April 23, 1999
- Yates and Texaco: #28 Team owner Robert Yates says in the latest Winston Cup Scene that he was close to signing with Texaco ad that the contract could be finalized within the next two weeks(WC Scene)(4-23-1999)
- #25 Sponsor: Hendrick Motorsports, who is losing Budweiser as a sponsor of the #25 Chevy, says they are close with thee different companies for sponsorship in 2000 of the car. Hope to close something within the next 30 days. No decision on driver Wally Dallenbach for the 2000 season has been made yet(WC Scene)(4-23-1999)
- Andretti from Alabama: The Alabama House of Representatives voted Thursday to grant NASCAR Winston Cup stoc car driver John Andretti, who wheels the #43 STP Pontiac, with honorary citizenship. The vote came as a reaction to Andretti’s earlier attempt to be “adopted” by the city of Talladega for Sunday’s DieHard 500 race. It will be the first time a Talladega Winston Cup race has run with a driver from Alabama. Track officials had requested Andretti not continue his efforts, feeling it might reflect poorly on current drivers seeking rides(Williams Company)(4-23-1999)
- Stewart Wins: A judge ruled Friday that Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Pontiac, can drive for any Indianapolis 500 competitor, rather than his former team, Team Menard. See the full AP story at Judge: Stewart Can Drive for Team Other Than Menard(WRAL)(4-23-1999)
- Hall of Fame induction: The ninth annual International Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held Thursday, April 22, 1999. For info see Hall of Fame induction and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame site. The new members are Harry Hyde, legendary NASCAR mechanic and crew chief, Gordon Johncock, two-time Indy 500 winner, Alain Prost, four time Formula One champion, Wendell Scott, the only African-American to win a Grand National (now Winston Cup) race, and Louise Smith, one of the women pioneers in NASCAR racing. Congratulations!. Some Notes from the induction thanks to Tina of Tina’s Jeff Gordon Fan Page: Bill Elliott was the first presenter to induct Louise Smith. Senator, Gerald Dial presented the Governor’s Award to Red Farmer. Derrike Daly presented F-1 Legend Alain Prost for induction. Alain sent in a video to accept his award. Buddy Baker, a 1997 inductee made a wonderful presentation inducting the late Harry Hyde. He talked about Hendrick Motorsports taking Harry Hyde on as crew chief and their first win came with Geoff Bodine as the driver. Then moved on to Tim Richmond and stated that the relationship between Hyde and Richmond was the basis of ‘Days of Thunder’. In case you didn’t know, Rick Hendrick consulted on the movie. Hyde’s son, Harry Lee Hyde accepted the award on his father’s behalf. President, Barry Schmoyer and Chairman, James Cranos were on hand to honor Jeff Gordon’s 1998 Driver of the Year Award. Jeff actually accepted his Driver of the Year Award during the ESPY’s back in February. Actor Peter Fonda rode onto the stage on Gordon’s new motorcycle, courtesy of Indian Motorcycles on behalf of the 30th anniversary of the movie “Easy Rider”. They had heard that Jeff had always wanted a motorcycle but didn’t have time to shop for one. One motorcycle would be left on display at the Motorsports Museum and would be auctioned off later; proceeds going to Jeff’s favorite charity. Ned Jarrett, a 1995 inductee, made a presentation for the late Wendell Scott. Wendell Scott was an African American driver who died in 1990 of cancer. Ned Jarrett said – to be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame, one must possess the qualities of winning a lot of races, obtain championships, or do outstanding things under adverse circumstances. The last one is why Wendell Scott was inducted. He didn’t have the resources that the others had because he was a minority. Ned said that NASCAR was as fair to him as anybody else, but he had a hard time obtaining sponsors. Jarrett said that Scott would have been a champion if given the same resources. Wendell Scott’s widow, Mary and their five children accepted on his behalf. IRL driver and Indy 500 champ Eddie Cheever presented the award of induction to Gordon Johncock. He was the only one who put the medal around his neck. He thanked the fans three times(4-23-1999)
- Up Front: 34 of the 59 Cup races at talladega have been won from the first three positions(WC Scene)(4-23-1999)
- Notes: 48 cars going for 43 spots, Dick Trickle is in the #91 LJ Racing Chevy and Loy Allen is in Junie Donlavey’s #90 Suburban Lodge Ford(4-23-1999)
- No Alabama Gang: For the first time in the 30-year history of Talladega Superspeedway, it appears no Alabama driver will be entered in the race(Tennessean)(4-23-1999)
- Andretti/Petty/STP fans: Joy Pinto, STP’s Public Relations Manager has asked if fans could help her out. Joy would like to have newspaper clippings, or copies of them, concerning John Andretti’s win at Martinsville from your local papers. Feel free to send the articles to: Don Stone. PO Box 24033, Speedway, IN 46224(4-23-1999)
- Qualifying News: Two drivers had their times invalidated after Qualifying. Loy Allen, who would have started 22nd, was found to have a car that did not meet the minimum rear coil spring rate. Hermie Sadler, who would have started 25th, had an unapproved shock part. Both will make attempts in Bud Second-Round Qualifying on Friday(NOL)(4-23-1999) — neither made the race(4-24-1999)
- #78 Sponsor: Sparkle Towels is the sponsor on the #78 Chevrolet of Loy Allen(Power Team Talladega Notes)(4-23-1999)
- Spencer Shop: Cup driver Jimmy Spencer, who owns three BGN teams(#’s 5,12,54) including his own, has moved his teams into a new 36,000-square-foot facility at Lakeside Business Park in Mooresville(That’s Racin’)(4-23-1999)
- RaceComm Article: Busch Series Insider: Crash by David Patterson (4-23-1999)
- #47 Stays Home: Noticeably absent from this weekend’s Busch Series race is the #47 Chevrolet fielded by Innovative Motorsports. The team had been fielding cars for Elliott Sadler, while regular driver Andy Santerre recuperates from injuries suffered at Daytona in February. The team’s primary superspeedway car was also destroyed at Daytona and next season the team will run the new 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. So rather than build a brand new racecar for only one event, they decided not to make an appearance at Talladega(Power Team Talladega Notes)(4-23-1999)
- Krogh Done? UPDATE 1: Hearing that Mark Krogh and the #80 team has decided to take the rest of the year off from racing in the BGN(4-15-1999) — UPDATE 1: Yes Krogh taling the rest of the 1999 season off and will serve as the team manager for his borther’s #56 team. Mark may run a few BGN races later in the season(WC Scene)(4-23-1999)
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