Blaney in the #20 at Calif: With a series of bad luck, the #20 AT&T Pontiac Busch Series team voted for experience as Winston Cup Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Dave Blaney qualified their machine 28th today. Regular driver Mike Borkowski and Blaney switched in and out to eventually get the car competitive. In the end, Blaney’s familiarity with the car left the team no other choice but to ask him to qualify for tomorrow’s Auto Club 300. “It was important that we got his opinion,” stated Borkowski. “He is more familiar with these cars than I am right now, and we wanted to make sure that we qualified and had a strong finish for AT&T. I think it was the best decision we could have made at the time. Dave was used to the car after this morning, and it just made more sense to keep him in the driver’s seat.” “The decision to use Blaney was not a reflection on Mike’s performance,” stated team manager Chuck Spicer. “We just needed to boost our position in the owner’s points, and weren’t able to test here in 2000. That is the advantage of having an organization like Bill Davis Racing. Everyone is willing to help each other out. Mike will race for us next weekend in Richmond. Anyone will tell you that going to new tracks with limited seat time can be tough for a rookie. Mike and Bill Davis decided this was best for the team and for our sponsor.”(Bill Davis Racing PR)(4-29-2000)
Jarrett Crew Chief: Wes Ward, crew chief for the Rayovac Maximum Racing team, will not be making the trip for Saturday’s running of the Auto Club 300 at California Speedway. Ward’s shop chief, Ricky Bowman, will take up the on-track role for driver Jason Jarrett, who is running his first full season of Busch Series competition. It’s not the first time Bowman’s been atop the box for Jarrett. Bowman was at the helm for a pair of partial Busch seasons for Dale Jarrett in 1997 and ’98, the latter including 10 Busch starts for the 24-year old racer. Ward, 37, has battled Sleep Apnea for a number of years, and underwent surgery to cure the problem last week, missing the team’s two-day testing session in Richmond. Ward, Bowman and Jarrett share in the decision-making process for the #11 team, and made the call Monday night for Ward to stay in Hickory(Mach One Marketing)(4-29-2000)
Gilchrist at California: was wondering what was up with Derrick Gilchrist and the Andy Petree Racing team. Looks like he is running a 2nd Petree team car, the #51 Hot Tamales Chevrolet(NOL Entry List)(4-27-2000)
Guerrero/HRT News UPDATE 3 no go at Calif: on Sunday, TNN’s Raceday reported that former CART/IRL driver Roberto Guerrero, would drive in ten races in the BGN series for the HRT Motorsports team. The HRT stands for Hispanic Racing Team. They used #41 in 1999 when they attempted Homestead. Larry Hedrick. owner of the #41 CUP team helped out. More news from an AP story at SpeedNet: Roberto and his 28-year-old brother, Jaime, will share a ride this season in the Busch Series. Roberto will drive in 11 events, beginning with Texas. Jaime will drive in five events in 2000 and race for Busch Series rookie of the year in 2001. The brothers will be driving a Chevrolet fielded by the new Hispanic Racing Team. It was formed by Rudy Rodriguez and Mike Vazquez, first generation Cuban-Americans(3-16-2000) UPDATE: See full SpeedVision story at: HRT Looks To Spread NASCAR Gospel. ALSO, heard the Roberto Guerrero was testing at Charlotte today and wrecked the car. Plan were for the team to run next week at California, but early reports have him with a hairline fracture of the scapula and two fractured ribs(4-20-2000) UPDATE and PR: HRT (Hispanic Race Team) Motorsports experienced a slight set back yesterday during a testing session at Lowes Motor Speedway. After twenty-five very impressive laps, HRT driver Roberto Guerrero was involved in minor accident after having a mechanical problem with the throttle approaching turn three. Guerrero, a former IRL open wheeled standout, was then forced in use the brake, sending the right front quarter-panel of #72 car into the wall. Guerrero was taken to a local Charlotte hospital for observation, where it was determined that he suffered a hair line fractured to two ribs and his right scapula. It’s not probable that Guerrero can return for Fontana next week, which was scheduled to be the first race of the 2000 schedule for HRT Motorsports. ” This is only a little bump in the road. We are just lucky that Roberto was able to walk away from the accident. Many great drivers have similar incidents in turn three at Lowes,” said Rudy Rodriguez, co-owner