new ARCA Team: Briggs Cunningham III, and Kerry Scherer will join forces with Doug Taylor Specialty Motorsports to form Cunningham Motorsports. Briggs Cunningham III is the son of former racecar builder Briggs Cunningham, Jr., who is in the Motorsports Hall of Fame. Kerry Scherer, financial consultant for Morgan Keegan, brings to the table not only his business acumen, but also his racing experience. He raced flat tracks on motorcycles in the early 1970’s. He worked as a general mechanic for Billy Ballew and the Blue Bandit Motorsports team. Scherer will manage the budget, and work with Doug Taylor to provide the team with the equipment required to race competitively. In 2000, Cunningham Motorsports and Doug Taylor Specialty Motorsports will feature driver Marc Brenner. Brenner raced for four years in the Allison Legacy series on the short tracks in the Southeast. In 1998 Brenner joined Kerry Scherer at CSG Racing and participated in a limited number of ARCA superspeedway races(PR)(12-6-1999)
Martinsville Testing: Jack Sprague, #24 GMAC Chevy and Andy Houston, #60 Cat Rental Stores Chevy, tested their CTS Trucks at Martinsville on Wednesday, Dec 1st and will also test on Thursday also in preparation for the NAPA 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race on Saturday, April 8, 2000 at Martinsville Speedway(Martinsville SpeedwayNewaletter)(12-2-1999)
Truck Testing/News: Four CTS teams tested Ford F-150s at Phoenix Monday. But more significant than kicking off preparations for the sixth CTS season were drivers testing for teams including the #99 Exide Batteries Ford. Phelon Motorsports is also in the process of working on a driver for its Carlin Burners & Controls Ford for 2000. Mike Stefanik drove the truck to the 1999 Rookie of the Year Award but he has not been guaranteed a seat for 2000. Rick Carelli returned to the track and tested the #66 Ford at Phoenix while Jimmy Hensley tested with the team at Texas on Tuesday. Roush Racing tested Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring champ Kurt Busch; two-time Goody’s Dash Series, NASCAR Touring champion Robert Huffman; 1998 Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring champion Gary Lewis; 1999 ASA ACDelco Challenge Series champion Tim Sauter; and NASCAR Winston West Series racer Brandon Ash in the #99 Ford Truck. Also testing at Phoenix was Rick Crawford in the No. 14 Circle Bar Motel & RV Park Ford(NOL)(11-17-1999)
Hornaday at Atlanta: Ron Hornaday recently tested an ARCA car at Atlanta in preparation of running the Atlanta Georgia Boot 400 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series race on Nov 20th. Hornaday is using the race as a BGN test since he had never run on the track before the test(ARCA Racing Site)(11-15-1999)
Zeck News: In preparation for the Georgia Boot 400, Ryan Zeck and the Dick Bahre Racing Team practiced November 4, 1999. They recorded lap speeds in the 182-mph average range and felt really good about the up coming race. These speeds were reached in “Race Trim,” a term to describe the set-up in the car. “Qualifying Trim” will be much faster. Zeck is very confident of a fast qualifying lap and looks forward to competing in only his second ARCA Race. The race will be shown tape delayed on Saturday, November 20, 1999 on ESPN 2 at 4 p.m. EST. It will reair on November 23, 1999 at 3 a.m. EST on ESPN “The Original.”(Zeck PR)(11-15-1999)
Skinner Fined: NASCAR fined driver Mike Skinner $5,000 for “actions detrimental to auto racing.” Skinner bumped Hermie Sadler’s car(#47) during the cool-down lap of last weekend’s Outback Steakhouse 200 BGN race in Phoenix(St Petersburg Times)(11-13-1999)
4th Progressive Team? UPDATE: Progressive Motorsports will have a three car team in 2000(#’s 32,53 and 57). Owner Greg Pollex is presently seeking sponsorship for a fourth team in 2000. If the new deal materializes, Pollex will put Shane Hall, who will leave the #43 Chevy at the end of the season, in the new team. The deal depends on if sponsorship is found. Hall and Pollex are supposed to meet with the prosepective sponsor this weekend at Phoenix(Race 2 Win)(11-4-1999) — UPDATE: I hear Shane Hall’s meeting with the potential sponsor for the fourth Progressive team went well and that a decision should be made within the next two weeks(11-11-1999)
Sadler: Hermie Sadler plans to stay with Innovative Motorsports, Inc.(#47) next season and is working to develop that needed bond with the team(Times-Dispatch) Mike McLaughlin will also drive for Innovative Motorsports and probably be #48 in the Goulds Pumps Chevy(11-11-1999)
Brewco News: Farm Stores, a convenience store chain with 215 outlets in south Florida, is an associate sponsor on the #37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the hotwheels.com 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway(Brewco PR)(11-11-1999)
Racecomm Column:Truck Talk by Jeff Downey(11-10-1999)
Mike Skinner to finish: Mike Skinner will finish the season for Team Yellow Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway. As the season comes to a close, team owner David Ridling, of Emerald Performance Group, is proud of the #19 Team Yellow Racing/Pameco Chevy Monte Carlo’s performance. “We’ve learned a lot this year,” explained Ridling. “We’ve had some highs and lows. It was great to win the “Yellow Freight 200” in Atlanta, but we’re disappointed we didn’t win more races. We’ve worked with some strong individuals behind the wheel like Mike and Jamie Skinner and Ted Smokestad, and the team has consistently produced competitive cars for each event. We’re definitely excited about next year,especially with the new 2000 body for the Monte Carlo. We plan to be a threat to win at every event.”(Team Yellow PR)(11-10-1999)
#90 Crew Chief UPDATE 2: hearing Alex Astor will be the new #90 GTS Motorsports Chevy crew chief starting at Memphis and beyond for driver Brad Loney(10-26-1999) — UPDATE: hearing the trail didn’t work and that Astor has left the team, so they are again looking for a crew chief(11-9-1999) — UPDATE 2: Mark Tudor, who last crew chiefed the #98 team will assume the poistion for one race only at Homestead as he has plans for 2000(Brad Loney Site)(11-10-1999)
Christopher News? Hearing Ted Christopher will announce soon that he team up with the #28 Larry Lockamy/Dennis Adcock BGN team to run approximately 20 BGN races in 2000 with LesCare Kitchens as the sponsor. Christopher is listed to run the car at Homestead this coming weekend(many sources)(11-10-1999)
Studer BGN Attempt: Sean Studer will attempt to make the Homestead BGN race in the #68 Winners Circle Racing Chevy. Studer has tested at Greenville Pickens(SC) and attempted to make the Memphis BGN event but failed to qualify. Studer started his racing career at the age of 12, driving go-karts in Lincoln, Neb., and one year later he claimed the track championship at Cornhusker Raceway Park. Studer and his family moved to North Carolina when he was 16 years old and he started competing weekly in late model cars at Concord Motorsports Park. In 1996, he began to compete in a limited schedule on the NASCAR All-Pro Series and then full-time in 1997 and 1998. Studer has plans to make the jump to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2000 running a limited schedule. Studer has ran races at Homestead in Slim-Jim and won a pole there(StockCarFAns BGN Newsletter)(11-10-1999)
#53 Crew Troubles? UPDATE team response: A source close to the #53 Team Marines team says that the whole pit crew has quit. One left Saturday; the rest are leaving after Homestead. Apparently, owner Hank Parker Sr. hired a Winston Cup pit crew to crew the car at Phoenix and it didn’t go over too well with the team(StockCarFans BGN Newsletter)(11-8-1999) — UPDATE: from Team Marines – One crewman did leave, but he had planned to leave at the end of the year anyway to return home to California. He did not leave because Hank Parker, Sr. decided to bring in a Winston Cup Series team to pit Hank Jr’s car at Phoenix. He was closer to California and decided it was easier for him to leave now rather than wait until after the Homestead race. No other crew members have left the team and Dave McCarty, the crew chief and team manager at Hank Parker Racing says that the guys were disappointed at having their pit crew jobs taken from them at Phoenix. However, he said that they realize that this was done to give Hank Jr the best shot at staying up front during the race, and since they were short-handed in terms of personnel anyway, Hank Sr took the opportunity to bring in a full over-the-wall contingent. If anyone does leave the team at the end of the season it will be for other reasons like a better job opportunity elsewhere, especially since the Team Marines program has finally given Hank Parker Racing the financial support it had been lacking through most of the season. The new money from Team Marines starting with the 2000 season will enable Dave McCarty to hire more men and give Hank Jr. a legitimate, in-house pit crew with which to race each time out rather than with a crew pieced together with crew members from other teams(Team Marines)(11-9-1999)
#72 Closes Shop: Ron Parker officially announced he has withdrawn the #72 Parker Racing/MGM Brakes team from competition in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series for the remainder of the 1999 season. He also announced Parker Racing, Inc. will cease operations effective immediately with the team members released from employment October 25, 1999 to accept other employment opportunities. All Parker Racing equipment and assets will be sold and the shop closed within the next few weeks. Parker Racing, Inc. was founded in December, 1988 and was one of the longest-running BGN teams and possibly the only combination owner/sponsor teams remaining in the series. The familiar #72 team experienced four victories, approximately 76 top 10’s and over $2 million in winnings. The shop is located in Mooresville, NC and is in the process of selling all shop and race equipment. Ron Parker’s company, Indian Head Industries (and the operating division MGM Brakes) is headquartered in Charlotte, NC with manufacturing plants in Murphy, NC and Cloverdale, CA. For over 40 years, MGM Brakes has become a recognized leader in the heavy-duty vehicle air-brake industry. MGM Brakes are standard-equipment on over 125 makes of commercial vehicles produced in more than 40 countries worldwide(Parker Racing PR) Good Luck and Thanks!(11-8-1999)
#63 Driver: Curtis Markham will be in the #63 Exxon Superflo Chevy at Homestead(11-8-1999)
Raines Clinches: Tony Raines, the leading candidate for the 1999 NASCAR Busch Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year, clinched the title with his 20th place finish in the Outback Steakhouse 200 at the Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday. Raines entered the next to the final race with a 167-point lead over Adam Petty(PR) Not bad for an unsponsored team(11-8-1999)
Homestead Testing: Mike Garvey ran the fastest NASCAR Busch Series lap in testing for the November 13 HotWheels.com 300 at Miami. The 36-year-old driver from Muskegon, Mich., ran a lap of 149.089mph(36.22 seconds) on Wednesday, bettering Mark Martin’s day-old unofficial track record of 148.433mph(36.38). Garvey, driving the #09 LaFavre Racing Chevrolet, was joined by Jeff Fuller in Joe Gibbs’ Pontiac in the final test. A veteran of NASCAR All Pro competition, Garvey finished fourth in the 1999 ASA point standings, winning four races in a car fielded by LaFavre Racing(Homestead-Miami Speedway Newsletter)(11-5-1999)
Team Amick News: Team Amick Motorsports announced today that Lyndon Amick will pilot the team’s #35 SCANA/Powertel Chevrolet in this weekend’s Outback Steakhouse 200 Busch Series Grand National Division race at Phoenix. In addition, Amick will drive the #35 in the final race of the season, the HotWheels.com 300 at Miami-Homestead on Nov. 13. The announcement comes on the heels of Amick’s 10th place finish in the Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis last Sunday. Team owner Bill Amick, said that the decision to leave the younger Amick in the car for the last two races of the season was not final until the checkered flag flew in Memphis. The team owner also points out that his organization is preparing for the 2000 season, and seat time for their young driver is a priority(Team Amick PR)(11-4-1999)
Park at Homestead: The Marsh Racing/Whelen BGN team will be running with the #84 at Homestead with Steve Park at the helm because Dale Earnhardt Jr. has #3 and Ron Hornaday will be using the #31 for Homestead. The team expects to use the #31 next season with Hornaday using the #3 next season. The #84 is a number Park is familiar with as he used it in his early Modified races. Also Whelen is dedicating the Homestead race effort to a 10 year Whelen employee who is fighting a difficult battle with cancer. Everett Niles will have his dream realized the team puts “Racing for Everett Niles” on the full C-Post of the Marsh Racing Whelen #84 at Homestead. Everett’s fellow employees at Whelen are the real sponsors of the Whelen car and they want Everett to know that they care about him(11-4-1999)
Brewco #37 100th: Saturday’s Outback Steakhouse 200 at Phoenix marks the #37 Timber Wolf/Brewco Motorsports team’s 100th NASCAR Busch Series start. Also Kevin Grubb is making his 50th career Busch Series start in Saturday’s 200 mile event(Brewco PR)(11-4-1999)
Hornaday at Phoenix: Ron Hornaday, who will drive the #31 NAPA Chevrolet owned by Dale Earnhardt Inc. this weekend at Phoenix, is one of three drivers entered in the Grand National series race who have won a major NASCAR series event at the track. Hornaday won the NASCAR truck series events at the track in 1998 and 1999. Winston Cup driver Mike Skinner won both NASCAR truck events in 1995 and Winston Cup driver Bobby Hamilton won the Winston Cup race at PIR in 1996(That’s Racin’ BGN Notes)(11-3-1999)
Chicago..bang-bang: Wednesday the Chicago Motor Speedway announced that the NCTS was coming to the Windy City next season, marking the debut of the trucks in the Chicagoland area. The race is scheduled for August 27(Racer Magazine)(11-3-1999)
Dover/Trucks? UPDATE: Hearing that the CTS will race at Dover under the lights Friday night of the BGN/Cup weekend next September(11-2-1999) — UPDATE: Dover Downs Entertainment announced that the CTS will make its inaugural appearance at the Monster Mile on September 22, 2000(Friday). The addition of NASCAR’s newest major racing division will make what is already one of NASCAR’s biggest events even bigger with an action-packed triple-header MBNA Gold Weekend. The Truck event will add to a fall weekend at Dover Downs International Speedway that includes racing from NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series and the Busch Grand National Division(Yahoo Biz)(11-3-1999)
SABCO at Phoenix: Team SABCO is scheduled to enter two cars in this weekend’s BGN Outback Steakhouse 200 at the Phoenix. The #82 TRACFONE entry will be driven by open wheel standout Dave Steele, who will be behind the wheel of the Channellock Chevy in the BGN for Team SABCO in 2000. This will mark Steele’s first appearance with his new team. Mexican sensation Jimmy Morales is scheduled to pilot the #89TRACFONE Chevy. Morales’ experience has come primarily from open wheel cars competing throughout his native Mexico and Europe. Team SABCO is looking at developing the 34-year old next season in the BGN(SABCO PR)(11-3-1999)
Skinner Back: Mike that is, as he will again take the wheel of the #19 Team Yellow Racing/Pameco Chevrolet at Phoenix, a track he has won before in the CTS(trucks)(Team YellowPR)(11-3-1999)
Martin/Bodines Test: Mark Martin bettered the BGN track record in unofficial testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin turned a lap of 36.38 seconds – 148.433mph – in the Winn-Dixie Ford. Casey Atwood holds the official record on the 1.5-mile oval, 36.422 seconds – 148.262mph – set in qualifying for last year’s event. Also testing Busch Series cars were #6-Barry Bodine(147.541mph), Mike Garvey and Jeff Fuller. “My father (Winston Cup Series regular Geoffrey Bodine) is helping me out with the setups, plus giving me moral support,” said Barry Bodine, who turned a lap of 147.541 mph. “Dad’s here to watch his son play, just like a high school football game, and we’re both having a lot of fun.” Geoffrey Bodine pointed out that his son quickly bettered his best time in the car, which will be sponsored by Miccosukee Indian Gaming. Unofficial testing for the Pennzoil 400 presented by Kmart weekend concludes Wednesday(Homestead-Miami Speedway Newsletter)(11-3-1999)
Sacks in the #90: I hear Greg Sacks will drive the #90 Chevy at Phoenix and Homestead(11-3-1999)
Fain Motorsports UPDATE: Steve Allison, first cousin of Davey, will test the #13 FMS Chevy(didn’t say what track). A full plan for the team will is not yet available but it will include entering the CTS series, BGN series and the Hooters series. FMS will be partnering with RDS racing. The #13 team attempted to make the Memphis BGN race with driver Rodney Smith but failed to make the show(Fain Motorsports Site)(11-2-1999) — UPDATE: A legendary NASCAR family has invested in FMS Racing, the fledgeling fan-owned race team in the Busch Grand National Series. Steve Allison, nephew of Bobby Allison, will begin testing in the drivers seat of the FMS Racing Chevrolet for the 2000 season. Steve and his brother Tommy will also help with the everyday decisions and direction of the FMS Racing team. Plans for next season are to partner with RDS Racing, an established BGN team out of Burlington, NC. RDS played a major role in FMS Racing becoming the first fan-owned team to attempt a NASCAR BGN event this past weekend at Memphis. “Rodney Smith, Jr. drove the car and did a fantastic job.” Marketing Director Chris Douglas stated. “His practice time was fast enough to get into the field but a slip in qualifying had the team missing the field by a couple tenths of a second. Rodney had never been on this track and put forth an effort that we could all be proud of.” Although the team failed to make the race, Douglas feels the weekend was a success. “We can’t say enough good things about this team’s effort. They hit the ground running and made all the owners there feel at home. We had 24 different owners that we brought into the pits and garage area and another 80 in the stands. They came from as far away as Florida, Missouri, Michigan and Oklahoma.” FMS Racing and RDS Racing will field Chevrolet entries together next season in the Craftsman Truck Series with driver Rodney Smith Jr., Busch Grand National Series with Steve Allison, and the Hooters Pro Cup Series with Chris Douglas behind the wheel. Steve Allison and Chris Douglas will be signing autographs at Trackside Treasures in Jackson, TN on Saturday, Nov. 6th from 11 am to 2 pm. FMS Racing will be giving away free t-shirts to everyone that stops by.(FMS Racing/Catchfence)(11-3-1999)
Truck Deal: hearing Doug George, who has driven some CTS races and crew chiefed some CTS teams may have a potential CTS deal with a Cup owners(11-3-1999)
#43 CTS Rumors UPDATE: hearing that David Starr, who recently left the #73 CTS team is talking to Petty Enterprises about driving the #43 Dodge in 2000(10-30-1999) — UPDATE: hearing that Steve Grissom will turn up in the #43 Dodge Petty truck in 2000(Stockcarfans Newsletter)(11-3-1999)
Cup Drivers at Phoenix: Ten Winston Cup regulars have entered the inaugural Busch Series Outback Steakhouse 200 on Saturday at PIR. They are Gordon, Jeff Burton, Ken Schrader, Mike Skinner, Michael Waltrip, Kenny Wallace, Elliott Sadler, Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek and Bobby Hamilton(Arizona Republic)(11-3-1999)
CTS Schedule News:Trucks & Cup Sharing Tracks In 2000, in the story it mentions Cup and CTS will share seven dates; four tracks are gone: Bristol, Louisville, Topeka and Las Vegas; and vist four new tracks: Daytona, Dover, Chicago-Joliet and Kentucky(11-2-1999)
Daytona Changes UPDATE: Daytona International Speedway will add a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event to its Speed Weeks schedule next season. The Speedway will make it official on Tuesday during a morning press conference. Among those expected to announce the addition of trucks to Daytona’s slate are Dennis Huth, NASCAR vice president of touring operations and international development; John Graham, Speedway president; and the newly crowned NCTS champion. The Speedway has already made room on its busy Speed Weeks schedule for the pickup truck race. DIS has moved the Goody’s Dash Series race to Saturday, Feb. 12. It’s the same day as Daytona 500 pole qualifying(Speed Magazine)(10-30-1999) — UPDATE: If’s official – Officials with NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway announced today the addition of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing to the Speedweeks 2000 schedule(NOL and DIS Site)(11-2-1999)
Team Marines News: The United States Marine Corps, in conjunction with the Team Marines Racing project, will hold a News Conference and very special ceremony to take place at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 12, 1999 at 8:30am/et(Team Marines PR)(11-2-1999)
Petree Driver? hearing that Shane Huffman(Late Model driver) will drive the #15 Andy Petree owned Chevy at Memphis next Sunday(10-25-1999) — UPDATE: Huffman was also the Hickory Speedway(NC) champion and came in 2nd in the Winston Racing Series(10-27-1999) but did not attempt Memphis and not sure what future plans are for the team(11-2-1999)
Las Vegas Out? UPDATE: Hearing Las Vegas will not have a CTS(Truck Series) race in 2000 — UPDATE: Las Vegas Motor Speedway made two significant changes in its 2000 racing schedule Thursday as track officials elected to drop its annual NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and move its Indy Racing League event from the fall to the spring. As a result of the IRL date change, LVMS may wind up hosting the top drivers in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) after all, even as negotiations to bring a CART race to the Speedway apparently have stalled(Las Vegas Sun)(10-29-1999)
Cameron to Drive Truck: Austin Cameron from the Winston West series will be making his 3rd start in the Craftsman Trucks this weekend at California Speedway in the #4 Dupont Stainmaster Chevy truck owned by Tim Buckley.(Racing West) Cameron also made a few Cup attempts in 1999 but didn’t make the races(10-29-1999)
New BGN Driver: Ron Young of Conyers, Ga., has a simple goal for the Sam’s Town 250: Just make the field. Young is trying to qualify for the first time in a Busch event after 10 years of racing in the Slim Jim All-Pro Series. Young will also attempt to qualify the #71 Chevy for the season-ending race in Miami on Nov. 13(Tennessean/Cox)(10-29-1999)
