April 1999 News Archives

(4-30-1999)
CANCELED: NASCAR decided to cancel qualifying for Sunday’s California 500. The line-up will be determined by owners points and post marks. How does it work, from my provisonal page: In the event of rain, the top 35 positions are based on OWNER points and the rest of the field is filled by former race winner, WC Champion and based on Date/Time on the entry form for the event, in the following order: 1) the first 35 positions are set from current owners points (if it’s one of the 1st four races then it’s the previous season owner points); 2) previous Rockingham winners not included in #1; 3) past champion’s provisional, and; 4) the post-mark date on the team’s entry form for the event(4-30-1999)
Double Duty: Three drivers attempting to make both the Cup race and the Winston West race completed part one of their mission by qualifying for the Winston West race atCalifornia. #15-Kenny Schrader qualified 2nd, #58-Ricky Craven(5th) and #1-Butch Gilliland(7th). Also CTS driver Mike Wallace, qualified 9th in the #26 Ford(results many sources)(4-30-1999)
No Bull 5 UPDATE 1: The five fans selected for the Winston No Bull 5 contest for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte will be paired with their drivers Thursday in Ontario, Calif. The drivers are: Jeff Burton, Ward Burton, Jeff Gordon, Mike Skinner and Bobby Labonte will compete in a 20-lap Daytona USA video game race. The finishing order will determine which driver is paired with which fan. If one of those drivers wins at Charlotte, the driver and the fan each win $1 million(That’s Racin’)(4-28-1999) — UPDATE 1: Dan Schwarm of Claremore, OK is paired Jeff Gordon, Rhonda Traylor of Highlands, TX is with Bobby Labonte, Charles Delzotti of Las Vegas with Mike Skinner, Herbert Copes of Wynne, AK with Ward Burton and Wade Smith of Metropolis, IL with Jeff Burton. The five Winston No Bull 5 drivers competed in a 20-lap Daytona USA video game at Dave & Busters of Ontario. The drivers’ finishing order determined the fan with which they would be paired. Prior to the video-game race, the fans had been randomly placed on a scoreboard with their names hidden. After the Daytona USA competition, the finishing order was placed next to the concealed names. Each driver then revealed the name of his fan. See full story and info at RaceWire(4-30-1999)

(4-29-1999)
Falk Crew Chief/91 News UPDATE 1: #91 LJ Racing owner, Joe Falk says he and driver Dick Trickle will run the operation until a new chief is found. The team is not traveling to the California race next week(Times-Dispatch)(4-24-1999) — UPDATE 1: According to an article in the Virginian Pilot NASCAR Report, team owner Joe Falk has said “no sponsorship, no race”. The team is skipping the race in California, and they will be back for Richmond. The team is looking for a sponsor for the Richmond event, and Falk was quoted as saying that the team “will only go to races it has sponsorship.” The article also mentioned that he hoped to have a full sponsorship this week, but hasn’t heard from the company(Victory Lane Online/VA Pilot)(4-29-1999)
Another Milestone: Ricky Rudd makes his 550 consecutive Cup start at California(4-29-1999)
Mike Wallace: and his truck team, the #2 Team ASE/Ultra Motorsports Ford F-150, will run the Winston West California 200 on Saturday. The team won at the Phoenix Winston West race earlier this year. Team owner, Jim Smith, has a goal of moving up to Cup, maybe a few races in 1999, along with more Winston West races(NOL)(4-29-1999)
RWI: Rusty Wallace’s RWI (Rusty Wallace, Inc.) complex is in its finishing stages. Not open to the general public yet. RWI is located across Knob Hill Road from Penske Racing South in Mooresville, NC(NOL)(4-29-1999)

(4-28-1999)
Cheever to BGN/CUP UPDATE 1: Indy 500 Winner, IRL and IROC driver, Eddie Cheever will drive a limited schedule in the BGN this season(WC Scene). TNN’s Raceday reports it’ll be with BACE Motorsports(2-7-1999) — UPDATE 1: Cheever said Wednesday he is putting together a team that will begin fielding a BGN team next season. He said his intention would be to participate in NASCAR’s Winston Cup series as well. He hopes his program will start in about 2 months and is sorting out what make the team will use. Cheever said he would likely be the team’s driver to start the 2000 season. Cheever said going to the Grand National series first would allow his team an opportunity to hopefully win more quickly, but also give his team a chance to ‘figure out’ the Winston Cup series(That’s Racin’), Cheever was on RPM2Nite but didn’t mention this.(4-28-1999)
Lucky 3rd: Both Cup races at the California Speedway were won from the third-place starting position(RaceWire)(4-28-1999)
Double Kenny: Kenny Schrader will be competing in the Winston West Series this weekend at California(Stock Car Fans Newsletter/Eli Gold)(Schrader is not listed in the BGN entry list)(4-28-1999)
Milestones: Mark Martin is expected to make his 400th career Cup start and Bobby Labonte is expected to make his 200th career Cup start at California(RaceWire lot of good info here)(4-28-1999)
Driver of the Year: NASCAR driver Jeff Burton has clinched first quarter voting for the Driver of the Year award as voted on by national motorsports media. Burton had 10 first place votes and 102 points which gives him a 54-point lead over three-time Driver of the Year Jeff Gordon with 48 points. NHRA funny car driver John Force is third with 41 points followed by World of Outlaws driver Mark Kinser with 40 and CART driver Greg Moore with 22(SpeedNet)(4-28-1999)
Valvoline Double? “Valvoline may join Pennzoil in pulling out of the CART Indy-car series, according to sources close to the situation. The two oil companies are among the biggest sponsors in American racing. What might Valvoline do with the money earmarked for CART? Spend it on the new Matt Kenseth-Jack Roush Winston Cup operation, according to those in the know. The Roush-Mark Martin team is Valvoline’s NASCAR flagship”(PitNow)(4-28-1999)
Crew Chief: An honorary crew position on Dale Earnhardt’s team brought in more than $4,600 in the annual Race Fever auction, which benefits the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega. That was the top bid in the auction, which this year raised more than $200,000(Alabama Online)(4-28-1999)
Martin Scheme: The Team Roush Fans Site has an image of this years #6 Mark Martin Eagle One Ford(4-28-1999)
#90 News UPDATE 2: I hear Hut Stricklin will drive the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford at California(4-26-1999) — UPDATE 1: Hut Stricklin will drive the Donlavey Racing Ford this weekend at California Speedway. Stricklin last competed in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona last October(in the #55 Oakwood Homes Chevy)(Times-Dispatch) — UPDATE 2: Hut Stricklin may get the #90 ride if owner Junie Donlavey can find a sponsor. Donlavey met with a potential sponsor early this week(RPM2Nite)(4-28-1999)

(4-27-1999)
Earnhardt, new car and movie UPDATE 1: Dale Earnhardt will have a new Monte Carlo(no not the 2000 model, a recently built new present model). The car is the first car Richard Childress Racing has built with RAD engineer Louis Duncan. RAD stands for Richard (Childress), Andy (Petree) & Dale (Earnhardt). The project is a union between the three-team owners joining their engineering and aerodynamic programs. Earnhardt flew to California after the Talladega race to prepare for his cameo role in an upcoming Warner Brothers movie. See the TNN site for more info — The movie is the next Flintstones movie(4-27-1999)
Rumor Squashed UPDATE 1: On Inside NASCAR/Raceday on TNN it was reported that rumors in the garage area that Derrike Cope was lsoing his ride in the #30 Bahari Racing Pontiac, BUT NO, Bahari Racing team owner Chuck Ryder says that is not true and that Cope is in no danger of losing the ride(4-25-1999) — UPDATE 1: Derrike Cope has denied reports that he is losing his ride with car owner Chuck Rider. Cope, who failed to make the field for the DieHard 500(and three other races), has had a tough season. Rider says he plans to hire a consultant to help the team rebound(PitNow)(4-27-1999)
Whirlpool: Executives at Whirlpool have been [around] the Winston Cup garage for the past month, and appear to be ready to announce which team they would like to sponsor. The sponsorship would be tied into a television home repair program(PitNow), Whirlpool currently is an associate sponsor on the #10 Tide Ford team of Ricky Rudd(4-27-1999)
#98 Sponsor? Cale Back? “Cale Yarborough hasn’t shown much interest in the Winston Cup tour lately. He doesn’t hang around the garage area much, and he’s been trying to sell his team to another South Carolina businessman(Wayne Burdette) on the installment plan. According to one report, Yarborough’s selling price is $3.9 million. The team has no major sponsor this season. Now, Yarborough might be having second thoughts about giving up his team because there is the prospect of a major sponsor on the horizon, Universal.”(PitNow)(4-27-1999)
Grissom: Steve Grissom has been the center of a good amount of interest among car owners the past few weeks. The former BGN champion’s name tends to come up with regularity as speculation flies concerning some situations. Some reports note him as the top choice of several car owners considering changes(Williams Company), note: have heard no rumors on which teams but contrary to TNN reports that Derrike Cope is safe(see above story), supposedly the Sunday edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Bahari Racing is looking around at possibilities should they make a decision to change drivers. The newspaper reported Steve Grissom is high on their list of choices should that happen(I could not this story online at their site)(4-27-1999)
Irvan-Simo UPDATE 1: Boris Said and Marc Simo were on RPM2Nite Wednesday and Said confirmed that he would drive the #14 Federated Auto Parts Ford at Fontana and probably two more oval races in 1999(of the six total, LaJoie ran Texas) along with the two road course events. Marc Simo mentioned he was busy getting ready for 2000 with the plan doing a full Cup deal(RPM2Nite)(4-16-1999) — UPDATE 1: Irvan-Simo Racing co-owners Ernie Irvan and Mark Simo announced Monday that CTS driver Boris Said will make his first official oval track start in a Cup car in California driving the #14 Federated Auto Parts Ford Taurus(NOL)(4-27-1999)

