April 28, 2001
- Raceday Cancelled UPDATE: the Speedway Illustrated site is reporting that as of this morning that TNN’s long-running motorsports magazine Raceday has been cancelled. The show scheduled for this Sunday will be their last broadcast. So far, there has been no word how this change in programming will affect the ASA or the World of Outlaws, whose events TNN currently broadcasts. It has been noticed that there has been no TNN on-air promotion of these racing broadcasts this year, as they commonly did in the past. The future of the Raceday staff is unknown at this writing(Speedway Illustrated)(4-27-2001)
UPDATE: TNN/Viacom spokesperson David Schwarz says Raceday was cancelled “because the ratings steadily declined over the last six months, and in fact, for the past two years.” Schwarz also took a slight jab at NASCAR and Fox by saying that “not being allowed to carry NASCAR highlights” hurt the show, and he further pointed out, “TNN had exclusive rights to carry NASCAR, but we permitted other networks to carry our highlights.” Additionally, Schwarz said, “‘Raceday’ was the lead in to a popular WWF show, but it just wasn’t holding its own.” When asked about TNN’s commitment to its other motorsports programming, ASA, IHRA, and World of Outlaws, Schwarz said there are no plans to stop or minimize coverage of those series. Producer Mark Smith differs with Viacom’s assessment, stating that ratings have not declined. In fact, he says, they have been fairly consistent over the past three years, including the best ever 1.8 rating this year the week after Dale Earnhardt passed away. Smith also says, “I think this is the best staff of people we have ever had on Raceday during the 4 years I have produced it,” and that there may be other opportunities for the team(MotorsportsTV), well that frees up my Sunday mornings since my local FSN affiliate doesn’t show NASCAR Tech and NASCAR This Morning(4-28-2001) – THANKS Guys, nice final show! - Didn’t Hear This but – the false Labonte rumor UPDATE the response: NASCAR.com is reporting – All rumors that NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte was injured Friday in a crash — be it plane or on the track — are completely untrue. An ABC affiliate out of Nashville, TN(WKRN-2), incorrectly reported Friday morning that Labonte was injured in a plane crash Friday morning en route to California Speedway AND False rumo Winston Cup Series practice started at 1:30pm/et, well after the story broke. False rumors also swirled throughout the East Coast that Labonte was hurt in a crash during practice. Oddly enough, Cup practice started at 1:30pm/et, well after the story broke. (NASCAR.com), see it’s not always the Internet sites(4-27-2001)
UPDATE: Rumors of an accident involving 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion, Bobby Labonte, are completely false. Earlier today, reports of Labonte being involved in some sort of accident were being spread nationwide and being talked about in the garage area of the California Speedway where the NASCAR Winston Cup Series will be running the NAPA Auto Parts 500 this Sunday. In addition, the initial reports of these rumors, which were reported to the team through the track and other sources, were erroneously attributed to WKRN-Nashville. Unfortunately, before all of the facts could be verified and sifted through, WKRN was falsely attributed to something they had nothing to do with. “This is really bad, and strange, that’s for sure,” said Labonte. “It’s hard to believe a lot of stuff you read or might see on TV. It’s bad because of my family being back home, even though I just talked to them about 30 minutes before that. When there’s a rumor like that out there, and now it’s just so spread out it just becomes a big catastrophe and probably like a death threat, I guess you might say. So it’s pretty bad. When you listen to something next time you’ll wonder, is that true or not? I’m not sure. It makes you think you’ve really got to be on top of the game, everybody needs to be, to make sure they’ve got the right information before they say anything. When asked if he knew how it got started, Labonte responded, “No, I have no idea. We didn’t even have any close calls this morning (in practice) or last night getting here, so I have no idea.”(Joe Gibbs Racing PR/Site)(4-28-2001) - Hut and Hills Bros to the #75? Lopez to the #90 UPDATE 2 Hills Bros STAYING: Anonymous sources indicate that Hut Stricklin and Hills Bros Coffee may be moving to the #75 Galaxy Motorsports team. The Galaxy Motorsports front office says “I can’t comment on anything at this time.” Racin.net has heard rumbles from the garage and from Hills Bros racing site(only on the unreliable message boards) that the #75 Galaxy Motorsports might be trying to lure Hills Bros sponsorship along with driver Hut Stricklin. Sources say Junie, who’s old fashioned, has a hand shake agreement with Hills Bros & driver Hut Stricklin. This old fashioned agreement brought up speculation that Hills Bros might move to Kenny Wallace and the #27 ride after the #90 team failed to make Martinsville(which was squashed by Hills Bros) but, now that the team missed Talladega with Yates Motors the Hills Bros site stated Hut Stricklin will drive for Hills Bros and will be in Atlanta in a Hills Bros Ford and the end of this year…they failed to mention if that Ford would have #90 on it(pure speculation). Also rumor has it now that Hut & Hills Bros might unite with #75 Galaxy Motorsports and hire Phillipe’ Lopez as crew chief after being released(he left wasn’t released) from the #14 AJ Foyt team(Racin.net), so far none of my sources have heard this and seems to be quite a few holes, but we’ll see(4-25-2001)