of HRT. HRT’s number two driver is Roberto’s younger brother, South American road course legend, Jaime Guerrero. NASCAR has not yet cleared Jaime to drive on super speedways such as next weeks track at Fontana, so HRT is discussing the possibility of bringing in a another driver for next weeks race if Roberto is unable to get behind the wheel. “We have made a commitment to race at Fontana, but we just need to make the best decision possible for HRT. If that means finding another driver to take the seat for next week or re-focus our efforts on another race…we will make a decision in a few days,” said Mike Vazquez co-owner of HRT. HRT will return to Charlotte on May 8 and 9 for additional testing. Roberto is scheduled to get the lions share of the laps in preparation for his NASCAR debut on May 27th at Lowes. Prior to the accident yesterday, Roberto had already reached lap times that would have easily qualified him for last years race at Charlotte. “This is racing and anything can happen, but I am excited to get back behind the wheel soon. Before the crash we were running some really fast times and I was driving conservatively. I feel that if I had gotten the most of the car, we could have ran times that would have us near the pole, based on last years qualifying times.” ” We were tickled with how quick Roberto came up to speed….He was definitely fast enough to be in the show and then some. Unfortunately we had a mechanical problem that set us back a bit, but I am very well pleased with Roberto and HRT. Roberto’s talent level and experience will definitely show through in NASCAR” said Tony Burgess HRT’s crew chief. About HRT: Formed in 1999, HRT is the only Hispanic owned and driven team in NASCAR racing. The team efforts are spearheaded by two Cuban-American cousins, Rudy Rodriguez and Mike Vazquez. HRT’s primary focus is to expose the Latin community to the sport of NASCAR Racing and in turn, introduce the brand loyal Hispanic community to U.S. based corporations through integrated marketing campaigns and sponsorship(HRT PR)(4-21-2000) UPDATE 3: Roberto Guerrero planned to make his Busch Series debut Saturday at the Auto Club 300 at California Speedway. But HRT Motorsports has withdrawn Guerrero’s entry for BGN race at California after he sustained a broken right scapula and two cracked right ribs in a crash during testing a week ago at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. After 21 laps, Guerrero’s throttle stuck as he headed into Turn 3 and he slammed into the wall. Because the driver’s seat wasn’t designed for him, the support that wraps around the right side fit tighter than usual, causing the injury. The two-time runner-up at the Indy 500 plans to return to his Chevrolet when the team begins testing May 9 in preparation for the Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway(Orange County Register)(4-26-2000)
Hooper to the #0: Alumni Motorsports announces that Lance Hooper will drive the teams #0 Chevrolet in the Auto Club “300” this weekend at the California Speedway. Also, the team announces that it will be sponsored by WorldBestBuy.com at the California race(PR)(4-26-2000)
Two Grubb Cars: Brandon Butler, 27, has been selected to drive the second Grubb Motorsports car at Richmond International Raceway. Wayne Grubb drives the primary car, which will be sponsored by SunCom at both of the Busch Grand National races at RIR this season. Butler will attempt to qualify the #52 Graybar-sponsored Chevrolet for the Hardee’s 250 on May 5. Graybar also will sponsor that car at the RIR race in September, and Grubb’s #83 Chevrolet in the Busch race at Bristol, Tenn., in August. Butler currently is signed to drive only in the Hardee’s 250(Grubb Motorsports PR)(4-26-2000)
Missing Child Featured: Joe Nemechek and his Cellular One Racing team will take part in an effort to raise awareness surrounding a missing child in the Las Vegas, Nev. area. The effort will be highlighted by a hood decal on Nemechek’s #87 car that will run in this weekend’s Auto Club 300 Busch Series race at the California Speedway in Fontana, CA(TachZone)(4-25-2000)