Brewco News: The #37 Timber Wolf/Brewco Motorsports team is counting down to its 100th NASCAR Busch Series start. Since 1995, the #37 team has made 98 series starts with the 100th set to come in the Outback Steakhouse 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 6. Tiger Mart, a convenience store chain with 45 outlets in Memphis, is an associate sponsor on the #37 Timber Chevrolet driven by Kevin Grubb, for the Sam’s Town 250(Brewco PR)(10-28-1999)
#19 News: Jamie Skinner will drive the #19 Team Yellow Chevy at Memphis for what Emerald Performance Group has designated as the “official team of Halloween” because of the colors. But if your colors are orange and black, why is the company’s name Yellow Freight? Yellow started as the Yellow Cab Company and decided their future looked brighter transporting freight. So, in the 1930’s, A.J. Harrell commissioned E.I. DuPont to help design a color for their trucks that would be most visible from the greatest distance. “Swamp Holly Orange” was born and remains one of the most visible colors on the highway. . . and the racetrack(Team Yellow PR)(10-28-1999)
Team Amick News: Team Amick Motorsports announced Wednesday that drivers Lyndon Amick and Jeff Fuller will attempt to qualify two cars with identical paint schemes in the inaugural Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis. Amick will be behind the wheel of the No.35 SCANA/Powertel Chevrolet that the team has raced all season, while Fuller will try to make the show in a second car carrying the No. 88. Race fans should take note that Fuller’s appearance in the No. 88 is a special one-race deal. Lyndon Amick is scheduled to drive the car in the only other race in which it will be entered this season, the HotWheels.com 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 13. Plans call for Elliott Sadler to be back behind the wheel of the No. 35 entry at Phoenix and Homestead, the two remaining races on the Busch Series schedule after Memphis(Team Amick PR)(10-28-1999)
Truck News: ARCA driver Rich Woodland will attempt to make the CTS race at California this weekend. He will drive a truck recently purchased from DEI. The #6 Chevy will be sponsored by Dunlop Golf as the sponsor weekend with Sport Mart, DDH, and National Cold Storage as associates, the truck is owned by Ron Hornaday, crew chief is Calvin Humphrys(10-27-1999)
Gordon BGN: Jeff Gordon will attempt one more Busch Grand National race in 1999. Gordon will drive the #24 Pepsi sponsored car at Phoenix on Saturday, November 6th(Tina’s Jeff Gordon Site)(10-28-1999)
Hubert Looking: Driver Tom Hubert has spent 1999 behind the wheel in each of the top touring NASCAR divisions- he has driven in the NASCAR Winston Cup series for Joyner-Kersee Racing, in the Busch Grand National series for Bill Davis Racing, and in the Craftsm,an Truck Series for Tom Gloy. He’s out looking now for a full time ride in any of the top three divisions, especially the Busch Grand National division. Only one time in 1999 did Hubert not qualify for an event- in the August Michigan Winston Cup event Tom hit the wall during practice and wrecked his primary car(10-28-1999)
Kitchens News: Driver Jimmy Kitchens has been pounding the pavement in search of a BGN and/or Craftsman Truck series ride for 2000. Word has it he’s close to a Truck deal with a Winston Cup team owner(10-28-1999)
Testing: A few BGN teams tested at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Monday – #02-Mike Borkowski 181.30 mph, #93-Dave Blaney 186.400, and #3-Dale Earnhardt Jr 185.900. On Tuesday – #3-Dale Earnhardt, Jr 186.040, #66-Todd Bodine 184.186, #02-Mike Borkowski 177.692, #?-Ron Hornaday 179.417(StockCarFans BGN Newsletter)(10-27-1999)
Bodine returns: Barry that is – Barry Bodine, Geoffrey’s son, is planning to compete in the final 1999 BGN race at Homestead, on Nov 13th. He will drive the #6 Miccosukee Indian Gaming Chevy which will be maroon and gold. Bodine plan to test the car on the Monday and Tuesday following the Memphis race. The #60 Power Team Cup crew will pit the car(Geoffrey Bodine Fan Club site)(10-27-1999)
#40 News: hearing that Glenn Allen and #40 BGN owner Dawin Oordt are working hard to secure a sponsor for the 2000 season(10-27-1999)
$65,000 Man: LMCS driver Clayton Rogers won the largest single-race payout in NASCAR Winston Racing Series history, $65,000, for winning the ANECO Electrical Construction 300 Late Model Stock Car event on October 23rd at Concord Motorsports Park. Rogers is an eighteen year old driver, who finished eighth in the points during the regular season. Rogers plans to attempt up to five BGN races in 2000Clayton Rogers Site(10-27-1999)
Miller/Icehouse: Butch Miller will drive the #55 Icehouse Beer Ford at California(NOL)(10-27-1999)
Stanton Returns: After spending the past several weeks fist-fighting with actor Mel Gibson, Stanton Barrett returns to BGN racing to finish out the season with Xpress Motorsports. Barrett will drive the #61 IWX Motor Freight Pontiac for the final three races of the season. Barrett is finishing up several weeks work acting in the feature film “The Patriot” with Academy Award-winning actor Mel Gibson. Xpress Motorsports, which fields the IWX Motor Freight Pontiac, is owned by Stephen J. Coulter, and the team is led by veteran crew chief and mechanic Dave Fuge. Barrett and Xpress Motorsports are considering the possibilities of continuing their relationship into next season, and are looking for sponsorship opportunities. While both the driver and the race team are looking at remaining together for next season, each is also looking at other possibilities from a sponsorship standpoint(Williams Co)(10-26-1999)
#37 News: The Timber Wolf/Brewco Motorsports team reported that it is ready for the Y2K (2000) racing season. Two weeks ago, the Central City, Kentucky-based NASCAR Busch Series team with driver Kevin Grubb received a new superspeedway chassis from Laughlin Racing Products and has since fitted it with a 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo body. The still unnamed car is one of two 2000 #37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet Monte Carlo’s the team is currently building. Trade Mart, a convenience store chain with 63 outlets in Eastern North Carolina, is an associate sponsor on the #37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the Kmart 200 at North Carolina Speedway(Brewco PR)(10-22-1999)
Brewer/BDR: Zach Brewer and the John Boy and Billy race team will Team up with Bill Davis Racing for 5 or less races in the #02 Pontiac in 2000. John Boy & Billy are popular syndicated radio personalities(primarily in the southeast) You can check them out at The Bigshow and info on Brewer at www.zachbrewer.com. Brewer will also compete in Cash, CTS, and ARCA events in 2000(10-22-1999)
Nemechek looks for Sponsor: Joe Nemechek and his NEMCO Motorsports team are seeking primary sponsorship on the #87 Chevy for a limited schedule in the upcoming Busch Series season. Nemechek plans to continue his limited schedule format of approximately 14 events, beginning with the season opener at Daytona in February. (Nemco PR)(10-22-1999)
#47 News: Marlow Pumps announced today their plans to sponsor the #47 Innovative Motorsports Chevy in the Kmart 200 on Saturday. The Marlow Pumps Chevrolet will be driven by 1993 BGN Rookie of the Year, Hermie Sadler. The car will carry their TRASH HOG? brand name on both rear quarter panel to promote Marlow Pumps world-renowned self-priming pump. The product was promoted last year during a series of award wining ads entitled “Put a Hog on the Job.” The TRASH HOG pump is known for its ability to pump virtually any kind of solid. They are used to pump sewage, debris, sludge, and slurry in municipal and industrial applications. Marlow Pumps is one of the leading manufactures of Self-Priming pumps and like Goulds Pumps is part of the ITT Industries family. Goulds Pumps currently sponsors the #34 NASCAR Busch Series car driven by Mike McLaughlin and owned by Cicci-Welliver Racing(PR)(10-21-1999)
#41 News: Stoneville, North Carolina-based Glass Dynamics, Inc., the largest fabricator of heavy glass in the United States, joins the AFG Industries/Larry Hedrick Motorsports team as an associate sponsor on the #41 Chevy for the Kmart 200 NASCAR Busch Series race at North Carolina Speedway. Glass Dynamics produces glass in various sizes and shapes, with all types of edges and corners to be used in the furniture industry(Vertical Horizons)(10-21-1999)
Hillin News: The Millennium Motorsports, Inc./Bobby Hillin Racing, LLC entry in the upcoming Rockingham 200 at Rockingham will have Little Tree Air Freshners as their sponsor in a one race deal(Slingshot Motorsports)(10-21-1999)
Starr Leaves: Effective today, David Starr has chosen to step down as driver of the #73 Sonntag Racing Chevy truck. Though his future is unclear, several teams that have driver vacancies for next season are said to be considering Starr. Despite missing the first event of the season Starr currently stands 22nd in the overall points standings and third in the USG SHEETROCK Brand Rookie-of-the-Year standings. He also races a limited Winston West schedule in the #35 Chevrolet Monte Carlo(Clark Racing/David Starr(10-20-1999) also see the press release at GoRacing, pretty interesting(10-21-1999)
Nazareth BGN date: hearing the BGN race at Nazareth Speedway will be moved to July from May and run in conjunction with the Truck race(10-20-1999)
More Homestead Testing: Ron Hornaday and Steve Grissom tested their brand-new rides at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Tuesday, driving a pair of NASCAR Busch Series cars owned by Winston Cup superstars in preparation for the Nov. 13 HotWheels.com 300 at Miami. Hornaday tested the #31? NAPA Chevrolet owned by Dale Earnhardt, while Grissom was at the wheel of the #11 Rayovac Ford co-owned by Dale Jarrett and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre(Homestead-Miami Speedway Newsletter)(10-20-1999)
New Race Sponsor: Homestead-Miami Speedway announced that Hot Wheels Racing, a leading name in die-cast and collectible cars, and an ardent supporter of motor sports, has been named title sponsor of the 1999 NASCAR Busch Series season finale. The November 13 event will be named the Hot Wheels.com 300 at Miami(Homestead-Miami Speedway Newsletter)(10-20-1999)
Schrader and Truck: Ken Schrader will take over driving duties of the #52 Ken Schrader Racing/Oakwood Homes Chevy the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series makes their final stop of the season at the California Speedway for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 on October 30, 1999(Racin’ Network)(10-20-1999)
Harvick/BGN: Kevin Harvick will be driving the 2 Invinca-Shield/Richard Childress Chevy in the KMart/Dura-Lube 200 BGN race at North Carolina Speedway(NOL)(10-20-1999)
Raines Sponsor: Tony Raines was not in his familiar black #74 Chevrolet for Saturday’s running of the All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 (Oct. 9 at Charlotte). Instead, the #74 Chevrolet was red and white with sponsorship from Hot Rod Magazine. Raines started 40th and finished 25th, one lap down. Hot Rod magazine will be back on board as primary sponsor of the #74 BACE Motorsports Chevrolet at Rockingham (Oct. 23). Tony finished 20th at “The Rock” earlier this year in the Alltel 200(Official Tony Raines Site)(10-20-1999)
#13 News: hearing Ted Christopher, driver of the Ted Marsh #13 Whelen Chevy will leave the team for a 2000 full time BGN ride in 2000. Supposedly Steve Park will drive the the #13 in some short track events next year(9-7-1999) — UPDATE hearing Steve Park will drive the #13 Whelen Chevy at Homestead, replacing Ted Christopher. Park is also rumored to be driving the #13 in a limited schedule in 2000(10-20-1999)
Homestead Testing: Matt Kenseth, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Phil Parsons tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Monday. Unofficially, Kenseth, Hamilton and Johnson were about ten-tenths of a second off Casey Atwood’s track record of 36.422 (148.262 mph). Speed was not the goal for Parsons, who will be completing his ninth season on the Busch tour driving his own car. Johnson will be making his second start in Miami. He finished 33rd in last year’s Miami 300, struggling after being involved in an early incident. Johnson finished seventh in this year’s race at Milwaukee. He plans on running the final four races of this season, setting the stage for an all-event run for the Busch Series rookie of the year in 2000. Johnson finished third in the ASA championship this year. He won two races, including the final race of the year at Orange Country, N.C. He also won three pole positions, driving for Pennzoil(Homestead Newsletter)(10-19-1999)
Francis to test Truck: Steve Francis’ success, who recently won the the Dirt Track World Championship, hasn’t slipped by unnoticed and he may be splitting his time next year between dirt and asphalt. In November, he’s scheduled to take some test laps in the #60 Craftsman Truck Series Chevrolet owned by Mike Addington(SpeedVision)(10-19-1999)
#90 News: The #90 Coyne Textile Services Team is looking forward to the next few weeks. Brad Loney is testing at Memphis this Monday and Tuesday, and Richard Lasater is turning the wrenches, getting the #90 Chevrolets ready to go. Richard will be helping the CTS team at Rockingham this weekend, and probably at Memphis the following weekend. GTS Racing is still on the hunt for a Crew Chief. They have had several candidates apply. No names can be released but they are currently employed with successful teams. They are going to choose one with long-term goals, and are committed to working with driver Brad Loney(www.bradloney.com)(10-19-1999)
Bill Davis BGN Driver UPDATE2: hearing that Mike Borkowski who is driving the #02 AT&T Bill Davis Racing Pontoiac at Rockingham next week will be the new Bill Davis full time BGN driver in 2000 and AT&T will be the sponsor, car number yet undetermined(10-16-1999) — UPDATE: Car owner Bill Davis said that Mike Borkowski will drive for his Grand National team next year with Dave Blaney moving from the BGN series to Cup to be Ward Burton’s teammate. Borkowski has driven in Indy Lights, Winston West and the Craftsman Truck Series. He will attempt to make his debut next weekend at Rockingham(Roanoke Times)(10-17-1999) — UPDATE 2: In addition to the Borkowski effort, Davis also will operate part-time Busch efforts for Burton and Mike Swaim Jr.(Racer Magazine)(10-18-1999)
Bill Lester news UPDATE: Bill Lester who drove the #8 Bobby Hillin Chevy with help from Ed Rensi in the Watkins Glen BGN race, is looking to get a full time ride in the BGN series. Chevy is testing Lester at Concord Motorsports park on Tuesday. RPM2Nite is supposed to be there to tape the action and talk to Lester. RPM2Nite airs all week at 6:30pm/et(instead of it’s normal 7:00pm/et slot)(10-12-1999) — UPDATE: the interview ran on Thursday’s edition of RPM2Nite, Lester tested the #66 Phillips 66 Cicci-Welliver Chevy at Concord. Lester is looking to be the first black BGN regular and hopes to line up a ride for 2000(10-15-1999)
Petty Fined: NASCAR officials have announced that, due to irregularities found in the induction system of the #45 Sprint Prepaid Phone Card BGN Chevy fielded by Petty Enterprises and driven by Adam Petty after second-round qualifying for the All Pro/Bumper-to-Bumper 300 at LMS last Friday, it has fined car owner Kyle Petty $15,000 and crew chief Jim Murray $2,500. Apparently, the car was found to have extra holes drilled near the base of the carburetor that allowed more air to flow into the intake manifold(Racer Magazine)(10-14-1999)
Wayne Grubb Info UPDATE 2: Although the BGN has five races left in the 1999 season, Wayne Grubb is already looking ahead to the year 2000. The #83 Grubb Motorsports team has not had the ideal season, and certainly not the year they had been hoping for. Despite the slow start to the 1999 season, Grubb Motorsports has steadily improved since the spring. Grubb says that Grubb Motorsports has developed a great game plan for the off season. Grubb has no immediate plans to leave Grubb Motorsports. For now, the 23-year-old is content to stay with the family team and to concentrate on improving their efforts. As the 2000 season approaches, Grubb remains determined to take one weekend at a time. When speedweeks in Daytona comes around next February, expect to see Grubb Motorsports and Wayne Grubb ready to roll and ready to win(Grubb MS PR)(10-4-1999) — UPDATE: Jimmy Hensley will drive the #83 Link Belt Chevy in the remaining BGN races, excluding Memphis. Grubb Motorsports hopes to regain the competitive edge they have been lacking(Grubb MS PR)(10-12-1999) — UPDATE 2: Wayne Grubb and Grubb Motorsports announced today that veteran driver Jimmy Hensley will be coming on board with the team for the remainder of the 1999 season. Grubb made the decision after missing the All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Grubb Motorsports has slated Hensley to drive at Rockingham, Phoenix and Homestead, with Grubb behind the wheel in Memphis. The team may take two cars to Phoenix and Homestead with Grubb and Hensley. Car owner Bill Grubb added, “We’re still set for 2000 with Wayne as the driver. This doesn’t change that, we’re just hoping that we can get a better jump-start on next season with Jimmy helping us out. We want to go to Daytona and have Wayne and the team ready to be competitive. Right now, this is the best way to do that.”(Grubb Motorsports PR)(10-14-1999)
Bloomquist News UPDATE: 1998 Hav-A-Tampa Champion, Scott Bloomquist, hopes to run some BGN races this year and possibly do a full deal in 2000. He was on RPM2Nite on Wednesday but didn’t have anymore details(9-17-1999) — UPDATE: Scott Bloomquist tested at Rockingham on Tuesday, driving a #30 Chevy for an as yet unnamed team. Bloomquist is supposedly going to attempt to run the Rockingham BGN race on Oct 23rd. I hear his speeds were in the 147.700mph range(track record is 153.419mph for a BGN car)(10-13-1999)
#90 Crew Chief: GTS Motorsports Continues to look for a permanent Crew Chief. After receiving several applications to fill the vacant Crew Chief position the GTS Motorsports team is continuing to look for the right person to lead their team for the remainder of this year and on into the 2000 season. The team is anxious to fill the position but at the same time wants to make sure the right person for a long term relationship and who will move the team forward toward its goals(GTS Motorsports PR)(10-13-1999)
#55 Tests: The #55 Davis & Weight Motorsports team will be testing the un-sponsored Florida Gators Monte Carlo with driver Michael Ritch at Memphis on Oct 12th and 13th and Rockingham Oct 14th in preparation for those BGN races. The Davis & Weight crew chief Skip Eyler worked feverishly these past few weeks preparing a competitive race car for driver Ritch. Eyler and the team started from the ground up reevaluating the race cars and the motor program. Also former driver Brandon Sperling, who for the past four seasons has been a consistent front runner in the ASA series, is currently seeking a full time ride in the BGN series. Brandon most recently qualified and finished the fall Bristol race in the #55 Florida Gators Pontiac and represented McDonald’s during this years ASA season in the #40 Crookston Motorsports Chevy(Davis & Weight Motorsports PR)(10-12-1999)
Morgan-McClure 2nd team: haven’t heard much on this in a while but starting to hear they will start a 2nd team but it’ll be a BGN team(10-12-1999)
Smith Motorsports UPDATES sponsors: In preparation for the October 16th ARCA Series event at Talladega, driver Skip Smith (Williamsport, Pa.) and the Smith Brothers Motorsports recently tested at the 2.66 mile superspeedway. The test was the first time the team worked with AEROFAB Motorsports since the recent signing of an alliance between the two organizations. In an effort to sort through the new relationship with AEROFAB Motorsports, Smith Brothers Motorsports, who is working to establish a quality NASCAR Busch Series program for 2000, elected to enter a brand-new AEROFAB Motorsports prepared Chevy in the October 16th ARCA Series event at Talladega. The event is also hoped to be a spring-board for potential sponsors with the team during their 2000 season efforts(Smith Motorsports PR)(10-5-1999) — UPDATE: Raceway Stores, headquartered in Williamsport, Pa., has joined forces with Smith Brothers Motorsports as a co-primary sponsor of the #28 Shop-Vac/Raceway Stores Chevy, driven by retired Pennsylvania State Police Officer, Skip Smith. Marking the first time for the company as a sponsor, Raceway Stores’ partnership with Smith Brothers is designated for the ARCA Series Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, on Saturday, October 16, 1999. Raceway Stores will share co-primary sponsorship of the #28 Chevy with Shop-Vac® Corporation, also headquartered in Williamsport, Pa. Sears is please to be partnered with Shop-Vac® and says the two companies will be introducing a sweepstakes promotion next week, centered around driver Skip Smith and the Smith Brothers Motorsports team. See an image of the car at: Raceitcom.(Smith Motorsports PR)(10-12-1999)
Martin to leave BGN? Mark Martin, the all-time wins leader in the BGN series, is considering leaving the circuit at the conclusion of the 2000 season. An official announcement of Martin’s plans is expected at the end of this season, either at Miami-Homestead Speedway – the final race of the Grand National season – or at the Winston Cup series’ season finale the following weekend at Atlanta(That’s Racin’)(10-12-1999)
SABCO BGN UPDATE: Team SABCO owner Felix Sabates is scheduled to announce his team’s full-time return to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2000 on Saturday, Oct 9th. The sponsorship contract will consist of a three-year agreement with a rookie driver(SABCO PR) David Steele?(10-8-1999) — UPDATE: Felix Sabates will have a pair of full time BGN operations for Blaise Alexander and USAC ace Dave Steele, the latter with the Channellock sponsorship according to Sabates. Although Alexander was running TracFone on his Team SABCO entry at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend, final sponsorship arrangements are not yet completed on that car. Sabates will also field two partial Busch efforts, one for Kenny Irwin, who will replace Joe Nemechek in the #42 Winston Cup car, and the other for young Mexican driver Jimmy Morales. Morales’ car will be sponsored by TracFone, a cellular phone company owned by a Mexican conglomerate. It was TracFone who brought Morales to Sabates’ attention. The youngster will make his first appearance for Team SABCO in the hotwheels.com 300 at Homestead, Nov. 13. Sabates plans to run Morales in 10 Busch races and three ARCA races in 2000(Racer Mag Site)(10-9-1999)
