August 2000 News Archives

(8-31-2000)
Eel River Racing/APR Changes? Kenny out of the #55 Yes – UPDATE 4 to the #27: Barry Dodson said he would have to listen to a manufacturer if it courted his #27 Eel River Racing team(driver: Mike Bliss). He’s considering making changes to the team, which has not performed up to his standards. He denied he has approached any drivers — such as Kenny Wallace — about moving into the car but said that changes were needed. Dodson could change from Pontiac to Ford next season(Times-Dispatch). NOTE: it was reported last week that Wallace stated that he and sponsor Square-D were signed with the #55 APR team thru 2001 BUT hearing Wallace may still be looking to go to the #27 and is looking into what it will take to break the Square-D contract with APR(8-26-2000)
UPDATE: hearing there will an announcement at Andy Petree Racing(APR) on Thursday or Friday regarding Kenny Wallace and the Square-D sponsorship. The report is Wallace is leaving but Square-D staying at APR(8-30-2000)
UPDATE 2: Kenny Wallace has been granted his release from the driving duties of the #55 Chevry fielded by Andy Petree Racing for the 2001 Winston Cup season. Wallace and Petree will continue their association through the remainder of the 2000 season. Wallace approached Petree and asked for his release from the last year of his contract and it was granted to him by team owner Andy Petree. Wallace wants to pursue some other options for next year. The amicable parting that will be made official once the last race of the season takes place on Nov. 19 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will mark a two-year run for Wallace with Andy Petree Racing. While Wallace’s six-year relationship with sponsor Square D will come to an end, Square D’s sponsorship of the #55 team will continue through the remainder of its contract with Andy Petree Racing. In coordination with Square D, a driver search conducted by Andy Petree Racing to fill the #55 seat for the 2001 Winston Cup season has begun. No official deadline on when a driver will be selected has been made at this time(anon source)
UPDATE 3: Wallace will join Eel River Racing and drive its #27 Pontiacs(Eel River Racing) next season. An official announcement about Wallace’s new team is expected Friday. Eel River Racing, owned by Jack Birmingham, may also undergo several changes as crew chief(and part owner) Barry Dodson said last week the team may change manufacturers in 2001(That’s Racin’)(8-31-2000)
#6 Paint in 2001: Although it hasn’t yet been announced, Roush Racing’s big deal with Pfizer Inc. will involve some rotating paint schemes. Rumored to be in the range of $14 million per year, the contract calls for Viagra to be the main sponsor of Mark Martin’s #6 Ford. But the deal also calls for Pfizer, one of the biggest companies in the world with literally hundreds of brands, to get into the car painting business. The company plans to have Martin race at least once next year in a brand geared toward younger fans, such as a children’s product(CBS Sportsline)(8-31-2000)
#7 to Dodge?? UPDATE – no but… here is a wild one, hearing the Ultra Motorsports #2 CTS team will become a two truck team in 2001 with Dennis Setzer driving the 2nd truck and having Mopar as the sponsor. Supposedly, both CTS teams will switch to Dodge and…get this….the #7 Ultra Motorsports Winston Cup team, with driver Michael Waltrip, may switch to Dodge. Interesting as they are presently switching to Ford from Chevy starting at Talladega for the rest of 2000 and are buying Fords for showcars…plus, the thought was that ten Winston Cup cars/teams were Dodges goal for 2001 and they have reached that(8-28-2000)
UPDATE: The Ultra Motorsports Truck team will switch to Dodge in 2001, Dennis Setzer is supposedly going to drive the truck unless he moves up to BGN or Cup. The #2 Ultra Motorsports CTS team will switch from Fords to Dodges. Mopar will be the sponsor of Setzers team and Setzer’s crew cheif, Howard Comstock is expected to switch to Ultra Motorsports. Mopar, Setzer and Comstock all were with KMotorsports the last two years. Ok, as for the Cup team? Ultra Motorsports owner, Jim Smith, says that the move to Dodge trucks will not affect his Winston Cup program, which is converting from Chevy to Ford at present and will start running Fords at Talladega in Oct 2000(Winston Cup Scene Print Version)(8-31-2000)
Elliott Status UPDATE: Bill Elliott is taking his rehabilitation from surgery on a fractured kneecap one day at a time and remains uncertain for this weekend’s Southern 500. David Green is standing by as a relief driver for the #94 McDonalds Ford(Times Dispatch)
UPDATE: David Green will drive the McDonald’s #94 Ford in this weekend’s Cup race – Southern 500 at Darlington. Green is substituting for the injured Bill Elliott, who is recovering from a fractured left kneecap, suffered in a home accident last week (Aug. 22) in Blairsville, Ga. Elliott, who is expected to be in Darlington this weekend, is undergoing therapy at a rehabilitation center near his home in Blairsville and at HEALTHSOUTH Medical Center in Birmingham, AL. When he is at the track, Elliott will receive therapy from the Wake Forest medical unit, provided by Motor Racing Outreach(MRO). Elliott’s status will continue to be evaluated on a day-by-day basis(McDonalds Racing)(8-31-2000)
RIR Testing Speeds: #99-Jeff Burton led #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr and #25-Jerry Nadeau in testing at Richmond. Burton was the fastest at 122.783mph, while Earnhardt was at 122.676mph and Nadeau at 122.227mph. See SpeedVision for the list of speeds(8-31-2000)
Roush Throttle Stop Device: Roush Racing’s engineering department has developed a new device to combat safety problems associated with throttle malfunctions on stock cars. Roush engineers developed a system that includes two sensors, one in the intake manifold and another in the brake system, both of which measure pressure. The two sensors work together, and if a driver applies 850-900 pounds of foot pressure and the manifold sensor indicates the engine is at or near full throttle, the ignition shuts off. The innovation is an even more direct method than the steering wheel “kill” switch, simply because a driver’s first reaction in an emergency would be a heavy application of the brakes. NASCAR official Steve Peterson watched a series of tests last week at Darlington Raceway, after which the governing body asked Jack Roush to proceed with development and production of the system(Gaston Gazette-1 day link)(8-31-2000)
Compton Status UPDATE: #9 Kodiak Ford driver, Stacy Compton met with his doctor on Tuesday morning and was told his broken right collarbone is healing faster than planned. He does not plan to have a relief driver this weekend at Darlington(Times Dispatch)
UPDATE: Stacy Compton will qualify and race the #9 Kodiak/Melling Ford Taurus in this weekend’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Compton qualified the #9 car last week at Bristol, but he sat out the race due to a broken collarbone. Compton broke his right collarbone 10 days ago while playing racquetball. Earlier this week, Compton saw a Charlotte area shoulder specialist who gave Stacy the green light to resume competition. As the team prepares to switch to Dodge in 2001, the Melling team has recently added Mike Steeves, chassis builder; Marc Smith, shock specialist; and Rich Wolsky, mechanic(Melling PR)(8-31-2000)

(8-30-2000)
NMPA Hall of Fame Induction: Clay Earles, Wendell Scott and T. Wayne Robertson will be inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association’s Hall of Fame Saturday night in Darlington. Earles, one of the pioneers of racing, opened Martinsville in 1947, the year before NASCAR was formed, and became partners at Martinsville with the late Big Bill France, who founded NASCAR. The track began with a seating capacity of 750 and now seats 86,000. Martinsville was one of the first tracks to have permanent concession stands, attended restrooms, first-aid stations and air-conditioned scoring stands and press boxes. Earles, active in the track until the end, died November 16, 1999. Scott, who died in 1990, began racing at the Danville Fairgrounds Speedway winning 128 races in many divisions and in 1959 won the Virginia State Sportsman Championship. In 1961, he fielded a car in NASCAR’s Grand National circuit, later renamed the Winston Cup Series. On December 1, 1963 he won his only Grand National race, a 100-mile event on a half-mile track in Jacksonville, Florida. He is the only African-American driver to ever win a Winston Cup race. Much of NASCAR stock car racing’s current popularity can be traced to Robertson. Robertson moved up the ranks to become president of Sports Marketing Enterprises. Many of racing’s unique programs, such as the Winston Million and the No Bull Five, were Robertson’s innovations. After his death in a boating accident in 1998, the Winston Cup Preview, which he created, was quite appropriately re-named the T. Wayne Robertson Winston Cup Preview in his honor(Martinsville Speedway PR)(8-30-2000)
#90 News: The #90 Hills Bros Coffee crew tested at Richmond Monday and Tuesday. Monday, the team prepared to test at RIR and removed the qualifying motor used by driver Hut Stricklin last weekend in Bristol, where he failed to qualify. When the team inspected the motor, fragments and oil were found. The team completed a two-day test at Richmond on Tuesday. Crew Chief Craig Huartson said they feel comfortable with their test times, but the team may attempt to go to Southampton Motor Speedway in Capron, VA., early next week to get a better feel for the car. Did ya Know? Junie Donlavey is the only car owner in NASCAR that has attempted to qualify for every Southern 500 at the famed Darlington Raceway. In Sept 1996, Stricklin had his best career finish at Darlington, a 2nd(Hills Bros Racing Site/PR)(8-30-2000)
Ford Engine Heads: Ford officials and car owners have still not come to an agreement on the design on a new cylinder head to be submitted to NASCAR. Ford says officials need more technical data before all are satisifed with the new design(National Speed Sport News Print Edition)(8-30-2000)
Wind Tunnel? #88-Dale Jarrett was missing his crew chief during his two days of testing at Richmond. Todd Parrott never appeared at the track, who, according to the team, was participating in a NASCAR wind tunnel test Monday in Marietta, GA(Times Dispatch)(8-30-2000)
Petty Ride: The Bristol BreakAway, the inaugural ride in the new Petty Touring Series of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride, was a great success on Sunday. Over 100 motorcycles made the trek from Bristol, TN to Winston-Salem, NC, where they stopped at the Brenner Children’s Hospital. There, Kyle presented the hospital with a check for $10,045. Of course, the 45 is in memory of Adam Petty, Kyle’s son who died in a BGN practice wreck at NHIS. Also, some type of foundation in Adam’s memory is in the planning stages(MotorsportsTV)(8-30-2000)
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)
ANOTHER hire: Ray Everham has recently hired Bill “Wiley” Erwin. Wiley has been building Legends car engines for CPR Inc. out of Concord, NC and is now working for Evernham as a machinist(8-30-2000)

(8-29-2000)
R Gordon to skip Darlington: As planned originally in Team Gordon’s limited schedule, the #13 team will not be attending this weekend’s race in Darlington, SC. Team Gordon and Robby Gordon will resume action the following week with the night race in Richmond, VA. In the meantime, Gordon plans a schedule that will include local testing in preparation for the Richmond race. Other’s tentatively scheduled for Gordon and the team: Charlotte, Atlanta, Richmond, Rockingham and Phoenix(Team Gordon)(8-29-2000)
Ince Re-Ups with the #10: #10 Aarons Crew Chief James Ince and driver Johnny Benson will stay #together through the 2001 and 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup seasons, MB2 #Motorsports announced on Tuesday. Ince agreed to two-year contract on Tuesday to remain with the #10 Pontiac that will be co-owned by MB2 Motorsports and Valvoline beginning in 2001. Benson signed a two-year contract last month when MB2 Motorsports purchased the assets of his and Ince’s team Tyler Jet Motorsports(MB2 PR)(8-29-2000)
PPI Motorpsorts/McDonalds Announcement UPDATE 2: McDonald’s Racing and PPI Motorsports will announce the team’s NASCAR Winston Cup driver for the 2001 season, Tuesday, August 29th at Noon/et(McDonalds PR)
UPDATE: hearing that Andy Houston will be named as the PPI driver and ESPN2’s RPM 2Night is reporting the same thing(8-28-2000)
UPDATE 2: Andy Houston has been named driver of the McDonald’s NASCAR Winston Cup entry to be fielded by PPI Motorsports, beginning in the 2001 season. Today’s announcement was made by Cal Wells III, PPI Motorsports owner and next season’s McDonald’s Winston Cup team owner. Houston, of Hickory, N.C., made an impressive debut in the Winston Cup Series earlier this month – Aug. 20 in the 400-mile race at Michigan Speedway. After starting 35th, he patiently picked his way through the field, and ran as high as sixth. While running 12th with 44 laps remaining, Houston was forced to retire from the race with an expired engine in the #96 RMHC.com Ford. In order to get a jump-start on the 2001 season, PPI Motorsports is considering to enter Houston in four additional Winston Cup races this season – Charlotte, Rockingham. Phoenix and Homestead. Houston will drive the #96 Ford Taurus, the same number and car manufacturer he will compete in next year with the McDonald’s/PPI Motorsports team. Houston, his wife, Lorie and three-year old son, Collin, reside in Hickory, NC. Andy’s father, Tommy Houston, is a legend in Busch Grand National racing. He raced in the Busch series from 1982 to 1996 and holds the Busch record for most career starts at 417. He also has the Busch series record for most consecutive starts (360), making him one of the most constant and consistent drivers in the formative years of the modern-day NASCAR Busch Series. Tommy’s 24 wins place him third on the all-time race wins list(in part from a McDonalds PR)(8-29-2000)
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)
Millennium Motorsports, Inc (Millennium), formed for the purpose of owning and operating motor sports racing teams and complementary businesses, has secured a line of credit for $50,000,000 from Oxford International, Inc. (Oxford), a wholly owned subsidiary of National Institute Companies of America, Inc. By using the NASCAR racing teams as its centerpiece, Millennium will begin to build other related businesses. The corporations’ management intends to produce winning teams by providing the best support and equipment on the NASCAR circuit(Millennium Motorsports PR)(8-29-2000)
RIR Testing: Testing continues today at Richmond International Raceway. #88-Dale Jarrett, #24-Jeff Gordon, #19-Casey Atwood, #14-Rick Mast, #44-Steve Grissom, #25-Jerry Nadeau, #90-Hut Stricklin, #17-Matt Kenseth, #66-Darrell Waltrip, #26-Jimmy Spencer, #21-Elliott Sadler and #99-Jeff Burton are expected to be at the track(Times Dispatch)(8-29-2000)
Sad News: A dirt-track driver was killed when his stock car went out of control and collided with another car during a race. Douglas Chilton, 33, of Reidsville, died late Saturday at the 311 Motor Speedway, a half-mile track west of Madison, NC(Tennessean/AP)(8-29-2000)

