April 17, 2006
- #40 Crew Chief change? UPDATE: hearing that Steve Lane has taken over crew chiefing the #40 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge for rookie driver David Stremme, no word on plans to crew chief Jeff Vandermoss who was the crew chief. Vandermoss moves over to the #41 Target team and driver Reed Sorenson as the car chief. Lane was the car chief there.
UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today that Steven Lane will take over crew chief duties on the #40 Coors Light/Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon Dodge starting this weekend in Phoenix. “Everyone is excited about the experience that Steve will bring to the #40 team,” Team Manager Andy Graves said. “This is Steve’s third year with the organization and has been instrumental in the success of this year’s #41 car. We are committed to getting all three teams running up front and Steve brings with him the necessary experience to help both David Stremme and the entire team. This is a great opportunity for him and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.” Lane has been the car chief on the #41 Dodge since joining the CGRFS team in 2004. Before coming on board at CGRFS, Lane was crew chief of the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge for two seasons. He also served as Jeremy Mayfield’s car chief at Penske from 1997 through 2001. Jeff Vandermoss will assume the car chief duties on the #41 Dodge. Vandermoss began the season as crew chief on the #40 car after a successful seven-year career at Roush Racing, four of those years as the car chief for Matt Kenseth.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(4-17-2006) - Sad News: Louise Smith: Louise Smith [obit link], Greenville’s stock car racing pioneer whose fearless passion for speed made her the first woman inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999, died Saturday. She was 89. Smith battled cancer and had been under hospice care in Anderson, but she remained fiercely independent well into her ninth decade, according to Dora E. Owens, one of her nieces. A native of Barnesville, Ga., Smith lived in Greenville from age 4. Her father and brothers were mechanics. One of her early memories was of driving her daddy’s Model T –straight into the chickenhouse. Services for Smith will be today at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Westville Funeral Home, 6010 White Horse Road. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30pm/et before the services. Interment will be in Graceland West in Greenville.(Greenville News), Smith raced in 11 Grand National [now Nextel Cup] races in 1949, 1950 and 1952. Her best finish was 16th at Langhorne in 1950, her last race was in 1952 at Morristown, NJ.(4-17-2006)
- Kurt Busch tests at the Rock: #2-Kurt Busch is testing at North Carolina Speedway [Rockingham] in preparation for the upcoming race at Darlington. Busch and the team are testing there as the track surfaces are worn and similar.(PRN’s Garage Pass Radio Show)(4-17-2006)
- Chris Wimmer and Keith Coleman Racing part ways: Chris Wimmer will no longer drive for #23-Keith Coleman Racing and will pursue other opportunities. “I’m sorry this relationship did not work out as I had hoped it would. I’m looking forward to new and better opportunities.”(Wimmer PR)(4-17-2006)
- Keller Released from the #1, Mike Wallace In: Keller to the #34? Phoenix Racing has decided to make a driver change in the #1 Miccosukee Gaming Dodge effective this weekend at Phoenix. Mike Wallace will take over driving duties on an interim basis as Phoenix Racing evaluates their program.(Phoenix Racing PR)(4-17-2006)
NOTE: Keller currently leads all drivers with 279 consecutive starts in the Busch Series. He has 399 starts overall, just behind Tommy Houston’s record of 417 Busch starts. - KHI, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation team up for May race: Kevin Harvick Inc. officials say the company’s #33 Truck Series entry will carry the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s banner in the May 19 race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. In addition, KHI and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are sponsoring “Fast Lane to a Cure,” a dinner to be held on May 16 featuring silent and live auctions, entertainment and a guest speaker. Three KHI drivers, including Ron Hornaday Burney Lamar and Kevin Harvick will be present at the benefit dinner. (Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-17-2006)
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