Aug 2000 CTS Archive

• Kentucky and the BGN? UPDATE 3 OFFICIAL: Kentucky Speedway is expected to announce Tuesday(at 12noon) that it has obtained a BGN event for the 2001 season. Last week, smaller tracks at Myrtle Beach and South Boston announced the Busch series would not return to their facilities in 2001, which opened up potential dates for Kentucky. NASCAR officials will not comment on whether Kentucky will get a Busch race(Cincinnati Enquirer)(8-28-2000)
  UPDATE: hearing the BGN racedate will be June 16, 2001, same weekend as the CTS race was this year, looks like a doubleheader
  UPDATE 2: the BGN will have its 2001 schedule expanded with a new stop at the Kentucky Speedway, a 67,000 seat, 1.5-mile, tri-oval facility located in Sparta, Ky. The 2001 event will be held on June 16, 2001. The announcement was made at the Kentucky Speedway where BGN competitors David and Mark Green, the brothers that hail from Owensboro, Ky., joined NASCAR and speedway executives along with team owner Clarence Brewer. The addition of the Kentucky Speedway comes after an announcement on May 8 that the NASCAR Busch Series would add events at the under-construction Kansas Speedway and Chicagoland Motor Speedway in 2001(Kentucky Speedway Site). No word on if a CTS race would be on the same weekend(8-29-2000)
  UPDATE 3: hearing the CTS date will not be the same as the BGN, unless they have two CTS races there as rumored. Hearing the new CTS date will be July 14th(8-30-2000)
• Petty Needs a Sponsor? hearing the #43 Richard Petty CTS Dodge will lose Dodge as it’s primary sponsor at the season’s end(8-29-2000)
• #60 News: hearing that Caterpillar will continue to sponsor the #60 truck in the 2001 season(8-29-2000)
• CTS Track News: hearing the CTS may run at Las Vegas in 2001 and may run two races at Kentucky Speedway in 2001(8-29-2000)
• Cut Off Switch Works: Rob Morgan driver of the #46 Acxiom/AbiliTec Ford F-150 in the CTS was the first active driver in NASCAR to use the newly mandated throttle cut off switch in active competition. On lap 124 of the Craftsman 175, Morgan drove down the long front straightaway of the Chicago Motor Speedway. When he went to brake for turn one, his throttle stuck, prohibiting him from dropping the necessary speed to enter the corner. After attempting to loosen the throttle Morgan reached down and cut the motor with the mandated throttle switch cutting power to the motor. NASCAR mandated the throttle switches after Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin died in separate wrecks at NHIS this season. NASCAR took steps to further reduce the risk of throttle sticking by placing throttle stops on all competitors carburetors and placing cut off switches on driver’s steering wheels within easy reach of a driver’s thumb(Opal Communications)(8-30-2000)
• Another Evernham Hire and MORE: hearing that the #27 Eel River Racing Pitcrew Coach/Jackman, Ed Watkins, has joined Evernham’s Dodge Team in the same capacity(8-28-2000)
• Kenseth to the Trucks UPDATE 3 yes..no? Matt Kenseth has entered the Craftsman Truck Series race at RIR in September(Daily Press)(7-26-2000)
  UPDATE 1 No: Matt Kenseth has just a few more race weekends left with only one race to compete in. Kenseth will step back into his Robbie Reiser owned Busch Series car at Michigan on August 19, racing all of the remaining conjunction events this season, except Bristol. Kenseth will not be competing in any Truck Series races in 2000(Racin’ Network)(8-4-2000)
  UPDATE 2 Yep: Matt Kenseth revealed he had plans to drive a truck at Richmond, in addition to the #17 DeWalt Tools Ford he drives in Cup and the #17 Visine Chevy he drives for Reiser Enterprises in BGN. So Kenseth will drive in all three races at RIR(NOL)(8-28-2000)
  UPDATE 3 the pinball – yes, then no, then yes, then no….. from a source – Kenseth WILL NOT be driving in the truck race at Richmond. He was never scheduled to do it. There is a conflict with the race and an off-track promotion for the No Bull 5 event. He is, however, competing in the Busch race(8-29-2000)
• #73 News: B.A. Wilson who finished 9th at Chicago in the #73 truck, had Joe Snyder as his Crew Chief/Consultant. Also the Stock Car Fans Newsletter has a decal on the truck(8-29-2000)