(8-28-2000)
No More Rainbow on the #24? Following this season, the paint scheme that Jeff Gordon has taken to 51 victories and three Winston Cup championships will not be seen on the racetrack again. Gordon’s #24 Chevy will feature a new DuPont paint scheme next season(Gordonline)(8-28-2000)
Tony the Tiger goes full time in 2001? hearing that the #5 Kelloggs Chevy of Terry Labonte may go from it’s current Kelloggs scheme to a Frosted Flakes scheme full time, similar to what Labonte ran at Michigan two weeks ago. Frosted Flakes is of course, made by Kelloggs(8-28-2000)
Exide Out? UPDATE 2 yep It’s OFFICIAL: Exide Batteries, who will leave the #99 Roush CTS Truck at the end of the year, may be leaving the #99 Cup team of Jeff Burton too. Rumors have CITGO moving from the #21 Wood Bros Ford and moving to the #99 (was rumored on the #16 too). Supposedly, Quality Care/Ford Credit(being replaced on the #88 with UPS) will go to the Wood Bros. ALSO hearing that Roush Racing sent out a fax on Wednesday(8/23) saying that Exide would not return as the primary sponsor for the #99 in 2001 and that they are looking for a sponsor
UPDATE: Exide Corp., which sponsors the #99 Fords of Jeff Burton, has informed the team of its intention not to return next season. Exide has a contract with Roush Racing and Burton’s team through the 2001 season. The company has undergone financial difficulties over the past several months and is re-evaluating its entire involvement in motorsports. Sources said Friday that Burton’s car owner, Jack Roush, was aware of the company’s thinking and already has plans in the works for a new sponsor for Burton’s team. A formal announcement of Exide’s departure is expected Monday(That’s Racin’)(8-25-2000)
UPDATE 2: Exide isn’t expected to return next season as Jeff Burton’s sponsor, and Geoff Smith, head of Roush Racing, says he’s looking for a major new sponsor of the caliber of Pfizer, the company that will be backing Mark Martin the next five years at $12($15?) million a year. Kevin Lepage will be back for another season with Jack Roush, Smith said. CITGO will probably not be back as sponsor for the Wood Brothers, Smith said; Quality Care could be their new sponsor(PitNow). Expect an announcement this week about Exide leaving and CITGO being the new #99 sponsor(8-27-2000)
UPDATE 3: Exide will shift the focus of its motorsports programs to an associate sponsorship of the Roush Racing Team while retaining the company’s association with NASCAR. Total savings will be approximately $15 million annually, beginning in October 2000(Yahoo Biz) AND Roush Racing announced Monday that Exide Batteries would not continue its primary sponsorship of the #99 Ford driven by Jeff Burton. Exide will retain an associate sponsorship with the team(NOL)(8-28-2000)
Tire/Inner Liner Problems? UPDATE 2 Goodyear Response: Team owners headed over to the Goodyear trailer this weekend seeking resolution on an inner liner issue. Teams discovered that the inner liners varied from tire to tire, some by as much as 1 1/2 inches(Times-Dispatch)(8-27-2000)
UPDATE: another story on the inner liner – Rubber War: Crews think tire inner liners are problem by Mike Mulhern
UPDATE 2: A comment from Steve Myers, director race tire sales & marketing, regarding Goodyear’s race tire inner liners: “Questions were raised this past weekend at the Bristol Winston Cup race concerning the Lifeguard Safety Spare that Goodyear produces for use on tracks one mile or more in length. (Bristol’s half-mile track is an exception, with inner liners used in right side tires). What impact, if any, that shield size variation may have on the handling performance of a car or on our Eagle radials will be looked at very closely this week and further analyzed by Goodyear race tire engineers at the company’s Akron Technical Center. Today (Monday, 8-28), NASCAR inspectors and our Goodyear race tire engineers are in High Point, N.C., hand inspecting every inner liner for any size difference. We are working closely with NASCAR and the race teams to determine whether variations in inner liner sizes will impact handling performance.”(Goodyear PR)(8-28-2000)
Sadlers BGN plans: Andy Petree Racing has announced today that Elliott Sadler will finish the season in the #15 Hot Tamales Chevy in the Busch Series. Sadler will race at Richmond, Rockingham, and Phoenix. The team also fields the #15 Albertsons Chevrolet driven by Mike Skinner. Driver Derrick Gilchrist will remain an employee of Andy Petree Racing(APR PR)(8-28-2000)
Rusty Leads: Rusty Wallace led the third-quarter balloting for a national driver of the year award. Wallace drew 12 of 17 first-place votes and 123 points from a panel of motorsports writers and broadcasters. John Force was second with one first-place vote and a total of 66 points(That’s Racin’)(8-28-2000)
Newman wins again: Ryan Newman won an ARCA race for the 2nd time in three tries, winning at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday in the #27 ALLTEL Ford owned by Penske Racing. Newman is rumored to be moving to the BGN or maybe even Cup in 2001 with Penske(8-28-2000)
Walk of Fame: Bobby Hamilton, driver of the #4 Kodak MAX Film Chevy, will be inducted into the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame. The 43-year-old, Nashville, Tenn., native officially won the honor as voting ended last Thursday. Hamilton becomes the second Morgan-McClure Motorsports driver to be included in the Walk of Fame. Ernie Irvan, who drove for the team from 1990 until 1993, was inducted in 1996. Morgan-McClure Motorsports has 14 wins, with four of those being at Talladega Superspeedway. Each year since 1995, the Walk of Fame has inducted one active and two inactive drivers based completely on fan voting. The fan-favorite ceremony is held at Davey Allison Memorial Park located in downtown Talladega in conjunction with Talladega’s White Knuckle Weekend. The event is free to fans and the speedway offers shuttle bus rides(Morgan McClure PR)(8-28-2000)
Crew Member Burned: Matt Kenseth’s front-tire changer, Phil Drye, sustained minor burns on his chin and blistering on his wrist while working on Kenseth’s radiator Saturday night. He was burned by steam from the radiator when the cap was removed(Times Dispatch)(8-28-2000)
Sadler Triple Play: 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)
Sweep at Bristol: Rusty Wallace is the first driver to win both races at Bristol Motor Speedway in one season since Dale Earnhardt in 1987(Roanoke Times)(8-28-2000)

(8-27-2000)

Bristol/Richmond changes? hearing that NASCAR may cut back on the Bristol and/or Richmond night-race schedules in 2001. Supposedly they are looking at one round of qualifying instead of two. A morning practice session on Friday, one round of qualifying, then a Happy Hour, followed by the BGN race that night. Then the gates wouldn’t open Saturday until around 3:00pm with a 7:30 start. No practice or qualifying at all on Saturday. Supposedly teams are in favor of it(8-27-2000)
Bye-Bye Testing? on TNN’s Inside NASCAR, Steve Waid reported that NASCAR is looking into ways to eliminate testing, totally, with rookies being the exception. At present, teams (a team being one car, the #6 and #99 are part of the Roush team but for testing is considered one team each) can test seven times, rookies ten at race tracks that hold Winston Cup races. A team can test as often as they want at non-Winston Cup tracks like Greenville-Pickens or Kentucky Speedway. Some team also do Goodyear tire testing and NASCAR has a few mandatory tests, no word if these would be included in the elimination, if it happens(8-27-2000)

(8-26-2000)
Eel River Racing Changes? Barry Dodson said he would have to listen to a manufacturer if it courted his #27 Eel River Racing team(driver: Mike Bliss). He’s considering making changes to the team, which has not performed up to his standards. He denied he has approached any drivers — such as Kenny Wallace — about moving into the car but said that changes were needed. Dodson could change from Pontiac to Ford next season(Times-Dispatch). NOTE: it was reported last week that Wallace stated that he and sponsor Square-D were signed with the #55 APR team thru 2001 BUT hearing Wallace may still be looking to go to the #27 and is looking into what it will take to break the Square-D contract with APR(8-26-2000)
Evernham Hire? UPDATE 2 Hendrick to 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)
Geoffry in the #60: sources tell me that Geoffrey Bodine will drive the #60 Power Team Chevy at Bristol tonight and that brother Todd has already left Bristol. Bodine, Geoffrey that is, will have to fall to the back of the field with #7-Waltrip(backup car), #9-Hillin(sub for Compton), #11-Brett Bodine(backup car), and #25-Nadeau(backup car).(8-26-2000)
Why was Todd in for Geoffrey? UPDATE 2: Geoffrey Bodine suffered signs of dizziness during the day’s first practice session. His brother, Todd Bodine, got into the #60 Power Team Chevy for qualifying and posted a speed of 123.277mph on his first of two laps – which was 36th fastest. Bodine’s dizziness is thought to be a recurring injury from his February Truck Series wreck at Daytona. It is not yet known what his status may be for Saturday’s race(Power Team Site) and Geoffrey Bodine ran a couple laps in Friday’s practice and then stepped out of his #60 Chevy and allowed his brother, Todd Bodine, to finish the practice session. Todd Bodine also attempted to qualify the car Friday. Geoffrey Bodine, who was seriously injured in the CTS race at Daytona in February, said he didn’t “comfortable” in his car and may need to see his doctor. Todd Bodine said his brother was “a little dizzy” when he got out of the car(That’s Racin’)(8-25-2000)
UPDATE: Geoffrey Bodine said he will get back in the #60 Chevy this morning in hopes of being able to drive the car in tonight’s race(Gaston Gazette)
UPDATE 2: from the Geoffrey Bodine Fanclub Site: Geoffrey will practice in the race car and will see how he feels this morning. After practice(11:30am-1:00pm), he will decide if he will attempt to qualify 2nd round(8-26-2000)
Green to drive the #94 at Bristol: BGN regular David Green will drive the #94 McDonalds McFlurry Taurus in tonight’s goracing.com 500 at Bristol. Green will substitute for owner/driver Bill Elliott, who is recovering from a broken kneecap he suffered in an accident at his home in Blairsville, GA on Tuesday (Aug. 22) afternoon. The last time Elliott missed Winston Cup race was the MBNA Gold 400 in Dover, DE. on Sept. 20, 1998. He missed that race to attend his father’s funeral. The last time injury sidelined Elliott was in the Goody’s 500 at Bristol in Aug. 1996. He missed seven races due to a broken left thighbone (femur) he suffered in a racing accident at Talladega on April 29th of that year. Green will start 26th(McDonalds Racing PR)(8-26-2000)
Hillin to drive the #9 for Compton: Melling Racing announced Saturday afternoon that BGN driver Bobby Hillin will drive the #9 Ford in Saturday night’s race at Bristol in place of regular driver Stacy Compton. Compton had broken his right collarbone while playing raquetball last Monday, but had practiced and qualified the car on Friday. Since Hillin did not qualify the car, he will have to move to the rear of the field to start the race(That’s Racin’). Compton will be in the car next week at Darlington Raceway(NOL)(8-26-2000)
Atwood Cup Announcment: Casey Atwood and Ray Evernham plan to announce today the Motorola sponsorship of Atwood’s car for the Sept. 9 race at Richmond(Times-Dispatch). NOTE: this was shown on RPM 2Night mid-week, see story on the #19 Team News and Links page, also have an image in the Paint Schemes Gallery(8-26-2000)

(8-25-2000)
Ganassi looking at a rookie? UPDATE: besides hearing Bobby Hamilton as a rumored driver for the #01 BellSouth/Ganassi Racing Dodge driver in 2001, hearing that BGN rookie of the year candidate Jimmie Johnson may be a candidate for the job. Johnson currently drivers the #92 ALLTEL Chevy in the BGN(8-13-2000)
UPDATE: Jimmie Johnson says he’s staying put with Herzog Motorsports for the 2001 BGN season and has no plans to race Winston Cup with another team next year. Johnson is rumored to be on the short list for the #01 Winston Cup car. Johnson’s name has been mentioned in numerous rumors after ALLTEL, his primary Busch Series sponsor, announced it was leaving Herzog at the end of the year. Herzog Motorsports has yet to secure a Busch sponsor for 2001, which has also helped fuel the speculation. However, Johnson is under contract with Herzog through 2001 and co-owner Stan Herzog is confident the contract will be fulfilled(St. Joseph News-Press(MO))(8-25-2000)
Dodge News: Kyle Petty says Dodge teams expect NASCAR to approve the Dodge Intrepid within two weeks. Once the car is approved, Dodge teams can begin building cars for next season.The Dodge engine has more work to be done to it before it is taken to NASCAR for approval. Dodge is not expected to present an engine for more than a month(Roanoke Times/Williams Company)(8-25-2000)
Marcis Part time in 2001 UPDATE: this weeks Winston Cup Scene mentions that Dave Marcis says this could be his last season he runs the Cup circuit full time and that he may go to a limited schedule in 2001(7-27-2000)
UPDATE: Dave Marcis, driver of the #71 Realtree Chevy, said Thursday he plans to run only about 10 races in 2001. A sponsorship deal for next year has not been finalized, and instead of attempting to stretch his limited resources throughout an entire season, Marcis said he plans to focus on a handful of tracks next year where he thinks he can muster some good finishes. As for his plans after he gets out of the driver’s seat, Marcis says they’re still up in the air. He’s not ready to stop driving yet. Marcis has competed in 871 races, which is the most of all active drivers and second overall behind Richard Petty’s 1,177(Kingsport Times News)(8-25-2000)
TV Ratings? NASCAR officials have blamed declining TV ratings — in part — on incomplete coverage by “lame-duck” networks that won’t be televising Winston Cup in 2001. ESPN made NASCAR’s accusation look completely valid by cutting away from Michigan after Rusty Wallace crossed the finish line. ESPN opted to skip live coverage from the winner’s circle to take viewers to the X-Games(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(8-25-2000)

(8-24-2000)
Elliott Injured? UPDATE 3: hearing that Bill Elliott, driver of the #94 McDonalds Ford, injured his left knee/leg in an accident at home, no word on how or if it will affect his status for the race at Bristol and still waiting to confirm the situation. Also hearing that Ray Evernham said on the radio this morning that Elliott broke his kneecap in a farming accident and had to have surgery last night and that he may miss the Bristol race. From what I hear now, is that Elliott ‘shattered’ his knee cap and is having surgery today, Bristol is pretty much out of the picture for him, NO idea of a sub yet
UPDATE: Elliott underwent successful surgery Tuesday night to repair a fractured left kneecap and will likely miss Saturday’s race at Bristol. Elliott reportedly tripped and fell at his Blairsville, GA, home. Elliott is expected to be released from the hospital sometime Thursday. A final decision on whether Elliott will drive this weekend, use a relief or replacement driver will be made once Elliott has met again with his doctor(That’s Racin’)
UPDATE 2: A decision on whether Elliott will drive in this weekend’s Winston Cup race at Bristol will be determined over the next few days. Bill Elliott Racing has secured the services of BGN regular David Green as the substitute driver during Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions. If Elliott is not ready to return to action, Green will also drive the #94 McDonald’s Ford car in the race(McDonald’s Racing PR)(8-23-2000)
UPDATE 3 and McFlurry: Bill Elliott, who fractured his left kneecap in a home accident in Blairsville, Ga. Tuesday afternoon, was discharged today (8-24) from HEALTHSOUTH Medical Center in Birmingham where he had surgery Tuesday evening. No decision has been made on whether Elliott will drive the #94 McDonald’s Ford in this weekend’s (Aug. 26) Winston Cup race at Bristol. ALSO: The McDonald’s #94 Ford Taurus will have a different look at this weekend’s race. The blue, red, yellow and white paint scheme on the McDonald’s car will showcase McDonald’s popular dessert item – the McFlurry. The creamy treat features McDonald’s soft serve ice cream mixed with a customer’s choice of four core toppings — crushed M&Ms, Nestle Crunch, Oreo and Butterfinger. The McFlurry Ford Taurus will also run at Dover in Sept(McDonald’s Racing PR) see an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Gallery(8-24-2000)
Compton Hurt may need relief UPDATE: Veteran NASCAR driver, Bobby Hillin, has agreed to stand-by for Stacy Compton in preparation for this weekend’s Cup race at Bristol. Compton, driver of the #9 Kodiak/Melling Racing Ford Taurus, sustained a broken right collar bone this week while playing racquetball as part of his regular aerobic workout routine(Melling PR)(8-23-2000)
UPDATE: Compton said Thursday he is going to attempt to race this weekend at Bristol despite fracturing his collarbone while playing racquetball Monday night. Compton said his doctor believes he already had suffered a stress fracture in the area from an accident while testing at Indy last month. When Compton hit the same area while playing racquetball, his collarbone fractured in two separate places. Compton said he and his team have worked with the seat placement in his #9 Ford to help him remain comfortable in the car. He will try to practice and qualify the car Friday and drive in Saturday night’s race at Bristol(That’s Racin’)(8-24-2000)
Wind Tunnels Tests: NASCAR plans to run wind-tunnel tests soon on three Winston Cup cars in a continuing effort to identify new ways to deal with speed and competition problems at its biggest speedways(Daytona abd Talladega). The cars of Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet), Ricky Rudd (Ford) and Tony Stewart (Pontiac) will be tested. The date for the wind-tunnel experimentation has not been set. It will not be held before Aug. 28(Greenville News)(8-24-2000)
#7 at Wind Tunnel: the #7 Ultra Motorsports team has two cars being tested at the N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center, operated by Old Dominion University, located in Hampton, VA today. Testing in preparation for Talladega(8-24-2000)