(4-26-1999)
Nadeau Paint: Jerry Nadeau will be running the TBS Dinner and a Movie paint scheme at California. This is to promote TBS’s TV schedule on Friday nights(4-26-1999)
Craven Double Duty: Ricky Craven will drive in the Winston West race at Calforina, sponsor to be determined. Also Hollywood Video will be on the #58 Cup car at California, still a race-to-race deal(4-26-1999)
Gilliland Double: Winston West driver, Butch Gilliland will perform double duty this coming weekend when he gets behind the wheel of his #38 Ralphs/Food 4 Less/ Coca-Cola NASCAR Winston Cup car and his #1 NASCAR Winston West car for this weekends coming California “500” Winston Cup race and California “200” Winston West race at the California Speedway in Fontana(Gilliland PR)(4-26-1999)
This is not good UPDATE 1, whoops, good news: When Wayne Burdette invested in Cale Yarborough’s #98 team, it gave Rick Mast a ride and kept the team in operation. Although Mast has had his moments – he is 22nd in the points and had a top-10 finish at Daytona – a sponsor has not been found. Burdette has apparently informed Yarborough that his personal largesse has reached its limit, and the Ford team will likely begin a hiatus from the circuit beginning next week with the Fontana, CA., race(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton), not that is a shame for the team and Mast — just saw on NOL that Mast will be sponsored by Rheem Water Heaters for the Diehard 500(NOL)(4-24-1999) — UPDATE 1: Wayne Burdette dismissed rumors that Yarborough-Burdette Motorsports team and driver Rick Mast were skipping the California race. Although the team is starting to feel the effects of running without a sponsor, Burdette said there are no immediate plans to miss a race(Times-Dispatch)(4-26-1999)
The #31 Penalty: Following the crash at Talladega, Skinner’s crew was penalized (held in the “penalty box”) for what a team member described as “being violent to the wrecker crew.” A scuffle apparently occurred when the crashed car arrived back in the garage area(It was even showed on TV). What actually occurred was that the driver of the wrecker inadvertently damaged the nose of Skinner’s wrecked Chevrolet while towing it back to the garage. The penalty ended up being two laps, the source being NASCAR timing and scoring, and Skinner finished 36th(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton)(4-26-1999)
Different Penalty: Johnny Benson and the #26 Cheerios Ford team will miss 20 minutes of the opening practice this weekend in California as a penalty for being late to inspection before the race at Talladega on Sunday. Benson’s team waited all yesterday morning for the delivery of a new rear gear, but the plane was late. The team had the car in line for inspection when the part arrived and opted to pull out and take the penalty(Times-Dispatch) — Benson also missed the first 10 minutes of Friday’s first practice at Talladega as a penalty for not having his car at the “cutoff” point for the pre-race inspection at last weekend’s Goody’s 500 at Martinsville(That’s Racin’)(4-26-1999)
Post Race Inspections: Cars that were inepcted after the Diehard 500 were #3-Dale Earnhardt, the winner; runner-up #88 Dale Jarrett; #6-Mark Martin(3rd); #00-Buckshot Jones(fastest 2nd round qualifier) and #99-Jeff Burton(smoking problem)(That’s Racin’)(4-26-1999)
Park: what happened to Steve Park? We saw him pull off the track, then later saw him back on the track up to speed. It ended up that he had a broken gear in the distributor. Park and the #1 Pennzoil Chevy returned to the racetrack and finished the race in 37th position(Pennzoil PR)(4-26-1999)
Alliance: NASCAR has announced that the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division has joined the NASCAR automotive aftermarket program and has been designated the “Officially Licensed Automotive Refinish Supplies” of NASCAR(RaceWire)(4-26-1999)

(4-25-1999)

Best Finishes Rookie Tony Stewart(5th) and Jerry Nadeau(8th) had their best career finishes at Talladega in the Diehard 500(4-25-1999)
2000 Monte Carlo UPDATE 1: The proposed 2000 Monte Carlo returns to the Lockheed wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga., on Tuesday. The test results will be compared to results from a test last month, and then NASCAR officials will again make a decision on approving the model(Times-Dispatch)(4-24-1999) — UPDATE 1: another article at PitNow – New Monte Carlo ready for wind-tunnel testing(4-25-1999)
Martin in a Chevy? Jack Roush says he may put Mark Martin in a Busch tour Chevrolet later this year because NASCAR’s rules put the Busch Taurus at too much of a disadvantage. Martin qualified sixth for today’s Winston Cup race but failed to make yesterday’s Busch race(at Talladega)(PitNow)(4-25-1999)

(4-24-1999)
Earnhardt Paint UPDATE 2: Dale Earnhardt was supposed to run a “Taz” paint scheme for the Winston Select… That Car has been canceled……Due to the postponement of the introduction of the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo..(The “Taz” Devil is a licensed trademark of Chevrolet) apparently Chevrolet had a big promotion planned with the “Taz” Devil & the New 2000 Monte Carlo …. A new paint scheme will be announced on 4/11/99(StockCarFans Newsletter) — UPDATE: I hear it will be a Wrangler Paint Scheme(4-2-1999) — UPDATE 2: Dale Earnhardt’s #3 Chevrolet will be painted in the blue and yellow colors he used from 1981 to 1987 when Wrangler was his primary sponsor. Wrangler is now the associate sponsor for the Dale Earnhardt Inc.-owned #1 Pennzoil Chevy driven by Steve Park(That’s Racin’)(4-24-1999)
Falk Crew Chief: #91 LJ Racing owner, Joe Falk says he and driver Dick Trickle will run the operation until a new chief is found. The team is not traveling to the California race next week(Times-Dispatch)(4-24-1999)
#45? UPDATE 2: Not sure what happened yet, but Rich Bickle ran a lap of 194.789mph in 2nd round which would have been 28th starting spot, he is now listed in 42nd starting spot using a provisional. The 2nd round news story on NOL doesn’t mention this or why Dick Trickle didn’t take a lap, he showed up later on the grid, with the same speed as 1st round — UPDATE 1: Rich Bickle’s time for 2nd round qualifying, which originally had him starting in 28th place, was dissallowed and he had to take a provisional. Robert Pressley, who was the 37th fastest qualifier was bumped up to 36th and was able to qualify on his time and did not have to take a provisional(NASCAR on the Internet), no word on what the infraction was. – UPDATE 2: The rear shock on the 45 car “jammed” in the down position and didn’t rebound when it went through tech after the run. So NASCAR disallowed the lap(4-24-1999)
The Pole: Kenny Schrader’s pole-winning lap was the fastest at Talladega since 1990, when Elliott won the pole for this race at 199.388 mph(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton)(4-24-1999)

(4-23-1999)
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)

(4-22-1999)
DJ Winston Paint: a few readers found info on some collectible sites that Dale Jarrett will run a reverse type sceheme at The Winston in Charlotte. The car is white with the red and blue decals(4-22-1999)
DEI News: Dale Earnhardt Inc announced Thursday that #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo crew chief Philippe Lopez will miss this weekend’s NASCAR Winston Cup race in Talladega while he travels to France due to an illness in the family. Steve Hmiel, DEI’s Technical Director, will serve as the interim crew chief for driver Steve Park until Lopez’s return next week when the team races at California Speedway(Pennzoil PR) Best wishes go out to Lopez and his family(4-22-1999)
New Heads? Reports say Hendrick Motorsports is developing a new cylinder head for Chevy’s SB2 engine. Randy Dorton is in charge of the project attempting to even up the horsepower battle with Ford(Inside Motorsports)(4-22-1999)
NBC Announcement: NBC executives announced yesterday that news anchor Brian Williams will host their broadcast of the Miami 300 for Busch cars and the Winston Cup Miami 400 on November 13 & 14. Williams, who claims to be a lifelong NASCAR fan told Don Imus, live on the Imus in the Morning MSNBC broadcast today he became a racing fan when his father used to take him to Watkins Glenn. The memorable moments he recalled for Imus that shaped his life long interest were Graham Hill hitting a tree and breaking his legs and Joey Chitwood cars getting up on two wheels. Bringing in a traditionally non-racing anchor is nothing new as networks scramble to jump on the NASCAR bandwagon. The 1999 Daytona 500 was hosted by CBS Sports personality Greg Gumble, whose presence was inexplicably left out of his brother Bryant Gumble’s HBO piece on the state of racism in NASCAR. An oversight we are sure.(Speedwords)(4-22-1999)
Labonte/BGN: Terry Labonte has entered the BGN race at NHIS on May 8th in the #44 Slim Jim Chevy. Terry plans to run the events that do not conflict with his Winston Cup Schedule and let his son Justin drive the events that do(North East Racing)(4-22-1999)
Pardus Returns: Dan Pardus is ready to go racing. Midwest Transit Racing has been in the process of reorganization — including two moves and the hiring of general manager Lake Speed and promoting Jay Born to crew chief — for the last month. Now the team is prepared to make a return to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series for Sunday’s DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Pardus is coming off a solid two-day test at the 2.66-mile tri-oval facility reaching a speed of 192.649. The Talladega test was Pardus’ first outing with Speed and Born. The trio immediately clicked during the test. The Midwest Transit Racing pit crew has only done one pit stop this season. It came in the Bud Shootout Qualifying Race. Over the last few weeks, the pit crew has been practicing four-tire stops outside the shop. Speed will take an active role during the race. He plans to stay in contact with Pardus via the team’s two-way radio system(Midwest Transit PR in part)(4-22-1999)

(4-21-1999)
Chicken Money: When the Petty cars get in the top 10, the crew get bonus’ or what they call Chicken Money. The last two weeks they got Double Chicken money as both Kyle Petty and John Andretti were in the top 10. Andretti said because the team won at Martinsville, they get Steak Money(RPM2Nite)(4-21-1999)
Morgan-McClure 2nd Team UPDATE 1: According to That’s Racin’, Morgan-McClure Motorsports(currently runs the #4 Kodak Chevy) has received permission from NASCAR to use the #14 and will begin fielding a second Cup team this season. No driver or sponsor for the second team have been announced, but the team plans to run at least five races this season(4-19-1999) — UPDATE 1: Winston Cup Today Radio reports that Morgan-McClure Motorsports is getting closer to sponsorship for the second team and NASCAR has granted them the license for the #14. No idea what number Irvan-Simo will use if there is a conflict later in the season(4-21-1999)
Virginia is Hot: For the first time in history, drivers from the same state(Virginia) are leading the point standings in Cup, BGN abd CT series. Jeff Burton(South Boston, VA) is leading Cup, Elton Sawyer(Chesapeake) the BGN and Stacy Compton(Hurt) the Truck Series(many sources)(4-21-1999)
Starting Important: The farthest back a driver has started and won the Diehard 500 race is 24th when Dick Brooks did it in 1973(NOL)(4-21-1999)
Burton and BGN: Another Cup driver will race some BGN races as Ward Burton drive the #02 Siemens Pontiac in five BGN events in 1999 beginning May 1 at California, Dover Downs(6/5), Michigan(8/21), Darlington (9/4), and Charlotte(10/9). The car will be prepared by Bill Davis Racing(Bill Davis PR)(4-21-1999)
217mph? CORRECTION: on today’s Winston Cup Today Radio, it was reported that a rumor floating thru the garage area at Talladega during GM testing there last week, that Geoffrey Bodine ran a lap of 217mph when the wrong plate was put under the carburetor in place of the regular restrictor plate by accident. NASCAR supposedly decided not to issue a fine as they felt it was an accident(4-20-1999) — CORRECTION: looks like I mixed this one up – Bodine possibly ran speeds as high as 217mph, not a lap of 217mph and as for NASCAR they did not fine the team as they felt it was ” an honest mistake”, not an accident, sorry for any confusion(4-21-1999)
HBO: Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel ’99 will discuss the lack of diversity within NASCAR. It’s on HBO, this episode premiered Tuesday, Apr 20th at 10pm/et, check local listings or the HBO site for times of repeats — Speedwords(fixed) has a poll up on the subject.(4-21-1999)

