January 2003 CTS Archive

• DW looking to run two CTS races: from a Darrell Waltrip chat on FoxSports: Waltrip is going to be running a couple of truck races, probably the same two he ran last year, Martinsville and Indianapolis. In a Chevy [#17?] the name of the team? W2 Racing Team, with brother Michael. Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds will be involved like they were last year at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Tide may be the sponsor for one or both races.(1-31-2003)
• Brian Reffner back to the ASA: Bryan Reffner, who won the ASA title in 1995 and CTS rookie honors in ‘96, has returned to his hometown of Wisconsin Rapids for another run at ASA. Reffner has teamed with Eau Claire, WI businessman John Menard who Reffner drove for Menard in the Truck Series, but Menard folded the team in mid-2001.(Wilmington Star)(1-31-2003)
• New Spoiler Rules at Daytona: NASCAR has implemented a spoiler rule change in the CTS for the season-opening Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 14. The rear spoiler angle of the Dodge entries increases to 70 degrees and Fords are reduced to 60 degrees. The Chevys remain at 65 degrees, which is the angle all three makes had for preseason testing at Daytona earlier this month. The change should produce more downforce on the Dodges, reducing the speed somewhat. The change for the Fords should help increase their speed. During testing, Dodges easliy outpaced their competition. The six-fastest speeds during testing were posted by Dodge teams, with one Chevrolet and one Ford in the top nine. Ford drivers, led by veteran Rick Crawford, complained extensively of an unfair advantage during the test.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-30-2003)
• CAP Motorsports looking for help: CAP Motorsports founder United States Air Force Retired Veteran Bill Glaser announced CAP Motorsports will attempt some CTS races and some NASCAR Winston West races in the second part of the season. To prepare for the 2004 season Glaser has talked with a few potential associate sponsors, but has nothing firm. They are looking for some marketing partners for primary backing and have some great people with experience in the trucks, and Winston Cup. Everything is contingent on finding a major sponsor. Glaser can be contacted at [email protected], or CAP Motorsports, 2107 Spacecraft Drive, Castle Airport, Atwater, CA 95301 for sponsor information.(CAP Motorsports PR)(1-30-2003)
• Schrader to driver in 13 CTS races with special enhanced video/audio: Speed Channel and NASCAR driver Kenny Schrader will bring CTS fans closer to the action with enhanced audio video onboard coverage in 2003. Schrader, a regular on Speed’s Inside Winston Cup, will be driving in 13 CTS events with his #52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet. Speed will place onboard cameras on his truck to catch all the side-by-side action. Wired with a microphone, Schrader also will be a part of the Speed broadcast team, beginning April 12 In Martinsville, allowing the veteran driver to provide his unique perspective directly to the Speed booth. Speed Channel, which has added nearly 24 million homes in the last two years, will air all 25 CTS races live in 2003. In addition to added pre- and post-race programming, Speed also will offer multiple replays of each race as well as CTS Fast Forward, a one-hour cut-down version of each race.(Speed Channel PR)(1-29-2003)
• Gordon to another team? UPDATE: hearing Tina Gordon, who announced that she is running for 2003 Rookie of the Year for the #66 MLB Motorsports team, supposedly will not be driving for that team, but will be with the Brevek Racing team (ran #31 in the past), pending sponsorship.(1-25-2003)
  UPDATE: Tina Gordon and Shelly Brevak are pleased to announce that they will team as driver and owner for the upcoming CTS season. Gordon signed a multi year agreement with Brevak Racing on Saturday the 25th of January. This was after several issues arose concerning MLB Motorsports team’s plans for 2003 that the two sides were unable to resolve to her satisfaction. “I regret that things did not work out with MLB Motorsports,” Gordon said. “There are some really good people on that team. However, there was just some issues that could not be worked out. I wish them the best of luck with everything in the future. I am still very excited to be a part of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Brevak Racing and I’m still looking forward to running for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year.” In Brevak Racing, Gordon joins an organization that has over 30 years of experience in the racing business. Shelly Brevak holds a master’s degree in education, a bachelor’s degree in music and brings 30 years of public-relations experience to the team. Bob Brevak began racing at the age of 16 and was a successful short-track racer in northern Wisconsin for many years. The Brevak’s established their race team in 1972 and, with Bob as the driver, were consistent Top 5 competitors in the USAC Stock division