April 2000 News Archives
(4-30-2000)
- The Winston: #12-Jeremy Mayfield’s win, knocks out #28-Ricky Rudd and #4-Bobby Hamilton from the 2000 The Winston. See my The Winston 2000 page for rules and who is eligible(4-30-2000)
- New Yates Sponsor in 2001? UPDATE 3: Dale Jarrett will apparently have a new sponsor next season on the #88 Robert Yates owned Ford. UPS(United Parcel Service), supposedly a $15 million or $16 million sponsorship deal, sources said. Ford’s Quality Care sponsorship would likely move to a Jack Roush team, according to PitNow sources(PitNow)(4-3-2000)
UPDATE: I hear from a good source that Robert Yates Racing(RYR) is working with Ford to continue it’s relationship/sponsorship with the #88 and are working with UPS on an associate sponsorship on the #28 Texaco Ford(4-4-2000)
UPDATE 2: Rumors recently surfaced that Robert Yates was considering a switch from Ford Credit to UPS as primary sponsor for the Dale Jarrett #88 race team in 2001. The more likely scenario here is that UPS, who has been itching to get into Winston Cup racing with a strong team for about a year, will come on board as an associate sponsor on one or BOTH Yates Racing Fords(Inside Motorsports)(4-9-2000)
UPDATE 3: This weeks Winston Cup Scene Magazine reports that UPS is talking to Yates and Roush Racing about sponsoring a car. #28 and #88 owner Robert Yates confirmed he is talking to UPS but wouldn’t say if it was for an associate or primary deal for one or both cars. Yates deal with Ford Quality Care is done at the end of the 2000 season. Roush Racing said they had informal talks but that was it and that Roush Racing is working on renewals with Valvoline and John Deere for the #6 and #97 teams(4-14-2000)UPDATE 4: #88 owner, Robert Yates also used Saturday’s press conference to address reports that Ford Quality Care may be leaving as the sponsor of Jarrett’s team at the end of the 2000 season. Reports have linked United Parcel Service, which came on as an official NASCAR licensee this season, to Yates’ #88 Fords next season, with Ford Quality Care moving on to back another team, possibly one of Jack Roush’s teams. Yates says they have talked to a few sponsors, including one that has just joined NASCAR as well as talking to Ford to continue with the team and that no deals are done. See the story at goracing: Notebook: Parrott’s Sticking With Jarrett, Yates and a story at SpeedVision
UPDATE 5: in part from the Times-Dispatch – The UPS group is joining Yates, but at what level remains a question. The company is believed to be replacing the credit group on Jarrett’s car with a $16 million-a-year sponsorship(Times-Dispatch)(4-30-2000) - Spencer/Said UPDATE 2: Boris Said says he’ll run five races in a Jimmy Spencer-owned ride – one in the Truck Series (Portland), two in Busch (Vegas and Fontana) and two in Winston Cup (Sears Point and Watkins Glen)(Speed Magazine)(2-5-2000) — UPDATE: Jimmy Spencer has put together a five-race deal with Federated Auto Parts to field a car(Chevy) for Boris Said in a pair of Winston Cup races, a Craftsman Truck road race and two Busch races. Said is set for the two Cup road races at Sears Point and Watkins Glen, plus the Busch races at California and Las Vegas and the Truck race at Portland International Raceway(SpeedVision)(2-8-2000)
UPDATE 2: Jimmy Spencer will play car owner for three Winston Cup races this season, and will have SCCA Trans Am veteran Boris Said behind the wheel. Boris will get behind the wheel of a Ford Taurus for Spencer at both road courses of Sears Point Raceway and Watkins Glen and at Homestead-Miami(Catchfence)(4-30-2000)
(4-29-2000)
UPDATE: Winston Cup Today Radio(RA) interviewed Dale Jarrett, driver of the #88 Quality Care/Ford Credit Ford, and Jarrett says Parrott is not going anywhere and both are happy with Robert Yates Racing(4-19-2000)
UPDATE 2: Robert Yates and the #88 team will hold a Press Conference on Saturday morning to ‘clear up’ the rumors about the #88 team. Some reports have Parrott going to Petty Enterprises, others have him staying with Yates as he is under contract there. Also it could be the UPS sponsorship involvement with the team(see the #88 Team News and Links page for the UPS rumor)(4-27-2000)
UPDATE 3: from the Dale Jarrett Online site: Question: Is Todd Parrott leaving the Robert Yates Team? Answer: No, Todd is not leaving the Yates team. There will be a press conference held on Saturday in California, in which Todd will make the announcement that he has re-signed(renewed) with the Yates team and he has no plans to go anywhere(4-28-2000)