#82 News UPDATE 2 on Gilchrist: hearing Glenn Allen Jr will drive the #82 ChannelLock Chevy this weekend in California Speedway as regular driver, Derrick Gilchrist, will possibly be fullfilling part of his commitment to Andy Petree and running the #15 Albertsons Chevy in the BGN race at California UPDATE: Glenn Allen has been selected to drive the #82 Channellock/Team SABCO Chevrolet for the Busch Series event at California Speedway on April 29. Allen, a four-year veteran of the NASCAR Busch Series, has not had a full-time ride for the 2000 season. He was crowned with the 1996 Rookie of the Year honors and holds 17 top-10 and two top-five finishes to his credit. Rookie contender, Dave Steele began the season behind the wheel of the #82 Chevy. Another rookie, Derrick Gilchrist took over driving duties three weeks ago at Nashville and returned at Talladega(SABCO PR)(4-24-2000) UPDATE 2 on the #15 and Gilchrest: looks like Derrick Gilchrist will not run at California as Mike Skinner will make his #15 Albertson’s Chevy debut there instead. Skinner will also race the #15 at Lowes in both BGN races, Dover in both BGN races and Phoenix(IMG Motorsports PR)(4-25-2000)
#8 Crew Chief: Bobby Hillin Racing has made a crew chief switch. Nick Short has left the team and Car Chief Dave Paronto, shop foreman Mike Cappuccetti and consutltant Lake Speed will handle the crew chief duties by committee(Winston Cup Scene)(4-21-2000)
RIR Testing UPDATE 3: Testing at RIR – Richmond International Raceway was rained out today. BGN teams were there to test: #24-David Green(yes, helping out), #18-Jason Leffler, #21-Mike Dillon, #2-Kevin Harvick, #45-Adam Petty and #98-Elton Sawyer(4-18-2000) UPDATE: teams tested Wednesday at RIR including cars #’s 98, 21, 2, 18, 45, 20, 24, 82, 19, 44, 11, 63, 50, 74, 83, 92, 33 and a 2nd #18 team(Markham). The #50 Dr Pepper and #63 Superflo cars crashed. #50 driver Tony Roper was taken by ambulance to local hospital. No word on his condition or injuries. Testing continues on Thursday, is open to the public, and there is no charge for admission(4-20-2000) UPDATE 2: Roper was taken to the hospital for observation, but it was nothing serious and he was released last night and has returned home(Tony Roper Site) UPDATE 3: The second #18 car was driven by Curtis Markham. It should be #29 for the Richmond race and will be sponsored by Hot Rod Magazine. Plans are to run St. Louis and Homestead also(4-20-2000)
Jones to Chevy? UPDATE 2: Claiming that Pontiac teams face too much of an unfair disadvantage, #00-Buckshot Jones said he will switch to Chevrolet if NASCAR officials don’t remedy the situation soon(GoUpstate)(3-19-2000) UPDATE: Buckshot Jones’ Busch Grand National team will shift from Pontiacs to Chevrolets as soon as it can get the new sheet metal hung on the chassis the team already has(Gaston Gazette)(3-26-2000) UPDATE 2: Buckshot Racing is testing a new Chevrolet Monte Carlo at California Speedway today and tomorrow(Tues and Wed Apr 18-19th). In addition to the Monte Carlo, the team will also be taking a brand new Grand Prix with them to test as well. The team currently competes with a Pontiac Grand Prix in the BGN. “We want to practice both cars equally, measure the differences and make notes,” explained crew chief Sandy Jones. “More than likely we will bring the Monte Carlo back to race at California in two weeks. We’ve been getting beat pretty bad by the Chevy’s, so why not join them. The Grand Prix just doesn’t have the downforce that the Monte Carlo does.” Of the eight competing Pontiacs in the Busch Series, the highest ranking Pontiac is 14th in points, while Chevrolets make up 16 of the top-20 in points. If all goes according to plan, the team will compete with the Grand Prix after California until a couple more Monte Carlos can be built before making the switch. A potential change such as this takes a lot of time and effort from a team. Rarely does a manufacturer change take place during the season because of the burden placed on the shoulders of the crew members building the cars. Jones has never competed with a Chevrolet in the Busch Series although, he did run a Chevrolet in the Winston Cup Series in 1998 when he drove on a limited basis for the Stavola Brothers(Buckshot Racing PR)(4-18-2000)
Nemechek Illegal? UPDATE 2: hearing rumors that the #87 Joe Nemechek Cellular One Chevy that won the Talladega race may have been found to have some illegalities. No idea on any penalties, but NASCAR rarely takes a win away but fines the team and takes away points from the owner and driver. Case in point: Mike Skinner at Atlanta in March 1999 and Greg Biffle last year in the CTS where the team was fined and points deducted, costing Biffle the championship, but he kept the win UPDATE: NASCAR inspectors discovered some “irregularities” late Saturday during a post-race inspection of Nemechek’s #87 Chevy that won Saturday’s Touchstone Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. Kevin Triplett, NASCAR’s director of operations, said Sunday that Nemechek’s team is likely to face some sort of financial penalty, but the driver would not have his win stripped away. Triplett said NASCAR would issue a decision either clearing Nemechek or assessing a penalty by late Monday or early Tuesday.(That’s Racin’)(4-16-2000) UPDATE 2: Nemechek’s BGN crew chief, Brian Pattie, was fined $20,000 for the car having quarter panels that did not meet specifications(RPM2Nite/That’s Racin’)(4-17-2000)