in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s, Bob Brevak moved to the ARCA Series and continued to be successful, finishing as series runner-up in 1989 and winning the ARCA championship in 1990. With the inception of the Craftsman Truck Series in 1995, Brevak Racing moved to that series and has been competing there ever since. During that timethey have amassed three top five and numerous top ten finishes. They are one of the few teams that has competed in the series in each year of its existence. “We are extremely excited to announce our entry for Daytona with Tina Gordon as our driver,” Shelly Brevak said. “Tina was a standout on the superspeedways in the ARCA Series and comes to the team with a tremendous desire to compete at the next level. She is the epitome of class, both on and off the track, and we look forward to developing a long-term relationship with her and her husband, Gary.” Bob Brevak said: “I am confident we have a first-class driver in Tina Gordon and look forward to coming to Daytona with a first-class operation for our fellow competitors to have to contend with.”(Victory Lane Motorsports Management PR)(1-27-2003)
• Cecil Chunn Ready To Run in CTS: Cecil Chunn a native of Franklin, TN is in negotiations to drive for John Conely Jr. the owner of the #7 CTS team and Conely Engines, Inc. “I have the opportunity to be with a top Craftsman Truck team and I am very excited at the prospect of being a part of an up and coming championship team.” Chunn also noted, “My primary goals are to be competitive and progressive.. I am committed to positively promoting the team and marketing partners both on and off the track to the highest degree.”.. Cecil Chunn is currently in negotiations with corporate marketing partners and is looking forward to solidifying their contracts in the coming weeks for sponsorship in the Craftsman Truck Series.(G&G Motorsports Marketing)(1-25-2003)
• Part time team: hearing that All Pro driver Jody Lavender will run a few CTS races for the #07 CTS team this year. Lavenderran his first CTS race last year at Richmond and attempted two BGN races in 2003.(1-25-2003)
• Speed Channel CTS TV Host/Announcer named UPDATE 2: Rick Schwieger, the public-address announcer at Memorial Stadium since 1994, is resigning to be the television host for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing on Speed Channel. Schwieger signed a two-year contract. His first race is the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona on Feb. 14. “The opportunities that could be out there had to be very, very good and the upside had to be great for me to walk away,”Schwieger said on Friday. “I’m excited because how far I go is based on my performance. There are plenty of opportunities out there.” Schwieger first auditioned for a TV gig two years ago when Fox Sports gained half of the television rights for NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series events. Though Schwieger wasn’t hired, his banter with Darrell Waltrip during the audition made an impression on Fox Sports chairman David Hill. When Speed Channel wanted a new team for its Truck Series broadcasts, Schwieger’s name was one of the first mentioned. Speed Channel is owned by Fox, and its Truck Series broadcasts will be produced in the edgy style of Fox Winston Cup telecasts. Executives said Schwieger is an integral part of the new look. “He doesn’t have any substantial on-camera experience, but we’re willing to invest that time,”said Rick Miner, Speed Channel’s vice president for programming and production. “He’s a good-looking guy, he’s young, and his knowledge and friendliness should come through well on TV. “Plus, he’s got great pipes.” Schwieger’s trademark voice is only part of his contribution to Nebraska. The Grand Island native was a three-time All-American in the decathlon. He graduated from NUin 1992. In addition to football, Schwieger is the public-address announcer for men’s basketball. But it was his work at Eagle Raceway that ultimately landed him on the national scene. Track owner Craig Cormack hired Schwieger in 1996, and Tom Deery, a NASCAR official in charge of the series’ sanctioned short-tracks, was impressed enough to first mention Schwieger’s name to Fox Sports officials. “I’ve learned an unbelievable amount from Craig and the people at Eagle,”Schwieger said. Schwieger will continue in his fund-raising job with the athletic department through March 1 and be at the microphone for as many men’s basketball games as possible the rest of the season. He will attend production meetings next week and check out the Truck Series practicing at Daytona beginning Jan. 11. The full Speed Channel team, including a well-known driver and former crew chief, will be introduced Jan. 20. The 25-race Truck Series concludes Nov. 15. Schwieger will call the races from the booth and host pre- and post-race coverage. Schwieger will call other events for Speed Channel, including NASCAR touring series races.(Lincoln Journal Star), some rumors have Jeff Hammond, Phil Parsons and Ray Dunlap as the other broadcasters…..(1-6-2003)
