Stefanik has a ride: 1999 CTS ROTY Mike Stefanik has signed on to drive the #90 Coyne Textile Services Chevy’s in the BGN series for owners Fred Maggio and Gene Adragna in 17 of the 32 BGN race in 2000. Stefanik won the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series championship in 1989, 1991, 1997 and 1998, and the NASCAR Busch North Series championship in 1997 and 1998, before running in the CTS for the #66 team in 1999. The team will run at small and intermidate tracks. Former SABCO crew chief, Corrie Stott, will be the crew chief of the team(Providence Journal-Bulletin)(1-20-2000)
A BGN Dodge? Here’s the story and an image: a follow up on a story from Oct 8th, 1999 (see the Past Dodge News Page). The Dodge Intrepid that was built in Lynn Haven, FL has been detailed and ready to be tested. The following is how the story was reported in WJHG’s (channel 7) 10pm news on Wednesday, January 19th… “To racing news and the Phoenix Team is just about ready to test the Dodge Prototype it’s been building the past few months. Crew Chief Mark Reno kind of unveiling the Phoenix Dodge for us today…Marc says the Intrepid is headed for a car show in Pennsylvania this weekend, then the week after next the team will take it to Atlanta or Lakeland for some track testing. Phoenix owner James Finch is footing the bill for this Prototype, which Reno says is all Dodge, including the engine. Marc says they revved that engine for the first time yesterday, and it gave everyone working on it a real charge.” A quote from Reno from the newscast: “We’ve watched the truck series and watched the kind of help they’ve (Dodge has) given the teams and General Motors doesn’t do a whole lot for the Busch teams so to get some factory help and some technical help, that’s a big deal in racing so we’re not 100% sure we’re gonna change to Dodge, but we’re gonna be ready if we do.”(paraphrased) The Phoenix Racing team is the #1 Bob Evans BGN team with 2 time champ Randy LaJoie as the driver. See the image on the BGN Paint Schemes page which is linked on the Paint Scheme Gallery(1-21-2000)
Speed magazine Column:GN rookie races with heart about BDR driver, Mike Borkowski by Andrew Booth(1-30-2000)
New Liberati: Gigi and Tony Liberati are new parents. Tony is the crew chief on the #92 Alltel Chevy Jimmie Johnson will drive in 2000. Alexander Rosario Liberati was born at 5:21 p.m., Friday, January 28. He was seven pounds, 12 ounces and 21 inches long(PR)(1-29-2000)
Amick News/Update: On the paint schemes page the #88 is featured for Team Amick and I found out why: The team has a new paint scheme in 2000 and the team didn’t have it ready for the BGN Preview on the 14th of Jan. The team wanted to be represented at the Preview, so they sent the #88 car since the “Rev It Up!” curriculum is part of Amick’s education program in South Carolina, so we thought we’d give them some publicity at the preview. That showcar is the one we send to schools around South Carolina, sometimes by itself, and sometimes with Amick making an appearance. Lyndon Amick will run the #35 car in 2000. Powertel is a co-primary sponsor, with SCANA dropping back to an associate sponsorship role, along with Mitsubishi Wireless Communications. The team hopes to sign another co-primary sponsor soon. Also Amick will be testing the #35 at Talladega on Sunday and Monday, January 31 and February 1. Next he’ll head down to Daytona to take part in the Motorola Cup Series Road Race on Friday, driving a Team Amick Dodge Viper, along with Hank Parker, Jr. Amick will also be competing in the ARCA race, and in the Craftsman Truck Race, in equipment prepared by Ken Schrader Racing. The Truck will be sponsored by Penda, the official Truck Bedliner of the Craftsman Truck Series. The deal with Penda is just for a couple of races at this point, and they are currently seeking sponsorship for a few other truck events. No sponsor yet for the ARCA car yet(Team Amick)(1-28-2000)
