July 2000 News Archives

(7-31-2000)
Rudd News UPDATE: hearing that the #28 Ford that Ricky Rudd crashed at Pocono was the same car the team planned on running at the Brickyard 400. The car was one of the two cars that tested well in the Indy test session recently. Hearing that Robert Yates Racing/RYR already had made provisions to have the car repaired if it was involved in a Pocono crash because they felt it would be so good at Indy, but after getting the car back to the shop, they found considerable frame rail damage. The car can be repaired, but not before the Brickyard. The team will probably now take the car Rudd ran in the top five with at California(7-31-2000)
Tide, Pruett and GKTW: Tide will team up with Give Kids the World and have a special paint scheme on the #32 Tide Ford driven by Scott Pruett in the Cup series. The car is blue with stars. There was a contest for kids to design the car and four of the five finalists helped Pruett unveil the #32 GKTW/Tide car with driver Scott Pruett; Jason, Heather (winning design), Jake and Lisa. The 5th finalist, Alberto, could not make the event. The car will be raced on October 8th in Charlotte, NC at Lowes Motor Speedway. See the car at the Give Kids the World site(7-31-2000)
Congrats to #32 Tide/PPI Racing Team owner Cal Wells and his CART driver Cristiano da Matta for Wells first CART win(See SpeedNet for story)(7-31-2000)
Jenkins Award and BBBSA: ABC/ESPN broadcaster and Indiana native Bob Jenkins will receive the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America “Caring Hands” Award prior to this Saturday’s Brickyard 400 at the Indy in a brief ceremony Friday, Aug. 4, at 11:00am/ct. The honor is to acknowledge Jenkins’ contributions in helping to raise awareness for BBBSA and its mentoring program. In just 17 months, Valvoline’s NASCAR team-related effort has raised $527,025 for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The “Caring Hands” program started at the 1999 Daytona 500. Valvoline donates $5,000 for every Winston Cup race Martin wins, $2,500 for each pole, $1,000 for a top-five finish, and $20 per lap Martin leads. There also are a series of trackside events where the public can participate and the Valvoline Online Racing Auction on eBay earlier this year raised $150,000(Valvoline PR)(7-31-2000)
Jarrett and Race for a Cure: Based on Dale Jarrett’s on-track performance and end-of-season bonuses, Ford Credit, co-sponsor of the #88 Quality Care Service/Ford Taurus, has donated $482,500 to the Komen Foundation since 1998. Ford Credit gives the Komen Foundation $10,000 for each of Dale’s wins, $5,000 for each pole, $7,500 for every second-place finish and $5,000 for each third-place finish over the course of the season. So far in 2000, including his victory in the Daytona 500, Jarrett’s combination of victories, top-three finishes and poles has amounted to $87,500 in donations from Ford Credit to the Komen Foundation(Ford PR – for more info see my Racing Charities page)(7-31-2000)

(7-30-2000)

Get Well: Debi Musgrave, Ted’s wife was diagnosed with leukemia earlier in the year. Ted Musgrave, who was doing R&D with Cal Well’s new Cup team then, looked at that program as a way of earning a salary and staying in touch with Winston Cup while spending more time at home to tend to his sick bride. But the deal fell apart and Ted stepped back from the sport for a while, subbing in the #60 Power Team while Geoffrey Bodine was injured and now driving the #01 BellSouth car for a few races. The best news of all – Debi Musgrave is improving and getting better which will allow Musgrave to look for a full-time ride for 2001. “She’s doing really good,” said Musgrave. “She has RH negative blood which is kind of rare. That’s the kind of blood that brings on this disease. She’s doing good but it’s a tough time. We’ll all get through it.”(in part from Speed Magazine)(7-30-2000)
Aero Testing: NASCAR has booked Daytona International Speedway on August 15th for a special aerodynamic test session. The sanctioning body is tinkering with different aero combinations to slow the Winston Cup cars down without restricting the engines any further. Race cars at Daytona and Talladega are slowed by a carburetor restrictor plate, which zaps engine horsepower. Richard Childress Racing(#’s 3 and 31), which runs Chevrolets, and Roush Racing(#’s 6,16,17,97,99) which campaigns Fords, along with at least one Pontiac team will participate in the so-called “dirty air test.”(Speed Magazine)(7-30-2000)

(7-29-2000)
#60 changes? UPDATE 2 Gordon?…No: on ESPN’s RPM Now radio show, Matt Yocum mentioned that things are up in the air with the #60 Power Team. It ahs already been known that Power Team is out at the end of the 2000 season. Much speculation around the team is who will drive it. Yocum’s comment was does Bessey take over for current driver Geoffrey Bodine, does Robby Gordon step into the car. Gordon? Team sources tell me that Gordon is staying with the #13 Team Gordon team and no plans for Gordon to run another car or with another team, but there is much speculation about what will happen with the #60 team(RPM Radio-Real Audio-52 minute mark)(7-23-2000)
UPDATE: Word is that Robby Gordon has contacted Cal Wells in trying to hook the McDonald’s ride(Well’s 2nd team for 2001). Gordon, looking for long-term sponsorship and to give the team a chance to catch up, skipped New Hampshire and Pocono and promised to reappear at Indy(SpeedVision)(7-24-2000)
UPDATE 2: Team Gordon is doing nothing right now but diligently preparing for the Brickyard and their sponsorship packages for 2001. Gordon was in Indianapolis on Tuesday testing his #13 Ford Taurus, turning a fast lap of 178.926mph. So no, Gordon will not run the #60 Chevy at Indy or elsewhere. For a full story on the team’s plans, engine deal and rumors control, see the Team Gordon site(7-29-2000)
Lawsuit? UPDATE 2: hearing Tyler Jet Motorsports and IRL’s TeamExtreme have filed a lawsuit against Lycos.com regarding the failed sponsorship compensation(7-23-2000)
UPDATE: TylerJet has sued Lycos Inc. in U.S. District Court in Lufkin, Texas, for peculiarities in paying for a proposed sponsorship deal with the team this season. The suit asks for breach-of-contract damages in the amount of $15 million and punitive damages in the amount of $100 million. The suit alleges that Lycos, best known as an internet search engine with other associated marketing vehicles, offered, “in lieu of cash”, $4m in “standard advertising banners” at a rate of $5 per 1,000 banners, plus the right to receive $1.5m in cash from a third party, not specified(SpeedVision)(7-24-2000)
UPDATE 2: see antoher story on the lawsuit at the National Speed Sport News site AND hearing the former driver for Tyler Jet, Rich Bickle, has filed suit against the team(7-29-2000)
Larry Mac’s Son OK: Brandon McReynolds, son of #31 crew chief Larry McReynolds, flipped his #41 bandolero Thursday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Bandits race. Young McReynolds is OK; his vehicle barrel-rolled three times, wound up on the roof and then slid about 15 yards before flipping back into an upright position. Larry McReynolds ran over to his son immediately at the crash site at the end of the backstretch. Kyle Grissom, son of Cup/CTS driver Steve Grissom, led until the fourth turn of the last lap when Joey Logano passed him to take the win(AJC)(7-29-2000)

(7-28-2000)
Another Earnhardt in Cup? UPDATE 3 it’s OFFICIAL and correction: Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Sr.’s son, is set to make his Winston Cup debut next month at Michigan(PitNow) AND ARCA driver Kerry Earnhardt is contemplating a qualifying attempt in the Winston Cup race at Michigan Speedway on Aug. 20. Earnhardt, the older brother of Dale Jr., won the ARCA race at Pocono last month(Times Dispatch) AND Kerry Earnhardt may join father Dale and younger brother Dale Jr. in the Pepsi 400 in Brooklyn, Mich., on Aug. 20. Kerry, who won the June ARCA race at Pocono, tested in a Winston Cup car recently and his speed would have been seventh fastest in the June Michigan race. “We’ve got three more ARCA races after this one and that’s what we’re concentrating on right now,” Kerry said. “We’ll see how everything goes from here and just see what comes up.”(Times Leader). No idea what team, it does not say(7-22-2000)
UPDATE: TNN’s Raceday reports that the Cup run at Michigan by Kerry would be in a DEI car(7-23-2000)
UPDATE 2: but RPM 2Day reported that Kerry Earnhardt will drive the ARCA car he drove Saturday at Pocono, BUT that Dave Marcis will not run at Michigan and let Earnhardt use the #71 (and owners points/provisional) and the car would be sponsored by Realtree (Marcis’s fulltime sponsor and an assoc on the #3 with Kerry’s father Dale). If Kerry makes the Cup race, Ron Hornady’s #3 NAPA BGN crew will pit the car(ESPN2’s RPM 2Day)(7-23-2000)
UPDATE 3: Continuing a long-standing relationship between Marcis Racing and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), the two teams join efforts again to qualify the Team Realtree car at the upcoming NASCAR Winston Cup event at the Michigan Speedway. Using DEI equipment and Dave Marcis’ five-decade’s worth of Winston Cup racing knowledge, Kerry Earnhardt will attempt to qualify the #71 Team Realtree car- making a mark in the history books. At no other time has a father raced against his two sons in NASCAR’s premier series. The relationship between Earnhardt, Marcis, and Richard Childress Racing is entirely intertwined. Marcis avidly tests for Earnhardt and Richard Childress Racing, and they share a form of sponsorship from Realtree. Realtree is the primary sponsor of the #71 and an associate sponsor on the #3. Kerry Earnhardt is elated to have the opportunity to race against his little brother and father. “This is a chance to do something no one has done- to race against their father and brother in Winston Cup. I couldn’t be more pleased. There’ll be a lot of pressure, but it’s all worth it for the shot that I’m getting.” Currently competing in ARCA, the eldest of the Earnhardt sons has participated in five events. Four of the five races have ended as top three’s, winning the ARCA race in Pocono this June. All of his ARCA cars, like the Cup car Kerry will use in Michigan, have been prepared at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Bill Jordan, President of Realtree, said, “we support Dave and Dale in their effort to give Kerry the best opportunity for his debut Cup appearance. We have enjoyed a long relationship with the Earnhardt family. Aside from Dale, Kerry is the next best hunter in the family so it’s only natural that we support this effort. There is no doubt he’ll do a good job representing Realtree.” Dale Earnhardt feels this situation is beneficial for everyone involved. “Dave and I talked about the possibilities of doing this with Kerry a couple of months ago. After he won at Pocono we talked about it again. We presented it to Realtree and they said yes. We all agreed this would be a good thing, so as it stands we’ll (DEI) provide the car. Dave will provide tremendous experience, and Kerry, well he has to provide a good qualifying time. Hopefully it will be a big plus for everyone involved.”(Champions Sports Group PR) – CORRECTION: actually this would not mark the first time a father raced against his two sons in NASCAR’s premier series. On August 3rd, 1960 at Birmingham, AL, #42-Lee Petty raced his sons #43-Richard and #44-Maurice. Richard was 2nd, Lee was 3rd and Maurice was 8th in a 50 mile event with 16 cars starting(Forty Years of Stock Car Racing)(7-28-2000)
#90 Driver and Crew Chief Gone UPDATE 3: #90 Ford owner Junie Donlavey, Ed Berrier and crew chief Dean Johnson have agreed “to go their separate ways,” according to Donlavey. “Despite the hard work that everyone has put into this program, we were not getting the results we know we can produce,” Donlavey said. “It’s not any one person’s fault. Everyone put forth their best effort but there was a lack of chemistry on this team, and Ed and Dean and I agreed that it would be best for everyone if we ended the relationship and moved forward.” Berrier was in his rookie season as driver of Donlavey’s Hills Bros Coffee Fords in the Winston Cup Series. Johnson was hired in May as crew chief. The change takes effect immediately. Donlavey has not announced replacements for Berrier or Johnson(Hills Bros Racing/Keystone Marketing) AND Berrier was planning to weigh his options before making a decision on his future. “I’m going to sit back and see what happens,” he said. “I’m not going to try to rush into anything.” Donlavey plans to make the trek to Indianapolis Motor Speedway next week. He is considering Hut Stricklin, Gary Bradberry and Morgan Shepherd as possible replacements. Donlavey could make a driver selection today(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-26-2000)
UPDATE: no full time driver or crew chief named yet but Brian Simo will run the car at Watkins Glen(Daily Press)(7-27-2000)
UPDATE 2: hearing that Hut Stricklin will be named to drive the #90 Ford at the Brickyard 400
UPDATE 3: Hut Stricklin will drive the Hills Bros Coffee Ford in the Brickyard 400, and road-racer Brian Simo will drive the Hills Bros Coffee Ford in the Global Crossing @ The Glen, announced Junie Donlavey, Hills Bros Coffee Racing team owner. Donlavey said he has not decided who will finish the season in the #90 Ford(Hills Bros Racing/Keystone Marketing)(7-28-2000)
Indy Testing UPDATE 2 oops: hearing the three Hendrick Motorsports teams, #24 DuPont Chevy, #25-Michael Holigan Chevy and the #5-Kelloggs Chevy along with #4-Bobby Hamilton tested at Indy on Monday and Tuesday(24-25th), no word on who drove the Hendrick cars. #13-Robby Gordon is also supposed to be testing at Indy this week
UPDATE: Bobby Hamilton and the Morgan-McClure Motorsports #4 team unofficially broke the track record during a two-day test session at Indianapolis. The test, which took place on Monday, July 24 and Tuesday, July 25, was the second for the Kodak MAX Film team. Hamilton turned in a fast lap of 181.370mph, which is the fastest speed clocked in a NASCAR Winston Cup car at the Brickyard. The NASCAR Winston Cup Brickyard 400 qualifying record is held by Jeff Gordon with a lap of 179.612mph. #2-Rusty Wallace had the fastest lap at 181.217mph when Ford tested at Indy a week ago(Morgan McClure PR)(7-27-2000)
UPDATE 2: being told that NO Hendrick Motorsports teams tested at Indy this week and the #25 was testing at Watkins Glen(7-28-2000)
#60 Wind Tunnel: hearing the #60 Power Team Chevy is testing at the N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center wind tunnel located in Hampton, VA today. The team is testing their Brickyard 400 cars and has three cars there(7-28-2000)
No Joy but a new Joy UPDATE: Mike Joy has anchored every Brickyard 400 radio broadcast since the inaugural race in 1994. This August, he’ll be “back home again…” in Connecticut? Yes. The Joys are expecting their second child, a girl, to be born Brickyard week(7-24-2000)
UPDATE: Kaitlyn Jarrett Joy arrived a week or so early, Thursday, July 27, at 9:46 am. Gaye chose Katie’s first name, while her middle name continues a Joy family tradition of honoring someone the parents respect and admire, Ned and Martha Jarrett and their family. Mike and Ned have worked together at MRN and CBS for more than 20 years(7-28-2000)