#90 Crew Chief UPDATE 2: The #90 GTS Motorsports BGN Team and Crew Chief Bob Johnson have parted ways. Johnson and GTS left on good terms Monday night after a meeting with team owner Fred Maggio. As of yet a crew chief has not been named. The team will compete in all the remaining races with Brad Loney and Greg Sacks as drivers(GTS)(9-30-1999) — UPDATE: hearing Richard Lasater, former #40 BGN crew chief, is the crew chief on the #90 Greg Sacks/Brad Loney BGN ride(10-8-1999) — UPDATE 2: “The team has done a tremendous job this week without a regular Crew Chief and this shows me their commitment to success. Richard Lasater will be helping us this weekend as acting Crew Chief”PR from Greg Sacks fan page(10-9-1999)
Progressive Changes/Adds UPDATE: The Progressive Motorsports team of #32 Jeff Green and #57 Jason Keller will expand to a three car operation in 2000 with Hank Parker Jr joining the team. The team will be known as PPC Racing. Co-owner Steve de Souza is leaving to take a position with Joe Gibbs Racing. Hank Park Sr would join the other co-owners of the team, Greg Pollex and Bob Campbell. Pollex called the Hank Parker deal a “95 percent” certainty(Winston Cup Scene Magazine)(8-20-1999) — UPDATE:BGN rookie of the year candidate Hank Parker Jr. will join Jeff Green and Jason Keller at Progressive Motorsports in a three-team operation, sources said Thursday(That’s Racin’)(10-9-1999)
Lazzaro to the #26: for three to four BGN races. Cal Wells 2000 BGN driver, slated to drive the #97 McDonald’s BGN Ford in 2000 will attempt to run three and possibly all remaining BGN races this year in the #26 BACE Chevy that Johnny Benson has driven on occasion in 1999(Winston Cup Scene)(10-9-1999)
Petty DQ’d UPDATE: #45-Adam Petty, who was fastest in second round Busch qualifying, was disqualified for the BGN race at Lowes/Charlotte for an illegal carburetor/alterations on Friday and sent home. Petty’s disqualification allowed #59-Mike Dillon, who had the 37th fastest speed originally, to make the field(That’s Racin’)(10-8-1999) — UPDATE: A NASCAR official said a routine inspection following second-round qualifying found a groove etched into the gasket below the carburetor, allowing extra air flow to reach the carburetor(CBS Sportsline)(10-9-1999)
Brewco #27 assoc: Xact Windows and Doors and Tempstar Heaters will be associate sponsors on the #27 Castrol Oil Chevy and driver Casey Atwood for the rest of 1999 and 2000(WC Scene Mag)(10-9-1999)
Bodine/BGN: per Geoffrey Bodine’s NOL chat, he will drive the #33 Bayer/Alka Seltzer BACE Chevy at Charlotte(NOL)(10-7-1999)
Double for Blaney UPDATE: Besides running the BGN race at Charlotte on the 16th, I hear #93-Dave Blaney will run in the DIRT modified Eckerd 300 in Syracuse, NY on Sunday(10-6-1999) — UPDATE: Blaney won the pole yesterday for the Eckerd 300. He beat out four time Syracuse winner Brett Hearn for the top spot. TNN’s Raceday will have full coverage of Blaney and the DIRT weekend in Syracuse Live with Ralph Sheheen on Sunday morning…Blaney has finished 2nd in this race twice beforeDIRT Motorsports(10-7-1999)
Petty to run CTS at Texas: Adam Petty will attempt to make his 2nd career CTS race at Texas next weekend. It was also announced that Petty would compete in the BGN in 2000(NOL)(10-7-1999)
Roush Appeal denied: I hear from a good source that #50 CTS Team owner Jack Roush lost the appeal on Greg Biffle’s ‘illegal’ manifold — Yep, it’s official, see the TNN site for the story: Biffle Points & Pay Penalty Upheld(10-6-1999)
Roper and the #55 CTS UPDATE: Tony Roper will be running the #55 Icehouse Ford in the CTS at Louisville next week and may possibly another(Tony Roper Site)(10-1-1999) — UPDATE: Ron Barfield has been released as the driver of the #55 Icehouse Beer Ford F150 campaigned on the Craftsman Truck Series circuit by Gloy-Rahal Motorsports. Team owners Tom Gloy and Bobby Rahal made the announcement today, and revealed that Tony Roper and Boris Said will drive the next two races for the team. Roper, who drove the Gloy-Rahal in 19 races last year, will drive in the Kroger 225 at the half-mile Louisville Motor Speedway this weekend, where he finished sixth for the team last year. Said, one of the most well-rounded drivers in America today with experience in sports cars, Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck, will drive for the team in the Bluebonnet 300K at Texas Motor Speedway on Oct. 15. Said has a history with Gloy that goes back to their days together in the SCCA Trans-Am series. The team has not yet announced who will drive the Icehouse Ford in the seaon-ending NAPA Auto Parts 200 at California Speedway on Oct. 30(Racer Magazine)(10-6-1999)
#37 News: Wilco, a convenience store chain with 130 outlets in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia, is an associate sponsor on the No. 37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway(Brewco PR)(10-6-1999)
#41 Sponsor: Virginia Mirror Company and Virginia Glass Products Corporation join Larry Hedrick Motorsports and the AFG Racing team as an associate sponsor on the #41 Chevy and driver David Green for Saturday’s All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway(Vertical Horizons)(10-6-1999)
#40 Done for 1999 UPDATE: I am hearing the #40 ChannelLock Chevy Darwin Oordt owned has closed up shop and all the employees are looking for work and driver Glenn Allen Jr is looking for a ride. ChannelLock is rumored to be the sponsor of the SABCO Blaise Alexander BGN car in 2000(10-5-1999) — UPDATE: Channellock Inc. and Galaxy Motorsports have together elected to end their participation in the 1999 NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division season. The move is effective immediately and is intended to provide both the team and sponsor an opportunity to gain immediate focus on the 2000 season(NOL)(10-6-1999)
Butch Miller/CTS: Butch Miller, veteran NASCAR driver, has agreed to assist the #46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports team for two of the three remaining races of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Season. Miller will act as driver-coach for the current pilot of the #46 Acxiom Ford, Rob Morgan, in Louisville (10/8) and California (10/30). Rob has struggled at several of the tracks in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season, and his best finish on a non-road course is 16th. Rob’s best finish to date came at Heartland Park Topeka (5th), but he has had a tough going at many of the shorter tracks on the circuit. On top of his coaching duties, Butch will act as spotter and will be asked to offer opinions on the overall setup of the truck. The team is going to participate in the test day at the California Speedway at the end of the month and has said that Butch may even get in for a few laps to shake it down(SpeedZone Marketing)(10-5-1999)
FAIN Motorsports News: Fain Motorsports (FMS Racing) announced that Clarksville, TN driver, Mark Day, will pilot the fan-owned team’s debut in the BGN. Initial plans called for FMS team driver Chris Douglas to handle the driving duties for the Memphis “Sams Town 250”, but NASCAR failed to give Douglas the needed approval. NASCAR has recently tightened their restrictions on rookie drivers by requiring that they make their debut on tracks of 1/2 mile length or less. However, Chris Douglas will remain a key figure in the team’s NASCAR Busch Series effort by handling all the marketing and sponsor relation duties for the event. Sponsorship for the #13 FMS Pontiac will be provided by Buck & Bass Sports Centre, CATCHFENCE.com, and Custom Van & 4×4 Center(FMS Racing PR)(10-5-1999)
Testing CORRECTION: #98-Rick Mast, #45-David Green and a Roush test car with primer #97 on it tested Thursday at Greenville Pickens(SC) in preparation for Martinsville. #1-Steve Park finished up testing at Talladega on Thursday(10-1-1999) — CORRECTION: The #97 Ford was Anthony Lazzaro of the Cal Wells McDonalds BGN team(10-5-1999)
For Sale: A Truck Team: from this weeks Winston Cup Scene Classified – Ford Truck Team for sale: 6 Lauglin standard trucks and a show truck, rear gears, Jericos, parts too numerous to list. 1999 Featherlite 53′ Hauler fully equipped and stocked with parts, shop equipment, office equipment. Call for a complete list. Must see to appreciate. Bill Fingerlow, Gloy-Rahal Racing, 704-664-7879. Looks like the #55 Truck team will not be around in 2000(10-5-1999)
Harvick to be busy on Oct 15-17th: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Kevin Harvick has added his name to the list of entries for the “Re-Refined Oil RACE of CHAMPIONS Invitational”. Harvick, who recently signed with Richard Childress Racing to drive the AC Delco Chevrolet in the 2000 BGN series, will have a busy weekend in October. On Friday, October 15th, Harvick will compete at Texas Motor Speedway in the CTS event, then fly to Talladega, AL for the ARCA race there on Saturday, then arrive in Bakersfield, CA at noon Sunday for the “Re-Refined Oil RACE of CHAMPIONS Invitational”. Harvick claimed the Mesa Marin Raceway Late Model Championship in 1993(Racing West)(10-5-1999)
Petty to Trucks? from a source – According to Nashville Sports Weekly (a local freebie newspaper), Adam Petty may run the CTS next year. “The Petty camp was so impressed with Adam’s performance in the race (Richmond), that early this week, Richard and Kyle Petty met with executives of Sprint to discuss the possibility of moving Adam to the truck series for 2000. And it seems Sprint execs are more than interested.” The article says that Jimmy Hensley was told his contract wasn’t being renewed because of “a family commitment”. “Adam would be guaranteed a provisional for every race because of the #43 and the fields in the truck series are much easier to make…And with Greg Biffle and Jack Sprague being the only notable names in the truck series, Adam’s visibility should be much greater. NASCAR is reportedly very interested in this as well as they feel that this would give the truck series the marketable name it needs.”(story not online at the site)(10-5-1999)
Atwood News UPDATE TV: Casey Atwood, coming off his second career Busch Series victory last week at Dover, DE., has entered Friday night’s 100-lap Late Model feature at Nashville Speeedway. Qualifying starts at 3 p.m. on Friday for Saturday night’s 16th annual All-American 400. The Late Model and SuperTruck races start at 7 p.m. Friday(Tennessean)(9-28-1999) — UPDATE: The Late Model race run on Friday at Nashville will be shown on TNN on October 10 at 3:00pm/et. The SuperTruck race will be shown on October 17 at 3:00pm/et, and the All American 400 will be shown on October 16 at 2:00pm/et(10-5-1999)
Grissom in the #63: Steve Grissom will drive the #63 Exxon Chevy at Charlotte/Lowes(NOL)(10-5-1999)
#55 BGN News: The #55 Davis & Weight Motorsports, Florida Gators Chevy will be taking a break from the BGN schedule. Crew Chief Skip Eyler and the team will be regrouping for the K-Mart 200 at Rockingham on Oct 23rd. Driver Michael Ritch will make his third attempt to qualify the #55 Florida Gators car at the “Rock”. Ritch failed to qualify at Richmond and Dover earlier. The team is using the time off to improve their program(engines/chassis) and will be testing at Rockingham along with other tracks. The #55 will also run at Memphis on October 31 and Homestead the season finale on November 13(Davis & Weight Motorsports PR)(10-4-1999)
Shepherd/BGN: Ed Whitaker Racing, a long-time NASCAR Busch Series team, has entered a Chevrolet for Morgan Shepherd at the All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300, with a sponsor to be announced(NOL)(10-1-1999)
Tyler to run ARCA – UPDATE, sponsor: Tyler Walker will make his Stock Car debut Wednesday, October 6, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the ARCA race. Walker will run the #15 Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac at Lowes. Walker will make his BGN debut in the Kmart 200 at Rockingham October 23(TNN Motorsports), no sponsor named yet for the ARCA or BGN ride(9-29-1999) — UPDATE: Tyler Jet Motorsports owner Tim Beverley announced that Tyler Walker will hit the track in his first-ever Stock Car event with sponsorship from Peltier Pontiac, the largest Pontiac dealership in Eastern Texas. Walker will drive a Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac in the ARCA Easy Care Service Contracts 100 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The event on the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval will be a first for the 20-year-old former World of Outlaws Sprint Car ace(Tyler Jet PR)(10-1-1999)
Hillenburg News: Andy Hillenburg, 1995 ARCA Champ and part time Cup driver, is set to drive the next two ARCA Series events at Charlotte and Talledega in the Jim Dandy Dog Food sponsored Chevy for the Roulo Bros familiar number 39. Jim Dandy Dog Food is a leading dry dog food throughout the Southeast(MarketingForce PR)(10-1-1999)
Parker/Team Marines: Team Marines Racing principal Rick Rathbun and Parker Racing owner Hank Parker announced that the #53 BGN Chevys driven by Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Hank Parker Jr. would carry co-primary sponsorship for the five races remaining in the 1999 season. The first event for the Team Marines/B.A.S.S. Chevy will be the All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. This unique sponsorship arrangement will continue for the balance of the season as negotiations between Rathbun, the owner of the Team Marines Racing program and the Parkers continue in an effort to establish a long-term relationship that would continue through the 2000 season(NOL)(10-1-1999)
Kulwicki Schloarship: If recent University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) graduate Ryan Zeck has his way, the legacy of the late Alan Kulwicki will continue well into the next century. Officials from Lowe’s Motor Speedway and UNC Charlotte announced Zeck would make his superspeedway debut in a car painted in UNC Charlotte colors carrying number 49 in honor of the UNC Charlotte 49ers. The car and plans were unveiled on the UNC Charlotte campus. Zeck’s quest to emulate Kulwicki’s on-track success begins next Wednesday, Oct. 6, during Winston Pole Night activities at Lowe’s Motor Speedway as he plans to compete in the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 100, featuring the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde stock car series. A 23-year-old California native, Zeck was the first recipient of the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was established in 1994 after the tragic death of Kulwicki in a 1993 airplane crash. Kulwicki was the first NASCAR Winston Cup driver with an engineering degree and won the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship operating his own team(Lowes Motor Speedwat Site)(9-30-1999)
Marlin: Sterling Marlin will drive the orange-and-white University of Tennessee #14 Chevy October 30-31 in the Sam’s Town 250 BGN race at Memphis(Memphis Motorpsorts Park)(9-30-1999)
Contest Winner: Bob Evans Restaurants announced Annamarie Flanagan as its Wildfire Barbecue Sweepstakes winner. Flanagan now has a chance to win $1 million. As the sweepstakes winner, Flanagan has already won a 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and an all-expenses-paid trip for four to the Oct. 9 NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway at Charlotte, N.C. Flanagan will also win $1 million at that race if Randy LaJoie, driver of the No. 1 Bob Evans Restaurants Racing Chevrolet, is the winner(9-30-1999)
Jarrett Hurt? UPDATE: Hearing Jason Jarrett was injured during an accident at Memphis Motorsports Park on Wednesday while testing the #11 BGN Ford, not sure of the extent of the injuries — UPDATE: Jarrett broke three toes on his left foot and strained ligaments and muscles in his neck and right shoulder in the crash at Memphis. He was testing the #11 car when the throttle held open. Jarrett was held overnight and released Thursday morning. Jarrett is scheduled to run the final five BGN races for Jarrett-Favre Motorsports(NOL)(9-30-1999)
Raines to run ASA:Clean Burn Waste Oil Furnaces will team up with Tony Raines as his primary sponsor for the American Speed Association (ASA) season finale this weekend in the North Carolina SweetPotato 400 presented by Jani-King. The upcoming race will be held this Saturday, at the Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, North Carolina(PR)(9-30-1990)
Monro Downgrades to an associate sponsor on the #47 Innovative Motorsports Chevy for the rest of 1999. The car is presently being driven by Hermie Sadler and the team still plans to have a two car effort in 2000(NOL)(9-29-1999)
SABCO BGN: hearing Blaise Alexander will be in the Felix Sabates owned Trac Phone #14 BGN Chevy at Charlotte on October 9th. Expect an announcement there before the race(9-28-1999)
Steele Returns: Former ARCA champ, Tim Steele, who has been running the majority of the CTS races in 1999 will make his first 1999 ARCA attempt at Talladega in October(9-28-1999)
Biffle illegal? UPDATE 2: hearing from sources that an illegal manifold was found on the #50 Ford Truck after Greg Biffle won the Las Vegas race during post-race inspection. Penalty and finishing order are still pending. Usually in such cases, IF the part is illegal, NASCAR let’s the driver and team keep the win but takes away points and fines the team, this could make the CTS points championship much closer. From NOL: During routine postrace inspection of the #50 Grainger Racing Ford, NASCAR officials discovered an intake manifold that was not an approved part. No action was taken on Friday night, but a decision is pending. The results of Friday night’s race will remain unofficial until that decision is made — UPDATE: from the AP – Biffle will have to wait until Monday to find out if he won. A postrace inspection by NASCAR officials Friday night found that Biffle’s Ford truck was using an unapproved part and it’s possible he could be fined, and lose championship points(AP/That’s Racin’)(9-25-1999) — UPDATE 2: NASCAR officials announced today they have levied a $48,860 penalty against Randy Goss, crewchief for the #50 Roush Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team following last Friday’s The Orleans 250 at Las Vegas. The penalty, the difference between first and 36th-place money in the event, was the result of an unapproved intake manifold found by NASCAR officials in post-race inspection following the event. In addition, the team will retain the race victory but will be fined 120 championship points, the difference between first and 36th places(TNN Motorsports Site) The team will file an appeal on Tuesday as they say the part had been approved in the past(RPM2Nite)(9-27-1999)
New truck Team UPDATE:Shenandoah Valley Motorsports (entered as Johnson Racing) will attempt to run the Virginia is for Lovers 200 at Richmond with driver Tommy Humphries in the #11 Ford F-150(Shen Valley Motorsports PR)(9-9-1999) — UPDATE: a little late but here it is – The deal with driver Tommy Humphries fell through. Jerry Kobza drove the truck at Richmond and will again at Louisville, Kobza failed to make the race at RIR. The owner is Harry X. Johnson, he has been involved in NASCAR since 1960 first as a driver and now as a team owner. The team is still negotiating for a main sponsor at this time and they plan to run selected races the remainder of 1999 and a full schedule in 2000(SVM PR)(9-28-1999)
Fain Motorsports News: Internet website CATCHFENCE.com announced on Monday a new association with Busch Grand National team, FAIN Motorsports. FAIN Motorsports will make its BGN debut with rookie driver Chris Douglas behind the wheel on October 31, 1999 in the inaugural Memphis 250. The FAIN Motorsports entry will be carrying the #13 on the door and www.CATCHFENCE.com on the tv panel above the rear bumper. FAIN Motorsports is the newest approach to “fan owned” race teams. Team owner Rhea Fain has put two years worth of work and research into his project to ensure it will be a success. Fain sells shares in his race team to help support his effort, in addition to receiving traditional sponsorship dollars. This allows the average race fan to invest as little as $50.00 in the race team to become a “part owner” while at the same time allowing potential sponsors an opportunity to advertise on their race car for less money. If you would like to learn more about FAIN Motorsports, see their website at www.fainmotorsports.com.(Catchfence)(9-28-1999)
NAPA at California: NAPA AUTO PARTS announced the sponsorship of the final NASCAR Truck Series event of 1999. The event will be titled the “NAPA AUTO PARTS 200” and will be held on Saturday, October 30 at California Speedway. It will also mark the final race for NAPA AUTO PARTS driver, Ron Hornaday, in the NASCAR Truck Series. Hornaday will move to the NASCAR Busch Series next year with backing by NAPA AUTO PARTS. The event brings the total NAPA race sponsorships to eleven in 1999(Champion Sports Group PR)(9-27-1999)
#40 News: Darwin Oordt, who owns the #40 Channellock BGN Chevy team and the #75 Ford Cup which has Ted Musgrave as the driver, talked about his situation. Oordt said he plans to field a second Busch Series team, in addition to the #40 team, which more than likely will have a rookie driver. He says he expects Glenn Allen Jr. to remain in the #40 Busch car next year. Oordt also says he’s submitted a request to Ford to switch his Busch teams from Chevrolet to Ford, but will remain with Chevrolet, on the Busch side, if need be. The Cup teams will remain with Ford, says Oordt(Stock Car Fans Newsletter)(9-26-1999)
Petty News:From NOL: Adam Petty was taken by ambulance to nearby Kent General Hospital. He was examined and released to return to the track. That was good news, but it didn’t do much to soothe father Kyle Petty’s feelings toward Jeff Green(who was involved in the incident). Green said the accident wasn’t his fault, but Kyle Petty wasn’t buying it. “His hip’s sore, his elbows are sore and he’s beat up pretty good,” the elder Petty said. “He run a great race. He did good from the beginning. He come from a long way back up there. I would expect a little bit more out of Jeff Green than what he showed out there. I guess that’s why he doesn’t have a Winston Cup ride, why he’s running a Busch car.”(9-26-1999)
Brewco Assoc: Royal Farms, a convenience store chain with 85 locations in Delaware and Maryland, is an associate sponsor on the #37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the MBNA Gold 200 at Dover Downs International Speedway(Brewco PR)(9-24-1999)
Lear Team: Chad Chaffin will drive the #77 Lear Ford at Dover(Tennessean)(9-24-1999)
#95: Joe Buford will drive Sadler Racing’s ARCA and Busch car at Charlotte(Tennessean). Not sure what happened with Carl Long and the team(9-24-1999)
#41 News: SuperSeal Manufacturing Company, Inc. joins the AFG Racing team as an associate sponsor on the #41 Chevy for Saturday’s MBNA Gold 200 BGNrace at Dover. Headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey, SuperSeal Manufacturing offers an extensive new construction and replacement vinyl window collection as well as energy-efficient vinyl windows and patio doors designed and produced using advanced technologies and state-of-the-art equipment(Vertical Horizons PR)(9-23-1999)