(4-20-1999)
Get Well: to Phyllis Hill, wife of Mike Hill, team manager of the #41 Hedrick Racing team(4-20-1999)
#90: I hear Loy Allen will drive the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford at Talladega(4-20-1999)
#84: the #84 Petty-Huggins Chevy will be sponsored by Island Oasis Frozen Beverage starting at Talladega, Ken Bouchard will drive the car, looks like a season long deal(NOL)(4-20-1999)
Fines: RPM2Nite and WC Today Radio reported that three Cup crew chiefs have been fined for an infraction at Martinsville. Tommy Morgan(#16), Bobby Leslie(#26) and Jimmy Elledge(#55) were fined $2000 for having holes drilled in cross members/frames of the car. The infractions were found prior to qualifying and fixed. RPOV also has a press release on the situation as does icFlorida/UPI(4-20-1999)
Ege Leaves: Engine builder Mike Ege, who has worked in the past for Penske South and most recently at Pro Motors, has leased Buck Mock’s old engine shop and is looking to take on several Cup and BGN teams for engine needs. The shop he has leased has all the equipment he needs to do so(Speedway Scene/Snowballs)(4-20-1999)
Superman Paint UPDATE 2: Inside NASCAR said that nine drivers including Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(at Phoenix?) and of course Jeff Gordon(in the Winston) will have a Superman paint scheme on their cars this year(Jim’s Dale Earnhardt. Jr Site) — Yahoo-Biz reports that Nine Motorsports Champions To Unveil Superman Race Cars, the drivers: 1) Three-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon; 2) 1998 Busch Series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr.; 3) Two-time Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday; 4) National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Eight-time Funny Car champion John Force; 5) Five-time Winston Top Fuel champion Joe Amato; 6) Four-time Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson; 7) Two-time Winston Drag Racing Pro Stock Bike champion Matt Hines; 8) World of Outlaws 15-time Sprint Car champion Steve Kinser; and 9) Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) PPG Cup/FedEx Championship Series champion(1996) Jimmy Vasser. To be officially announced on April 20th in NYC at 11am/et(thanks to Jeff Gordon Online for the heads up)(4-11-1999) — UPDATE 2: It’s been announced and the official images of the diecast can be found at Racing Collectables Club of America site, also see the story at Yahoo – Nine Motorsports Champions Unveil Superman Race Cars, Gordon will run his scheme at The Winston in Charlotte(5/22); Earnhardt, Jr at Phoenix(11/6) and Hornaday at Nazareth on July 18th. Also a story on NOL – Action unites superheroes of racing with Man of Steel(4-20-1999)
Geoffrey’s Hood? UPDATE 1: I hear Geoffrey Bodine’s hood was painted up slightly different with a Happy 50th Birthday message on the hood from his crew. Never got a chance to see it(4-19-1999) — Got some images of the hood at Jayski’s Paint Scheme Gallery(4-20-1999)
RIR Testing UPDATE 4: Some Cup teams will test at Richmond early next week. The #45 10-10-345 Pontiac and Rich Bickle will be one team testing(RPM2Nite)(4-17-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear the drivers testing at RIR on 4/19 and 4/20 will be #45-Rich Bickle, #36-Ernie Irvan and #22-Wrad Burton(Inside Motorsports and some readers) — UPDATE 2: Actually Ward Burton was testing the #02 Siemens Pontiac, his BGN car, also Tony Roper is testing the #61 IWX Motor Freight BGN Pontiac(RIR) — UPDATE 3: Speeds from SpeedNet – Ernie Irvan, 125.815mph; Rich Bickle, 124.024; Ward Burton, 122.895; and Tony Roper, 119.048. Irvans speed was above the track record of 125.558mph by Jeff Gordon last June — UPDATE 4: Buckshot Jones joins the testing today in the #00 Pontiac and on the BGN side, Ward Burton has left and Phil Morris is testing in the 01 Llumar Window Film Chevy. Irvan, Bickle and Roper remain from Monday’s testing. The Joe Gibbs teams(#’s 19 and 20) will test at RIR on April 26-27th.(RIR Site)(4-20-1999)

(4-19-1999)
Menard/Stewart UPDATE 1: ut-oh, lawsuit. Team Menard Sues Former Driver Stewart. Tony Stewart has been issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting him form working for any other Indy 500 competitors of his former sponsor, Team Menard(WRAL)(4-17-1999) — UPDATE 1: from That’s Racin’ Stewart to press on in Indy 500 bid(4-19-1999)
Shepherd/#90: Junie Dunleavy’s Driver of the Week for his #90 Ford will be Morgan Shepherd for the upcoming Talladega race. Triple Edge Silicon Wiper Blades may return for the race as sponsor. The veteran car owner continues to look for full sponsorship for his Taurus this season(Inside Motorsports)(4-19-1999) Shepherd will not drive the #90 at Talladega
Short Tracks: John Andretti’s victory at Martinsville made him the eighth different winner in the last eight Winston Cup short-track races(4-19-1999)
Ironic: John Andretti’s victory Sunday at Martinsville came from the 21st starting position, the deepest spot in the field for a winner since Lee Petty won from 24th in 1959(Infobeat/AP)(4-19-1999)
Cope OK: Derrike Cope became unconscious in the garage area. Medical attention and oxygen quickly revived Cope, who faded to 34th on account of his difficulty breathing. No crush panel problems and no idea if any air supply problems, but Cope is OK(NOL)(4-19-1999)
Cars Inspected: after the Martinsville Race: John Andretti’s, Jeff Burton’s, Dale Jarrett’s and Kyle Petty’s(PitNow)(4-19-1999)
Finishes: Some drivers had their best finishes in a while – #55- Kenny Wallace(6th) had his best since Loudon(6th) in August of 1998; #45-Rich Bickle(11th) had his best since Phoenix(11th) last October; #66-Darrell Waltrip(12th) had his best since Pocono(6th) last June; #11-Brett Bodine(14th) had his best since Talladega(13th) last October; and #23-Jimmy Spencer(16th) had his best finish since Daytona(12th) last October. So far in 1999 there have been 26 different drivers to score a Top-10…..last year’s total was 41(Henry Stockcarfans Newsletter)(4-19-1999)
Kyle Leads: The four laps that Kyle Petty led at Martinsville on Sunday were the first laps he has led since Atlanta in November of 1997. That’s 41 races(counting the two he missed this year)(Henry Stockcarfans Newsletter)(4-19-1999)
Elliott Crew: Tom Hubert who drove the #19 Ford at Vegas and was driving the #7 Truck until a recent split, changed tires for the #94 McDonald’s team and Bill Elliott at Martinsville(The Depot) — UPDATE: Hubert works at Bill Davis Racing getting Ward Burton’s BGN cars ready for his 5 race schedule this year(4-19-1999)

(4-18-1999)

McDonald’s and Elliott: The following statement is attributable to Bill Korbus, McDonald’s motorsports manager: “Contrary to unfounded reports, McDonald’s is committed to Bill Elliott Racing with its current sponsorship agreement through the year 2000.”(McDonald’s PR)(4-18-1999)
Yates 3rd Team? Speedwords, while checking rumors of McDonalds going to the Yates operation is hearing that a third team could be formed for the 2000 season. Texaco does not appear to be ready to leave what has been a very good relationship and Yates has the space in his new facility to house a third team there. Remember, Kenny Irwin’s #28 team moved to Harrisburg, NC earlier this season. At this point it does not appear that McDonalds will go to Yates (probably to the #25 car) but we have long heard the Yates organization has been courted by other major sponsors looking to get into a stable, competitive organization(Speedwords). Jayski Notes: 1) In the next news note here, Sponsorships and restructuring, it mentions Yates doesn’t plan on a third team and 2) with the #24 having Pepsi as an associate, would McDonald’s go to Hendrick when McDonald’s has an exclusive contract woth Coke?? Could be intersting or nothing at all(4-18-1999)
Gentilozzi to Cup: Paul Gentilozzi, defending SCCA Trans-Am Champion will attempt the two road course events at Watkins Glen and Sears Point(TNN’s Raceday)(4-18-1999)
#16 Crew Chief UPDATE 1: Tommy Morgan will be the interim crew chief on the #16 Primestar/TV Guide Ford and driver Kevin Lepage for Martinsville and Talladega(RPM2Nite)(4-17-1999) — UPDATE 1: Skip Eyler, crew chief for the #91 LJ Racing Chevy will leave after Martinsville to become the crew chief for the #16 Primestar/TV Guide Ford and driver Kevin Lepage. Eyler has worked for Roush Racing in the past as a crew chief for the #97 John Deere Ford(Raceday-TNN)(4-18-1999)
DW/Kmart Scheme UPDATE 2:: Darrell Waltrip will unveil a new design of his #66 Fords during a news conference at 9am/et Saturday at Martinsville Speedway. The redesign is part Big Kmart’s – Waltrip’s sponsor – introduction of a national commercial campaign that will debut Sunday on NBC. Waltrip will be featured in two 30-second TV spots over the next several weeks. The commercials, filmed on America’s “mother road,” were made to advertise Big Kmart’s “Route 66” line of apparel(That’s Racin’/Jim Utter)(4-15-1999) — UPDATE 1: saw an image of DW and the #66 in a Winston Cup Scene ad and if it is the paint scheme discussed here, the main difference is the yellow Route 66 logo on the hood(4-16-1999) — UPDATE 2: Darrell Waltrip, basking in the glow of another creditable qualifying performance, screened a couple of commercials that Kmart will be displaying beginning with tonight’s prime-time movie on NBC. The commercials’ theme is a veteran driver who insists on telling his pit crew old stories from his long career. We won’t ruin the surprise, but suffice it to say that the first spot involves revenge from a spurned wife. Kmart is hyping its Route 66 line of sportswear with the sponsorship of Waltrip’s #66 Ford(Monte Dutton/Gaston Gazette)(4-18-1999)
Copes: I hear former #27 CTS driver Ernie Cope will change tires for his cousin Derrike on the #30 Jimmy Dean Barhari Pontiac, Sunday at Martinsville. Ernie Cope is presently looking for a crew chief job and has given up driving(4-18-1999)