(8-23-2000)
Atwood’s Cup Debut UPDATE 3: Casey Atwood will attempt to make his Winston Cup debut on Sept 9th at Richmond. Atwood who will drive Ray Evernham’s #19 Dodge in 2001 will drive a Elliott Ford as the Dodges will not run until 2001(Tennessean)(7-25-2000)
UPDATE: there are tentative plans for Atwood to drive a Cup car at Martinsville on Oct.1 and at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov.12.(Roanoke Times)(7-26-2000)
UPDATE 2: Casey Atwood, who will drive a Dodge owned by Ray Evernham in the 2001 Winston Cup season, will try to get a head start on that by driving three races this year in Fords owned by his future teammate, Bill Elliott. Atwood will attempt to make the races at Richmond, Martinsville and Homestead(That’s Racin’)(8-21-2000)
UPDATE: it was announced on RPM 2Night that Atwood’s sponsor for the three races will be Motarola. See an image of the paint scheme for the #19 Ford on my Paint Scheme Gallery. And in part from a PR: Motorola, the “Official Communications Company of NASCAR,” announced it will be the primary sponsor of Evernham Motorsports with driver Casey Atwood in three Cup races this year, marking the simultaneous debuts of Ray Evernham as a team owner and Atwood as a NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver. The #19 Motorola Evernham Motorsports Ford will compete at Richmond, Martinsville and Homestead-Miami. Atwood, who will turn 20 on Friday, will pilot a Ford Taurus establishing the groundwork for the 2001 Dodge team, since the Dodge chassis will not begin its re-entry into NASCAR competition until the Daytona 500 in February 2001. Atwood will test the Motorola car at Richmond Aug. 28-29 in preparation for the Race at Richmond. Earlier this year, Motorola announced its long-term sponsorship of NASCAR as “Official Communications Company” including status as official cellular phone, pager, two-way radio and cable modem of NASCAR(Cotter Group PR) AND see a transcript of the announcement on RPM 2Night at Desiree’s Ray Evernham Page(8-23-2000)
Alabama Paint Scheme for the #32: the #32 Tide Ford of Scott Pruett will carry a special University of Alabama crimson color scheme for the upcoming Winston 500 at Talladega(Shoals Times Daily)(8-23-2000)
Testing UPDATE 2: Bobby Labonte is scheduled to test at Richmond International Raceway on Tuesday and Wednesday(Aug 22-23)(Roanoke Times)(8-19-2000)
UPDATE: #18-Bobby Labonte was the fastest during testing at Richmond on Tuesday: Unofficial speeds were – #18-Labonte 123.119mph, #93-Blaney 120.859, and #71-Marcis 116.782. Also testing were BGN drivers #20-Hubert, #6-Joe Bessey, ASAA Driver Scott Wimmer in a Bil Davis Pontiac, #68-Jay Fogleman and #15-Elliott Sadler(will run the APR BGN car at RIR). Tests continue on Wednesday, with Labonte, Blaney and Marcis returning in Winston Cup, and Bessey Sadler and Fogleman in BGN(SpeedVision) – see images of the test at The Paddock(8-23-2000)
Sadler to test at RIR: Elliott Sadler and the Wood Brothers #21 CITGO Race Team have scheduled a two-day test at Richmond International Raceway on August 29th and 30th. The test will allow the team to prepare for the upcoming September race where the team will run a special Virginia Tech paint scheme(see the images of the car at the Paint Schemes Gallery). One of the cars to be used in the test is the second car produced by the recently formed Roush Alliance. The alliance allows the Wood Brothers team to utilize chassis, bodies and motors from a central source. The alliance debuted in Daytona with a 10th place qualifying effort and an 18th place finish(Cox Marketing Group)(8-23-2000)
Jasper to Scale Down UPDATE 2 NO: Doug Bawel, CEO of Jasper Engines and Transmissions and an owner of the #77 Ford driven by Robert Pressley, says that Jasper Engines will not be the team’s major sponsor next season. Bawel said the company’s board of directors made the decision Friday. Jasper plans to stay as a major associate sponsor(Roanoke Times)
UPDATE: This is NOT true. The remarks by team owner Doug Bawel have been taken out of context in the quotes written in the Roanoke Times. Jasper Motorsports will be issuing a statement later today regarding their committment to remain in this sport for the future(Jasper Motorsports PR)(8-21-2000)
UPDATE 2: Valvoline is the second company to have part-ownership in a Cup team. The other is Jasper Engines and Transmissions, which sponsors and owns part of Robert Pressley’s #77 Ford team. Doug Bawel, CEO of Jasper and a majority owner in the team, says such a situation can work in certain circumstances. “I think there’s more benefits for people that are automotive-related,” said Bawel, whose team is looking for additional sponsorship for next season. “If you’re not automotive related, i.e. a bubble gum company, I don’t know if owning a Winston Cup team would help them. But if you’re automotive related and you want to use that platform to take you in other areas, I think it makes a lot of sense.”(Roanoke Times). Actually Valvoline is the first “major consumer products company” to own a Winston Cup team.(8-23-2000)

(8-22-2000)
Darlington Testing: hearing that the #99-Burton, #6-Martin, #28-Rudd and #20-Stewart cars are testing at Darlington Raceway as well as Martins #60 BGN car(8-22-2000)
#2 in Wind Tunnel: Penske South racing is testing two #2 Fords at the wind tunnel at N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA today. One is supposedly the car that Rusty Wallace just ran and won in at Michigan(8-22-2000)
Not NASCAR but interesting: A Goodyear blimp was blown into and snagged on a mooring pole and tore its skin while landing at Northeast Philadelphia Airport Saturday. The cockpit skidded along the ground as the airship deflated, but a pilot and six passengers aboard escaped injury. The blimp, one of several in the Goodyear fleet, was declared a total loss. The blimp had filmed the Eagles’ game(they Won!) on Friday night(posted since they sometimes cover the races and supply tires to the series – at a cost)(Philadelphia Daily News)(8-22-2000)

(8-21-2000)
Petty’s final Cup start of 2000: Kyle Petty, planning on making his final 2000 Winston Cup start at Bristol before handing the duties over to Steve Grissom for the rest of 2000, will hold an Interview Session/Press Conference on Thursday in the Bristol area. Petty plans to run the rest of the 2000 season in his late son’s BGN car, the #45 Sprint Chevy in the BGN series(8-21-2000)
Donlavey Hires Crew Chief: Winston Cup driver Hut Stricklin said last week that he and Junie Donlavey wanted to take the time to find a crew chief that would complement the Hills Bros Coffee Team instead of rushing to fill the position. That complementary piece of the puzzle turned out to be Craig Huartson, as Donlavey named Huartson as crew chief of his #90 Fords. Huartson, a native of Bellingham, Wash., previously worked with Stricklin on the #61 IWX Busch Series team. Donlavey and Stricklin had been sharing crew chief responsibilities(Keystone Marketing)(8-21-2000)
Wind Tunnel News: The #27 Eel River Racing team will be at the NRC (National Research Council) wind tunnel in Ottawa, Canada on Monday 8/21. Testing two #27 Pontiacs, one speedway car and one down force car(8-21-2000)
Gordon looking for Sponsors: #13-Robby Gordon, a former open-wheel racer who is trying to make a permanent home in Winston Cup racing, said his future is uncertain because of sponsorship issues. Gordon will skip five of the final 12 races because of the team’s limited budget. The team had its best finish of the season at Watkins Glen a week ago, finishing fourth. “We’re not sure (about the future),” Gordon said. “We would like to have this race team. We’re looking for sponsors. We’re crossing our fingers and hopefully we’ll find something. We have a decent amount of associate (sponsors) for next year, but we’re looking for that primary (sponsor).”(Detroit News)(8-21-2000)
Kelloggs to Re-up with Hendrick/Labonte UPDATE 3: Kelloggs will announce at Michigan that they are returning to the #5 Hendrick Motorsports chevy for another three years. The current deal ends at the end of this season. Kellogg’s will also present driver Terry Labonte with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with the No. 655 displayed on the side in honor Labontes record of Winston Cup 655 consecutive starts(That’s Racin’)(8-12-2000)
UPDATE: not sure if the announcement will still be made as Labonte is taking another week off as he does not feel he is ready to come back from his Daytona injuries(8-15-2000)
UPDATE 2: Labonte will be at the track this weekend and a pre-race presentation planned by the sponsor of Labonte’s team, Kellogg’s, will continue as scheduled. Kellogg’s will present Labonte with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle bearing the number “655,” in honor of his Winston Cup record 655 consecutive starts. An official announcement of a three-year contract extension by Kellogg’s to sponsor the team will also be made(That’s Racin’)(8-16/19-2000)
UPDATE 3: Kellogg’s officially announced a three-year extension of its sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports and the #5 team for driver Terry Labonte before Sunday’s race(That’s Racin’)(8-21-2000)
Jim France Conversation: Jim France, president of International Speedway Corporation and executive secretary of NASCAR, is younger brother of NASCAR president Bill France Jr. Widely seen as his brother’s equal in authority and ability, he has worked largely out of the eye of the general public, occupied as he is more with ISC than with NASCAR issues. Lately, however, Jim has taken a much more visible role at the races, appearing at the past four events as a hands-on participant, raising speculation that Jim may be stepping into Bill’s shoes during Bill’s battle with cancer. Jim France agreed to talk with SpeedVision’s Ben Blake on Sunday morning, before the Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway. Read the interview at SpeedVision(8-21-2000)
Testing Limits? There is growing support among Winston Cup crews for a major NASCAR cutback in testing. NASCAR allows teams seven tests(ten for rookies) a season at Cup tracks and unlimited testing on other tracks. One proposal is for NASCAR to expand that testing limit to include all NASCAR-sanctioned tracks, including non-Cup venues like Kentucky Speedway. Another proposal is to eliminate testing at Winston Cup tour tracks entirely, except for rookies(PitNow)(8-21-2000)
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)

(8-20-2000)

Waltrip’s 450 Race: #7-Michael Waltrip started his 450th Winston Cup race at Michigan and tied Cecil Gordon for 5th on the all time list of most Winston Cup races without a win. See the list on the Bristol Race Info Page(8-20-2000)
More Health Stuff at Michigan: Fans can have fun and do a good deed while at Michigan Speedway this weekend. They can possibly save a life by visiting the “My Friends Care Bone Marrow Transplant Fund” booth behind the main grandstand. The American Red Cross is holding a bone marrow testing drive on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The test is free and takes about 10 minutes. AND Michigan Speedway will hold a raffle this weekend to help the Jackson Juvenile Diabetes Foundation’s “Walk to Cure Diabetes.” The prize for each of two winners is a set of four tickets to either of next year’s NASCAR Winston Cup races here. Volunteers from the Diabetes Foundation will sell paper sneakers at four locations around the speedway for $1 each.(NASCAR Online)(8-20-2000)