#75 News: The Henderson Motorsports #75 piloted by Kelly Denton completed testing at Daytona with a ninth place result out of 38 participants. “We are pleased with the fact that the car was able to stay in the top 10 all day long,” said Crew Chief, Ron Denton. “I felt it was important to build a strong Super Speedway program and now the results are showing up on the track,” added Denton. When asked to confirm rumors about potential sponsors for the team following the test session he declined to comment but said, “We have a very aggressive proposal on the table and a quality product on the track”. The team used Fischer Engineering Engines for the test and will use them in 2000(SponsorTec)(1-28-2000)
Team Marines News: Hank Parker Jr.’s #53 BGN team now has a general manager. Freddie Query, NASCAR’s 1998 Slim Jim All Pro Series champion, recently joined Hank Parker Racing as a full-time employee not long after Rick Rathbun’s Team Marines Racing signed on as Parker’s primary sponsor. Query will assist crew chief Dave McCarty with both shop and at-track operations. Query worked with the team as a consultant at a handful of events during the 1999 NASCAR Busch Series season. Query also competed in a limited number of high-paying Late Model events during the 1999 season, and enjoyed much success. To hang up the helmet and become a GM was a decision he did not take lightly. Team Marines Racing has also added two new employees to its crew. Andy Spenner, 24, is from Hoyleton, Ill., and works as a mechanic on Parker’s new 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlos, while Todd Gordon is the team’s new engineer. Gordon, 30, is a native of Camden, N.Y., and drove Limited Supermodifieds at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway and Late Models at Evans Mills (N.Y.) Speedway before moving to North Carolina. The team will test at Daytona International Speedway Jan. 24-26 in preparation for the season-opening NAPA Auto Parts 300 Feb. 19. On its way home from Daytona Beach, the entire crew will visit the U.S. Marine Corps’ Parris Island (S.C.) facility to see boot camp firsthand. Parker will get off to an early start at Daytona’s Speedweeks by co-piloting a Dodge Viper with fellow NASCAR Busch Series driver Lyndon Amick in the Motorola Cup three-hour enduro on Feb. 4. Amick and Parker are close friends, and Amick’s father owns the car(Team Marines PR)(1-24-2000)
MBNA Returns: MBNA will sponsor the #18 Pontiac and Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Jason Leffler for the 2000 BGN season(Speedway Scene)(1-24-2000)
Team Marines: They weren’t exactly sure what to expect as their bus arrived at receiving area, but they sure found out in a hurry. NASCAR Busch Series driver Hank Parker Jr. and his entire Rick Rathbun’s Team Marines Racing crew visited the Parris Island (SC) Recruitment Depot on Jan. 27, as guests of the U.S. Marine Corps. They had just completed a two-day test session at Daytona. On arrival, they were ushered onto a bus and driven to Receiving, where all recruits go as they take their first steps toward becoming a Marine. As soon as the bus came to a stop, a drill instructor boarded the bus and began barking commands, drawing the undivided attention of a group of racers who at this point weren’t completely sure of what was about to happen. Drill instructors “greeted” their new “recruits,” who then experienced firsthand the beginnings of boot camp. As soon as the “Sir! Yes sir!” response was mastered, the racing recruits were “ushered” inside for further indoctrination. Following a morning of tours and observing new recruits in their element, Hank Parker Racing’s personnel dined in the Mess Hall. Chow time delivered a pleasant surprise: turkey, spaghetti – and a host of other good-tasting dishes – served in a spotless, subdued dining hall, complete with table cloths. Following lunch, the team headed for the rifle range and instruction on the Marines’ weapon of choice: M-16s. Following safety training, Parker and his men were invited to try their luck with live ammunition on stationary targets. Some