• Sadler too: Elliott Sadler will also run all three races at RIR, returning to the BGN series(ride not mentioned) and driving the #84 Ford F-150 owned by Long Brothers Racing of Apex, NC. Robert Long said at Chicago that the Wood Brothers pit crew would tend Sadler’s truck at Richmond. Long said the team expected to be able to announce a sponsor some time this week. Sadler is scheduled to test at Richmond this week in preparation for the upcoming races(NOL)(8-28-2000)
• Petty to the #44: Mark Petty has plans to pilot the #44 Dodge By Petty for the remainder of the 2000 CTS season. When the 30-year-old Petty got behind the wheel of the truck at Indianapolis Raceway Park just three races ago, he thought that he would only be driving the truck for that one weekend, assuming that they would make the race. But Petty qualified 16th for his first race in four years and finished in the 22nd position. Following the race at Nashville Speedway, the decision was made that the #44 Dodge By Petty would compete in the rest of the races in the 2000 season with the intent to run the entire 2001 CTS Series. With Petty running the races at Texas and California, he will gain experience on the higher speed tracks in order to be granted approval by NASCAR to run at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway during February’s Speedweeks. Petty is looking for a primary sponsor for 2001 to compete for Rookie-Of-The-Year honors. “We’re pretty excited about the chance to run the rest of the races this season after thinking that we would only be running one,” said Petty. “When this deal started, we just asked if we could run a truck at IRP if there was an older one sitting around that wasn’t being used any more. They told me that we could use this Dodge that Rich Bickle drove for us back in 1996.” “We wouldn’t have even made the races at IRP and Nashville if it hadn’t been for Dennis Setzer, Bob Keselowski and Howard Comstock with the #1 Mopar Dodge team. Those guys have helped us with the set-ups on the truck and that really allowed me to concentrate on getting the feel of being behind the wheel of a race vehicle again.” When Petty got behind the wheel of the Dodge By Petty at IRP he had not driven a race vehicle in four years dating back to his Late Model Stock Car that he ran at local short tracks in North Carolina.(Dodge PR)(8-27-2000)
• Evernham Hire? UPDATE 3 New chief/Hendrick to the CTS: hearing #24 Hendrick BGN crew chief, Patrick Donahue, may be bolting to join Evernham’s Dodge team(8-23-2000)
  UPDATE: hearing Donahue has left the #24 BGN Hendrick Motorsports team(8-25-2000)
  UPDATE 2: Ken Howes will take over as the interim crew chief for the #24 Hendrick-Gordon Motorsports Busch team replacing Patrick Donahue who is no longer with the organization. Howes has most recently headed up the research and development program at Hendrick Motorsports. He will be working with Ricky Hendrick as the 20-year-old prepares for a full season in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2001(Gordonline)(8-26-2000)
  UPDATE 3: hear that Dennis Connor, Sprague’s crew chief, will direct both truck teams of Sprague and Ricky Hendrick next season. The #24 team may attempt 6-10 BGN races but currently have no plans to run a full Busch schedule with another driver in 2001(Tinas Jeff Gordon Newsletter)(8-27-2000)
• Setzer/Mopar gone from the #1? UPDATE: hearing Mopar will leave the #1 KMotorsports Dodge team. Driver Dennis Setzer is rumored to go to a 2nd CTS team owned by Ultra Motorsports/Jim Smith. Some rumors even have Smith switching to Dodge, but that makes little sense as he just announced his #7 Cup team will switch from Chevy to Ford(8-25-2000)
  UPDATE: Officials with DaimlerChrysler informed team owners Bob and Kay Keselowski at Chicago, that they will drop its CTS sponsorship of the #1 K Automotive trucks at the conclusion of the 2000 season. The story goes on to say that Dodge has decided to form a two-truck team to make an all-out effort for the CTS championship in 2001 and that current #1 driver Dennis Setzer and crew chief Howard Comstock would be part of the 2001 program, continuing as Dodge Division employees. Keselowski said his organization was unsure of its plans to continue in the series and that Dodge had made an offer of limited support in 2001 and that his operation, which has a new shop and a fleet of 11 trucks, along with what he called “some really good people,” would continue with Dodge Rams(NOL)(8-28-2000)