  UPDATE: Speed Channel, which will broadcast all Truck series race live this season, will unveil its 2003 broadcast team Jan. 20 in a news conference as part of the first day of Lowe’s Motor Speedway media tour at the University Hilton in Charlotte.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-12-2003)
  UPDATE 2 Official Team Announced: Ray Dunlap, a familiar face for NASCAR fans from his work with ESPN, will join Phil Parsons as pit reporters on the Speed Channel’s broadcast team for this year’s NASCAR Truck series. Rick Allen, 33, who tried out for the Fox Winston Cup team two years ago and who has been a track announcer at Eagle Raceway in Lincoln, Neb., will be the anchor in the booth with former crew chief Barry Dodson and driver Dorsey Schroeder as analysts.(ThatsRacin.com), Allen’s real named is Rick Allen Schwieger and he will go by Rick Allen on Speed.(1-21-2003)
• Briggs to run for ROTY: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, Randy Briggs returned to Daytona, Jan. 11th and 12th for Daytona Thunder preseason testing. Briggs, hoping to repeat his great run at Daytona from last year, circled the high banks of Daytona in his Ford F-150 with a time of 49.297, 182.567 MPH landing him seventh out of the twenty drivers in the drafting session on Sunday. After competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on a limited basis since 1999. Briggs is looking forward to a strong start this year.. Randy and the team have full intentions of racing the entire season, also competing for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. Randy and Pro Motion Motorsports look forward are excited about the 2003 season and will be making sponsorship announcements in the very near future. For more information, contact Michelle Lister, Public Relations at 704-663-3053 or 704-224-1971.(PR)(1-20-2003)
• Portenga leaves truck back to Winston West: For the second time in less than a decade, Steve Portenga is leaving the CTS and returning to his roots in the western states. After a 19th-place finish in the 2002 CTS point standings, Portenga finds himself on the outside looking in as the trucks prepare to begin the 2003 campaign.  Portenga faced a similar situation after the 1995 truck campaign. “I love running the trucks,” Portenga said. “We aren’t giving up on getting back to that level or above, but if it never happens, I have a lot of memories and a lot of photos to look at from the years we’ve raced trucks.  Racing at Daytona was one of the highlights, something I’ll remember forever.” Portenga’s departure from the NCTS was necessitated when Roto-Rooter, his primary sponsor, was unable to continue funding the program at its 2002 level.  As an owner/driver, Portenga was faced with the business decision of trying to find the best opportunity for himself in 2003. He feels he’s found that with Performance Motorsports, a team headed by Joe Nava that fields cars in the NASCAR Winston West Series. “We’re going to pursue the Winston West full-time,” Portenga said. “It will be my first time in Fords, so that’s a bit of a change. Roto-Rooter is still going to support us.  King Taco, which has been with me a long-time, is involved.  With them and the team that Joe has built, I think everything’s in place to win races and contend for the Winston West championship.” Portenga isn’t closing the door on the trucks series.  He continues to own a fleet of Chevrolets and may compete in some capacity yet in 2003.(PR)(1-17-2003)
• DW’s Truck plans include ‘family’?…Mikey? will Darrell Waltrip run any CTS races in 2003? “I don’t think Jim Harris, who we [with Stacy Compton] both drove for this past year, is coming back this season. I drove the Duckhead Dodge at Martinsville and the Tide Dodge at Indianapolis Raceway Park for Jim, and he was tied with Melling Racing, which has closed its doors. That’s where Jim kept the trucks. I think he and Melling had an agreement of some nature so Jim called and said he probably wasn’t going to race any in 2003. It looks like we’re going to be able to put something together for a couple of races this year, and I think we’ll have an announcement very soon about what we’re planning on doing. We’re going to try to keep it in the family — just a little clue for you.”(FoxSports)(1-14-2003)
• Weather Shortens Practice at Daytona: With many in the garage already having returned to their race shops, seven remaining NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams got in a weather-shortened day of drafting practice as their segment of Preseason Thunder was completed Monday at Daytona International Speedway. #62-Brendan Gaughan and #46-Dennis Setzer paced a session of less than two hours that began after noon and ended at 2 p.m. Gaughan’s speed was 182.445 mph while Setzer was clocked at 182.441.(DIS PR)(1-14-2003)