(4-17-1999)
Jeff Green: On Monday night April 12, 1999, Jeff Green was the guest during “On The Circuit” radio show(WAMB – AM 1160) with host John Jenkins. Green was asked if he had talked with Morgan-McClure about the 2nd ride rumor and he said ‘NO’. Any Cup ride he might take would be next year because he is after a BGN championship. No word on the #15 Bud Moore ride but it is obvious that Green is commited to the BGN in 1999(4-17-1999)
Sponsorship? The season is well into its third month and business is booming, yet still four regular Winston Cup teams lack reliable, week-to-week sponsorship. Four owners — Junie Donlavey, Joe Falk, Cale Yarborough/Wayne Burdette and Billy Jones — do not a principal sponsor. Jones’ Pontiac, driven by his son Buckshot, carries Crown Fiber, which is the elder Jones’ own company. Donlavey’s car is being driven this weekend by Morgan Shepherd, Falk’s by Dick Trickle and Burdette’s by Rick Mast. Ricky Rudd, who has won at least one race in each of the last 16 seasons, is trapped in a long-term deal with Tide that no longer provides adequate funding. Larry McReynolds, crew chief for Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 team, confirmed that he recently made an offer to buy Rudd’s team, which Rudd considered but declined. Rudd was also rumored to be selling out to CART owner Chip Ganassi, a notion now strenuously denied on all sides(Monte Dutton/SpeedNet)(4-17-1999)
DEI Changes: I hear that Engine Shop Manager of the Dale Earnhardt Inc, Mark Isler, has been released as of this past Wednesday, no replacement named(4-17-1999)
More Rudd UPDATE 2: Ricky Rudd’s NASCAR team is for sale, and Larry McReynolds, crew chief for the Richard Childress-Mike Skinner team, has made an offer to buy it, McReynolds has confirmed. Rudd could not be reached for comment(PitNow) — UPDATE 1: Ricky Rudd said Friday he is not trying to find someone to buy out his team, despite the rash of rumors recently to the contrary. Rudd denied Friday he has talked to CART owner Chip Ganassi. Sources confirmed Friday, however, that Larry McReynolds had made Rudd an offer on his team. McReynolds has said that if he found proper funding and the right sponsor, that he would resign his position at Richard Childress Racing and form his own team for the 2000 season. But Rudd emphasized Friday what he is looking for is a partner who would run the day-to-day operations of the team, while Rudd would remain as the driver. See quotes and more at the That’s Racin’ story – Rudd denies rumors of team’s sale(4-16-1999) — UPDATE 2: Following qualifying on Friday, Larry McReynolds said Ricky Rudd had declined the offer to sell his team to McReynolds and John Dangler, McReynolds partner(NOL) and from PitNow: Ricky Rudd says he will definitely restructure his team this season, because he’s finding it increasingly difficult as a small single-team owner-driver to compete against the giant teams dominating the Winston Cup tour today. But he says he won’t sell more than 50 percent of his team to anyone(PitNow)(4-17-1999)
Menard/Stewart: ut-oh, lawsuit. Team Menard Sues Former Driver Stewart. Tony Stewart has been issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting him form working for any other Indy 500 competitors of his former sponsor, Team Menard(WRAL)(4-17-1999)
Yes it was Kyle: Had many questions about the Kyle Petty testing accident at Talladega on Wednesday, here is what Monte Dutton has in a SpeedNet story: Kyle Petty, already mired in a horrible slump, had a freak accident while testing on Wednesday at Talladega Superspeedway. The throttle stuck as Petty was driving down pit road, and the Pontiac lurched violently out of control and through a fence, eventually rocketing into an infield flagpole. Petty was unhurt, but he car was obviously demolished. “I rank through the chain-link fence and over a couple of azaleas, and I think a couple of dandelions gave their lives, too,” said Petty. “It was just a freak deal”.(SpeedNet)(4-17-1999)
TV Dates: By giving up the right to negotiate television contracts, Bruton Smith and his fellow track owners may also have given up some of their traditional race dates. NASCAR may move dates to accommodate TV, and Smith’s end-of-the-season Atlanta finale could be on the table(PitNow)(4-17-1999)
Falk and Larry: Larry’s Homes is sponsoring Falk’s #91 LJ Racing Chevy this weekend(at Martinsville, if they pick up some speed during 2nd round). Falk said he is meeting with company representatives Monday about a six-race deal. If he does not get a sponsor, Falk said he will skip the race in Fontana, Calif., on May 2(Times-Dispatch)(4-17-1999)
Shepherd Back UPDATE 1 why? Hearing Morgan Shepherd will be in the #90 Donlavey Ford at Martinsville, not Stanton Barrett as previously reported here(4-16-1999) — UPDATE 1: Stanton Barrett turned down the opportunity to drive the car(That’s Racin’)(4-17-1999)
Noticed: The #33 Skoal Chevy has the blue paint scheme at Martinsville and the #36 M&M’s Pontiac has a red air dam instead of the yellow with M&M’s(ESPN2 Qualifying)
15 years ago, Dale Jarrett, then 27, made his first Winston Cup start at Martinsville(on April 29th, 1984), starting 24th and finishing 14th. Though he has never won here, Jarrett has finished in the top five four times on the .526-mile track. In last year’s race he finished third(SpeedNet)(4-17-1999)

(4-16-1999)
McDonald’s Out? UPDATE 2 Yates? I hear from a good source that WGOW-FM 102.3(Chattanooga, TN) reported during the “Racing Hour” radio show that McDonald’s was pretty much a done deal with Elliott after 1999, and they’d be moving to the #25 car. No word on a replacement sponsor for Elliott — UPDATE 1: I also hear that McDonald’s is signed with Elliott thru 2000 and won’t leave until the contract is up(4-15-1999) — UPDATE 2: McDonald’s, which sponsors Bill Elliott’s #94 Fords, is looking at moving its sponsorship to another team in 2000 or leaving Winston Cup racing altogether, sources said Friday. Elliott has a contract with McDonald’s through the 2000 season, but McDonald’s does have an “out clause” that would allow it to leave Elliott’s team, sources said. McDonald’s is reportedly looking at two other Winston Cup teams to focus its sponsorship money – Hendrick Motorsports’ third team, currently with driver Wally Dallenbach, and Robert Yates’ second team, currently with driver Kenny Irwin. Dallenbach’s team will lose sponsor Budweiser at the end of the 1999 season, when it will move to the #8 Chevrolets of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Texaco is currently the sponsor of Irwin’s #28 Fords(That’s Racin’/Jim Utter). Wow, the Yates deal is a new twist, hard to imagine the #28 in anything but Texaco colors(4-16-1999)
Irvan-Simo: Boris Said and Marc Simo were on RPM2Nite Wednesday and Said confirmed that he would drive the #14 Federated Auto Parts Ford at Fontana and probably two more oval races in 1999(of the six total, LaJoie ran Texas) along with the two road course events. Marc Simo mentioned he was busy getting ready for 2000 with the plan doing a full Cup deal(RPM2Nite)(4-16-1999)
Gordon Story: a buddy of mine relayed this to me: When Jeff Gordon tested at Greenville-Pickens(SC) on April 7th. he took time out to visit with a 7 yr old boy who has been fighting leukemia. Gordon doesn’t usually meet with fans or press at any test but took time out to do so. The boy is still smiling as Gordon and Evernham allowed him sit in the car and take pictures along with signing a Dupont hat and gave it to the young boy. The family said that the boy had thrived to survive this disease because of Jeff Gordon and his wonderful testimony. Special thanks to Jeff Gordon, Ray Evernham and Pete, Tom and Craig Blackwell for fulfilling this young boys lifetime dream(MRM /Community Informer)(4-16-1999)
More Morgan-McClure UPDATE 3: Morgan-McClure Motorsports’ plans for a second Cup team continue to advance, team co-owner and general manager Larry McClure says, and there’s a chance that a car could be on the track during the 1999 season. Morgan-McClure currently fields only the #4 Chevrolets driven by Bobby Hamilton. The team has reserved the #14(what about the Irvan-Simo team?) with NASCAR to use on the second team. The team has a 90,000 square-foot shop in Abingdon, Va., so there is room for a second team to operate. There has been speculation that the team is close to making a sponsorship deal for the second team with Microsoft, but McClure declined comment on that Thursday at an open house held at the team’s shop. McClure says the testing advantages enjoyed by multicar teams are too obvious to be ignored(That’s Racin’/David Poole)(4-13-1999) — UPDATE 1 on the #14: “Irvan-Simo Racing is currently using the #14 in the Winston Cup Series. They were granted this number by NASCAR at the begining of the season and have already run one race (Texas) and have earned car owner’s points under that same number” — UPDATE 2: Sources tell me that the #14 is Morgan-McClures and Irvan-Simo is using it until/if the 2nd Morgan McClure team happens. The owners points listed on NOL has Irvan-Simo as #114, which is used for part-time teams(Winston West etc). Not sure what Irvan Simo would use in the event both teams attempt the same race, as could happen later this season, but Morgan-McClure would be the #14(4-14-1999) — UPDATE 3: Per the NSSN-National Speed Sport News: “The long-reported 2nd team from Morgan-McClure Racing will feature Microsoft as the sponsor and Jeff Green as the driver”(NSSN), hmm I thought Green was going to drive for Bud Moore?(4-16-1999)
Larry is Back UPDATE 2 Win Pit Passes: Dick Trickle will pilot the #91 Larry’s Homes Chevy owned by LJ Racing at Martinsville Speedway in the Goody’s Body Pain 500(LJ Racing) Larry’s-Homes did some sponsor dels with the #91 in 1998.(4-15-1999) — UPDATE 1: Associates for the weekend are Coachmen RV and Sonny’s Camp-n-Travel — UPDATE 2: LJ Racing is giving away Pit Passes at locations where they have show cars being displayed this weekend, check the LJ Racing Site for info and locations(4-16-1999)
Trucks: Three Cup drivers made attempts for the Truck race. Ernie Irvan was 11th fastest in qualifying, Rich Bickle was 12th and Bobby Hamilton was 22nd. Randy MacDonald, who has dabbled in Cup was a big surprise with the third fastest time(4-16-1999)
Rusty Chat: during Rusty Wallace’s NOL chat, it was asked about special paint schemes, Wallace said “that they aren’t going to have any special paint schemes but he knows that the Miller Brewing Company is planning something special for his 50th win, but are not even telling him and it’ll be a surprise(4-16-1999)
Talladega: Cummulative Talladega Winston Cup test speeds (That’s Racin’)(4-16-1999)
Nike/Reebok: per this weeks NASCAR Winston Cup Scene, large article that says ‘Nike, Reebok Target NASCAR’. The companies are looking to supply apparel(shoes, etc) and money in exchange for promotional oppurtunities with drivers and teams, and not to be a primary sponsor of a Cup team. Right now it looks like an interest in NASCAR and some teams have been contacted. Nike already supplies shoes to the Hendrick Motorsports crews, and others(4-16-1999)
Another Funny UPDATE 1: ESPN2’s RPM2Nite on Wednesday, showed a Coca-Cola commercial of some sort with Dale Earnhardt, Kenny Irwin, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett, Jeff Burton and Bobby Labonte doing all kinds of short sketches and voices. Some were Wayne and Garth(Waynes World), Irwin did a pretty good GodFather/Brando voice, Burton as Garth and Labonte as Wayne was pretty funny. — UPDATE 1: The Coke “commercial” was made for use in movie theaters to be run before the movie with previews of other movies, etc.4-16-1999)