• Maine Today: Prescott pays dues to reach NASCAR level by Bob Paulin(8-25-2000)
• #26 Sponsor: The Midway Hotel Center has joined #26 MB Motorsports as a marketing partner for the race at Chicago Motor Speedway. The Midway Hotel Center is conveniently located two blocks south of Midway Airport on Cicero Avenue and features a Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Sleep Inn, and T.G.I. Friday’s Restaurant(MB Motorosports PR)(8-25-2000)
• #19 and #27 combine: Lefturn Motorsports, LLC, has signed a Letter of Intent to combine race team operations with CJ Racing Enterprises’ #27 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Team of Denver, NC, effective August 18, 2000. Under the arrangement, the #27 Hastings Filters Ford F-150 will complete the full 2000 NCTS season with Lefturn’s driver, Ricky Sanders, at the controls. Mike Albernaz, CJR owner, will assume the role of Crew Chief and the combined #19 and #27 race trucks and equipment are now housed at CJR’s shop. Sanders has qualified for NCTS events at Texas and Kentucky and was running 21st at Texas when the transmission broke at 100 laps and finished 22nd at the Kroger 250. The #27 is 26th in Owner Points and the arrangement with Lefturn allows the #27 to continue to display the Hastings Filters colors with the #19’s TruckTrix.com. as an associate.(Lefturn Motorsports PR)(8-25-2000)
• Another Roush CTS Test? Nope, team Rensi: Hearing Gary Lewis(1998 NW Tour Champion) will test in South Carolina (Greenville-Pickens?) for an un-named Truck team on Monday, Aug 21st. Also several unamed drivers will be on hand to test with Lewis on Tuesday(8-20-2000)
  UPDATE: hearing Lewis will test for Team Rensi for either the CTS or BGN (or Both) team today(8-22-2000)
• Biffle to Cup…in two years? While appearing in-studio on “Victory Lane”, a weekly racing show on CLTV in Chicago on Tuesday nights, Roush #50 CTS driver, Greg Biffle said that he and Jack Roush will have an announcement about his future plans when the trucks visit Chicago this coming weekend. Biffle stated that the plan is to run BGN for two years and then to move to Winston Cup. A sponsor will also be announced next week. It could be that Grainger is going with them, as they are headquartered in the Chicago area(MotorsportsTV). Supposedly, Biffle will take over the #60 Roush BGN ride as Mark Martin is ‘retiring’ from the BGN series, it was made know in February that Biffle was leaving for the BGN(8-21-2000)
• #25 Crew Chief As Randy Tolsma’s #25 CITGO-SUPERGARD Motor Oil Dodge crossed the finish line at Nashville Speedway for the win in the August 12, Federated Auto Parts 250, veteran crew chief Gary Showalter was crowned with a record of his own. Showalter became the first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series crew chief to win with three teams, four different drivers, and with all three manufacturers. Upon the inception of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1995, Showalter began working for Liberty Racing in Ohio with driver Butch Miller and they won at Colorado National Speedway in a Ford. In 1997 Showalter was the crew chief for the late Kenny Irwin during his rookie season and won with Irwin at Homestead and Texas with him in a Ford. In 1998, Showalter took his toolbox and experience to Sealmaster Racing to work with driver Terry Cook and won with him in Flemington, NJ in a Chevy. Tolsma and Showalter started working together for Impact Motorsports in 1999 and won at Nashville in a Dodge. Showalter’s wife, Cindy participates – scoring for the #50 truck piloted by Greg Biffle on race day(Cox Marketing)(8-20-2000)