• Another rookie: University of Missouri student Carl Edwards, 23, has joined Tina Gordon in the chase for the 2003 Raybestos Rookie-of-the Year title. Edwards will drive the #63 Mittler Bros. Machine and Tool Ford, a truck in which he gave the St. Louis-area team its first series top-10 finish last July at Kansas Speedway. Edwards recorded Sunday’s sixth-fastest speed, a lap of 179.603. “Last year, there were so many times we were doing well, like Indianapolis Raceway Park. We qualified fifth there and it really fun until the first pit stop where I made the mistake of driving past the pit stall,” said Edwards, a substitute teacher. “I think if I can keep from making those mistakes and we can continue to have the lap-by-lap success that we’ve had, I think we’re going to be all right.”(DIS PR)(1-14-2003)
• Harvick to run in the CTS and have team: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy for Richard Childress racing, announced that he plans to field trucks for 10-15 Craftsman Truck Series events in 2003. “We were really pleased with our truck efforts right out of the box,” Harvick said. “My goal was to establish a top-notch truck team, and I think we’ve proven that our team is capable of winning each time we show up to the track. “I’d like to run another year of trucks, move to the Busch Series for a couple of years and then be a Winston Cup owner,” continued Harvick.” Harvick plans to run the majority of the scheduled truck races in 2003, along with Ed Berrier, Harvick’s crew chief in the Truck Series, and Brandon Miller, a newcomer to the series. Berrier, who previously raced for Junie Donleavy in the Winston Cup Series and is a veteran of the BGN, will pilot the #6 Chevy for the season-opening event in Daytona. Miller, a 21-year-old resident of Bakersfield, CA, who has predominately raced Late Models on the West Coast will make his Truck Series debut at Mesa Marin Raceway in March. KHI’s 2003 Truck Series Line Up (Tentative): Berrier will run at: Daytona; Harvick at: Darlington, Martinsville (both), Bristol, Richmond, Lowe’s, Dover, NHIS, Phoenix and Homestead; and Miller at: Mesa Marin.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-13-2003)
• Slower speeds: Reduction in the size of hoses feeding air to a truck’s carburetor, in part, has cut speeds during this season’s test from 2002 levels. #1-Ted Musgrave sat on the Bud Pole a year ago with a speed of 187.215 – nearly five miles per hour faster than the best single lap speed recorded Saturday and Sunday. “For the big picture, it’s better,” said Hamilton. “NASCAR is fighting tooth and nail not to put restrictor plates on these things because the plate engines’ (cost is) so high. I applaud them for trying to do it in a cheap way.” The cost of the hoses – a pair of two-inch units instead of a single, three-inch hose under 2002 rules – is approximately $20 each. Hamilton estimated a horsepower reduction of 65.(Daytona International Speedway)(1-12-2003)
• Leffler fastest Sunday in DIS testing: #2-Jason Leffler posted a fast lap of 182.386mph on Sunday claiming top speed honors in the second day of testing for the Feb. 14 Florida Dodge Dealers 250. Leffler’s speed was fractionally quicker than that of #18-Chad Chaffin at 182.024. Third and fourth fastest on Sunday – both in morning tests – were #1-Ted Musgrave and #4-Bobby Hamilton. Dodge recorded the five fastest speeds, ahead of expected Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Carl Edwards whose #63 Mittler Machine and Tool Ford was sixth with a 179.903, turned Sunday afternoon. During a two-hour drafting session that completed Sunday’s trials, #14-Rick Crawford had the fastest lap at 186.563 followed by #8-Bill Lester at 186.332 [faster the Cup cars in drafting]. The three-day NASCAR Preseason Thunder tests winds up Monday with a full day of drafting on the schedule. Highlights of the three-day test can be seen at 6:30pm/et Monday on SPEED. The network has scheduled a Jan. 20 news conference in Charlotte to announce its team of broadcasters for this season’s 2003 schedule [see story below].(DIS PR)(1-12-2003)
• Gordon wrecks but is ok: #66-Tina Gordon experienced a suspension failure that sent her Dodge truck into the Turn 2 wall. Gordon, however, rebounded to pronounce the test a success. “We’re running pretty decent,” said Gordon, who competed in last year’s Daytona ARCA 200 race. “We were just coming down here to try to get a good starting point and see how things work out. I want to be able to go out there and win Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year and finish in the top 15 in points.(DIS PR)(1-12-2003)
• Crawford not happy with Dodge testing dominance: #14-Rick Crawford said he has made a reservation in the NASCAR hauler and plans to speak his mind. Crawford, who was runner-up to Mike Bliss for the 2002 CTS championship, is thoroughly disgusted with Dodge’s dominance in preseason testing. The three-day session at Daytona International Speedway concludes Monday. Dodge teams have dominated the speed chart, with the highest non-Dodge team seventh both Friday and Saturday. “They’re going to listen, but they’re probably not going to do anything because Dodge is the mayor of Truckville, even though they have had a tough time the last few years,” said Crawford, who drives the #14 Ford. “They’ve shot themselves in the foot. Just get me competitive. That’s all I want. I have to have a chance to win.” Unlike last week’s first Winston Cup test session when all four manufacturers were mixed together at the top of the chart, Dodge clearly is the class of the field this weekend. Bobby Hamilton’s lap Saturday at 182.419 mph in a Dodge is the best qualifying lap so far. Matt Crafton’s lap Saturday at 181.130 mph in a Chevrolet is best among the other manufacturers.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-12-2003)
