July 1999 News Archives
- (7-31-1999)
- Elliott and McDonald’s: Bill Korbus, who directs the McDonald’s racing program, says the company believed Elliott was going to retire after next season and it didn’t want to be caught short. He also says that if Elliott doesn’t retire, McDonald’s would be interested in continuing to sponsor him. Two McDonald’s cars? “It’s certainly not outside the realm of possibility,” Korbus says. “Cal was always our life-after-Bill plan.” The catch is that Elliott, an owner-driver, plans to continue as an owner after he retires. And McDonald’s has no interest in sponsoring an Elliott car with no Elliott inside(USA Today)(7-31-1999)
- Childress Notes: from Chris Economaki’s National Speed Sport News weekly column ‘Editor’s Notebook’: concerning Larry McReynolds 3-year deal with RCR as crew chief for the #31 – The 3-year deal can be aborted by Childress if McReynolds later decides he still wants to be a team owner. Childress also noted there are no plans for a third RCR team next year, “Not unless we need one.”(NSSN)(7-31-1999)
- Henry’s Rumblings: from the Stock Car Fans Newsletter(www.stockcarfans.com) – “Here we are 19 races into the season and we’ve still got one spot open on the Winner’s Circle program. Now, I realize nobody is in this sport for the money (some of the numbers being thrown around in these new sponsor deals are staggering), but there was a time when being on the Winner’s Circle plan made the difference in profit and loss for a big-time Cup team or two. I guess $300-$350K just doesn’t buy what it used to. Anyway, the next race winner not already on the plan will be eligible. We filled the program last year by Martinsville in April with Bobby Hamilton’s victory. John Andretti claimed the first wild card spot this season with his victory in that same event.” By the way, I have a page with the Winner Circle Program rules and standings, current and for the last two years at Winners Circle Program (7-31-1999)
- More from Henry: Of the last 43 races, only one winner has been from a single-car program. Ricky Rudd’s victory at Martinsville last September stands alone…..and when you look at the single car operations left, it’s hard to predict that we could see a winner emerge from any of those in the near future. Thus far this year, we’ve only got 5 Top-5’s (5.3%) and 33 Top-10’s (17.4%) recorded by single car teams(7-31-1999)
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- Pocono Double: Bobby Labonte is the 4th driver to win both Pocono events in the same season, last time it was done was 1986 when Tim Richmond did it. Bill Elliott in 1985 and Allison in 1982(7-25-1999)
- Lepage Leads: #16-Kevin Lepage led a lap for the first time in the 1999 season and his career(7-25-1999)
- Wally’s Run: Wally Dallenbach had his first top five in 84 races, since he finished 3rd at Sears Point in 1996(7-25-1999)
- DW Info: Darrell Waltrip was faced with an intriguing situation during 2nd round qualifying. He had one provisional remaining entering this weekend(at Pocono) and his team contemplated withdrawing from the race in order to save his provisional for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, where he is making an announcement of his retirement plans on Aug. 5. Waltrip, who originally qualified in the 36th and final position on speed, elected to take his chances but had to use a provisional when Barrett and Lepage made the field on speed. Waltrip will now have to make the field on speed to run in the Aug. 7 Brickyard 400(That’s Racin’)(7-25-1999)
- Buckshot Jones: In TNN’s Inside NASCAR they interviewed Buckshot Jones, driver of the #00 Pontiac in the Cup and BGN series. The Buckshot Racing team expects to make a decision in the next week or so on it’s 2000 plans. Potions include: hiring some experienced Winston Cup personnel and trying Cup full time on 2000, driving for another Cup team, or going back full time to the BGN series and regroup, possibly with a two car effort(7-25-1999)
- Sadler Hurt: Elliott Sadler wrecked during 2nd round qualifying and injured(sprained) his left(clutch) foot. X-rays were negative and Sadler practice the #21 CITGO Ford for most of the Happy Hour practice. Morgan Shepherd practiced for the final 10 minutes and will stand by if relief is needed for Sadler(NOL)(7-25-1999)
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- That’s Racin’ NASCAR writer David Poole had surgery Tuesday(7-12) to unclog an artery in his neck at Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, NC. His surgery went well and he has returned home. He will be away from the tracks for at least the near future. Cards, etc, can be sent to Charlotte Observer, P.O. Box 32188, Charlotte, NC 28232. Get Well David! (7-16/18-1999)