fared surprisingly well. Others, well, let’s just say they’d be better suited for the Motor Pool. Parker’s team was also invited to observe a relatively-new Marine exercise, known as the Crucible. Basically a 54-hour enduro punctuated by sleep and food deprivation, it is the recruits’ final test before earning the right to be called a Marine. The session is purposely scheduled to end at sunrise, at Parris Island’s Iwo Jima monument. After the flag is raised, recruits graduate to Marines, receiving their eagle, globe and anchor emblems. It is truly a moving experience, etched forever in the hearts and minds of the former recruits – and onlookers as well. Before departing for North Carolina, Parker met with Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruitment Depot Parris Island/Eastern Recruitment Region and presented him with an autographed photo of the team. Outside, the drill instructors were waiting, this time to present a commemorative plaque to Parker and his team(Team Marines PR) also see an image and the full story at the Unofficial Hank Parker Jr Site and the story at RaceWire(1-29-2000)
Wednesday Testing at DIS: #43-Jay Sauter, turned a fast lap of 186.672 mph in the final day of BGN testing at Daytona. 2nd fastest was #1-Randy LaJoie 186.270; 3rd was #21-Mike Dillon 185.571; 4th was #2-Kevin Harvick 185.494 and 5th was #15-Jack Sprague 185.483. See the test speeds at the Racin’ Network(1-26-2000)
Kenseth at AMS UPDATE 2: Matt Kenseth will test most of next week at Atlanta. Monday and Tuesday in his #17 Visine BGN Chevy and Wednesday and Thursday in his #17 DeWalt Tools Cup Ford(goRacing)(1-22-2000) — UPDATE: hearing Kenseth will not test at AMS on Monday but on Tuesday thru Thursday(1-23-2000) — UPDATE 2:Matt Kenseth tested the #17 Visine BGN Chevy at AMS on Tuesday and ran a fast lap of 183.600mph. Kenseth will test the #17 DeWalt Tools CUP Ford on Wednesday and Thurday. Joining Kenseth for testing on Wednesday are Richard Childress Racing Busch drivers #21-Mike Dillon and #2-Kevin Harvick for a one day BGN test(AMS Site)(1-26-2000)
Tuesday Testing at Daytona: defending NAPA 300 champ, Randy LaJoie, posted today’s top speed in NASCAR Busch series testing at Daytona on Tuesday with a fast lap of 185.816mph. 2nd was #8-Bobby Hillin 185.632, 3rd was #2-Kevin Harvick 185.117 mph, 4th was #00-Buckshot Jones 184.881 and 5th was #78-Andy Kirby at 184.847. 33 teams testing 42 cars. For the full rundown of speeds, see the Racin’ Network and NASCAR Online(1-25-2000)
Testing at DIS: scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, was rained out for the Monday session, they will tesat on Tuesday and Wednesday(NOL)(1-24-2000)
Buckshot News: a few weeks old, but getting caught up: Cheez-It® Snack Crackers, a product of Keebler Company, announces renewed sponsorship of the #00 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Buckshot Jones in the BGN. The 2000 season marks the fourth consecutive year of Keebler’s sponsorship of the Buckshot Racing team. Keebler increased its involvement from associate sponsorship status in 1997 and 1998 to primary sponsorship with their Cheez-It® brand in 1999 and again in 2000. Cheez-It® was also an associate sponsor on Buckshot Racing’s Winston Cup car in 1999(PR)(1-25-2000)
BGN Team Update: Car owner Ricky Benton has hired Stacy Puryear to maintain and drive his cars in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series and two races in the BGN at South Boston and Myrtle Beach along with some Late Model Stock races. As a result, Puryear has moved to Cerro Gorda, NC, which is approximately 15 miles from Lumberton, NC and will no longer operate from his shop in South Boston. Puryear will be selling his car and all of his equipment. Benton has a new Busch Series car that has never been on the racetrack, Puryear said and he and the team will work on it to prepare it for the South Boston and Myrtle Beach races. Benton’s driver last season was Greg Marlowe. The team won three major Late Model Stock car races but failed in the attempt to make the field for the BGN races at South Boston Speedway, Indianapolis Speedway and Myrtle Beach, SC Speedway(Stacy Puryear Site)(1-25-2000)