• Lester/Hamilton expect to run full season: Bill Lester, the only full-time black driver in NASCAR’s top three series last season, will drive for Bobby Hamilton Racing in the season opener at Daytona. Hamilton said Sunday he expects sponsorship to come through in time to run Lester another full season in the series in the #8 Dodge.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-12-2003)
• Hamilton fastest so far at Daytona in testing: Bobby Hamilton, whose trucks have won the last two editions of the Florida Dodge Dealers 250, posted the fastest lap at the CTS testing at Daytona International Speedway. #4-Hamilton paced both “regular” sessions of the test with a speed of 182.419mph. #2-Jason Leffler was 2nd fastest at 182.338, #18-Chad Chaffin was third at 182.054, followed by #8-Bill Lester at 181.906 and #1-Ted Musgrave at 181.734. All were in Dodges. Fastest Ford was #29-Terry Cook at 180.846 who was 8th. Fastest Chevy was #88-Matt Crafton at 181.130, 7th.(DIS PR)(1-12-2003)
• Drafting at Daytona: Only two drivers, #88-Matt Crafton and Rick #14-Crawford, took advantage of a one hour drafting session on Saturday. Crafton was quickest at 184.324 mph.(DIS PR)(1-12-2003)
• Hamilton Retires from Cup? UPDATE No: Bobby Hamilton will run in the Truck Series full time in 2003 (see story on my CTS site), didn’t realize he was ‘retiring’ from Cup…: Nashville’s Bobby Hamilton, a former wrecker driver who became a NASCAR star with more than $15 million in winnings, yesterday announced his retirement from Winston Cup racing. ”We’ve all gotta face it sometime,” Hamilton said. ”It’s just a matter of time until we all step down.” Hamilton, 45, will remain active by driving one of the three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series trucks he fields out of his Mt. Juliet racing headquarters. But he said the big-league career he began in 1989 is over. See full story at the Tennessean: Hamilton out of Winston Cup.(1-8-2003)
  UPDATE: Bobby Hamilton is adamant about three things. He’s not taking a step down. He’s not retired from Winston Cup racing. And he, and his three-team Truck Series program, are taking a step toward the future. “I’m not looking for a Winston Cup car to try. I’m not retired from Winston Cup, as it was put out,” said Hamilton, a 12-year veteran of the Winston Cup ranks. “It was put out at home that I retired from Winston Cup. When I retire, that word retires means retired. It’s over with. It’s not a step back or a step down.”(Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-12-2003)
• Richert to Roush? UPDATE: hearing Cup championship crew chief, Doug Richert will be the crew chief for the Kyle Busch/Roush Racing #99 CTS team. Busch will run the truck full time once he turns 18 years of age in May. Cup driver Mark Martin may run a few races in the #99 Truck before hand.(12-31-2002)
  UPDATE: Doug Richert has been named crew chief for the #99 Roush Racing Ford F-150 driven by Kyle Busch for the 2003 season. Busch will return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after his 18th birthday on May 2. Richert brings 20 years of Winston Cup experience to Roush’s truck program. Richert was only 20 years old when he became the youngest crew chief to win the Winston Cup championship with Dale Earnhardt in 1980. In addition to Earnhardt, he was worked with legendary drivers such as Neil Bonnett, Buddy Baker and Benny Parsons. Most recently, Richert worked at Joe Gibbs Racing from 2001-2002 as crew chief for their BGN program. Roush Racing is still looking for primary sponsorship for the #99 Ford, but is committed to run the entire season once Busch is old enough to compete.(Roush Racing PR)(1-9-2003)
• Hamilton to the Trucks? UPDATE 2 Yes with Square D: Bobby Hamilton, who parted ways with Petree at the end of last season, is contemplating his next move, which could be getting behind the wheel of a truck. Hamilton says if he decides to run for the title in the Craftsman Truck Series — in which he undoubtedly would be a weekly contender — he wouldn’t want to risk his health in a part-time Winston Cup role, even at the Daytona 500. “You’re at everyone else’s mercy,” Hamilton says of Daytona. “If one guy makes a mistake, it can take out half the field. That doesn’t happen at a place like Charlotte or Atlanta.”(Sporting News)(12-30-2002)
  UPDATE: hearing that Square D will be sponsoring Bobby Hamilton for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 2003 season. The #4 Dodge truck will sport Square D’s brand logo as well as a commemorative logo for the 100-year anniversary.
