April 19, 2001
- Hall of Fame UPDATE: Ten men with ties to NASCAR have been nominated to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega: Cotton Owens, Ray Fox, Glen Wood, Maurice Petty, Jack Ingram, the late Red Byron, Tim Richmond, Neil Bonnett, Alan Kulwicki, and Ray Hendrick(Daily Press)(8-9-2000)
UPDATE: The New Inductees for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2001 were announced Wednesday, October 25, 2000 in Birmingham. The choice was very tough: choose from a list of 23 potential candidates, great men who have taken their place in the hearts and minds of motorsports fans around the world. Here are the four men who will form the Class of 2001…Neil Bonnett; Jimmy Bryan; Mike Hailwood; and Fred Offenhauser(Hall of Fame Site)(10-26-2000)
Hall of Fame UPDATE: The International Motorsports Hall of Fame, located on the grounds of Talladega Superspeedway, will induct four new members tomorrow night with a ceremony that will be televised by Speedvision. Neil Bonnett heads the class. Bonnett made his mark in NASCAR as both a driver and a television color commentator before he was killed in a practice-lap crash in 1994. He will be inducted along with Indy 500 winner Jimmy Bryan, noted Indy Car engine builder Fred Offenhauser and nine-time motorcycle world champion Mike Hailwood. Dale Earnhardt, who spent many of his off-track days hunting and fishing with his close buddy Bonnett, will be posthumously honored with the Governor’s Award by Gov. Don Sigelman of Alabama. Defending Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte, the organization’s 2000 driver of the year, will also be honored(Philadelphia Inquirer)(4-18-2001)
UPDATE: Neil Bonnett was one of four people inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on Thursday, joining motorcycle and Formula One racer Mike Hailwood, sprint car champion and Indy 500 winner Jimmy Bryan and engine builder Fred Offenhauser. All four were honored posthumously. Bonnett was a member of the famed Alabama Gang along with Bobby and Donnie Allison and Red Farmer(That’s Racin’)(4-19-2001) - Yates to Dodge? Third Team? unlikely UPDATE 2 – NO: Might car owner Robert Yates be considering a switch from Ford to Dodge next season? That’s the buzz in Detroit, although it’s unlikely that Ford Motor Company would let Yates, its biggest NASCAR star, get away. And after his third win of the season yesterday, why would Yates even think about leaving Ford, the company he has called home for so many years? “Money,” says one man familiar with Detroit’s inner secrets. “After all, Robert gave up (Ford’s) Quality Care for UPS.” Although few key figures in the Winston Cup garage expect Yates to make a move to leave Ford, the Dodge report is another twist on how tense things may be in Detroit, where for the first time in 25 years, all three of the Big Three are playing NASCAR again. Not since the mid-1970s have General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all been in this game, and it’s not quite clear how the balance of power might be shifting. And Yates said that Ford officials asked him to start a third Winston Cup team this season, with an unnamed driver, but he declined in order to focus on his current teams, with drivers Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd. And Yates said he has no plans to start a third team next season either, despite reports that Ford executives have approached him again. See full story at the Winston Salem Journal(4-9-2001)
UPDATE: been told by RYR sources that this is totally untrue and they are NOT considering a switch from Ford to Dodge or any other manufacturer. Yates is signed with Ford thru 2004(4-11-2001)
UPDATE 2: #28 and #88 Ream Owner Robert Yates dismissed a rumor that had him considering a switch to the Dodge Intrepid R/T camp. “There’s nothing to it,” said Yates,. “I would think if they came to us, which they haven’t, but if they did come to us, that would really say they screwed up, and the teams they did choose would be awfully upset. They didn’t come to us.” Yates’ contract with Ford runs through the 2004 Winston Cup season. “I’m not looking,” Yates said. “If you asked anybody in the grandstand what should Robert Yates be running, I think all of them would tell you Ford.”