• Kobza to run Winston West: Veteran open wheel driver Jerry Kobza of Cornelius, NC, will make his NASCAR Winston West series debut in the Miller Motorsports #21 Ford Taurus this weekend in the Home Depot 250 at Irwindale Speedway. Jerry was diagnosed with a severe lung infection that required seven months of I.V. therapy, and then surgery to remove part of his left lung three years ago. Despite the setback, Jerry became focused on reaching his goal of competing full time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS). The grueling workout schedule that followed was rewarded last year when Jerry competed in the NCTS race at Memphis. Though mechanical problems sidelined the truck after just 38 laps, Jerry was one step closer to the goal. This weekends Winston West series start is the first of three scheduled starts for the remainder of the season. Jerry spent the first three months of the season competing in USAC, BCRA, and Budweiser midget series on the west coast. Jerry left the series in June, leading the drivers points in two of the associations. The team is confident that Jerry will bring success with him in the Winston West series. For sponsorship opportunities, contact 100 MPH Marketing at (704)895-6159.(8-20-2000)
• Las Vegas Review-Journal Column: Kurt Busch gets back to his roots Saturday by Jeff Wolf(8-19-2000)
• #73 Changes: As of Monday (8/14) crew chief Phillip Hamilton and the #73 Sontag Racing team have parted ways and a replacement search is underway(8-15-2000)
• Alabama Live: Grissom after season crown by Gerald Hodges(8-12-2000)
• St Petersburg Times: Tidal wave – Rookie Kurt Busch, a former pipe installer for the Las Vegas water district, has taken the Craftsman Truck series by storm by Kevin Kelly(8-12-2000)
• Tennessean: NASCAR keeps on truckin’ by Larry Woody(8-10-2000)
• Gill at Nashville: North Georgia Automobile Dealer Billy Ballew announced Tuesday that veteran short track driver Bobby Gill would take the wheel of the # 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Ford F-150 for the Federated Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Nashville Speedway on August 12. Gill has most recently driven in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series winning four of the past five races and currently sits atop the series points standings. The Billy Ballew Motorsports entry has competed in six CTS events this season, Geoffrey Bodine drove in the series opener at Daytona until he was sidelined midway through the event in a spectacular accident. Bodine’s son Barry Bodine took the wheel for the next three races. Bobby Gill drove the number 15 entry at Martinsville and Memphis. Gill led the event at Martinsville before being sidelined with mechanical problems. PGT Industries, Gill’s USAR Hooters Cup benefactor and Florida Auto Auction of Orlando will sponsor the Billy Ballew Motorsports #15 Truck(Ballew PR)(8-8-2000)
• Nashville Speedway Looking: On Saturday, August 12, Nashville Speedway USA will host it’s 5th CTS race and will celebrate the heritage and tradition of the historic track. Race fans will be able to see a tent display showcasing the historic Nashville Speedway USA from 1904 to present. The new Nashville Superspeedway is located on more than 1,200 acres in Wilson County and is scheduled to open in April 2001. It is owned and operated by Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc and will host the CTS race in 2001 and beyondm while the Nashville Speedway will continue to hold the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series for the next two years. As part of the display, Nashville Speedway USA officials are seeking memorabilia including: Motorcycles and historic race cars that competed at the Nashville Speedway; Uniforms, helmets, trophies, touring series programs, souvenirs; Driver keepsakes; Historical photos and videos; and Old Nashville Speedway logos, see the Nashville Speedway Site for more info(8-8-2000)
• Mark Petty? after a few days of seeing nothing and finding nothing out, the Petty Racing Site has some info on Mark Petty(not much), who drove the #44 Dodge at IRP on Thursday night: Maurice Petty’s son Mark raced in the #44 Dodge by Petty in last night’s race(IRP). Petty finished 22nd.(8-7-2000)
• Press Conference UPDATE: there will be a Press Conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, August 4th at 11:15am/et with Mike Helton of NASCAR, #24 CTS driver Jack Sprague and his truck owner Rick Hendrick. No idea what it is about