(8-19-2000)
2:10pm Start times??? Update No: hearing that part of the new TV package that will go into effect will have the Cup races starting at 2:10pm/et, not including the night races(8-18-2000)
UPDATE: just heard from some TV principals, and the start times will pretty much mirror this years start times, with a difference of an half hour to an hour for a few races(8-19-2000)
Valvoline Announcement? UPDATE 5 OFFICIAL: hearing that Valvoline will announce it’s 2001 Winston Cup sponsorship plans at Michigan on August 19th. It’s seems to be pretty much a given that they will sponsor the #10 MB2 Motorsports Pontiac and driver Johnny Benson; AND in some form own a part of the team(8-3-2000)
UPDATE: Valvoline Inc. has found a new Winston Cup NASCAR driver to sponsor in the 2001 season: #10 Johnny Benson. But the Lexington company and Benson’s team aren’t racing to confirm the deal. While neither side is commenting, observers and a stock car racing Web site (http://www.jayski.com) are reporting the two have reached an agreement. Curiously, both Valvoline and MB2 Motorsports, which owns Benson’s team, have news conferences scheduled for Aug. 19 at the Michigan Speedway(Kentucky Herald Leader)(8-10-2000)
UPDATE 2: The Valvoline Co. will officially announce its plans for the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season this Saturday (Aug. 19), 11 a.m., at Michigan Speedway. Valvoline President James J. O’Brien is expected to detail a landmark program reaffirming Valvoline’s commitment to Winston Cup racing(Valvoline PR)(8-15-2000)
UPDATE 3: also hear the announcement will include Valvoline’s involvement as the ‘fluid’s aupplier’ to the Dodge teams(or some of the Dodge teams(8-16-2000)
UPDATE 4: Valvoline will announce today that it will become the primary sponsor for the #10 Pontiacs driven by Johnny Benson next year, but that won’t be the news from today’s news conference. The interesting wrinkle in this deal is that Valvoline will have 50-percent ownership of the race team, which was bought earlier this summer from Tim Beverley by MB2 Motorsports(That’s Racin’)
UPDATE 5: Valvoline announced on Saturday morning its sponsorship of the newly-renamed MBV motorsports team, in which the company will have equity interest. The announcement had been expected. The twist came in that Valvoline cast the deal as “a landmark agreement to become the first major consumer products company in history to own a NASCAR Winston Cup team.” The company announced a three-year arrangement as primary sponsor but did not give details of the ownership. MBV, with the V representing Valvoline, would indicate some sort of partnership(SpeedVision) AND see the full story and images of the car at the Valvoline Racing #10 Announcement page, the 2001 #10 car looks like the #6 this year(yes, Valvoline will stay on the #6 for the rest of 2000), but a Pontiac and different number, same basic scheme AND see the story on NASCAR Online(8-19-2000)
2001 TV News? hearing that the 2001 Twin 125’s will be televised LIVE on one of the Fox Channels, to air at 1:00pm/et on Thursday, Feb 15th(8-19-2000)
The Grinch car? hearing that Terry Labonte will run a “Grinch” paint scheme late in the season to promote the November release of the movie version of “The Grinch” starring Jim Carrey(8-19-2000)
#66 Driver? UPDATE: hearing that Robby Gordon is pretty much a lock for the #66 BigKmart/Route 66 Travis Carter ride in 2001, replacing Darrell Waltrip, who is retiring at the end of the 2000 season(8-18-2000)
UPDATE: Travis Carter, owner of the #23 and #66 Fords, has talked to Andy Houston about coming to his team for 2001. Houston tested the #66 car a couple of weeks ago and has talked with Carter about taking over that ride after Waltrip retires at the end of this season. If Houston doesn’t wind up driving the No. 66, Robby Gordon is another name that could factor in that team’s plans(That’s Racin’)(8-19-2000)
NASCAR Channel: NASCAR officials said they expect to make an announcement soon, hopefully within the next couple of weeks, that The NASCAR Channel will be up and running next season. Fox is helping NASCAR put the channel together, and NASCAR has finally signed all the deals, according to NASCAR sources. But it may not be a 24-hour all-NASCAR all-the-time channel(PitNow)(8-19-2000)
New Rules? NASCAR’s proposed new rules, which would go into effect at Talladega in October: widening the front fenders from 70 inches to 72 inches, raising the rear spoiler from 45 degrees to 65 degrees, installing a 1-5/8ths-inch vertical spoiler across the roof, raising the front bumper valence from 3 1/2 inches to 4 inches, and widening the rear spoiler from 57 inches to 59 inches and adding a one-inch lip to the top, to catch more air(PitNow) AND NASCAR VP Mike Helton said on RPM 2Night that NASCAR hopes to make an announcement on any rules changes for Talladega within the new few weeks(8-19-2000)
Drivers Burned UPDATE: Horrified fans watched as a race car driver staggered away from a fiery four-car crash, his body fully engulfed in flames until a photographer was able to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. The crash happened late Saturday night at the suburban Tacoma track Spanaway Speedway, where local drivers raced late model cars. The driver, identified as Mike Easley, remained hospitalized Sunday in critical condition. Another driver was in serious condition with burns on his head, face and torso(AP/Star Telegram)(8-14-2000)
UPDATE: For more info and a way to donate to the drivers, see the Spanaway Speedway Site and the Racing West site(8-19-2000)
Musgrave in the #01 rest of the year: Ted Musgrave will drive the #01 BellSouth Chevrolet for the rest of the Winston Cup season, beginning with the Pepsi 400 on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway(EPSN/AP)(8-19-2000)
Father and two sons REPOST and History: if Kerry Earnhardt makes the starting field for the Pepsi 400 at Michigan it would be the 2nd time a father raced against his two sons in NASCAR’s premier series. On August 3rd, 1960 at Birmingham, AL, #42-Lee Petty raced his sons #43-Richard and #44-Maurice. Richard was 2nd, Lee was 3rd and Maurice was 8th in a 50 mile event with 16 cars starting(Forty Years of Stock Car Racing by Greg Fielden and some research by…)(7-28/8-16-2000)
UPDATE: All three Earnhardt’s made the Pepsi 400 at Michigan and will race there, only the 2nd time ever in Cup history that two sones have raced against their Father(8-19-2000)
Labonte to run at Michigan? UPDATE YES: Terry Labonte is expected to return to competition. Labonte practiced Saturday morning in the #5 Chevry Monte Carlo. Lingering trouble from what was thought to have been a concusssion was disagnosed this week as an inner-ear problem(That’s Racin’). If Labonte does drive the car, he wil have to fall to the back of the field from the 33rd starting spot where Todd Bodine qualified it. Can only assume, Bodine will stand by in case needed. During the BGN race, Dr Jerry Punch, said Bodine would drive the #5 Car on Sunday. Bodine won the BGN race on Saturday. Also a story at the Insider Racing site, saying: Terry Labonte will run Happy Hour if he feels okay then he will run the Winston Cup race on Sunday. He went to a new doctor this week and was told he had Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Both Labonte and the doctor believe Labonte was healed in the office that day. The Doctor told Labonte to go out and try make himself dizzy, it never happened even with 10 hours at an amusement park riding rollercoasters
UPDATE: Terry Labonte’s two-week absence from racing took another turn Saturday, when he climbed behind the wheel of his #5 Kelloggs/Frosted Flakes Chevy for Happy Hour/final practice and vowed to compete in Sunday’s Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway. Todd Bodine will stand by on Sunday. Also Sunday, sponsor Kellogg’s will announce a sponsorship extension for Labonte and the #5 team(see story below)(SpeedVision)(8-19-2000)
Donohue 25 Years: Racing Legend, Mark Donohue, who won the Indy 500 and a Winston Cup race at Riverside, passed away 25 years ago today in Austria. To see more about Donohue, his accomplishements and links to other sites, see my Mark Donohue Tribute Page, I added a few images, streamlined some images, added some links and cleaned it up a bit(8-19-2000)
Health Check UPDATE: Pfizer’s Mens’s Health Tune-Up for Life mobile screening unit will be at Michigan International Speedway today-Sunday to provide men and women free health screenings. The unit will be located behind the suites in the souvenir area. It will be open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday. The program is endorsed by Winston Cup drivers Martin, Labonte and Rusty Wallace, and Pfizer sponsors the Viagra Winston Cup car(Detroit News)(8-18-2000)
UPDATE: Rusty Wallace will be appearing at the screening trailer on Saturday morning about 1 hour after the practice session ends….roughly 11:00am. He will be on hand to answer questions for the fans(8-19-2000)

(8-18-2000)
Labonte Better, Roller Coaster? On Thursday’s RPM 2Night show on ESPN2, Matt Yocum reported that Terry Labonte, who will sit out of his third straight Cup race this weekend, tested his brother’s Cup car(Bobby’s #18) at Lakeland, FL on Wednesday and had no ill effects as he did at Bristol on Monday. Labonte’s Doctor said to help speed up the recovery process (effects from a concussion) that Labonte should ride roller coasters(wonder if his insurance covered that?). So Labonte flew to Kings Dominion in Virginia and rode the roller coasters there all day. Further updates on Labonte’s condition will come Saturday when he goes to Michigan for the race weekend(RPM 2Night)(8-18-2000)
Kenny Wallace to stay put: Kenny Wallace, driver of the #55 Square-D Chevy for Andy Petree Racing, says he and the sponsor of his team, Sqaure-D, will return to APR in 2001. Wallace said he had feelers from other teams, but he is not leaving APR and the team will stick to Chevy’s and not switch to Pontiacs(?)(Winston Cup Scene, Vol XXIV, NO 16)(8-18-2000)
Andretti to stick with the King: John Andretti has heard rumors that he is leaving the #43 Cheerios/Petty Enterprises team at the end of the 2000 season, but says he is not leaving, but is flattered to get calls from other team owners. Andretti recently renewed his three year contract with team owner Richard Petty(Winston Cup Scene, Vol XXIV, NO 16)(8-18-2000)
Qualifying Notes: #55-Kenny Wallace has HALO on the 1/4 panel, HALO is a brand from Cooper Lighting, one of the co-sponsors on the car. #14-Rick Mast is using a in-house David Evans built engine (called a Foyt-Coyotte). #13-Robby Gordon is back to the orange paint scheme and has Turtle Wax on the hood. #77-Pressley has an Aqua Jasper Engines paint scheme with a Panther. The #85-Carl Long Ford is bare, no sponsors, painted yellow and blue(8-18-2000)
DW and the Boy Scouts: Darrell Waltrip will be the honored guest of the 10th Annual NASCAR/Michigan Speedway Boy Scout Benefit at hte Country Club of Jackson(MI). Doesn’t give a date(Winston Cup Scene, Vol XXIV, NO 16)(8-18-2000)
Craven’s Schedule: Ricky Craven’s and the #50 Midwest Transit Team’s tentative schedule for the rest of the season will have him competing in the following races: Michigan, Bristol, Richmond, New Hampshire, Martinsville, Charlotte, Rockingham, Phoenix and Homestead. They are unlikely to compete at Darlington, Dover, Talladega and Atlanta(Gaston Gazette)(8-18-2000)

(8-17-2000)
Kentucky Testing? hearing that #7-Micheal Waltrip and #9-Stacy Compton are testing at Kentucky Speedway August 16th and 17th(Yesterday and today(8-17-2000)
Elliott Anniversary and Paint Scheme: Bill Elliott will celebrate his 25 years in NASCAR Winston Cup racing at the track that has created as many fond memories as any other on the circuit. During Sunday’s (Aug. 20) NASCAR Winston Cup event at Michigan Speedway, Elliott will drive a #94-McDonald’s special edition red, yellow and silver Ford Taurus that displays his 25th season logo on each side panel. Elliott is the winningest active driver at the track with seven victories. He is third on the all-time win list for Michigan Speedway. He has more pole positions (7) at Michigan than any other active driver. He is second on the all-time list. He has led more laps (872) at the two-mile track than any other active driver. Sunday’s race will be Elliott’s 613th career Winston Cup start. His career took its green flag on Feb. 29, 1976 in the Carolina 500 at North Carolina Speedway. He drove a powder blue Ford Gran Torino with only one sponsor – Dahlonega Ford, a dealership in Dahlonega, Ga., that was owned by his late father, George Elliott. He qualified 34th, finished 33rd and went home with a $640 check(McDonalds Racing PR)(8-17-2000)
#96 or #98? UPDATE, it is #96: Have seen conflicting reports on what number Andy Houston will drive this weekend in the Cup race at Michigan for PPI Motorsports. If you look at their site, www.ppiracing.com, the Press Release lists #98, but they show a drawing of the car and it’s #96. NOL lists it as #98 on the Entry List. We’ll see for sure tomorrow in qualifying
UPDATE: I have been informed the number of the PPI Motorsports Ronald McDonald House Charities Ford will be #96 NOT #98, aslo the PPI site has corrected it to read #96(8-17-2000)
#95 News: The Sadler Bros #95 Ford team will atempt to make the Pepsi 400 at Michigan with David Keith as the driver and some sponsorship help from www.visualbible.com, who also was on the car at Indy when Keith missed the Brickyard 400 by a spot. The #95 Ford will be powered by Robert Yates Engines. The team also plans to attepmt the Southern 500 at Darlington(Sept 3rd)(8-17-2000)
Tiny Lund-25 Years: DeWayne “Tiny” Lund, died 25 years ago in a wreck at Talladega. During his 20 year career, Lund won five Grand National/Cup races in 303 starts(8-17-2000)

(8-16-2000)
Kerry Story: interesting column at the Charlotte Observer about Kerry Earnhardt that explains alot about him, his childhood and his relationship with Dale Sr, Dale Jr and his Step Dad. See it at: The `Middle E’ steps up at Michigan by Scott Fowler(8-16-2000)
Labonte to sit another week UPDATE 3: Terry Labonte tested at Bristol on Monday in his son Justin’s #44 BGN car. He ran five laps and after the test, decided to sit out the Cup race this weekend at Michigan. Labonte is still suffering the effects of a concussion he got in an accident at Daytona in the Pepsi 400 on July 1st. No sub has been named as of yet(RPM 2Night). Am hearing that Todd Bodine will drive the #5 Frosted Flakes/Kelloggs Chevy at Michigan for Labonte(8-15-2000)
UPDATE: Terry Labonte’s much-anticipated test session at Bristol Motor Speedway ended quickly Monday morning. After just a handful of laps in the Slim Jim Busch Series entry regularly driven by his son Justin, Labonte retired to the pits. The Kellogg’s transporter left the track moments later. “I talked to Terry after he made his run,” BMS director of communications Wayne Estes said. “Terry said he just didn’t think he was ready to test today.” Since Labonte did not drive his Winston Cup car Monday, he(or the team) did not lose one of his allotted (seven) test dates(Bristol Herald Courier(link good for Tues only)
UPDATE 2: Todd Bodine will drive the #5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet for Labonte. As he did at both Indy and Watkins Glen, Labonte will assist DeHart atop the team’s pit box AND Brett Bodine, Todd’s brother, will drive the #44 Slim Jim Chevy that Labonte had originally intended to drive in Saturday’s BGN race(NOL)(8-15-2000)
UPDATE 3: Labonte, who suffered a broken right arm(leg not arm) and concussion in the wrecks, was scheduled for further medical tests Tuesday(8-15) at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Labonte’s crew chief, Gary DeHart, said Labonte did not feel well after completing four or five laps at Bristol. Todd Bodine has been asked to serve as a possible relief driver for the next three or four races, sources said Tuesday(That’s Racin’)(8-16-2000)
Gordon vs Stewart UPDATE 2: Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart ruined their chances at victory in Sunday’s Global Crossing @ The Glen when they ran into each other on Lap 2 of the 90-lap race while battling for position, after the race, the two drivers had word: See full story at That’s Racin’
UPDATE: from NOL: Stewart, Gordon renew love vows by Marty Smith(8-14-2000)
UPDATE 2: from That’s Racin’ – Stewart, Gordon move on after confrontation including: In an interview with ESPN before he left the track, Stewart took responsibility for the accident. “It was my fault,” he said. “I slid into him. I was the guy that made contact with him. He didn’t hit me. It wasn’t intentional. I got up there and I lost the back end and slid into him.” (8-16-2000)
Wells 2nd Team UPDATE: Bobby Hamilton and Jimmy Spencer are on the top of Cal Wells’ list to be Scott Pruett’s McDonald’s-sponsored teammate in 2001, but Hamilton says he wants to stay with owner Larry McClure. Spencer says he has another year on his contract with K mart, Travis Carter and Carl Haas(PitNow). Plus Hamilton is rumored to the Ganassi Racing #01 BellSouth ride(8-14-2000)
UPDATE: am hearing now, that Spencer plans to stay with Travis Carter next season in the #26 car(8-16-2000)
Some Sad News: Motorsports insurance pioneer John Naughton died Tuesday in East Providence, R.I., home of his company Naughton Insurance, see the NOL story at: NASCAR insurer John Naughton passes; and former NASCAR driver Carl Burris formed lasting racing legacy both stories from NOL(8-16-2000)
#48 Team News ?? REPOST: America’s Team Motorsports Inc. is coming to Winston Cup. The team is combining with Mark Smith and TriStar Motorsports and plans to run five Cup events this season. FansTeam.com, an Internet-based fan club created by the America’s Team group, is sponsoring the car. Darrell Lanigan is expected to compete for the team in the second races at Michigan, Richmond, Charlotte, Talladega and Rockingham. A show car for the team is scheduled to be at Southside Speedway on Saturday night(Times-Dispatch)(5-17-2000)
UPDATE? have heard nothing of this fans sponsored team in a while, they are not on the entry list at Michigan. The Fans Team site lists Michigan on the ‘Team’ schedule but also lists it is looking for a driver, no mention of Lanigan or Stanton Barrett, who attempted to make the Daytona 500 for the team before it was known as Fans Team. Last Press Release noted on the site was in March(8-16-2000)
Jarrett/Pit/Hose: am hearing from many readers that they saw #88-Dale Jarrett run over an air hose during his first pitstop at Watkins Glen this past weekend. I did not notice or see it and if it happened, either NASCAR did not think the infraction was severe enough to warrant a penalty, it was missed or the crew got the hose out just before the car left. Not looking to speculate, dwell or get any more email on this issue. Folks are getting pretty nasty over this, and am getting conflicting reports on the situation but as I said, not looking to dwell on this. Have a problem with it, email or contact NASCAR, see my Racing FAQ page for the info(8-15-2000)
UPDATE: Benny Parsons covered this question on ESPN2’s RPM 2Night and basically said “it was missed or the crew got the hose out just before the car left” (sounds familiar). As Benny said, it is illegal to run over the air hose and it is in the rulebook. Saw the replay and it was hard to tell as a crew member did jerk the air hose back just as the car left. then the hose looked like it fell back. Anyhow, case closed(8-16-2000)
Vasser to NASCAR? CART driver and former CART champ, Jimmy Vasser, will leave Ganassi Racing at the end of the 2000 CART season. Vasser, who says he’d like to race two or three more years, could have several options in the CART paddock or possibly the Indy Racing League.(SpeedNet) AND On Saturday, Vasser, who had one year left on his contract with Ganassi, was open to the idea of giving NASCAR a chance. “I would consider almost anything,” he said. “The grass is always greener, too, isn’t it? NASCAR puts on a good show, but it’s a different kind of racing.”(Pittsburgh Post Gazette)(8-16-2000)