(4-15-1999)
Irvan Paint Scheme UPDATE 3: Had a few readers email me saying they heard there was going to be a Crispy M&M’s paint scheme for Ernie Irvan and the #36 MB2 Pontiac, at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona this year, but sources tell me that they had heard nothing of any special paint schemes for 1999 and that M&M Mars and the team really wanted to focus on the M&M’s car and get rid of the confusion about switching from Skittles to M&M’s(3-19-1999) — UPDATE 1: Hmm….hearing now that there WILL be a Crispy M&M’s Pontiac Schemes at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona, they didn’t announce it on QVC but alluded and hinted to some sort of paint scheme but never announced it or discussed it with Ernie.(3-25-1999) — UPDATE 2: Once again I hear that Ernie will have a crispy M&M’s paint scheme at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona on July 3rd and a new one, I hear the team may run a Pedigree Dog(an associate sponsor) food paint scheme sometime in 1999(maybe the Winston??)(4-5-1999) — UPDATE 3: Did a search on Irvan on a few collectible sites and they now list an Action #36 Crispy M&M’s Diecast available in August and a #36 Pedigree Diecast available in July, could be the RUMORED paint schemes(got a readers rendition of the #36 Crispy car on the Ernie Irvan site(4-15-1999)
Bud Moore Back? UPDATE 1, Looking Good: I broke this story a few weeks ago and NOL has an update and even a drawing of the car for a possible return of the #15 Bud Moore Engineering team and sponsorship for the team with AMVETS, see the NOL story at Sponsorship deal possible for Moore Engineering(4-13-1999) — UPDATE 1: in part….”For AMVETS, the possible deal with the decorated World War II Army veteran and long-time NASCAR team owner(Bud Moore, #15) appears to be a great pairing. AMVETS wants to use the deal, which will be voted on by its committee late next week, to help increase its membership numbers. And ever since the talks became public, AMVETS — more formally known as the American Veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam — has been receiving calls about the chances a deal will be completed. All of the interest is persuading AMVETS to approve the deal. The calls are exactly what the organization would be shooting for with a sponsorship program. The proposed deal would be for 21/2 years, beginning with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 30. The Moore team has made several trips to Washington, D.C., for marketing purposes and there already is an artist’s rendering of what the #15 Ford would look like(see NOL for the drawing). If the deal is approved, Jeff Green – who tried to qualify the car at Daytona – would drive most weekends, but the team would need a fill-in during conflicts with Green’s Busch Series schedule. The chances of the deal being approved, according to Moore, are about 70 percent. But he won’t know for sure until next week.” See full tory at Moore, AMVETS near sponsorship deal (Herald-Journal)(4-15-1999)
Rudd/Ganassi? UPDATE 2: WAVY-TV (NBC) in Norfolk, Va. reported last night that sources have told them that Ricky Rudd is talking with Cart owner Chip Ganassi about buying Rudd’s team. The team would be sponsored by Target with Rudd staying on as driver. The announcement is expected to come Thursday in Long Beach, CA where the Cart tour has a stop this weekend. WAVY sports director Bruce Rader talked with Rudd spokesman Kirby Boone at 4:20pm est Tuesday. Boone said Rudd heard about WAVY’s report and says he “dosent know a thing about it.” But Rudd added, “If Chip is interested in buying the team, tell him to call me.”(many readers) and on RPM2Nite, Dr Jerry Punch did his patented “House Call” with Ricky Rudd and they talked about last years Martinsville win with the heat and the cooling system failure, it was pretty interesting…but there was no mention on the ‘Target rumor’.(4-13-1999) — UPDATE 1: From Rudd Performance Racing – “These rumors are completely unfounded. There has been no communication with Chip or Target.” — UPDATE 2: Ganassi Racing could well be on its way to getting involved in NASCAR someday, the team owner confirmed Wednesday, but he denied rumors that he is negotiating to purchase the team of driver/owner Ricky Rudd. A Portsmouth, Va., television station reported Monday night that Ganassi Racing was interested in purchasing Rudd Performance Motorsports (RPM) from veteran Winston Cup campaigner Ricky Rudd, a native of Chesapeake, Va. Kirby Boone, public relations director for RPM, denied that the team was for sale. The Winston-Salem Journal reported Wednesday that Larry McReynolds, crew chief for the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing team, has made Rudd a legitimate offer(but it has not been accepted). McReynolds has said that if he found proper funding and a substantial sponsor, that he would resign his position at Childress and form his own team for the 2000 season(iRACE/SpeedVision)(4-15-1999)

(4-14-1999)
Testing: I hear the #23 Winston Team with Jimmy Spencer, Darrell Waltrip in the #66, Chad Little in the #97 and #75-Ted Musgrave are testing at Greenville-Pickens Speedway today in preparation for Martinsville this weekend. Also #58-Ricky Craven and #2-Rusty Wallace tested there today(4-14-1999)
#78 Done? UPDATE 1: Hearing the #78 Triad Motorsports team is closing it’s doors. Driver Gary Bradberry was told he was free to look elsewhere a few weeks ago. No idea what Hut Stricklin’s plans are(4-13-1999) — UPDATE 1: I now hear the team has not closed up and is looking at some sponsor possibilities(4-14-1999)
Derby Car: Jeremy Mayfield will oversee the ribbon cutting ceremony for a commemorative 125th Kentucky Derby-theme car that he will drive at California on May 2. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 12pm/et on Thursday, April 29 of Kentucky Derby Week, in the Clubhouse Gardens of historic Churchill Downs. Following the ceremony the car will be transported to downtown Louisville where it serve as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s annual Pegasus Parade. The #12 Mobil 1 Taurus, that will be driven by Mayfield, a native of Owensboro, KY, was designed as a tribute to the milestone 125th Kentucky Derby through a special partnership of Churchill Downs, Action Performance Companies, Inc., Penske-Kranefuss Racing and Mobil Oil Corporation. The car’s design features a Kentucky Derby-inspired paint scheme complete with the image of a Thoroughbred and the 125th Kentucky Derby logo over the rear quarter panels. Motorsports International Corp., the official trackside provider of Mobil 1 Racing/ Penske-Kranefuss Racing/ Jeremy Mayfield #12 car merchandise, will be offering a complete line of apparel items, souvenirs and collectibles exclusively at all NASCAR Winston Cup races, racing souvenir specialty stores and through mail order(William Co) also see some images of the car at Jayski’s Paint Scheme Gallery from the announcement a few weeks ago(4-14-1999)
GM Talladega Testing Day One UPDATE 1: Bobby Hillin stepped in for Jeff Gordon and tested the #24 DuPont Chevy. Mike Skinner had Mike Dillon subbing in the #31 Lowes Chevy. The top six speeds: #40-Marlin 195.376mph; #24-Hillin 195.369; #5-Labonte 194.362; #7-Waltrip 194.196; #3-Earnhardt 194.168; and #42-Nemechek 194.166. Twenty five teams are testing with Thirty five cars(WC Today Radio and RPM2Nite)(4-13-1999) — UPDATE 1: Sterling Marlin topped 196mph during testing Tuesday. The top five: #40-Marlin 196.709; #24-Hillin 195.389; #5- Labonte 194.362; #7-Waltrip 194.212; and #3-Earnhardt 194.188. See the speeds of 27 drivers at SpeedNet(4-14-1999)
300th start: Ernie Irvan will make his 300th career Winston Cup start at Martinsville on April 18th(4-6-1999) — see a TNN story at Irvan Turns Dream Into Reality(4-14-1999)

