July 1998 News Archives
(7-31-98)
- UPDATE: Owner of the #35 Tabasco Chevy, Tim Beverley, said that the Tabasco sponsorship is not in jeopardy and that the rumors of Tabasco leaving are unfounded.(RPM2Nite)(7-30-98) – But Tabasco has really cancelled their planned promotions at the Brickyard and some problems still exist from what I hear.(7-31-98)
- Ricky Hendrick, son of the founder of Hendrick Motorsports, will be one of the driver options for Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham on their Grand National team next season. Gordon denies the operation, for which he’ll drive in a handful of races, is a precursor to him and Evernham leaving Hendrick Motorsports to start their own big-league operation. Evernham is crew chief for Gordon’s Winston Cup car.(USA Today – Skip Wood)(7-31-98)
- Jeff Green has been named to drive the #46 SABCO chevy for the rest of 1998 and The Money Store(recently purchased by First Union) will be the primary sponsor on the #46 for the rest of the season. Tommy Kendall will still drive the #46 at Watkins Glen in a pre-arranged deal.(TNN’s Motorsports Site)(7-31-98)
- Jimmy Spencer hasn’t signed a contract with Travis Carter or sponsor R.J. Reynolds for 1999, and that could put him on the list of drivers who might be moving to a new team next season. But Spencer, who is having one of his best seasons, certainly his most consistent season, says he’s happy where he is and would like to stay.(JournalNow – Mike Mulhern)(7-31-98)
- A Goodyear tire test is planned for Atlanta before the season finale on Nov. 8, and Goodyear plans to ask the top three in the points to do the test sometime in October, according to NASCAR sources.(JournalNow – Mike Mulhern)(7-31-98)
- 2nd round qualifying is over, all but seven teams stood on their speeds from first round qualifying. Derrike Cope was fastest in 2nd round but not fast enough to make the race. Cope ran a lap of 172.838mph. Morgan Shepherd got the last spot based on speed, if anyone had run faster, he would have missed the race and no one came close. Randy MacDonald took over in the #95 but could not get it up to speed either. Dan Pardus wrecked in AM practice and didn’t attempt a 2nd round run. Lance Hooper in the #14 Richard Jackson car, never took the track today as the team withdrew from the race. DW took a Champions Provisional in his new #35 Tabasco ride. To see who took provisionals, who missed the race and current owners points and provisional standings see: Jayski’s Provisional Page.(7-31-98)
- People watching Saturday’s Brickyard 400 on television will see something that even the most observant race fan at the track will miss. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will use the race to test “virtual” advertising — signage that appears to the TV viewer to be part of the venue but actually is computer-generated. See the rest of the story at: Speedway will test virtual ads.( Sue’s Newsletter – 3 Wide!! 200 MPH!! A Lighter Side)(7-31-98)
(7-30-98)
(7-29-98)
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(7-27-98)
(7-26-98)
- Five drivers go for the No Bull 5 One Million Bonus at Indy: Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. For the rules and see the history see Jayski’s Stats Page. To see the rules on how you can win a Million bucks in the No Bull 5, see Jayski’s Racing Contests Page.(7-26-98)
- Steve Park returns to the #1 Pennzoil Chevy and to the Rookie of the Year chase. Because only the 15 best finishes count, he still has a chance.(7-26-98)
- Larry Hedrick Motorsports team manager Mike Hill confirmed that the team would not run a second car sponsored Kodiak Ice for driver David Green at Indy. The team may do four or five races with the blue-schemed Kodiak Ice car.(NASCAR Online)(7-26-98)
- While listening to the MRN Broadcast of the race (don’t get TBS) it was mentioned that Paychex has signed on with Brett Bodines #11 team for 1999.(MRN)(7-26-98)
- From NASCAR Online: Kenny Wallace is in the third year of a five-year contract with Filmar and Square D rep Mike Arning said the company is evaluating its future direction in the sport, in which it plans to remain involved.(7-26-98)
- Race Results, Starting Lineups, Happy Hour speeds, 1st and 2nd round qualifying results, Practice #1 and #2 speeds are up at GoRacing, NASCAR Online, Speedworld and That’s Racin’.(7-26-98)
- Goodyear has its racing rain tire ready to go and NASCAR has decided the Bud at the Glen on Watkins Glen’s road course Aug. 9 will be run rain or shine.(Times-Dispatch)(7-26-98)
- Remember this story: A WILD rumor is making rounds: There is supposed to be an announcement during the IRL race weekend at Charlotte on July 25th pertaining to a new stock car series owned by Bruton Smith and Tony George(Indianapolis). Supposedly they have a title sponsor and TV Network close to finalized. Check the story out that I put on a separate page from Mike Snow of GoRacing(www.goracing.com) and Performance Racing News(www.prn.com): The Future of Winston Cup at Homestead.(4-14-98)(looks like it didn’t happen)(7-26-98)
- Tim Steele won the Pocono ARCA race Saturday. Steele fractured three ribs and separated the cartilage from one of them in the Indy accident last week said he will not be in the #15 Moore-Robinson Motorsports #15 Rescue Formula Ford next weekend at Indy. He felt he could handle the shorter ARCA Pocono race (250 miles) but that he is not ready for the longer races. He told Bud Moore to put someone else in the car for Indy.(NASCAR Online)(7-26-98)
