PAST NEWS JANUARY 1997

(1-28-97)

  • Odyssey Motorsports with owners Don Hume, Thomas Ungurean and Dick Bahre, plan to field a WC team in 1997. Details are to be announced soon. Four Atlanta Braves are part of this ownership group(Klesko, McGriff, Wohlers,Lopez)(1-28-97)
  • IROC Series Driver list: Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Robby Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Tommy Kendall, Terry Labonte, Randy LaJoie, Mark Martin, Al Unser Jr, Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi. And of course Darrell Waltrip!(Davy Jones was the 12th driver until his injury knocked him out)(1-28-97)

(1-22-97)

  • More #79 Trix Racing news. The owner, Ted Walters from NJ, plans on running a limited WC schedule(about 6 races) with the best available driver at the tracks he decides to run at, with local sponsors, I have the info from a flyer handed out at the Winston Preview TRIX Flyer(1-22-97)


(1-20-97)

  • Rumor has it is that the new SB2 Chevy head will be legalized for WC in 1997. Several manufacturers of parts are making parts for the head now pending Nascar approval early this year(1-20-97)
  • I hear Tommy Houston might attempt to the jump to Winston Cup(1-20-97), the team is called Victory Motorsports and is talking to sponsors(1-22-97). I did notice his name on the ARCA Daytona speed charts


(1-17-97)

  • Unocal sold to Tosco not Citgo, looks like only part of it, see the story at this Unocal Special Report I understand it won’t effect NASCAR too much. I still hear Citgo will be part of this buyout?(1-17-97)
  • The Winston will no longer be open to non-winners. The rules have now been altered to include only winners in the field. That includes drivers and car-owners who have won races in the previous year and the current year, past Winston Cup champions, winners of The Winston for the last five years, and the winner of that night’s Winston Open. So far, those who have made the field are Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Dale Earnhardt, Sterling Marlin, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Ernie Irvan, Geoff Bodine, Bill Elliott, Bobby Hamilton, Bobby Labonte, Darrell Waltrip and 1996 The Winston winner Michael Waltrip. That leaves six spots to fill. If it reverts back to winners in previous seasons, those eligible would include 1995 winners Mark Martin, Kyle Petty and Ward Burton, 1994 winner Jimmy Spencer and 1993 winner Morgan Shepherd.(1-18-97). This story appears in Winston Cup Scene(1-16-97), National Speed Sport News(1-15-97) and at Nando Net, the third story from the top


(undated)

  • Don’t have to wonder what Stacey Compton will be doing in 1997. He will be doing a full Craftsman Truck Series deal in the #86 Ford with Troy Selberg as GM and Crew Chief. That pretty much kills the rumors of Selberg going to any WC team
  • Todd Bodine to run a full Busch Schedule in 1997 with Team34, he’ll be in the #36 Stanley Tools Pontiac. No 1997 plans for WC at this time
  • Hooter’s has left Winston Cup as a sponsor(team/race)
  • Ron Barfield will run 18 Busch Series races, 15 Truck Series races, 1 Winston Cup Race(Indy) and at least Daytona in ARCA, all for Bill Elliott
  • Rich Bickle will run limited schedule for DW in 1997 Possibly take over for DW in 1998, No sponsor named


(undated)

  • #00 Buckshot Jones will attempt some WC races in 1997 in the Aquafresh/Keebler Pontiac
  • I have removed Terry Byers from the ROTY chart and the Team chart as I have not heard or seen anything about him in months. I put his name in the appearances list
  • Looks like David Blair’s #27 Ford operation will shut down in 1997 and try to comeback in 1998. One rumor has Bill Elliott teaming up with Blair to run Barfield in the car in 1998. Crew chief, Mike Hill moved on to the #41 team
  • I hear Stanley Smith will make a comeback in the truck series, no more news on that