- Sad News: I hear Ron Brown, who was Mark Martin’s Pilot for seven years and was currently flying for Ward Burton personally, and the Bill Davis team as needed, recently passed away over the 4th of July weekend(7-18-1999)
- Hamilton/Truck: Bobby Hamilton will be running the #4 DANA Dodge in the CTS race at Nazareth on Sunday. The #4 is a team truck to the #18 of Joe Ruttman with Hamilton as the team owner(Stock Car Fans Newsletter)(7-18-1999)
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- Shepherd News: Morgan Shepherd plans to attempt the Brickyard 400 at Indy. Shepherd will test the #05 Pontiac at Indy on July 19/20. Shepherd’s Pontiac will be sponsored for the race by Delco Remy(Unofficial Morgan Shepherd Site)(7-11-1999)
- Hover Motorsports: Hover Motorsports, #80 Ford, has finished their fabrication and paint shops as of late June. Gary Bradberry has taken over as the driver of record, Andy Hillenburg is no longer with the team. Plans are to test a new #80 Ford Taurus at Indy this Tuesday and Wednesday(July 13th and 14th). Supposedly a sponsor has been found, not sure who or if it’s a full deal or just for Indy(7-11-1999)
- WOW! Jeff Burton is the first driver to win from a provisional starting spot and that is the farthest back any driver has won from since Kyle Petty won from 37th at Dover in June 1995(in 1995 37th was not a provisional starting spot). Bill Elliott also won from 38th spot in the 1988 Pepsi 400. In fact ALL the provisional starters for the race finished in the top 25.(7-11-1999)
- Wallace top 5: Kenny Wallace’s 2nd place finish was his career best and his first top five in 124 starts when he was 4th at Martinsville in September 1994(7-11-1999)
- Elliott top 5: Bill Elliott’s top five finish was his first in 54 races when he was 5th at Martinsville in September 1997(not 55, he missed the Dove fall race when his father passed away)(7-11-1999)
- #9 Associate? hearing Radio Shack has signed on as an associate sponsor with the #9 Cartoon Network Melling Ford(7-11-1999)
- #91 News: If you didn’t notice, the #91 LJ Racing Chevy had the Kodiak Bear on the hood as the #41 Kodiak Chevy and David Green missed the race ar NHIS(TNN)(7-11-1999)
- Craven to run BGNN: Schwarzkopf & Dep, Inc., a Los Angeles, CA based consumer products company specializing in hair and skin care products, has signed an agreement with Ricky Craven Motorsports, Inc. for one 1999 Busch Grand National North series event. Ricky Craven will drive on the famed road course, Watkins Glen International, in the upcoming Pepsi 150 on August 14, 1999(RickyCravenFans.com)(7-11-1999)
- Martin Status UPDATE: Mark Martin is one of the toughest guys to ever strap into a race car, but he just might have to step out of this one before it’s done. Protege Matt Kenseth will be on-hand if Mark’s injuries (broken wrist, rib, operated on knee) become too much. Watch for Jack Roush to “help” Martin with the decision to get out of the car, especially if they get a lap down in the first half of the race at Loudon.(Speedwords), but an AP story says – Martin won’t seek a relief driver on Sunday — and Martin went the distance(7-11-1999)
- McClure 2nd team: Larry McClure still is hoping to expand to a two-car team. Although he hasn’t finalized any plans yet, McClure is one of several owners seeking to add another car for next season. He plans to make his decision about adding a second team sometime in the next six weeks. He is also working to re-sign the primary sponsor and driver on his current team. Bobby Hamilton’s contact expires this season, and Kodak, which has been with McClure for 13 years, has a sponsorship agreement through 2000. McClure would like to sign both before this December(Times-Dispatch)(7-11-1999)
- What If? on TNN’s Inside NASCAR, they did a little calculation and came up with this: If Dale Jarrett averaged 7th in the final 17 races and Jeff Gordon finished 2nd in all the races, Gordon would win the championship(7-11-1999)
- #90: Junie Donlavey did not go to the New Hampshire International Speedway. The team is preparing with driver Stanton Barrett for the July 25 race at Pocono Raceway(Times-Dispatch)(7-11-1999)
(7-10-1999)
Well’s Shop: Cal Wells, owner of Precision Performance Inc(PPI) said he can’t talk about the potential contract with Tide/Proctor & Gamble for another six weeks. Wells has rented a shop in Hickory, N.C., and has 20 people working to build cars out of his Ford chassis. He has an option to purchase land at two sites — one on the edge of Catawba County(NC) — and plans to build permanent facilities there. Currently, he’s working on getting set up and finding a driver(looking for a young criver). Wells does not deny he is talking with some existing teams about potential sharing of resources but did say he is not on the list of owners trying to buy Butch Mock’s #75 team(Times-Dispatch and That’s Racin’)(7-10-1999)