#200: Mike McLaughlin and Randy LaJoie will make their 200th career NASCAR Busch Series starts at Talladega(4-14-2000)
Team Marines Honor at Talladega: Hank Parker Jr.’s BGN entry at Talladega will honor the 19 Marines who lost their lives during a nighttime training mission Saturday at Marana Regional Airport, about 30 miles northwest of Tucson, AZ. Parker drives the #53 Rick Rathbun’s Team Marines Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series. Rathbun, a former Marine, wanted to “give something back to the Corps,” and initiated Rick Rathbun’s Team Marines Racing last year. RRTMR began sponsoring Hank Parker Jr.’s NASCAR Busch Series team late in the 1999 season, and the driver, race team and show cars have been tapped by the United States Marine Corps to bolster its recruiting efforts. “There is no such thing as an ex-Marine,” Rathbun added. “Once you become a Marine, you are a Marine for the rest of your life. Each and every Marine, no matter where you are, is your brother. I feel as though I lost – and our whole team lost – 19 brothers Saturday night in that tragedy. Our Talladega car will honor those Marines who lost their lives in that accident and will carry each of their names. In this gesture, we will extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and fellow Marines.” The Marine Corps aircraft – an MV-22 tilt-rotor Osprey — was attempting to land during a nighttime training mission and crashed, killing all 19 aboard. The four crewmembers who perished in the crash were from a task force headquartered in Quantico, VA. They are:
Maj. John A. Brow, 39, pilot, Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, California, MD
Maj. Brooks S. Gruber, 34, pilot, Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, Jacksonville, NC
Cpl. Kelly S. Keith, 22, aircraft crew chief, Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, Florence, SC
Staff Sgt. William B. Nelson, 30, aerial observer/mechanic, Marine Tilt-Rotor Training Squadron 204, Richmond, VA
The following passengers were from Camp Pendleton, Calif. — 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division:
Sgt. Jose Alvarez, 28, machine gunner, Uvalde, TX
Pfc. Gabriel C. Clevenger, 21, machine gunner, San Antonio, TX
Pfc. Alfred Corona, 23, machine gunner, San Antonio, TX
Lance Cpl. Jason T. Duke, 28, machine gunner, Sacramento, CA
Lance Cpl. Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez, 27, assaultman, San Diego, CA
Lance Cpl. Seth G. Jones, 18, assaultman, Bend, OR
2nd Lt. Clayton J. Kennedy, 24, platoon commander, Clifton Bosque, TX
Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Morin, 21, assaultman, McAllen, TX
Cpl. Adam C. Neely, 22, rifleman, Winthrop, WA
Pfc. Kenneth O. Paddio, 23, rifleman, Houston, TX
Pfc. George P. Santos, 24, rifleman, Long Beach, CA
Pfc. Keoki P. Santos, 24, rifleman, Grand Ronde, OR
Cpl. Can Soler, 21, rifleman, Palm City, FL
Pvt. Adam L. Tatro, 19, Brownwood, TX
From Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.:
Cpl. Eric J. Martinez, 21, field radio operator, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, Flagstaff, AZ(Team Marines PR)(4-11-2000)
Waltrip and Christopher: Michael Waltrip mentioned on Speedworld’s Inside NASCAR Winston Cup that his BGN team would run Ted Christopher in a few races this year with LesCare Kitchens as the sponsor(4-11-2000)
#36 Crew Chief: Cicci-Welliver Racing announced they have named Billy Nacewicz crew chief for driver Tim Fedewa and the #36 Stanley Racing team. Nacewicz, 50, will make his debut with the team at Talladega. Nacewicz, a New York native, has had an extensive and successful 26-year career in racing. He served as crew chief for Richie Evans, the well-known modified driver, during his run of eight national championships before moving south to work in the NASCAR Busch Series. Nacewicz was also the car chief for Randy LaJoie’s #74 team at Bace Motorsports that won the 1996 and 1997 BGN drivers championships(IMG Motorsports). Nacewicz was the crew chief for PJ Jones until the #74 BACE team closed up(4-10-2000)