  UPDATE 2: Bobby Hamilton and sponsor Square D announced the two are combining forces for the 2003 CTS season. Square D will be the primary sponsor of the #4 Dodge displaying a commemorative paint scheme of the Square D brand’s 100th anniversary, and Hamilton has been named as the full-time driver. “This just makes sense for me,” Hamilton said.. “I’ve worked with Square D for the past two years and we have a tremendous relationship. When they talked about coming on board as a sponsor of our truck, I told them without hesitation, ‘If you sponsor it, I will drive it.'”.(Bobby Hamilton Racing PR)(1-7-2003)
• Chaffin in the #18, Lester still in the #8..for now: CTS team owner Bobby Hamilton announced Chad Chaffin would drive his #18 Dickies Dodge in 2003. As Dodge continues to look for a marketing partner to continue its diversity truck program with driver Bill Lester will at least open the season in the #8 Dodge Motorsports Ram pickup.(NASCAR.com)(1-7-2003)
• Newt Back to Work UPDATE, other changes at BHR: Newt Moore has signed on with Bobby Hamilton Racing and will be crew chief for one of Hamilton’s three truck teams.(Sporting News)(1-6-2003)
  UPDATE: Bobby Hamilton also announced several other changes within his three-team operation. Kip McCord, who has served as both team manager and a crew chief within the organization for the last two years, has been named general manager of racing operations. Newt Moore, 40, another Nashville Speedway champion that most recently served in the Winston Cup Series as a crew chief for MB2 Motorsports, will be Hamilton’s crew chief for the #4 truck. Randy Seals, who served as crew chief on the #4 truck last season, as it ran a partial schedule, will work on the #18 as Chad Chaffin’s crew chief. Danny Rollins, who worked on the #18 truck will be Lester’s crew chief on the No. 8. Jeff White, who served as Lester’s crew chief at the end of 2002 was announced as the head of Bobby Hamilton Racing’s research and development engineering department.(NASCAR.com)(1-7-2003)
• Speed Channel CTS Consultant named: Becky Severs has been engaged by SPEED Channel to provide consulting services and serve as the network’s primary at-track public relations contact for all NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events in 2003. A native of Armstrong, Ill., Severs is a graduate of Columbia College in Chicago and has experience in both television production and public relations. Severs spent the last three race seasons at Carrick Public Relations as a public relations representative on the Craftsman account for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. “There is no question Becky brings a great deal of added strength to the network with her experience in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series,” said Erik Arneson, SPEED Channel’s Director of Public Relations. “In 2003, SPEED Channel will broadcast all 25 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events live and her relationships with the teams, drivers and sponsors will help us both in our public relations and production efforts.” In addition to her role with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Severs also will consult on various other projects at the Charlotte, N.C. based network.(Speed Channel PR)(1-6-2003)
• Team Racing news: Former ASCARI driver T.J. Bell will join forces with Team Racing for 18 races during the 2003 season. Bell, from Reno, NV, will be driving the #86 Chevy Truck which will be sponsored by A Special Wish Foundation. Twenty-one year old Bell will start the 2003 season at the Mesa Marin Speedway in Bakersfield, CA. Continuing with Team Racing for the 2003 season will be Dana White driving the #23 Carports Coverall Chevy and Phil Bonifield in the #25 Red Line Oil Chevy.(Team Racing PR)(1-3-2003)
• New #50 crew chief? UPDATE: hearing John Monsam will be the new crew chief for the #50 Ford truck and driver Jon Wood in 2003. The US Navy has not signed yet to sponsor the truck for the 2003 season.(12-11-2002)
  UPDATE – Monsam named #50 crew chief: John Monsam has been named crew chief for the Roush Racing #50 Navy Racing Ford F-150 driven by Jon Wood for the 2003 season. Since the team’s relocation to Mooresville, NC, several changes have been made within the team, including the addition of Monsam.(Roush Racing PR)(1-2-2003)