Green News: I hear Mark Green has informed Washington-Erving Motorsports that he is leaving the #50 Dr Pepper team at the end the 1999 BGN season(9-22-1999)
Benson: Johnny Benson will drive the #33 BACE Alka-Setzer/Bayer Chevy at Dover. Hermie Sadler, who was driving it the last few races, left to finish up the season in the #47 Chevy(9-21-1999)
Spencer Driver: Spencer Motor Ventures is fielding ASA rookie driver Ken Alexander in its #12 Greased Lightning Chevy for the MBNA Gold 200 Saturday at Dover. Alexander is the CEO of A&M Cleaning Products of Clemson, SC, manufacturers of Greased Lightning household and automotive cleaner. Alexander and the Greased Lightning brand are heavily in the ASA this year, sponsoring Alexander’s #03 Chevy and the races at Dover Downs, Nashville, Hampton, Memphis, IRP and I-70(Racer Magazine)(9-21-1999)
Hornaday Tests BGN: Ron Hornaday and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team spent Monday and Tuesday of this week in Phoenix, AZ, testing a brand new BGN car. It is the first car that the truck team has built from the ground up. Hornaday will be running the car in the final two NASCAR BGN events of 1999 at Phoenix and Homestead, Fla., respectively(Champion Sports Group)(9-21-1999)
IceHouse gone? Hearing IceHouse Beer(Miller) will not return to the #55 Ford truck in 2000 and the team’s future is in doubt. Driver Ron Barfield has already been told he wouldn’t return in 2000(9-18-1999)
Zach Brewer in BGN? Hearing Goody’s Dash driver, Zach Brewer, who recently won his first Dash series race at Bristol may run a limited BGN schedule in 2000(9-17-1999)
Cameron to drive CTS: Austin Cameron the 1998 NWWS(Winston West) Rookie of the year will be driving in the Truck series on Friday September 24. Cameron will be driving the #4 StainMaster/Mar Con Chevy Owned by Tim Buckley and on September 25, 1999 Cameron will be driving in the Winston West in the #12 Mar- Con/Creative Interior Monte Carlo, owned by Terry Cameron(Racing West)(9-20-1999)
Carelli News: get many questions on Rick Carelli, who was injured earlier this year in a CTS race, and his team owner sold the team recently, here is some news: Rick Carelli was named Team RE/MAX Racing Crew Chief on Sept. 8. Sidelined by a crash several months ago in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Carelli has been traveling with the team to the last few Winston West races. John Metcalf, who drives the #05 RE/MAX Monte Carlo, says Carelli’s help has been valuable to the team both on and off of the track. Team RE/MAX Racing is currently preparing for the Las Vegas 400 in Nevada on Sept. 25. The Monte Carlo that Metcalf plans to race has been modified to include a different front design. The new design, known as a “drop snout,” will allow the car to turn corners more accurately on the flatter track. The Monte Carlo tested on the track a few weeks ago is being repaired as a backup vehicle(Racing West)(9-20-1999)
New Truck Team UPDATE: Powers Motorsports a North georgia based team has teamed up with Richardson Automotive and S.B.G. Global Enterprises to form a new CTS team for the 2000 season. Team owner Tom Powers will handle the driving duties while Bill Richardson will handle the mechanic duties. The team is presently seeking sponsorship for a full run at the 2000 Rookie of the Year. The Dodge truck will be #5, a number which Powers has run for the past few years in the P.A.R.T.S. Series, a spin off of the CTS. The team will be based out of the Clayton Georgia area. For additional information contact Powers Motorsports @ 706-782-1437(Powers PR)(8-31-1999) — UPDATE: Powers Motorsports will participate in possibly two events this year on The Craftsman Truck Series. The team will start off at Louisville and with additional sponsorship will try to qualify for the California race. Team owner Tom Powers is now talking to potential sponsors to assist in the teams foray into the series this year. The team will try to secure sponsorship to allow tom to compete for the rookie of the year honors in 2000(Powers PR) (9-20-1999)
Jimmy Kite news: Hearing USAC and IRL driver Jimmy Kite tested a BGN car at Concord last week, no word on who the team was or any speeds(9-20-1999)
Sadler to the #47? UPDATE: Hearing Hermie Sadler will drive the #47 for the rest of the 1999 season. He has been in the #33 for a the last few weeks(9-16-1999) — UPDATE:Hermie Sadler has left the BACE Motorsports #33 to drive for Innovative Motorsports in the #47 Monro Muffler and Brake Service Chevy. No official word on whom will replace Sadler in Bill Baumgardner’s #33, but team sources believe that Johnny Benson, who won the Busch championship for the team in 1995, will get the lion’s share of the seat time until the team signs a new driver(Racer Mag Site)(9-19-1999)
CTS at Daytona: Six truck teams tested at Daytona today. The three I saw on RPM2Nite were the #50 and #2 Fords and the #43 Dodge. Rumor has it the CTS will race in Daytona next July(9-13-1999) — UPDATE: Also saw that the #24 and #1 trucks there, Trucks at Daytona in February or July? We’ll see(9-14-1999) — UPDATE: The trucks testing were the #’s 50,2,43,1,24,60. I hear they will run the trucks February, not July, and that the trucks ran very fast, 192+ mph in the draft with test motors. Expect NASCAR to slow the trucks down, with aero or retrictor plates(9-17-1999)
Allen back in the #40? I hear Glenn Allen JR will return to the #40 ChannelLock Chevy at Dover(9-16-1999)
New #9 Crew Chief: I hear Steve Hibbard has taken over as the crew chief of the #9 Track Gear Ford that Jeff Burton drives on the BGN circuit. Hibbard replaces Tommy Morgan who is crew chiefing the #26 in Cup for Roush(9-17-1999)
DEI Hire: DEI has hired former #11 Brett Bodine crew chief, Gere Kennon as a consultant for the #16 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy truck. Kennon will assist Steve Hmeil at the track, while Hmeil will continue as crew chief for the #16(NOL)(9-17-1999)
McLaughlin Sponsor UPDATE: I hear Goulds Pumps announced its plans Friday to sponsor Mike McLaughlin and Innovative Motorsports(#47?) — UPDATE: Mike McLaughlin has signed to drive for Innovative Motorsports for the 2000 season and is bringing sponsor Gould Pumps with him. McLaughlin replaces Andy Santerre, who resigned earlier this week. Innovative Motorsports plans to have a second Busch team for next year, but a driver has not been selected(Tennessean)(9-11-1999), I hear the number of the car will be #46 or #48(9-14-1999)
BDR BGN news: As reported on radio station WROQ (Rock 101 in Greenville, SC)on Tuesday, Sep 7: Toby Porter (former track champ at Greenville Pickens Speedway and current driver on the Hooter’s series) will be testing this week with the Bill Davis Racing BGN Team as an audition for the ride in 2000(9-9-1999) — UPDATE: Actually this took place a few weeks ago and will not be taking place this week(9-14-1999)
Hamilton Jr back in the #22 and Tests UPDATE: Bobby Hamilton, Jr will return to the #22 Air Jamaica Vacations Chevy for the Richmond BGN race. Crew chief Todd Lohse was impressed with Hamilton’s qualifyying effort at Darlington and test at Charlotte/Lowes on Tuesday where he was the fasted BGN car at the test(Williams Co PR)(9-8-1999) — UPDATE After consecutive weeks of qualifying successes, Bobby Hamilton Jr. has been named driver of the #22 Air Jamaica Vacations Chevy for the remainder of the 1999 BGN season(Williams Co)(9-14-1999)
Pennzoil Truck CORRECTION: Pennzoil Modified racer Bruce Driver will attempt to race in his first NASCAR Craftsman truck race at Richmond. Driver will pilot the #6 Chevrolet truck owned by Marshall Chesrown, crewed by Kevin Sasserman and powered by a Richard Childress Racing engine. Driver’s fourth-place finish in the Richmond modified race on May 14 made him the first African-American to finish in the top five of a NASCAR touring series in recent history(Pennzoil PR)(9-9-1999) — CORRECTION: The Pennzoil truck at RIR with Bruce Driver was not crewed by “Kevin Sasserman”, but more correctly, crewed by Sasser Motorsports owned by Jimmy & Kevin Sasser(9-13-1999)
McLaughlin OK: After Mike McLaughlin’s hard contact early in the Richmond race, he was airlifted(actually taken in an ambulance, not airlifted) to a local hospital for a slight concussion Friday night. He was checked out OK and released(9-11-1999)
Barfield Out: Ron Barfield will not return to the #55 Icehouse truck owned by CART owner Bobby Rahal in 2000(WC Scene Magazine)(9-12-1999)
New sponsor for the #41 McCarthy/Pritchard Motorsports BGN team, Mannings USA, starting this week in the BGNN event at NHIS and in the BGN at Dover. See an image of the car at the Paint Scheme Gallery(9-12-1999)
Santerre/#47 team: Andy Santerre expressed wishes to compete in a partial scedule in 2000. IMI was not interested in one and a half teams so THEY RELEASED Andy for the remainder of the 1999 season. Andy DID NOT resign for personal reasons as reported. Santerre may be in a car in 1999 and plans to be in the Busch Series in 2000(Santerre PR)(9-12-1999)
Compton and Dodge? Truck Series driver Stacy Compton has his own tough decision to make. Chrysler officials have hinted strongly to the Hurt, Va., driver they plan to bring Compton and Dennis Setzer to the Winston Cup Series in 2001, when Dodge is likely to debut a team of Intrepids. Compton and Setzer currently drive Dodge Ram trucks in the NASCAR touring series. Meanwhile, Compton is weighing offers from a existing Winston Cup teams. The choice is between waiting for Dodge to make its plans public or taking a ride with a Ford or GM team that might not have as much long-term potential as the eventual DaimlerChrysler team(Gaston Gazette/Monte Dutton)(9-10-1999)
Christopher to the #34? Ted Christopher will meet with officials from Team 34 Friday in Richmond, VA. Christopher, of Plainville, will meet with co-owner Frank Cicci to discuss the possibility of replacing Mike McLaughlin in one of the team’s three cars. The Cicci and Scott Welliver organization has a history of hiring Northern drivers. McLaughlin, Jim my Spencer, Randy LaJoie and Todd Bodine are all current or former Cicci/Welliver drivers who got their starts in southern New England. Team 34 manager and former Southington resident Clyde McLeod said the team is still exploring their options and negotiating with sponsors for next season. Currently, the team fields cars for McLaughlin, Bodine and Tim Fedewa. McLeod said the team may scale back to a two-car operation next season(Hartford Courant)(9-10-1999)
#59 News: The #59 Kingsford Charcoal team hopes to names their 2000 driver by the end of next week. Current driver Mike Dillon will leave after this season(RPM2Nite)(9-10-1999)
#47 Innovative: the #47 BGN team hopes to name a full time driver for the rest of the year after this weekend. Andy Santerre and the team parted ways last week, Ward Burton drove for the team at Richmond(RPM2Nite)(9-10-1999)
Bliss to Stay? I hear that NASCAR Live 9/8/99, Mike Bliss said he has a truck deal through 2000 that he will honor. So maybe he won’t go to the #30 Cup ride?(9-10-1999)
Kitchens in/Earnhardt Out UPDATE: at least for Richmond, Jimmy Kitchens will drive the #7 Team Marines Chevy. No word on if it’s a one race deal or if Earnhardt is out for good — UPDATE: Team Marines Racing is re-thinking its direction at this point in time but has not given up on Kerry Earnhardt. Team Marines Racing organizer Rick Rathbun feels that Kerry needs to acquire more experience and plans on helping Kerry get that experience…quite possibly through an extensive testing program. Ed Whitaker Racing will maintain its position as car owner in this project for the time being, and since plans were made to compete in Richmond, the decision was made by all of the parties to go there and enter another driver in an effort to get the Team Marines Racing Chevrolet into a race. Jimmy Kitchens had been involved in the early phases of development of the Team Marines Racing concept and was asked to drive the car at Richmond. No other plans have been set beyond Richmond(Team Marines)(9-9-1999)
#40: Glenn Allen Jr returns to the BGN after a week off, he’ll drive the #40 ChannelLock Chevy at Richmond(9-9-1999)
Markham/Gibbs/#29: Curtis Markham will attempt to qualify the #29 Husqvarna Chevy for Friday night’s BGN race at Richmond. Husqvarna, also a sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing and the #18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac in Cup, has stepped up to sponsor Markham for the Richmond event(Motorsports Decisions Group PR)(9-9-1999)
Hamilton Truck: Bobby Hamilton’s #4 Dodge NCTS entry will be sporting the Dana Corp.’s Spicer products brand on its side in the Virginia is for Lovers 200. Spicer will move to the primary sponsor position on the No. 4 Dana Dodge for this race only(Stock Car Fans Newsletter)(9-9-1999)
Lowes Testing UPDATE: In preparation for UAW-GM Quality 500 week, Oct. 6-10, several Cup and BGN teams will participate in two days of open testing Tuesday and Wednesday at Lowes Motor Speedway starting at 4pm/et(LMS Site) no teams mentioned but Richard Petty will be there and many activities will take place(9-6-1999) — SPEEDS:NOL Posted the speeds for the BGN cars and the two Cup cars from Tuesday’s testing, see them at: Hamilton Jr. paces test at LMS, the top three BGN drivers were #22-Hamilton 174.757mph, #32-Green 174.193 and #66-Bodine 173.633(9-9-1999)
Hillin Merges: At a press conference held Wednesday at Richmond, the principals of Millennium Motorsports, Inc. and Bobby Hillin Racing announced a formal merger between their two organizations that takes effect immediately. Bobby Hillin, Jr., principal driver and managing partner of the #8 Chevy in the BGN and Angelo S. Rotella, President and CEO of Millennium Motorsports made the announcement jointly. The move allows Hillin to focus more on his driving and less on the business side of this industry. It is their goal to not only secure a sponsor for the remainder of the 1999 season, but to also provide full sponsorship funding for the 2000 campaign. Millennium Motorsports, Inc. is a North Carolina corporation with principal offices located in Charlotte. Incorporated for the sole purpose of establishing a presence in NASCAR through the acquisition, management, sponsorship development and promotion of teams and drivers, Millennium Motorsports, Inc. has now taken the first step through this merger(Millennium Motorsports PR)(9-9-1999)
Green/#41 sponsor: MI Home Products, Inc. and XACT Replacement Windows and Doors join the AFG Industries/Larry Hedrick Motorsports team as associate sponsors on the #41 Chevy for the BGN Richmond race. Central Pennsylvania-based MI Home Products, a leading national manufacturer of windows and doors for new construction, remodeling, replacement, rehab and manufactured housing, markets vinyl and aluminum windows and doors under the MI, Capitol, BetterBilt, PrimeCel and XACT brands(PR)(9-8-1999)
#37 Paint: The #37 BGN Timber Wolf Chevy driven by Kevin Grubb is carrying a special birthday scheme in honor of the fifth birthday of Timber Wolf moist snuff. The Richmond BGN race marks the fifth and final race for the special designed car, which made its debut at IRP in August(Brewco PR) see an image in the Paint Schemes Gallery(9-8-1999)
Phil Morris News: #01 Philip Morris has secured primary sponsorship from Chevrolet car dealer Dick Myers Chevy out of Elkton, Va to run this weeks BGN race at RIR(Phil Morris Racing Site)(9-8-1999)
#74 Sponsor: The World Wrestling Federation(WWF) will sponsor the #74 BACE Motorsports Chevy with driver Tony Raines at the Richmond BGN race of Friday. On Friday, WWF Superstar “Road Dogg” Jesse James will be on hand at Richmond International Raceway to sign autographs with Hermie Sadler(driver of the #33 Alka-Seltzer/Bayer BACE Chevy and Elliott Sadler at the WWF souvenir trailer from 5:30 n 7:30pm. The Sadlers are big WWF fans(9-8-1999)
RaceComm Column:Dura Lube 200 by Jeff Downey(9-8-1999)
SABCO BGN UPDATE: I hear Blaise Alexander will be in the SABCO BGN entry with ChannelLock as the sponsor(9-4-1999) —UPDATE: David Steele and Blaise Alexander will drive Felix Sabates new BGN teams in 2000(USA Today)(9-8-1999)
Santerre Leaves UPDATE: Andy Santerre has parted ways with the #47 Innovative Motorsports Busch Team. They recently won their first race in the BGN at Pikes Peak and won a BGNN event at NHIS after Andy’s bad crash at Daytona earlier this season caused him to miss the first half of the season(North East Racing)(9-6-1999) — UPDATE: from what I hear, this in no way effects Mike McLaughlin’s status with the team for 2000. If the team goes to one car only, McLaughlin will be in it, if it’s two, they’ll find another driver to pair witj McLaughlin(9-8-1999)
#72 Parker Racing News: Parker Racing and Crew Chief Cal Northrop have parted ways effective Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999. The move gives Northrop the opportunity to explore other options before the season ends. Also the team has withdrawn the #72 entry from the Richmond BGN race and will take the rest of the season “a race at a time”(Parker Racing)(9-7-1999)
Burton to run BGN: Ward Burton will run the #47 Innovative Motorsports Chevy at RIR in place of Andy Santerre who left the team Monday(NOL)(9-7-1999)
Elton Sawyer News: BGN driver Elton Sawyer and the #98 Lysol Racing Team will be competing for $1,000,000 when the green flag is dropped at this fall’s Autolite Platinum 250 at Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 10. The twist is that the real winners will be medically underserved children. Reckitt & Colman Inc., maker of Lysol brand cleaners and disinfectants, will present The Children’s Health Fund (CHF) with a $25,000 check before Sawyer starts the event. Should Sawyer and the Lysol Team win the race, Reckitt & Colman will donate $1,000,000 to CHF. The money will be used to provide essential medical care to underserved children throughout the country. For the rest of the Info, see my Racing Charities page and for an images of the car, see my Paint Scheme Gallery(Keystone PR)(9-7-1999)
Truck Team at RIR: Brad Bennett and REYBEN Racing will travel to Richmond and will attempt to qualify the #40 Chevy Truck for the CTS race at RIR. The family owned and operated team has qualified for all four of the CTS events that they have entered in 1999 at Martinsville, Watkins Glen, Nazareth, New Hampshire. This will be Brad Bennett and REYBEN Racing’s final race of the season. The team hopes to run the entire NCTS schedule next year and are optimistic that current discussions will allow them to do that. Bennett competed in the BGNN Series for four years. His accomplishments include, seven top-five and eighteen top-ten finishes in the Busch North Series(REYBEN Racing PR)(9-7-1999)
Silver Eagles CTS: announced their entry into the CTS in the #17 Chevy truck at RIR and a few more 1999 races and looking to 2000 to run for Rookie of the Year with driver, Tom Bambard(Silver Eagle Racing PR)(9-7-1999)
Hendrick: Ricky Hendrick will attempt to make his second start in the #24 DuPont Chevrolet for Gordon-Evernham Motorsports in Friday night’s Autolite Platinum 250 at Richmond International Raceway(9-6-1999)
Dillon sponsor UPDATE 2: look for Mike Dillon to be in a 2nd Richard Childress BGN car with Rockwell Automation as the sponsor, who is a current associate sponsor on the #59 car he drives at present(8-22-1999) — UPDATE: hear there will a press conference on Saturday, September 4th, 11:15am/et at Darlington Raceway(8-30-1999) — UPDATE 2:It’s official – Richard Childress announced Rockwell Automation has signed a contract to be the primary sponsor of Brant Motorsports #21 Chevy and driver Mike Dillon through the 2002 BGN season. Rockwell Automation has been an associate sponsor in the series for the past three years on the #59 , and has been affiliated with Dillon for two of those years.(NOL) note: no idea what this means for the Michael Waltrip BGN team, BGN regulars get the first crack at the car numbers(9-4-1999) — UPDATE: Brandt Motorsports is looking to build a racetrack in Pittsburgh and fields a pert time IRL team(9-5-1999) — UPDATE 3: Meanwhile, Michael Waltrip — currently competing with the #21 — will change to the #7 for next year’s Busch season(9-6-1999)
#32 Changes: hearing Jeff Greens BGN team will have a new sponsor in 2000, Nestle(9-4-1999)
Jarrett and the BGN: During the BGN race, after Dale Jarrett fell out of the race at Darlington, it was mentioned that DJ said that it was his final BGN race as a driver, ever(9-4-1999)
Marquis to BGN? Jerry Marquis, of East Windsor, CT plans to drive in the BGN full-time next year for Bill Blair. Blair has been involved in Winston Cup racing in the past but has never owned a Busch team. Marquis drives late models and needed only to take the green flag in Friday’s 50-lap SK Modified feature at Stafford to clinch the track championship in the third to last event of the season(Hartford Courant)(9-4-1999)
Goulds Education: “I have learned so much about the sport of NASCAR racing this year.” Those are the words of 20 year old Aaron Kuehn, a member of the Goulds Pumps Racing Team. Kuehn, a Kensington, Connecticut native has been busy in 1999, balancing an education and a full NASCAR Busch Series racing schedule. Kuehn is entering his 2nd year in the Motorsports Management Program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Not only is Kuehn learning about racing inside the classroom, he works part time for Tony’s Engines and spends his weekends as the tire specialist for the #34 Goulds Pumps Chevrolet driven by Mike McLaughlin. Growing up in the Northeast, Kuehn began to attend Busch North and NASCAR Modified races, developing a love for the sport of racing. Kuehn often wondered what it would be like to work full-time in the sport. With high school graduation only a few days away, Kuehn decided to head south, right into the heart of NASCAR country for his college education. Kuehn stays busy during the week at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College studying the business aspects of racing in addition to the technical side of the sport. Kuehn’s classes have included; Racing Logistics, Engine Development, Tire Management, Business and Math. Richmond Gage, a veteran of the motorsports field, leads the Motorsports Management program. On weekends, Kuehn changes into his Goulds Pumps Racing Team uniform and heads for the racetrack. Kuehn prepares the tires for Mike McLaughlin, measuring air pressure and gauging tire wear. Working for the Goulds Pumps team allows Kuehn to work for two more friends he got to know from the Busch North Series, Clyde McLeod and Steve “Big Guy” Helwig. Kuehn is scheduled to graduate next May and enter into the NASCAR work force full time. One thing for sure, with an education from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and 2 years of working in the NASCAR garage on his resume, Kuehn will make a solid addition to any team(PR)(9-4-1999)