UPDATE 5: Parrott Stays – Todd Parrott will remain with Robert Yates Racing and the #88 Quality Care/Ford Credit Taurus team, after agreeing to a “lifetime contract” with Robert Yates Racing. Driver, Dale Jarrett has formally agreed to a contract with Yates through the 2004 season. See full story at NOL: Parrott announces lifetime deal with Yates(4-29-2000)
UPDATE: Winston Cup Today Radio(RA) interviewed Dale Jarrett, driver of the #88 Quality Care/Ford Credit Ford, and Jarrett says Parrott is not going anywhere and both are happy with Robert Yates Racing(4-19-2000)
UPDATE 2: Robert Yates and the #88 team will hold a Press Conference on Saturday morning to ‘clear up’ the rumors about the #88 team. Some reports have Parrott going to Petty Enterprises, others have him staying with Yates as he is under contract there. Also it could be the UPS sponsorship involvement with the team(see the #88 Team News and Links page for the UPS rumor)(4-27-2000)
UPDATE 3: from the Dale Jarrett Online site: Question: Is Todd Parrott leaving the Robert Yates Team? Answer: No, Todd is not leaving the Yates team. There will be a press conference held on Saturday in California, in which Todd will make the announcement that he has re-signed(renewed) with the Yates team and he has no plans to go anywhere(4-28-2000)
UPDATE 5: Parrott Stays – Todd Parrott will remain with Robert Yates Racing and the #88 Quality Care/Ford Credit Taurus team, after agreeing to a “lifetime contract” with Robert Yates Racing. Driver, Dale Jarrett has formally agreed to a contract with Yates through the 2004 season. See full story at NOL: Parrott announces lifetime deal with Yates(4-29-2000)
(4-28-2000)
UPDATE: hearing some fines will be announced and handed out soon, no dollar amounts know, but rumor has it that they are substantial(4-20-2000)
UPDATE 2: from SpeedVision – NASCAR is keeping a tight lip on allegations that the #12 Penske-Kranefuss team was found to have questionable fuel during the race at Talladega. NASCAR communications director John Griffin said Thursday that NASCAR officials were investigating the matter but that no official word on the subject was expected this week. Reports surfaced early this week that the fuel in the #12 car was found to be not according to standard. The variance was discovered, reports say, in a random sampling of fuel in the team’s catch can during the race. See full story at SpeedVision: NASCAR Mum on 12 Car’s Fuel by Ben Blake(4-21-2000)
NOTHING: have heard nothing new on this and know nothing more then what is posted here, when something is reported, it will be posted(4-24-2000)
UPDATE 3: hear the team met with NASCAR today and some sort of announcement is forthcoming in the next few days(4-25-2000)
UPDATE 4: On Thursday NASCAR will announce it’s findings on the fuel sample tested after Talladega(RPM2Nite) AND see the story at That’s Racin’(4-26-2000)
NOTHING: RPM2Night reported that nothing has been announced yet concerning the situation and the Winston Cup Today Radio show says their will probably not be any announcement this weekend either(4-27-2000)
hearing NASCAR has scheduled some sort of Press Conference at the California Speedway sometime today, not sure if it is about the #12 Fuel situation or something else
UPDATE 5: In a press conference at California Speedway on Friday, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Helton made a statement urging patience on the Mayfield decision. It is hoped that the situation can be “wrapped up early next week”, see the full stories at NASCAR Online and at SpeedVision(4-28-2000)
(4-27-2000)
UPDATE: Clarification From PPI Motorsports. To eliminate any confusion resulting from Tuesday’s (April 25) NASCAR Winston Cup Series weekly teleconference, Cal Wells III and PPI Motorsports will field two Winston Cup teams in 2001 with primary sponsorships from Tide and McDonald’s. When asked about the status and timetable of his McDonald’s-sponsored Busch team, Wells said, “It’s in its infancy. We’ll have it all sorted out by October.” Wells was referring to the team and driver being sorted out by October to complete his implementation of elevating the McDonald’s Busch team to a Winston Cup program in 2001(PPI Motorsports)(4-27-2000)
(4-26-2000)
UPDATE: a new crew chief is expected to be hired soon, possibly as early as Monday(Times-Dispatch)(4-16-2000)