(8-15-2000)
Long at Michigan: the #85 Mansion Motorsports team plans on being at Michigan this coming weekend with Carl Long as the driver. For more info on the team and Long, see my #85 Team News and Links pagefor….news and links. Long also hopes top run at Bristol on Aug 26th(8-15-2000)
Fine?? UPDATE yep #28: hearing that a major fine will be handed down to a Winston Cup Team after illegal parts were found on a car after the race at Watkins Glen. No idea at this point who, but PitNow is reporting that the #28 Ford of Ricky Rudd was “worked his car over well after the race” by NASCAR officials and that before the race the team was “caught with a lightweight rear trailing arm by NASCAR; since that piece is welded together”
UPDATE: NASCAR officials announced today they have penalized #28 crew chief Michael McSwain for trailing arms that were modified to be lighter than the specifications in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book discovered in preliminary inspections on Friday for last Sunday’s Global Crossing @ The Glen at Watkins Glen. McSwain was fined $10,000 for violations of Section 20-12-A in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: “If an I-Beam style trailing arm is used, it must be constructed using two (2) C-channels of a minimum one (1) inch in width by three (3) inches in height magnetic steel with a minimum wall thickness of 1/8 inch… welded back to back, creating a vertical wall of two (2) 1/8 inch wall thicknesses…” McSwain was penalized under Section 12-4-Q: “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform… or have not been approved by NASCAR.”(NASCAR)(8-15-2000)
Musgrave in? UPDATE yep race-by-race Hearing Ted Musgrave will be back in the #01 BellSouth Chevy at Michigan after giving way to road racer(and BGN driver) PJ Jones at Watkins Glen
UPDATE: Ted Musgrave will pilot the #01 BellSouth/Team SABCO Chevrolet on a week-to-week basis, beginning with the Aug. 20 Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway. Musgrave took the reins of the BellSouth NASCAR Winston Cup entry in the July 30 Pocono 500 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and the Aug. 5 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He also drove the #82 Channellock/Team SABCO Chevy in the BGN at Gateway and IRP.(SABCO PR)(8-15-2000)
Stricklin in the #90, rest of the year: Hut Stricklin was named driver of #90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford for the remainder of the season, according to team owner Junie Donlavey. Stricklin has been with the team for three weeks, finishing well at Indianapolis and acting as the crew chief for Brian Simo at Watkins Glen last week, Simo failed to make the race when Qualifying was rained out. Donlavey has not hired another crew chief because Stricklin, who has been calling the shots for himself, said he wants to take the time to hire someone he is sure will complement him(Keystone Marketing/Hills Bros Racing)(8-15-2000)
Little to PPI? UPDATE 2: Chad Little appears to be a finalist for the Cal Wells-owned Winston Cup car sponsored by McDonald’s(2nd team to #32 Scott Pruett/Tide). Wells plans to run two Winston Cup cars next season and may put the McDonald’s car in a few races this year(Like Houston at Michigan)(Times-Dispatch)(8-8-2000)
UPDATE: hearing Chad Little will drive the #97 McDonalds Ford in the BGN race at Michigan for PPI Motorsports and is a candidate for the 2nd Cup team
UPDATE 2: PPI Motorsports owner Cal Wells III announced that Chad Little will drive the team’s Busch car – the #97 McDonald’s Ford Taurus – in this weekend’s BGN race at Michigan. Little’s entry in the BGN race is an addition to his regular driving duties for Roush Racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series(#97 John Deere Ford). The #97 McDonald’s Ford represents the third entry for PPI Motorsports this weekend at Michigan Speedway. PPI Motorsports will have a two-car Winston Cup effort for the weekend – the #32 Tide Ford driven by Scott Pruett, and the recently announced #96(thought it was #98??) Ronald McDonald House Charities Ford driven by Andy Houston. This weekend’s McDonald’s Busch effort will be supported with personnel from PPI Motorsports and Stan Hover Motorsports(#80), with Stan Hover serving as crew chief. Hover has fielded ARCA teams since 1996(McDonald’s Racing PR)(8-15-2000)
Martin/BBBSA: Mark Martin’s on-track performance in the Valvoline Ford, combined with contributions from Valvoline and NASCAR fans, has brought the current total raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters since 1999 to $528,065. Valvoline is donating $5,000 for every Winston Cup race Martin wins, $2,500 for each pole, $1,000 for a top-five finish, and $20 per lap Martin leads in this “Caring Hands” program. The next trackside fundraiser, where fans can participate, will be this Sunday (8 a.m.-noon) at the Valvoline souvenir trailer outside Michigan Speedway(Valvoline PR)(8-15-2000)
DEI Sets Record: The three first time winners in this season matches a mark found just six years ago when in 1994 Sterling Marlin, Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Spencer won for the first time in their careers. While there have been 25 drivers, including Park, to score their initial career victories since the sport entered its “modern era” in 1972, this is the first season an owner has been able to claim two first-time winners. Both Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who scored his initial win in the 500 at Texas in April, and Park drive for the team owned by Dale Earnhardt(DEI)(TachZone)(8-15-2000)
Bristol Testing: Drivers testing at Bristol Motor Speedway Monday were #94-Bill Elliott and #16-Kevin Lepage along with BGN drivers #24-Ricky Hendrick and David Green(in the #34 or helping Hendrick? not sure). The test was extended into Monday night so drivers could get accustomed to the cooler conditions as the Races in two weeks will be at night. #44-Kyle Petty, #31-Elliott Sadler and possibly Tim Fedewa will test at BMS on Tuesday. #40-Sterling Marlin and several other drivers from Team Sabco(Ganassi Racing) are scheduled to test at BMS Wednesday and Thursday(Bristol Herald Courier(link good for Tues only) and see an image at the Bristol Motor Speedway site. I hear Ted Musgrave will test the #01 Cup car and the #82 BGN car at Bristol for Sabco/Ganassi(8-15-2000)

(8-14-2000)
Not Cup but Scary: Horrified fans watched as a race car driver staggered away from a fiery four-car crash, his body fully engulfed in flames until a photographer was able to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. The crash happened late Saturday night at the suburban Tacoma track Spanaway Speedway, where local drivers raced late model cars. The driver, identified as Mike Easley, remained hospitalized Sunday in critical condition. Another driver was in serious condition with burns on his head, face and torso(AP/Star Telegram). For more info and to email the drivers, see the Spanaway Speedway Site(8-14-2000)
Eel River Racing to get new Digs: Jack Birmingham, #27 team owner, is building a $5.5 million headquarters in a Mooresville(NC) business park, with plans to more than double employment to 100 by next year. Eel River Racing, now based in Lakeside Business Park near Mooresville with 40 employees, will move to Talbert Pointe Business Park once its 70,000-square-foot building is complete. The key is finding a sponsor for a second racing team to operate from the new building(Story is a bit outdated, although just posted on their site, but had some good info I did not have posted even though they still have Jeff Fuller listed as the driver)(Business Journal of Charlotte)(8-14-2000)
Benny Traded? thought this was interesting….NBC will get Benny Parsons on camera a little earlier than expected. ABC ”traded” Parsons to NBC for the Homestead race in November in exchange for replay rights to Tiger Woods’ victory in the U.S. Open. Parsons is to be NBC’s color commentator next season(PitNow)(8-14-2000)

(8-13-2000)

Aero Testing UPDATE 3: NASCAR has booked Daytona International Speedway on August 15th(looks like the 14th) for a special aerodynamic test session. The sanctioning body is tinkering with different aero combinations to slow the Winston Cup cars down without restricting the engines any further. Race cars at Daytona and Talladega are slowed by a carburetor restrictor plate, which zaps engine horsepower. Richard Childress Racing(#’s 3 and 31), which runs Chevrolets, and Roush Racing(#’s 6,16,17,97,99) which campaigns Fords, along with at least one Pontiac team will participate in the so-called “dirty air test.”(Speed Magazine)(7-30-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials will conduct a test session with about 12 teams Monday(Aug 14th) at Daytona in hopes of finding a way to make the racing better. NASCAR officials hope to find ways to make the cars less sleek aerodynamically, so they can give them more horsepower without increasing speeds. NASCAR officials are looking only at race setups at this test. Gary Nelson, NASCAR Winston Cup director, says the goal is to give teams 75 more horsepower, which would put restrictor-plate engines at about 500 horsepower. An unrestricted engine creates more than 750 horsepower. NASCAR has used restrictor plates since 1987 as a way to slow the cars at Daytona and Talladega after they ran laps of more than 210 mph at both tracks. Restrictor plates reduce the amount of air in the engine, limiting its power. (See the history of the restrictor plates at my Restrictor Plate History page). Teams expected to test at Daytona will be those of #28-Ricky Rudd, #88-Dale Jarrett, #18-Bobby Labonte, #20-Tony Stewart, #24-Jeff Gordon, #3-Dale Earnhardt, #31-Mike Skinner and Roush Racing(a few of the five teams). Dodge was invited but doesn’t have a car ready yet to participate. See full story at the Roanoke Times(8-9-2000)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR is hosting a very large test session at the Daytona Intl. Speedway next week that may be attended by more than a dozen teams, with, Speedway Illustrated is being are told, some “urging” from the powers that be and their own interest in the outcome. This test is aimed at finding a way to control car speeds without the restrictor plates. NASCAR found a way to slow the trucks while allowing full engine power and may be going to apply some of the same techniques to the Winston Cup cars. Sources in the Winston Cup shops tell Speedway Illustrated one of the primary alterations may be the spoiler strips running vertically on the front fenders that both create huge amounts of drag themselves, and induce even more drag along the rest of the car by upsetting the air flow over the car. The same sources say we could also see an increase to windshield angles and a “standardization” of the greenhouse (the portion of the car from the bottom of the windows up) between makes as this one dimension makes a very large difference in overall aerodynamic numbers(Speedway Illustrated)(8-11-2000)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR currently uses a (restrictor) plate with four holes that are 7/8 of an inch in diameter. They likely will test Tuesday with one-inch holes as they try to increase horsepower to around 600-625. NASCAR will experiment with a 65-degree rear spoiler, angled 20 degrees more than the spoilers used for the 2000 Daytona 500. There are also possibilities of changing the front air dams and adding an inch-high bar across the roof. NASCAR will supply the roof strips and possibly some strips to go in front of the air dams. The Richard Childress Racing teams will bring an adjustable spoiler that can be changed from 30 degrees to 70 degrees. One thing that likely won’t be adjusted is the fender(Speed Magazine)(8-13-2000)
Gibbs Feature – USA Weekend: in many Sunday newspapers, the Aug 13th edition of USA Weekend Magazine, will have a feature about #18 and #20 Cup owner Joe Gibbs on the cover and an interview(8-9-2000)
UPDATE: see the story at The Joe Gibbs Way by Dennis McCafferty(8-13-2000)
Park wins his first Cup race at Watkins Glen: #1-Steve Park wins his first Winston Cup race by dominating the Global Crossing @ The Glen and holding off #6-Mark Martin and breaking Jeff Gordon’s road course streak at six. Park wins in his 77th Winston Cup start. Not sure, but I think it is the first win by a Pennzoil Sponsored car(as a primary sponsor). Also, it was the first Winston Cup win by a car #1 since David Pearson did it in 1980 at Darlington (see my Winners by Car# page). #1 Crew Chief Paul Andrews has led three drivers to their first Cup wins: Alan Kulwicki in 1988, Jeremy Mayfield in 1998 and now Steve Park. There have now been 13 winners in 2000, the most since there were 14 in 1991. There have now been three first time winners in 2000, #8-Earnhardt Jr, #17-Kenseth and now #1-Park, the most since 1994. Also Park came from the furthest starting spot(18th) ever at The Glen to win the race. #13-Robby Gordon came up from starting 42nd to finish 4th, a move of 38 spots. For the results of the race, see NOL or Racin’ Network(8-13-2000)
#60 Changes? UPDATE 2: but am hearing that crew chief, Jim Long is not at Watkins Glen this weekend and owner Joe Bessey is calling the shots for driver Geoffrey Bodine and the #60 Power Team Chevy. TNN’s Raceday reported that Bodine and Bessey have agreed to part ways at the end of the 2000 Cup season, so Bodine is now officially looking for a ride. Bessey needs a sponsor to keep his #60 Cup team afloat for the 2001 season
UPDATE: Crew Chief Jim Long is not at the track in Watkins Glen, no changes, Long is not at the track due to an illness in his family, ESPN reported during the race that Garth Findley was the acting crew chief
UPDATE 2: who is Garth? Garth Findley is an engineering consultant who the #60 Team hired. Findley was with Larry Hedrick’s #41 team earlier this year when they stopped racing, the team picked him up(8-13-2000)
Did ya know? last years victory at Watkins Glen by Jeff Gordon was former crew chief Ray Evernham’s last win with Gordon and as a crew chief in Winston Cup. Evernham now leads Dodge’s effort in it’s 2001season comeback(ESPN2’s NASCAR 2Day)(8-13-2000)
Ganassi looking at a rookie? besides hearing Bobby Hamilton as a rumored driver for the #01 BellSouth/Ganassi Racing Dodge driver in 2001, hearing that BGN rookie of the year candidate Jimmie Johnson may be a candidate for the job. Johnson currently drivers the #92 ALLTEL Chevy in the BGN(8-13-2000)

(8-12-2000)
Pruett to run a truck: Scott Pruett, who drives the #32 Tide Ford in the Winston Cup series for Cal Wells/PPI Motorsports, will drive the #32 Kenmore Ford truck in the CTS race at Chicgao Motor Speedway on August 27th, the day after the Cup race at Bristol. PPI Motorsports, will join Billy Ballew Motorsports to field the #32 Kenmore/Tide Ford pickup. Billy Ballew Motorsports will supply the race trucks, mechanics and pit crew(PPI Motorsports Site)(8-11-2000)
UPDATE: Pruett won’t be able to qualify the truck for that event, so his PPI Motorsports teammate Anthony Lazzaro will qualify for him Aug. 26. Pruett will be in Bristol, Tenn., for the Winston Cup race that night.(Speed Magazine)(8-13-2000)
Skinner to Stay: when #31 crew chief Larry McReynolds announced he was leaving the #31 Lowes Chevy, there were questions about the future of driver Mike Skinner(had heard none here). Saturday, team owner Richard Childress put those questions to rest, saying Skinner would be in the #31 for two more years and that the team wants Skiiner to stay and that Skinner wants to stay(NOL)(8-12-2000)
Weber to stay at ESPN: ESPN’s Bill Weber, who covers the pits for ESPN’s coverage of the Cup races and hosts the race day Cup race preview show, NASCAR 2Day, says that AESPN has declined to release him from his contract, so he will be reluctantly losing his NASCAR beat next season when Fox, NBC and Turner kick off their six-year Winston Cup tour contract. Weber was offered what he described as ”career-making” moves by the new NASCAR networks. Weber confirmed Friday that ESPN has declined to let him out of a contract that runs for 3½ more years(That’s Racin’ and PitNow)(8-12-2000)