#6 CTS Team UPDATE: Marshal Chesrown sold #6 ReMax truck team (Rick Carelli) to the Gaughan Family owners of the Orleans, Gold Coast, Barbary Coast, Motel Casinos in Las Vegas. No idea of their plans at this time(8-25-1999) — UPDATE: Michael Gaughan, Owner of Orleans Motorsports, has announced the purchase of Chesrown Racing’s assets to expand his racing organization into new arenas. The acquisition consists of seven race trucks, one hauler, and all shop equipment retained by Chesrown Racing during it’s successful campaign in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series dating back to 1995. The race trucks and equipment have been transferred from the Chesrown Racing facility in Denver, Colorado to Gaughan’s newly-acquired 13,500 square foot shop located in the Industrial Park section of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The team personnel and actual race plans for Orleans Motorsports have yet to be determined(Racing West Site)(9-2-1999)
Hamilton not out long: Bobby Hamilton, Jr. will drive the #22 Air Jamaica Vacations Chevy for AllCar Motorsports in Saturday’s DuraLube 200 at Darlington. He moves into the seat vacated by Steve Grissom, who is concentrating on his Winston Cup team. The team will continue evaluating its situation throughout the remainder of the season, which does not preclude another driving stint by Hamilton Jr., in order to make the best possible determination of a full-time driver for the 2000 season(Williams Co PR)(9-2-1999)
Amick Crew Chief: Team Amick Motorsports owner Bill Amick announced today the hiring of veteran crew chief Sandy Jones. During his three years as a crew chief with Diamond Ridge Motorsports, Jones recorded seven Busch Series wins. Five of those victories came during the 1997-1998 seasons, when Jones was teamed with driver Elliott Sadler. Joining Team Amick will mean a reunion of the Jones and Sadler combination, as Sadler is driving the #35 SCANA/Powertel Chevrolet in all the remaining Busch Series events this season. Jones hopes that the relationship and the level of communication he and Sadler share will benefit Team Amick. Owner Bill Amick points to Brad Pickens as one of those team members most committed to the growth of the organization. Pickens, who served as crew chief for several months this season, will continue as one of the team’s leaders at the shop and at the track. Team Amick will field two entries for the first time in this weekend’s Dura Lube 200. In addition to the No. 35 SCANA/Powertel Chevy driven by Sadler, Lyndon Amick will attempt to qualify the #88 “Rev It Up!”/Character Education Chevy as the team’s second car. Owner Bill Amick hopes that this two-car effort will lay the groundwork for a multi-car venture in the 2000 season(Team Amick PR)(9-2-1999)
Petty in a Dodge UPDATE: I hear Adam Petty will run a Petty Dodge Ram truck in the Richmond CTS race next weekend(8-31-1999) — UPDATE: Petty will drive the #34 Sprint Prepaid Phonecard Dodge at Richmond(NOL)(9-2-1999)
Dodge at Talladega: Six Dodge trucks from NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series(CTS) tested at Talladega Superspeedway Thursday, the first of a two-day test and the third day of a four-day test at the track for the series. Stacy Compton, Jimmy Hensley, Bobby Hamilton, Joe Ruttman, Randy Tolsma and Randy Renfrow were the six drivers testing at Talladega. Two Ford teams from the Craftsman Truck Series tested at Talladega Tuesday and Wednesday(Talladega PR)(9-4-1999)
#55 Crew Chief: Davis & Weight Racing team hired crew chief Skip Eyler earlier this week. As the new #55 BGN team it’s debut, Eyler and the new team are building the organization from the ground up. The team will debut a new driver, build their own chassis and develop a competitive motor program in the near future(from Davis & Weight Racing PR)(9-2-1999)
Driver Looking: ARCA and BGN driver Doug Reid III, from Hueytown, AL is currently looking for a full time BGN ride as plans to start his own BGN team didn’t work out(9-1-1999)
Talladega Test UPDATE: Rick Crawford and the #14-Circle Bar race team will participate in a Ford test at the Talladega Superspeedway next Tuesday and Wednesday. They will be part of 3 or 4 Ford, NASCAR Craftsman Truck teams that will be experimenting with different aerodynamic packages. The test has been scheduled to give some of the Ford teams and drivers and idea of what to expect, when and if, a race at such a speedway is added to the 2000 NCTS schedule. Several Ford SVO officials will be on hand to conduct the test. Crawford was selected because of his Cleveland, Georgia shop’s proximity to the speedway and the fact that they are not behind in repairing damaged trucks like other Ford teams. This will be the first trip for the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks to the 2.55-mile superspeedway(Jayski Note: it’s 2.66 miles). Kent Harrison, NASCAR Supertruck Program Manager for Ford SVO, stated, “You won’t see these trucks flirting with 200 (mph), but we will be running around the 180 (mph) range to conduct the test.”(SpeedZone Marketing)(8-26-1999) — UPDATE: Truck Series driver Rick Crawford made a little history Tuesday. He tested his Ford F-150 Tuesday on the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway, the first time a NASCAR Truck has been on that track. Andy Hillenburg also tested in the Ford which Mike Wallace regularly drives in the Truck Series. Several Dodge teams will arrive Thursday for an additional test. The Ford teams were not shooting for speed, but basically to improve aerodynamics. They did, however, clock laps in the 183 mph range, which is faster than Jay Sauter’s pole-winning speed at Texas earlier this year. Sauter turned a lap of 179.718 mph around the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway in June. The Truck Series has never raced on an oval larger than two miles in length, but Talladega Superspeedway president Grant Lynch expressed the possibility that they may sometime in the future(SpeedNet)(9-1-1999)
Bickle more BGN: besides running a few races in his own #91 BGN car, HVP Motorsports today announced Bickle will take over the team’s #63 Exxon Chevys at Darlington and Richmond. Bickle replaces rookie Bobby Hamilton, Jr. who earlier this season assumed the driving chores in the Exxon Superflo Motor Oils racer from Chuck Bown(Tyler Jet Motorsports PR)(9-1-1999)
RaceComm Column:Food City 250 by Jeff Downey(9-1-1999)
Berrier Back: Ed Berrier will run the #55 BGN Pontiac at Darlington(NOL entry list)(8-31-1999)
Miller Leaves? UPDATE: Hearing Butch Miller has left the #40 ChannelLock Chevy team but have not been able to confirm it — UPDATE: looks that way as Ted Musgrave is listed in the car, of course his Winston Cup owner, Darwin Oordt owns this team too(8-31-1999)
Roper Leaves UPDATE: Tony Roper will no longer be driving the #61 IWX Motor Freight Pontiac in the BGN. Roper had three top-10 finishes this season in 16 starts with the Xpress team. Prior to joining Xpress, Roper competed for two seasons in the CTS Series gaining 8 top-10 finishes. Roper is a successful graduate of the NASCAR Winston Racing Series and the American Speed Association (ASA), prior to joining the truck series(Tony Roper Site no word on where Roper will go or who will drive the car at Darlington(8-30-1999) — UPDATE: Look for Robert Pressley to drive the #61 Pontiac at Darlington this weekend(8-31-1999)
The Tyler Jet: Tyler Walker will be more than just a casual observer when he attends his first ever BGN event this weekend at Darlington Raceway. Walker, the 20-year-old World of Outlaws Sprint Car star, signed with a contract to drive a BGN car for Tyler Jet Motorsports earlier this month. Walker has left the WoO ranks to concentrate on the fledgling BGN program, moving from California to Charlotte earlier this week. Walker will begin working in the Tyler Jet Motorsports shop and testing the team’s BGN Pontiacs next week. A BGN series debut at Phoenix is planned for the young driver later this season(Tyler Jet Motorsports Site)(8-31-1999)
#59 News: ST Motorsports will choose among Jay Sauter, Tim Fedewa and Tony Raines to drive the #59 Kingsford/Matchlight Chevrolet next season. Reports have the choice-sources say it looks like Fedewa — being made on Wednesday by team owner Tad Geschickter(TNN Motorsports Site)(8-31-1999)
Hut to drive BGN: Brad Akins announced today that Hut Stricklin will drive the #38 Barbasol Fords for the remaining eight races on the BGN schedule. Stricklin replaces driver Glenn Allen Jr. beginning at the Dura Lube 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 4. Currently, Stricklin competes in the Cup Series for Scott Barbour in the #58 Turbine Solutions Fords(Keystone PR)(8-30-1999)
Team Yellow News: Pameco Corporation and Emerald Performance Group announced today that they have extended their associate sponsorship program for the 2000 BGN season and the #19 Team Yellow Chevy(Team Yellow PR)(8-30-1999)
Kelly Moore News: BGNN driver Kelly Moore, LesCare Kitchens and Formica Corporation jointly announced their intention to compete in the Kmart 200 Busch Series race at Rockingham, NC on October 23. The LesCare Kitchens/Formica team has competed with the BGN in three events thus far and also plans to compete at Memphis Motorsports Park in October and Homestead-Miami Speedway in November(PR)(8-30-1999)
Gilchrist to BGN? UPDATE 2: hearing Derrick Gilchrist is a candidate for the proposed MB2 (#36 M&M’s Cup team) that is planned for late 1999 or early 2000(8-7-1999) — UPDATE: ASA standout Derrick Gilchrist and MB2 Motorsports are talking about him driving a BGN car for the team in 2000. Further details may be forthcoming about Gilchrist’s future driving plans at this weekend’s ASA race at the Milwaukee Mile(TNN Motorsports Site)(8-24-1999) — UPDATE 2: On TNN’s Raceday they were interviewing Gilchrist who said they had hired a crew chief, Jon Wolfe, formerly of the #75 Butch Mock Cup team(8-29-1999)
Harvick BGN News UPDATE: Hearing that the #65 Sasser Motorsports BGN team, the one house in Junior Johnson’s shops will field two teams, one for Kevin Harvick, the other for Kevin Schwantz. Suposedly will run select races in the remainder of the season. No idea if RCR has a hand in the Harwick deal(8-19-1999) — UPDATE: Kevin Harvick will get his first ride with Richard Childress at Darlington next week in a Busch car prepared by Will Lind. Before this week’s Darlington test, Lind was figuring Harvick, who had never seen Darlington Raceway, had maybe a 10 percent chance of making the field. After the test, Lind is now optimistic, saying Harvick has a 50-50 shot at winning a spot on speedPitNow(8-29-1999)
Menard to NASCAR: John Menard, the Wisconsin billionaire who has spent millions trying to win the Indianapolis 500, has set his sights on the crown jewel of stock-car racing, as well. With the aim of reaching the Winston Cup Series and the Daytona 500 within five years, Menard is starting a NASCAR team that will compete with driver Bryan Reffner on the Craftsman Truck Series next season. Menard and Reffner, the 1996 Truck Series rookie of the year from Wisconsin Rapids, have agreed upon a multiple-year contract. Reffner said he could not reveal the terms. Initially, at least, the truck operation will be based in the same shop in Indianapolis as Team Menard of the Indy Racing League, or in a nearby building. Thomas Knapp, the general manager of Menard’s IRL team, will take on a similar role with the NASCAR team. But Reffner, 35, also will wield considerable influence in the management. He was in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday, working with a chassis builder and talking to existing teams about purchasing used equipment. In 89 starts, Reffner has five top-five finishes with a best of third (Flemington, N.J., 1998) and about $650,000 in earnings in the series. See the full story at Menard has NASCAR on mind by Dave Kallmann of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel(8-29-1999)
Christopher News: Ted Christopher, a native of Connecticut, impressed the NASCAR community a few weeks ago at Watkins Glen when he won the Modified Tour race, finished second in the Busch North race and qualified for the Winston Cup race. Christopher hopes to do more of the same at Homestead in November when he will enter his own car in the inaugural Winston Cup event at the track. Christopher has also been mentioned as a candidate for several Busch Series rides for next season(Power Team Site)(8-28-1999)
Long/Sadler Bros: Carl Long has a 90 day contract with Sadler Brothers Racing in the BGN #95 Chevy, previously driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr. It was Long’s first try in the BGN, but Bristol is the site of his 1997 All Pro win, but he failed to qualify. Current plans are to run Dover, Charlotte, Memphis and Rockingham – with proper sponsorship a full season next year. Carl’s career started 15 years ago at Orange County South Boston and he also works as part of the crew. Long will also race at Atlanta and Talladega in ARCA(StockCarFans Newsletter)(8-28-1999)
Gibbs/Diamond Ridge Merge UPDATE: Diamond Ridge Motorsports owner Gary H. Bechtel has merged his BGN team with Joe Gibbs Racing effective immediately. Steve DeSouza, the recently appointed vice president of Busch operations at Joe Gibbs Racing, will work in concert with Bechtel to develop a plan for the 2000 season, as well as maintain the team’s current goals for the remainder of 1999. The team is evaluating all of their options in terms of drivers and sponsors(TNN Motorsports Site)(8-26-1999) — UPDATE: Gary Bechtel will serve as general manager for the remainder of this season as his team transfers from Chevrolets to Pontiacs, then will have an undisclosed role for 2000(Times-Dispatch)(8-28-1999)
Gibbs/Bechtel: Gary Bechtel is folding his Diamond Ridge Busch Grand National team into Joe Gibbs Racing, putting in place the facilities and resources for Gibbs’ planned two-car Pontiac effort next year. Jason Leffler will drive one Pontiac, the No. 18, with probable continued sponsorship from MBNA. Gibbs’ son J.D. said he would soon begin negotiations with Lance Snacks, Bechtel’s current sponsor, aimed at a renewal for the team’s second car. The status of Jeff Purvis, currently the driver of Bechtel’s No. 4, is uncertain. “We’re not going to make a decision about a driver until we have sponsorship arranged for the second car,” said J.D. Gibbs. “Until we have a sponsor, there is no need to hire a driver.” Bechtel still has equity in the Gibbs BGN operation. “I am not getting out of racing,” he said. “This gives me the opportunity to pursue other things, with Joe and J.D. (Gibbs), within racing.”(Monte Dutton)(8-28-1999)
Hensley to leave: Jimmy Hensley driver of the #43 Dodge and owner Richard Petty have mutually agreed to part ways at the close of the 1999 CTS season. No word on where Hensley will go or who Petty will choose as a new driver(NOL)(8-27-1999)
Hornaday Crew Chief: Sandy Jones is out as crew chief for Ron Hornaday and Steve Hmiel is in on an interim basis on the #16 DEI truck. DEI called Jones’ leaving a “mutual separation.” Hmiel will fill the role until a replacement is found(NOL)(8-27-1999)
New Team UPDATE 2: Davis & Weight motorsports acquires assets of Filmar Racing, Winston Cup Team 81 and Team Jones, Busch team 55. Forming Davis & Weight Motorsports, Inc. that will run a limited Busch schedule for the remainder of the 1999 will be co-founders of Computer Management Sciences, Inc., Jerry W. Davis and Anthony V. Weight. Having sold their company to Computer Associates, Davis & Weight are structuring Davis & Weight Motorsports, Inc. The new team, with the combines asset acquisitions of Team Jones Racing, Inc.(#55 BGN) of Amelia Island, FL and Filmar Racing(#81 Cup), Inc. of Concord, NC will debut the new #81 Winston Cup car in 2000 and is currently running a limited Busch schedule with the #55 Busch car. During this formation, the Davis & Weight Motorsports is currently seeking sponsorship for their young multi-car team. In team member hiring, Davis & Weight Motorsports has been able to accumulate a collection of talented personnel(Davis & Weight Motorsports PR)(8-17-1999) — UPDATE: The BGN #55 team will debut at Bristol on August 27th with driver Brandon Sperling who runs the ASA #40 McDonalds car for Crookston Motorsports out Kalamazoo Michigan in a one race deal(8-18-1999) — UPDATE 2: Brandon Sperling and the #55 University of Florida Gators Pontiac will race at Bristol this coming weekend in a once race deal. Davis & Weight Motorsports, based in Jacksonville, FL, is a new team being structured from the assets of the Winston Cup Team 81, Filmar Racing, Inc. and the Busch Grand National Team 55, Team Jones. Campaigning the Busch car #55 with driver Brandon Sperling at Bristol this weekend. The Davis & Weight Motorsports #55 Busch team is currently seeking sponsorship(Davis & Weight Motorsports PR)(8-24-1999)
New BGN Team UPDATE: Ohio State graduate and Centerville, Ohio native Josh Baltes will have a ride in the BGN next season and make some runs later this season. Baltes is a part-time ARCA driver and former ARCA rookie of the year. The Alumni Motorsports team will be owned in part by former Ohio State Buckeye Football players Jim Lachey and Mike Tomczak. Tomczak is cuurently a QB with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Other investors are Eldora Speedway president Terry Baltes(Josh’s father), Brent Bushu, Bret Adams and Drew West. Everyone except Adams, a former Ohio State law professor, is an OSU graduate. The Ohio State logo will appear somewhere on the car and the team will be affiliated with the Ohio State Center for Automotive Research. A team manager, crew chief and crew will be hired and a shop will be rented in the Charlotte, N.C., area after a full-time sponsor is signed. Tomczak is gaining management experience by shadowing a Winston Cup team that has Ricky Craven as its driverColumbus Dispatch(OH)(3-25-1999) — UPDATE wow had to go hunt for this past story but found it anyhow, here is the update: Krogh Racing has been sold to a group of Ohio State alumni including Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mike Tomczak. The team will be called Alumni Motorsports(no Racing) and Josh Baltes will be the driver(RPM2Nite), not sure when they will attempt their first BGN race(8-24-1999) — see the story on NOL: Alumni Motorsports purchases former Krogh team(8-25-1999)
Here Come the Marines: Kerry Earnhardt will drive the #76 BGN Marines Chevy, fielded by Ed Whitaker and Team Marines Racing. Businessman Rick Rathbun, 45, has announced his intention to sponsor the Kerry Earnhardt/Ed Whitaker Racing tandem under his own Team Marines Racing banner in the August 27th running of the Food City 250 BGN event at Bristol. Rathbun, a former Marine, is President of DEC Technologies, Inc., an aerospace industry parts and components manufacturer based in Piney Flats, TN just a few miles southwest of the Bristol track. Veteran car owner Whitaker, whose race shop is located in nearby Bristol, Virginia and who calls Bristol Motor Speedway his “home track”, is taking it upon himself to breathe new life into Kerry Earnhardt’s career that came to an abrupt halt after just four races this year, with the #40 Channellock Chevy. Such Busch Series greats as Harry Gant, Sam Ard, Morgan Shepherd and the late Butch Lindley have driven for Whitaker over the years with Gant the most successful of the lot with 21 victories, 51 top five and 71 top ten performances in just 124 starts from 1988 through 1994. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who qualified on the front row for the fall Busch Series race at Bristol in 1997 in an Ed Whitaker machine. The team will test at Bristol next Monday, and Whitaker is planning to enter Kerry, and do additional testing, in as many as six more races this season. A full Busch Series program is being planned for 2000 and 2001 with a possible move into the Winston Cup Series after that – all with Kerry Earnhardt behind the wheel. Whitaker has tapped veteran crew chief Bruce Saunders as the signal caller for the Earnhardt/Team Marines project. Saunders was also the crew chief during most of Gant’s successes with Whitaker Racing. The race car, to be painted predominantly black with vibrant red flames and yellow trim, is one of several designed by renown motorsports artist and car designer Sam Bass, and his Sam Bass Illustration and Design Company. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo will carry number 76 to commemmorate the Spirit of 1776 and the fight for American independence(the Marine Corp was actually ‘born’ in 1775). Earnhardt, and the Team Marines Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo, will be on display to the general public for the very first time at the Annual Food City Fan on August 26th(Team Marines Racing PR)(8-10-1999, reposted 8-24-1999)
Menard to the CTS? hearing IRL owner, John Menard is looking to start a Truck team with former CTS Rookie of the Year Bryan Reffner. Reffner recently was driving the #7 Conley truck but left last week(8-23-1999)
#3 RCR CTS team and BGN news: GM/Goodwrench will not be back with the #3 CTS Childress team in 2000. Jay Sauter is studying his options(BGN #59?). Richard Childress will have a press conference at 10am/et Saturday to announce his intentions as far as the Craftsman truck series next year — UPDATE: Richard Childress and Kevin Harvick confirmed that Harvick will drive for Childress in the #2 ACDelco Chevrolet in the BGN series in 2000. Childress said that his team will deemphasize its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program to concentrate on its Cup and BGN(NOL)(8-21-1999)
Hornaday News: #16 CTS driver Ron Hornaday, who will move in 2000 to the BGN in the #3 NAPA Chevy, may have as many as five stock car races this fall to prepare for a full BGN season in 2000. Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Director of Motorsports Ty Norris said on Friday night prior to the Ram Tough 200 that Hornaday would run NAPA Chevrolets in no less than two races, at Phoenix and Homestead-Miami, with the event at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham also a possibility. Norris also said discussions were underway with Team SABCO to put Hornaday in the #01 Tracfone Winston Cup Chevy that has been fielded in a few events this season for Jeff Green, for possibly two events. Sources said the UAW/GM Quality 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway might be one of those events(NOL)(8-21-1999)
Walker’s Debut: Rockingham on Oct 23rd, is t be Tyler Walker’s BGN debut in the Tyler Jet Motorsports BGN entry(Racer Magazine)(8-21-1999)
No DEI CTS team: Dale Earnheardt Inc(DEI) will probably not field a Truck(CTS) team in 2000. The team may keep some trucks and motors and if a sponsor is found run Steve Park, Dale Earnhardt Jr or Ron Hornaday in a few selected events. Hornaday is moving to the DEI BGN team in the #3 NAPA Parts Chevy and of course Little E is moving full time to Cup. Steve Paek was looking into running BGN part time in 2000 but DEI shot down the idea wanting him to concentrate on the #1 Cup ride(Winston Cup Scene Magazine)(8-20-1999)
