May 1, 2003
- Special Schemes at Richmond: #31 Reverse, #5 Power of Cheese, #4 Kodak/Easyshare, #2 Miller Lite/600th Consecutive start. See images on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(5-1-2003)
- Milestone for Rusty: Rusty Wallace will start 600th consecutive Winston Cup race at Richmond and run a special paint scheme (see my Paint Scheme Gallery), Ricky Rudd currently hold the all time racord at 690, Ken Schrader is 3rd at 569.(Stats Menu and Links page)(5-1-2003)
- #600 for Hendrick: When the teams of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series take the green flag at Richmond on Saturday, it will mark the 600th race started in the storied 19-year history of Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick teams have brought home 110 wins in 599 Winston Cup events [18.7%]. The four Winston Cup teams of Hendrick Motorsports [#5, #24, #25, #48] will display a special “600th Start” decal at Richmond. The artwork will take the place of the HMS logo on the “B-post” of each car.(HMS PR)(5-1-2003)
- Petty Ride Update: The next time Winston Cup star Kyle Petty visits Southern California, he will be preparing to lead more than 200 motorcycle enthusiasts cross-country to raise money for children’s charities. The 2003 Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, featuring NASCAR celebrities, sponsors and fans, will kickoff on June 22 in Palm Springs, Calif. This year’s ride will take a southern route. ALSO there will be a Helmet Design contest, which ends on May 5th, for more info, links and phone numbers, see my Racing Charities page.(5-1-2003)
- Fukuyama Celebrates ˜Children’s Day” in Richmond: While most NASCAR Winston Cup drivers are fortunate to travel the extensive schedule with their families, journeyman Japanese driver Hideo Fukuyama’s family is usually more than 1,800 miles away. That gap will be closed this weekend, however, when Fukuyama enjoys a rare visit from his wife at the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond. Fukuyama’s wife, Tayomi, is coming to the U.S., to join him in celebrating a week of Japanese holidays, known as “Golden Week” which culminates on May 5 with “Children’s Day,” a day that Japanese families set aside to honor their children. Although Fukuyama’s two children, (Ryotaro, age 10, Saho, age 8) will remain in Japan for the holiday week, he will be recognizing them in a special way this weekend. “In Japan, Children’s Day reminds you of your goal to raise strong, healthy children,” explains the rookie Winston Cup driver. “I’ve always been appreciative of my family because they raised me to be strong and work hard to achieve my dreams. Now it’s my turn to do these things for my children. This year, because I am racing, I do what I can through email and phone calls. This weekend, I am going to send them a special message.” As a message to their children, Tayomi has brought the traditional and colorful carp banners (koinobori, pronounced KOY E NO BO RI) and windsocks that are usually displayed to wish children a good future. Fukuyama will be flying the carp, atop his #66 Kikkoman transporter during the race this weekend at the three-quarter-of-a-mile oval. Typically, the banners diminish in size from the top to the bottom of the pole, each child in the family represented by a different banner. According to Japanese beliefs, carp are the most spirited of fish, fighting their way up swift-running rivers. This quality makes them the ideal symbol of the courage and determination that children need to overcome life’s difficulties and attain their goals. “Being away from my children is difficult,” Fukuyama continued. “But, I know they support me and I am teaching them that if they have dreams, they should follow them — no matter where they take you.”(Cox Marketing PR)(5-1-2003)
- Drivers visit wounded soldiers: Eight NASCAR drivers visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center today.. Jerry Nadeau, driver of the #01 U.S. Army Pontiac, was joined by teammate Johnny Benson as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace and Matt Kenseth. The drivers visited soldiers recovering from injuries sustained during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. “The soldiers we visited have demonstrated heroics far beyond most of our ability to imagine,” Nadeau said.. “It is their individual acts of bravery for the greater good that underline what the Army is all about – what ‘An Army of One’ is all about.” The drivers were in the Washington, D.C., area prior to the Pontiac Excitement 400 being run this Saturday night in Richmond. “This was an amazing opportunity for me, and I am sure for the other drivers, too,” said Earnhardt.. “I know that there are thousands of NASCAR fans among the Army ranks. I just let these soldiers know they have hundreds of thousands of fans in NASCAR and I am one of them.”