UPDATE 2 – New #14 Crew Chief: Philippe Lopez has been named the crew chief for the #14 AJ Foyt Conseco team. Lopez was the crew chief for the #41 Hedrick Motorsports team and follows Mast over from there. Other changes in the team are expected to be announced within the next week(RPM2Nite). Hearing the changes may include team manager Waddell Wilson leaving the team and changing to an engine supplier such as Hendrick(4-18-2000)
UPDATE 3 – Engines: Crew chief Phillipe Lopez and engine builder David Evans followed driver Rick Mast to A.J. Foyt’s operation(Times-Dispatch), well it’s not Hendrick engines, but a new head engine builder for the team(4-25-2000)
UPDATE 4: Foyt finished his housecleaning by releasing Waddell Wilson as general manager of the #14 team and bringing nephew Tommy LaMance on board. LaMance has been with Foyt since 1994 when he served as team manager with A.J. Foyt Enterprises. Foyt also hired engine builder David Evans away from Hedrick Motorsports(#41), along with much of his engine crew(SpeedVision) AND current engine builder Greg Wilson(Waddell’s son) remains to work with Evans and several of Evans’ other co-workers have joined him at Foyt’s, from NASCAR Online and another story at TNN(4-26-2000)
UPDATE: the team will skip California and test at Greenville Pickens Speedway in preparation for the race at Richmond(Midwest Transit Racing Site)(4-26-2000)
(4-25-2000)
UPDATE: hearing that the team may have closed up shop due to lack of sponsorship. Supposedly many of the crew has gone with Lopez to the #14 team(4-25-2000)
(4-24-2000)
UPDATE: Bessey Motorsports has announced that Dick Trickle will drive the #60 Power Team Chevrolet in the NAPA 500 at the California Speedway on Sunday. The #60 team’s regular driver, Geoffrey Bodine, is continuing his successful recovery from injuries sustained in a February NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wreck. Bodine is scheduled to return to the Power Team Chevrolet next weekend at Richmond. The team tested at the 3/4-mile track on Wednesday and Thursday with positive results. The #60 team decided that it would be best to give Geoffrey one more week to recover from his injuries. See full story at the Power Team Site(4-24-2000)
(4-23-2000)
(4-22-2000)
- Conseco Troubles? a few readers have voiced concern over the sponsor of AJ Foyt’s #14 Cup team, Conseco. Since the company announced in April 1998 that it was buying Green Tree Financial Corp., the stock has lost 88 percent of its value, closing this week at $6.62 a share. How this effects the sponsorship of the team, I don’t have a clue. Have heard absolutely nothing concerning any problems with the sponsorship. See the full story at SpeedNet: Area takes stock of Conseco, execs’ gifts, basically talks about charity gifts and such(4-22-2000)
- Other Paint Schemes: Also noticed that there will be two #36 M&M’s schemes, a peanut butter M&M’s scheme(red?) and a green M&M’s scheme(??). The #42 Chevy will have a special scheme not named directly, the #24-Jeff Gordon as we all know will be something at the Winston, not Pokemon, I hear it will be announced three days before the Winston and they are doing their best to keep it quiet, but I hear it will a sort of reverse DuPont scheme with different stripes of some sort(4-22-2000)
- #8 Scheme? UPDATE: see a few diecast sites are listing a #8 Michelob diecast for sale, this may be the rumored Winston scheme. Michelob is of course owned by Anheuser-Busch, who make Budweiser
UPDATE: have been told by a Budweiser rep, that the will be no special paint scheme for the #8 Bud Cehvy and they don’t know what the Michelob deal is all about and are looking into it(4-22-2000)
(4-21-2000)
UPDATE: #32-Scott Pruett and BGN driver #97-Anthony Lazarro are also testing. Heard that Dallenbach ran a fast lap of 183.908mph(4-20-2000)
UPDATE 2: #4-Bobby Hamilton and #32-Scott Pruett both tested above the track record of 183.753mph held by Greg Sacks in 1997. Hamilton and Pruett both ran laps of 184.143mph(39.1 sec) on Thursday. #11-Brett Bodine ran a lap of 182.973mph and #13-Robby Gordon was at 183.720mph. #9-Stacy Compton also tested during the two day test. #75-Wally Dallenbach and #10-Johnny Benson tested on Wednesday(SpeedVision)(4-21-2000)
(4-20-2000)
UPDATE: have confirmed this, so far it is just for these two races(4-16-2000)
UPDATE 2: This weeks Winston Cup Scene reports that Team Gordon has switched to Yates Engines for the rest of the season(4-20-2000)