(Star Telegram)(4-19-2001) - Belt Broke in BGN Race UPDATE Simpson Reacts and : A torn left lap belt was discovered in a car that wrecked in Saturday’s BGN race in Nashville, prompting NASCAR officials to advise Winston Cup and Grand National teams of that fact heading into this weekend’s races at Talladega. Mike Harmon, a driver from Alabama, broke a shoulder blade in Saturday’s crash. He said the belt suffered a three-quarter inch tear but did not come apart. “It did its job,” Harmon said. “If it hadn’t, I wouldn’t be talking to you. It definitely saved my life.” Two months ago today, seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt was killed in a wreck on the final lap of the Daytona 500. NASCAR officials announced five days later that the left lap belt in his No. 3 Chevrolet was found “separated” after that crash. Harmon said the belts in his car were manufactured by Simpson Performance Products and dated March 2000 on the label. Earnhardt’s car also had belts manufactured by the company owned by Bill Simpson. Earnhardt’s belts were dated November 2000. Simpson could not be reached for comment Tuesday. He said last week that he felt exonerated when Dr. Barry Myers, a biomedical expert from Duke University, wrote in a report on his review of Earnhardt’s autopsy that the separated belt was not a factor in Earnhardt’s death(That’s Racin’)
UPDATE: Bill Simpson reacted with anger and frustration Wednesday to reports of a problem with a seat belt manufactured by his company in the BGN race on Saturday at Nashville Speedway. “NASCAR has exaggerated what happened,” Simpson said of the left lap belt in a Pontiac driven by Mike Harmon. Simpson said members of Harmon’s crew told him the driver’s belt had a quarter-inch nick on the underside and some fraying of the fabric on the edges, not a three-quarter inch tear as Harmon told The Observer on Tuesday. “Now, whenever there is a crash, my people are going to have to be there to inspect the belts,” Simpson said. “I sent out a memo this morning instructing our representatives at the track to go immediately to a car after a crash and view the belts. We haven’t done that, but it looks like we’re going to have to.”(That’s Racin’)(4-18-2001)
UPDATE 2: see a story at the Tennessean: Torn seat belt in Nashville is raising more questions than answers by David Climer(4-19-2001) - #12 Special Paint UPDATE image: The #12 Mobil 1 Taurus driven by Jeremy Mayfield, will carry a special Sony paint scheme this week, featuring Sony’s WEGA brand logo. The award-winning line of FD Trinitron (R) WEGA televisions have been the leader in flat-screen televisions, offering consumers outstanding picture quality with uncompromising clarity and stability. Sony, which joined Penske Racing LLC as an associate sponsor at the beginning of this season, will be incorporating special promotions at select races this season.(Williams Company)(4-18-2001)
UPDATE: see an image of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery pages(4-19-2001) - Paint for Rudd: Look for Ricky Rudd’s #28 Texaco/Havoline Ford to have a special “Need for Speed” paint scheme for the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. That slogan will grace the hood while initial mock-ups emphasize red swirls on the tail of the primarily black Taurus(NASCAR.com Buzz)(4-19-2001)
- Winn Dixie on the #32: Winn-Dixie has joined the PPI Motorsports Tide team as an associate sponsor for the Talladega 500 this weekend. The Winn-Dixie logo will appear on the rear “TV” panel of the #32 Tide Ford driven by Ricky Craven, as well as on Craven’s driver’s suit and helmet(PPI Motorsports Site)(4-19-2001)
- Waltrip Endorses the HANS: Darrell Waltrip said yesterday NASCAR should mandate its drivers use a specific safety device known as the HANS. Waltrip joined several hundred Dale Earnhardt fans at a tribute to the fallen driver at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. Earnhardt died Feb. 18 in a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500. He was the fourth NASCAR driver killed in 12 months. Many, including Waltrip, say the HANS – short for Head and Neck Support – could have prevented those deaths. “That thing gives you a 60 percent better chance of surviving a wreck like that,” said Waltrip, now a Fox television analyst. “If [NASCAR] won’t make it mandatory, they ought to at least send out a bulletin that says, ‘We highly recommend the HANS device.’ And they should highly recommend it to the point where if a driver doesn’t want to follow the recommendation, maybe his car has a little problem getting through inspection.”(AP/Philadelphia Daily News)(4-19-2001)