: Dales Earnhardt, Jr., and eight other drivers opened a two-day test session at Talladega Superspeedway Monday. Also testing were Busch Series drivers Glenn Allen, Casey Atwood, Todd Bodine, Tim Fedewa, David Green, Kevin Grubb, Wayne Grubb and Ron Hornaday. Winston Cup driver Johnny Benson wrapped up a rain-delayed weekend test Monday at the Alabama track as well. No speeds released. Talladega SS Newsletter) (1-24-2000)
Atlanta Testing UPDATE: Jeff Green led the first day of testing at Atlanta on Thursday. #10-Green 185.900mph; #87-Joe Nemechek 184.664; #26?-Bobby Hamilton Jr. 182.302; #57-Jason Keller 180.292; and #11-Jason Jarrett 173.863(goRacing)(1-21-2000) — UPDATE: #87-Joe Nemechek was the fastest in 2nd say of testing at AMS with a speed of 186.461mph. #26?-Bobby Hamilton Jr., was next at 185.527; the it was #10-Jeff Green 183.329; #57-Jason Keller at 183.325 and #11-Jason Jarrett at 179.942 (goRacing)(1-22-2000)
Daytona Entries: Look for there to be 70-80 entries at most for the Daytona BGN race, not 140+ that has been rumored. The triple digit thing a few weeks ago was blown out proportion and NASCAR has no intention of issuing triple digits to run in a race. The triple digit deal has been around for years, as numbers assigned to the Team and the Owner. Last year a few teams used the #14, one team was listed in the owners points as #14, another as #114 and another as #214, NASCAR does the same for CUP with the part time teams who only run a handful of races being assigned the triple digit number(1-22-2000)
Pruett to run BGN: #32 Tide Cup and #97 McDonald’s BGN Team owner Cal Wells III announced that Scott Pruett will be the substitute driver for the McDonald’s/PPI Motorsports entry at Daytona in the 2000 BGN season opening race. Pruett, whose main ride is with the Cal Wells-owned #32 Tide Ford on the Winston Cup circuit, is substituting for Anthony Lazzaro, a PPI Motorsports teammate and the primary driver of the #97 McDonald’s Ford Taurus. Lazzaro is required to sit out the Daytona opener due to a racing injury and a six-week recovery period that prevented him from meeting NASCAR’s eligibility requirements for rookie entry in a superspeedway race. He is fully recovered from the injury and will make his Busch Series debut, Feb. 26, at Rockingham. Pruett and Lazzaro will both drive the McDonald’s car in the upcoming Busch test session, Jan. 24 and 25 in Daytona(PPI PR)(1-21-2000)
Premiere Motorsports: returns in 2000 with driver Jay Fogelman driving the #68 Ford. The team is looking for a sponsor and crew chief but plans to run the full 2000 season after skipping Daytona. The team recently moved into our new 38,000 sq. ft. facility in Pittsboro, NC(PR)(1-21-2000)
Atlanta Testing: Five BGN drivers will test for two days at Atlanta have signed up for a two-day test. #87-Joe Nemechek, #10-Jeff Green, #57-Jason Keller, #11-Jason Jarrett and #26?-Bobby Hamilton, JR(goRacing)(1-20-2000)
BDR Sponsor: Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Mike Borkowski officially announced that AT&T Broadband & Internet Services (AT&T BIS) will be the primary sponsor of the #20 Bill Davis Racing Pontiac for the next two years. Steve Bird, four-time NASCAR Busch Series championship crew chief, and the only crew chief to lead two different drivers to Busch Rookie-of-the-Year honors, will head up on-track operations(goRacing)(1-18-2000)
New Tire in BGN? am hearing that Goodyear, who is NASCAR’s official tire of the Cup and BGN Series, wants to switch the BBG brand from Goodyear to Kelly Springfield(who they own)(1-18-2000)
Trickle: Dick Trickle will return to Jimmy Spencer’s #5 BGN Chevy for the 2000 BGN season with Schneider National staying on as the sponsor(NOL)(1-18-2000)