FAIN Motorsports: The FMS Racing fan owned team, was officially notified by NASCAR Thursday that the teams owner number is #213 and that they would be using the #13 for the Sam’s Town 250 in Memphis, TN. FMS also has picked up an associate sponsor, Buck and Bass Sporting Centre. FMS will do a tribute car with the image Carl Perkins on the hood and Sun Studios on the deck lid. Action Performance has worked with FMS and is planning to offer a diecast 1/24 model of the car(FAIN PR)(8-20-1999)
No Sprague in Cup UPDATE: the rumor that #24 CTS driver, Jack Sprague would move up to Winston Cup were apparently false. NOL reports that Sprague will return to the #24 GMAC Hendrick Motorsports truck in 2000, well actually Rick Hendrick says GMAC and the team will return truck next year and he “hopes Jack’s the driver”(NOL)(7-21-1999) — UPDATE: During the Gateway CTS race it was said that Jack Sprague had announced he would be driving the 24 GMAC Chevy in the CTS next year(8-21-1999)
Phil Morris News: The #01 Blue Ridge Motorsports Team has been under a strong reorganizational period and has made an announcement regarding the remainder of the season. BRM officials have said they will compete next weekend at the Bristol event in addition to the runs at Richmond and Rockingham. PMI and Dick Myers Chevrolet will be aboard as associate sponsors with the teams marketing group working hard on landing a primary sponsor for the remainder of this year and beyond. The crew has been actively preparing and rebuilding cars in their Waynesboro shops. Three cars are very much ready to go with a fourth and fifth not far behind for driver Phil Morris to use(Phil Morris Site)(8-21-1999)
Santerre Teammate? UPDATE2: TNN’s Raceday reports that Innovative Motorsports, who fields the #47 Chevy’s for Andy Santerre is interested in starting a two car team if Mike McLaughlin wishes to drive it(8-1-1999) — UPDATE: RPM2Nite reports that Mike McLaughlin will run the 2nd Innovative Motorsports car in 2000 with Santerre as his teammate, should be announced today — UPDATE2: Innovative Motorsports has announced that Mike McLaughlin will join IMI in 2000, merging with driver Andy Santerre(#47 Chevy). The number of McLaughlin’s new ride has yet to be determined, and IMI has hopes that a sponsorship announcement will be made within the next month(NOL)(8-20-1999)
Allison Looking: Steve that is…Steve Allison – nephew of NASCAR icons Bobby and Donnie Allison and cousin of Davey and Clifford Allison – is looking for a BGN ride for the 2000 season. Allison, his Uncle Bobby, Brother Tommy, through our marketing team at Adalio/Roussel & Associates, Inc., have aggressively been pursuing sponsorship for our team in hopes of solidifying a program for the upcoming 1999 season. Currently, there are a number of potential sponsors that are interested in capitalizing on the combined benefits of the extraordinary history of the Allison family and the tremendous growth of NASCAR racing. The staff at Adalio/Roussel & Associates, Inc. has developed a complete sponsorship program for the Allison team that incorporates not only the standard logo representation on the car, transporter and other team equipment, but also provides for increased on-site visibility, hospitality, and wholesale and retail value-added programs as well. Interested sponsors and/or teams who are looking for a first-class driver with a high degree of marketability should contact John Adalio or Dean Roussel at Adalio/Roussel & Associates, Inc, (401) 455-0300.(8-19-1999)
Fuller and Gibbs UPDATE: Jeff Fuller will test a Joe Gibbs BGN Pontiac at Bristol this week and Darlington next week which could lead to a four race deal between the two(RPM2Nite)(8-17-1999) — UPDATE: I hear Fuller will start a four race deal in the Joe Gibbs #42 Circuit City Pontiac starting at Bristol. Blaise Alexander will most likely drive the #89 car in a few races and bring a sponsor with him(8-18-1999)
#93/02 BGN Auditions UPDATE 2: The #93/02 Bill Davis Racing team is holding auditions at South Boston Speedway(VA) for it’s 2000 BGN driver. Tracy Hines and Toby Porter tested Monday, and Mike Swaim, Jr and Mike Ewanitsko to test on Tuesday(RPM2Nite Monday) but I hear Hines wrecked the car twice on Monday and the team has postponed the test until it can fix the car — UPDATE: Sources close to the situation tell me Tom Hubert and Tracy Hines tested Monday and Hines only ‘dinged’ up the car a little and that no testing is being done today — UPDATE 2: Add Toby Porter to the list of the drivers who tested Monday, no test Tuesday, but they may try out some more drivers in the future(RPM2Nite Tuesday)(8-17-1999)
Harvick to RCR…Update 5: Expect Richard Childress Racing (RCR) to announce this weekend at the Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway they’re expanding their two-car Cup and single-truck teams into the BGN division in 2000 and beyond. Childress has secured AC-Delco as a full BGN sponsor and tapped former Winston West tyro and current Craftsman Truck driver Kevin Harvick for the ride. Young Harvick is currently 10th in the Truck points and has parlayed his steady showing there into what has to be considered a choice new team in the BGN. RCR plans to race with Harvick in a few selected BGN races this year as a shakedown before full-time competition in 2000. RCR is also expected to expand the BGN operation into a two-car team in the latter part of 2000 with current BGN competitor Mike Dillon wheeling the second car(TNN Motorsports site) see the original story and updates below(8-17-1999)
Fellows Schedule: Look for Ron Fellows to run at least two mote CTS races at Topeka(road course) and at Texas(oval) in the #87 Chevy truck(RPM2Nite)(8-17-1999)
Tyler Retires: from the WOO, Tyler Walker retires from Outlaws, concentrating on his BGN ride with the new Tyler Jet Motorsports team. Walker ends with a win and a 6th-place at Knoxville, along with a gymnastic feat. His BGN debut is scheduled for Oct. 23 at Rockingham(SpeedVision, also a story and image at goRacing/StockCarFans Newsletter)(8-17-1999)
#64 returns: I am told the #64 Luxury Travel Shoemaker Chevy BGN team should be running again in a few weeks, Geoffrey and Barry Bodine are supposed to return as the drivers(Shoemaker Racing)(8-17-1999)
Lysol Reups: The Lysol brand will continue its longtime association with the BGN as a primary team sponsor and will continue to sponsor the #98 Ford fielded by Akins Motorsports. The contract extends the agreement between Reckitt & Colman Inc. and Akins Motorsports through the 2000 season, which will be the Lysol brand’s seventh as a primary BGN team sponsor and second with Akins Motorsports. Elton Sawyer will pilot the #98 Lysol Ford Taurus again in 2000. Sawyer has been with Akins Motorsports since 1994 and will be starting his 18th consecutive year competing in the Busch Series(Keystone PR)(8-16-1999)
#67 News: Smith Brothers Motorsports (SBM) has signed an alliance with Concord, N.C. based AEROFAB Motorsports, Inc. The new relationship positions AEROFAB and owner Cecil Tipton joining SBM and driver Skip Smith to oversee fabrication and preparation of the team’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo superspeedway cars—including track testing and race day supervision. See the rest of the release at: Smith Brothers Web Site(8-16-1999)
#14 CTS Crew Chief: Mike Cheek has taken over as crew chief of the #14 Circle Bar Ford F-150 race team and driver Rick Crawford. He will make his official debut at crew chief at this Friday’s Ram Tough 200 at the Gateway International Raceway. The agreement will place Mike Cheek as crew chief for the remainder of the 1999 season and the entire 2000 season as well(Circle Bar PR)(8-16-1999)
LaFarve Racing Update: The #09 LaFarve BGN Racing team with driver Mike Garvey plans to run the #09 Emerald First National/Tecumseh/Parker Store Chevy at the BGN events in Charlotte, Rockingham, Memphis and Homestead and run 15-20 events in 2000. Crew Chief Bond Suss will have the team testing for a four 1999 events(8-15-1999)
Harvick to RCR? UPDATE 4 and Dillon: I hear that #98 Porter Cable Truck driver Kevin Harvick has signed with Richard Childress to run his BGN car in 2000 with AC Delco as the sponsor(6-30-1999) — UPDATE: I hear that in addition to owning the new team with Harvick driving, Childress will own a team for Mike Dillon(8-2-1999) — UPDATE 2:Richard Childress may be losing a Craftsman Truck team next season, but he’ll be gaining two BGN teams in 2000. Childress’ son-in-law, Mike Dillon, who currently drives the #59 ST Motorsports Chevrolet will run a 2nd RCR BGN team with associate sponsor Rockwell Automation. AC Delco will sponsor the second RCR Busch car for Craftsman Truck series driver Kevin Harvick(SpeedVision/iRace)(8-3-1999) —UPDATE 2: hmm..now hearing that Rockwell Automation will not be the sponsor of the Dillon team(8-5-1999) — UPDATE 4: getting closer……NASCAR Truck series regular Kevin Harvick has signed to drive a Grand National series car next season for Richard Childress Racing. The team plans an announcement next weekend at Michigan Speedway. Harvick, who has worked with Liberty Racing in the truck series, will participate in some Grand National and Automobile Racing Club of America races this season for Childress in preparation for his move next season. Harvick had signed a three-year contract with Liberty Racing to start the 1999 season but Liberty allowed him to explore other options(That’s Racin’)(8-15-1999)
BGN Team: Hickman Motorsports has obtained additional sposorship in attempt to field an entry into the BGN for 1999 and fulltime in 2000. M and M Brokerage of Jemison Alabama has signed on as an associate sponsor for a late season attempt and full attempt in 2000. The team also has primary backing from Peco Foods new retail product; Individulal Quick Frozen Chicken products. The first paint scheme will feature the Peco IQF Boneless Breasts .The product is currently in production at its Bay Springs Mississippi Plant. Peco Foods is also in the process of redesigning an all new website www.pecofoods.com. Team owner John Hickman will also have a website up before the end of the season the address will be www.johnhickman.com. John Hickman has spent the first part of the season as a technical consultant and fill in crew member with Mark Green and the Washington Erving Motorsports Dr. Pepper #50 Team.John has worked with Mark Green since 1998 with the #37 team.The team has not signed a driver but has interviewed Steve Allison ,nephew of Bobby Allison. More than likely the driver will be a veteran Busch driver or possibly a Winston Cup regular. Crew Chief Allen Murphy will oversee the hiring of all personnel and possibly moving the shop to the Concord N.C. Area(Hickman PR)(8-11-1999)
2nd Gibbs team: Joe Gibbs Racing will run a 2nd BGN team in 2000 run as a two car team similar to the Cup team setup, if a sponsor can be found. No driver has been named for the team(RPM2Nite)(8-11-1999)
Tyler Jet BGN team: Tyler Jet Motorsports signed World of Outlaws(WoO) open wheel driver Tyler Walker, to a contract Tuesday. The agreement will have Walker in a BGN for a pair of races later this season. Walker is 20 years old, and burst on to the World of Outlaws scene in 1998 finishing second in the Rookie of the Year chase. He has two victories in the 1999 WoO season. Walker has had limited pavement racing experience behind the wheel of an ASA car at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Walker qualified 27th and was running 11th when a mechanical problem cut short the solid effort. Walker will test extensively with the Tyler Jet BGN unit before debuting in the inaugural BGN event at Phoenix on Nov. 6 and will also run at Miami-Homestead Speedway Nov. 13. Walker will also run some ARCA events(TylerJet PR)(8-10-1999)
2nd Team? Curb/Agajanian Motorsports will begin testing drivers for the potential to expand to a second team in 2000.”The advantages that come from a second car, from testing and sharing information, have made us consider the opportunity of expanding the team. We are beginning to test several drivers from open wheel and stock car backgrounds, so that we can present their credentials to sponsors we are talking with,” team co-owner Cary Agajanian said. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standout Jay Sauter will be the first to test a car prepared by CAM. “It’s going to be exciting. I don’t have a lot of laps in a Busch car. I’m happy Curb/Agajanian Motorsports is giving me the opportunity and I’m going to do my best,” Sauter said. Sauter and CAM have entered the field for the Pepsi 150 Busch North race at Watkins Glen International on August 14, 1999. Sauter will be driving one of the #43 CT Farm & Country/Country General Chevrolets fielded for Busch Series regular Shane Hall(CAM PR), Sauter is also being rumored to the #59 BGN ride(8-9-1999)
BGN to IMS: IMS owner, Tony George is considering adding a BGN event to next season’s Cup weekend at Indy, according to NASCAR sources. The BGN has run at Indianapolis Raceway Park(IRP) for many seasons, a short track a few miles away at Clermont(PitNow)(8-8-1999)
#17 news: hearing that Barbasol will be the sponsor for the #17 Robby Reiser BGN team in 2000(8-7-1999)
Hamilton Announcement: Bobby Hamilton has some sort of announcement scheduled for Thursday, 8/5 with “Just Born Candies” at 1:10pm in Indy. Here is the deal: Bobby Hamilton Sr. will be driving the #14 Hot Tamales Chevrolet in 4 Busch races this year. Just Born Inc, the parent company of Hot Tamales will also feature Mike and Ike, and Zours candies as associates. The four races include Michigan, Dover, Charlotte and Phoenix. The car will be fielded by Hensley Racing who is also currently fielding the #63 Exxon Superflo car for Bobby Hamilton Jr(8-5-1999)(8-5-1999)
Alexander: Blaise Alexander will return to the BGN series later this year and all of 2000. The team and sponsor will be announced early next week(8-5-1999)
Ware to Trucks: Rick Ware, Winston West Series car owner and driver will use the balance of the season to redirect team efforts to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The decision to run a few races this year is part of the team’s short and long-term goal to compete in the series.(RacingWest)(8-5-1999)
McDonald’s Driver: PPI Motorsports and McDonald’s Racing have named Anthony Lazzaro as the driver for the McDonald’s NASCAR Busch Series Team, which will begin competing on a full-time basis next season. The selection was made from more than 20 candidates after an extensive evaluation process, which culminated with on-track test sessions at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway last Thursday(July 29). Lazzaro, 32, of Acworth, Ga. (suburb of Atlanta), currently drives a Formula Atlantic car for PPI. He is leading the points chase for the 1999 KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship and earned his third win of the season this past weekend (Aug. 1) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. Lazzaro’s first NASCAR assignment will be to attend Friday’s (Aug. 6) Busch Series Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The plan is to run a few BGN races later in the year to prepare for the next year’s opener in Daytona. Born in Charleston, S.C. and raised in Georgia, Lazzaro started racing go-karts at the age of 11. He accepted a job as a mechanic after high school to finance his competition efforts, working through ten years of karting championships, Formula Ford wins and sports car victories, including a class win (GT3) at this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona. He began racing full time in 1995 and joined PPI as a Formula Atlantic driver in 1998(McDonald’s PR), here is a link to a Lazzaro’s Profile(8-3-1999)
New Truck Tracks UPDATE: TNN’s raceday reports that three tracks may be added to the 2000 Truck series schedule: Rockingham, Dover and……Daytona in July(8-2-1999) — UPDATE: Hearing that Dodge recently tested at Talladega, my understanding is this was a test to see how the trucks would run at Daytona. Why test at Talladega instead of Daytona, very little press and easier to keep it quiet(8-3-1999)
#59 ST News: I hear #59 ST Motorsports just signed a 3 year renewel with Kingsford Charcoal and that they have interviewed Jay Sauter and Mark Green for the #59 ride in 2000. Also crew chief Dean Johnson was reassigned in shop and Ray Stankous is acting crew chief for the team(8-3-1999)
#34 Drivers: some rumored possibilities – Randy LaJoie, David Green(full or part?) and Ted Christopher, who seems to be a hot name out there(8-2-1999)
Raines in Minnesota UPDATE: I hear Tony Raines will drive Rick Scelzo’s (Motorsports of Rice Lake) Toby Nuttleman prepared Miller Lite Ford Thunderbird at an ASA Labor Day event at the Minnesota State Fair, in St. Paul, MN on September 6th which will be on TNN television 1:30p,/ct(8-24-1999) — UPDATE:Clean Burn, Inc., Leola-based manufacturer of used-oil furnaces and burner, will again be an associate sponsor on driver Tony Raines car at the Labor Day Miller 300 on September 6, at the Minnesota State Fairground in Minneapolis, MN. Clean Burn’s logo with the words, “The smart use for used oil,” will appear on the hood of the blue and white #74 Ford Thunderbird. Other drivers that I hear will race there include: 1986 ASA Rookie of the Year Kenny Wallace, Scott Hansen, Ted Musgrave and Ted Musgrave, Jr(9-2-1999)
Amick Car: Students in Florence, S.C., witnessed a strange sight in the parking lot of Southside Middle School Wednesday afternoon. Instead of seeing the school buses that usually transport them to and from school, they discovered a brightly colored 500 horsepower racecar. This unusual scene was actually a press conference hosted by the South Carolina Department of Education, in conjunction with South Carolina native Lyndon Amick, a NASCAR Busch Series Driver. The occasion was the unveiling of a special new racecar Amick plans to drive in this weekend’s Dura Lube 200 at the Darlington Raceway. Instead of carrying a sponsor’s logo on the hood, Amick’s #88 Chevrolet Monte Carlo bears the name of a unique curriculum enhancement program that is being piloted in South Carolina schools this fall, entitled “Rev It Up!”. Sponsors of the No. 88 “Rev It Up!”/Character Education car includes the South Carolina-based SCANA Corp., Kid’s Fuel Beverages and Powertel. See an image of the car at Jayski’s Paint Scheme Gallery and for more info see Amick’s Internet website at www.lyndonamick.com(9-2-1999)
#77 News: CTS driver Mike Wallace will drive the #77 Ford for PRW Racing this weekend. He replaces Ed Berrier who was relieved of his driving duties after Michigan. Brad Teague drove the #77 car at Bristol(SpeedNet)(9-1-1999)
Bown back: Jim Bown will attempt to get his #51 unsponsored Chevy in the field for the BGN race at Darlington. He hopes to gain sponsorship to run additional races in 1999 and a full run in 2000(8-31-1999)
Team Amick: The South Carolina Dept. of Education, in conjunction with SCANA Corp. and RaceWay Marketing, is implementing a pilot program in three school districts around the state (Darlington Co., Jasper Co., and Saluda Co.). The program features a curriculum enhancement program entitled Rev It Up!, that brings racing into the classroom and uses a motorsports-related theme to teach elementary and middle schools students about math, science and geography. BGN driver and South Carolina native Lyndon Amick, will unveil a new paint scheme featuring the Rev It Up! theme that he will carry on his (#88) race car at this weekend’s BGN race at the Darlington Speedway. When: Wednesday, September 1, 1999 at 1:00pm/et in the Parking lot, Southside Middle School, 200 E. Howe Springs Rd, Florence SC(Team Amick PR)(8-31-1999)
Team Marines: The Team Marines Racing/Kerry Earnhardt and Ed Whitaker Racing team will attempt to make their racing debut at Darlington, SC in the Dura Lube 200 BGN event. Rick Rathbun, a former United States Marine and President of Team Marines Racing, Inc., Rathbun is the financial backer of the new Kerry Earnhardt/Ed Whitaker Racing combination, and he has committed support for four more races with the duo starting with Darlington. An announcement on the other three races to be entered is expected shortly. Bruce Saunders will again serve as crew chief for the Team Marines Racing/Earnhardt/Whitaker Racing effort. One change to the Team Marines Racing program at Darlington will be the Chevrolet Monte Carlo’s number that will change to #7 from the #76 it wore at Bristol. “NASCAR has informed us of a potential conflict with its long-standing sponsorship program with Unocal 76, so we’ll change to plain #7 at least for the remaining races this season,” Rathbun stated(Team Marines)(8-30-1999)
Diet Dr Pepper: the #50 Dr Pepper Chevy will have new colors this weekend at Bristol. It will be painted white with burgandy rear end and will have Diet Dr Pepper on the car(Stock Car Fans) see a drawing of the car in Jayski’s Paint Scheme Gallery(8-26-1999)
41 News: Moss Supply: Charlotte, North Carolina based Moss Supply joins Larry Hedrick Motorsports as an associate sponsor on the No. 41 AFG Industries Chevrolet for the Food City 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway(PR)(8-26-1999)
Berrier out? UPDATE: I hear Ed Berrier and the #77 Lear BGN team have parted ways and hear Brad Teague will drive the #77 at Bristol(Teague will not run the 2nd Morgan-McClure car as I had rumored on the main page)(8-24-1999) — UPDATE: Ed Berrier, driver of the BGN #77 Ford, announced today he has mutually parted ways with PRW Racing and TEAM Lear Racing, effective immediately. Berrier is currently seeking other driving opportunities for the remainder of the 1999 season and beyond in the BGN and Truck series(PR)(8-25-1999)
#75 News: Henderson Racing Inc. announced that Food Country USA, a Virginia based grocery chain will be the primary sponsor of the #75 piloted by Kelly Denton at Bristol this weekend. Henderson Racing has competed in the BGN since it’s inception in 1982 and now with the addition of the Denton Brothers as driver and crew chief, the team has caught the attention of several prospective sponsors for the 2000 season.(SponsorTec PR)(8-24-1999)
Why Craven? got this question a few times and had no answer until now: from Andy Santerre – “I was struggling to find speed enough to make the race,” Santerre, a Cherryfield, Maine native, admitted. “So it was my decision to put Ricky Craven in the car. The crew worked real hard and we have great sponsors in MONRO Muffler, Speedy, Dynomax, Kendall, LLUMAR Window Films, and Peterbilt Carolina and they deserved to be in the race. I felt maybe Ricky had a better shot at getting in the race than I did without much practice time or experience on the track. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I felt it was in the best interest of the team and the sponsors at that point and time. Santerre adds, “I am not giving up nor am I stepping aside. It was a one-time deal to put Ricky in and I thank him for doing the best he could for us.” Santerre and the team were not fast enough to make the starting field and they were forced to pack up and make the long trek home along with 17 other teams(StockCarFans BGN Newsletter)(8-24-1999)