Skinner and Petree: Andy Petree Racing announced that Cup regular Mike Skinner will take over driving duties of the #15 Albertson’s Chevy in the BGN beginning with California on April 29. Following his debut with the team at California, Skinner will race at both Lowe’s Motor Speedway events, both Dover events Phoenix on November 4. Derrick Gilchrist will drive the #15 Albertson’s Chevy at The Milwaukee Mile on July 2 while Skinner fulfills his Winston Cup duties in Daytona(IMG Motorsports PR) Jack Sprague will no longer drive the car(4-9-2000)
Lewis Scheme: Ashton Lewis Jr. and the #46 Lewis Motorsports team will run a special paint scheme at the BellSouth Mobility 320 at Nashville. The team will be honoring late country comedian Jerry Clower with a special paint scheme. The car will carry images of opossums, raccoons, coon dogs and frogs, which were the center of many of Clower’s light-hearted stories of country living. See the scheme on the BGN Paint Schemes page(Keystone Marketing)(4-7-2000), Lewis failed to qualify for the race(4-8-2000)
Steele Out? UPDATE 2: Hearing #82 ChannelLock/SABCO driver may be replaced. A spokesman for the team confirmed that an announcement is due soon, possibly within the next day or so, about Steeles future with Team SABCO. Steele, who was signed by Sabates late last year, has qualified for just two of seven Busch Series races this season, finishing 23rd at Daytona and 34th at North Carolina Speedway(goracing)(4-5-2000) UPDATE: Derrick Gilchrist has been named interim driver of the #82 Channellock/Team SABCO Chevy beginning with the BellSouth Mobility 320 Presented by Ericsson at Nashville. Open wheel stand-out and Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender, Dave Steele began the season behind the wheel of the #82 Chevy. Steele qualified the car solidly into the first two events before experiencing problems in the following three. After stepping in to qualify the Channellock Chevrolet in the Cheez-Its 250, Sterling Marlin drove to victory lane at Bristol. Steele returned to driving duties the next weekend at the Texas, however, after turning in competitive practice times he crashed during his qualifying run. Winston Cup regular Jeff Fuller stepped in to qualify the car during second-round, but was not quick enough to make the field. “We got together after Texas to decide what direction we were going to go,” said Armando Fitz, VP of Operations for Team SABCO. “It was a mutual decision between all parties that Dave just wasn’t ready to run a full Busch schedule. It was at that time we began the search for a replacement driver and Derrick was atop our list.” Gilchrist began his stock car career in the NASCAR Slim Jim All-Pro Series in 1996 where he finished eighth overall in points. The following season, he was named Most Improved Driver finishing seventh overall. In 1998, the Asheville, N.C.-resident earned the runner-up spot with three poles, three victories, 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes – more than any other driver in the series. Last year, the 23-year old ventured into the ASA claiming three wins in his rookie campaign. Gilchrist captured the pole position and came home second in last year’s season finale ARCA event at the Atlanta, his first-ever start in the series. “When the offer came to drive the Channellock Chevy, I couldn’t pass it up,” said Gilchrist. “SABCO has put together a competitive team…and that was obvious in Bristol. It’s now my job to duplicate what Sterling did and get the Channellock Chevy to Victory Lane.”(SABCO PR) no word on his status with the #15 Andy Petree team(4-5-2000) UPDATE 2: Derrick Gilchrist is still under contract with Andy Petree Racing. Andy Petree has “loaned” Gilchrist to SABCO to drive the Channellock car for a limited number of races. Gilchrist will be driving an Andy Petree Racing NASCAR Busch Series entry on behalf of Hot Tamales and Albertson’s for 10 more races this season. Also hearing Mike Skinner will driver up to six races for Petree(4-6-2000)