Martin BGN: Last fall, Mark Martin announced that the 2000 season would be his final year running a limited schedule in the BGN. Martin will wrap up his Busch career with a 14-race schedule this season. Winn-Dixie, Martin’s primary sponsor since 1993, decided to commemorate Martin’s final year in the Busch Series with a new paint scheme for 2000. It captures the greatest moments in Martin’s Busch career all on one Ford Taurus. The scheme can be seen on Jayski’s Paint Scheme Gallery. Martin is the winningest driver in BGN history with 40 victories. He broke Jack Ingram’s record of 31 wins at North Carolina Speedway in October 1997. In 187 starts, Martin has 40 wins, 81 top-five and 109 top-10 finishes. He has also claimed 23 poles. His career earnings total $2,345,255. Martin’s best year in the Busch Series came in 1993 when he won seven races of the 14 he entered. Martins 200 BGN schedule: Rockingham(2-26 and 10-21), Las Vegas(3-4), Atlanta(3-11), Darlington(3-18 and 9-2), Texas(4-1), Richmond(5-5 and 9-8), Charlotte/Lowes(5-27 and 10-7), Dover(6-3), Michigan(8-19), and Homestead on 11-11(Mark Martin’s J-Mar Express)(1-15-2000)
BACE News UPDATE PJ Signs: BACE Motorsports owner named crew chief’s for his two BGN teams. Alan Russell will crew chief the #33 with driver Tony Raines moving to that car from the #74 and Billy Nacewicz will be the crew chief of the #74 with an un-named driver(NOL)(1-10-2000) — UPDATE: PJ Jones will drive the #74 BACE Motorsports BGN Chevy in 2000. The team is still looking for a sponsor. Also the team plans to start Jones in up to five Cup events and move up full time in 2001(NOL)(1-11-2000)
#32 to #10? UPDATE 2/Lawsuit CORRECTION Sponsor UPDATE: hearing Jeff Greens car will change from #32 to #10 and as reported for a while now have sponsorship from Nestle as Kleenex will be on the #8 Bobby Hillin Racing Chevy(1-3-2000) — UPDATE: sources tell me the the car will be #10 and the sponsor is Nestle Nesquik(1-4-2000) — UPDATE: ppc Racing(formerly Progressive Motorsports) announced that they are seeking associate sponsors for the #10 (Nestle) Chevy driven by Jeff Green(was the #32 Kleenex Chevy) and #57 Excederin Chevy driven by Jason Keller in the BGN for 2000. ppc Racing has already secured primary sponsorship for both teams(PR)(1-6-2000) — UPDATE: Saw a story in this weeks Winston Cup Scene that says Kimberly-Clark Corp/Kleenex has filed suit against Progressive Motorsports, co-owners Greg Pollex and Bob Campbell, newly formed ppcRacing and driver Jeff Green, asking for punitive and compensatory damages. The story says it would not seek an injunction against Green and the team running another sponsor. Pollex responded by saying the team with Green and #57 Jason Keller cost him around $2 million. John Bender has taken 80% ownership of the team and it has been re-named ppcRacing. Bender is a longtime friend of Pollex. Pollex expects to file a countersuit(Winston Cup Scene) – NOTES: this is a touchy deal, probably why the #32 team has changed to #10. Other reports I hear are that Green has a signed contract with Kimberly-Clark Corporation thru 2000, and that Kimberly-Clark Corporation has prepared legal remedies that will be filed with the Cabarrus County, North Carolina Court to compel Progressive Motorsports and Jeff Green to fulfill the terms of their contract with Kimberly-Clark Corporation(1-9-2000) — CORRECTION: ppc Racing is NOT formerly Progressive Motorsports. With John Bender being 80% owner, it is a new entity that was formed in Dec. with assets purchased from Progressive( (1-10-2000) — UPDATE-Sponsor:Nestlé USA announced today their Nestlé NesQuik brand will be the primary sponsor of the BGN team fielded by ppc Racing (formerly Progressive Motorsports) through 2001. Jeff Green, who finished second in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings in 1999, will pilot the #10 NesQuik Chevy. Other Nestlé USA brands included on the car are Nestea Iced Tea, Libby’s Juicy Juice and Nestlé Carnation Coffee-mate(TNN)(1-11-2000)