#19 news: Team Yellow will have Jamie Skinner behind the wheel of the #19 Yellow Freight Chevy at Bristol in the Food City 250(Team Yellow PR)(8-23-1999)
New Personnel at JGR: Joe Gibbs Racing announced this week that Steve de Sousa has joined the team as vice president of Busch Operations. De Sousa will be responsible for the development and management of the #18 Busch Grand National entry sponsored by MBNA and driven by Jason Leffler, and a planned second team, if sponsorship can be secured. De Sousa, a former World Champion Formula One powerboat racer, was a founding partner of Progressive Motorsports, which fields cars for Jeff Green and Jason Keller in the Busch Series. He has a history with Joe Gibbs through Interstate Batteries, which sponsored his powerboat team from 1991 until he retired as a driver and sold his team in 1995(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(8-23-1999)
#89 Sponsor – MGM Brakes: Ron Parker announced that his company’s MGM Brakes logo will be prominently displayed on the hood and rear quarter panels of the #89 Northstar Chevy team for the NAPA “200” Busch Grand National race at Michigan Speedway. BGN regular Jeff Fuller of Auburn, Massachusetts qualified the #89 Chevrolet 20th out of 60 cars that attempted to make the 43 car field. Parker’s #72 MGM Brakes/Parker Racing Chevy piloted by Curtis Markham failed to make the field and was among 17 teams who went home(Parker Racing PR)(8-21-1999)
CTS Rules Change: A rule change was made allowing the Chevy truck teams to add 1/4″ to the front valance panels of their trucks. The ground clearance for Chevrolets at the front is now 3.75″, while Fords and Dodges remain at 4″(NOL)(8-20-1999)
Sacks returns? UPDATE3: I see on the Michigan NOL BGN Entry list that Greg Sacks is listed in the #90 Coyne Textile Services Chevy that Brad Loney usually drives(8-17-1999) — UPDATE: not only that, he is now listed in the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford, not sure what happened with Stanton Barrett’s deal with the #90 — CORRECTION: NOL fixed the CUP list and Stanton Barrett is now listed in the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford for the Cup race. Looks like Sacks will make his comeback in the BGN event, good to see him back. Also info on the team: Greg Sacks has joined GTS Motorsport, #90 Coyne Textile Services as a team adviser. Sacks will run five races (not sure what races) and current driver Brad Loney will also drive five races. I do hear Sacks has a full time ride in 2000, but have no idea if it is Cup or BGN(8-18-1999) — UPDATE2: see a Press Release on the Sacks and the team at: CTS Racing #90 Website(8-19-1999) — UPDATE3: From NOL – “Part of (Brad)Loney’s comfort level comes from the fact that (Greg) Sacks plans to form his own team for next season. Providing his sponsor falls into place, Sacks expects to compete on the full NASCAR Busch Series as well as five NASCAR Winston Cup Series races in 2000(NOL), Sacks failed to make the race(8-20-1999)
Christophers run disallowed: #13-Ted Christopher qualified fourth Thursday, but his time was later disallowed due to an unapproved shock part. Christopher now will have to re-attempt in the 2nd round. Jimmy Spencer gets to move up to the 25th spot(NOL) and failed to make the race(8-20-1999)
#74 Sponsor: Tony Raines has Herman Miller, a Zeeland, Mich. based company and is sponsoring tye #74 BACE Chevy at Michigan in a one race deal(NOL)(8-20-1999)
Marlin BGN News: Sterling Marlin will drive in this weeks BGN race for this weekend’s NAPA 200 at the Michigan Speedway, TRACFONE Pre-paid Cellular’s orange and neon green motif will grace the #14 Monte Carlo. This is the first of several Busch Series races that will feature the TRACFONE design. This isn’t the first time you’ll find him driving an orange Chevrolet this season. In April, the two-time Daytona 500 winner got behind the wheel of a specially-painted University of Tennessee Chevrolet for the Busch Series events at the Nashville, Tenn., Speedway and the Bristol, Tenn., Motor Speedway. The orange and white checked entry made its debut in the BellSouth Mobility 320 at the Nashville Speedway. Marlin secured the outside pole and led much of the event until a blown right rear tire and a mishap with a tow truck ended his afternoon. He followed up that performance with an eighth-place finish in the Moore’s Snacks 250 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The UT machine will make another appearance in the Food City 250 at Bristol in August and in the Memphis 250 at the Memphis, Tenn., Motorsports Park in October(PR)(8-19-1999)
Hillin? UPDATE2/CORRECTION: not sure what is up with Hillin Motorsports but Matt Sielsky is listed in the car this weekend at Michigan. I hear the team is renting the #8 car from Hillin, not sure why Hillin is not running. Sielsky was going to run some races for the #19 Team Yellow team but needed to gain more experience — UPDATE: I hear that since Hillin lost his sponsor, he wass willing to help young drivers out by letting then use his equipment(8-17-1999) — CORRECTION: Have been informed that Bobby Hillin will drive at Michian and plans to drive the rest of the BGN races in 1999, The Glen and IRP races were only one race deals to help out a few drivers. The NOL Entry list incorrectly lists Sielsky, should be Hillin, no word on sponsorship(8-18-1999)
#41 News UPDATE: After an extended break, David Green and the #41 Larry Hedrick Motorsports/AFG Racing team return to BGN action on August 21 at Michigan. Michigan Speedway has been a strong track for Green. In his past two Busch Series starts on the two-mile oval (08/17/96 and 09/15/98), Green has started from the third and second positions respectively. Green will round out the 1999 season by competing at Bristol, Darlington, Richmond, Dover Downs, Lowe’s Motor Speedway and North Carolina Speedway(PR)(8-12-1999) — UPDATE: Antwerp, Ohio based Spec-Temp joins Larry Hedrick Motorsports as an associate sponsor on the #41 AFG Industries Chevrolet for the NAPA 200 BGN race at Michigan . As North America’s largest specialty glass fabricator serving niche markets, Spec-Temp supplies a wide range of customers, including original equipment in specialized vehicles, truck and off-highway industries. Spec-Temp also serves the marine, furniture, RV, limousine, sun roof, appliances, store display shower door and solar energy markets on a global scale(PR)(8-19-1999)
Wolf Birthday: : The #37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet Monte Carlo, piloted by Kevin Grubb in the BGN, is donning a special birthday scheme in honor of the fifth birthday of Timber Wolf moist snuff in the NAPA 200 at Michigan. The unique design made its debut in the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park on August 6(Brewco PR)(8-19-1999)
More Testing: Terry Labonte and the Hendrick Motorsports team tested for their second day in preparation for next week’s Goody’s Headache Powder 500. With the Food City 250 just nine days away, three NASCAR Busch Series teams also tested, including drivers Jeff Fuller(#42), Jason White(#28) and Carl Long(#95).(www.bristolmotorspeedway.com)(8-19-1999)
CUP drivers to invade Michigan: looks for many Cup drivers to attempt the Michigan BGN race on the 21st and there is a gaggle of them: #02-Ward Burton; #5-Dick Trickle(BGN reg); #9-Jeff Burton; #12-Jimmy Spencer; #14-Bobby Hamilton(using #94); #15-Kenny Schrader; #19-Mike Skinner; #21-Michael Waltrip; #24-Jeff Gordon; #25-Kenny Wallace; #35-Elliott Sadler; #41-David Green; #44-Terry Labonte; #54-Brett Bodine; #60-Mark Martin; #77-Kevin Lepage(?); #82-Ted Musgrave; #84-Ernie Irvan(not the #14); #91-Rich Bickle; and NOL has Sterling Marlin listed in the #14 Chevy ….will add more as I get them. Also see Scorecards needed for NAPA 200 at NOL(8-18-1999)
Irvan BGN at Michigan: Ernie Irvan will drive the #84 Federated Parts Pontiac(not the #14 as I had listed) at the Michigan BGN event(www.irvan.com)(8-18-1999)
New Crew Chief: Jamie Jones has left the #38 Akins Motorsports Ford team and Joey Knuckles has taken over as the crew chief for the Barbasol Ford driven by Glenn Allen, Jr(8-17-1999)
#22 Back After two months of preparation, AllCar Motorsports and the Air Jamaica Vacations Chevy team return to racing this weekend. The team owned by Dave Carroll will compete in Saturday’s Michigan 200 at the two-mile Michigan Speedway; and the remainder of the NASCAR Busch Grand National schedule. The team had a less-than-stellar start, to say the least. The rookie team with a rookie driver and a rookie sponsor wrecked 13 cars in its first nine races, and went through three different engine builders. The team decided to regroup after the June race at Dover, Del. AllCar Motorsports has been bringing in new mechanical talent and building new cars ever since. The Denver, N.C.-based team tested at Michigan at the first of August, and made additional changes with the cars in preparation for Saturday’s 200-miler. Steve Grissom, the NASCAR Winston Cup driver who has been working with the Air Jamaica Vacations team as a ‘player-coach’ since mid-May, will drive the car at Michigan(SpeedNet/Williams Company)(8-17-1999)
Musgrave at Michigan: Ted Musgrave will drive the #82 Chevrolet Monte Carlo sponsored by Meijer, the retail giant based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Michigan Speedway. Meijer’s mainstay driver Rick Beebe was not cleared by NASCAR to race on a track over a mile in length. That opened the door for Musgrave to not only drive the Black Diamond Motorsports entry, but to reunite with a good friend and crew chief, Richie Wauters. Wauters worked for Musgrave an entire summer when he was running the short tracks in Wisconsin. Associate sponsors are Freschetta Pizza and Stouffer’s(Meijer Racing PR)(8-17-1999)
Carelli Back: as a consultant – One of the most successful drivers in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history is joining the #98 Liberty Racing team as a consultant, team owner Jim Herrick announced Monday. Rick Carelli begins the assignment at the Ram Tough 200 at Gateway in Madison, Illinois on Friday, August 20. By joining the Porter-Cable Racing team, Carelli is united with crew chief Rodney Haygood, who directed him to two of his NCTS victories. Haygood joined Liberty Racing in July. Carelli also had a long-time relationship with driver Kevin Harvick. During Harvick’s childhood, his father, Mike was Carelli’s crew chief.(Porter Cable PR)(8-17-1999)
goRacing Truck: August 20 will mark the debut of the goracing.com NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry at the Ram Tough 200 at Gateway International Raceway. It also marks series rookie Ross Thompson’s debut with the truck(GoRacing)(8-17-1999)
DEI/RCR Trucks? Good news for NASCAR’s Truck circuit bosses: Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt are expected to continue with teams on that still struggling tour. The two Chevy men have considered pulling out because of rising expenses, but NASCAR executives have been pressuring them to continue(PitNow)(8-16-1999)
Baby on board: crew chief of the #98 BGN team of Elton Sawyer, Rick Viers’ wife Valerie gave birth to a girl on 8/11. Her name is Victoria Lane Viers. Congrats(8-16-1999)
Gateway: Richard Petty will preside as grand marshal at the second annual Ram Tough 200 on Friday, Aug 20th at Gateway International Speedway(That’s Racin’)(8-15-1999)
Crew Chief Change: Crew chief Joe Shear, Jr. and the #31 Brevek Racing CTS team have parted ways and Les Back of Vesper, WI was hired for the Indianapolis race and then hired permanently as of Monday Aug. 9. Back was the Crewchief for Bryan Reffner when he won the championship in ASA and was crewchief in 1997-1998 for Bryan when he drove for Carlin #66 truck(8-13-1999)
New Engines? Hearing the #32 and #57 Progressive teams have left Fischer engines and are now using Bob Rinaldi engines. Actually hear the team will use Fischer Engines thru Michigan. Seems odd to make a change when both teams doing so well and have had no engine problems(8-5-1999)
Petty Switch? UPDATE 2: I am hearing that Adam Petty tested the #45 Spree Chevy at Myrtle Beach last week with a new engine supplier. I hear the team will be switching from Fischer engines and using Rahmoc Racing engines for both Myrtle Beach and Pikes Peak with the remainder of the season to be determined(7-13-1999) — UPDATE: One source says it’s just for Myrtle Beach, another says it’s for Myrtle Beach and Pikes Peak, I guess we’ll see(7-15-1999) — UPDATE2: The switch was for Myrtle Beach only and Petty was back to using Fischer engines as Pikes Peak, also BGN teams that used Fischer engines at Pikes Peak included #36-Tim Fedewa and #66-Todd Bodine(8-5-1999)
APR Ride: Derrick Gilchrist will attempt to qualify for Friday’s Kroger 200 in the #15 Chevrolet owned by Andy Petree Racing. If Gilchrist makes the field, it will mark his first start in the BGN(That’s Racin’)(8-5-1999)
Newman Debut UPDATE: Open-wheel standout Ryan Newman of South Bend(IN) will get his first chance at NASCAR’s Busch Grand National division Aug. 6 in the Kroger NASCAR 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Newman will drive the No. 12 Chevrolet owned by Winston Cup driver Jimmy Spencer(SpeedNet)(8-4-1999) — UPDATE: During the Silver Crown opening interviews Newman said he would not be running in the BGN event at IRP, they could not make it work(8-5-1999)
Team 34 moving up?? UPDATE: in part from a SpeedVision/iRace story: Team 34 owner Frank “Cicci had originally planned to move Todd Bodine’s operation(#66 Phillips BGN team) to the Winston Cup series in 2000, he has not received confirmation from a sponsor yet”. He says they should know in a couple of weeks if the Cup deal will come through or not, if not then Phillips will extend the BGN(not Cup) sponsorship(8-3-1999) — UPDATE: Todd Bodine continues to chart his future in racing. The ten time winner in the Busch Series would like to get a second shot at Winston Cup and has discussed a move with a couple of Winston Cup owners. His owner, Frank Cicci, has plans, eventually, to move the #66 team, en masse, to Cup, but it is probably too late for that move to happen for the 2000 season. There is no sponsor currently in place for a run in Winston Cup and it is probably too late in the season to get one lined up now for next season. Bodine stated that he would not move to Cup, just to be IN Winston Cup and would feel very comfortable running the Busch Series for the Cicci-Welliver team again in 2000. Bodine’s name has been linked with Yates Racing and with the new Cal Wells Winston Cup (Tide) team as a potential driver(Inside Motorsports)(8-4-1999)
#37 Paint: The #37 Timber Wolf Chevy, piloted by Kevin Grubb in the NASCAR Busch Series, will carry a special paint scheme in four races in the 1999 season starting with the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park on August 6. The unique design is being used to celebrate the fifth birthday of Timber Wolf moist snuff. The scheme will run at the Pepsi 200 at Michigan Speedway on August 21, Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 27 and Autolite Platinum 250 at Richmond International Raceway on September 10(Brewco Motorsports/StockCarFans BGN Newsletter)(8-3-1999)
#28 LAR News: Jason White, a 19-year-old Richmond, Va. driver, will be making his debut with the LAR team this weekend at Indianapolis, attempting to qualify the car for Friday night’s BGN race(Tennessean)(8-3-1999)
#93 Driver UPDATE: per TNN’s Raceday – Owner Bill Davis said the #93 BGN ride is Mike McLaughlin’s if he wants it, if not, the team will test four drivers at South Boston towards the end of August: Tom Hubert, Mike Swaim, Ted Christopher and another short track racer who’s name I missed(8-1-1999) — UPDATE: I hear Ryan Newman will also test the #93(8-3-1999)
Wells tests Newman: Ryan Newman who recently tested a Gordon-Evernham checy at Memphis, tested for the Cal Wells McDonald’s Busch team at Hickory this week(mentioned on the Silver Crown broadcast)(8-1-1999)
Schrader Team: Scott Hanson has been told that unless he can find a sponsor for the #52 Ken Schrader owned truck for the 2000 season, Schrader will not run a full-time team. Oakwood Homes is moving up to Winston Cup in 2000. If no sponsor is found, Schrader may run the truck in a few races himself next season(WC Scene Magazine)(7-30-1999)
#93 Driver? UPDATE hearing the #34 Goulds Chevy driver Mike McLaughlin may drive the #93 Bill Davis BGN car in 2000 if he can get out of contract with team34 BUT RPM2Nite reports that Gil Martin, crew chief of the #93 will hold an audition for drivers at a small track with some young drivers(not current BGN drivers)(7-27-1999) — UPDATE:Cicci-Welliver Racing(#34, 36 and 66) and Mike McLaughlin, driver of the #34-Goulds Pumps Chevy, will parts ways at the end of the 1999 BGN season. Both the team and McLaughlin are looking at their options for 2000(NOL)(7-29-1999)
Jeff Fuller info UPDATE: Had many questions about the #89 BGN chevy and Jeff Fuller not being in the race at Myrtle beach. the story: The #89 was not Fuller’s car. They had Nathan Buttke use the number due to Owners points. Supposedly Fullers sponsor, Heritage Consumer Products has not paid for the 2nd half of the year yet. Northstar doesn’t usually run Myrtle Beach anyway. Unless Heritage decides to the 2nd half of the season the team will probably miss the next 3 races(7-20-1999) — UPDATE: The #89 team had no sponsor at Pike Peak and didn’t come back to North Carolina this week, opting to travel and stay in the St Louis area and prepare for this weeks race at Gateway(7-29-1999)
Leffler/Gibbs UPDATE: Jason Leffler signed a NASCAR contract with Joe Gibbs Racing last week. Leffler is scheduled to drive five Busch races this season, beginning with the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Aug. 6. If Leffler doesn’t stumble, he’ll be in Gibbs’ #18 MBNA Pontiac full time next season. Leffler’s goal is to spend two years in Busch before moving up to Cup(SpeedNet)(7-15-1999) — UPDATE: from NOL: Joe Gibbs Sunday confirmed that he has signed USAC open wheel standout driver Jason Leffler, 23, to compete in a limited number of NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division races later this year, with the association possibly growing into a full-time program in the future(7-27-1999)
Trucks on Friday’s?? ‘A number” of Winston Cup tracks are expected to feature NASCAR Truck events on Friday afternoons next season, as the sanctioning body attempts to shore up the division, according to NASCAR sources. And there could be pressure on Winston Cup team owners and drivers to enter some of those Truck races. The Truck series has been struggling. Only 32 trucks made the Michigan race(PitNow)(7-26-1999)
Hendrick/Atwood? UPDATE: heard that Hendrick Motorsports holds some sort of ‘first right of refusal’ when Casey Atwoods current contract is up at Brewco where he drives the #27 Castrol Oil BGN Chevy — UPDATE: A very well placed source tells me that it is not true that Hendrick holds any form of contract with Atwood or the Brewco team(7-21-1999)
Confusion: Looks like we have two teams that are running part time in BGN with the same basic name: Fain Motor Sports(#04 Fan Supported team) and Fain Motorsports(#39 Nortel Chevy that ran at Myrtle Beach)(7-21-1999)
Rookies: I hear NASCAR has decided not to allow new BGN drivers to race at tracks a mile or longer until they have competed in the BGN on a few smaller tracks first(7-16-1999)
Santerre Sponsor: Andy Santerre and the #47 IMI Busch Team announced a new associate sponsor. LLUMAR Window Film, formerly the primary sponsor on the #01 Blue Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Phillip Morris, has transferred its sponsorship to the team(North East Racing)(7-15-1999)
New Team? UPDATE: I hear two-time Slim Jim All Pro Series Champion Hal Goodson plans to make an announcement concerning his plans for the 2000 season in the coming weeks. All indications are that the team will move to the BGN series next season with Nortel Networks as the sponsor(MRM)(6-18-1999) — UPDATE: Goodson will run this weekend at his home track of Myrtle Beach Speedway in the #39 Nortel Chevy(7-15-1999)
Bill Davis BGN: I hear Steve Byrd former crew chief for BACE Motorsports will be the crew chief on 93 BGN Bill Davis Pontiac in 2000 taking over for Gil Martin who will move up to Cup with Dave Blaney and the #93 Amoco Pontiac(7-12-1999)
Bickle BGN Team Back: #91 Bickle/Smith Motorsports and plan to run the Ford team in three races this season and one for next year. Aqua Velva sponsors the team. The team will run in the Aug. 21 race at Brooklyn, Mich., the Oct. 9 race at Charlotte, on Nov. 13 at Homestead, Fla., and in the March 2000 Las Vegas showdown. The sponsor has developed an $8 million consumer campaign to support the program(Times-Dispatch)(7-10-1999)
Carelli Update: From what I hear, Rick Carelli is doing good, still improving, but still having some problems with his sight. It was great to see him do well braodcast on the Truck race. Marshall Chesrown, owner of team, suspended all racing operations on Wednesday of the #6 Truck team. No plans for the team at this time. Also sone current update at the Remax Racing Page(7-8-1999)
Hunt Looking: The Cotter Group will lead the sponsorship search for USAC driver Tony Hunt in the BGN or ARCA series. Hunt competed in the NASCAR Winston West Series in 1993, where he consistently qualified in the top 10. While serving as an instructor for the Richard Petty Driving Experience from 1996 to 1998, the 27-year-old driver logged more than 10,000 miles at some of NASCAR’s finest facilities, including Lowe’s Motor Speedway at Charlotte. Hunt currently competes full-time in the USAC Western States Sprint Car Series and is ranked 10th in points(Cottor Group)(7-8-1999)
#68 News: Construction is nearing completion on the new Premiere Motorsports building in Pittsboro, NC. The team expects to move into the building by the first of August and return to the BGN races soon afterwards(7-8-1999)
New Truck Team: CSG Racing has announced plans to enter the California Truck race on October 30 for a one race deal with Cornwell Quality Tools as primary sponsor. Veteran ARCA competitor Mark Gibson is listed as driver of the CORNWELL Tools #59 Ford F-150. Cornwell Tools has been involved with CSG since 1997 in the ARCA Bondo-Mar/Hyde Series and serves as the official hand tool of ARCA. A press conference is scheduled for July 16th at Cornwell’s headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio. 1/24th scale die cast trucks will be available directly from Cornwell dealers August 1st(Professional Motorsports Services)(7-7-1999)