(7-27-2000)
#12 and baseball: during October the #12 Mobil 1 Penske-Kranefuss Ford will have a MLB(Major League Baseball) World Series paint scheme. The car driven by Jeremy Mayfield, will be unveiled at Indy on August 3rd(Winston Cup Scene)(7-27-2000)
More Dodge Testing UPDATE: hearing Ray Evernham and the Dodge test team will return to Kentucky Speedway for further testing this coming week(7-23-2000)
UPDATE: Dodge is testing today with at least Kyle Petty behind the wheel(7-27-2000)
Schrader at Gatway: Ken Schrader will make his first BGN start of the 2000 season this Saturday in St. Louis. Schrader, a native of nearby Fenton, Missouri, will pilot the #88 entry for Team Amick Motorsports in the July 29 CarQuest Auto Parts 250 at Gateway International Raceway. Schrader’s car will be the second entry from the Team Amick camp in Saturday night’s event. Lyndon Amick, who is competing in the entire 32-race NBS schedule, will drive the team’s No. 35 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The #88 will carry an identical paint scheme to the one adorning Amick’s No. 35, with sponsorship from POWERTEL, Mitsubishi Wireless Phones and SCANA Corporation(Amick PR)(7-27-2000)
Marcis Part time in 2001: this weeks Winston Cup Scene mentions that Dave Marcis says this could be his last season he runs the Cup circuit full time and that he may go to a limited schedule in 2001(7-27-2000)
Holigan to own Cup team?/Nadeau to stay at Hendrick UPDATE 2: Michael Holigan, whose Web site MichaelHoligan.com sponsors Nadeau’s #25 Chevrolets, is considering moving from Winston Cup sponsor to team owner and the move has prompted questions about Nadeau’s future. If Holigan buys into a team or starts his own, he would like to keep Nadeau as driver, sources told ThatsRacin.com Thursday. Nadeau’s contract, however, is with Hendrick Motorsports, where he said he is very comfortable(That’s Racin’)
UPDATE: but Holigan has never talked to Nadeau about becoming his driver IF he decides to buy, own or start a Cup team(6-30-2000)
UPDATE 2: Barely eight months after entering the sport with his companies’ sponsorship of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy driven by Jerry Nadeau, Michael Holigan is pursuing team ownership. Holigan says a lot of relationships would have to fall into place in the next few weeks for that to happen in 2001, but his goal is to have a car entered in the Daytona 500 in February. Sponsorship for a new team would have to come from outside sources because of the ownership structure of Holigan’s companies. Olympus Real Estate Corp., an arm of Dallas-based Hicks, Muse & Furst Inc. owns 50% of the companies. Holigan’s existing sponsorship with Hendrick Motorsports has two years remaining, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if that relationship ends early. Holigan says he has told Rick Hendrick that building the Michael Holigan brand name isn’t as important as it was when the deal was signed. If Holigan does establish his own team, he isn’t likely to take Nadeau. Holigan pushed for Nadeau’s hiring at Hendrick late last year and still has a high regard for him, but Nadeau is under contract with Hendrick(see full story at the Dallas Morning News) and Dallas’ Michael Holigan says he looked into purchasing the #10 Tyler Jet Racing team, which was sold last week by Texan Tim Beverley to MB2 Motorsports(Dallas Morning News Notes).(7-27-2000)
Watkins Glen Testing Day Two UPDATE: #6-Mark Martin was fastest on the second day of Winston Cup testing at Watkins Glen International. #87-Ron Fellows and #23-Boris Said were not too far behind Martin while the drivers shake down their cars for the upcoming Global Crossing @ The Glen. All the times reported were faster than Rusty Wallace’s pole lap (121.234 mph) at last year’s Frontier @ The Glen. Jerry Nadeau is with a new team, Hendrick Motorsport with Michael Holigan.com sponsorship, and he hopes that he can place another top 5 or possibly his first ever win on the historic road course(Watkins Glen Site see many images there on the test)(7-26-2000)
UPDATE: ESPN2’s RPM 2Night reported a few speeds: #6-Martin 122.076mph; #87-Fellows 122.055; and #23-Said 122.040(7-27-2000)
Penske at the Wind Tunnel: the #2 Ford of Rusty Wallace and the Penske ARCA #27 Ford from Pocono are at N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA today. Roush Racing had some of their Trucks there earlier in the week(7-27-2000)

(7-26-2000)
Atwood’s Cup Debut UPDATE: Casey Atwood will attempt to make his Winston Cup debut on Sept 9th at Richmond. Atwood who will drive Ray Evernham’s #19 Dodge in 2001 will drive a Elliott Ford as the Dodges will not run until 2001(Tennessean)(7-25-2000)
UPDATE: there are tentative plans for Atwood to drive a Cup car at Martinsville on Oct.1 and at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov.12.(Roanoke Times)(7-26-2000)
No Bull Five News: The five drivers competing for a $1 million bonus in the Sept. 9 Winston Cup race in Richmond are coming to the Langley Air Force Base Sept. 7. to take part in the “No Bull 5” fan pairing for that weekend’s Chevrolet 400 at Richmond International Raceway. The drivers: #17-Matt Kenseth, #18-Bobby Labonte, #3-Dale Earnhardt, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #88-Dale Jarrett. The R.J. Reynolds-sponsored program offers $2 million to drivers and fans at each of five selected Winston Cup races. If one of the drivers wins the No Bull 5 race, he and “his” fan get $1 million checks. The top-five finishers from the most recent No Bull 5 race are the eligible drivers for the next No Bull 5 race. Many details surrounding the Sept. 7 visit are sketchy. It’s not known how the driver/fan pairing will be done or whether it’ll be open to the public. “There’s a meeting next week with the R.J. Reynolds people to brainstorm ideas and nail things down,” said Sgt. Tom Holloway, on the staff of Gen. John Jumper, commander of the Air Combat Command. “This is not an open base, so there’s a possibility it won’t be a public event. We’ll know more next week.” R.J. Reynolds spokesman Rob Goodman said the visit is almost a done deal. “I’d say 99 percent, but there’s always a slim chance that something might blow up at next week’s meeting,” he added. “We’re going to do everything we can to make it happen. Even so, I seriously doubt it’ll be an open event.”(in part from the Daily Press)(7-26-2000)
More Ultra Motorsports News: actually hearing the #7 team may run a Ford as soon as Charlotte and not wait until Talladega AND that BGN driver Jason Leffler will run a second Ultra Motorsports truck Indianapolis Raceway Park(7-26-2000)
#7 has a sole owner UPDATE 5 It’s FORDS and an image: Jim Smith, owner of Ultra Motorsports who field a CTS team with Mike Wallace as the driver and who bought into the #7 Mattei Motorsports Winston Cup operation, is now the sole owner of the #7 Nation’s Rent/Philips Lighting Chevy. Former owner Jim Mattei is no longer involved with the team. Smith expects current driver of the #7, Michael Waltrip, to return in 2001 along with sponsor Nation’s Rent. Asked about a 2nd Cup team for Wallace, the story says, that the future, for now at least, does not include a 2nd Cup team. The team is also rumored to be switching to Ford (from Chevy’s)(Winston Cup Scene). Reports have the team switching to Ford as soon as Talladega
UPDATE: hearing a few tidbits on the team: the last of the Alan Kulwicki(who owned the #7 team up until his death in 1993) employees, Rich Wolsky, was released this week; front tire carrier Gerald Rogers, left this week; #27 crew chief Barry Dodson was at the #7 shop for a visit this week; current crew chief of the team Bobby Kennedy is supposedly going to Petty Enterprises as the new General Mgr; AND supposedly Waltrip will not return in 2001; and the team is already building Fords(7-14-2000)
UPDATE 2: forget any movement by Dodson as he has extended through 2005 with the Eel River Racing’s #27 Cup team and owner Jack Birmingham(SpeedVision)(7-18-2000)
UPDATE 3: RPM Now radio reports that the team has a big announcement on Tuesday, supposedly concerning Waltrip’s future in Winston Cup, and maybe the Ford announcement?(7-23-2000)
UPDATE 4: hearing Waltrip and crew chief Bobby Kennedy will stay with the team in 2001 AND from SpeedVision: Smith, meanwhile, confirmed that he probably will switch from Chevrolet to Ford (announcement Tuesday). He runs a Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series. Smith also said he would like a second team next year, with CTS driver Mike Wallace a likely candidate – if sponsorship can be found. He said Wallace probably would run up to four Cup races this fall, including Richmond, Charlotte and Phoenix(7-24-2000)
UPDATE 5: Michael Waltrip and Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith announced a drastic realignment of their Nations Rent Winston Cup team today in their new 28,000 sq. ft. Mooresville, NC shops. Beginning with the final five races of the 2000 season Waltrip will be driving ford Taurus’ powered by Larry Wallace/Penske engines. They also will be getting technical support on aerodynamics and wind tunnel testing from Penske Motorsports. Crew chief Bobby Kennedy is remaining with the team contrary to wide speculation. Michael Waltrip has also signed a one-year extension with Ultra Motorsports. See an image of the #7 Nations Rent FORD at Speedway Illustrated(7-25-2000)
UPDATE 6: Smith said he will run a second Cup car for Wallace at Richmond on Sept. 9 and may enter Wallace in a Chevrolet at Charlotte, Phoenix or Homestead in the final weeks of the season. Plans to move Wallace over to a full-time second Winston Cup team, however, would depend on finding sponsorship(That’s Racin’)(7-26-2000)
Rotozip at the Brickyard: RotoZip Tool Corporation, one of several marketing partners at Galaxy Motorsports, will be the primary sponsor on the #75 Ford driven by Wally Dallenbach in the Aug. 5 Brickyard 400. RotoZip is scheduled to serve as a primary sponsor on owner Darwin Oordt’s Fords for seven races this season(Galaxy PR)(7-26-2000)
Houston Gone? UPDATE 2 The #66?: hearing Andy Houston may leave the #60 CAT Rental team for opportunities in the BGN or CUP(6-30-2000)
UPDATE: a little more detail now – per Matt Yocum on ESPN2’s RPM 2Night: CTS driver Andy Houston is on Travis Carter’s list to replace Darrell Waltrip in the #66 Ford in 2001. Houston may test the car in the next few weeks(RPM 2Night), hearing Houston will test the #66 at Kentucky this Wed or Thurs. Also of Note: still unsure if Kmart will return to the #66 or Jimmy Spencer’s #26 in 2001, it was reported on 6-20-2000(see #66 page) by the Daily Press(VA) that Kmart would not return to the Carter team. More Houston: Also hear he is a candidate for the Cal Wells McDonald’s Ford ride and has interviewed for the ride, but Wells seems to be leaning more toward a Cup veteran(7-24-2000)
UPDATE 2: hearing that Houston and Darrell Waltrip ran the #66 Ford at Kentucky on Tuesday(7-26-2000)
Kenseth to the Trucks: Matt Kenseth has entered the Craftsman Truck Series race at RIR in September(Daily Press)(7-26-2000)
Hamilton beats Hamilton: NASCAR Busch Series driver Bobby Hamilton, Jr. proved father doesn’t always know best during round seven of the Wendy’s Summer Shootout Tuesday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The second-generation Tennessee racer topped his Winston Cup racing father, Bobby, in the NASCAR Grudge Match, but the record books will show the victory came with an “assist.” After splitting victory honors in the first two, two-lap races on the quarter-mile frontstretch oval, the elder Hamilton spun his son in turn two on the opening lap of the third and final race. Hamilton waited for his son to recover from the spin and then chased him to the checkered flag in the Winston Cup-style convertibles(LMS PR)(7-26-2000)