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- Earnhardt Jr/NHIS: Despite a serious wreck in a practice session Saturday at the Milwaukee Mile, team officials maintain Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be in Loudon, N.H., next weekend to attempt his second Winston Cup race in the #8 Bud Chevy(That’s Racin’)(7-4-1999)
- DW Announcement UPDATE: look for Darrell Waltrip to announce that the 2000 season will be his final one. The announcement will take place in Indy at the Brickyard 400 on Aug 4th. Calling it Calling it “DW’s Victory Tour 2000” will supposedly have merchandise for the announcement and the Brickyard 400 weekend, then put it away until January 2000(6-23-1999) — UPDATE: Darrell Waltrip has scheduled a press conference and breakfast for 9am Aug. 5 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where he is expected to announce his retirement following the 2000 season. Waltrip signed a two-year deal before the start of the 1999 season to run a second team for car owner Travis Carter with Kmart as the sponsor. Waltrip will participate in a “farewell tour” of sorts through the 2000 season with an array of special promotions(That’s Racin’)(7-4-1999)
- Tyler Jet 2nd Cup Team: On TNN’s Raceday, during an interview with team owner Tim Beverly, it was announced that Tyler Jet Motorsports is looking to start a second Winston Cup team for the 2000 season and even a possible third team if sponsorship is found. Plans are also in the works for a BGN team that they hope to run later in the 1999 season. The team currently runs the #45 10-10-345 Pontiac with Rich Bickle as the driver(TNN Raceday)(7-4-1999)
- Another Wallace: Mike Wallace, driver of the #2 Ultra Wheels Ford truck in the CTS, is looking to get back into Winston Cup in 2000. His team owner Jim Smith is considering moving the truck operation to Cup if a sponsor can be found(TNN’s Raceday)(7-4-1999)
- Results Changes: The finishing order for Saturday night’s Pepsi 400 at Daytona was changed early Sunday morning after NASCAR reviewed a tape of the race. Robbie Loomis, crew chief for John Andretti’s #43 Pontiac, asked NASCAR to review the tape because he thought the race’s final caution was taken by cars on Lap 157 instead of Lap 158, as the final race report reflected. Upon review, NASCAR discovered Loomis to be correct, which changed the finishing order of positions 19-26. The new finishing order for those positions are: John Andretti (19th); Ken Schrader (20th); Jeff Gordon (21st); Elliott Sadler (22nd); Bill Elliott (23rd); Johnny Benson (24th); Jeremy Mayfield (25th); and Wally Dallenbach (26th)(That’s Racin’)(7-4-1999)
- Valvoline Cutback? UPDATE: Valvoline will discontinue its sponsorship of CART’s Walker Racing #5 Gil de Ferran at the end of the 1999 season. The company cited business reasons for the decision and a reallocation of marketing resources toward its SynPower and Eagle One brands and business plans don’t include primary team sponsorship in CART in 2000(SpeedNet/goRacing). Why am I reporting this you ask? Well it was reported on RPM2Nite last night by Robin Miller who also said the Valovline may consider cutting back on it’s Winston Cup sponsorship of the #6 Valovline Ford driven by Mark Martin or Roush Racing itself after their contract runs out at the end of 2000. A package believed to be worth $7.5 million(RPM2Nite) and from the goRacing story: At this time, Valvoline has no plans for primary team sponsorship in either the CART or IRL open-wheel series in the year 2000 and speculation has Valvoline also leaving NASCAR and the Mark Martin #6 car at the end of the 2000 season.(7-3-1999) — UPDATE: Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, said that Valvoline’s recent announcement that it is cutting back its sponsorship in open-wheel racing programs does not mean that they will in turn cut back on their Cup series program when their contract runs out after the 2000 season(NOL)(7-4-1999)
- Marcis: Dave Marcis finished 159 laps at Daytona in the Pepsi 400 in Daytona and took over the lead in the miles completed category in the Pepsi 400, with 10,402 miles in the race. He overtook Richard Petty in Saturday night’s event. Petty completed 10,337.5 miles in his career(32 events)(NOL) Marcis also has ran the most laps and now has 4,161 laps completed. Petty racked up 4,135 laps(AP)(7-4-1999)
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