UPDATE: On May 20, Roush Racing will run its #16 Kevin Lepage car decked out in one-day-only Clemson colors and insignia in the Winston Open in Charlotte. Part of the proceeds from the sale of related merchandise will be used to create the Jack Roush Motorsports Scholarship Fund. The car will not run in the Coca-Cola 600 as reported(4-20-2000)
UPDATE: Twentysome teams tested Wednesday at RIR including #’s 91, 22, 36, 16, 90, 93, 60, 55 from CUP and BGN cars #’s 98, 21, 2, 18, 45, 20, 24, 82, 19, 44, 11, 63, 50, 74, 83, 92, 33 and a 2nd #18 team(what will be the #29 car with Curtis Maekham). 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. Only unofficial speed I heard was #91-Todd Bodine at 123mph, last years pole was is 126.499mph by Jeff Gordon. Testing continues on Thursday, is open to the public, and there is no charge for admission. Update on Roper on the BGN site(4-20-2000)
UPDATE: Full story on some of things tried and comments at SpeedVision: NASCAR Tinkers At Talladega(4-20-2000)
UPDATE: Tuesday test was rained out but Winston Cup Today Radio(RealAudio) reports Bodine will test at RIR on Wednesday and Thursday(4-19-2000)
UPDATE 2: Bodine tested on Wednesday and says he is ready for Califrnia. See the full story at NASCAR Online and another at the Times Dispatch. Bodine ran a hand-timed 121.185mph in race trim(4-20-2000)
(4-19-2000)
(4-18-2000)
UPDATE: Wally Dallenbach was asked Sunday morning about his team’s crew chief situation and told SpeedVision that good reporters with their eyes open could figure it out. SpeedVison saw Newt Moore and Walter Ballard atop the team’s pit box, running the show(SpeedVision)(4-17-2000)
UPDATE 2: After nearly four weeks without a crew chief, the #75 Galaxy Motorsports team permanently hired Newt Moore as the new crew chief. Moore, who last year served as crew chief for several organizations, is the team’s first crew chief since Wayne Orme stepped down in March. Wally Dallenbach is the driver of the mult-sponsored Ford with RedCell Batteries, Rotozip, Cartoon Network/WCW/Dinner and a Movie as sponsors(RMI/Atlanta PR)(4-18-2000)
(4-17-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR has closed the test to the media except for long-distance photography, and there are indications that NASCAR officials aren’t very enthusiastic about the test. See full story by Mike Mulern at PitNow
UPDATE 2: On RPM2Nite the two cars being tested were shown. The #6 Ford was driven by Matt Kanseth and had some sheet metal modifications done around the nose and hood. The #3 Chevy was driven by Dave Marcis and supposedly had a raised roof(by one inch) and widened by 2 inches. Also it was speculated on the show the the windshield was being tested at different angles. The cars with present restrictor plates and modifications were slowed down by 3 seconds. Using a larger restrictor plate (unknown size) the 3 seconds were regained. More testing will be done on Tuesday(RPM2Nite)(4-17-2000)
UPDATE: Michael Waltrip completed the Boston Marathon in four hours, forty-two minutes and 20 seconds and finished 14,315 out of 17,813 entrants(Williams Company PR)(4-17-2000)
UPDATE: Jim Mattei, owner of the #7 team, said Sunday that contrary to rumors he has no plans to sell the team. He is interested, however, in allying or merging with another team, saying single-car teams have no real chance in the present environment. Mattei said he had talked with Tim Beverley, owner of the #10 Lycos team, and Nelson Bowers, co-owner of the #36 M&M’s Pontiac, among others. He also said he has received calls from other people interested in buying the team or becoming a partner in it. Mattei insists, however, that an alliance with another team is a more likely alternative. He also said he has had talks with Jim Smith, owner of the#2 CTS team, with Smith showing interest in fielding a Cup team, but probably no time soon(SpeedVision)(4-17-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials denied a report that appeared that said NASCAR had approved body templates for the 2001 Dodge Intrepid. The report said those templates have been used to build the cars Dodge car owner Ray Evernham will use in upcoming testing sessions(That’s Racin’)(4-17-2000)
UPDATE: Randy LaJoie was scheduled to be released Sunday night from Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, AL. LaJoie suffered a mild concussion in a crash during the BGN race at Talladega. Results from a CAT scan didn’t turn up any problems, so LaJoie will be sent home(Total Sports)(4-17-2000)
(4-16-2000)
