there is a late-segment caution, every attempt will be made to ensure a green-flag finish. The top-20 finishers from the first segment will advance to the second segment. The winner of the first segment will earn $50,000.
There will be a 10-minute break following the first segment.
Teams may change tires and make chassis adjustments.
Segment No. 2: The second segment will be 30 laps. Only the top-20 finishers in the first segment advance to the second segment. The first-segment finish will determine the double-file starting order for the second segment. There are no pit-stop requirements, but teams may pit if they wish. All laps count including caution laps. If a late-segment caution occurs, every attempt will be made to ensure a green-flag finish. Only the top-14 finishers in the second segment will advance to the final segment. The winner of the second segment will earn $50,000.
There will be a 10-minute break following the second segment.
Teams may change tires and make chassis adjustments.
The field will be inverted as determined by fan voting.
Segment No. 3: The final segment will be 20 laps. The top-14 finishers in the second segment will compete in the third and final segment with the field inverted as determined by voting by the fans. The start of the final segment will be double file. Only green flag laps count. The winner of the final segment will earn $1 million. Total Purse: $3,500,000.(Lowe’s Motor Speedway PR) and see the full story and who is eligible for the Winston and Winston Open on my The Winston 2003 page(4-16-2003) - Congrats: Michael & Lisa Davis (Mike of Hendrick Motorsports & Lisa of Team Rensi Motorsports) had a healthy baby boy Apr. 14 2003 – Nicholas Eugene Davis 9lbs 4 oz (4-16-2003)
- Some Rookie Notes: #42-Jamie McMurray and #16-Greg Biffle are tied for the lead in the Raybestos Rookie Standing entering the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. Both drivers have 89 points, nine more than third place Casey Mears. They are the only drivers to claim Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors in more than one race this season. Biffle and McMurray have each been the top qualifying rookie in four races entering the Auto Club 500.
Biffle ranks 22nd in Winston Cup points, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He and McMurray are the only members of this year’s class to score a top-five finish. Each has one top-five entering the California event. McMurray has two top-10 finishes, more than any other Raybestos Rookie.
Five different rookies have earned Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors this season: Biffle (4), McMurray (2), Jack Sprague (1), Casey Mears (1), and Tony Raines (1).
McMurray is the only Raybestos Rookie to start all nine 2003 Winston Cup races without using a provisional. Mears, Jack Sprague, and Tony Raines are the other first-year drivers that have qualified for all nine races entering the Auto Club 500.
The Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway is the only race this season where all six Raybestos Rookies qualified for the race AND all six were running at the finish of the race.
A Raybestos Rookie Contender has won at least one race in each of the last four seasons dating back to Tony Stewart’s win at Richmond in September, 1999. The record for most wins by a Raybestos Rookie is held by Stewart, who won three races in 1999.
A Raybestos Rookie has won at least one pole position in each of the past seven consecutive seasons, dating back to 1996. The record for most poles in a rookie season is held by Ryan Newman, who won six in 2002.
(Camp and Assoc PR), see my Rookie of the Year page for standings, breakdowns and how the ROTY is calculated.(4-16-2003) - NASCAR and the Soap Box Derby: The All-American Soap Box Derby, recently named a NASCAR Youth Initiative, is the premier youth and family oriented racing program in the United States involving boys and girls (ages 8-17) from across the U.S. and overseas with the goal of advancing to the All-American Soap Box Derby, held annually at Derby Downs in Akron. The Derby season, which runs March through July, is comprised of 150 local races, with more than 400 local race winners advancing to Akron.(see more at NASCAR.com or allamericansoapboxderby.com.(4-16-2003)
- English Woman Tests a NASCAR car: Camberley (UK) race car driver Claire Tobin impressed onlookers in her debut in a Late Model NASCAR at Hickory Motor Speedway, NC last week. The 28 year old is the latest Brit to drive the Charlie Sigmon Racing Chevy, following in the footsteps of GT driver Tony Littlejohn and the team’s regular pilot Rob Croydon. Having completed close to 100 laps and having previously only raced go-karts, Tobin remained unphased by the car’s size and power, and driving on an oval circuit. Team Principal Charlie Sigmon added: “Claire showed much natural ability and talent. She listened and did what she was told. I believe she is the first English female NASCAR driver, and I would like to be the first US team to run her in Late Model Stock. She will return to North Carolina for another test in the near future, then we’ll see if we can organize a race. Tobin is herself looking forward to returning: “NASCAR is what racing is all about to me. To drive on the oval was a fantastic experience, and nothing in Europe comes close. Going to the home of NASCAR and joining a real NASCAR team with depth of experience and tradition means so much, and I cannot wait to get back in the Charlie Sigmon Chevy”(Crash.net)(4-16-2003)
- Richmond Testing Tuesday: Testing for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Pontiac Excitement 400 and Hardee’s 250 NASCAR Busch Series race May 2-3 began at Richmond International Raceway today. Stacy Compton, driver of the #59 Kingsford Busch Series Chevy, led practice with a speed of 122.471. The fastest lap time for the other drivers as reported by the teams include:
#81-Martin Truex, Jr. Busch, 122.338
#26-Kevin Grubb, Busch, 122.283
#2-Ron Hornaday, Busch, 121.896
#19-Chad Blount, Busch, 121.567
#97-Kurt Busch, Cup, 121.076
#37-Derrike Cope, Cup, 121.038
Testing will continue Wednesday and Thursday with more drivers scheduled to test. NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers #21-Ricky Rudd, #40-Sterling Marlin, #77-Dave Blaney and #14-Larry Foyt are expected along with the drivers that tested Tuesday.(RIR PR)(4-16-2003) - Kentucky Testing Set: #10-Johnny Benson, #32-Ricky Craven, #9-Bill Elliot, #74-Tony Raines and #7-Jimmy Spencer are scheduled to test their Winston Cup cars at Kentucky Speedway Wednesday and Thursday, the track says. Ford Racing had the facility booked for Tuesday, but no testers are specified. #87-Kyle Busch and #?-Paul Menard are scheduled to test Busch Series cars Wednesday and Thursday. While testing is not open to the public, the track says fans may watch from the visitor center in turn three.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-16-2003)
- ARCA Driver to run five or more races: Willie Green, a part-time ARCA RE/MAX driver for several years, and Capitol City Motor Sports President Greg Sarff [#38 Truck] announced Monday at Kentucky Speedway that Green will race at least five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races this season, including the Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway July 12. Green has never raced at any level above ARCA and has yet to test one of the two trucks his team currently owns. Green and Sarff were at the track Monday testing their ARCA cars along with more than a dozen other ARCA drivers for The Channel 5-205 on May 10, the Kentucky Speedway season opener. “I’ve never raced a truck, and I’m sure there’s a learning curve,” Green said. “But I don’t know how the competition can be tougher than ARCA.” Sarff said the team is still waiting for a primary sponsor for the Craftsman Series. He said Green would definitely race at Kentucky, Michigan, California, Phoenix and Homestead. They will begin testing after the ARCA race, and by then Sarff said the team, based in Columbus, should have four trucks. “Green, who is a full-time transportation director for Covington city schools, said he would happy continuing to race ARCA, a lower division, or Craftsman.(Cincinnati Post)(4-16-2003)
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