UPDATE: Hills Bros Coffee Racing team owner Junie Donlavey has hired Felipe Lopez as a consultant for his #90 Cup team that fields Fords for veteran driver Hut Stricklin. “I think Felipe is an excellent addition to the Hills Bros Coffee Racing team,” Donlavey said. “He has experience with Hut and they communicate well with each other.” Lopez was released earlier in the season by Foyt Racing and was previously employed by Dale Earnhardt Inc. to work as crew chief with driver Steve Park. “I’m excited to work with (crew chief) Bobby King and Hut,” Lopez said. “I’m here to help them get back on track and to help Bobby continue the excellent job that he’s been doing. I feel they have the pieces laid to make this a competitive team. I’m here to help them get to that point.” Lopez worked alongside of Stricklin in 1996 and two races in 1997. The duo combined for Stricklin’s career-best, second-place finish at Darlington in 1996. “I’m happy to see us get Felipe,” Stricklin said. “He has a lot of experience that can help this young team gel together as we progress through the season. He’s a good friend and understands Bobby and myself very well.” Lopez’s first race with the Hills Bros Coffee Racing team will be this weekend at California Speedway in Fontana, CA(Keystone Marketing PR)(4-26-2001)
UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey denied Internet reports that sponsor Hills Brothers would be leaving his Richmond-based team. Donlavey said he had been in contact with the CEO of the parent company of Hills Brothers. “He assured me they would be with us all year long,” Donlavey said. “We have a good relationship with Hills Brothers.” Philippe Lopez, former crew chief for A.J. Foyt’s team, has joined Donlavey’s team as a consultant to crew chief Bobby King on a race-to-race basis. Driver Hut Stricklin had failed to qualify for three of the past four races before securing the 30th spot yesterday for tomorrow’s NAPA 500 at California Speedway. “We’re right on the edge of good vs. bad,” Donlavey said. “We need that tip to push us to the good side.”(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-28-2001) - Busch/Bud Changes? Anheuser-Busch(Budweisers/Busch) officials may be considering a shakeup in their sponsorship of the Busch tour, according to NASCAR sources. The St. Louis-based company has been a long-time sponsor of NASCAR’s number two division(Winston Salem Journal)(4-28-2001)
- Standard Springs? NASCAR officials are considering adding spring limits, such as used at Daytona and Talladega, across the board at all tracks, which has crew chiefs up in arms(Winston Salem Journal)(4-28-2001)
- Simpson Restraint UPDATE: Simpson Performance Products has developed a head restraint system that is quickly catching on in NASCAR’s Winston Cup and Busch Series divisions. The Simpson Decelerator, a concept originally developed by NASA and common among mountain climbers, restrains the head and neck and also features a tear-away strap that slows the acceleration of the head during violent impacts. Like the HANS device and other head and neck restraint systems, it is designed to reduce the violent whipping motion of the head that causes basilar skull fractures, injuries that killed Dale Earnhardt, Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin. Several Winston Cup and Busch Series drivers tried the system at Talladega April 20-22. Among them were Ron Hornaday, Joe Nemechek, Jeremy Mayfield, Kenny Wallace, Buckshot Jones, Jeff Green and Jay Sauter. Others who have the system and plan to try it include Mike Skinner, Ward Burton, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Unlike the HANS device, the Decelerator features no bulky collar that limits head motion and vision. It also features two quick release points that make it easier to climb out of the car in the event of an accident. Unlike the Hutchins device, which wraps around the driver’s chest, waist and crotch and connects to the seat belts, the Simpson system features straps that mount to the roll bars behind the driver’s seat and runs through the same route as the shoulder belts. Those straps connect to the decelerator strap, two pieces of webbing that is folded and sewn together and connects to a mount on the front of the driver’s helmet. Upon impact, the stitching in the decelerator straps tear apart, slowing the acceleration and forward motion of the driver’s head. The sewn straps must be replaced after a crash. The Simpson system has been tested by noted biomechanical engineer Dr. John Melvin and proved to be nearly as effective as the HANS device, Malone said. The system costs about $200, plus the replacement straps, compared to about $1,200 for the HANS device.(Winston Cup Scene – need subscription to read online)(4-26-2001)