- Wow, what a race: #24-Jeff Gordon wins at Talladega and his 50th career Winston Cup win, the 11th driver in history to do so. It was #24 crew chief, Robbie Loomis’s first win with the #24 team. Gordon who started 36th(almost had to take his first career provisional), breaks the record for the worse starting spot to win a CUP race at Talladega. Gordon snaps a 13 race streak of not winning a race, the first since Charlotte last October. #31-Mike Skinner was close to his first win but ended up 2nd, his career best finish. #6-Mark Martin is now the point leader over #18-Bobby Labonte. See results at NASCAR Online(NOL)(was incorrect but seems ok now), Racin’ Network and Total Sports(4-16-2000)
- Nine Different Winners: Jeff Gordon is the ninth different Winston Cup winner in the first nine races in 2000. This extends the NASCAR all time record of nine, beating last weeks eighth. The old record was seven that happened in 1991 when the first seven winners were Ernie Irvan, Dale Earnhardt, Kyle Petty, Ken Schrader, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace and Darrell Waltrip. Also happened in 1964 when Ned Jarrett, Fireball Roberts, Wendell Scott, Richard Petty, Dan Gurney, Junior Johnson, Bobby Isaac won the first seven races that season. The 2000 winners: Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Ward Burton, Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin and now Jeff Gordon. The record only for the start of a season. A different driver won 13 races in a row back in 1961. The “modern-era” record, covering the years since 1972, is 11 different winners in a row in 1985(4-16-2000)
- Noticed during the race at Talladega: while using #10 Johnny Benson’s in car camera, noticed the web address www.learnframe.com, so I chekced it out and they are a new associate sponsor for the team, supposedly started three races ago(4-16-2000)
- #13 Engines? hearing #13 Team Gordon will use Yates Engines at Talladega and California(4-12-2000)
UPDATE: have confirmed this, so far it is just for these two races(4-16-2000) - Greg Ray almost…. Greg Ray, the 1999 IRL champ, was offered a one-race deal with A.J. Foyt’s #14 Winston Cup Pontiac at Texas last month but declined the invitation. Instead, Rick Mast replaced rookie Mike Bliss on a permanent basis and drove the car to a 20th-place finish. Ray almost took the ride then decided against it(Speed Magazine)(4-16-2000)
(4-15-2000)
UPDATE: Ray Evernham doesn’t know where the recent round of rumors started, but he’s focusing on only one driver to team with Bill Elliott on his two-car Dodge team next season — BGN driver Casey Atwood. On Friday afternoon, Evernham talked with Atwood and his BGN team owner Clarence Brewer. Evernham admits he is talking with Brewer about a possible BGN team for 2002 but has no intention of keeping the 20-year-old Atwood in the series next season(Times-Dispatch)(4-15-2000)
(4-14-2000)
UPDATE: I hear from a good source that Robert Yates Racing(RYR) is working with Ford to continue it’s relationship/sponsorship with the #88 and are working with UPS on an associate sponsorship on the #28 Texaco Ford(4-4-2000)
UPDATE 2: Rumors recently surfaced that Robert Yates was considering a switch from Ford Credit to UPS as primary sponsor for the Dale Jarrett #88 race team in 2001. The more likely scenario here is that UPS, who has been itching to get into Winston Cup racing with a strong team for about a year, will come on board as an associate sponsor on one or BOTH Yates Racing Fords(Inside Motorsports)(4-9-2000)
UPDATE 3: This weeks Winston Cup Scene Magazine reports that UPS is talking to Yates and Roush Racing about sponsoring a car. #28 and #88 owner Robert Yates confirmed he is talking to UPS but wouldn’t say if it was for an associate or primary deal for one or both cars. Yates deal with Ford Quality Care is done at the end of the 2000 season. Roush Racing said they had informal talks but that was it and that Roush Racing is working on renewals with Valvoline and John Deere for the #6 and #97 teams(4-14-2000)
UPDATE: Mike Hillman was supposedly offered a job by the #75 team BUT turned down the job and is staying with the #91 LJ Racing team(4-13-2000)
UPDATE 2: This weeks Winston Cup Scene Magazine reports that if no crew chief is in place, the team MAY skip the race at Talladega and regroup for Califnornia in two weeks(4-14-2000)
(4-13-2000)
May 2-3 Homestead
May 18-19 Michigan
June 5-6 Las Vegas
June 12-13 Talladega
June 26-27 Texas
July 4-5 Indianapolis
July 18-19 Atlanta