(7-25-2000)
Watkins Glen Testing UPDATE: Many Cup drivers/teams will test at Watkins Glen International on Monday July 24, 2000, to prepare for the Global Crossing @ the Glen on August 13, 2000. Scheduled to test: #6-Mark Martin; #3-Dale Earnhardt; #94-Bill Elliott; #28-Ricky Rudd; #20-Tony Stewart; #87-Ron Fellows; #25-Jerry Nadeau; #99-Jeff Burton; #22-Ward Burton: #17-Matt Kenseth; #16-Kevin LePage; #97-Chad Little(Watkins Glen PR)(7-18-2000)
UPDATE: Many Winston Cup teams were at the Watkins Glen on Monday in preparation for the Global Crossing @ The Glen that will be coming up on August 13. #87-Ron Fellows was fastest in the overall test session for Monday. He was followed by #23-Boris Said and #6-Mark Martin. All of the drivers have surpassed the track record that was set at 121.234 mph by Rusty Wallace’s pole winning lap at last year’s Frontier @ The Glen. #3-Dale Earnhardt wrecked coming across the Innerloop. No major damage was done, however a few parts to the rear suspension had to be changed. #94-Bill Elliott, #25-Jerry Nadeau, #20-Tony Stewart, #97-Chad Little, #17- Matt Kenseth and #93-Dave Blaney all tested. More testing on Tuesday, if there is no rain(Watkins Glen Site)(7-25-2000)
Safety? No Helicopter? UPDATE: It’s odd that NASCAR would allow a Winston Cup race to begin without a MedEvac helicopter on-scene. The Pennsylvania 500 was well under way, and three caution periods had slowed the event, before an air ambulance landed. A MedEvac that was parked on the infield left the track 20 minutes before the Long Pond event got the green flag(Morning Call)(7-24-2000)
UPDATE: have found no additional stories on this or an explantion on the Morning Call, but heard from some folks at the track saying an incident/accident happened in the infield before the race and the helicopter was needed. Also am told that until a patient is stable they would not be flown out anyhow(7-25-2000)
#77 in the Wind: hearing the #77 Jasper Engines Ford is back at the wind tunnel at N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA today. The team is testing their Brickyard 400 cars. Confirmed at the Jasper Motorsports Site(7-25-2000)
Shepherd and Hoover? looks like Winston Cup Vet, Morgan Shepherd will attempt to make the Brickyard 400 in the #80 Hoover Motorsports car. The team is looking for sponsorship for the race and has ran well in a few ARCA events in 2000(7-25-2000)
Marlin to the BGN: Team SABCO NASCAR Winston Cup driver Sterling Marlin will pilot the #01 BellSouth Mobility/Ericsson Chevrolet in the remaining six NASCAR Busch Series events on the team’s 2000 schedule. Kenny Irwin, who was fatally injured in a practice crash July 7 at New Hampshire International Speedway, piloted the then #42 entry in 10 Busch Series races earlier this season. Out of respect for Irwin and his memory, Team SABCO and BellSouth Mobility/Ericsson chose to permanently change the number of the Busch Series entry from #42 to #01, in addition to changing the paint scheme. Marlin is slated to enter the events at Bristol, Darlington, Richmond, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Memphis and Homestead-Miami. Although Marlin has never run a full season in the Busch Series, he has posted two wins, one pole position, eight top-five and 14 top-10 finishes in 48 starts. In March of this year, he drove the #82 Channellock/Team SABCO Chevy at Bristol. Marlin will continue to compete in the Cup Series driving the #40 Coors Light Chevy, on which BellSouth is an associate sponsor(SABCO PR)(7-25-2000)
#97 News UPDATE: am hearing that besides the change in driver, look for a change in the paint scheme for the #97 John Deere Ford including a new logo for John Deere. As is heavily rumored, #99 CTS driver, Kurt Busch is pupposedly signed already as the driver of the #97 in 2000 and may bring his crew chief along too
UPDATE: see the new logo at the John Deere Site(7-25-2000)

(7-24-2000)
Lawsuit? UPDATE: hearing Tyler Jet Motorsports and IRL’s TeamExtreme have filed a lawsuit against Lycos.com regarding the failed sponsorship compensation(7-23-2000)
UPDATE: TylerJet has sued Lycos Inc. in U.S. District Court in Lufkin, Texas, for peculiarities in paying for a proposed sponsorship deal with the team this season. The suit asks for breach-of-contract damages in the amount of $15 million and punitive damages in the amount of $100 million. The suit alleges that Lycos, best known as an internet search engine with other associated marketing vehicles, offered, “in lieu of cash”, $4m in “standard advertising banners” at a rate of $5 per 1,000 banners, plus the right to receive $1.5m in cash from a third party, not specified(SpeedVision)(7-24-2000)
Elliott to Dodge? UPDATE 2: Ernie that is. Engine builder Ernie Elliott, Bill’s brother, who builds Ford engines for the #’s 94, 11 and 9 teams, will supposedly build Dodge engines in 2001 for the Ganassi Cup team (#01(was 42) and #40) and possibly the #92(is now #9) Melling team. Supposedly Elliott is building a new shop in the Charlotte area but will keep the current Georgia shop. No word on if Elliott will still build Ford engines for the #11 Brett Bodine team. Bill Elliott will be driving for Ray Evernham in 2001 who has his own Dodge engine dept(7-14-2000)
UPDATE: A shakeup in the engine department is expected within the team that Chip Ganassi recently purchased(SABCO #01 and #40), and if Ganassi does have Sterling Marlin in Dodges next season — a move that some in the garage are calling “a done deal” — Ernie Elliott could be the man building Marlin’s Dodge motors(PitNow)
UPDATE 2: hearing that the engine department at Sabco/Ganassi was told by Ganassi last Wednesday that at the end of the year the engine program will desolve and that everyone in that department was offered a job within the organization. Look for announcements at Indy concerning 2001 about the team(7-24-2000)
Name Rusty’s Car: Rusty Wallace is asking fans to help name the car that won the Pennsylvania 500 Sunday. The car, which finished eighth at California in April and 10th at Pocono in June, was previously known as PC-22. Fans can send their suggestions to Tom Roberts Public Relations, P.O. Box 890, 2222 Taylor St., Guntersville, AL 35976 or email at [email protected] or see Tom Roberts site (Citizens’ Voice)(7-24-2000)
More Restrictor Plate Tests? UPDATE: Winston Cup teams will try yet again to nail down a solution (to replace restrictor plates or use a larger one) in another special test next month at Talladega. Jack Roush and Richard Childress have been spearheading the latest charge; they pushed NASCAR for a special test at Talladega in April. But NASCAR officials at that time seemed cool to the idea of any such drastic changes in car bodies and engines. After many complaints from the teams after Daytona, NASCAR is reviving the idea and is lining up from six to 10 teams for a major test Aug. 15. NASCAR wants at least two each of Fords, Chevys and Pontiacs; unsure if Dodge would be part of the test(PitNow)(7-22-2000)
UPDATE: Richard Childress said he will have Dale Earnhardt and Mike Skinner running cars in the special NASCAR test (testing cars without restrictor plates or with larger plates and aero changes to slow the car down) on Aug. 15, which will now be at Daytona rather than Talladega. And Jack Roush says that Jeff Burton, who won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, will be testing there, too. But what other teams will test still isn’t clear. NASCAR wants at least two cars of each brand. And Dodge? supposedly they will go too(PitNow)(7-24-2000)
#60 changes? UPDATE – Gordon and Wells? on ESPN’s RPM Now radio show, Matt Yocum mentioned that things are up in the air with the #60 Power Team. It ahs already been known that Power Team is out at the end of the 2000 season. Much speculation around the team is who will drive it. Yocum’s comment was does Bessey take over for current driver Geoffrey Bodine, does Robby Gordon step into the car. Gordon? Team sources tell me that Gordon is staying with the #13 Team Gordon team and no plans for Gordon to run another car or with another team, but there is much speculation about what will happen with the #60 team(RPM Radio-Real Audio-52 minute mark)(7-23-2000)
UPDATE: Word is that Robby Gordon has contacted Cal Wells in trying to hook the McDonald’s ride(Well’s 2nd team for 2001). Gordon, looking for long-term sponsorship and to give the team a chance to catch up, skipped New Hampshire and Pocono and promised to reappear at Indy(SpeedVision)(7-24-2000)
Musgrave and SABCO: Ted Musgrave, currently driving the #01 BellSouth Chevy for SABCO/Ganassi, will drive the SABCO BGN #82 ChannelLock Chevy for the rest of season(Ted Musgrave Site)(7-24-2000)

(7-23-2000)

Rudd’s 1st DNF: #28-Ricky Rudd had his first DNF of the 2000 season after his accident at Pocono. That leaves just four drivers who have made all 19 Cup races and not had a DNF(Did not finish): #3-Dale Earnhardt, #18-Bobby Labonte, #22-Ward Burton and #24-Jeff Gordon(was listed as out by accident at Dover in the unofficial results then changed). See my 2000 DNF page for all the DNF’s by race and who has the most(7-23-2000)
Compton’s Wrist: Stacy Compton, driver of the #9 Kodiak/Cougar Ford, will race with a half cast on his left wrist because of two broken bones suffered in a practice/test crash Monday at Indianapolis(Speed Magazine/TBS Happy Hour Coverage)(7-23-2000)
HMS Change: Andy Papathanassiou, who had been the pit crew coach for Jeff Gordon’s Rainbow Warriors since the team’s inception in 1992, was recently promoted to Human Resources Manager at Hendrick Motorsports. Papathanassiou has a master’s degree in organizational behavior from Stanford and is uniquely qualified for his new position. Greg Miller has taken over as pit crew coach for the Rainbow Warriors. Miller is responsible for running the weekly pit crew practice sessions and organizing the strength and conditioning program(Gordonline)(7-23-2000)

(7-22-2000)
Newman to Cup, this year? Roger Penske may run Ryan Newman in a few Cup races later this year(PitNow). It has also been rumored that Newman may run some BGN along with the ARCA races he has run in 2000, and that Newman is supposedly getting ALLTEL as a sponsor to run a full BGN or CUP season for Penske in 2001(see the #2 Team News and Links page for the full story)(7-22-2000)
#10 Sponsor? it was reported on RPM 2Night that the team was talking to a wrestling organization(WWF) about sponsoring the #10 MB 2 Motorsports Pontiac and driver Johnny Benson for the rest of the year and assuming an associate sponsor role in 2001 when Valvoline is supposedly come aboard as the new primary sponsor(7-22-2000)
#44 Crew Chief: Chris Hussey, who is Kyle Petty ‘s crew chief in the BGN series, is working with Petty this weekend at Pocono. Fred Graves, the #44 crew chief in the Cup series, had a previous commitment with a Winston West team(Roanoke Times)(7-22-2000)
Little E Crashes..but is OK UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed the #8 Budweiser Chevy at Pocono during Saturday AM practice and was taken to the hospital. Eanrhardt is expected to return to Happy Hour practice for the Pennsylvania 500 later this afternoon. Earnhardt crashed in the second turn but did not lose consciousness and was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown(PA) for a precautionary CAT scan. The car was damaged enough that Earnahrdt Jr will have to go to a backup car, meaning he will have fall back from his 15th starting spot to the rear of the field before the race starts(ESPN/AP)
UPDATE: Earnhardt Jr was interviewed just before Happy Hour and says he is sore but feels fine. He will run Happy Hour practice with his brother Kerry standing by if needed(TBS)(7-22-2000)