SABCO Crew Chiefs: SABCO recently named the crew chief’s for their BGN teams. The crew chief for the #81-Blaise Alexander WCW/TRACFONE Chevy will be Ben Holm and for #82-David Steele ChannelLock Chevy it will be Bob Temple(CBS Sportsline)(1-10-2000)
New Roush team on hold: had not heard of this: A full-time Busch Series program in 2000 with Roush Racing and driver David Murry has halted due to sponsorship problems(Speed Magazine)(1-10-2000)
Hillin Sponsor? UPDATE: hearing Kleenex will be the new sponsor for the #8 Bobby Hillin Racing/Millennium Motorsports Chevy and driver Bobby Hillin. As rumored long ago, Nestle is supposed to sponsor the #32 Chevy of Jeff Green in 2000(12-23-1999) — UPDATE: The Kimberly-Clark Corporation revealed its plans for the 2000 NASCAR Busch Series season today with several of its consumer products brands. A BGN team sponsor for six years, KLEENEX® and SCOTT® Brand Products, along with KOTEX® Feminine Products and HUGGIES® Baby Wipes, will sponsor Bobby Hillin Racing, LLC and the #8 Chevy driven by Bobby Hillin, Jr(NOL)(1-9-2000)
Triple Digits for BGN? UPDATE 3(and final?): For the first time since the early days of NASCAR, three-digit number will be assigned to some Busch Series teams this year, as over 145 entries have been received for the NAPA 300 Busch Series race at Daytona in February(SpeedFX via TNN’s Inside NASCAR)(1-3-2000) — UPDATE: On Sunday’s TNN’s Inside NASCAR, Randy Pemberton said that from what he understands, NASCAR has had to award triple digit numbers at Daytona for the BGN race and that there would probably be over 100 entries for the BGN race — UPDATE 2: a source tells me that the BGN teams have not even recieved the entry blanks to send in to Daytona for the race yet, so….(1-4-2000) — UPDATE 3: My understanding is that entries for the Daytona BGN race are “around 70.” The 145 number is incorrect and BGN team owners have been issued triple-digit numbers for years. The reason is every BGN team, no matter how many races they run or qualify for, is required to have a separate identification number. For instance, if you total every BGN team that attempted a race in 1999, including Cup drivers, it is over 100. This is seen in the BGN and CUP OWNERS points standings quite often(1-7-2000)
WCW and SABCO? UPDATE: WCW will have another car running with Nascar sometime in 2000. The car is owned by Felix Lebadis(I think they mean Sabates) from Charlotte and will be driven by a a driver by the name of Blaze(Blaise) Alexander(WrestleScoop WCW/WWF Hotline Report)(12-27-1999) — UPDATE: TRACFONE and the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) organization have come together for the 2000 BGN season with Team SABCO and driver Blaise Alexander, it was announced at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV. The sponsorship will include highlighting celebrity wrestlers on the hood of the #81 Chevy at selected NASCAR BGN races(Williams Comapny/SABCO PR’s)(1-7-2000)
Lazarro BGN debut delayed: Anthony Lazzaro will make his BGN debut in the McDonald’s #97 Ford Taurus, Feb. 26 at Rockingham. Lazzaro’s original plan was to make his debut at the Feb. 19th Daytona season opener, but due to a racing injury and a six-week recovering period, he was unable to meet NASCAR’s eligibility requirements for rookie entry in a superspeedway race. Lazzaro suffered a fracture of the thoracic T-3 vertebra in an accident while running fourth with seven laps remaining in last year’s (Oct. 16) ARCA race at Talladega. The injury prevented him from competing in three ensuing BGN races, which would have given the NASCAR rookie the needed seat-time to be eligible for the Daytona opener. Although Lazzaro will not compete in the Daytona opener, PPI Motorsports will enter the #97 McDonald’s Ford with a substitute driver. Wells said he will make a final decision on who the substitute driver will be in the next three to four weeks(McDonald’s PR)(1-7-2000)
Link Belt Renews with Grubb: Link-Belt Construction Equipment has re-signed with the #83 Grubb Motorsports team and driver Wayne Grubb for the 2000 BGN season(SpeedVision)(1-7-2000)