July 25-26 Daytona
August 8 Atlanta
August 21-22 Talladega. No idea if this is an open/public or closed test(4-12-2000)
UPDATE: see an additional story at SpeedVision on the testing: After Delay, Dodge Ready for Testing by Ben Blake(4-13-2000)
(4-12-2000)
UPDATE: The 2000 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on April 13, 2000 beginning at approximately 5:30pm/ct(4-12-2000)
TV Coverage: Hall of Fame Inductions will be covered by SpeedVision at 8pm/et on Thursday April 13th(4-13-2000)
UPDATE: Hearing the team has been sold, supposedly to a CTS(truck) team owner(4-10-2000)
UPDATE 2: hear that the #7 team is NOT sold and the rumor about CTS owner having bought it is not true. The team may be looking at a partner, but not a buyer(4-11-2000)
UPDATE 3: It was reported on RPM2Nite Tuesday night that owner Jim Mattei had a meeting with the team and said it was NOT for sale but they are considering a partner(4-12-2000)
(4-11-2000)
UPDATE driver at Talladega: hearing that Dick Trickle will drive the #60 Power Team Chevy at Talladega this weekend
UPDATE 2: it’s official: Bessey Motorsports has announced that Dick Trickle will return to the #60 Power Team Chevrolet this weekend in the Diehard 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. He will substitute for regular driver Geoffrey Bodine, who was injured in a February CTS event(Power Team PR)
UPDATE 3: if all goes to plan, Bessey may debut his second car at Richmond next month. Bessey stressed all those plans are tentative(Speed Magazine)(4-11-2000)
UPDATE: Roush Racing, Childress Racing and Morgan McClure Motorsports have been invited to Talladega next Monday for a novel NASCAR test at Talladega to find new ways to make disgruntled Winston Cup drivers happier at the tour’s two biggest tracks. Drivers have long complained about being bunched too tightly without enough horsepower to break away at Daytona and Talladega. So NASCAR officials will try to figure out how to add enough aerodynamic drag to these cars to allow drivers a lot more horsepower, while still keeping speeds around 190 mph. Roush and Childress are building special cars for the test. It is unclear who will test/drive the carsPitNow)(4-11-2000)
(4-10-2000)
UPDATE: here are a rundown of the penalties accessed at Martinsville: 14 total – Five teams noted above with the new tire rule: #24-Jeff Gordon, #22-Ward Burton, #16-Kevin Lepage, #44-Kyle Petty and #36-Ken Schrader each had to go to the end of the longest line on the restarts for the violation. #26-Jimmy Spencer was caught for speeding on pit road. #26-Spencer, #33-Joe Nemechek, #11-Brett Bodine and #13-Robby Gordon for entering the pits too soon. #1-Steve Park for passing on the left on a restart. #42-Kenny Irwin for passing the pace car. #99-Jeff Burton and #55-Kenny Wallace each were penalized a lap for disobeying the NASCAR official at the end of pit road and entering the track when signaled to stop. Most others were penalized by being sent to the end of the longest line(News and Record)(4-10-2000)
UPDATE: Morgan-McClure Motorsports owner Larry McClure has decided not to enter Loy Allen as a second car at Talladega. Allen had tested a car last week at Talladega for McClure. McClure, owner of the #4 Kodak Chevys for driver Bobby Hamilton, said Sunday it is still likely he will field a second car at some point this season, but he has set no timetable for its debut(That’s Racin’)(4-10-2000)
(4-9-2000)
- Eight Different Winners: Mark Martin is the eighth different Winston Cup winner in the first eight races in 2000. This breaks the NASCAR all time record of seven that happened in 1991 when the first seven winners were Ernie Irvan, Dale Earnhardt, Kyle Petty, Ken Schrader, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace and Darrell Waltrip. Also happened in 1964 when Ned Jarrett, Fireball Roberts, Wendell Scott, Richard Petty, Dan Gurney, Junior Johnson, Bobby Isaac won the first seven races that season. The 2000 winners: Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Ward Burton, Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and now Mark Martin(4-9-2000)
- Gordon Streak is over: Jeff Gordon had gone 12 races without a Top-Five finish, but his 4th place at Martinsville ends that streak(4-9-2000)
- Elliott #600: #94-Bill Elliott should make his 600th Winston Cup start at Talladega(SpeedVision)(4-9-2000)