(7-21-2000)
Bickle to sub for Labonte UPDATE: Rich Bickle has been named as the relief driver for Terry Labonte in this weekend’s Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono. Bickle will practice and qualify the Hendrick Motorsports #5 Kellogg’s Chevy for Labonte, who suffered a broken right leg in a crash at Daytona in the Pepsi 400 on July 1. Labonte will start the Pocono race giving way to Bickle at the first caution flag of the event(Speedway Illustrated)(7-20-2000)
UPDATE: Bickle qualified the #5 Kelloggs Chevy 22nd and will practice the car on Saturday. Labonte will start on Sunday, falling back from 22nd to the back of the field, then Bickle will get in the car at the first caution(7-21-2000)
Olympics – Auto Racing? the General manager of Texas Motor Speedway, Eddie Gossage is pushing to run a race as a “demonstration sport” if Dallas wins its bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games(Tennessean)(7-21-2000)
GM Troubles? Chevrolet officials have made it clear to their stock-car teams that if they run one of NASCAR’s proposed ”common template” cars next season, General Motors will be cutting off support. And that argument, between GM and NASCAR, may come to a head soon(PitNow)(7-21-2000)
MB2, TylerJet and Valvoline? UPDATE 5 OFFICIAL: hearing that Valvoline is buying into the MB2 #36 M&M’s team, who is then buying into or buying Tyler Jet Motorsports #10 team. Supposedly Valvoline will be an equity partner in both teams, with Johnny Benson driving the Valvoline sponsored car. Hearing the deal will be done by July 1st and announced later in the summer. Also hearing #36 driver, Ken Schrader will remain as the driver of the M&M’s #36 Pontiac and Benson will stay on with the #10 with Valvoline as the sponsor(6-26-2000)
UPDATE: As early as today, MB2 Motorsports will purchase Tyler Jet Motorsports, which owns the race team of Winston Cup driver Johnny Benson. MB2 Motorports, owned by Georgia residents Read Morton, Nelson Bowers and Tom Beard, already owns the #36 M&M’s Pontiac driven by Ken Schrader. The team owners have expressed interest repeatedly in recent months about expanding to a multi-car operation. The trio, traveling from Sears Point Raceway to Atlanta on Monday, was unavailable for comment. The proposed deal includes a contract extension of two to three years with Benson. MB2 Motorsports also reportedly was involved in discussions with Valvoline about becoming the future primary sponsor for Benson’s car. Valvoline is ending its longtime sponsorship with Mark Martin, who has signed a deal with Pfizer/Viagra worth a reported $60 million for five years. It was not known late Monday whether Benson would run under the ownership of MB2 or Tyler Jet in Saturday night’s Pepsi 400 at Daytona(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(6-28-2000)
UPDATE 2: hearing that this deal will not be completed this weekend and is still at least a few weeks off IF it happens(6-29-2000)
UPDATE 3: hearing the deal will be completed today, Thursday, July 20th. With MB2 Motorsports buying the #10 Tyler Jet Motorsports team. Supposedly Valvoline and driver Johnny Benson has signed with MB2 for 2001. Crew Chief James Ince may or may not go to MB2 Motorsports with the team AND a story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution
UPDATE 4 – OFFICIAL: MB2 Motorsports today announced the immediate acquisition of a substantial part of Tyler Jet Motorsports assets. The acquisition enables the #10 Pontiac driven by Johnny Benson to compete in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup season and beyond for MB2. Benson’s team will join Kenny Schrader’s #36 M&M’s Pontiac team to form the newest multi-car team in the series. Benson said MB2’s acquisition brings stability and a wealth of resources to the race team. Both teams will continue to race Pontiacs powered by engines from Hendrick Motorsports. Benson said all of his crew at Tyler Jet Motorsports will continue to work out of the same shop near Lowes Motor Speedway for the balance of 2000. MB2 plans on building a shop near the Concord, N.C. airport to house both teams. Owner Read Morton said MB2 is looking for a sponsor for Benson’s car for the rest of the 2000 season. He expects an announcement later this summer regarding 2001 sponsorship. Morton said negotiations with Tyler Jet Motorsports owner Tim Beverley began almost a month ago and concluded this week with a deal that benefits both parties. Beverley will be a minority owner of the #10 Pontiac. Nelson Bowers, Tom Beard, and Morton co-own MB2 Motorsports. Jay Frye assumes the duties of general manager for the #10 and #36 teams. He has served as MB2’s general manager since its inception in 1996. Beverley, 43, purchased Darrell Waltrip’s team in 1998 and renamed it Tyler Jet Motorsports(Tyler Jet Motorsports PR)(7-20-2000)
UPDATE 5: While the #10 team has been bought by MB2 Motorsports and will likely be sponsored and part owned(50%) by Valvoline in 2001, the team is still looking for a sponsor for the remainder of the 2000 season. Also, crew chief, James Ince, was released from his Tyler Jet Motorsports contract and will continue on with the #10 team as it’s crew chief(7-21-2000)
More Soap Box Derby and NASCAR UPDATE 2: There was a lot of tinkering Topside yesterday, as racers and their helpers put the finishing touches on their Soap Box Derby cars. The official safety check and weigh-in for 358 derby contestants began at 8 a.m. and continued through the early afternoon. Gary Nelson, chief inspector for NASCAR’s Winston Cup races, told a group of racers that the goal of inspections — whether for Akron’s downhill race or for the popular stock-car races — is the same: safety and fairness of competition. Nelson is new to the Soap Box Derby. He was in town as part of Goodyear’s involvement as national title sponsor. Though the cars he usually deals with go much faster and make a lot more noise, he was impressed with the derby cars. See full story at the Akron Beacon Journal: Competitors finish tweaking cars(7-19-2000)
UPDATE: Dale Jarrett will meet with rally champions today and then with other derby division winners being brought to Akron from Camp Christopher. The Goodyear blimp Spirit of Goodyear is to be moored nearby for a picture of Jarrett with the derby racers. About 5 p.m., NASCAR drivers Ward Burton and Joe Nemechek and NASCAR crew chief Larry McReynolds will hold a question-and-answer session at the grandstands at Derby Downs. That part of the afternoon is open to the public(Akron Beacon Journal)(7-20-2000)
UPDATE 2: Anyone who has tried to snap a large family reunion photo can appreciate Mike Steiner’s job of getting 358 Soap Box Derby champions into place for a photograph with NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett yesterday afternoon(Akron Beacon Journal)(7-21-2000)

(7-20-2000)
#01 to #42 Q&A and an Image: getting many questions on this, so here it is: Question: Will the #01 Sabco team get tot transfer ownsers points (for provisionals, etc) from the #42 team? Answer: yes, the number, driver and paint scheme will change (no I do not have any images of the new scheme..yet) but the owners points transfer over to the #01. Sabco owner. Felix Sabates ran the #01 in a few races with different drivers during the 1999 season(7-19-2000)
IMAGE image of the #01 on the Paint Schemes Gallery from the Ted Musgrave site(7-20-2000)
Long at Pocono: #85-Carl Long will attempt to qualify for the Pennsylvania 500 in a 1999 #85 Ford Taurus. The 2000 Taurus wrecked at Dover is being fixed with hope to run the Pepsi 400 at Michigan in August. Long got help from the Travis Carter #66 team with the cars. Long helped out the #66 team and Darrell Waltrip by allowing DW to race the #85 Ford that Long has qualified in the Coca Cola 600 at LMS in May. DW had failed to make the race in the #66 Kmart Ford(7-20-2000)
#93 Assoc Sponsor: hearing that #93-Dave Blaney will have a new associate sponsor on his rear trunk lid for the Pocono race, a one race deal, the sponsor will be Billows Electric Supply, Inc. of New Jersey. Colors of the company are Green, White/Gray, and black…the logo is a cartoon like bee(7-20-2000)

(7-19-2000)
#7 Engines: The Ultra Motorsports # 7 Nations Rent Chevy driven by Michael Waltrip has tapped T&L Engine Development to furnish engines for ten of the remaining 16 Winston Cup races this season. T&L currently builds the qualifying engines for the Andy Petree owned #55 Square D Chevy driven by Kenny Wallace. T&L also provides Andy Petree Racing Research and Development services. T&L Engine Development continues to provide the #27 EEL River Racing Pontiac Qaulifying and Racing engines(PR). SABCO was supplying engines to the #7 team. The team is rumored to switch to Ford’ for 2000 and may run a few in the 2000 season(7-19-2000)
Engine Change News: Crew chiefs and car owners were informed this past weekend at Nazareth Speedway that engine compression ratios would change next year from the current 9.5-to-1 ratio up to 12-to-1 in the BGN and CTS. This will add about 100 total horsepower to the engine output. There will also be modifications to the strict rules regulating the 390-cfm carburetors used in the BGN division. See the full story at the ESPN site by Ray Dunlap, along with a Pros and Cons of the changes(7-19-2000)
PPI Motorsports to combine operations: PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced it will operate its NASCAR and CART programs from its Hickory, NC, location beginning next season. The Hickory facility, which was established in late 1999 to house PPIM’s Tide Winston Cup and McDonald’s Busch teams, will operate as a full-service race shop for PPI Motorsports’ CART and NASCAR teams in 2001 with centralized fabrication, carbon shop, machining, parts, travel, transportation, marketing communications, hospitality services, and administrative resources. This consolidation will require the relocation of both personnel and equipment from PPIM’s facility in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, current home of PPIM’s CART and off-road racing programs, at the close of the 2000 racing season. PPIM’s off-road team and other business interests, including the Precision Service Racing Group (PSRG) and the Toyota Motorsports Garage, will continue to operate from smaller, separate facilities in Southern California. PPIM’s three-building, 57,000-square-foot Hickory facility will add a fourth, 37,000-square-foot building to accommodate the company’s CART operation alongside its 2001 Tide and McDonald’s Winston Cup efforts. Wells selected the Hickory location due to its proximity to most NASCAR and CART venues – a decision that, among other benefits, amounted to a savings of 27 travel days for the race team and 115 on-the-road days for team transporters as based on the current CART schedule(PPI Motorsports PR)(7-19-2000)
an old Wally rumor UPDATE: hearing that Wally Dallenbach and Cup Owner/hunting partner Richard Childress are talking about a possible third RCR team (in addition to the #3 and #31 team) for Dallenbach to run in 2001….but this rumor has came up before the last few seasons….(6-30-2000)
UPDATE: during a Wally Dallenbach Teleconference, Dallenbach says he is staying at Galaxy Motorsports #75 team: “Richard and I have talked every year for about the last six years about doing a third team. To be honest with you, I’m very happy driving for Darwin (Oordt) and Galaxy Motorsports. We do have to put a sponsorship package together and as long as we can put a strong sponsorship package together for this team for the next three years, I’m staying. I’ve put a lot of work and effort into building this team to where it’s at. We’re halfway there. From the start of the season until now, I’m real proud of what we have accomplished, but there’s a lot of work ahead. I really hate to just throw that all away. Hopefully, we cam put this thing together and I can drive for Darwin for the next three to five years. Nothing would make me happier.”(Hoagland Communications/Galaxy Motorsports)(7-19-2000)
Ford Indy Testing: #28-Ricky Rudd was the fastest on Tuesday’s 2nd and final Ford testing at Indy for the Brickyard 400 with a speed of 179.592mph. 2nd was #26-Jimmy Spencer, 178.899; third was #17-Matt Kenseth, at 178.390; #75-Wally Dallenbach, 178.243, and #6-Mark Martin, 178.177. See the Tuesday’s speeds at: Top 25 Drivers From Ford Testing (July 18) and: Top 10 Overall Drivers From Ford Testing (July 17-18, 2000) and finally: Top 10 Overall Drivers From GM, Ford Testing(Brickyard 400 site)(7-19-2000)
AOL and the #75: For the second consecutive race, America Online will serve as the primary sponsor on owner Darwin Oordt’s Fords. America Online is also scheduled to be the sponsor along with the Cartoon Network at Dover for the Sept. 24 MBNA Gold 400(Galaxy Motorsports PR)(7-19-2000)
Midwest Transit sponsor? UPDATE 4: hearing the #50 Midwest Transit team is close to a deal with a sponsor for the Brickyard 400, Watkins Glen, Michigan and Bristol and if all goes well, possibly 2001(6-30-2000)
UPDATE: The Hal Hicks-owned team picks up a sponsor beginning with the race at Indianapolis. The team signed a four-race contract with an Internet company(Times Dispatch)(hopefully NOT Lycos)(7-2-2000)
UPDATE 3 Craven to Run NHIS: Ricky Craven and his Hal Hicks-owned Midwest Transit Racing team will compete in Sunday’s New England 300 at New Hampshire, Craven’s home track. The team, running without a primary sponsor, has only competed in races this season it believes it can qualify for and run well in. The team will skip the July Pocono race and return for the Brickyard 400 in August, where it will begin a four-race run with an Internet company as sponsor. Good performances may lead to a full-season deal for 2001(That’s Racin’)(7-3-2000)
UPDATE 4: hearing the Internet company that will sponsor Craven and the #50 car is WorldBestBuy.com, who has been on the #11 Ford as an associate in the early part of 2000, and has been a sponsor in other auto racing series as well(7-19-2000)

(7-18-2000)
Petty Enterprises News UPDATE: On Tuesday, July 18th, there will be a press conference detailing Sprint’s 2000-2001 sponsorship plans with Petty Enterprises (#’s 43 Cheerios and #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac in Cup; #45 Sprint Chevy in BGN; and #43 Dodge Truck). The announcement will take place at Lowes Motor Speedway at 11:00am/et. See Speedway Illustrated for the announcement at 11am(7-16-2000)
UPDATE: big news! Starting with the Sept. 3 Pepsi Southern 500 at Darlington, Kyle Petty, will run only the #45 Sprint Chevy in the BGN series. Steve Grissom, who drives the #43 Dodge Truck for Petty in the CTS series, will drive the #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac in the Winston Cup series. For 2001, Kyle Petty will drive the #45 Sprint Dodge in the Winston Cup series. Petty plans to run the #44 Cup team, but will need to find a driver and new sponsor as Hot Wheels will not return in a mutual decision. There are no plans to continue the Petty BGN team, but if Petty Enterprises in unable to land a sponsor for the #44, Petty said the organization could return to the series(Petty Racing Site, NOL, That’s Racin’ and SpeedVision)(7-18-2000)
#93 Changes? UPDATE: hearing the #93 Bill Davis/Amoco team and crew chief Gil Martin have parted ways, and also hearing crewmen Shane Westerberg and Mark Karan have left the team
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing announced Tuesday the team had parted ways with Gil Martin, the crew chief for series rookie Dave Blaney. Doug Randolph has been named the new crew chief for Blaney and his #93 Amoco Pontiacs and will begin his new duties at Pocono this weekend. The 35-year old Randolph joined Bill Davis Racing in February 1999 as car chief for Davis’ other entry, the #22 Caterpillar Pontiacs driven by Ward Burton. Martin asked for and was granted his release from BDR(That’s Racin’)(7-18-2000)
Indy Ford Testing UPDATE: 20 Ford teams/35 drivers tested at at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday as part of a two day mandatory test. #2-Rusty Wallace was the fastest at 181.217mph late in the afternoon. #28-Ricky Rudd was at 176.663mph and was fastest in the morning and #99-Jeff Burton was at 176.490mph, #88-Dale Jarrett at 176.446mph. #33-Joe Nemechek had the fastest lap from last week’s two-day GM test, at 181.206mph. That unofficially bettered 1994 and 1998 Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon’s track record Bud Pole Qualifying lap of 179.612 mph, set on Aug. 5, 1999.(NOL) UPDATE: a few speeds from Monday’s test session: #2-Rusty Wallace was the fastest at 181.217mph; 2nd was #28-Rudd 179.351mph; 3rd as #99-Burton at 179.231mph, 4th was #88-Jarrett at 179.204mph and 5th was #21-Sadler at 179.184. #9-Stacy Compton blew a tire and crashed in the third-turn wall and bruised his shoulder. (SpeedNet). See the top 25 speeds at the Brickyard 400 site(7-18-2000)
Stricklin lands Jarrett BGN ride: Hut Stricklin will be in the seat for #11 Jarrett/Favre Motorsports car for at least the next three races, beginning this week at Pikes Peak. The team, co-owned by defending Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, is expected to announce today that Stricklin will replace Jason Jarrett behind the wheel. The 24-year-old son of Dale Jarrett and grandson of Ned Jarrett is struggling in his first full season of BGN racing. The announcement will include plans for Jason Jarrett to continue racing and gain experience at a less-competitive level(Alabama Live)(7-18-2000)