“It was phenomenal. I really appreciate them,” Pfc. Dennis Wallace, an infantryman in the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, said of meeting the racers. “This experience is definitely a lifetime experience.” For more information about the U.S. Army and its racing programs, visit www.goarmy.com.(5-1-2003) - Robby Gordon responds: John Andretti made some comments last weekend that showed he wasn’t happy about his cousin, IRL team owner/driver Michael Andretti, selecting Robby Gordon to replace Dario Franchitti in the Indy 500. John thought Michael would select him to drive for the injured Franchitti, but John hasn’t driven in the Indy 500 since 1994 when he became the first person to complete the double of the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. “I’ll be there that week and I’ll qualify the car, because he [Gordon] will be in the hospital by then,” John Andretti told Speed Channel. Gordon responded to John’s comment: “All I want to say is I never would wish one of my fellow competitors get hurt so I could get a ride.” Andretti realizes sponsor considerations were a factor in the selection of Gordon. Motorola, the sponsor on Franchitti’s car, supplies cell phones for Cingular Wireless, the sponsor of Gordon’s Winston Cup car.(Dallas Morning News – may need to register to read)(5-1-2003)
- New Concussion test helps determine readiness: Concussions are a fact of life in automobile racing, where crashing into a concrete wall at high speed is relatively common. Until now, one of the most difficult decisions facing doctors who treat race drivers for concussions has been knowing when a driver is well enough to return to a race car. Now, thanks to Mark Lovell, director of the Center for Sports Medicine Concussion Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, there is a new, important tool. It’s call ImPACT, which stands for Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing. That’s a formal way of describing a computer test devised by Lovell and Pittsburgh Steelers team neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Maroon, in conjunction with several of Lovell’s former colleagues at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. The test, which takes 22 minutes the first time and a little less in subsequent uses, measures memory, reaction time, mental speed, information processing, anticipation time and other functions of the brain affected by concussions. The idea is to administer the test while the subject is healthy — at the start of the season, preferably. That sets a “baseline” with which to measure further tests after a head injury. In auto racing, CART has been using the test since last year, all the Indy Racing League drivers will take the test as part of their physical for entering the May 25 Indianapolis 500, Formula One has the software and plans to implement the program as soon as possible, and NASCAR is studying it. Gary Nelson, managing director of competition for NASCAR, said some drivers are using it on a volunteer basis. Steve Park, who missed the last eight Winston Cup races of 2001 and the first four events of 2002, flew to Pittsburgh in February to take the ImPACT test. Park said he wishes he had known about the test before a crash, at Darlington in a Busch Series car, that temporarily left him with blurred vision and slurred speech.(full story at ESPN/AP)(5-1-2003)
- Hiker to Help Out Victory Junction Camp: Ray Hudson, a shop fabricator at Petty Enterprises with over 25 years of work history at Petty, has embarked on his life-long dream to hike the Appalachian Trial while supporting Petty’s dream to build The Victory Junction Gang Camp. Hudson has received pledges for every mile he hikes on the Trail, all proceeds going to The Victory Junction Gang Camp. Hudson began the 2,171-mile hike from Springer Mountain, GA, on March 1, and hopes to reach the finish line at Baxter State Park, ME, by Aug. 1. Hudson could raise as much as $25,000 by completing the incredible journey. Leaving his family and job at Petty Enterprises for six-months in order to complete the trail, Ray has currently raised over $8,000 for Victory Junction. Friends and family from around the country have made donations and pledges based on the number of miles Hudson completes. Victory Junction Gang Camp, a Proud Charity of NASCAR, is a non-profit organization that will provide camp sessions year round for children ages 7-15 with life-threatening illnesses. The racing-themed camp is under construction in Randleman, NC. and will open in the summer of 2004. For more information or to make a donation to Victory Junction, visit www.victoryjunction.org or call (336) 398-9055.(5-1-2003)
- Team Gordon Offers Ultimate Motorsports Experience to Fans: #31-Robby Gordon will continue his quest to claim victory at both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25 of Memorial Day Weekend. Gordon will run both events, marking the fourth time in his career he has attempted to complete the 1,100-mile endurance journey. Gordon has put together what he calls “The Double Duty Tour.” It is day-long trip that will provide motorsports fans the opportunity to witness two distinctively different forms of racing in one day. The Double Duty Tour was created for those who love racing, regardless whether the vehicle has fenders or not. For those who participate, the Tour will be an experience of a lifetime. Originating in Charlotte, NC, planes, buses and most importantly, police escorts, will help navigate Tour Fans through the logistical challenge of attending two races in two different places on the same day. Each fan gets transportation to and from the races, tickets for both events, a souvenir gift pack, a race scanner and some “up close and personal” time with Gordon before the Indy 500. Gordon wanted to make sure the package would put fans “in the middle” of the journey with him. For more information on The Double Duty Tour and pricing, please visit teamgordon.com.(5-1-2003)
- Nadeau fastest in Weds teating at Lowe’s: #01-Jerry Nadeau marched to the top of the unofficial speed chart Wednesday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway as NASCAR Winston Cup teams concluded preparations for The Winston on May 17 and the May 25 Coca-Cola 600. Nadeau ran 181.757 mph. The starter never unfurled the caution flag as the nine-hour testing session was run without an on-track incident. There was one minor accident in the garage area when a speedway security vehicle pulled in front Jeff Green’s #30 AOL Chevy, causing damage to both vehicles. Testing for Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s month of May activities continues Monday night when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers and teams take to the track in preparation for the inaugural Hardee’s 200 on Friday, May 16. The session runs from 3 to 10 p.m. and the main grandstand will be open to the public with no admission charge. Tickets for The Winston on May 17 and the May 25 Coca-Cola 600 are still available and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS.