(8-11-2000)
Labonte Rumor UPDATE: been told by many readers that it was reported on a Charlotte, NC radio station Wednesday morning, that Terry Labonte, driver of the #5 Kelloggs Chevy, was considering retirement and not returning to driving a race car. Sources tell me that this is not true and Labonte plans to drive at Michigan and beyond. Also in Bobby Labonte’s NOL Chat transcript, Bobby says: “I talked to him(brother Terry) last night. He said he felt really good yesterday. And as you can expect, he doesn’t want to be out of the race car. So he’s anxious to get back in it.”(8-10-2000)
UPDATE: first thing I have seen written about it….A rumor surfaced in Charlotte this week that Labonte was considering retirement, but Labonte said there was no basis to that report. He plans to drive in a test at Bristol early next week(Monday and Tuesday) and after that will decide if he’s ready to be back in the car next week at Michigan(That’s Racin’)(8-11-2000)
Mayfield to return, Kyle drives for free: Jeremy Mayfield is expected to return to for next weekend’s Cup race at Michigan. Mayfield was injured in a practice crash at Indy and suffered a concussion. He sat out the Brickyard 400 and will site out the Watkins Glen race. Kyle Petty, who substituted for Mayfield last weekend at Indianapolis, told Penske-Kranefuss Racing this week he would not accept payment for his services as driver last weekend. Petty’s payment, estimated by team officials as “several thousand” dollars, was donated to the Kyle Petty Charity Ride. Tom Hubert, who works for Bill Davis Racing and has a lot of road racing experience, is substituting for Mayfield this week(That’s Racin’)(8-11-2000)
Larry Mac to leave RCR UPDATE 2: It was announced on ESPN2’s RPM 2Night that #31 Lowes/Richard Childress Racing crew chief, Larry McReynolds, would leave that operation at the conclusion of the 2000 Cup season. No word on McReynolds plans, but word is that he could end up in a job out of the garage, possibly with one of the new TV packages, NBC/TBS or Fox/FX(8-9-2000)
UPDATE: Larry McReynolds, recognized as one of the top crew chiefs in the NASCAR garages, apparently has decided to leave Richard Childress Racing to pursue a career in television. Speedvision.com learned last weekend at Indianapolis that McReynolds had been offered a position as announcer or commentator by one of the two network groups (Fox, NBC/TBS) who will take over rights to televise NASCAR races beginning next year(SpeedVision)(8-10-2000)
UPDATE: Royce McGee will spend the rest of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season transitioning into the role of crew chief for the #31 Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse Racing team in preparation for taking full control in 2001(RCR Site)(8-11-2000)
Larry Mac and DW together….in the booth UPDATE: Darrell Waltrip, winner of 84 career NASCAR Winston Cup Series races, and veteran, personable crew chief Larry McReynolds, have been named race analysts for the premiere season of NASCAR on FOX(in 2001 at Daytona). Waltrip and McReynolds form two-thirds of the NASCAR on FOX race broadcast team. Waltrip and McReynolds also serve as analysts for next season’s NASCAR coverage on FX and FOX Sports Net. A NASCAR on FOX play-by-play announcer will announced at a later date, as will multiple pit reporters and an on-site pre-race show team. On Nov. 11, 1999, NASCAR announced that it had reached an eight-year agreement with FOX and FX to carry Winston Cup and Busch Series races. FOX Sports begins its telecast schedule SpeedWeek 2001 from Daytona, which culminates with live flag-to-flag coverage of the 42nd Daytona 500. The 2001 Winston Cup schedule is expected to be announced later this month(NASCAR PR)(8-10-2000)
UPDATE: hearing Mike Joy will be the third piece of the Fox announcement team, doing the ‘play-by-play'(8-11-2000)
Hut at the Glen: Although Hut Stricklin will not drive the #90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford at Watkins Glen, he will serve as crew chief with oversight from team owner Junie Donlavey. Road Racer Brian Simo will drive the car at the Glen(Keystone Marketing). Also, look for Stricklin to return to the seat of the #90 Ford at Michigan and run the rest of the season for Donlavey(8-11-2000)

(8-10-2000)
HANS Device Mandatory? Don`t be shocked if NASCAR suddenly mandates the “HANS” head-and-neck restraint system for use this season, rather than waiting for next year. CART and Formula One already have made the newly refined device mandatory for drivers next season, and NASCAR — in the wake of the deaths of Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin — has been taking heat for not yet following the open-wheel series` lead. Ford and General Motors are intensely encouraging their NASCAR drivers to use the device, and there are hints that NASCAR soon may spring what would amount to at least a public relations surprise(Orlando Sentinel). What is the HANS device and what does it look like? See my HANS Device page(8-10-2000)
Gordon Paint: This weekend Team Gordon’s Menards/TurtleWax/Duracell Ford Taurus will take on a new look just for Watkins Glen, highlighting team sponsor Sony Electronics. In place of neon orange, Gordon’s car will sport a purple, black and white paint scheme designed by Sony. It’s all part of an effort to promote the Sony TechPit product display trailer which is currently touring all of the NASCAR Winston Cup events. The logo of Wega, Sony’s state-of-the-art, flat-screen televisions will be featured on the hood with the familiar Sony logo in white on the quarter panels. For a sneak preview of Robby Gordon¹s car for Watkins Glen, check www.teamgordon.com Thursday for pictures(image is up…do not email it to me)(Team Gordon PR)(8-10-2000)
Herzog Motorsports to run at the CUP race at Watkins Glen? UPDATE – NO: Stan Herzog of Herzog Motorsports(#92 ALLTEL BGN Chevy) confirmed that his team might race in Winston Cup as early as the Aug. 13 race at Watkins Glen. That will probably be contingent on how well BGN driver Jimmie Johnson performs June 25, when the BGN is at Watkins Glen. Herzog plans to field a Winston Cup team in at least five races next season and will have a full Winston Cup team in place by 2002. However, Herzog said there is a slight possibility a full Winston Cup effort could be in place for 2001, but everything would have to fall into place soon. Herzog won’t be able to announce its 2001 Winston Cup intentions until September(St. Joseph News-Press)(6-15-2000)
UPDATE: just a follow up on an almost 2 month rumor that is not going to happen(8-10-2000)
Crew Chief News UPDATE: hearing former #93 Amoco/Bill Davis Racing crew chief, Gil Martin, is being considered for the 2nd Cal Well’s team (#? McDonald’s Ford) and for the #01 crew chief job. Supposedly, Tony Glover will go back to more of a Team Manager role(8-7-2000)
UPDATE: hearing Martin has began work at Richard Childress Racing as the crew chief for #21-Mike Dillon in the BGN series. Supposedly, Martin decided to go back to the BGN for the lighter schedule and spend more time with the family this season. If things work out at RCR, Martin could be a candidate for the #31 Cup team crew chief job, replacing Larry McReynolds, who is leaving at the end of the 2000 season(see story below)(8-10-2000)

(8-9-2000)
Sad News: NASCAR Legend, Herb Thomas, who ran in the first NASCAR race at Charlotte in 1949, won 48 races and was the Champion in 1951 and 1953, passed away today(NASCAR PR/NOL)(8-9-2000)
Burnout T-Shirts? The who’s who of Motorsports have joined the BurnOut WEAR Team. From NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Bobby and Terry LaBonte, Bill Elliott, and Ricky Rudd. From NASCAR Busch Series: Mike McLaughlin. From NHRA: Kenny Bernstein and John Force, along with the driver’s from WOO, that include “The Dude” Danny Lasoski and from DIRT “Barefoot Bob” McCreadie. With many more drivers to come. The company is known as BurnOut WEAR LTD. after the nature of the product and manufacturing process. Development of the process began in 1994, with a patent granted in 1997. The patent provides a garment which is integrally bonded to a portion of a race car tire. The Trademark “BurnOut WEAR” has been filed by Wyatt Earp IV in the U.S. patent and Trademark Office and the “BurnOut” image has been filed for copyright protection in the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. This is the first and only product of it’s kind in the world. Check out the site, see the link on my Collectible Links page under Apparel(8-9-2000)
TV Guide: TV Guide is featuring NASCAR Winston Cup on next weeks magazines(Aug 12-18) with four different ‘collectors’ covers. On the covers are Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Ricky Rudd and Rusty Wallace. The column/story can be read at: Veteran’s Days by Robert Edelstein. Check your local stores for availability(TV Guide Site)(8-9-2000)
Spencer Grand Marshal and Speaks: Jimmy Spencer, driver of the #26 Big Kmart Ford, will be talking with fans in a Fan Forum scheduled for Saturday(Aug 12th) of the Global Crossing @ The Glen weekend. Spencer will be handling questions from fans in the Pit Terrace Grandstand following Saturday’s Happy Hour afternoon practice session, scheduled to start at approximately 3:00 p.m. Track officials also announced today that Jimmy Spencer will be the Grand Marshal for The Glen 100K NASCAR Featherlite Modified event.(The Glen PR)(8-9-2000)
2nd PPI car at Michigan? UPDATE 3 Yep: hearing that PPI Motorsports, who run Scott Pruett in the #32 Tide Ford, may run CTS driver, Andy Houston at Michigan in a 2nd PPI Ford. No word if McDonald’s will be the sponsor. Word is that Houston is a candidate for the full time 2001 ride in the car(8-3-2000)
UPDATE: on Saturday night’s RPM 2Night show on ESPN2, Matt Yocum reported that Andy Houston would be entered in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan. Houston will drive the 2nd PPI Motorsports/Cal Well’s Ford(8-7-2000)
UPDATE 2: Andy Houston has informed his #60 CTS team that he will not return to the team next year but that he has not signed any deals yet and is talking to a few BGN and CUP teams. Matt Yocum, once again reported that Houston will drive a 2nd Cal Wells/PPI Motorsports car at Michigan on August 20th(RPM2Night)(8-8-2000)
UPDATE 3: PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced today it will field a second Winston Cup car, the #98 Ronald McDonald House Charities Ford, with driver Andy Houston in the upcoming Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway Aug. 18-20, 2000. The car will be fielded alongside the team’s #32 Tide Ford, driven by Scott Pruett, as part of PPIM’s development toward a full time two-car effort in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 2001. Andy Houston, 29, of Hickory, N.C., currently stands fourth in the CTS points as driver of the #60 Cat Rental Store Chevrolet for Addington Racing. To date, he has claimed two race wins (Homestead and Portland) and one pole (Pikes Peak) going into this weekend’s truck series race at Nashville Speedway. Prior to joining the truck series, Houston competed in the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series and the NASCAR Winston Racing Series late model championship, which he won in 1994(PPI Motorsports PR)(8-9-2000)
Aaron Rents in 2001: on SpeedVision’s Inside Winston Cup, Aaron Rent’s president was on the show and mentioned that they would be an associate sponsor on the #36 and #10 MB2 Motorsports cars in 2001(8-9-2000)
Not NASCAR but…: in CASCAR (Canadian Stock Car Race Series) the #88 Speedy Auto Service truck and trailer were stolen from the parking lot across from the Radisson Hotel in Laval Quebec on Sunday, August 6, 2000 at Ste Eustache. For more on the story and ways to help, see the CASCAR page for details and info(8-9-2000)
Lepages BGN plans: Kevin Lepage, majority owner of the #71 Matrix Motorsports BGN team, announced a sponsorship deal with State Fair Brand Corn Dogs. Lepage and team co-owner Steve Plattenberger will field the #71 State Fair Brand Corn Dog Taurus at Bristol and Homestead this season and plan to run 12 to 15 races in 2001. Matrix Motorsports was formed earlier this year, and has entered the #71 Red Man Taurus in several BGN events this year. Lepage will continue to drive the #71, with partner Plattenberger filling the role of crew chief(Sarah Oleshak-PR)(8-9-2000)
Nadeau beats Benson: Jerry Nadeau defeated series regular Johnny Benson in the NASCAR Grudge Match Tuesday night in round nine of the Wendy’s Summer Shootout at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Benson and Nadeau put 600 Racing’s newest production machine, the Thunder Roadster(LMS PR)(8-9-2000)
Wind Tunnel Test..after Indy? UPDATE: NASCAR officials expect to be in the Lockheed wind tunnel next week with Dodge’s new Winston Cup tour Intrepid, after a track test at Atlanta(Aug 7-8th see story below). And if NASCAR likes what it sees, it will cut official templates for the 2001 season for the car. NASCAR also is expected to wind-tunnel test some other Winston Cup cars, quite possibly the top three finishing makes in the Brickyard 400. NASCAR hasn’t done a major wind-tunnel test since March, though the sanctioning body has had some Daytona 500 test cars in the tunnel for examination of possible body changes in advance of the Aug. 15 (Aero/Restrictor Plate) test at Daytona(PitNow)(8-5-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials began the approval process for the Dodge Intrepid when they took the car Sunday to the Lockheed wind tunnel in Marietta, GA(Roanoke Times) Didn’t mention any other cars going to the wind tunnel(8-9-2000)
Dodge/Evernham to test at Atlanta UPDATE: Evernham Motorsports has rented Atlanta Motor Speedway to conduct a Dodge test on Monday, August 7, and Tuesday, August 8. The team has requested that the test be closed to both the media and the general public. Evernham Motorsports will field two teams of Dodge Intrepids, driven by Bill Elliott and Casey Atwood, which will debut at the 2001 Daytona 500(AMS PR)(8-3-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR was at the Dodge test session Monday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Gary Nelson, NASCAR Winston Cup director, says the Intrepid needs some work to meet NASCAR guidelines but he doesn’t expect the approval process to be lengthy(Roanoke Times)(8-9-2000)