New ARCA team: Doc Watson – CEO of Doc Watson Motorsports has announced the signing of driver Tim Bainey to compete in the ARCA Bondo / Mar-Hyde Series as driver for the #34 Doc Watson Motorsports Team. Bainey will make his first official start with the team during Speedweeks 2000 at Daytona. The teams operations will be based in central Pennsylvania where they have just completed construction on a brand new 5500 sq ft facility. They will be running Ford Tauruses and Thunderbirds which were purchased from the #90 Junie Donlavey Winston Cup Team in the 2000 season, plans are for the team to be running all Tauruses by the end of the season. Watson, who is also co-owner of Watson Green Motorsports, along with Dennis Green head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, is excited that the addition of Bainey to Doc Watson Motorsports will be the final step in taking his team to the top. The team has announced they will start the season seeking primary sponsorship, however they are very confident in their team(Tim Bainey Website)(1-7-2000)
Grubb Surgery UPDATE: Wayne Grubb(#83 BGN Chevy) will undergo eye surgery on January 10th at the Eye Institute in Richmond, Virginia. Grubb says he’s looking forward to the laser surgery. Grubb is expected to make a speedy recovery and be able to drive the day after surgery(Racing Milestones)(1-4-2000) — UPDATE: For fans who would like to be part of this, the surgery will be broadcast live on the Internet on www.wrxl.com, XL102 FM’s website(1-6-2000)
BACE? Hearing that former CART driver PJ Jones will drive a second BGN car for Bill Baumgardner/BACE Motorsports in 2000(1-5-2000)
Gordon’s BGN Team news: Jeff Gordon will be competing in the #24 Pepsi Chevy at Las Vegas (March 4), Texas (April 1), Charlotte (May 27), Michigan(August 19) and Homestead-Miami (November 11). Ricky Hendrick will race in 15 Busch Series races as well as 5 Busch North events in the 2000 season. No sponsorship has been announced. Jeff Gordon and BGN teammate Ricky Hendrick now are working from a new 15,000 sq-ft shop in the Denver Industrial Park. The #24 BGN team was previously housed in the former Gordon-Evernham Motorsports shop in Concord; that facility will become the primary engine shop for Evernham’s new Dodge Motorsports Winston Cup effort. The #24 BGN team currently is busy building cars and staffing up for an expanded racing schedule in 2000. They competed in 10 races last year and are planning a 20-race schedule in 2000. The shop is located just off of U.S. Route 16 in the Denver Industrial Park, and fans and visitors are encouraged to stop by and take a tour. Six team members are currently working at the shop with plans to hire two more in the near future.(Tina’s Jeff Gordon Newsletter)(1-4-2000)
Fenley-Moore hires Lusk: Fenley/Moore Motorsports has hired Southwest Tour driver Damon Lusk to a five year deal. The plan is for Lusk to run in 16 of the 20 ARCA events in 2000 and a few BGN events then run a full BGN season in 2001 and eventually take over the Winston Cup ride from Cope who played a part in hand-picking his successor. Former NASCAR driver James Hylton will serve as general manager of the newly created Fenley/Hylton Motorsports, a division that will be owned by the Fenleys and run by Hylton. Hylton competed in the ARCA series himself last year at age 63 and had two top-10 finishes and has two Winston Cup wins to his credit(full story at GoUpstate)(1-4-2000)
ARCA News: Jerry Glanville, former NFL head coach for the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Oilers, is planning to run a few ARCA events in 2000. Glanville has raced in the CTS and BGN along with some ARCA runs. Glanville will drive a Ford at Toledo, and hopes to run at Charlotte, Michigan, Kentucky, Berlin and Pocono, before the 2000 NFL season starts(goRacing)(1-4-2000)
Hamilton Jr BGN: ALLCAR Motorsports owner Dave Carroll announced that Bobby Hamilton Jr. will return as the driver for ALLCAR Motorsports(#22 Chevy) in the BGN for the 2000 season(TNN Motorsports)(1-3-2000)