Kenseth in 2000: besides moving up to Cup in 2000 in the #17 DeWalt Ford, I hear Matt Kenseth will run twenty races in Robbie Reiser’s #17 BGN Chevy in 2000 with Jason Schuler filling in for the remaining 12. Schuler is currently a top competitor in the NASCAR Re/Max Challange series/ARTGO(www.mattkenseth.com(7-6-1999)
McGlynn team news: I hear that CTS driver Ryan McGlynn and the #00 McGlynn Motorsports team have signed a deal with primary sponsor Buyer’s Choice Automotive Warranties and associate sponsor Howes Lubricants to sponsor the team throughout the second half of the season beginning at Nashville for the rest of the year(7-6-1999)
Sauter and the #3 Truck: Jay Sauter is in his fourth season with RCR, but the 2000 season remains a mystery at this point. RCR’s sponsorship deal with GM Goodwrench Service expires after this season. Actually, it expired last year and GM Goodwrench decided to do one more year but they will not sponsor any truck team in 2000 The 37-year-old son of former Winston Cup driver Jim Sauter has one year remaining on his original four-year contract with RCR. Sauter would certainly welcome a jump to Busch or Winston Cup, but at this point he is happy running the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. See the whole story at: Sauter glad to keep on truckin’(Lacrosse Tribune)(7-3-1999)
Shawna back to BGN? hearing Shawna Robinson may return to the BGN series full time in 2000 in a car owned by Jeremy Mayfield and Michael Kranefuss(6-30-1999), but nothing has been signed and Robinson is still looking at other options(7-2-1999)
Sadler UPDATE: hearing Hermie Sadler will drive up to 10 races in the #33 Bayer BACE chevy, not sure when his first race with the team may be(6-28-1999) — UPDATE:Hermie Sadler and Brad Leighton will share the driving duties for the #33 Bayer/Alka-Seltzer Chevrolet for BACE Motorsports for the remainder of the 1999 BGN season. Leighton will be at Milwaukee and Sadler debuts in the #33 at Myrtle Beach(NOL)(7-2-1999)
#14 Crew Chief II? I hear Mike Cheek, formerly the crew chief of the #90 NCTS team will be calling the shots in New Hampshire for the #14 Circle Bar racing team this weekend. It is a one race deal as it stands(7-31-1999)
No Trucks but: Flemington Speedway in NJ lost their truck race this year but have picked up an ARCA race on August 14th which should prove most exciting, those cars are close to Winston Cup stuff. On that 5/8’s mile square, should be interesting(7-31-1999)
Tim Steele news: Tim Steele will skip the NHIS and Heartland Park CTS races due to lack of funds. But he plans to run the other seven CTS events in the #21 Ford truck. Steele has received additional funding from Softech, which will allow him to race 7 of the 9 remaining races(WC Scene Magazine)(7-30-1999)
#14 Crew Chief: George Church, crew chief of the #14 Circle Bar Racing Ford in the CTS, has left the team. Nick Smith was the interin crew chief for driver Rick Crawford at Michigan(WC Scene Magazine)(7-30-1999)
#70 Story:Making a Push for Busch, about Eric Jones and the #70 BGN team(Quad-City Times)(7-30-1999)
Bliss News: Mike Bliss, driver of the #99 Exide Batteries Ford truck in the CTS, has been named to drive the Michael Waltrip Racing BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages Chevy for the upcoming race at Indianapolis Raceway Park(Cox Marketing)(7-29-1999)
Crew Chief Changes UPDATE 2: I hear Roland Wlodyka of the #98 truck is going to Dale Phelon’s #66 as Crew Chief for Mike Stefanik and that Rodney Haygood, who was laid off by the #6 Remax team last week (the whole team was shut down by the owner Marshall Chesrown) will be going to the #98 of Kevin Harvick as Crew Chief. No idea how this effects current #66 crew chief, Emory Donaldson(7-19-1999) — UPDATE: Roland Wlodyka has resigned as crew chief of the #98 Porter-Cable Power Tools Ford F-150, it was announced Monday by Jim Herrick, owner of Liberty Racing, which fields the #98 truck on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Wlodyka’s resignation is effective immediately. Rodney Haygood has been selected as interim crew chief, Herrick announced. Haygood comes to Liberty after a successful stint as the crew chief for Chesrown Racing and driver Rick Carelli. Under Haygood’s guidance, Carelli won twice, including a race earlier this season in Bakersfield, Calif. Haygood will assume the interim duties for this weekend’s goracing.com 200 at Michigan Speedway. Herrick noted that Haygood’s appointment is, at this time, just for the one race(#98 PR)(7-20-1999) — Two Story UPDATES: from NOL – Wlodyka joins Phelon Motorsports as crew chief and Liberty hires Haygood as crew chief (7-29-1999)
Sadler rests: Elliott Sadler will skip the BGN race at Gateway to heal from the crash he had in second-round qualifying at Pocono last weekend. Sadler bruised his left foot. He was to drive the #35 Team Amick Pontiac(News and Record)(7-28-1999)
#70 news: With the departure of Crew Chief Dale Fischlein from the #70 Adrian Carriers Monte Carlo, the team has relocated from it’s North Carolina shop to Milan, Illinois. Eric Jones will continue to pilot the car with a new crew chief just hired. The team recently tested at Gateway with excellent results and plans to run this weekend(7-27-1999)
Gateway: Six regulars from NASCAR’s primary series(Cup) will travel to Gateway International Raceway in Madison to compete in the Carquest 250, a Busch Grand National Series event scheduled for 8pm Saturday(July 31st). Two-time Winston Cup season champion Terry Labonte heads the list, which also includes former Daytona 500 winner Geoffrey Bodine, Joe Nemechek, Kevin Lepage, and native St. Louisans Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace(St Louis Dispatch-Post)(7-27-1999)
Hamilton at Loudon: Bobby Hamilton has entered the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Loudon(NHIS). Hamilton will be driving the #4 DANA Dodge truck in the 200 lap event for CTS event on August 1. Hamilton will be a teammate to the #18 Dodge owned by Hamilton that competes full-time in the CTS and is driven by Joe Ruttman(North East Racing)(7-27-1999)
Many Questions on this so I thought I’d post it – ARCA driver Kirk Shelmerdine found himself wondering where his transporter was when it failed to show up at the track for practice Wednesday at Pocono Raceway. He learned Thursday morning that his transporter driver had almost reached Michigan Speedway. The driver thought the race this weekend was in Michigan because last year ARCA raced at Michigan at this time of year. The transporter arrived at 4 p.m. Thursday, too late for Shelmerdine to get ready for first-round qualifying(Speed Magazine)(7-26-1999)
Kirby and LAR split UPDATE: Effective Wednesday, July 21, 1999, Williams TravelCenters (Nashville, TN) has terminated its 1999 BGN sponsorship agreement with L.A.R. Motorsports and the #28 car. Williams TravelCenters and three-time Nashville Speedway Champion, Winston Racing Series Heartland Region Champion Andy Kirby will pursue other opportunities in the BGN Series. The potential exists for the Williams / Kirby team to still compete in several BGN events in 1999. Plans for the 2000 season are still to be determined(Williams PR)(7-23-1999) — UPDATE: Gary Bradberry this week replaced Kirby as driver for the Nashville-based #28 LAR Racing BGN team(Tennessean)(7-24-1999)
Brewco Assoc: Loaf N Jug, with 77 locations in Colorado, is an associate sponsor on the #37 Timber Wolf Chevy at Pikes Peak International Raceway(Brewco/StockCarFans Newsletter)(7-22-1999)
#75 News: SponsorTec Inc. announced that they have reached an agreement with Henderson Motorsports to assist the team with finding a primary sponsor for the 2000 season. Henderson Motorsports fields the #75 Chevrolet driven by Kelly Denton in the BGN Series(7-22-1999)
#25 News: David Blankenship will be behind the wheel once again of the #25 Team Rensi Chevy at Pikes Peak. Blankenship piloted the Indian Motorcycles/Duro Lube entry to a tenth place starting position and had a strong showing before being sidelined by a crash at South Boston. Blankenship will be filling in once again for Winston Cup regular Kenny Wallace, who will be competing in this weekend’s event at Pocono. Blankenship has made a name for himself throughout the southeast in the Winston Racing Series Late Model Stock Car ranks(PR)(7-21-1999)
Fishy: Nitro Fish will display their prehistoric fish icon on the side of Joey Sonntag’s #73 Chevy truck with David Starr driving at Michigan(NOL)(7-21-1999)
Grissom in the #44: Steve Grissom will drive the Slim Jim #44 Chevrolet in the BGN race at Pikes Peak. Justin Labonte had been scheduled to drive but was unable to test and father Terry didn’t think it would be fair to run him at a track in which he had no experience. Terry Labonte plans to drive the Slim Jim #44 Chevrolet at St. Louis next week with Justin back behind the wheel at Indianapolis Raceway Park August 6th. The Slim Jim car, which has had the same paint scheme continuously since 1992 when it was driven by Bobby Labonte, will be a little different at Colorado and Phoenix. The Penrose associate logos have been replaced by Pemmican Beef Jerky. Penrose and Pemmican, along with Slim Jim, are products of GoodMark Foods, Inc. of Raleigh, NC. Pemmican Beef Jerky is produced at GoodMark’s San Jose, CA plant and has strong sales in the Rocky Mountains and on the West coast(PR)(7-21-1999)
Amick News: Lyndon Amick, who drove the #35 SCANA/Powertel Chevy in 13 events earlier this season and at Myrtle Beach last week will drive the car at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Elliott Sadler will make his debut in the #35 car next weekend at the July 31st at Gateway. Sadler is scheduled to drive in 11 Busch races this season for Team Amick Motorsports. Amick will also drive the #35 at Indianapolis Raceway Park on August 6th. Amick will drive the #88 as a second team car in selected events during the remainder of the season, with those dates to be announced(Team Amick PR)(7-21-1999)
New Team at Pikes Peak: Mark IV Motorsports, a five year veteran of the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series is making final preparations for the team’s first BGN at the Pikes Peak this weekend. The team’s driver, Damon Lusk is currently fourth in NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series championship points having posted five straight top ten finishes. In addition to this being the team’s first start, it will also represent the first BGN start for their sponsor, America Online. The team made arrangements to field their Chevrolet Monte Carlo through Spencer Motor Ventures in Moorsville, NC. In addition, the car will be running Jimmy Spencer’s #12 in lieu of Mark IV Motorsports’ traditional #40. The team’s crew chief for the event will be Al Cretsinger(Mark IV Motorsports PR)(7-21-1999)
Team Yellow News: The Emerald Performance Group and Team Yellow Racing announced today that ASA veteran Ted Smokestad will be behind the wheel of the #19 Yellow Freight System Chevy at Pikes Peak International Raceway July 24th in the NAPA AutoCare 250. Smokstad, 33 from Richfield, Minnesota, has been an ASA fixture since 1993(Team Yellow PR)(7-16-1999)
BGNN and CTS: Brad Bennett and Jeff Spraker, both former Busch North drivers will be attempting to qualify for the Craftsman Truck Series race this weekend at Nazareth(North East Racing)(7-15-1999)
#37 Assoc: Ingles Supermarkets, with 202 locations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia, is an associate sponsor on the #37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the Myrtle Beach 250 at Myrtle Beach Speedway(StockCarFans BGN Newsletter)(7-15-1999)
Testing: #10-Phil Parsons, #43-Shane Hall, #59-Mike Dillon, #74-Tony Raines and #33-Hermie Sadler tested at Greenville-Pickens Speedway on wednesday in preperation for Myrtle Beach(MRM)(7-15-1999)
Kenseth Tests: Matt Kenseth tested the #17 DeWalt Tools Chevy at Hickory(NC) in preparation for the race this weekend at Myrtle Beach(SC)(Winston Cup Today Radio)(7-14-1999)
Amick UPDATE: Lyndon Amick was to run a 2nd Amick team car at Myrtle Beach in addition to Elliott Sadler but the damaged car (from Milwaukee) will now prevent Lyndon from running at Myrtle Beach. The team simply cannot get another car ready in time, and with several other races coming up that will require the same type of car as the one that was damaged, it was decided that the team cannot risk damaging another car by running two entries at Myrtle Beach(7-12-1999) — UPDATE: Lyndon Amick will drive the #35 SCANA/Powertel Chevy at Myrtle Beach Speedway on Saturday. Originally slated to pilot a second car(#88) for Team Amick Motorsports in the race, Amick will instead drive the #35 as the team’s lone entry. Winston Cup Series regular Elliott Sadler was scheduled to make the first of 12 Busch Series starts for Team Amick in the #35 but several factors combined to cause the team to put those plans on hold for this weekend, according to crew chief Brad Pickens. The car they planned to use as the primary for Sadler got wrecked at Milwaukee and due to a scheduling conflict, Sadler couldn’t test the car last week at the track. Team Amick still plans to have Sadler drive the #35 in 11 races in 1999. Sadler will now make his debut in the car at the Carquest Auto Parts 250 at Gateway on July 31st. Amick will drive the No. 35 in two races that conflict with Sadler’s Cup schedule. Those two events are the July 24th Pikes Peak 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway, and the August 6th Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The team will enter two cars at selected races during the remainder of the season, with those dates to be announced later(Team Amick PR)(7-14-1999)
Kitchens on HBO: Jimmy Kitchens, driver for the ML Motorsports ARCA and BGN team will be in a segment of an HBO documentary, Fatal Twisters: A Season of Fury, as a hero for helping save lives and get people out of the tornado that hit Oak Grove, AL(Thanks Carol) air times are Thursday, July 15, 4:45pm and Sunday, July 18, 12:30pm ET/PT(7-14-1999)
Hendrick Debut UPDATE 4 sponsor: Ricky Hendrick, the 19-year-old son of Hendrick Motorsports mogul Rick Hendrick, will make his debut in the #24 Gordon-Evernham Monte Carlo at Milwaukee on July 4. Hendrick will also run at Myrtle Beach and Gateway and two additional events(SpeedVision/Sparky Plug). No idea if Pepsi will be the sponsor, was told that Pepsi was only for the Gordon runs(5-5-1999) — UPDATE 1: Ricky Hendrick will drive a limited number of races in the Gordon-Evernham Motorsports Chevrolet. The primary sponsor on the car will not be Pepsi (Pepsi is only the primary sponsor for Gordon’s BGN events). DuPont will sponsor Hendrick’s events. The car, along with its driver, attended “DuPont Day” in Wilmington, DE on June 3.(Gordonline)(6-14-1999) — UPDATE 2: Hendrick is not on the Milwaukee Entry list, not sure if he is racing or not — UPDATE 3: The Gordonline site has this posted: Reports have been circulating that Ricky Hendrick, the son of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, will make his debut in the #24 Gordon-Evernham Motorsports Chevrolet at Myrtle Beach Speedway on July 17. Hendrick will also run at Gateway and a few additional events. Currently, he is running in a selected number of late model races at Concord Motor Speedway, where he won earlier this year(7-1-1999) — UPDATE 4: Ricky Hendrick, the son of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, will attempt to qualify for his first Grand National race at Saturday’s Myrtle Beach 250 at Myrtle Beach Speedway(That’s Racin’)(7-12-1999)
Brewco to Fords? I hear Brewco Motorsports, #27 and #37 BGN, is considering switching its Casey Atwood and Kevin Grubb BGN cars to Fords for the 2000 Busch Series Season and that they are presently in negoations with Ford(7-12-1999)
Morris News: Philip Morris and the Blue Ridge Motorsports team went to Myrtle Beach Speedway July 6th with a 2-day track test on the agenda. Crew chief Neil Perkins was looking forward to checking out several spring and shock setups on both cars. The team has been actively rebuilding several cars in the fleet and two in particular were prepared for action next weekend at the half-mile bullring. Morris is no stranger to this facility as he campaigned many laps with his succesful Late Model program over the past two years. The 250 lap race is slated for Saturday, July 17th. The sponsor will be named on Monday(Phil Morris Site)(7-12-1999)
#90 Truck team done? UPDATE: I hear that the #90 L&R Motorsports team, who Lance Norick drives for has closed their doors and shut done the team(7-6-1999) — UPDATE: The L & R Truck is planning on practicing and qualifying for the race in Nashville. They are doing this with two team members and Lance Norick. Don’t know what the future plans are. Note, they qualified for the race(7-9-1999)
Query News: While continuing his search for a BGN or CTS ride, Freddie Query plans to compete in a number of Late Model races. Query will race in the ASTRO Series event at Jefferson, Ga., on July 14th and plans to enter the Slim Jim All Pro Series races at Caraway, Lanier and Nashville. Query will also act as consultant for Hank Parker Jr.’s BGN team at Myrtle Beach. Query consulted/spotted for Parker at the South Boston BGN race and the team recorded its best-ever finish — a third place (Query PR)(7-8-1999)
AllCar Motorsports to test: AllCar Motorsports, which fields the #22 Air Jamaica Vacations Chevy in the BGN, remains on target to return to action at Michigan Speedway in August. AllCar will test at Michigan the first week of August with at least two, and perhaps, three cars, owner Dave Carroll said. Steve Grissom, the Winston Cup driver who has been assisting the team the past two months, will drive during the team’s test(The Williams Co)(7-7-1999)
Query Appearance UPDATE: Former #68 BGN driver, Freddie Query participated in a two-race Late Model series (ran his Slim Jim All Pro car) at two tracks in Georgia over the weekend(not sure which tracks). The deal was this: if a driver won the first night’s race, then went on to the second track and won that one as well, he received a bonus of $50,000. Query won the first race, then finished second in the second event. So close(7-6-1999) — UPDATE: The tracks were New Senoia Raceway on Friday and Peach State Speedway on Sunday. Both races were sanctioned by the new ASTRO (American Short Track Racing Organization). Freddie won $5,000 for Friday’s win and around $1,800 for Sunday’s second-place run. Georgia late model veteran and ASTRO points leader Wayne Willard was second Friday and first Sunday. Willard and Query lapped the 32-car field(StockCarFans BGN Newsletter)(7-7-1999)
more BGN Testing: Myrtle Beach Testing – Wednesday: Hal Goodson, Ed Berrier, Curtis Markham, Nathan Buttke. Thursday and Friday: Justin Labonte, Ricky Hendrick, Adam Petty, Jimmy Foster(7-7-1999)
Jimmie Johnson: In only his fourth career Busch Grand National start, and first this season, Jimmie Johnson piloted the #92 Herzog Motorsports Monte Carlo to a 7th-place finish in the DieHard 250 at The Milwaukee Mile. Former Winston Cup crew member, Tony Liberati is the crew chief for the team(Team PR)(7-6-1999)
Testing: I hear Tony Roper and the #61 BGN team will testing at Myrtle Beach on Tuesday and Wednesday, the #35 team testing on Wednesday to Friday with Elliott Sadler doing the testing on Wednesday and Lyndon Amick testing on Thursday and Friday(7-6-1999)
Spencer Team: I hear nephew Eddie Spencer will test a #12 Jimmy Spencer Chevy at Myrtle Beach on July 7th. If all goes well he will attempt to make the BGN event at the track(7-6-1999)
Santerre news: Andy Santerre will attempt the Busch North Race at NHIS on July 10 with his #47 Monro Chevy and Team. He will also attempt the BGNN race at Watkins Glen in August(www.neracing.com) Jayski Note: I think Kelly Moore is #47 in the BGNN(7-6-1999)
Youngest: with Casey Atwoods win at Milwaukee, he is the youngest driver in Cup, BGN or CTS to win a NASCAR race(many sources)(7-5-1999)
Little E hurt? UPDATE 4: just heard this from a source at the Milwaukee Mile: “Dale Earnhardt, Jr was involved in a crash this morning during BGN practice. He was taken from the track in an ambulance to an area hospital for evaluation. Talk in the garage area, unconfirmed by the medical staff, is that he has broken his shoulder.” Hopefully he is ok, more to follow as the facts come in — UPDATE: from NOL – Dale Earnhardt Jr., was injured in a crash in this morning’s practice session at Milwaukee. He’s been taken to Froedtert Hospital for precautionary treatment to his shoulder and ribs — UPDATE 2: more from NOL: Earnhardt is being treated for a chipped right shoulder blade. His status for this weekend’s events is unknown. Jayski Note: no idea how this will effect his planned attempt in the Cup race at New Hampshire next weekend, way to early to speculate. NOL now has a story up on the accident: Earnhardt Jr. injured in crash at Milwaukee in which it mentions – According to sources close to the team, there is little chance Earnhardt Jr. will miss Sunday’s DieHard 250. Ron Hornaday will qualify the #3 AC Delco Chevy. — UPDATE 3: Earnhardt, Jr also had brusied ribs, plans are for him to start the car and Ron Hornaday to relieve him at the first caution, if not sooner(CBS Preview) — UPDATE 4: Earnhardt ran Happy Hour and I hear he felt ok and still plans to start the race on Sunday(7-3-1999)
#72 News: Curtis Markham who was to drive three races for the #72 Parker Racing Chevy will also drive a fourth at Pike Peak, CO. Markham is already committed to St. Louis and Charlotte (Oct.) with the Diamond Ridge team(7-3-1999)
Steele Returns: Tim Steele returnes to action in the trauck race at Milwaukee this weekend(7-1-1999)
Truck News: Jerry Robertson of Denver, CO will pilot the #26 Mittler Bros/ATI Ford at Milwaukee for his 2nd race of the year. Robertson was also the driver for the #26 Ford at TexasMotor Speedway finishing 26th for their sponsor, Lucas Oil(Sue’s ADNASCAR Newsletter)(7-1-1999)
Record: Dale Earnhardt, Jr, who has won three consecutive races, will be looking to tie the BGN series record at Sunday’s DieHard 250 at the Milwaukee Mile. Sam Ard set the series record in 1983 when he won four consecutive races – South Boston, Martinsville, Orange County and Charlotte(That’s Racin’)(7-1-1999)
Reffner Story:Former rookie of the year Reffner now struggling, It’s been only three years since Bryan Reffner came to the Milwaukee Mile in the midst of a battle for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series that he ultimately would win(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(7-1-1999)
More Lester? Bill Lester, a 38-year-old stock car rookie, became the first African American to make a BGN race at Watkins Glen. Lester, Hewlett-Packard design engineer, is taking a one-year leave of absence to determine whether he wants to pursue a career in career in motorsports. Ed Rensi, the former chairman of McDonalds USA who made the deal for Lester to drive in Bobby Hillin’s car last weekend, is working on several possible deals for Lester in the coming weeks, including running in some ARCA races(That’s Racin’)(7-1-1999)