- Soft Wall News: Safari Associates Inc. of Amsterdam will conduct a live demonstration of its new “soft wall” technology at the Indianapolis Raceway Park. The wall is constructed of molecuthane, a patented, energy-absorbing material originally developed for the military. It is designed to reduce impact G-force by as much as 70 percent. The crash demonstration is planned for early July (2001) using NASCAR Craftsman-type trucks(Captital Districl Business Review – thanks Catchfence for the heads up)(4-19-2001)
- Winston Looks Like it’s Staying…in Charlotte: It appears unlikely The Winston all-star race will be moved from Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., to Nashville Superspeedway, or anywhere else, anytime soon. The special event is sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and RJR spokesman Denny Darnell yesterday said the company is happy at the Charlotte-area track which has hosted The Winston for 15 of its 16 runnings(Tennessean)(4-19-2001)
- More Join in Photo hunt: Six news organizations around Florida asked a Broward County judge to include them in two newspapers’ challenge of a new state law banning the viewing of autopsy photos without permission. The Tampa Tribune, its TV affiliate, WFLA-TV, The Gainesville Sun, The Ledger of Lakeland, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Ocala Star-Banner want to join a lawsuit filed by the Orlando Sentinel and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that questions the constitutionality of the new law, said Gregg D. Thomas, attorney for the new parties. (That’s Racin’/AP)(4-19-2001)
- #31 Car Chief Recovering: Kevin Gabard, front-tire carrier and car chief of the #31 Lowe’s Chevy, is recovering after knee surgery Monday to correct an injury sustained during the Virginia 500 at Martinsville. Dr. Gary Poehling of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center replaced the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in Gabard’s left knee during outpatient surgery Monday morning in Winston-Salem, N.C. Gabard has undergone surgery for a torn meniscus in the same knee seven times since 1991. His most recent surgery took place in November 1999. “We assessed Kevin’s injuries and found he had a complete ACL tear,” said Dr. John Birkedal, professor and chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Wake Forest University, who assisted Dr. Poehling in the procedure. “We completely replaced the ACL in his left knee but found there was no damage to the meniscus other than what he’d had from past injuries. Everything went very well.” Gabard, 35, was injured during a late-race pit stop April 8 at Martinsville Speedway when a loose tire from another team rolled into the Lowe’s pit and struck Gabard in the left knee as he stepped off of pit wall. Sean Irvan, a mechanic on the #31 team, will assume Gabard’s front-tire carrier duties while he recovers from surgery. Irvan also substituted for Gabard in several races following his Nov. 1999 surgery. Dr. Birkedal said that Gabard will wear a knee brace for two weeks, at which time he will begin physical therapy for light strengthening and range of motion in his knee. Dr. Birkedal anticipates a recovery time of four to six months before Gabard is able to return to full activity(RCR PR)(4-19-2001)
- Test Drive as a Sponsor: Square D, the primary sponsor for #55-Bobby Hamilton is offering a sponsorship “test drive” to corporate America. The car’s two rear quarter panels and TV panel (rear bumper) are now available to potential sponsors. The price is $100,000 for a one-race sponsorship, or $400,000 for a five-race deal. The company participating in the program also will receive hospitality passes, pit/garage VIP credentials, and photo opportunities with Hamilton(Winston Cup Scene – need sub to read online)(4-19-2001)
- #2 Owner In Hospital: The co-owner of Rusty Wallace’s team, Don Miller, underwent back surgery on April 14 in Charleston, S.C., and remains a patient there. “The good word is that Don came through just fine, and the situation wasn’t as serious as they thought it would be,” said Penske Racing South general manager John Erickson, “but, any surgery on the spinal column is serious enough stuff, so Don will be spending at least the next week in Charleston before he can come home.”(Gaston Gazette)(4-19-2001)
- Martin Honor: Mark Martin has been nominated for the Jasper Pro Driver of the Year award to be presented June 9 at the Florida Sports Awards in Jacksonville, Fla. Martin won the award for his category last year. Others nominated in his category this year are Jeff Gordon and the late Dale Earnhardt. A judging committee comprised of members of the Florida Sports Writers and Sportscasters Association ranked athletes in 13 professional categories on a scale of one through three. The three professional athletes with the highest points total in each category comprise the final nominees. The Jaspers honor the top professional athletes, coaches and teams in Florida. Proceeds from the Florida Sports Awards benefit the Otis F. Smith Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides programs and services to underprivileged children throughout North Florida(Winston Cup Scene – need sub to read online)(4-19-2001)