(4-13-1999)
#16 Lepage News UPDATE 1: James Ince, crew chief for Kevin Lepage and the #16 Primestar/TV Guide Ford, resigned today siting philosophical differences(WC Today Radio) Tommy Morgan, Jeff Burton’s BGN crew chief will call the shots for the tean on Sunday at Martinsville.(4-12-1999) — UPDATE 1: Jeff Burton confirmed Tommy Morgan’s serving as the crew chief to the #16 team is only temporary(Winston Cup Tele-Conference)(4-13-1999)
Garone, new gig UPDATE 2 – Maybe? Joe Garone, former crew chief for Bill Elliott Racing has accepted a position with Rudd Performance Motorsports as crew chief for Ricky Rudd. His duties begin Monday. Jerry Pitts, who was the crew chief for Elliott’s #13 team will assume the crew chief role for the #94(4-8-1999) — UPDATE 1: Ricky Rudd said Saturday that he has not hired a new crew chief, referring to reports that he has hired Joe Garone, who stepped down as Bill Elliott’s crew chief last week. Dan Stillman is still acting as the chairman of Rudd’s crew chief by committee(That’s Racin’)(4-11-1999) — UPDATE 2: Garone was spotted helping Ricky Rudd’s #10 Tide team in the pits at Bristol. Rudd confirmed that Garone is high on the list of candidates to become his team’s permanent crew chief. Rudd is talking to Garone and a few other possibilties(Times-Dispatch)(4-13-1999)
Spencer Info: Jimmy Spencer expects to go the distance at Martinsville. He says he’s feeling much better and the problem last Sunday wasn’t his injuries, it was that the padding they attached to him was taped on too tight(Winston Cup Tele-Conference)(4-13-1999)
Double Duty UPDATE:: at least two Cup drivers will attempt to make the CTS race at Martinsville this weekend. Ernie Irvan will be in the #44 Irvan-Simo Federated Auto Parts Ford and Rich Bickle will be in the #45 Tyler Jet Motorsports “Lucky Dog” 10-10-345 Truck(4-12-1999) — UPDATE 1: NOL has the entry list up and Irvan, Bickle and Bobby Hamilton in the #4 Dana Dodge will atttempt both the CTS and Cup race at Martinsville(NOL)(4-13-1999)
Another New Car: Rusty Wallace, who took his 49th career Cup win in a brand new car at Bristol, will debut his new “PC-11” this coming weekend on the .526-mile Martinsville short track. “That was a pretty cool deal for our team at Bristol,” Wallace said from his North Carolina mountain home on Monday. “When you stop and think about it, it was pretty incredible that we were able to take a brand new car…a car that had never seen a lap on a race track until last Friday…win the pole, and then kick butt like we did there on Sunday. “The big difference [at Martinsville] is that we’ve already had the ‘PC-11’ out for a shakedown,” said Wallace, who has six career Martinsville wins. “We had the car down at Greenville-Pickens (Speedway, near Greenville, S.C.)once and hope to go back this week. We logged a lot of laps and know we have a strong piece in this car. We’ll tweak on it some more before we get to Martinsville.”(Tom Roberts PR via Speedwords)(4-13-1999)
#77 Testing: Robert Pressley and the #77 Jasper Motorsports team are testing at Greenville-Pickens Speedway today(4-13-1999)
Black Flag: Had a few questions on why Steve Park and Mike Skinner got black flagged towards the end of the Food City 500. From David Poole of That’s Racin’: Mike Skinner and Steve Park were shown the black flag by NASCAR late in the race for violating rules governing how they should blend back into position with cars pitting on the frontstretch. Skinner ignored the black flag while his team, led by crew chief Larry McReynolds, questioned NASCAR officials about the decision. So NASCAR pulled the scorecard on the #31 Chevrolet. Skinner was running on the lead lap at the time the penalty was imposed and probably would have finished 12th. Skinner was originally put in 30th in the final rundown, but after reviewing the situation NASCAR moved him back up to 21st in the revised finish(That’s Racin’)(4-13-1999)
Did ya Know? UPDATE: #12 Mobil One Ford driver Jeremy Mayfield is the only driver to have been in the top 10 of the Cup standings every week since the start of the 1998 season(Williams Co PR)(4-12-1999) — CORRECTION: Mayfield was 19th after the 1999 Daytona 500 since he finished 20th and led a lap(4-13-1999)

(4-12-1999)
GM Testing: begins at Talladega on Tuesday for the Chevy and Pontiac teams. Steve Grissom will sub for Kyle Petty for at least Tuesday as his father-in-law passed away over the weekend and Kyle plans to be with his wife and her family(WC Today Radio)(4-12-1999)
#43 Violation? UPDATE 3 – Good News: Hours after the race, NASCAR officials announced that initial post-race testing had revealed a compression-ratio violation — the Winston Cup limit is 12:1 — in the fourth-place Pontiac of John Andretti. Citing difficult conditions, NASCAR official Kevin Triplett announced that further examination of the Petty Enterprises engine would be conducted Monday(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton)(4-11-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear the engine and NASCAR inspectors will do the testing/inspection at Petty’s shop this morning — UPDATE 2: NASCAR has cleared Andretti’s engine, see the full story at NOL – Andretti’s engine clears inspection(NOL) — UPDATE 3: NASCAR Officials announced today that after a thorough post-race inspection of John Andretti’s, Richard Petty owned Pontiac, the results of Sunday’s Food City 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway will stand. Andretti’s engine was held by NASCAR overnight for further evaluation after Sunday night’s post-race inspection. “The process to determine the exact compression ratio is very precise,” said Mike Helton, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for NASCAR. “In the case where the finding is so very close to being legal or not legal, it is NASCAR policy to be as correct as possible before our final decision. In order to maintain the integrity of the post-race inspections, we will develop even more exact practices and procedures to finalize the inspections in a credible and timely manner.” The results of Monday’s continued post-race inspection showed a compression ratio which met NASCAR rules as described in Section 20 Rule 5.4 Article C of the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book, “For all Events, the maximum allowable compression limit permitted on any cylinder will be 12.0 to 1 on all engines.”(NASCAR PR)(4-12-1999)
Hamilton Test: Bobby Hamilton tested at Greenville-Pickens(SC) Speedway today in the #4 Kodak Chevy(WC Today Radio)(4-12-1999)
#45 Changes UPDATE 1: I hear Phil Hammer has been released from the #45 Tyler Jet Motorsports crew chief position and Bill Ingle, formerly of the #10 Ricky Rudd team has taken the job on an interim basis — UPDATE 1: Bill Ingle has been named interim crew chief for Tyler Jet Motorsports and the #45 10-10-345 Pontiac. e replaces Phil Hammer, who’s future involvement with the team is under negotiation. Ingle joins the team immediately, and will take part in the team’s GM test at Talladega on Tuesday and Wednesday. Also Tom Mitchell has been named as the team’s General Manager(NOL)(4-12-1999)
10-10-345 scheme UPDATE 2: I hear the Tyler Jet Motorsports #45 10-10-345 Pontiac, driven by Rich Bickle, will have a different look to it at Bristol this weekend, still purple but different(4-6-1999) — UPDATE 1:Looked the same as usual to me, saw no differences(4-10-1999) — UPDATE 2: after looking at the story and image on the Tyler Jet Motorsports Site, I saw the differences, the 10-10 on ’10-10-345′ is bigger on the hood and 1/4 panels and the #45 on the roof is the same design as the #45 on the doors, not the plain #45 it was(4-12-1999)

(4-11-1999)

Superman Paint UPDATE 1: Inside NASCAR said that nine drivers including Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(at Phoenix?) and of course Jeff Gordon(in the Winston) will have a Superman paint scheme on their cars this year(Jim’s Dale Earnhardt. Jr Site) — Yahoo-Biz reports that Nine Motorsports Champions To Unveil Superman Race Cars, the drivers: 1) Three-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon; 2) 1998 Busch Series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr.; 3) Two-time Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday; 4) National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Eight-time Funny Car champion John Force; 5) Five-time Winston Top Fuel champion Joe Amato; 6) Four-time Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson; 7) Two-time Winston Drag Racing Pro Stock Bike champion Matt Hines; 8) World of Outlaws 15-time Sprint Car champion Steve Kinser; and 9) Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) PPG Cup/FedEx Championship Series champion(1996) Jimmy Vasser. To be officially announced on April 20th in NYC at 11am/et(thanks to Jeff Gordon Online for the heads up)(4-11-1999)
No more 76 Challenge? When Rusty Wallace pulled into victory lane at Bristol today, Bob Jenkins mentioned that Rusty Wallace had also won the 76 Challenge of $45,600 for winning from the pole. Benny Parsons then said that they don’t do that anymore. I had wondered why I hadn’t seen it on any rundowns lately. Jeff Gordon last won it at Daytona and it kind of disappeared, shame, it was a cool program. I will of course, no longer keep track of it on the Next Race page(4-11-1999)
Qualifying Changes? Winston Cup director Gary Nelson said Saturday NASCAR was taking a look at the series’ second round qualifying process, but said he doubted there would be an easy answer to address several drivers’ concerns, see full story at That’s Racin’ – NASCAR examines qualifying format (4-11-1999)
Spencer: Jimmy Spencer was releived by Steve Grissom around lap 225 of the Food City 300, he said he felt sore all over. Grissom brought the #23 Ford home 17th(4-11-1999)
#94 Assoc Sponsor trouble? UPDATE 2: Service Merchandise is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It is not known how it will affect sponsorship of the #94 McDonald’s Ford team of Bill Elliott(NSSN)(3-27-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear the #94 McDonalds showcars have been told to remove the Service Merchandise decals from the cars(4-6-1999) — UPDATE 2: the Service Merchandise decals were still on the #94 at Bristol(4-11-1999)

(4-10-1999)
DW’s Qualifying: Darrell Waltrip qualified 12th, marking the first time he has qualified in the opening round all year, and in fact, the first time since July of last year(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton)(4-10-1999)
Official Postponement: In an announcement sent to Speedwords this morning Kurt Ritter, Chevrolet marketing general manager at General Motors announced they would not bring the 2000 Monte Carlo to NASCAR in 1999. Ritter’s statement says that with the newest revisions requested by NASCAR the teams believe the new Monte Carlo would be uncompetitive on the track. Because of this and the fact the teams would have to jeopardize their current efforts to produce the new Monte Carlo so the new version has been postponed. See the full announcement on Speedwords at Chevrolet Postpones NASCAR debut of 2000 Monte Carlo Race Car (4-10-1999)
TV Guide and Primestar: TV Guide will be a co-primary sponsor for Kevin Lepages #16 Ford starting at Bristol. Primestar will maintain its sponsorship(NOL Sat Notes)(4-10-1999)
Labonte and Food City: Noticed during qualifying on ESPN2, Food City(not Lion) on the 1/4 panels of the #5 Kelloggs Chevy of Terry Labonte(4-10-1999)
Ice: David Green has the Kodiak Ice blue colors on the #41 Larry Hedrick chevy at Bristol(4-10-1999)
Bodine Assoc: Gold Bond powders logo will be on the decklid of Brett Bodine’s #11 Paychex Ford for Bristol. Gold Bond is Bodine’s BGN sponsor for five runs in 1999(NOL)(4-10-1999)
Ut-oh: IRL Team owner, John Menard, and Tony Stewart’s former owner, is looking to block Stewarts Indy 500 attempt, see the story at SpeedNet – Menard aims to halt Stewart’s shot at ‘racing doubleheader’ (4-10-1999)
Petree Unhappy? Car owner Andy Petree says he’s not satisfied with the performance of either of his two Winston Cup teams and hints a major shake-up may be coming on both(PitNow)(4-10-1999)