(8-8-2000)
Mayfield May Miss Watkins Glen too? UPDATE yes: Jeremy Mayfield, who suffered a closed-head injury in a practice-session wreck Friday at Indianapolis and sat out the Brickyard 400, may miss next weekend’s race at Watkins Glen as well. Mayfield was released from Methodist Hospital late Friday afternoon and returned to his home in Cornelius, N.C., Friday night. He watched Saturday’s race on TV. Kyle Petty, who did not qualify his own car for the race, substituted for Mayfield and finished 32nd. Mayfield’s team owner, Michael Kranefuss, said Saturday that Mayfield would be re-evaluated early this week to ensure he is ready to return to the car. Mayfield suffered a mild concussion in a wreck at Daytona in July and Kranefuss said doctors want to make sure there are not compounding, lingering effects. A decision regarding Mayfield’s status for next week is expected by Wednesday(That’s Racin’)(8-5-2000)
UPDATE – Hubert to fill in for Mayfield: Road racing expert Tom Hubert will start and race the #12 Mobil 1 Taurus this weekend at Watkins Glen. Jeremy Mayfield, a two-time race winner this season and regular driver for the team since 1996, will sit out recovering from a concussion suffered in an accident during practice last week at Indianapolis. Hubert, who turned 36 this past Sunday, is a native of Cottonwood, CA, with stock car racing experience in all major divisions. He stunned the NASCAR world a year ago when he qualified fourth at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway oval for its Winston Cup event, and has Winston Cup experience on the road courses at Watkins Glen and Sonoma, CA. Mayfield, 31, was injured during a third-turn accident in practice Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when his car hit oil, spinning it around and slamming it into the wall on the driver’s side first. He was examined and released by Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and returned to his North Carolina home late Friday evening. Mayfield plans to be back in the #12 at Michigan(Williams Company)(8-8-2000)
CITGO to move? #16? UPDATE Word from insiders is that Citgo, long-time sponsor of the Wood Brothers’ #21 Ford, could end up on Roush’s #16 next season, with Ford Quality Care, pushed off Robert Yates’ #88 (by UPS), taking over as the Woods’ primary sponsor. Other sources say, however, that Roush’s #16, with driver Kevin Lepage, is not on solid ground. Word is that Lepage has been allowed to look for other rides and that, if definite sponsorship is not soon forthcoming, the team might be folded(SpeedVision)(8-6-2000)
UPDATE, #16 in trouble? Winston Cup driver Kevin Lepage said Tuesday his car owner, Jack Roush, has informed him that if a new sponsor isn’t found for his #16 Fords for next season, the team will shut down. Lepage entered this season without a sponsor, but Roush vowed he would run the team with or without one and run the team out of his own pocket, if needed. Shortly into the season, Roush added an Internet company as a sponsor, but it was a stock-option agreement, not immediate financial backing for the team. With the agreement ending at season’s end, Lepage said Roush is working to secure a new sponsor but will not commit again to running the team without necessary funding. Lepage said Roush has assured him that if he is unable to secure sponsorship, Roush will not hold Lepage back from other driving opportunities(That’s Racin’)(8-8-2000)
TV Rumor? hearing Neil Goldberg, current race producer for ESPN/ABC, will be at the helm for Fox’s broadcasts next year. The announcement could come in the next week(Perfect Paranoia)(8-8-2000)
Todd Bodine to race Cup at Watkins Glen? UPDATE 3 an IMAGE: hearing that there will be an announcement made this week at NASCAR Night in the Heights, Elmira NY that Todd Bodine would drive the Cup race at Watkins Glen with an assoc sponsor who is coming aboard his #66 BGN team(6-22-2000)
UPDATE: hearing the sponsor is I LOVE NY(6-24-2000)
UPDATE 2: On Thursday, 6/22, at “NASCAR Night in the Heights” in Elmira Heights, NY… Todd Bodine and team co-owner Frank Cicci announced that the NY State Tourism Board will sponsor a #34 car for the Winston Cup race at Watkins Glen(Aug. 10-12). It will have a red,white and black paint scheme with an “I Love New York” sponsor-logo. Also, the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles honored the Bodine brothers. New York State has issued three different license plates featuring each of the Bodines. New Yorkers have the option of using a “Bodine/NASCAR” plate for a small additional fee(WETM-TV Report)(6-25-2000)
UPDATE 3: see what the #34 I Love NY Chevy that Todd Bodine will drive at Watkins Glen will look like at my Paint Schemes Gallery(see #34)(8-8-2000)
Labonte in or out..at Watkins Glen? UPDATE – Out: during an interview at Indy, Terry Labonte said he would skip Indy and Watkins Glen, test at Bristol on the 14th and decide when he would return to the seat of the #5 Kelloggs Chevy. Labonte sat out at Indy due to continuing complications from injuries suffered at the Pepsi 400 (Dizziness)…BUT in NASCAR Online’s Saturday Notebook, Labonte is quoted: “I don’t like wearing the headsets in the pits,” Labonte said after the race. “I accepted my decision and that was it. I wish I had been out there, but I wasn’t. I hope I’ll be aback in a couple of weeks. If we can’t find anyone to drive my car at Watkins Glen, I may be back next week.”(8-7-2000)
UPDATE: Ron Hornaday has been asked by Rick Hendrick to drive the #5 Kelloggs Chevy at Watkins Glen for ailing Terry Labonte. Hornaday received the ok from DEI and from NAPA AUTO PARTS. Hornaday won at The Glen in the trucks(Champion Sports Group)(8-8-2000)
Little to PPI? Chad Little appears to be a finalist for the Cal Wells-owned Winston Cup car sponsored by McDonald’s(2nd team to #32 Scott Pruett/Tide). Wells plans to run two Winston Cup cars next season and may put the McDonald’s car in a few races this year(Like Houston at Michigan)(Times-Dispatch)(8-8-2000)
Said Tests the #12 but…: Road race, Boris Said, tested the #12 Mobil One Ford at Virginia International Speedway, the test with Said was planned before Jeremy Mayfield got injured at Indy and Said will still drive the #23 Federated Auto Parts Ford at Watkins Glen for Jimmy Spencer. The #12 team will make a decision on if Mayfield will drive the car at Watkins Glen this weekend on Wednesday after he gets checked out by a Doctor(RPM 2Night)(8-8-2000)
Wrong Jarrett: Dale Jarrett’s public relations group had an interesting day yesterday. It had to convince people its driver was still alive. Dale Jarrett met his namesake, a fan named Dale Jarrett, at the Bristol race in March. They laughed over their similar names, shook hands and went on about their business. The fan Dale Jarrett, of Johnson City, Tenn., passed away Saturday night after a lengthy illness. As word of his death spread, a name confusion developed. Late yesterday, Ford Racing sent out a release confirming that the stock car racer Dale Jarrett was still alive. Jarrett also expressed his sympathies for the other Jarrett’s family(Times-Dispatch)(8-8-2000)

(8-7-2000)
#01 Watkins Glen Driver? UPDATE 2 PJ Jones: hearing #19 Yellow Freight/Pameco BGN driver, PJ Jones will drive the #01 BellSouth Chevy at Watkins Glen and Ted Musgrave will drive the car for the remaining races(8-3-2000)
UPDATE: P.J. Jones will be the driver of the #01 Chevrolet of Chip Gnassi Racing in next weekend’s Winston Cup race at Watkins Glen, N.Y. Jones is a regular in the #19 Chevy on the Busch Series and ranks 33rd in the circuit’s points standings. He is the son of 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones(AJC)(8-6-2000)
UPDATE 2: BGN rookie contender P.J. Jones will pilot the #01 BellSouth/Team SABCO Chevy in the Aug. 13 Global Crossing at the Glen NASCAR Winston Cup event at Watkins Glen. In the June Busch Series event at the 2.45-mile circuit, Jones posted a career-best ninth-place finish after starting from the fourth position. The 31-year-old also earned a ninth-place NASCAR Winston Cup finish at Watkins Glen in one of six events he entered in 1993 for car owner Harry Melling. Ted Musgrave took the reins of the #01 BellSouth Chevy in the last two races — the July 23 Pocono race and the Brickyard 400(SABCO PR)(8-7-2000)
Crew Chief News: hearing former #93 Amoco/Bill Davis Racing crew chief, Gil Martin, is being considered for the 2nd Cal Well’s team (#? McDonald’s Ford) and for the #01 crew chief job. Supposedly, Tony Glover will go back to more of a Team Manager role(8-7-2000)
Kmart Gone? UPDATE: Kmart won’t return to the Travis Carter-Carl Haas (#66) team next year(Daily Press) Doesn’t say if it will return to the Travis Carter #26 Team that Jimmy Spencer drives for. Many rumors have Spencer leaving the Carter team after the season(6-20-2000)
UPDATE: The Winston Cup Scene reports in a story that Travis Carter, owner of the #26 and #66 Kmart Fords, says “We have a contract through the year 2002 with Kmart to run two cars”(8-7-2000)
Big Rigs UPDATE: Talladega Superspeedway is talking with Jimmy Spencer and other Winston Cup drivers about driving in the Monster truck race on the eve of the Oct. 14 Winston 500(AJC)(7-1-2000)
UPDATE: You might think going around Talladega Superspeedway at 200 mph, four cars wide would satisfy thrill seekers like Jimmy Spencer and Elliott Sadler. In a normal “White Knuckle Weekend” it would, but this October Mr. Excitement and the man with the thick Virginia drawl will square off in a Monster Truck race on the eve of the NASCAR Winston Cup Winston 500. At 8:00pm on Oct. 14 under temporary lights, the two NASCAR Winston Cup drivers will wrap their hands around the steering wheel of a Monster Truck, a vehicle weighing in at more than 10,000 pounds and propelled by engines that generate 2,500 horsepower. These trucks can cover Talladega’s 600-foot course in under 10 seconds(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(8-7-2000)
Wrestling and the #10? A few wresting (unofficial) sites are reporting that “WWF will sponsor Johnny Benson’s #10 NASCAR team-car for the 2001-season.” BUT sources tell me that the team had talked to a wrestling organization about sponsoring the #10 for the rest of the 2000 season in some capacity, but it didn’t happen. Of course Aaron Rent’s is the primary sponsor for the rest of the 2000 season and Valvoline is heavily rumored to be the #10 MB 2 Motorsports sponsor for 2001-2002. RPM 2Night reported a few weeks ago the the WWF may become a sponsor on the #10 for this season, but never heard anything else on it after the initial report(8-7-2000)
McClure Wins: Eric McClure the son of #4 Morgan-McClure co-owner and team spotter Jerry McClure won his first ever stock car race this weekend at Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, VA. This was McClure’s 12th start and ads to an already impressive rookie season which includes two poles and a number of other podium finishes(8-7-2000)
Murry tries for rides; Mayfield out? Labonte out? hearing the Jeremy Mayfield will sit out at Watkins glen as he is recovering from injuries from a practice crash at Indy. Terry Labonte, from most reports, will also sit out the Watkins Glen race. Who will drive the #12 Mobil 1 Ford or the #5 Kelloggs Chevy is anyone’s guess at this point, but am hearing that road racer David Murry is looking to help out either team/driver. Murry drove the #61 Ford in last years Cup race at Watkins Glen(8-7-2000)

(8-6-2000)

Little Out after Dover? UPDATE 2 Looks like he stays: readers are telling me that the Fans Only section(passworded) of the Chad Little site is reporting that current #97 John Deere Ford driver will be released from the #97 ride so Kurt Busch can run the final seven races of the season before taking over the full time ride in 2001 and run for Raybestos Rookie of the Year against Casey Atwood(8-3-2000)
UPDATE: please note that the ROTY rules changed at the beginning of 2000, a driver can now drive in Seven(7) races during a season without losing their ROTY eligibility. See my ROTY Rules and Standing page for info(8-4-2000)
UPDATE 2: Chad Little, who will part with Roush Racing after this season, says he’s been told he will finish the season with the team(Roanoke Times)(8-5-2000)
UPDATE 2: Chad Little says word that he will be out of the #97 car by September to make room for an audition by rumored new driver Kurt Busch is news to him. Recent reports say Little would step aside so Busch could run the final seven races of 2000. Little says he has heard no such thing. Told that the report came from his own web site, Little shrugged and said, “Must be a disgruntled fan.”(SpeedVision)(8-6-2000)
Some Brickyard Tidbits: #01-Ted Musgrave had to start at the rear of the field after missing the mandatory driver’s meeting two hours before the race’s start. It wasn’t much of a penalty since Musgrave was scheduled to start 41st in the 43-car field. #11-Brett Bodine ‘s car didn’t make it to the starting grid because it was 90 minutes late for the pre-race technical inspection. He made it onto the track before the race started(Roanoke Times)(8-6-2000)

(8-5-2000)
Harvick to run some Cup? Kevin Harvick, a rookie in the BGN (#2 AC Delco Chevy), may enter one or two Winston Cup races this season to “test the waters,” his car owner Richard Childress said Saturday. Childress said he would like to see Harvick run one or two Winston Cup races at least the next two seasons before running full time in the series.(That’s Racin’)(8-5-2000)
Hamilton on the Move? Cal Wells is looking for a new driver for his planned McDonald’s-sponsored team, and Robby Gordon, who once drove Indy-cars for Wells, has been pushing hard for the ride for the past month. But Wells isn’t interested in Gordon. Wells says he wants a veteran Winston Cup driver who can help Scott Pruett. One of the men Wells is interested in: Bobby Hamilton(PitNow). AND and also hearing Hamilton is the top candidate for the #01 BellSouth Ganassi Dodge ride in 2001(8-5-2000)