The unofficial speeds:
#01-Jerry Nadeau, 181.757
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 181.087
#4-Mike Skinner, 180.481
#6-Mark Martin, 180.192
#8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 180.180
#43-John Andretti, 179.372
#54-Todd Bodine, 178.324
#30-Jeff Green, 177.579
#88-Dale Jarrett, 175.484
#11-Brett Bodine, 174.403
#19-Jeremy Mayfield, 173.997
#27-Kirk Shelmerdine, 173.533
#74-Tony Raines, 173.355.(LMS PR)(5-1-2003) - Sponsorships Up: Roush needs 4? Pennzoil looking? UPDATE 2: Car owners working the sponsorship marketplace are starting to put offers on the table, and the next few weeks will likely be filled with rumors of possible driver and team changes, rumors based on some contract negotiating points. Jack Roush needs to lock up sponsors for four of his five teams, and DEI’s sponsorship deal with Pennzoil is up for renewal. The Pennzoil contract may be the hottest one at the moment, and it’s not at all clear if the company will remain with DEI.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-14-2003)
UPDATE: my records show that only the #99 is unknown, the #6 is thru 2005, the #16 and #17 are at least thru 2004 and the #97 is supposedly thru 2006.(4-15-2003)
UPDATE 2: Roush Racing’s president, Geoff Smith, spoke with Team Ford Racing regarding the status of the sponsorship deals on the five NASCAR Winston Cup cars his operation runs. Smith began by saying that of his five entries only Greg Biffle’s #16 Granger Ford is 100 percent locked-in with sponsorship, which spans through the 2005 season. Deals are pending with Matt Kenseth’s, Mark Martin’s, Jeff Burton’s and Kurt Busch’s existing sponsors, but are not complete, yet. Pfizer, via its Viagra brand, has a contract with Martin’s #6 team through the end of this year, with an option through the 2005 season. DeWalt, which sponsors Kenseth’s #17 Taurus, inked a one-year deal in 2002 for space. Burton’s #99 and Busch’s #97 both need renewals. Smith told TFR that he’s been “in detailed discussions for a period of time” with the four sponsors that are currently on Roush Cup entries and “in every case we’re past the stage of money.” Smith said that he hopes to have signed sponsors contracts near the end of May. His job is made somewhat easier, despite the tight economy, with programs among the strongest in the industry. As Smith works with potential sponsors the cars sit first (Kenseth) and fourth (Busch) in the point standings and the stable has two marquee drivers in Martin and Burton. Additionally, Smith said there is “interest in our programs beyond these [sponsors].”(Ford Racing)(5-1-2003) - #1 Rumors abound UPDATE 2 Keller Denies rumors: hearing that Steve Park could be replaced as the driver of the #1 Pennzoil Chevy before the races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, sources have Jason Keller as the possible replacement driver. Keller is slated to driver the #81 DEI car at Checiagoland in July.