  UPDATE: Officials from the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing and Sears, Roebuck and Co. today announced a five-year renewal with Craftsman, America’s top-selling mechanic and auto specialty tool brand, to continue and expand its title sponsorship of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, founded in 1995, has grown in five-plus seasons from a predominantly short track tour to a high-speed, action-filled schedule of major events held at some of America’s top venues. Additionally, Craftsman has renewed as the “Official Tools of NASCAR” through 2005. The company will also continue its support of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series via Craftsman “event nights” at local tracks and a contribution to the National Championship point fund(NASCAR PR)(8-4-2000)
• If Ruttman wins, he gets a new contract UPDATE: before the race on ESPN2, it was mentioned that #18 Owner, Bobby Hamilton, told his driver, Joe Ruttman, that if he won the race at IRP, he would get a contract for 2001(8-3-2000)
  UPDATE: Ruttman won, Hamilton said he is worried that Ruttman will want too much money(8-4-2000)
• #73 Sponsor: Sonntag Racing of Little Elm, Texas has signed Berryman Products of Arlington, TX to be their primary sponsor for the remainder of the 2000 season as well as an associate sponsor for 2001. Berryman Products is one of the oldest manufacturers of automotive chemicals in the United States, founded in 1918. The corporate offices, research center and primary distribution center have been located in Arlington, Texas since 1970. The #73 CTS Truck driven by B.A. Wilson will have the sponsorship Thursday, August 3rd at Indianapolis Raceway Park and continuing through the season finale at California Motor Speedway on October 28th. (Sonntag PR) see an image of the truck at my CTS Paint Schemes page(8-4-2000)
• DGN Racing News: CTS driver Donnie Neuenberger announces a new partnership of DGN Racing, LLC with John M. Mayola and Barry M. Usher. John Mayola will function as President, Barry Usher as Team Manager, and Donnie Neuenberger continues his ownership and driver role. All three partners will participate in the day-to-day operations of the race team. Woody Tinsley joins the team as Crew Chief of the #21 F150 Ford. This Maryland based race team will continue to participate in the CTS on a limited schedule for 2000 as truck #21. Plans include running in the next five (5) NASCAR Craftsman Truck series races beginning August 27 in Chicago at the new Chicago Motor Speedway for the Chicago 175. The limited schedule will also include races at Richmond, Dover, Texas, and California. Donnie Neuenberger made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the history making inaugural race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on February 18, 2000 in Daytona Beach, Florida at the Daytona International Speedway. Donnie Neuenberger finished 9th in this NASCAR history book entry, the Daytona 250, in truck #84.(DGN Racing PR)(8-4-2000)
• #5 News: Powers Motorsports #5 Craftsman Truck Team with driver Tommy Powers behind the wheel, will attempt to qualify for 3 races for the remainder of the 2000 season. Those races are the inaugural Truck race at Chicago Motor Speedway on August 27th, Dover Downs, Sept 22 and the last race of the season at California Speedway on Oct.28. Brian Berry former crew chief for the #86 Craftsman Truck team will be the Race Day Acting Crew Chief for those three races. Brian Berry owner of Precision Engineered Race Cars of Denver, NC brings his enthusiasm and experience as a racecar builder and crew chief to Powers Motosports. Powers Motorsports is a family owned team, still working toward sponsorship for 2000 and 2001(Racing Consultants)(8-4-2000)
• More Tolsma: Randy Tolsma, driver of the #25 SuperGuard Dodge truck, will join ESPN commentator Bob Jenkins in the TV booth for the United States Auto Club (USAC) Coors Light Silver Bullet Series running of the Dupont 100 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The race is scheduled for 8:00pm/et on Wednesday August 2, 2000 with ESPN2 broadcasting the event(Cox Marketing)(8-1-2000)