(8-4-2000)
Big Announcement UPDATE 2 OFFICIAL: Team SABCO owner Felix Sabates is scheduled to announce his team’s future plans in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series at Indianapolis on Friday, August 4th at 6:30pm/ct. As has been rumored for the past few months, part of the announcement should be that CART owner Chip Ganassi is buying a majority of the team(7-28-2000)
UPDATE: no surprise but….Team Sabco owner Felix Sabates will make official the sale of a majority interest of his two Winston Cup teams to CART series owner Chip Ganassi during a press conference Friday night at Indianapolis, ThatsRacin.com has learned. In addition, the teams will change manufacturers next season and become the newest entries into the Dodge camp, according to sources. Ganassi’s teams would become the first established Chevrolet teams to make the switch and bring the number of expected Dodge entries to 11 next season. Sabates will remain a minority owner in the teams(That’s Racin’)(8-1-2000)
UPDATE 2: Team SABCO owner Felix Sabates and Chip Ganassi announced today their NASCAR Winston Cup partnership beginning with the 2001 Daytona 500. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is Ganassi’s first venture into the world of stock car racing with the acquisition of the #40 Coors Light and #01 BellSouth entries. Although Ganassi’s majority interest in the team officially begins in 2001, he will contribute to Team SABCO’s management for the remainder of this year’s Winston Cup season. The team also announced its alignment with Dodge to field two Dodge Intrepid R/T entries in 2001. With the addition of Ganassi’s two Dodge Intrepid R/T racecars next year, a total of 10 Intrepids are slated to debut at the Daytona 500 in 2001. Former NASCAR crew chief Andy Graves, who joined Target Chip Ganassi Racing in 2000 to direct its Indianapolis 500 and Winston Cup interests, will oversee the team’s racing operations together with current Team SABCO team manager and crew chief Tony Glover.(Team Sabco PR)(8-4-2000)
Safety Device news/info: more on the HANS device, profiled here a week or so ago and on ESPN2’s RPM 2Night in Thursday’s show. Downing/Atlanta has sold 35 HANS units since the new and improved version was introduced six weeks ago. They have orders for 44 more at $1,275 each(AJC). Note: ESPN2’s RPM 2Night mentioned on Thursday that the device cost $5,000, but I am told the price reported in the Atlanta Journal Constitution(AJC) is correct. Also CART has mandated the device for use in the 2001 season and from what I hear, will also pay for the device, not the drivers or teams. Gary Nelson, NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series director, said the latest HANS seems to be more practical than the earlier version, but he’s not ready to make it mandatory. Also during the RPM 2Night broadcast, safety pioneer, Bill Simpson, showed his ‘restraint device’ and demo’d it but no cost was mentioned with the exception that it was a cheaper option to the HANS. See what the ‘HANS system’ looks like on my HANS page. See stories on the system at Helmet system is a hit by Rick Minter of the AJC; and HANS aim is harnessing safety by Mark Armijo of the Arizona Republic(8-4-2000)
Melling Assoc Sponsor: Mark Melling, owner of the #9 Kodiak Ford driven by Stacy Compton, announced the team’s newest associate sponsor, WorldCom. Beginning with this weekend’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, the car and driver will carry the WorldCom brand through the remainder of the season(Melling PR)(8-4-2000)
IROC Results: Mark Martin won his third straight Indianapolis IROC race, beating Dale Earnhardt who won the IROC Championship by three(3) points. See results at the IROC Racing page(8-4-2000)
Labonte to sit out too UPDATE: Terry Labonte said Friday afternoon that he was physically unable to continue his streak of 655 consecutive Winston Cup starts and that Todd Bodine will drive the #5 Kelloggs Chevy at Indy in the Brickyard 400(NASCAR Online). Since Bodine qualified the car, he will start 25th. Dale Earnhardt is next with 632 consecutive starts, followed by Ricky Rudd with 593 and Rusty Wallace at 502
UPDATE: Labonte said he intends to take the next two races off, Indy and next week at Watkins Glen, and will return at Michigan Aug. 20.(SpeedVision), no word on who will run the #5 Chevy at the Glen. Todd Bodine already has a ride for the race, the #34 I Love NY Chevy(8-4-2000)
Mayfield Wrecks in Practice UPDATE 2 – will miss the race: From the Brickyard 400 site: Practice was ended 13 minutes early due a crash by #12-Jeremy Mayfield in Turn 3. Mayfield was transported to Clarian Emergency Medical Center, and an update on his condition will be provided when available.
AND from SpeedVision’s Ben Blake: Track officials announced that Mayfield was awake and alert but showed signs of concussion. He was taken to Methodist Hospital for further examination and treatment. Mayfield hit the wall at the end of the 3300ft back stretch, where trap speeds show 207 mph. The car hit the wall driver’s side and rearward, and the left-rear spring bounced free of the car and hit the window net and windshield. An update is expected at 2:00pm/et
AND from Total Sports/AP: Jeremy Mayfield sustained a concussion Friday in a hard crash during practice for the Brickyard 400. Mayfield was transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital for further examination, but Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials said he was awake and alert. It took track safety workers nearly 10 minutes to remove Mayfield from the battered car
UPDATE: still no further word on Mayfield, but Rusty Wallace will shake down the backup #12 Mobil 1 Ford in Happy Hour
UPDATE 2: Jeremy Mayfield was conscious and alert after being taken to Methodist Hospital following his accident in Turn 3 at Indianapolis during Friday morning’s Cup practice. However, he will miss Saturday’s Brickyard 400. Kyle Petty, who failed to qualify his own car, will fill in for Mayfield. The car was slated to start 4th in the race, but with it now being a backup car and a different driver, Petty will have to start the race from the back of the field(That’s Racin’)(8-4-2000)
JD McDuffie Honored: With the resignation of Dan Ford Jr. as a driver of his ARCA car, owner John Bailey faced the agonizing possibility of parking the car that he had built as a tribute to a late friend. But Bailey announced Thursday that the #70 Bailey Excavating/R.W. Mercer Co. machine that carries the same colors that it did when the company sponsored the late J.D. McDuffie, will run the remainder of the ARCA season in the hands of Jeff Finley. “We, more than anything, just want to win one for JD (McDuffie) and keep his memory alive,” Bailey said. “He was a good friend of mine, a great man, full of guts and gusto, and someone I really admired.”(SpeedVision) McDuffie started 653 Winston Cup races, as an independent owner driver, such as Dave Marcis is doing now. McDuffie was killed in 1991 in an accident at Watkins Glen. For more info on McDuffie, see my Driver Tribute page, there is a link to a McDuffie tribute page there(8-4-2000)
France’s Condition: The France family is being represented this week at Indianapolis by Jim France, younger brother of NASCAR president Bill France Jr., who is still recuperating from further cancer treatments. “He had a couple bad weeks recently, but about the middle of last week he started on the upswing again,” Jim France said Thursday, responding to the wide range of rumors concerning his brother’s health. “I think (NASCAR vice president) Mike Helton said it best about fighting cancer – it’s not just a battle, it’s a war.”(Speed Magazine)(8-4-2000)
Scott Elected: The late Wendell Scott will become the first black member of the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in an induction ceremony in Darlington on Sept. 2. Scott, pioneer track operator Clay Earles and innovative motorsports promoter Wayne Robertson were elected to the hall, which is located at Darlington Raceway, in voting by members of the NMPA, an organization of auto racing journalists(Greenville News)(8-4-2000)
Pizza Hut and the #75? Pizza Hut, rumored last fall to be a sponsor of some sort with the #75 team and Wally Dallenback is once again a possible 2001 primary sponsors for the #75 Ford(That’s Racin’)(8-4-2000)
Stewart at IRP UPDATE 2: Tony Stewart will compete at the DuPont 100 USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Championship race at Indianapolis Raceway Park tonight(Aug 2nd on ESPN2). BGN driver, Jason Leffler, will also run the race(The Republic, Columbus, IN)(8-2-2000)
UPDATE: the race has been postponed until Sunday, August 6th, no idea if Stewart will still run it
UPDATE 2: hearing that Stewart will run Sunday in the IRP Silver Crown event that was postponed Friday night(8-4-2000)
#12 and baseball UPDATE: during October the #12 Mobil 1 Penske-Kranefuss Ford will have a MLB(Major League Baseball) World Series paint scheme. The car driven by Jeremy Mayfield, will be unveiled at Indy on August 3rd(Winston Cup Scene)(7-27-2000)
UPDATE: Jeremy Mayfield and Major League Baseball announced a partnership Thursday that will allow MLB to showcase its 2000 World Series by displaying its logo on Mayfield’s #12 Fords in two races in October: Talladega and Rockingham. Mayfield will also attend at least one World Series game as part of the promotion(That’s Racin’)(8-4-2000)
Kenseth to the Trucks UPDATE: Matt Kenseth has entered the Craftsman Truck Series race at RIR in September(Daily Press)(7-26-2000)
UPDATE: 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)
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: see the announcement news on my CTS Silly Season Site(8-4-2000)
Dodson Award: Barry Dodson, crew chief and part owner of rookie driver Mike Bliss’ #27 Pfizer/Viagra Pontiac, received the C&R Racing True Grit Award Thursday for his comeback in the Winston Cup series. Dodson’s two teen-age children were killed in a 1994 automobile crash and he was out of racing for about a year. He slowly worked his way back into the sport, then returned to NASCAR’s top series last year at the Brickyard 400. The award, which carries a $10,000 prize, is presented each year to a mechanic or crew chief at the Brickyard 400 and the Indianapolis 500 for outstanding achievement or for overcoming adversity. previous winners at the Brickyard were the Wood Brothers in 1998 and Buddy Parrott in 1999(Infobeat/AP)(8-4-2000)
Bodine in the #5..for now UPDATE: Terry Labonte, who drives the #5 Kelloggs Chevy, is still feeling the effects of injuries(broken leg/concussion) occurred at Daytona in the Pepsi 400. Todd Bodine ran the car later in the AM practice and qualified the car in first round for the Brickyard 400 at Indy. Labonte has flown back to North Carolina to see his Doctor and get checked out. Labonte’s status for the Brickyard 400 is unknown at present. Labonte of course has started 655 consecutive Winston Cup races(ESPN2 Qualifying Coverage)(8-3-2000)
UPDATE: all reports I am hearing and seeing now say that Labonte will start the car and turn it over to Bodine at the first caution on Saturday. AND from PitNow: Terry Labonte, still nursing a knee injury from Daytona, turned qualifying over to Todd Bodine yesterday. Labonte will thus have to start the Brickyard 400 at the rear of the field. Labonte was to be in Philadelphia last night for the Republican National Convention(no word on if he made it there)(8-4-2000)

(8-3-2000)
Track Qualifying Records fall in 2000: In 20 events there have been twelve(12) track records set, including Bristol, California, Lowes, Michigan, Pocono, Rockingham, Texas, Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Sears Point, Pocono(2nd time) and Indy. These are TRACK records, not only EVENT records(8-3-2000)
TV News? According to a Perfect Paranoia anonymous source, details may be soon released about one of the networks plans for the 2001 Winston Cup season. Most of the names will be familiar, but expect a surprise or two. Nothing along the lines of Dennis Miller and Monday Night Football, but there could be some non-racing names on the list. Am also told that Pat Summerall, John Madden, or Jerry Glanville are NOT under consideration(Perfect Paranoia)(8-3-2000)

(8-2-2000)
Owner to miss Brickyard 400: This Saturday afternoon as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock cars rumble around the world’s most famous raceway, the youngest owner on the series, Mark Melling(#9 Kodiak/Cougar Ford), will be tying the knot with LeAnne Smith at the family’s TreeTops Resort in Northern Michigan. This weekend’s race will be the first time Mark has missed the Brickyard 400, but the son of the late Harry Melling put things in perspective. “There are many, many races, but I’m only getting married once,” said Melling. “So missing a race isn’t a big deal, but don’t think for a minute I won’t be pulling for Stacy and the guys on Saturday.”(Melling PR) Congrats Mark!(8-2-2000)
Benson Sponsor? UPDATE 2: On SpeedVision’s Inside Winston Cup, it was mentioned that Johnny Benson ‘may’ have a sponsor and could soon have an announcement
UPDATE: Aaron Rents, which was founded by Atlanta resident Charles Loudermilk and maintains its company headquarters in the city, has agreed to sponsor the #10 MB2 Pontiac for this season’s final 15 races. The contract starts with Saturday’s Brickyard 400. Benson already has a sponsorship deal for the 2001-2002 seasons, pending final approval by Valvoline’s board. Aaron Rents will be the primary sponsor for Michael Waltrip at five Busch races this season: Bristol, Darlington, Dover, Rockingham, and Homestead-Miami(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(8-1-2000)
UPDATE 2: it’s official – #10 Pontiac driver Johnny Benson and his MB2 Motorsports teammates will finish the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup season with Aaron’s as the team’s primary sponsor. The Atlanta-based furniture rental leader agreed Tuesday evening to sponsor the team beginning Saturday in the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Benson’s car will wear Aaron’s paint scheme in the race(Johnny Benson Fanclub Page/PR) AND also check out their shopping site, www.shopaarons.com, there is an image of a car and they also sponsors a NASCAR Modified #12 Modified of Bobby Gegetskas that looks similar, this may be the paint scheme to be used on the #10 Pontiac OR it may look like Michael Waltrip’s BGN car that will run and is shown on the site under Dream Team(8-2-2000)
Dodge News: Ray Evernham said his operation is on track to present the Dodge Intrepid for approval to NASCAR by the end of next week. The next major test for Evernham’s team will be at Richmond in late August, giving Casey Atwood some more time in the car. If the test goes well, Evernham may enter Atwood in the September Winston Cup race at Richmond driving one of Bill Elliott’s Fords(That’s Racin’)(8-2-2000)
No #85 at Indy: I hear the Mansion Motorsports #85 Team, has withdrawn it’s entry in the Brickyard 400 with driver Carl Long. Long hopes to run the 2000 Ford Taurus wrecked at Dover in Michigan on August 20th. Long is also looking for other full time driving opportunities in Cup, BGN or CTS and hopes to get a shot at the 2nd Cal Wells Cup team, the #66 Travis Carter ride or a Roush truck ride, unless Mansion Motorsports can find a sponsor and run full time(8-2-2000)
SABCO’s BGN cars? hearing #91 Winston Cup owner, Joe Falk, may be a partner in buying the #’s 01, 81 and 82 SABCO BGN teams and moving them to his shop(8-1-2000)
UPDATE: Joe Falk is renting his race shop to Felix Sabates, who was looking for a place to move his BGN teams to after selling majority ownership of SABCO to Chip Ganassi. SABCO began moving their equipment to Falk’s shop this week. It was also mentioned that Sabates and Falk may be forming some sort of partnership, though no details were divulged, other than the fact that it will not be until November before anything became official. The rumors are that they will partner the Busch teams for next year, which Falk has had past experience(Victory Lane) BUT Team SABCO has leased Joe Falk’s shop for its Busch Series teams for the remainder of the year. The lease will expire in November once the season is complete. The Busch teams are moving from SABCO’s Mooresville facility to allow space for expansion to the existing fab shop. There is no truth to the rumor that Joe Falk and Felix Sabates will partner for next year(Team SABCO PR)(8-2-2000)

(8-1-2000)
Safety Rules: NASCAR officials announced through a technical bulletin to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series teams that their primary and secondary throttle shafts must each have an independent travel stop to impede the throttle plates from opening beyond vertical. NASCAR officials also announced the addition of an auxiliary ignition on/off button. This button, that will disconnect power to the ignition system, must be mounted on the steering wheel within reach of the driver’s thumb. This auxiliary switch must shut off the engine immediately when depressed. These modifications will go into effect beginning with this weekend’s Brickyard 400(NASCAR Online and NASCAR PR)(8-1-2000)
Indy Stuff: Ricky Rudd is the only driver that has won this race as a team owner/driver. Jeff Gordon leads all drivers with the most pole positions – he has three. Dale Jarrett has come from the farthest starting spot to win, 24th in 1996. Bobby Labonte has finished third or better at Indy since 1997. Ken Schrader is the only driver that has completed all 960 laps run at IMS for the Brickyard 400. Rusty Wallace became the sixth repeat race winner of the 2000 Cup season. Wallace, along with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeremy Mayfield, Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton all have two victories. Tony Stewart leads the group with three wins(NASCAR PR/Fact Sheet)(8-1-2000)
#80 a no go at Indy: the #80 Hoover Motorsports entry will not go to Indy and make an attempt at the Brickyard 400 due to lack of sponsorship. This leaves Morgan Shepherd looking for consulting work at Indy or for a ride in one of the series. Shepherd is also looking to lease or sell his race shop, for info see the Morgan Shepherd site(8-1-2000)
Points Stuff: The current difference in Winston Cup drivers points from positions first and second is 53. Since the inception of the current point system in 1975, there have been seven instances where the points battle was closer – 1996, 1992, 1990, 1988, 1984, 1977 and 1976. The current difference in the points from positions first through 10th is 357. Since the inception of the current point system in 1975, there has only been one case where the points battle was closer – 1989 (343 points). Bobby Labonte currently holds the NASCAR Winston Cup Series point lead. If he were to continue at his current pace of 148.7 points per race (approx. sixth-place finishes), the following is what the top five drivers will need to do to overtake him: Dale Jarrett needs to avg. 153 ppr. (approx. 5th-place finishes), Dale Earnhardt needs to avg. 156 ppr. (approx. 4th-place finishes), Jeff Burton needs to avg. 162.1 ppr. (approx. 3rd-place finishes) and Rusty Wallace needs to avg. 166.6 ppr. (approx. 2nd-place finishes)(NASCAR PR/Fact Sheet)(8-1-2000)
Paint Scheme Stuff UPDATE: hearing some special paint schemes coming up in the next few months: #5-Terry Labonte Frosted Flakes(Michigan?); #36-Ken Schrader Halloween M&M’s; #20-Tony Stewart Special (at Homestead); and a Monsters promotion with #18-Bobby Labonte, #13-Robby Gordon and a few BGN drivers; #18-Circuit City scheme at Darlington and Richmond(7-31-2000)
UPDATE: some news the “Monster” paint scheme involving Robby Gordon and Bobby Labonte, it’s for a new movie called Dracula 2000. The BGN drivers are Randy Lajoie, Ron Hornaday, and Casey Atwood. Atwood is in the Frankenstein 2000 car, Robby Gordon is in the Wolfman 2000 car, Hornaday is in the Dracula 2000 car, Labonte is in a Frankenstein 2000 car, and LaJoie will be in a Wolfman 2000 car(goracing)(8-1-2000)
Eel River Racing at the Wind Tunnel: the #27 Viagra Pontiac of Mike Bliss will test at the N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA today(8-1-2000)