(7-17-2000)
Team Sabco/BellSouth News: Out of respect for Kenny Irwin and his memory, Team SABCO and BellSouth have chosen to permanently change the number of both the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series entries to #01 effective immediately. Irwin was fatally injured in a practice crash at the New Hampshire International Speedway Friday, July 7th, in preparation for the thatlook.com 300. “Kenny was the future of the No. 42 teams,” said Felix Sabates, owner of Team SABCO. “To put someone else in his seat with his number wouldn’t feel right. I spoke with his parents (Reva and Kenny, Sr.) and they were very appreciative and supportive of what we wanted to do.” A new design on the #01 BellSouth Chevrolet, as well as interim driver Ted Musgrave, will debut at Pocono, Pa., Raceway for the Pennsylvania 500. Musgrave, who is testing the Team SABCO/BellSouth entry at Gateway International Raceway today and Tuesday, will be the driver for the next two Winston Cup events. An announcement concerning the driver of the Winston Cup entry for the 2001 season and beyond is expected to take place at the end of the season. Additionally, the team is currently evaluating drivers for the Busch Series entry with a decision coming prior to the Food City 250 at the Bristol Motor Speedway(Team Sabco PR)(7-17-2000)
Sad News: Jeff Hammond’s father passed away on Sunday, July 16th. Hammond is the crew chief for the #97 John Deere Ford team and driver Chad Little. Thoughts go out to the Hammond family(7-17-2000)
Cope to Pontiac: Pontiac has agreed to provide factory support to the #37 Quest Motor Racing team owned by driver Derrike Cope and NHRA driver/owner, Warren Johnson(Derrike Cope Site)(7-17-2000)
#15 Closed? UPDATE 2: hearing the #15 Fenley-Moore Ford team has closed up and laid all employees off including crew chief Joey Knuckles. From what I hear Ted Musgrave left a few weeks ago(7-13-2000)
UPDATE: Less than a year after buying the #15 Cup race team from legendary car owner Bud Moore and promising that the operation would remain in Spartanburg(SC), Fenley Motorsports has put the shop up for sale. Inability to lure sponsors — a problem that eventually forced Moore to sell after nearly three years of limited activity — has forced brothers Randy and Robert Fenley, and his wife Sue, to make plans to build a new facility somewhere on Interstate 85, possibly even close to the Charlotte-based center of the racing community. The Fenleys have entered four races this season and are without a driver. Derrike Cope left in April, saying he was told the team would go to every race and was in violation of his contract by not doing so. Ted Musgrave filled in for one event and failed to qualify for another. Fenley says the are moving into a new facility and are not shutting down and going away. With the team cutting back on spending while it hunts for help, Moore stepped away from his position as a consultant in February. The name of the team was changed from Fenley/Moore Motorsports to Fenley Motorsports. See the full story by Todd Shanesy with quotes at GoUpState(7-15-2000)
UPDATE 2: an update to the above story: Losing NASCAR a shame by Todd Shanesy(7-17-2000)

(7-16-2000)

#97 Driver? UPDATE’s – signed?: see original news and rumors on the #97 Team News and Links page(7-1-2000)
UPDATE: after Kurt Busch’s win at NHIS on Saturday, he was interviewed on RPM 2Night by Reese Davis. Busch, whne asked about the #97 rumors, said there was truth to the rumors, he was in the mix of drivers under consideration and that he felt he was ready for the challenge and there is no better way to learn then being ‘thrown into the fire'(7-9-2000)
UPDATE: Hearing Busch may run up to five Cup events later in the season for Roush(7-13-2000)
another UPDATE – Busch Signed? hearing from sources that Roush #97 CTS driver, Kurt Busch, has already signed with Rosuh to drive the #97 Ford in Cup for the 2001 season(7-16-2000)
Rusty News: NASCAR fans made waves Saturday on Lake Norman in Charlotte, NC, at the Rusty Wallace “Splash for Kids,” a Polaris watercraft charity ride. Wallace led dozens of participants on the four-hour ride on a Polaris Genesis watercraft custom-painted to look like his #2 Winston Cup Ford. During the event, riders zig-zagged the lake on a “poker run” to win prizes, including a Richard Petty Driving Experience and two pit passes for the October 2000 Winston Cup Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte. After the ride, riders mingled with Wallace and placed bids on authentic NASCAR memorabilia, including a Rusty Wallace die cast car, rear ¼ panel and chase jacket. All auction proceeds also benefited Speedway Children’s Charities, a nonprofit foundation that distributes funds to charities providing emotional support, medical and social services to children in need(Polaris PR)(7-16-2000)
#42 to #01? UPDATE 5 Musgrave?: hearing that SABCO may use the #01 (which was used on a 3rd team part time in 1999) in place of the #42 out of respect to Kenny Irwin Jr, their driver who passed away at NHIS last Friday. Not sure if it will be for Pocono only or for the rest of the 2000 season. Also hear that they may change the paint scheme of the BellSouth Chevy for the same reasons. Some drivers under consideration to run the car at Pocono are Ricky Craven, Rich Bickle and Hut Stricklin
UPDATE #01: New team(SABCO/Gannassi) manager Andy Graves said Tuesday his squad, which skipped Sunday’s New England(Thatlook.com 300) 300 at New Hampshire after Irwin was killed in a practice crash at the track, will return to action for the July 23 race at Pocono. Graves said the Chevrolet Monte Carlo will carry the same BellSouth sponsorship but is going with #01(instead of #42) because they think that’s best. Graves made the decision in consultation with his boss, Chip Ganassi, who last week completed his purchase of the two-car team from Felix Sabates. Ganassi, who attended Tuesday’s test at Indy, said he was prepared to keep Irwin and teammate Sterling Marlin in his cars for the next two years. He signed contract extensions with both drivers last week. Ganassi said he was looking at “three or four guys” to replace Irwin, although he declined to name them Tuesday. (Derrike Cope and Hut Stricklin are mentioned). Graves said it was a short list of candidates by necessity. Most of the league’s better drivers were locked into contracts for the rest of the season, and he didn’t feel comfortable raiding another team’s program and that any driver hired this week would probably be on board only for the short term(in part from a story at SpeedNet)(7-12-2000)
UPDATE 2: hearing Ted Musgrave and Todd Bodine are being considered also, but Bodine will be racing BGN at Pikes Peak on Saturday
UPDATE 3: The #01 team plans to run the #01 from now on, no more #42. Also the team plans to get a veteran driver for the next two races (Pocono and Indy) then hire the best available road racer for Watkins Glen(SpeedVision)(7-13-2000)
UPDATE 4: hearing Ted Musgrave will drive the #01 at Pocono(7-14-2000)
UPDATE 5: Team SABCO will conduct a two-day test at Gateway International Raceway with Ted Musgrave on Monday and Tuesday of next week to see if he fits the mold for the #01 BellSouth team. If all goes well, Musgrave will probably drive the #01 at Pocono next weekend(RacingOne/Lee Spencer)(7-15-2000)
UPDATE 6: Musgrave will be testing at the Kentucky Speedway on Monday and Tuesday driving the #01 car for Team Sabco/Ganassi. The team wants to get to know Musgrave and see if the chemistry is there as far as working together, so this is kind of a trial run for everyone involved(Musgave Site)(7-16-2000)

(7-15-2000)
#18 Sponsor: missed when this was released but…..Joe Gibbs Racing and Bobby Labonte will be with Interstate Batteries through 2003(with an option year for 2004) as a for a four-year contract was signed recently. The #18 Joe Gibbs team and Interstate Batteries has been together since the team began in 1992(Interstate Batteries Site)(7-15-2000)
MB2 Motorsports to Move: MB2 Motorsports of Mooresville plans to relocate to the Concord Regional Airport business park where it bought 3.64 acres from the city. Jay Fry, general manager of MB2, said the race team is in its fourth year of operations at the Winston Cup level. He said Concord driver Kenny Schrader is a partner in the project. The building will be 40,000 square feet and will fit two Winston Cup teams. The race shop is in the final design process and construction is expected to begin in a month(Independent Times one day link). Schrader is the driver of the #36 M&M’s Pontiac owned my MB2 Motorsports. Also it has been rumored that MB2 Motosports will buy the #10 Tyler Jet Motorsports team(7-15-2000)

(7-14-2000)
#10 Sponsor? Racin’ Network is hearing that the #10 Tyler Jet Motorsports team is close to signing a new sponsor, who in fact, it is one of the main competitors of their former sponsor Lycos. If this deal falls through, expect the team to be sold to MB2 Motorsports before the Brickyard 400(7-14-2000)
Elliott to Dodge? Ernie that is. Engine builder Ernie Elliott, Bill’s brother, who builds Ford engines for the #’s 94, 11 and 9 teams, will supposedly build Dodge engines in 2001 for the Ganassi Cup team (#01(was 42) and #40) and possibly the #92(is now #9) Melling team. Supposedly Elliott is building a new shop in the Charlotte area but will kewp the current Georgia shop. No word on if Elliott will still build Ford engines for the #11 Brett Bodine team. Bill Elliott will be driving for Ray Evernham in 2001 who has his own Dodge engine dept(7-14-2000)
#81 News: The #55 Davis & Weight Motorsports BGN team plans to move Michael Ritch to Winston Cup in 2001, IF a sponsor can be found. In that event, Ritch would be in the #81 Cup Ford and they would hire another driver for the #55 BGN car(DW Motorsports PR via StockCarFans Newsletter)(7-14-2000)
Hamilton to stay UPDATE 3 new crew chief: Bobby Hamilton says he expects to stay with car owner Larry McClure next season. He has been rumored to be in the running for a job as Sterling Marlin’s teammate with Chip Ganassi(PitNow)(7-10-2000)
UPDATE new crew chief: #4 Kodak driver Bobby Hamilton, rumored to be leaving the Morgan-McClure Motorsports team at the end of the season, is expected to remain in his #4 Chevy next year provided some changes occur with the team. One of those changes will be a new crew chief for the team, ThatsRacin.com has learned. An official announcement of the crew chief change will be made by Friday. Robert Larkins has served as the team’s crew chief since December 1999(That’s Racin’)(7-11-2000)
UPDATE 2: hearing that Hamilton’s CTS crew chief for the #4 Truck Team, Tim Fowlkes, will become the crew chief of the #4 Cup team(7-13-2000)
UPDATE 3: the new crew chief comes from Hamilton’s CTS team but not the #4 team but the #18 Joe Ruttman team, Danny Gill will take over crew chief duties for the #4 Kodak MAX Film Monte Carlo at Morgan-McClure Motorsports. The change, effective Monday, July 10, moves former crew chief Robert Larkins into the Shop Foreman position. Larkins will also remain the jackman on race day. Gill moves into the crew chief position from the same duty held with Bobby Hamilton Racing for the #18 DANA Dodge driven by Joe Ruttman in Lebanon, Tenn. Gill had been with Bobby Hamilton Racing’s Craftsman Truck Series team since its inception in 1999(Morgan McClure PR). Fred Wanke, former #43 CTS crew chief takes over Gills spot on the #18(NOL)(7-14-2000)
Dodge Engine: Dodge continues full-speed-ahead with its blueprint engine as it prepares to enter Winston Cup racing in 2001. Dodge ran a second version of the new pieces during its three-day test this week at Kentucky Speedway — what it is calling the “second phase” engine, and it is not at all considering the engine it uses in Craftsman Trucks, as NASCAR occasionally has suggested. Gary Nelson, NASCAR technical director, hinted last month at Dover that he’d rather Dodge refine its wedge Truck engine than to present a new piece. Ted Flack, head of engine development for Dodge Motorsports, said Friday that the Truck engine was never considered. The next test for car and engine will be in two weeks, either at Kentucky or at Greenville-Pickens(SC). See full story and quotes at SpeedVision(7-14-2000)