#19 News: Emerald Performance Group(EPG) has named BGN ROTY contender, P.J. Jones, as driver of the #19 Chevy for the remainder of the 2000 season. Jones was released from his contractual obligations with the #74 BACE Motorsports team on Wednesday of this week. Jones will join EPG effective immediately, driving the #19 Yellow/Kobalt Mechanics Tools/Pameco Chevy this weekend at Nashville. Jones has raced in all seven events in the 2000 season, highlighted by a 13th-place start at Darlington and a 24th-place finish at Atlanta. At age 30, Jones’ racing résumé is quite full. He has six NASCAR Winston Cup races already under his belt, driving for Melling Racing in 1993. Early that same year, he captured a win in the GT3 class at the Rolex 24 of Daytona. Jones recorded an impressive run in the NASCAR Truck Series in 1995, finishing 17th in overall point standings while competing in only 13 of the series’ 20 events. Before returning to NASCAR this season, Jones raced in the CART Fed Ex Championship Series from 1996-’99, with his best finish (2nd) at Nazareth Speedway, a stop on this year’s NASCAR Busch Series schedule. Jamie Skinner will continue to be involved with the #19 Busch team. Skinner’s driving duties have been revised to include four races this season: 9/8 Richmond, 10/29 Memphis, and twp other races yet to be determined(Grandstand Communications). Mike Skinner is no longer part of the team and will not drive the car(WC Scene)(4-6-2000)
Grubb Sits out a few: Grubb Motorsports announced plans to withdraw from the nextthree Busch series events. The team will not travel to Nashville, Talladega, or California in an attempt to regroup their efforts and come back at Richmond with a stronger, more focused team. This in no way has to do with the performance of the team so far in 2000, team manager, Franklin Butler asserted. “We’ve had a decent season, but we’re 37th in points and I think the whole team feels that if we can sit out a few races and really focus on building cars and getting caught up, then we’ll have a lot better results come summer time.” Crew chief Bobby King said that the team would use the time off to do some additional, extensive testing. “We’re going to test at Richmond for sure. We’ll probably also test at Charlotte to make sure our speedway car is competitive down there.” Wayne Grubb will use some of his time off to attend a road coarse driving school in Phoenix. “You know, of course I hate not going to races, but in the long run, I think it’s the best thing for the team. We’ve been running in the top 25 this season, which is good. But none of us are really satisfied with that. We want to run in the top 15 or the top ten. And taking this time off to refocus, I think will allow us to do that. “Before any rumors get started, I wanted to make sure that everyone knows that Grubb Motorsports is not shutting down, we’re not giving up,” Bill Grubb said. Wayne Grubb and Grubb Motorsports will return to Busch racing on May 5th, at the Richmond International Raceway, the team’s hometown(Grubb PR)(4-5-2000)
Wind Tunnel for the BGN UPDATE: NASCAR will take three cars from Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 BGN race to the wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga., for testing this week. The cars impounded belong to race winner #60-Mark Martin, #61-Hut Stricklin and #87-Joe Nemechek(That’s Racin’)(3-13-2000) UPDATE: hear the BGN wind tunnel tests was that the the Roush Fords were 20 percent better than others(4-5-2000)
#30 News UPDATE: hearing Phil Morris, who drove the #01 car in a few BGN events in 1999 will drive ten BGN races in the #30 Little Tree’s Chevy. Morris will drive on the smaller trackers while Chad Little will handle the superspeedway tracks. He’ll debut at Nashville this weekend and is testing with the team this week(4-3-2000) UPDATE: For more info and the new look of the site, see the Phil Morris Site(4-5-2000)
Marlin Debut: Steadman Marlin will attempt to make his BGN debut at the BellSouth Mobility 320 Presented by Ericsson at Nashville in the #42 BellSouth Mobility/Ericsson Chevy. Steadman is the son of Winston Cup driver Sterling Marlin and grandson of Grand National legend “Coo Coo” Marlin, the Columbia, TN-native. Steadman’s quest to follow in his family’s footsteps began early in life. He began working on cars at his father’s race shop in Columbia at the age of 12. His talent was apparent soon thereafter, and he made his racing debut in the Legends division at Nashville Speedway USA in 1996. Steadman’s NASCAR driving premiere came in the July 1997 NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Series race at Nashville Speedway USA in a car owned by his father. Engine failure dashed his chances of a strong finish that day. The high school senior ran his first full season in the 1998 NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Series, again driving for his father. Steadman logged his first top-10 finish the same year. The blond-haired Marlin earned his first pole position in the Late Model Stock Car Series at Nashville Speedway in April 1999. His first victory in the series came the next month, after starting from the outside pole position and leading every lap of the race. That feat made Steadman the first third-generation driver in Nashville’s premier division to win a race — his father and grandfather both hold track championships at Nashville. The younger Marlin claimed three pole positions, two top-five and five top-10 finishes that year(Team SABCO)(4-5-2000)