- Fenley-Moore Motorsports: #15-Fenley Moore Motorsports and driver Derrike Cope skipped Martinsville due to a lack of sponsorship. It’s the third straight week the team has skipped a race, but it hopes to compete in next Sunday’s DieHard 500 at Talladega(Speed Magazine)(4-9-2000)
- Pardus to skip Talladega: The #65 team and driver Dan Pardus who attempted the Daytona 500 has decided not to attempt qualifying for next Sunday’s DieHard 500 at Talladega becasue if of the costs of running a restrictor plate car. Pardus says the team might attempt to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte(Speed Magazine)(4-9-2000)
- Backup Cars: #16-Kevin Lepage, who wrecked in practice and #13-Robby Gordon who wrecked in 2nd round qualifying will both go to backup cars and fall to the rear of the 43 car field at Martinsville on Sunday. Both took provisionals and will not have to fall too far behind their original starting spots(Gordon was 42nd and Lepage was 39th)(many sources in cluding SpeedVision)(4-9-2000)
- Petree to quit crew chief? Andy Petree says juggling car owner and crew chief responsibilities is almost too much. He says he’s considering stepping down as the crew chief for #33-Joe Nemechek before the season ends(Roanoke Times)(4-9-2000)
- 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)
(4-8-2000)
UPDATE: from Wally Dallenbach on his official site www.wallydallenbach.net(link fixed): “NO truth to the rumor of my losing my seat”. So put that rumor to bed(4-6-2000)
UPDATE: Despite failing to make the field at Darlington, Bristol and Texas with his new team, Wally Dallenbach and owner Darwin Oordt are far from throwing in the towel. The team is operating under a three-way sponsorship agreement with RotoZip, Red Cell batteries and the Turner TV networks, but Dallenbach said he and Oordt are reasonably close to signing a new contract that will carry them through the next three seasons(Gaston Gazette)(4-8-2000)
(4-7-2000)
UPDATE: Looks like the ‘record’ for an earliest win is a rookie who is running a full season, not a one time or part time driver. Seems Bouchard is credited with holding the record. See a nice chart on this at That’s Racin’: Rookies running to Victory Lane(4-7-2000)
(4-6-2000)
UPDATE: see a nice tribute at the Official Petty Racing Site. Some stat pages at Total Sports: Lee Petty’s career stats and Winston Cup’s 50-win club. And from a Keystone Marketing PR: Statement by W.C. “Junie” Donlavey RE: Lee Petty – “Lee Petty was one of the finest drivers that ever sat in a race car, and he was one of the true pioneers of the sport. He taught the drivers what it meant to really devote your time and effort to racing because he was very successful at it. He was just a fine fellow and very tough competitor. It was an honor to have known him and to have been a part of the series when he raced in it because it brings back a lot of memories. He was one the first ones to really make racing a career. When he started, he really went at it and made it a full time deal when others were just playing. I always admired him for really putting an effort in it to make the sport what it is today. He was one of the ones that devoted lots and lots of time to making it a true profession.”(4-6-2000)
(4-5-2000)
(4-4-2000)
(4-3-2000)
UPDATE: See two stories that cover this as well: Teams must remove right-side tires from pits from That’s Racin’ and Notes: NASCAR orders tire corral from Total Sports and also a story at ESPN last week by Ray Dunlap: I’m ‘tired’ of all the loose rubber in the pits(4-3-2000)
UPDATE: #60 owner Joe Bessey said a decision will be made Monday on who will drive the car at Martinsville. Bessey says he’s considering a few drivers, including Jimmy Hensley and Rich Bickle and he is considering driving the car himself(Roanoke Times)(4-2-2000)
UPDATE 2: Being told that the driver won’t be Jimmy Hensley
UPDATE 3: Rich Bickle will drive the #60 at Martinsville(Winston Cup Today Radio – real audio)(4-3-2000)
UPDATE: See another story on France’s condition at Roanoke Times – Racing Notes(4-3-2000)
UPDATE: Earnhardt Jr won in his 12th start, besting his Dad who won in the 16th start in 1979, Davey Allison who won in his 14th start in 1987 and Tony Stewart last year who won in his 25th start. Also the win makes Earnhardt Jr only the 2nd rookie to win his way into The Winston, Davey Allison also did it in 1987. Tony Stewart had to win the Winston Open to get into the field last year. Also it is Budweisers first win since Bill Elliott won in 1994 while driving Junior Johnson’s #11 Bud Ford(4-3-2000)
(4-2-2000)