- NASCAR Themed Enterprise goes under: The Chain of NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedways(there were 12 of them) are going to close on Wed. April 25th. Many regular driver’s of the speedways were emailed on Thursday and the announcement is now up on their website: www.smsonline.com – “We are disappointed to inform that will be permanently closing all of the NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway Racing Centers at the end of business on Wed. April 25th.(4-19-2001)
- Darby Moving Up? Busch Series Director John Darby may be on the move after the season, but nobody in NASCAR will confirm his new duties. Speculation in recent months has been that Darby would replace Gary Nelson as Winston Cup director, with Nelson moving into a new role, possibly at NASCAR’s new research and development center in Hickory, N.C. NASCAR President Mike Helton said, however, that the recent rumors were false, but wouldn’t elaborate on Darby’s status(Winston Cup Scene – need sub to read online)(4-19-2001)
- Nemechek Wins Pole at ‘Dega: with a speed of 189.729mph, out side pole goes to #7-Randy LaJoie with a speed of 188.123mph. See That’s Racin’ for the Subway 300 qualifying results. No drivers went home as there were 43 entries(4-19-2001)
- #17 Crew Chief Penalized UPDATE Appeal Denied: NASCAR officials announced they have penalized NASCAR Busch Series crew chief Russ Strupp for rules violations (shoulder harness) discovered in inspection prior to the Jani-King 300 at Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth, TX. Strupp, crew chief of the #17 BGN team, was fined $5,000 and suspended from the next two NASCAR Busch Series races (suspension ends April 25, 2001). Strupp was penalized under Section 12-4-Q in the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series rule book: “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform… or have not been approved by NASCAR…”(NASCAR PR)(4-6-2001)
UPDATE: On April 18, 2001, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Reiser Enterprises concerning the penalties assessed against crew chief, Russell Strupp. The appeal pertained to penalties issued by NASCAR concerning the seat belt shoulder harness on the #17 car in the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division event held at Texas Motor Speedway in March of 2001. The Commission finds the following: The rules violation was clear in light of the fact that the Appellant admitted that the team cut off the date tag on the belt. The Rule Book requires the date of manufacture to remain visible on the belts at all times. The Appellant made a compelling argument that the Reiser race team has a strong record of safety consciousness, which the Commission agreed with. However, due to the admitted rule infraction, the Commission upheld the finding. The penalty, while serious, is consistent with other penalties that NASCAR has issued in 2001 for comparable infractions. Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the penalty assessed by NASCAR. The Appellant has the right, under Section 15 of the NASCAR Rule Book, to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.(NASCAR PR)
AND Car chief Bobby Bakeeff will serve as crew chief of the #17 Visine Chevy this weekend for the NASCAR Busch Series Subway 300 from Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Bakeeff will assume crew chief duties for the Visine Racing team while Russ Strupp completes his two-race suspension(Keystone Marketing)(4-19-2001) - 2nd Carroll Racing team? #26 Dr Pepper Chevy owner, Dave Carroll plans to field a second BGN team for driver Blaise Alexander later this season. Alexander could run as many as eight races this year and then go full time in 2002 if sponsorship can be secured without detracting from Bobby Hamilton Jr.’s team. The main priority is still on Hamilton’s effort, regardless of whether Carroll puts together a team for Alexander, who split with (#8 Chevy)Highline Performance Group earlier in the year. (Winston Cup Scene – need sub to read online)(4-19-2001)
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