(7-13-2000)
NASCAR and Soapbox Derby: Marketing the All-American Soap Box Derby has hit the fast lane with the announcement yesterday that NASCAR is coming to Derby Downs. Goodyear, this year’s national title sponsor for the 63rd annual downhill race, is using its longtime relationship with the stock-car racing organization to boost the derby’s national presence. During Race Week, which begins Monday, Goodyear will bring its Rolling Thunder tractor-trailer rig to Derby Downs. The trailer carries two NASCAR stock cars and will be used for the “Pit Crew Challenge” during Race Day, July 22. Adults who preregister will be able to change tires or change oil on the racing cars as a NASCAR pit crew would. Racing legend Bobby Allison will be grand marshal of the All-American Soap Box Derby Parade on Race Day and will flag the first races. Gary Nelson, director of NASCAR’s Winston Cup Racing, will visit Derby Downs on Tuesday. See the full story at the Akron Beacon Journal(7-13-2000)
Murry at Watkins Glen? Having gotten a taste of NASCAR Winston Cup racing last year at Watkins Glen, road racing veteran David Murry is hoping that experience will sway some Winston Cup teams to consider utilizing his talents at The Glen next month. “I’ve made some calls to some teams already asking whether they might want my services,” said the Atlanta resident. “Some of them have expressed interest, but I haven’t had a firm commitment as yet. I’m hopeful that will happen. I’d like to go back there and get somebody in the The Show.” Last year, Murry drove for a Cartersville, GA-based ARCA team, Phoenix Air Racing(#61 Ford). He qualified 31st and ran as high as eighth in the race, before an oil line problem surfaced. He eventually finished 36th. “I enjoyed myself last year,” added Murry. “I really want to race up there again. I gained so much experience, you can’t imagine. Like a lot of drivers, I’d love to eventually go Winston Cup racing full-time. Perhaps, running the road courses might help that cause.” Murry, who this year is competing in the American Le Mans Series with a Porsche 911 GT3-R team, said he is so intent on getting a ride at Watkins Glen this year that he will take the trip north at his own expense and “work” the garage when he gets there, if necessary. “You know, maybe there will be a team which doesn’t do so hot in first round qualifying that might give me a shot in second-round qualifying. There might be a team which is out of provisionals or doesn’t want to use one which may look to me to try to get them in the race. Maybe, their full-time driver is not real comfortable with the road courses, who knows? “Certainly, if a team is interested in seeing what I’ve done over the years before they call, my web site is www.davidmurry.com. I welcome all calls, needless to say.”(Kermish-Geylin Public Relations)(7-13-2000)
Final Day of Dodge Testing: The Dodge Report: A Regular Update from the Dodge Garage. A few comments from Ray Evernham, team owner of Evernham Motorsports and lead developer of the Dodge Intrepid R/T NASCAR Winston Cup racecar, following three days of testing at Kentucky Speedway. The Dodge team logged more than 500 miles with two cars during the test session. One was set up to test the current aerodynamic package and the other was testing the second phase Dodge Winston Cup engine. See the full PR at Dodge Test – 3rd Day, along with some images of the test from another source(7-13-2000)
Good News for Bodine: Ralph’s Supermarkets has renewed a contract to continue its sponsorship of Brett Bodine’s #11 Cup team in 2001(Gaston Gazette)(7-13-2000)
Indy GM Testing Speeds: In the second and final day of pre-Brickyard 400 testing for Chevy and Pontiac drivers, Joe Nemechek surpassed the track record by almost 2 mph as his Oakwood Homes Chevrolet ran a lap of 181.206mph at Indy(Brickyard 400 Site) AND The overall top 10 in speeds from the two day testing, the top 10: 1) #33-Nemechek 181.206mph; 2) #3-Earnhardt 180.253; 3) #31-Skinner 179.698; 4) #36-Schrader 179.634; 5) #10-Benson 179.481; 6) #1-Park 178.934; 7) #27-Bliss 178.928; 8) #60-Bodine 178.913; 9) #8-Earnhardt Jr. 178.849; and 10) #55-Wallace 178.738(SpeedNet) AND See the top 25 speeds from Tuesday at the Brickyard 400 Site – Tuesday Speeds. Ford drivers will test at Indy on July 17-18th(7-13-2000)
Dodge Testing – Day two: from RPM 2Night on Wednesday. The two test drivers, Casey Atwood and Steve Grissom tested two Dodge Intrepids. One with a Dodge CTS (truck) engine to test set the car up aerodynamically and the other to test the experimental phase II Dodge Cup engine. Ray Evernham expects to have the body package ready to submit to NASCAR by the first week in August and the engine package to submit sometime in the next four weeks(RPM 2Night)(7-13-2000)

(7-12-2000)
Another #21 Paint Scheme? UPDATE 2: Negotiations are ongoing for the Wood Brothers to run a special Virginia Tech paint scheme on Elliott Sadler ‘s #21 CITGO Ford for a race this season. An announcement is expected July 11 and the paint scheme would appear on a car in the fall race at Richmond(Roanoke Times)(6-28-2000)
UPDATE: Elliott Sadler and the #21 CITGO Ford are teaming up with Virginia Tech at Richmond in September. The press conference and official unveiling of the “Hokie car” will take place at noon on July 11, 2000 at the University Bookstore on the Virginia Tech Campus. Elliott Sadler, the Wood Brothers, Doug Fritz – President of Richmond International Raceway and other university dignitaries will be available after the press conference for photo opportunities and to answer questions(Cox Marketing)(7-6-2000)
UPDATE 2: see an image of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery and also a batch of images at the Cox Marketing site(7-12-2000)
Indy Testing UPDATE: Winston Cup teams will head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway later this month for the two mandatory manufacturer testing sessions. The General Motors test for Chevrolet and Pontiac teams is July 11 and 12, with July 13 as a rain date. Ford’s two-day test is scheduled for July 17 and 18, with July 19 as the rain date(That’s Racin’)(7-2-2000)
UPDATE Benson Fastest at Indy Testing: #10-Johnny Benson, in an unsponsord Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac, was the fastest in Tureday’s testing at Indy for the Brickyard 400, to be run August 5th. Benson ran 179.481mph, just under the track record(for Cup cars) of 179.612mph, set in last years qualifying by Jeff Gordon. #33-Joe Nemechek ran 179.345mph and was the 2nd fastest.
The rest of the top ten: 3) #36-Schrader 178.914; 4) #60-Bodine 178.913; 5) #3-Earnhardt 178.869; 6) #25-Nadeau 178.713; 7) #22-Burton 178.484; 8) #14-Mast 178.311; 9) #10-Benson(in a 2nd car) 178.051; and 10) #55-Wallace 177.903. Other speeds #24-Jeff Gordon 177.491 and #18-Labonte 176.127. See the full rundown of speeds at: Top 25 Drivers From General Motors Testing (July 11, 2000). Testing concludes Wednesday(today)(Brickyard 400 Site)(7-12-2000)
Joyner-Kersee-Roehrig Motorsports? UPDATE: haven’t heard much on this Cup team since they withdrew the #34 Sunoco Pontiac from the Daytona 500. I am being told that the team is working hard to find a sponsor for the 2001 team and may run a race or two late in the season(6-3-2000)
UPDATE: Joyner-Kersee Racing has raced once this season. David Green drove for the team in the Bud Shootout at Daytona in February. Green made one qualifying attempt for the Daytona 500 before the team withdrew. Joyner-Kersee Racing has not competed since. The team, based in Roehrig’s High Point, NC, shop, continues to search for a sponsor so it can race. Roehrig said the team is focused on next season, although it could run a few Cup or BGN races later this season if sponsorship is found. The team has four Cup cars. Roehrig said the team is trying to find three companies to be the primary sponsor for 12 races each next year. With the Kersees searching for sponsorship and the Joe Washington/Julius Erving BGN team skipping several races as it attempts to reorganize, NASCAR is without a black car owner in its top two series(Roanoke Times)(7-12-2000)

(7-11-2000)
Wind Tunnel Testing: hearing the #77 Jasper Engines Ford is at the wind tunnel at N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA today(7-11-2000)
Problem with the #6? #5? UPDATE Fines: Hours after the race, NASCAR officials announced they had discovered “an issue” with Mark Martin’s #6 Valvoline Ford but would not discuss what, if anything, had failed to pass post-race inspection. Indications are that “the issue” would not change the final finishing order, apparently meaning that Martin’s team may face some sort of fine or other punishment(Gaston Gazette) AND Two Winston Cup teams face penalties from NASCAR on Monday after irregularities were found with their cars during the inspection process on Sunday. NASCAR inspectors discovered one or more rule violations with the #5 Chevy driven by Terry Labonte during inspections prior to Sunday’s Thatlook.com 300 at New Hampshire. During the post-race inspections, inspectors found one or more rule violations with the #6 Ford of Mark Martin. Winston Cup director Gary Nelson said Sunday night both teams would face fines, but would not lose driver or owner points or have their finishing position changed in Sunday’s race. Nelson said NASCAR expected to announce the fines sometime Monday(That’s Racin’)(7-10-2000)
UPDATE Fines: Jimmy Fennig, crew chief for Mark Martin, was fined $25,000 Monday after Martin’s #6 Ford was found to be lower than the minimum height requirement in postrace inspection following Sunday’s New England 300. Gary DeHart, crew chief for Terry Labonte, was also fined $7,000 for an improperly attached weight on the #5 Chevrolet. NASCAR inspectors found that violation in their prerace inspection on Sunday(That’s Racin’)(7-11-2000)
Benson News: Johnny Benson isn’t sitting idle during this off weekend. The driver is racing crew chief James Ince‘s dirt car at Selaia, Mo., on Friday. He’ll be competing at Ken Schrader‘s track Saturday as well. Benson is awaiting word on the future of his team. Owner Tim Beverley still is negotiating to sell his team. The transaction is expected to be completed in the next two weeks. MB2 Motorsports is the likely buyer(Times Dispatch and That’s Racin’)(7-11-2000)

(7-10-2000)
Interesting: Is Winston Cup stock-car racing dangerous? Twenty-seven drivers have died since the series began in 1949 — which includes all testing sessions, practices, time trials and races. “If you just took one lap at each of the 188 tracks that Winston Cup has raced at over 52 years and make it one piece of highway,” said NASCAR historian Bob Latford, “I doubt there’s one equal section of highway in the country that has had that few fatalities over the same amount of time.” Adding the length of 188 tracks — 2.5 miles for Daytona, 1.54 for Atlanta Motor Speedway, etc. — comes to a total of 135.1 miles.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(7-10-2000)
More Restrictor Testing: NASCAR officials have invited one Jack Roush’s teams and another team (presumably a General Motors group) to participate in further tests aimed at finding ways to open up the engines at the restricted tracks. Roush and Chevrolet owner Richard Childress took part in a test after the April Talladega race at which certain aerodynamic impediments were tried in attempts to find ways around the hated restrictor plates used at Daytona and Talladega(SpeedVision)(7-10-2000)
Lepage and Busch: Geoff Smith, the manager of Roush Racing, says that Kevin Lepage will be back as driver next season, but the (#16)team may be shaken up. Smith also said that Kurt Busch’s truck victory Saturday gives him 50-50 odds of being picked to run a Roush Winston Cup car next season(PitNow)(7-10-2000)
Drivers OK: Three drivers involved in hard hitting accidents at NHIS are OK. On Lap 7, #5-Terry Labonte and #97-Chad Little collided in Turn 4, wrecking both cars. Labonte, who is already nursing a fracture in his right leg, was uninjured. Little complained of neck pain and was taken to Concord Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a bruised collarbone, treated and released. #26-Jimmy Spencer hit the Turn 2 wall hard on Lap 98, and had to be helped from his car. Spencer was treated for a bruised left kneecap at the infield care center and released(That’s Racin’)(7-10-2000)
Get Well: Tom Beard, one of the three Georgia owners of MB2 Motorsports(#36 M&M’s Pontiac, Kwn Schrader driving), canceled his plans to be at Sunday’s race because of emergency gall-bladder surgery. Beard began feeling stomach pains on July 4, and checked himself into Northside General(GA). After undergoing an operation last Thursday, he still thought he could recover in time for the race. However, he stayed at his Atlanta-area home and watched it on TV(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(7-10-2000)
Some Facts from Henry: Joe Nemechek (2nd) had his best finish since his victory at NHIS last September. Jerry Nadeau (4th) had his career best finish today. His previous high- water mark was 5th at Watkins Glen last August. Rick Mast (12th) had his best finish since he was 9th here last September. Ricky Craven (17th) had his best finish since he was 13th here last July. Brett Bodine (20th) had his best finish since Atlanta in March when he was 16th. STREAKIN….Dale Jarrett has 9 Top-10’s in a row. Dale Earnhardt has 8 Top-10’s in a row. Tony Stewart has 6 Top-10’s in a row(Rumblings/Henry Dubret)(7-10-2000)

(7-9-2000)