- TV and Texas: from my understanding the BGN race will not be shown on TNN or CBS. Also I have found nothing to indicate that the DirecTV 500 Cup race will be re-aired(4-2-2000)
- The Winston and the Winners Circle: With Dale Earnhardt Jr’s win at Texas, he is now in The Winston All Star Race at Charlotte on May 20th. The win also puts the #8 DEI team in final wild card spot in the 2000 Winners Circle Program(4-2-2000)
- Sadler OK: As reported on CBS during the race, #21-Elliott Sadler, who wrecked early in the race, was ok after hurting his shoulder. The left shoulder is bruised and x-rays were negative. Kyle Petty who failed to qualify for the race, subbed in the car for a while, and finished 39th. Petty drove for the Wood Brothers back in the mid 1980’s(4-2-2000)
- Gibbs to Ford? UPDATE no: Pontiac driver Tony Stewart may be in a Ford or Chevrolet by the time the Winston Cup tour hits California in three weeks, crew chief Greg Zipadelli said yesterday, unless NASCAR gives Joe Gibbs’ two teams some aerodynamic relief. See the full story by Mike Mulhern at PitNow(3-27-2000)
UPDATE: TNN’s Raceday reports that the team has purchased a few Ford bodies in case NASCAR goes to common templates based on Ford as is rumored, but has NO intention of running Fords this year(4-2-2000) - Lap Leaders: #32-Scott Pruett led his first Winston Cup laps at Texas. #5-Terry Labonte, #26-Jimmy Spencer, #33-Joe Nemechek and #42-Kenny Irwin all led their first laps in 2000. #4 drivers now have led a lap in 2000. To see who has led laps and who leads in the bonus points, see my Bonus Points Leaders Page(4-2-2000)
- Gordon Streak continues: Jeff Gordon has gone 12 races without a Top-Five finish. This is the longest that Gordon has gone without a Top-Five in his 230-race NASCAR Winston Cup Series career(4-2-2000)
- Adam does ok: #45-Adam Petty, making his CUP debut, was running in the mid 20’s when he lost an engine and ended up finishing 40th(4-2-20000
- Andretti milestone: #43-John Andretti made his 200th Winston Cup start at Texas in the DirecTV 500(4-2-2000)
- BGN TV: 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)
- Stats: Only five times in NASCAR’s modern era(1972-present) has the eventual champion not won by the sixth race of the season. Those champions were Benny Parsons in 1973, Terry Labonte in 1984 and 1996, Darrell Waltrip in 1985 and Dale Jarrett in 1999. Winners after the first six 2000 races were Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Ward Burton and Rusty Wallace(4-2-2000)
- Ingle Returns to the CTS. Former Winston Cup crew chief, Bill Ingle, has been named to the crew chief job with the #46 truck and driver Rob Morgan. Ingle replaces Tim Murphy who had been the crew chief since the beginning of the 1999 season. Ingle has worked with many Cup teams in the past including: Junior Johnson, Alan Kulwicki, Hendrick Motorsports, Rixky Rudd(twice) and Diamond Ridge Motorsports(NASCAR Online)(4-2-2000)
- Little to the BGN UPDATE 2: Hermie Sadler has been released from his #30 Innovative Motorsports BGN ride, Chad Little will run the #30 Little Trees Chevy at Texas and probably for the rest of the 2000 BGN season when there are no conflicts with the CUP schedule and the team will run an un-named rookie the remaining races
UPDATE: also see the story on NOL, along with another BGN driver getting released, Shame Hall from the #00 Alumni Motorsports car. The team will skip Texas and return at Nashville with an un-named driver(NOL: Sadler/Hall Lose Rides)(3-28-2000)
UPDATE 2: RJR Enterprises, Inc., an established race team owner of 5 years, announced a five race deal with Winston Cup driver Chad Little for the 2000 season. Races will include both Winston West and Featherlite Southwest Tour dates throughout the season. The #9 car of RJR Enterprises will make its debut in the Winston West Series on Friday, April 21, 2000 at Las Vegas with CUP driver Chad Little behind the wheel. The remainder of the dates will be on the Featherlite Southwest Tour, and include Sears Point on June 24, the Los Angeles Street Race on July 16, and the season ender at Phoenix on November 3. Little will also be driving in the Copper Classic at Phoenix in 2001(RacingWest)(4-2-2000)
(4-1-2000)
UPDATE: The elder Petty, 86, had surgery on a stomach aneurysm on Feb. 9 and has not fully recovered. Richard Petty, Lee’s son and Adam’s grandfather, has stayed back home in North Carolina this weekend while Adam and Kyle are in Texas trying to make Sunday’s field(That’s Racin’)(4-1-2000)