(4-9-1999)
Dale Jr Cup Schedule: Officials from Budweiser and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. today announced that Earnhardt Jr. – who is racing five Winston Cup races for Budweiser in 1999 – has added the Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400, scheduled for September 11 in Richmond, to his 1999 Winston Cup schedule. The race replaces the October 17 Winston 500 at Talladega as Earnhardt Jr.’s fourth Winston Cup race. “We had hoped tobuild a new super speedway car for Talladega that we could also use next year,” said Dale Earnhardt, owner of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet. “Unfortunately, the new Chevrolet Monte Carlo is not going to be racing by Talladega, so we’ve had to make a change in our 1999 plans. It didn’t make sense for us to build a car, or have Dale Jr. drive a car, that we could only use for one race.” Earnhardt Jr. will make his Winston Cup debut for Budweiser on May 30 in the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. His other 1999 Cup races include: the Jiffy Lube 300, July 11 at New Hampshire International Speedway; the Pepsi 400, August 22 at Michigan Speedway; and the Napa 500, November 21 at Atlanta Motor Speedway(Anheuser-Busch PR in part)(4-9-1999)

(4-8-1999)
Garone, new gig: Joe Garone, former crew chief for Bill Elliott Racing has accepted a position with Rudd Performance Motorsports as crew chief for Ricky Rudd. His duties begin Monday. Jerry Pitts, who was the crew chief for Elliott’s #13 team will assume the crew chief role for the #94(4-8-1999)
Barrett and the #90: I hear Stanton Barrett will be in the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford at Martinsville also(4-8-1999)
Stewart and the Indy 500 UPDATE 2: Look for Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Joe Gibbs owned Home Depot Pontic to announce on Thursday that will attempt compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 30. The Home Depot is sopposedly the sponsor of the IRL car he will race at Indy. The sponsor and ownership of Stewart’s Indy car will also be announced Thursday(That’s Racin’)(4-7-1999) — UPDATE 1: but former IRL owner for Stewart, John Menard, wants Stewart in one of his cars or none at all, plus the Home Depot vs Menard, see the story at SpeedNet – Menard, Stewart clash over 500 ride and Stewart will drive the #22 car at Indy, which will have a Dallora chassis and an Aurora engine(iRACE/SpeedVision) — UPDATE 2: See the announcement on the Tony Stewart Site. He will team up with Larry Curry, his former IRL crew chief, to field the orange and white Home Depot Indy car(4-8-1999)
A Bud Moore Update: An update on a story I broke on the site on March 26th(see the #15 Team Past News Page) – At Bud Moore Engineering in Spartanburg, S.C., they have the cars, they have the engines, they even have a driver — Jeff Green — who they would liked to get buckled into their No. 15 Ford Taurus. All they need now is a sponsor. The team is negotiating a sponsorship agreement with AMVETS (American Veterans) but nothing has been finalized. Other deals for one race sponsorships are also possible. Greg Moore would like to see a deal come to fruition in time to run in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte next month. on the Memorial Day holiday weekend. While Green would like to drive the car, his priority is to win the BGN championship. See the article at WWII vet Bud Moore seeks sponsorship deal with AMVETS (iRACE/SpeedVision)(4-8-1999)
Speed/Pardus: Midwest Transit Racing has found a new, spacious home as it prepares for its comeback race under the guidance of General Manager Lake Speed. The team, owned by Hal Hicks and Mike Witters, decided to move from its Mooresville shop to a 20,000 square foot facility formerly occupied by Team 34. Last year Team 34, a BGN Series operation, raced three separate entries from the shop. With this latest move now complete, Speed is inspecting Midwest Transit Racing’s fleet of #50 Chevy’s to see which of them stays or need modifications. Some of the inventory may be sold off, due to Speed’s extremely high racing standards. “He’s analyzing all the cars we have,” said Pardus. “He’s making changes on some of them. He did some major changes on one of superspeedway cars.” Speed has booked Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway for a test April 13-14. Midwest Transit Racing plans to compete in the Diehard 500 at Talladega on April 25. Pardus likes the 2.66-mile track. He finished third in an ARCA race at Talladega last fall(Midwest Transit PR)(4-8-1999)

(4-7-1999)
Who is Carl Long? UPDATE 4: on NOL’s Bristol Cup race entry list, there is a Carl Long listed in the #85 Mansion Motorsports Ford, all I know is that he ran a few truck races in 1998, and made four Slim Jim series starts in 1998, otherwise no info — UPDATE 1: I hear Long drove in the Late Model series at Orange County Speedway near Durham, NC during the past few years. He was sponsored by Romeo Guest Construction and then later by a snack company — UPDATE 2: more info on Carl Long – he from/born in Roxboro NC, and ran Late Model stocks at Orange County Speedway, as well as South Boston. Last year when he wasn’t racing in the Slim Jim or Truck series, he ran in the late model sportsman division at Southern National Speedway in Kenly NC. In 1997 Long ran the full Slim Jim Allpro Series sponsored by Austin Snacks and won the Bristol Race(thanks many readers)(4-6-1999) — UPDATE 4: From the driver himself, let’s find out about Carl Long: “Started racing VW Beetles in 1983 at Sobo and Orange County Speedway. The rest of your info(see above) is accurate. At the end of 1997 politics took my sponsorship. I sold off my part of the All-Pro Team and went job searching. I went to work with Thee Dixon owner of Mansion Motorsports in Durham, NC(this is the #85 Ford). I took Dixon’s truck to four CTS events in 1998 and ran a T-bird at both Charlotte ARCA events. Randy McDonald made attempts at two tracks in Cup. I was to attempt Bristol in August 1998 but NASCAR declined my entry, so Ken Bouchard drove. So far in 1999, I have raced at Daytona and Atlanta in ARCA. NASCAR has approved my entry for this years Bristol race. The car is an older piece with a Ford Taurus body, the engine is an old Stavola Bros that Harold Eatmon has squeezed all he can get out of it. So why even go to Bristol I am asked? To be seen, I have sent resume’s, proposals and whatever to sponsors and owners. If I can qualify for this race maybe someone will take notice and I will have the opportunity to tour again. I am 31, married with one kid and one on the way. I drive the rig(tractor trailer), manage the team(two paid employees and some volunteers), make my own calls on the setup, attempt to do the PR. Thee Dixon is one of the few black owners in NASCAR. Mike Skinner has driven for him in the past”(4-7-1999)
Barrett full BGN: Stanton Barrett, part time Cup driver, has signed to drive the #40 ChannelLock Chevy in the BGN series. He will also drive the #90 Donlavey Ford in the Cup race at Bristol(The Williams Co)(4-7-1999)
Petty Press Conference UPDATE 2: A press conference for Petty Enterprises is scheduled at the Level Cross, N.C., shops at 10:30am, Wednesday, April 7, 1999(The Williams Co), no idea what it’s about, special paint schemes??(3-30-1999) — UPDATE 1: Petty will open the revamped shop in Level Cross, NC next Wednesday. Petty Enterprises is expected to announce the game plan for their 50th Anniversary celebration and debut the coordinating paint schemes Kyle Petty, John Andretti’s Cup cars, Adam Petty’s BGN car and Jimmy Hensley’s truck when they race at Indy in August(iRACE/SpeedVison/Sparky Plug)(3-31-1999) — UPDATE 2: Petty Enterprises opened its newly expanded race shop to the public for the first time during a press conference in Level Cross, N.C., today. Announcements regarding plans for Petty’s 50th anniversary celebration were also revealed. The 20,000 square foot addition to the existing race shop is the largest expansion in Petty Racing history. The addition includes new engine assembly rooms, offices and a spacious work area for the preparation of the Winston Cup race cars driven by John Andretti and Kyle Petty. Petty Racing was founded as Lee Petty Engineering in 1949. Petty Racing has totaled 268 wins and 10 championships in NASCAR’s premier series. The expanded engine room and race shop are but one facet of Petty Racing’s investment in its future. Also underway are major purchases of equipment -particularly high-tech engine and research and development software and hardware. As important is the investment in key personnel to take Petty Racing back to the pinnacle of the sport. A special paint scheme for all of the Petty Racing vehicles to be run in Indianapolis on August 5-7, 1999, will be unveiled at a May 27th press conference at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. In further celebration of the 50th anniversary, Petty Racing is planning a September event to honor all of the 41 former drivers of Petty Racing cars. Additional details regarding the event will be revealed in the next few months. Many of the key personnel at Petty Racing were present at Wednesday’s press conference, including Lee, Richard, Kyle, Adam and Maurice Petty. Team manager Robbie Loomis appeared, as well as drivers John Andretti and Jimmy Hensley, and crew chief Doug Hewitt. Former team manager Dale Inman also played an important role. The event was emceed by ESPN’s Bill Weber and longtime local sportscaster Charlie Harville also spoke at the announcement(The Williams Co) Also more info and images can be seen at the Petty Racing site(4-7-1999)
UPDATE 4 on Spencer: I hear Jimmy Spencer has multiple bruises, extreme soreness, some swelling, and a possible broken hand or wrist(3-30-1999) — UPDATE 2: Spencer has a slight concussion and is very sore, says the hit at Texas was the hardest he ever took. So far no broken bones, but Spencer will go for x-rays on Wednesday. Steve Grissom will test the #23 Winston Ford at Bristol on Thursday and at Talladega next week, Grissom will also drive Spencers #12 Zippo Chevy in the BGN race at Bristol(WC Today Radio), The JournalNow/PitNow says Darrell Waltrip will handle the tests — UPDATE 3: Jimmy Spencer was to test the #23 Ford at Bristol Wednesday and Thursday while Darrell Waltrip tested the #66 Ford at Martinsville. But with Spencer banged up, team owner Travis Carter decided to send DW and the #66 Bristol instead. Also DW and the #66 then plan to test at Talladega next Tuesday and Wednesday(in the Ford test) The #23 team DID not test at Bristol(3-31-1999) — finally UPDATE 4: The initial worry was that Spencer had broken his wrists, but all x-rays were negative and Spencer hopes to go the distance at Bristol. He pulled some muscles underneath his rib cage and shoulder(PitNow)(4-7-1999)
Lepage steps back: from his BGN ride, for the next three weeks anyhow. Lepage will take the next three BGN events off from the #99 Redman chevy ride to concentrate on his Cup ride. Matt Hutter will driver the next few BGN races for the team(NASCAR Today Radio)(4-7-1999)