Benning to Test at Indy: Benning Motorsports will be testing a 2000 Chevy at Indy on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 11 and 12. The car, driven earlier this year by Michael Waltrip, was purchased recently from Ultra Mattei Motorsports for the Brickyard 400. If all goes well with the test, the car will be entered in the Brickyard 400, slated for August 5. Benning has entered one other Winston Cup race this season, the season-opening Daytona 500. Since the ARCA series was also in town, Benning pulled double-duty. His #84 Chevrolet competed in one of the Gatorade Twin 125s, but was unable to record a high enough finish to qualify for the Daytona 500. At Indianapolis, Benning will be focusing exclusively on his Winston Cup effort, hoping to bring a higher level of exposure for sponsor SoBe Healthy Beverages.(Motorsports Fans Report)(7-9-2000)
#97 Driver? UPDATE 3: So far it’s been nothing but speculation and guessing, but SpeedVision reports Roush may look in house at his CTS drivers, Greg Biffle(unlikely, since he is moving to the #60 BGN car next year) or Kurt Busch(a longshot). Or possibly Kevin Lepage if the #16 sponsor goes away, but also stresses they are far from a choice and John Deere will be part of the choosing process(7-1-2000)
UPDATE: sources are telling me the driver will be….#99 Exide CTS driver Kurt Busch AND from a NOL story – No driver has been selected to replace Little next season at this time, but Roush said last week the announcement could come as early as the next several weeks. He did, however, say that neither current CTS point leader Greg Biffle nor his sponsor, Grainger, would be part of that equation(7-6-2000)
UPDATE: but as many readers (and myself) have heard, Benny Parsons of ESPN said he talked to Jack Roush who told Benny that folks ‘would think he’s crazy’ for whatever his future announcements will be. And even though I keep seeing columns/quotes that Biffle will go to BGN and NOT Cup, I keep hearing that Biffle will move up, possibly to either the #16 car or that Roush may actually start up the old #26 team(of course it would not be #26 as Travis Carter uses that #) again with Biffle as the driver. Other rumors have a female Indy Car driver (Sara Fisher?) in the ride, but that seems like a huge stretch. AND from the Las Vegas Sun: Kurt Busch is the leading candidate to replace Chad Little next year as the driver for team owner Jack Roush in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, according to sources in the auto racing industry. Kevin Radvany, a publicist for Roush Racing, said speculation that Busch would replace Little is “premature,” and added that Roush first must renew its sponsorship agreement with John Deere. At the time of his hiring by Roush Racing, Busch said he was on a maximum seven-year timetable — the length of his contract with Roush — to make it to the Winston Cup Series. See the full story at the Sun: Las Vegas’ Busch may make jump to Winston Cup Seriesby Brian Hilderbrand(7-7-20000)
UPDATE 2: after Kurt Busch’s win at NHIS on Saturday, he was interviewed on RPM 2Night by Reese Davis. Busch, whne asked about the #97 rumors, said there was truth to the rumors, he was in the mix of drivers under consideration and that he felt he was ready for the challenge and there is no better way to learn then being ‘thrown into the fire'(7-9-2000)
Rain: The thatlook.com 300 was the fourth race this season to be impeded by rain. Las Vegas was shortened by 119 laps. Michigan fell six laps short. Pocono was postponed to the next day, Monday. Sunday’s race at New Hampshire only went 273 of 300 laps(SpeedVision)(7-10-2000)
Nice Gesture: Tony Stewart offered the use of his private plane to Kenny Irwin’s family and the offer accepted and used by the Irwin family(RPM 2Night)(7-9-2000)
Chocolate Snake Bit: Danny “Chocolate” Myers, famous gas man for the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet, celebrated July 4th with a big bang. Or should that be a big fang? While enjoying a rare off-day from racing, Myers, 51, was working in the back yard of his home building a flower garden for his wife Caron, when he reached down into a weeded area where a small Copperhead bit into his hand. “I pulled my hand back and there were these two marks, fang marks, with blood dripping out of the wounds,” Myers recalled. “I didn’t think much about it. Just wiped the blood off my hand and kept on working.” His frantic wife pleaded with him to go to the local hospital, but Myers, a “strong, pig-headed tough-guy”, according to his wife, refused treatment. “That day he got sicker and sicker,” said Caron Myers, “and by that evening, he was really sick – vomiting, having bad headaches and his throat was tight and closing.” Finally, the following morning, he sought medical attention, visiting the local Lexington hospital. However, after sitting for three hours without being treated, he left. “As I always say, ‘Life is a Pitstop’, and those people at the hospital were apparently not going fast enough to suit him,” Caron said. She insisted he go on to their family physician, which was by all counts a good thing he did. “By the time he got there he was having such a hard time breathing that the doctor wanted to hospitalize him. Of course, Choc said he couldn’t be put in the hospital. He’d miss the race this weekend,” said Caron, rolling her eyes. Myers, indeed had suffered the ill-effects of Copperhead venom. “He was just lucky he was a big man,” said his physician, Terry Arnold. “It’ll take him a several days to get this out of his system, but he should be okay.” “I guess my ‘honey do’ list will be shorter from now on,” Myers laughed(Lazarus Productions)(7-9-2000)

(7-8-2000)
Penske to BGN? NO? How about Newman to CUP? UPDATE 2: Stan Herzog of Herzog Motorsports announced Sunday that primary sponsor ALLTEL has decided to leave his #92 BGN team and driver Jimmie Johnson after the 2000 season. The company was expected to renew its sponsorship this past weekend with a plan to expand into Winston Cup in 2001. The deal fell through on Friday when ALLTEL called Herzog and informed the team of its intentions to switch sponsorship to Team Penske in 2001(St Joseph News-Press(MO)). I hear Ryan Newman will drive the Penske BGN car. He has tested Cup and ARCA cars recently and run in a few ARCA races for Penske
UPDATE: hmm…hearing now that this will be another Penske Cup team, with Newman driving(7-5-2000)
UPDATE 2: not sure if this means anything but….Gregory W. Penske has been elected to the ALLTEL board of directors effective immediately. Penske is president of Penske Automotive Group Inc. of El Monte, Calif., which sells more than 39,000 vehicles annually. Penske Automotive is a subsidiary of Penske Corp., which includes Longo Toyota, the world’s largest retail dealer. Penske also is a director and senior vice president of International Speedway Corp. of Daytona Beach, Fla., and serves as a board member for a number of civic and industry associations(Yahoo Biz) AND Penske Motorsports is planning on expanding its operation and will field a BGN entry next season with Ryan Newman, an open-wheel racing star, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Newman’s team will run a full schedule next season in the BGN with Alltel as sponsor and plans are to move to the Winston Cup series in 2002. John Erickson, general manager of Penske Racing South, said Friday he would not comment on the BGN plans, but did say Newman will drive in four more Automobile Racing Club of America series events this season for the team – Pocono, Talladega, Charlotte and Atlanta. Newman ran in the ARCA race at Michigan for Penske(That’s Racin’)(7-8-2000)
Sad News: Howard M. Hurd, one of the most respected patriarchs in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series garage area, died today at the age of 89. His development of special high-speed air impact guns – the tools crews use to change four tires in less than 20 seconds during pit stops – earned him recognition as the father of today’s lightening quick pit stops. Hurd became a prominent figure in NASCAR racing during the early 60’s when NASCAR legend Glen Wood’s Wood Brothers racing team first tested his modified 405 Ingersoll-Rand air gun at Atlanta International Raceway. The Wood Brother’s success in the pits lead other teams to follow suit and the demand for his air guns made Hurd a household name in the NASCAR garage. His highly modified yellow and black air gun set the “norm” for pit stops. In the mid 60’s Mr. Hurd also worked with NASCAR official Bill Gazaway to develop a device to check the stock car body’s style and height. Together, they designed the original template used to measure the outline of a stockcar. That template is still used today at every NASCAR Winston Cup weekend to ensure a level playing field for Sunday’s race. In 1982 Howard Hurd received the Buddy Shuman Memorial Trophy, given each year for “outstanding contributions and loyalty to auto racing”. The trophy was presented to Hurd at the NASCAR Winston Cup Awards Banquet in New York City. The Hurd family continues their involvement in racing today. 2000 marks Hurd Pit Tools & Equipment, Inc.’s 41st year in the business. The company’s reputation for service and dependability is highlighted by the fact that since 1961 every Winston Cup championship team has relied on Hurd designed impact wrenches during pit stops. Howard’s grandson James, 32, runs the day-to-day operations of the company and has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by modifying the airflow of the 405 impact wrench. This newly designed “Thunder Gun” provides increased power, speed, and practicality. The yellow and black Thunder Gun is also on display at the Daytona USA. NASCAR fans can experience the thrill of “the fastest gun around”.(PR)(7-8-2000)
TV News: Steve Byrnes is one of the top TV racing reporters over the past 15 years and a TNN veteran. He’s working the booth at ASA events this season and pit road for TNN’s Winston Cup races, including this week’s 300. Byrnes may be the anchor for the Fox Network’s new one hour pre-race show next season, according to NASCAR sources. Byrnes confirms talking with Fox’ Ed Goren and auditioning at Charlotte, but Byrnes, from Charlotte, said he doesn’t know what Fox might decide(PitNow)(7-8-2000)

(7-7-2000)
Fellows to Test at the Glen: Ron Fellows will be participating as the test driver for the new Corvette C5-R prototype, doing Goodyear Tire Tests on Tuesday, July 11th. Fellows is also scheduled to be testing his NEMCO Motorsports #87 Bully Hill Vineyards Chevrolet, a car NEMCO plans on entering in the August 13th Global Crossing @ The Glen NASCAR Winston Cup Series event(Watkins Glen PR)(7-7-2000)
Buckshot to CUP? hearing that Buckshot Jones has a sponsor that will allow him to return to Winston Cup. Supposedly they will not run their own team but look to hook up with an existing team. Some rumors have Jones father talking to Yates Racing and Hendrick Motorsports(7-7-2000)
‘nice to hear’ news UPDATE: Bobby and Judy Allison have remarried. They were married by a justice of the peace in Bessemer on Monday. See full story at the Alabama Live site: Allisons re-tie the knot after Petty’s death by Clyde Bolton(7-6-2000)
UPDATE: see the story at SpeedVision – Bobby and Judy Allison Have Some Advice for Kyle and Patti, talk to each other and to listen to each other(7-7-2000)
#44 Crew Chief? UPDATE: hearing Fred Graves will become the crew chief for the #44 Hot Wheels team and Kyle Petty. Graves started the year as the crew chief for the #13 Robby Gordon team(7-4-2000)
UPDATE: Championship crew chief Fred Graves has been named to head the Hot Wheels Racing Pontiac team of NASCAR Winston Cup driver Kyle Petty. The announcement was made today. Graves had been working with Petty Enterprises as a consultant with the #43 Dodge by Petty driven by Steve Grissom, and will continue that role at New Hampshire this weekend. Sunday’s Thatlook.com 300 will mark Graves’ first stint as the team’s crew chief. Graves, 53, is a native of Oswego, NY, where he became a legend with his chassis in Super Modified racing in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. He moved to North Carolina in 1989, and has established himself as one of the most respected chief mechanics in all of NASCAR. In a variety of divisions, Graves has worked with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Hendrick Motorsports. With Earnhardt, he won a national Truck championship with driver Ron Hornaday in 1998. At Hendrick, he worked closely with champion driver Terry Labonte. Founder of his own company, Graves Racing and Consulting, Graves has spent this year working with Robbie Gordon’s Winston Cup team early in the season, Petty Enterprises’ truck team and part-time truck series driver Brendan Gaughan. Graves will fulfill his obligations, while working full-time with the Hot Wheels Racing Pontiac. Doug Hewitt, who heads Petty Enterprises’ research and development program, will fill in at times for Graves(Williams Company)(7-7-2000)
GM Cutbacks? General Motors officials have been talking about perhaps cutting a considerable amount of their NASCAR support if NASCAR officials push ahead with their plans for common-body templates(PitNow)(7-7-2000)
Hotel Alone: A couple was charged with neglect after they left their two young children at a hotel while they attended the Pepsi 400. Harold Hadnott, 47, and Sara Hadnott, 31, of Greensboro, N.C., were arrested early Sunday when they returned to their hotel room at the Georgian Inn in Ormond Beach. The children, ages 8 and 5, were playing on the pool deck at the hotel Saturday when a bystander asked them where their parents were. The children said their parents had gone to the races at Daytona International Speedway at about 2:00pm/et and had told them to play at the pool until 6:00pm/et, then return to their room, police said. The bystander called police, who arrived and found the children alone in the family’s room. Police took the children into custody and turned them over to the Division of Children and Family Services. The Hadnotts have been released on bond(Infobeat/AP)(7-7-2000)
Wind Tunnel News: hearing Sabco has one each of the #40 and #42 Chevy’s testing today at the wind tunnel of N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA(7-5-2000)
Celebrity Deathmatch Results: Just in case you missed it, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon were paired up in Thursday night’s episode of MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch, in which Claymation® caricatures of famous people are pitted against each other in what are normally very gory wrestling matches(SpeedVision)(7-7-2000)

(7-6-2000)
Labonte’s Crash UPDATE 4: #5-Terry Labonte was taken to Halifax Medical Center for precautionary x-rays. The two-time Winston Cup champion briefly lost consciousness after hitting the concrete wall near the start-finish line(Gaston Gazette)
UPDATE: Terry Labonte was taken to the hospital for a CAT scan which was negative, and then released(Infobeat/AP)(7-2-2000)
Labonte Hurt? UPDATE 2: getting many questions about Terry Labonte’s ‘injuries’ from his wreck at Daytona. From a PR I got: …..Unfortunately, that streak came to a halt just past the halfway point of the Pepsi 400(at Daytona) when Labonte spun out and hit the wall, damaging the #5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet beyond repair. With the July 9 New England 300 fast approaching, Labonte – not seriously injured in the mishap – is eager to start another streak of finishing performances(Summit Marketing Group) from what I hear banged up and bruised, CAT Scan was negative(7-6-2000)
UPDATE 3: Labonte has a slight fracture, right leg, below the kneecap; no cast, but he will be on crutches for a period of time. Labonte will start the race on Sunday, no word on a if a relief driver will be used
UPDATE 4: Terry Labonte was knocked unconscious briefly after slamming into the wall on the driver side. A CAT scan was given and came back negative, Labonte has been cleared by doctors and will race Sunday in the Jiffy Lube 300(now called the Thatlook.com). Labonte did suffer a fractured Tibia (bone below the knee) and bruised ribs. Crutches and a little pain will not keep “The Iron Man” from his 653rd consecutive start. Although Labonte is planning on completing the entire race, fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Jack Sprague(#24 CTS) will be on hand for precautionary reasons(Hendrick Motorsports Site)(7-6-2000)
Stewart OK in plane incident: Tony Stewart’s plane made an emergency landing in Asheville, NC around 6:00pm/et Wednesday. The twin-engine plane took off from Concord on the way to Evansville, IN for an appearance at a Home Depot. The pilot noted irregular readings on the fuel controller and made an emergency landing at Asheville’s Executive Airport. No one was injured in the incident. Stewart was scheduled to take another plane to Indianapolis around 9:30pm/et, and the Home Depot appearance was rescheduled for Thursday night(NBC 6 Charlotte)(7-6-2000)
Schrader double duty at NHIS UPDATE: Ken Schrader will be making only his second appearance in the CTS this season at the New Hampshire. Schrader will drive his #52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Silverado in the CTS race on on Saturday. Schrader will, of course, run the #36 M&M’s Pontiac in the Cup race(NHIS PR)(7-5-2000)
UPDATE: Add Bobby Hamilton and Steve Grissom to the list of drivers who will run both the Cup and CTS race at NHIS(7-6-2000)

