June 1999 News Archives

(6-30-1999)
new Pepsi/Gordon spot: Pepsi will debut the latest commercial in its “The Joy of Cola” advertising campaign during Saturday’s Pepsi 400 on CBS. The new spot, called “Finish Line,” features Jeff Gordon and Hallie Eisenberg, the popular “Little Girl” character who goes to great lengths for her love of Pepsi. In the spot, a thirsty Jeff Gordon — racing in his #24 Pepsi Chevy — can’t stop thinking about the ice-cold Pepsi waiting for him at the finish line if he wins. As his crew chief repeatedly reminds him of the tempting prize, Gordon weaves his way to the front of the pack — until a surprising late entry into the race beats him to victory lane(Yahoo/PRNewswire)(6-30-1999)
Skoal UPDATE: I am hearing that Skoal will not return to the #33 Andy Petree/Ken Schrader team or any other team in 2000. They may possibly sponsor a race instead. Look for an announcement sometime this week. Won’t be the same without the #33 Skoal car out there(6-29-1999) — Skoal Gone, Official: U.S. Tobacco Co. announced today that it will not renew its Skoal Racing team sponsorship of Andy Petree Racing for the year 2000. The release says the difficult decision was made after much deliberation, including consideration of the Company’s compliance obligations under the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement signed last year and that UST will not forget the loyalty and support that we have garnered among racing fans over the years. UST began its association with NASCAR in 1981 with the Skoal Bandit Racing sponsorship of Hal Needham and Burt Reynold’s race team with veteran driver Harry Gant(PR)(6-30-1999)
Stocks, not the cars and #58: StockCar Stocks Index Fund(see banner on this site), the only NASCAR-related mutual fund, will be using the famed Daytona Speedway to announce the launch of a new class of shares at $15. StockCar Stocks will be launching the Advisor class shares which will be available exclusively through brokers. To promote this to the NASCAR fans, StockCar Stocks will be the Associate Sponsor on the #58 Turbine Solutions Ford Taurus for the July 3rd Pepsi 400 at Daytona Speedway(StockCar Stocks Site)…AND…while we are in the investing mode, check out this story: Funds for Motorheads(Smart Money.com)(6-30-1999)
Sponsors: Some teams with sponsor agreements up at the end of the year – #11-Brett Bodine is one of many teams waiting to hear from sponsors, he has a one-year agreement with Paychex. Ricky Rudd could hear as early as today if Tide will return. Roush Racing is looking for a sponsor for next season for one of its five cars(#16-Lepage). Hendrick Motorsports with driver Wally Dallenbach is looking for a company to replace Budweiser, which leaves for the #8 in 2000(see rumor below of the Yamaha sponsorship). The #9 Melling Racing team’s contract with The Cartoon Network expires after this season, although both sides have been talking. The #23-Travis Carter team is losing Winston as it’s sponsor. Sara Lee signed a one-year deal with owner Chuck Rider’s #30 team, and with Derrike Cope having missed six of 16 races this season, questions persist whether the company will rejoin the team. The #41-Larry Hedrick’s team is in the option year with Kodiak and both are exploring other options. Larry McClure is looking for a sponsor for a second team to join Bobby Hamilton, and Larry McReynolds is looking for a sponsor to start a team with next season(News and Record), plus the #90-Junie Donlavey Ford and #91-Joe Falk Chevy who have been looking for a sponsor all season(6-30-1999)
Menard to Cup? Spotted at Raceway Park(1/4 mile asphalt track outside of Minneapolis/St Paul, MN) on Sunday night(6-23): Indy-car owner John Menard, who was watching his son, Paul, and nephew Charlie compete in the Great North Legends Series. “We’ve looked at NASCAR,” said Menard about the prospects of adding a team to his fleet. “We’ve talked to a couple of different guys who want to get rid of their teams and stuff. If that happens, then you might jump right into Winston Cup.”(Minneapolis-St Paul Star Tribune)(6-30-1999)
Gordon: If Jeff Gordon wins the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, he will be the only driver in the modern era(72-present) to win three consecutive races at Daytona International Speedway, having won this year’s Daytona 500 and the first race under the lights at DIS that was scheduled for July of last year, but postponed until October due to forest fires(SpeedNet)(6-30-1999)
Nemechek Colors: The #42 BellSouth Chevy, driven by Joe Nemechek, will be sporting an impressive new car design featuring the BellSouth® Prepaid Phone card. His familiar blue and neon-stripped Chevrolet is being replaced with a new purple, red and white design for the Daytona night race(BellSouth PR)(6-30-1999)
Buckshot back and busy: Buckshot Jones will be back in the #00 Cup car this weekend at the Pepsi 400. He will also run the BGN event at Milwaukee on Sunday. Since Jones will be busy qualifying the Cup car, CTS driver Jay Sauter will attempt to qualify Jones’ BGN car in the Busch field(Times-Dispatch)(6-30-1999)