Amick to Marry: Lyndon Amick will have a hectic weekend, to say the least. After Saturday’s Nashville Busch Series race, Amick will hop on a plane and head to his home state of South Carolina for his wedding rehearsal. Then on Sunday, April 9, Amick will be wed to his girlfriend of nearly three years, Melanie Brown. The couple will exchange vows in front of family and friends at an Inn situated on the banks of Lake Murray . Brown, 22, is also a native of South Carolina, where she presently attends Clemson University. Brown will graduate from the University in May with a degree in Recreational Therapy. The couple plans to live in the Mooresville, NC, area. The newlyweds will have to wait a week before their honeymoon, as Amick still has the Talladega Busch race to compete in before the Easter weekend break for the Busch competitors. The couple will then leave directly from Talladega to go on the retreat(Amick PR)(4-5-2000)
#36 Crew Chief Change: Richard Lassiter and the #36 Cicci-Welver team have parted ways, no new crew chief has been named for Tim Fedawa(4-4-2000)
BACE Engines? hearing that prior to the BGN race at Bristol that Fischer Engineering stopped supplying both of the BACE Motorsports cars (the #33 and #74) their engines. No idea who they are using for engines now(4-4-2000)
BGN TV UPDATE: For the third year in a row, rain delays at Texas Motor Speedway forced CBS into a backup plan for its coverage of the Busch race Saturday. The network showed a condensed version of this year’s February Busch race from Daytona won by Matt Kenseth. Because CBS was under contract to carry the NCAA Final Four from Indianapolis, it was forced to switch from Texas Motor Speedway at 4pm. Plans to carry the race on CBS-owned cable network TNN were also scrapped when the rain delay lasted longer than four hours. “We’re disappointed,” said CBS technical manager Steve Stum. “You don’t like to set all this up for nothing. Anytime you do an outdoor sport, though, you have to have a plan for rain.”(Dallas Morning News) – folks who wish to complain, don’t email me, go to my TV/Media page and contact CBS and or TNN via email, phone, fax or regular mail(sorry postal workers, no insult intended calling it snail mail)(4-2-2000) UPDATE: TNN decided Saturday not to pick up coverage from partner CBS of Saturday’s rain-delayed BGN race at Texas and that decision has provoked considerable controversy in the NASCAR garage, and concern among some Winston Cup team owners, worried about how disinterested this season’s lame-duck broadcasters might really be about covering this sport over the rest of the year, the last year of their contracts. CBS carried the start of the race and, at the rain delay, announced coverage would switch to TNN, its business partner, because of the rain. However, TNN decided not to pick up the race, instead showing cartoons, despite demands and pleas from NASCAR officials, according to sources. TNN and CBS wouldn’t even tape the race for later broadcast(PitNow)(4-3-2000)
Sprague Bolts: Jack Sprague’s decision Saturday to leave Andy Petree’s #15 Busch car parked and not return to the 300 wasn’t setting well in Petree’s truck yesterday. Sprague complained about the car and said that the engine was getting ready to fail so he didn’t want to take it back out. Petree is now looking for a new driver, and it apparently won’t be Ken Schrader for the Talladega race in two weeks. Petree indicated he might ask John Andretti. Petree declined to talk about the Sprague issue except to indicate his displeasure(PitNow)(4-3-2000)
Martin Wins Again: Mark Martin won the BGN Texas race, so far Cup drivers have won all the BGN events, that should change at Nashville next week(4-2-2000)
Burton Skips: Ward Burton did not race in the event as he injured his left foot in a CUP practice on Friday, he will race in the CUP race, just didn’t want to take the chance. Kenny Wallace ran the #22 Siemens Pontiac for Burton(4-1-2000)
Practice Crashes: David Green hit the wall during Busch Series practice and had to bring out a backup car. Rookie Jimmie Johnson spun and hit the wall in the second practice, and Ron Hornaday spun to miss Johnson. Hornaday’s team only has to replace a bent oil pan, but Johnson — who was to start 21st — will have to go to a backup car, too, and the rear of the field(Total Sports)(4-1-2000)