AND The LTN HOUR radio show reports that Kurt Busch, driver of the #97 Rubbermaid/Sharpie Roush Racing Ford will drive the #1 DEI Chevy in 2004. However, last reports I have are that he is signed with Roush thru 2006.(4-21-2003)
UPDATE: Steve Park’s comments after winning the pole at California on Friday: “Hopefully, this will quiet some critics a little bit,” said Park, whose lap bumped Bill Elliott’s Dodge to the outside of Row 1 for the Winston Cup season’s 10th race. “We’re fixing to start winning races.” Park, who now has three poles to go along with two career Cup victories, turned defiant as he said he remains confident that he can get the job done with his team. “All the hogwash I have to read that the press puts out there, I have broad shoulders,” said Park, whose best 2003 finish has been a 10th at Las Vegas. “Dish it out because I can take it all. When I am in victory lane winning races, everybody who’s had bad things to say about this race team is going to bite their tongues. I don’t race to finish 20th, I race to win. If I don’t have the confidence in my team to win, then I need to go somewhere else. But I do have confidence in (crew chief) Tony Gibson, all of the new people we’ve hired, our engine shop, the whole team that we have, that we can do stuff like this. We can win poles and win races and we’re not going to stop this year until we do that. That will quiet all of the critics that we have.” Ty Norris, executive vice president for motorsports at DEI, said he and Park sat down about three weeks ago to discuss the team’s slow start in 2003. “I said, ‘You’re reading a lot of things, but let’s focus about what happens inside these walls,’” Norris said. “‘Let’s come together as a group, believe in each other, pull for each other and help each other. When that happens, no matter what anybody says outside these walls, we’re not going to concern ourselves with it.’”(ThatsRacin.com)
On top of that, the team’s Pennzoil sponsorship is up in the air. Ty Norris, who runs DEI for owner Teresa Earnhardt, says last month’s negotiations with sponsor Pennzoil in Texas were more of a learning experience than anything, because Shell’s buyout of the company has resulted in a major corporate shakeup, and only one of the men involved in the original sponsorship negotiations with the late Dale Earnhardt is still around. How the company’s new executives might view stock car racing as a marketing machine is unclear.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-26-2003)
AND also hearing that Park recently made a new TV commercial for Food Lion featuring him and six other NASCAR drivers. Park is also featured on boxes of Milk-bone with his dog.(4-26-2003)
UPDATE 2: Jason Keller denies rumors about replacing Steve Park, says DEI hasn’t contacted him and the reports of Keller in the #1 Pennzoil Chevy as early as Richmond and no later the Charlotte are unfounded. Keller says he wouldn’t leave his current Busch Series owner, Greg Pollex hanging. Keller will drive at Chicago for Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Chance 2 team.(Winston Cup Scene – need subscription to read)(5-1-2003) - Meeting the President: Tim Suggs co-owner of America’s Most Wanted/Body Dynamics Racing received a formal invitation from the White House to attend yesterdays Presidential signing of the “Child Protection Act” in the historic Rose Garden. “I was more than pleased to be asked to attend such an historic event.” stated Suggs, “and I am proud that the efforts of our America’s Most Wanted racing team gains such admiration and respect from President Bush and the White House.” The America™s Most Wanted racing team is still working to secure a full time sponsor for their program. For more information on the America’s Most Wanted Racing team please visit www.bodydynamicsracing.com .(5-1-2003)
- Hmiel and #48 get a sponsor for Richmond: This week, Gearheadfans.com will adorn the hood and upper quarter panels of the #48. The team is still searching for primary sponsorship for the remainder of the 2003 season. Interested parties should email the team at [email protected].(5-1-2003)
- Busch turns 18 on Friday: Kyle Busch’s 16-month exile from big-time stock-car racing ends tonight at the stroke of midnight when the Las Vegas youth turns 18 and can retrieve his NASCAR driver’s license. In December 2001, NASCAR president Mike Helton issued several decrees to shore up the sanctioning body’s beleaguered rule book. One of those proclamations was that drivers must be at least 18 years old to compete in NASCAR events. Busch, younger brother of Winston Cup sensation Kurt Busch, had run a limited Truck Series schedule for Roush Racing as a 16-year-old.(Daytona Beach News Journal), Busch will make his first Busch Series start for Hendrick Motorsports at Charlotte.(5-1-2003)
- #87 Names Crew Chief: Burr Motorsports has named Danny Glautz as Crew Chief for the #187 Craftsman Truck Sponsored by National Peening. Glautz has worked with NASCAR’s Technical and Safety Center as well as various race teams including Jimmy Spencer’s Busch team. “We are excited to have Danny on board at Burr Motorsports as Crew Chief and look forward to putting his expertise to work with our truck team” reports Jim Burr, team owner.” Burr Motorsports plans to enter the Hardee’s 200 Craftsman Truck Series Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 16. The last entry at Martinsville ended with a 33 place qualifying speed which failed to qualify by one spot. “As disappointing as it was to miss the race by such a small margin, we were pleased with the progress made after arriving in Martinsville with a new truck, new team and no practice. Heading into Charlotte we will be better prepared and look forward to successfully qualifying for the Hardee’s 200”, said Jim Burr. More info www.burrmotorsports.com.(5-1-2003)
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