(6-29-1999)
Mock to Sell? UPDATE: I hear a group of investors from Murfreesboro, TN will make an offer to #75 team owner Butch Mock for the complete team. Sponsor is supposed to be a food related sponsor(Wendy’s/Burger King/Food Lion??)(6-28-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear this group is the same one that owns the #40 ChannelLock BGN team, Mike Mulhern of PitNow reported this a week ago, can be seen on my #75 Team Past News/Links page(6-29-1999)
Craven Ride: Lake Speed, General Manager of Midwest Transit Racing, has announced Ricky Craven will be piloting the #50 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, July 3rd. The team’s new crew chief, John Monsam needs no introduction to Craven. In 1994, he was Cravens Crew Chief in the Busch Grand National Series for the #2 Dupont Automotive Chevrolet. Together they finished 2nd in the final point standings(Midwest PR and the Midwest Transit Racing Site) right now it’s a one race deal then Craven and the team will decide if they want to proceed with more races(6-28-1999)
#28 News: Car owner Robert Yates appears closer to making a decision about the Kenny Irwin-Texaco team. Yates put the entire team on notice before the Coca-Cola 600 that he wanted to see better results. Since then, there has been marked improvement, with a 15th in the Coca-Cola, 10th at Dover, 11th at Michigan, 18th at Pocono and 22nd Sunday, at Sears Point. It is not clear if the improvements have been enough to satisfy Yates, who — according to sources close to the team — has been given the green light by Texaco to consider his options. However, despite reports that Yates is interested in hiring Terry Labonte, John Hendrick says that Labonte has assured him he plans to stay with Hendrick Motorsports(PitNow)(6-29-1999)
#30 Sponsor? UPDATE: hearing the Sara Lee sponsorship of the #30 Bahari Pontiac team is in jeopardy. Sara Lee is using a rotating product program on the car with Jimmy Dean, Bryan Meats, State Fair Corn Dogs, and Rudy’s Farms(6-28-1999) — UPDATE: Sources tell me that the Sara Lee sponsorship of the #30 will go through this season as it is under contract. Next year has yet to be determined(6-29-1999)
#91 Driver: Hut Stricklin will drive the LJ Racing #91 Chevrolet this weekend for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 3, 1999. Dick Trickle, who has been behind the wheel since Darlington, cannot participate because of a prior commitment. He will be racing at his home track, The Milwaukee Mile, during the BGN race on Sunday, July 4(LJ Racing Site)(6-29-1999)
Petty Ill UPDATE 3: Richard Petty is in the hospital with bleeding Ulcers. He collapsed at home recently after losing 40% of his blood. He was in intensive care for a day or so, but is doing much better and is expected to go home this weekend(ESPN2 Qualifying and Kyle Petty), get well King(6-25-1999) — UPDATE: Richard Petty is scheduled to be released from a Greensboro, N.C., hospital this morning(Sunday). Petty collapsed Wednesday and was transported to the hospital to be treated for bleeding ulcers. In the past, the owner of Petty Enterprises had a part of his stomach removed to help treat the ulcers. The problem is currently under control, but doctors did not trust Petty to take it easy, so they opted to hold him until today(Times-Dispatch) and see story at That’s Racin’: Petty recovering after massive blood loss from bleeding ulcers(AP)(6-27-1999) — UPDATE 2: Richard Petty was not discharged Sunday from Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, as expected, but son Kyle said there was little cause for concern. Doctors kept NASCAR’s winningest driver for another day because of the suspicion that Petty would fly out to Sears Point rather than continue to convalesce at home(SpeedNet)(6-28-1999) — UPDATE 3: Richard Petty checked out of a hospital Monday and returned home after being treated for bleeding ulcers. Petty, 61, was admitted to Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro last week after he lost 40 percent of his blood, according to his son, Kyle. Petty returned home to Randleman, NC and wants to get back to work at Petty Enterprises(PitNow)(6-29-1999)