UPDATE: “Are you going to wear the HANS device?” With safety at the forefront of recent headlines, Kenny (Wallace) has been asked this question almost as many times as people have asked “When you gonna get a sponsor?” Kenny experimented with the HANS device during recent practice sessions at both Nashville and Talladega but wasn’t yet comfortable with the device. “We’ve got to make some adjustments to the HANS to get it to fit in with my seat, and do some more testing before I’m comfortable with it.” Kenny stated after a run in Talladega. For now, Kenny has put his trust in a new restraint system developed by Simpson Performance Products. See full story and image at the Kenny Wallace Racing Site(4-28-2001) - Driver to Attempt the Coca Cola 600: Jeff Fultz will attempt to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte next month. Fultz, 30, said Thursday he has landed a one-race deal with car owners Gene DeHart and Mike Clark for the Coca-Cola 600, May 27 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. DeHart’s father, Gary, is crew chief for Winston Cup driver Terry Labonte. “I’ve been waiting for this all my life,” said Fultz, “NASCAR approved me this week, so we’ll give it a good shot.” Fultz is a star on the NASCAR Gatorade All-Pro regional circuit, having finished second in the 2000 points race. He stands third this year. Fultz lives in Mooresville, N.C., where he works as a fabricator in the race shop of Winston Cup driver Robert Pressley. He will drive a Ford Taurus and get some help from Pressley’s main sponsor, Jasper Engines. But his main support will come from two other sponsors, whom he did not name(Cincinnati Enquirer)(4-28-2001)
- Autopsy Photos: Brevard County(FL) authorities investigating the death of a woman whose body washed ashore got a court order Friday so they could use an autopsy photo to help identify the body. Otherwise, they feared they would run afoul of the Earnhardt Family Protection Act, which was intended to shield such photos from public view. Investigators said the hassle cost them hours they could have used to track down the identity of the victim whose body was found near Melbourne Beach on Thursday morning. The new law, hastily passed by the Legislature after the Feb. 18 death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, bars medical examiners from distributing autopsy photos without a judge’s permission(full story at the Orlando Sentinel). For past news and stoires on this, see my Dale Earnhardt Tribute Site – Reactions page(4-28-2001)
- No #4 – First time since 1988: Kevin Lepage’s #4 Kodak Chevy, owned by Morgan-McClure Motorsports, missed the Cup race at California, the first time that team has failed to qualify for a race in 408 races – since Rick Wilson missed the field at Richmond in February of 1988. Robby Gordon began the season as the team’s driver but was replaced by Lepage after five races. The team was expected to make Lepage its permanent driver this week, but that announcement had been put off until at least next week before Friday’s disappointment. “The results of this weekend will not affect the signing of Kevin Lepage as our driver, from our standpoint,” McClure said. “The contract is not signed yet, but we are close to signing a deal(That’s Racin’)(4-28-2001)
- No Yellow Line Rule at California: Winston Cup series director Gary Nelson said Friday the use of black-flag penalties last weekend at Talladega for racing below the yellow line would likely be used only at the series’ stops at Talladega and Daytona(That’s Racin’)(4-28-2001)
- Another Wood UPDATE: Jon Wood starts second today in his second Winston West race. His father is Eddie Wood, one of the co-owners of the Wood Brothers #21 Winston Cup team. Jon Wood, 19, is competing in selected Winston West and truck series races this year to gain experience. Roush Racing has announced that Wood will drive for one of the organization’s truck teams provided sponsorship is found. Wood finished 11th in his Winston West debut at Phoenix in February. He plans to compete at Winston West events this year at Kansas Speedway and Las Vegas. He also plans to compete in the truck series races at Richmond and South Boston Speedway(Roanoke Times)
UPDATE: Jon Wood led quite a few laps and finished 2nd(4-28-2001) - Hank Parker Jr wins the Auto Club 300 at California Speedway in his 73rd BGN start. #36-Parker was the 9th different winner out of 10 BGN races and 2nd first time winner of the season (Biffle was the other). See results at NASCAR.com(4-28-2001)
- Rules Changes: Officials of NASCAR announced today modifications in rules governing aerodynamic devices on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series effective May 4. Beginning with the Ram Tough 200 event at Gateway International Raceway, the Ford F-150 front air dam minimum ground clearance has been reduced from four inches to three and three-quarters inches. The front air dam minimum ground clearance of the Dodge Ram will be increased from four inches to four and one-half inches. In addition, the mounting point of the Ford F-150 rear spoiler has been moved rearward, measured from the truck’s cab, from 75 ½ inches to 77 ½ inches. Also, the Dodge Ram’s rear spoiler has been reduced in width from 66 ¾ inches to 64 ¾ inches(NASCAR PR)(4-28-2001)
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