(4-6-1999)
#94 Assoc Sponsor trouble? UPDATE 1: Service Merchandise is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It is not known how it will affect sponsorship of the #94 McDonald’s Ford team of Bill Elliott(NSSN)(3-27-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear the #94 McDonalds showcars have been told to remove the Service Merchandise decals from the cars(4-6-1999)
Rudd/Wind Tunnel: from the Snowballs section of this weeks Speedway Scene(Apr 2) it mentions that Ricky Rudd took three #10 Tide Fords to the wind tunnel and found that the cars were not very aerodynamic(as a brick the article says) and that they need new noses on the cars among other changes(4-6-1999)
Irvan #300 CORRECTION: Whoops! got ahead of myself when I wrote this, Ernie Irvan will make his 300th career Winston Cup start at Martinsville on the 18th not this week at Bristol as I said earlier(4-6-1999)
Blaney to Cup: As reported here for the past few months, Bill Davis also plans to go to two teams in 2000. Dave Blaney is scheduled to follow the same timetable as Tony Stewart and move into a second Davis Pontiac(#93) on the Winston Cup circuit next season. Amoco, Blaney’s sponsor on the Busch circuit this season, has not decided if they will follow Blaney to Winston Cup in 2000. Blaney will attempt to qualify for five Winston Cup races in 1999(Inside Motorsports), see the planned schedule for races on the #93 Past News Team Page(4-6-1999)
Chubby Checker? UPDATE 1: A few readers and I have seen on at least one collectible site that in June there will be a release of a #66 Chubby Checker Ford diecast, not sure if this will be run as a special paint scheme or where(4-5-1999) — UPDATE 1: sources tell me that this is just a diecast deal and even that may not happen(4-6-1999)
Spencer at Bristol: Jimmy Spencer, still feeling the effects of his Texas crash, will have Steve Grissom standing by on Sunday as a relief driver in case he does not feel up to being in the car. Grissom will also practice the #23 Winston Ford at Talladega on Tuesday and run Spencers #12 BGN car(WC Today Radio)(4-6-1999)
CORRECTION: a few weeks ago, a reader asked me why Matt Kenseth didn’t replace Bobby Labonte at Darlington during the Red Flag instead of wasting time during a Yellow Flag. I responded with the same answer as Benny Parsons had said on RPM2Nite the following Monday. That during a red flag stop, all work stops during a red flag and that includes replacing a driver. But last night on RPM2Nite(4/5), Benny said that he was approached by a NASCAR official at the Evergreen Speedway while out there for the CTS race and was told, a team could switch drivers, but would have to go to the back of the field(4-6-1999)
DJ Paint UPDATE 2: During Dale Jarrett’s NASCAR Online chat, he was asked about any special paint schemes for the #88 this season. He mentioned that that they are discussing some possibilities with Action Performance, which brought the Batman car to the team and that they will have at least one special paint scheme in 1999(NOL Chat)(3-9-1999) — UPDATE 2: hearing the paint scheme will be an “armed forces” scheme at the Coca Cola 600(not sure what that means), supposedly an announcement is coming soon(4-5-1999) — UPDATE 2: I hear some Ford dealers have received promotional posters of the #88 Ford with the regular paint scheme and four military themed photos. The posters say: “Go for Glory” – a Memorial Day Salute, win a trip to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600! Ford Credit – Ask a Salesperson for Details(4-6-1999)
Dyno Back: Look for NASCAR to pull out the infamous chassis dyno at an upcoming race, possibly the Die Hard 500 in Talladega. Seems they would still like some more info on how much power is being transferred to the track by some of the more successful teams(Inside Motorsports)(4-6-1999)
Diecast News? UPDATE 1: Hearing from some readers that as of June 1, 1999, diecast cars will no longer be made with Tobacco advertising or paint schemes. Tobacco diecast cars have been produced from sometime in 1994(3-4-1999) — I now hear the diecast cars will still be produced, but no longer available mail order and that due to recent tobacco industry changes these tobacco sponsored products will only be available trackside after June 1999(thanks Matt)(4-6-1999)

(4-5-1999)
Trickle/#91: Dick Trickle will again drive the #91 LJ Racing Chevy at Bristol Motor Speedway. He will also be carrying Textilease as the primary sponsor(LJ Racing site)(4-5-1999)
Wallace/#25/BGN: Kenny Wallace has signed on with the #25 DuraLube BGN team for the rest of the 1999 season. He will attempt all but four Cup conflicting races(www.kennywallaceracing.com)(4-5-1999)

(4-4-1999)

Benson Associate UPDATE 1: Richfood, Inc., will announce Thursday that it is co-sponsoring Johnny Benson’s #26 Cheerios Ford in the Exide 400 at Richmond International Raceway in September(Times-Dispatch)(3-30-1999) — UPDATE 1: Richfood Holdings will appear on the trunk deck of Johnny Benson’s (#26) Ford Taurus during the Sept. 11 Exide Batteries 400 at Richmond. The sponsorship, in conjunction with Truckers Renew A Commitment to Safety, was announced Thursday at the company’s distribution center(Times-Dispatch)(4-4-1999)

(4-3-1999)
Kenseth Cup Dates UPDATE 1: I hear the dates/races for Matt Kenseth to make his five race Winston Cup run in 1999 are: The 2nd races at – Michigan, Dover, Charlotte, Rockingham, and Atlanta. This will be in a Roush car under the Mark Martin Racing banner(The LTN Hour)(3-31-1999) — UPDATE 1: Matt Kenseth will debut a Mark Martin Racing Ford Taurus August 22 in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan. The ride will be a first for the new Martin team with Kenseth, Martin’s protégé, at the wheel. The drive represents a new direction for Martin as a car owner. The team will run chassis and engines provided by Jack Roush, home of Martin’s Winston Cup effort. Kenseth is expected to run the Martin Racing Ford in five Winston Cup events this season. In addition to the Michigan bow, Kenseth will strap up at Dover (September 26), Charlotte (October 10), Rockingham (October 24) and Atlanta (November 21). The team will use the five runs to prepare for the 2000 NASCAR season when it will run the entire Winston Cup schedule(TNN)(4-3-1999)
TylerJet Truck? UPDATE 1: Hearing that Tyler Jet Motorsports will run a “Lucky Dog” 10-10-345 Truck at Martinsville in addition to the #45 Cup car. No word on a driver, but my guess would be Rich Bickle, their Cup driver(4-1-1999) — UPDATE 1: Rich Bickle’s Ford Truck is painted purple to match his 10-10-345 sponsored Cup #45 Pontiac. Bickle/Smith Motorsports, a partnership between Bickle and Florida businessman Ed Smith, will field the Truck. The team is housed in a new 20,000 square foot shop in Mooresville, NC. The Truck will carry the number 45. The racer is the same one Bickle, who has 52 career NCTS starts, drove to a fifth place finish at Martinsville last year. One of Bickle’s three Truck Series career wins came at Martinsville in 1997. Bickle hopes to run the #45 Truck in three NCTS events this season, the other two at Memphis, TN, and Richmond, VA(TNN)(4-3-1999)

(4-2-1999)
Elliott Changes: Bill Elliott Racing announced the following organizational changes: Citing personal reasons Joe Garone has resigned as crew chief. Jerry Pitts, who served as advisor to the crew chief, has been named interim crew chief, overseeing the #94 McDoanld’s Drive-Thru Ford. Team engine builder Ernie Elliott will have additional responsibilities in his new role as race track performance supervisor. Pitts joined Bill Elliott Racing in 1998 as crew chief of the #13 Ford Taurus. Before entering the NASCAR Winston Cup series in 1995 for Bahari Racing, Pitts served as crew chief in the Craftsman Truck and Southwest Tour series. He is a native of Bakersfield, Calif. Ernie Elliott has long been regarded as one of the premier engine builders and has provided the power for his brother’s race cars for all but three seasons (1992-94) in Bill’s 24-year career. Ernie also served as his brother’s crew chief for 13 seasons (1976-86 and 1988-89). During Ernie’s tenure as crew chief, Bill won 26 races and the 1988 Winston Cup series championship. Ernie resides in Dawsonville, Ga. Garone, was named crew chief on Elliott’s car following the 1997 season(McDonald’s Team PR)(4-2-1999)
Earnhardt Paint UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt was supposed to run a “Taz” paint scheme for the Winston Select… That Car has been canceled……Due to the postponement of the introduction of the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo..(The “Taz” Devil is a licensed trademark of Chevrolet) apparently Chevrolet had a big promotion planned with the “Taz” Devil & the New 2000 Monte Carlo …. A new paint scheme will be announced on 4/11/99(StockCarFans Newsletter) — UPDATE: I hear it will be a Wrangler Paint Scheme(4-2-1999)
New Mark Martin Site: Race fans and truckers alike now have a new web site to add to their bookmark list: Mark Martin’s J-Mar Express website. The site features up-to-date news about the racing career of NASCAR star Mark Martin, as well as information about Mark Martin’s J-Mar Express, the Arkansas-based trucking company headed by Martin(PR)(4-2-1999)
Bickle Test UPDATE: Inclement weather has delayed Tyler Jet Motorsports’ scheduled two-day test session at Greenville-Pickens Speedway(SC). The team had planned to test the 10-10-345 Pontiac at the 1/2 mile track on both Wednesday, March 31 and Thursday, April 1. Rich Bickle, driver of the 10-10-345 Pontiac, and the team will make another attempt to test tomorrow. Following the Greenville-Pickens test, the team will head to Southern National Speedway (Kenly, NC) for a Monday, April 5 test session.(Tyler Jet PR)(3-31-1999) — UPDATE: I hear the team is there bright and early today to test(4-2-1999)

(4-1-1999)
Martinsville Testing: was postponed Thursday as it rained. #21-Sadler; #43-Andretti; #30-Cope; #00-Jones; #60-G Bodine were scheduled to test. Cope, Andretti and Bodine plan testing on Friday(WC Today Radio), see some notes at Martinsville Speedway – Testing Notes(4-1-1999)
Bristol Testing: Darrell Waltrip and Wally Dallenbach tested at Brsitol today, no speeds(WC Today Radio)(4-1-1999)
Pardus Test: Dan Pardus and the #50 Midwest Transit Chevy team will be testing at Greenville Pickens(SC) Speedway on April 1(3-31-1999) — Pardus had to cancel the test due to rain(4-1-1999)
Martinsville Testing Speeds: from Wednesday – #21-Sadler 93.327mph; #43-Andretti 93.052mph; #28-Irwin 93.281; #30-Cope 92.146; #00-Jones-92.146; #60-Geoffrey Bodine 91.522 (RPM2Nite)(4-1-1999)