(6-28-1999)
Wendy’s? I hear Wendy’s(fast food restaurant) is close to signing a deal with a Winston Cup team for 2000(6-28-1999)
Stewart Paint Scheme? UPDATE 1: Saw a listing on a diecast site taking orders for a “Habitat for Humanity” diecast for Tony Stewart. No idea where it may run. I checked the Habitat for Humanity website but saw nothing in any of the Press Releases(6-25-1999) — UPDATE 1: Hearing it may be run at Indy in the Brickyard 400(6-28-1999)
Hood Tethers will be required beginning at Daytona in the Pepsi 400(NOL)(6-28-1999)
Another Wood Winner: 17 year-old Jon Wood of Stuart, VA took his first victory of his short Winston Racing Series LMSC career at NRVS Saturday night in the Tonka Toys/Nerf Ford Taurus. Wood, grandson NASCAR legend Glen Wood and son of Eddie Wood of Wood Brothers racing fame(#21 CITGO Ford with driver Elliott Sadler), took the lead from his outside pole starting position and never looked back(Latemodelstock.com)(6-28-1999)
Monte Carlo Testing/Carter to switch? Chevy’s new Monte Carlo won’t be at Indianapolis for next month’s NASCAR tests for the Brickyard 400 because NASCAR officials vetoed that plan. But the 2000 model will be at the Gateway track in St. Louis in the next few weeks for shakedown runs, with Terry Labonte penciled in as the test driver for Rick Hendrick’s Chevrolet. General Motors has another test of its own also scheduled for Gateway at the end of August. NASCAR officials would like to see the new Monte Carlo and the new Taurus on the track at the same time sometime this fall, probably at Talladega the Monday and Tuesday after the Winston 500 on Oct. 17. Also, Travis Carter(ownes the #23 and #66 Fords) is hinting he may switch to Chevrolets, but GM’s Ken Van Everly says that’s news to him.(PitNow)(6-28-1999)
Roush/Ford: Roush Racing issued a memorandum to venders who sell racing memorabilia of its five drivers that any “Ford, Ford Motor Co., the Ford blue oval, Taurus or any other logos and trademarks relating to or connected with Ford Motor Co. be removed from all Roush Racing licensed products.” The move was made in response to a royalities-licensing action taken by Ford in recent weeks. Roush officials say it is no indication they plan to leave the manufacturer. Although the manufacturer’s logo will remain on diecast models – Ford has its own contracts within the diecast industry – it will not appear on other Roush Racing items(That’s Racin’)(6-28-1999)
Penske Crew: Mark Armstrong, rear tire changer for the Penske Racing South Miller Lite car driven by Rusty Wallace, returned to Gastonia, N.C., prior to Sunday’s race for the birth of his first child. Armstrong arrived in San Rafael at the hotel Saturday afternoon only to learn that wife Lorie had gone into labor. Front tire carrier Ben Leslie replaced him. In turn, Leslie’s job was picked up by crew chief Robin Pemberton, who had given up his over-the-wall duties last year following surgery on both knees(NOL) Congrats!!(6-28-1999)

(6-27-1999)