- The #47 Fans Can Race team and driver/owner Billy Standridge, will not be attempting to make the Brickyard 400 as planned because of lack of funds and no sponsorship. Next race planned is the Pepsi Southern 500 in September. Team FCR will roll out a new program starting next week to give something back to their members and anyone else that enters. The details are still being worked out but the basic plan is for racing items to be giving away through a drawing every couple of weeks or so. Details will be posted Monday once the official rules are completed but some included items are T-shirts, hats, and much more. For more info see the Fans Can Race Site. More items being auctioned off this week too.(7-26-98)
- David Blair Motorsports(#27 Ford) has a fleet of eight NASCAR Winston Cup race cars ready to roll and that the crew was building new Tauruses, anticipating a return to action.(NASCAR Online)(7-26-98)
- The first NASCAR SpeedPark will host a grand opening celebration Tuesday at its location off N.C. 17 Bypass in Myrtle Beach, SC. The SpeedPark is the first NASCAR entertainment facility built especially for fan entertainment, featuring go-kart racing among other attractions. Several Winston Cup drivers including Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett and Ernie Irvan are scheduled to participate in racing activities, competing against fans and members of the media. The grand opening is slated to start at 6pm/et. The SpeedPark is at 1820 21st Ave. North Ext., Myrtle Beach.(That’s Racin)(7-26-98)
(7-25-98)
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(7-23-98)
(7-22-98)
(7-21-98)
(7-20-98)
(7-19-98)
- Andy Evans has closed his Team Scandia race shop in Indianapolis. Jimmy Kite who was to run in some ARCA and Cup races eill not do so now. Also reports have Evans getting out of his deal with Brett Bodine and the #11 Paychex team. Kite was to attempt the Brickyard 400 and even practiced there a few weeks back.(National Speed Sport News)(7-19-98)
- GM Testing at Indy started Sunday(continues thru Wednesday). Weather was a big factor as there were thunderstorms in the early morning and it washed rubber away. Temps were in the 90’s. Some of today’s speeds: Stricklin 172.295mph; Skinner 171.969; B. Labonte 171.599; D. Cope 170.882; Marcis 170.477; Schrader 170.226; Earnhardt 169.539; Hamilton 169.536; D Waltrip between 166-167.(7-19-98)
- The “Race of Champions” was held at Louisville Motor Speedway Saturday night. Cup drivers there Jeremy Mayfield, Kenny Schrader, Kenny Wallace and Geoff Bodine. They raced late models against four present and past LMS track champions (including Bill Kimmell Jr. who is Frank Kimmel’s brother), Geoff Bodine won.(7-19-98)
(7-18-98)
(7-17-98)
SECOND: During an interview with Reese Davis, Jeff Gordon was asked about the news that Gordon and crew chief Ray Evernham would start a BGN team. Jeff said that they have discussed it with a few sponsors but that it would not happen in 1998, maybe next season.(RPM2Nite)(5-1-98) THIRD: A BGN team has been formed by WC racer Jeff Gordon and his long-time crewchief Ray Evernham to race in the WC “feeder” series starting next year. See the rest of Glen Grissom’s story at TNN’s website: Jeff Gordon Racing Limited BGN Schedule in ’99. The as-yet-unsponsored BGN effort is busy now getting organized for ’99. BGN chassis are on order and they’ve secured a 10,000 sq. ft. facility in Concord, NC, and are outfitting it for a limited-schedule racing campaign in 1999.(www.country.com), www.gordonline.com(fixed) reports that Pepsi will be the sponsor. NASCAR Online says there is no sponsor yet and an announement on the team will probably come in October at Charlotte.(7-17-98)
(7-16-98)
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(7-13-98)
- Nancy has a page where she has information on the Central Florida Wildfires that postponed the Pepsi 400 at KENDRICK KREATIONS CENTRAL FLORIDA WILD FIRE PAGE and Central Florida Wild Fire Donation Page. Also see my special Jayski’s Florida Wildfire News & Links Page for all the past news, links to stories, ways to help out and IMAGES. Nancy added many images of some of the devastation that the fires causes, see them at Wild Fire Images
(7-12-98)
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(7-6-98)
#91 LJ Racing Chevy – Andy Hillenburg; #35 Tabasco Pontiac – Todd Bodine; #96 Cat Chevy – Hut Stricklin; #46 First Union Chevy – Jeff Green; and of course #50 Bud Chevy – the return of Ricky Craven(nice to have ya back!).(7-6-98)
The progression of the TOTALLY False Mike Skinner/Ted Musgrave/Kevin Lepage Rumors
(7-5-98)
- As announced before, Akins-Sutton, who own the #38 BGN Ford driven by Elton Sawyer(great run in Milwaukee), are planning on starting a 2nd BGN team in 1999. Rumors have Jeff Green being considered as the driver for that team. Guess that depends on what happens with Green and the #46 First Union SABCO team. Green was hanging around with the team in Milwaukee this past weekend and when asked someone on the team was asked about the 2nd team driver and they just said, look around.(7-5-98)
- The JournalNow reports that VISA plans to sponsor a car next season on the tour, but there is no word yet on which team it might sponsor.(JournalNow)(7-5-98)
- I hear that #91 LJ Racing owner Joe Falk is leaning towards putting Andy Hillenburg in the #91 car at Loudon.(Victory Lane Online)(7-5-98)
(7-4-98)
(7-3-98)
“Right now we’ve got a list of about five drivers, and it’s really going to be up to the sponsors. It’s probably going to be someone up and coming, maybe out of the Busch Series. We’re going to know in the next couple weeks, we’ve got a few irons in the fire. It could go either way, it’s probably 50-50 on whether it happens or doesn’t.” Basically what Rudd has been saying for months, no mention of the Yates rumor.
See the rest of the chat transcript where Ricky talks about his engine woes and the Sears Point incident with Geoff Bodine at NASCAR Online Chat with Ricky Rudd.(7-3-98)
(7-2-98)
(7-1-98)