(7-5-2000)
Wind Tunnel News: hearing the #8 Bud Chevy is at the wind tunnel at N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA testing it’s Brickyard 400 cars. Testing for the GM car is next week(7-5-2000)

(7-4-2000)
Gordon skips round 1 UPDATE 2: #13-Robby Gordon didn’t make a first round attempt at Daytona for the Pepsi 400, as he was very slow and the team is regrouping for a 2nd round run at 6:30pm/et on Friday. Gordon also said he was waiting on a gearbox(transmission?) to arrive. Heard that Gordon was unhappy with the Yates engines he got for qualifying, voiced his opinion, so Yates pulled ther motor, if so, that could be the reason no attempt was made, no motor
UPDATE: Gordon has made a deal with Penske Racing’s Larry Wallace and installed a Penske engine in preparation for the second (and final) round on Friday(SpeedVision)(6-30-2000)
UPDATE 2: Robby Gordon failed to qualify for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, his third DNQ of the year and it lit a fuse. Gordon, who started the year with Pro Motor as his engine supplier before switching to Yates, went to Robert Yates at Daytona and asked for the engine that won the pole in Dale Jarrett’s car or the engine that won the outside pole in Ricky Rudd’s car. Yates, who insiders consistently tell us provides his customers with engines as good as and sometimes better than those provided to his own drivers, declined. Gordon returned all of the Yates equipment in his possession, borrowed an engine from Rusty Wallace, and failed to qualify anyhow(Speedway Illustrated) AND some notes to clarify: The #13 team couldn’t get up to speed in Thursday’s practice. The team decided not to qualify for the first round based on a number of things but not because they didn’t have a mote as the original Yates engine was in the car contrary to what was reported earlier. The Penske engine didn’t go in the #13 until Friday morning. The #13 team asked Yates for the #28 qualifying motor and was told ‘no’, then asked if they could put another Yates motor in for comparison and was told that it would not be a good idea. #75-Dallenbach used the Yates engine the #28 qualified with in first round, for his 2nd round attempt(7-4-2000)
Stewart to race Hav-A-Tampa UPDATE: Tony Stewart plans to battle the nation’s top dirt late model drivers when the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series invades The Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Sunday and Monday(July 2nd and 3rd) for One Cool Cookout. Stewart owns a dirt late model stock car and makes sporadic appearances in the full-bodied machine when his schedule permits. However, the One Cool Cookout will mark the first time this season the Columbus, Ind., native has gone fender-to-fender with such dirt late model stars as Wendell Wallace, Scott Bloomquist, Billy Moyer, Steve Francis and Rick Eckert. Stewart drove a 600 Racing Thunder Roadster in an exhibition race during the Pennzoil World of Outlaws program that opened the $9 million facility at Lowes in May(Lowes Motor Speedway PR)(6-28-2000)
UPDATE: Tony Stewart had a tough night as he blew an engine in his primary car while leading his heat race. He then took over his team car normally driven by Steve Barnett and was involved in a race-ending skirmish while charging through the pack in the first last-chance event. “Something in the engine broke,” Stewart said about his primary machine. “I’m really disappointed because the car was awesome and I love this race track.” Track officials later added Stewart to the rear of the feature field as a provisional starter, but he was out after only 10 laps due to suspension damage caused by contact with another car. Scott Bloomquist won the main event(Lowes Motor Speedway)(7-4-2000)
Herta to NASCAR? Petty? Since his full-time CART ride for this season evaporated, Bryan Herta has openly stated that he would be open to other racing opportunities. In addition, the 7th Gear site hears that Herta has been spending some time in Charlotte over the past month or two and has even tested a Winston West car. Apparently, he may be working on a deal to get a Busch ride next year with Petty Racing, with hopes of joining John Andretti in the Winston Cup ranks in 2002(7th Gear CART site) AND in part from the Columbus Dispatch: The down time also gave Herta time to lay groundwork for other opportunities. For example, he would not be averse to driving in NASCAR’s Winston Cup circuit. A trip to the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend was, Herta said, “an eye- opening experience.”(7-4-2000)

(7-3-2000)
Kyle to skip New Hampshire? UPDATE 2 YES: Kyle Petty has not decided whether he will go to New Hampshire for next weekend’s Cup race, he said Thursday. The event would be the first time the Winston Cup Series has been at the track since Kyle’s son, Adam, died in a crash there in practice May 12. Next Sunday’s race comes a day before Adam Petty would have turned 20. Kyle Petty said he tries to take things one day at a time. He said he would have to discuss with his wife, Pattie, and their children, Austin and Montgomery Lee, whether to race in New Hampshire(Roanoke Times)(6-30-2000)
UPDATE: Kyle Petty remains unsure whether he will drive his #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac in next weekend’s race at New Hampshire, where his 19-year-old son, Adam Petty, was killed in a practice session crash in May. NASCAR’s Truck series also runs at New Hampshire next weekend and Petty Enterprises’ driver in that series, Steve Grissom, would be available to drive Petty’s car should he decide not to come to the race(That’s Racin’) AND TNN’s Raceday says Petty may miss Septembers Cup race at NHIS also(7-2-2000)
UPDATE 3: Steve Grissom will drive the #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac for Kyle Petty at NHIS. Petty will not travel to New Hampshire for the races(NOL)(7-3-2000)
Midwest Transit sponsor? UPDATE 2: hearing the #50 Midwest Transit team is close to a deal with a sponsor for the Brickyard 400, Watkins Glen, Michigan and Bristol and if all goes well, possibly 2001(6-30-2000)
UPDATE: The Hal Hicks-owned team picks up a sponsor beginning with the race at Indianapolis. The team signed a four-race contract with an Internet company(Times Dispatch)(hopefully NOT Lycos)(7-2-2000)
UPDATE 3 Craven to Run NHIS: Ricky Craven and his Hal Hicks-owned Midwest Transit Racing team will compete in Sunday’s New England 300 at New Hampshire, Craven’s home track. The team, running without a primary sponsor, has only competed in races this season it believes it can qualify for and run well in. The team will skip the July Pocono race and return for the Brickyard 400 in August, where it will begin a four-race run with an Internet company as sponsor. Good performances may lead to a full-season deal for 2001(That’s Racin’)(7-3-2000)
#7 to Ford: Michael Waltrip’s car owner, Jim Smith, has decided to change his Chevrolets over to Fords, and he’s been talking with Ford officials about support. Smith runs a Ford on NASCAR’s Truck tour. Smith expects Waltrip to be in a Ford by October’s Talladega race(PitNow)(7-3-2000)
Sad News: not NASCAR – Five-time motorcycle world champion Joey Dunlop, honored by Buckingham Palace for his humanitarian work, was killed in a road race Sunday when his bike skidded in heavy rain and hit a tree(Star Telegram)(7-3-2000)

(7-2-2000)

Cope at the Brickyard? UPDATE no: Warren Johnson, a drag-racing star, is building a new Winston Cup team in Kenny Bernstein’s old Huntersville shop. Derrike Cope is Johnson’s business partner and driver, and they hope to have a car(#37) ready for the Brickyard 400 in August(PitNow)(6-10-2000)
UPDATE: hearing now that Cope and his new #37 team will NOT be at the Brickyard. The team hopes to debut later in the season(7-2-2000)
Conseco Troubles? UPDATE: a few readers have voiced concern over the sponsor of AJ Foyt’s #14 Cup team, Conseco. Since the company announced in April 1998 that it was buying Green Tree Financial Corp., the stock has lost 88 percent of its value, closing this week at $6.62 a share. How this effects the sponsorship of the team, I don’t have a clue. Have heard absolutely nothing concerning any problems with the sponsorship. See the full story at SpeedNet: Area takes stock of Conseco, execs’ gifts, basically talks about charity gifts and such(4-22-2000)
UPDATE: A.J. Foyt’s team will not be affected by recent changes at Conseco, the car’s sponsor, team representatives said. Conseco changed its corporate president earlier this week. The company’s stock has plummeted lately but climbed to 9.5 (after falling to 4.6 in late May) before the market closed on Friday(Times Dispatch)(7-2-2000)
Little and Wells? Chad Little, who will not be returning to Roush Racing(#97 John Deere) next season, confirmed he is interested in driving the McDonald’s-sponsored ride for PPI Motorsports in 2001. The fast-food chain reportedly wants PPI owner Cal Wells to hire a Winston Cup veteran rather than to go with an “outsider.”(AJC) AND Cal Wells still is interviewing candidates for his second Winston Cup car, debut in 2001. He said it will be two to three months before a decision is made(Times Dispatch)(7-2-2000)
Adam Petty’s Crash: NASCAR officials found no sign of mechanical failure in the car Adam Petty was driving when he crashed and was killed in May at New Hampshire. Petty crashed into the turn-four wall at full speed. Crew chiefs said his throttle may have stuck, but NASCAR’s Mike Helton said there was no evidence to support that theory(Boston Globe/AP)(7-2-2000)
Hedrick selling #41 Team: Larry Hedrick’s team is taking inventory of its assets and preparing to sell the operation.(Times Dispatch)(7-2-2000)
CBS’s Last One: the Pepsi 400 at Daytona tonight will be CBS’s final Winston Cup broadcast, for at least six years as NBC and TBS take over in 2001. I just want to say thanks for being the pioneer in bring full length, live Cup races into my home and on TV. I personally got tired of hearing the complaints about this and that with the coverage and such. I remember watching Wide World of Sports on Saturdays (4:30pm channel 6 ABC) just to catch a 5-10 minute glimpse of Chris Economaki or Keith Jackson reporting on the previous weeks NASCAR Cup race with a few shots of the action, and thought it was great, so seeing a full race live is not taken for granted here. Thank You CBS and Ken Squier
UPDATE: Kudos or compalints can be addressed by contacting CBS(see my TV/Radio/Media page for contact info), contact your local affiliate or go to Perfect Paranoia and rate the race coverage(7-2-2000)
MB2 and TylerJet: Jay Frye, Manager for MB2 Motorsports #26 M&M’s Pontiac and driver Kenny Schrader, said any decision on buying or merging with Tim Beverly’s (#10) team will have to made quickly and hopes tp resolve it in a few weeks at least by the Brickyeard 400(PitNow) which is as far as #10 driver Johnny Benson said the team could go without a sponsor(7-2-2000)

(7-1-2000)
Big Rigs: Talladega Superspeedway is talking with Jimmy Spencer and other Winston Cup drivers about driving in the Monster truck race on the eve of the Oct. 14 Winston 500(AJC)(7-1-2000)
Benson good thru Indy: during the race on CBS, it was mentioned that the #10 Tyler Jet Motorsports team can run unsponsored thru the Brickyard 400(7-1-2000)
France Treatments: Bill France, NASCAR president, has not been at the track this weekend. Mike Helton, the sanctioning body’s chief operating officer, said France has been undergoing another cycle in his treatment for cancer. The treatment is being done at a Daytona-area hospital. Helton said the reports about France’s battle with cancer continue to be positive, but that his regular treatment plan is ongoing(That’s Racin’)(7-1-2000)
Leader Bonus: The Winston Cup leader bonus began in 1996 and has never been higher than it will be this weekend at New Hampshire. The bonus goes to a driver who wins a race and is the points leader at the end of that race. It begins at $10,000 and rolls over each week it isn’t won. Dale Jarrett won it by winning the Daytona 500 to start the season, of course, but it hasn’t been won since and stands at $170,000. That ties the record set back in 1996. Jeff Gordon won an additional $160,000 when he won at Talladega in July of that year(7-1-2000)
New Texaco Logo UPDATE: Texaco announced that it is introducing a new logo and package design for the company’s entire family of Havoline branded lubricant products. Packaging containing the new Havoline logo will begin showing up on U.S. retailers’ shelves in July, with international introductions planned for later this year and during 2001. In addition, the new Havoline logo will first be seen publicly on July 1 on the #28 Texaco/Havoline Ford of Ricky Rudd at the Pepsi 400(Yahoo Biz) NOTE: on the Texaco site, they show a new look for the logo(not the car), it is kind of subtle, see it at: Texaco – Our New Look(6-30-2000)
UPDATE: didn’t see much different at all in the logos on the car(7-1-2000)
Martin’s Back: Mark Martin is once again experiencing back pain which has caused him to walk gingerly at times once he’s spent time in his Winston Cup car(That’s Racin’)(7-1-2000)