#25 Sponsor news UPDATE: Ever Since DEI announced that Budweiser would sponsor Dale Earnhardt, Jr in the #8 Chevy, Hendrick Motorsports has been in the process of searching for a replacement sponsor for the #25 Chevrolet. According to General Manager John Hendrick, the team should have an answer in the near future as it is close to signing a three year deal and expect to announce it in a few weeks(SpeedVision), I hear it’s some building/contruction company, but that’s all I know, also Food Lion was a rumored sponsor, but I hear that was incorrect(6-26-1999) — UPDATE: This weeks Speedway Scenereports that Yamaha or Burger King are the possible sponsors with Yamaha being preferred with Dallenbach back driving(Speedway Scene) — I hear the new sponsor for the #25 car is Yamaha and Wally Dallenbach will remain as driver(6-27-1999)
Labonte Rumors, Terry that is: getting many rumors that Terry Labonte and Kelloggs would leave Hendrick after the 1999 season and move to Yates in the #28. But a story in this weeks Winston Cup Scenedispells that rumor as well as an article on SpeedVision: Hendrick striving to improve team infrastructure by Lee Spencer. It says in part – Both Wally Dallenbach and Terry Labonte have been linked with potential deals. But Hendrick feels the best way to dispel the accusations is to improve the infrastructure. John Hendrick said. “I went straight to Terry and I said, ‘Hey, is there anything going on and what can we do to help you?’ And he told me he’s perfectly happy at Hendrick Motorsports and plans to retire here. I know he’s a man of his word, so we’re glad to hear that because Terry’s a class act and an asset to Winston Cup.” The team also added some extra help(6-26-1999)
Rudd/Ganassi?? A few weeks ago I reported on the possibility of CART team owner Chip Ganassi buying or buying into Ricky Rudd’s #10 team. All reports were that this was false. Well, today on TNN’s Raceday, it was reported that Tide should announce their 2000 sponsorship plans within the next week, and whatever that decision is will decide Rudd’s plans for his team, whether to sell it, bring in a partner, merge with an existing team or start a 2nd team. It was also noted that Ganassi was a possible buyer(Raceday) For past news see my #10 Past News/Rumors/Links page(6-27-1999)
Four in a row: Jeff Gordon is the first Winston Cup driver(in the Modern Era 72-present) ever to win four road course races in a row(6-27-1999)
Spencer: #23-Jimmy Spencer had his first top 10 of the 1999 season and first top 5 the 1998 Winston 500 at Talladega last October(6-27-1999)
Only Four: Only four drivers have won both NASCAR Winston Cup races at Daytona in the same year: Fireball Roberts (1962), Cale Yarborough (1968), LeeRoy Yarborough (1969) and Bobby Allison (1982)(DaytonaUSA)(6-27-1999)

(6-26-1999)
Petree News UPDATE: Sources tell me Oakwood Homes will move up to Winston Cup to sponsor Schrader in 2000(#52?)(6-19-1999) — UPDATE: Andy Petree will announce his plans for next year during the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Petree has not heard whether Skoal, the sponsor on the #33 APR Chevrolet will be back in 2000. Should they return, it is possible that Petree would move Ken Schrader into a different car with the Oakwood Homes sponsorship and bring in a new driver for the #33 car(SpeedVision and That’s Racin’(6-26-1999)
Roush Problems? Roush Racing president Geoff Smith touched off a vintage garage-area vendetta by making remarks critical of James Ince, one-time crew chief for Roush driver Kevin Lepage. Ince, now working on the #45 with Rich Bickle, issued a press release Friday that took what had seemed like a fairly routine USA Today feature and raised the tension level to DEF-CON 4. In a June 23 story, Smith said that Ince was let go because he deviated from the organizational norm. Ince fired back by saying he was not going to be the scapegoat for Lepage’s poor performance. “I have always believed in living and dying by the sword, but I never dreamed they would wait until I had my back turned to pull the knife,” Ince said. “That is what I feel like has happened here. “I’m not sure Geoff Smith has been to Liberty in the past two years,” continued Ince. “Geoff is entitled to his opinion, but when I was at Roush I answered to Jack Roush and I never heard any of these concerns from him, and to this day I have heard nothing but praise from Jack about the work I did for him and his race teams.” An immediate news blackout fell over Team Roush, although one of its operatives did visit the press box to pick up a copy of Ince’s remarks(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton), see the USA Today story at: Roush Racing not satisfied. Also see another story on the topic at That’s Racin’ – Ince fires back at Roush Racing president(6-26-1999)
Tethers: The cable restraint system to tether the front wheels of Winston Cup cars will become mandatory beginning with Sunday’s race at Sears Point, said NASCAR spokesman Tim Sullivan. The use of the device was added to the NASCAR rulebook this week. NASCAR has asked teams to voluntarily use the devices since the Winston all-star race early last month(That’s Racin’)(6-26-1999)
$800 Worth It: When Tony Stewart took a road-racing course at the Bob Bondurant school at Sears Point, everything went well until the final five minutes, when Stewart put one of the ‘school cars’ into a concrete wall. As a result, Stewart had to put an $800 charge on boss Joe Gibbs’ Visa card. “When the bill came in, Joe told me he didn’t have any idea it cost that much to go to a road-racing school, so I finally had to ‘fess up to sticking the school car in the fence,” Stewart said(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton)(6-26-1999)

(6-25-1999)
Action/goRacing: Action Performance plans on completing an Initial Public Offering for goracing.com, making it the first Nascar-related website to go public, see press release at: Stock Car Stocks Site(6-25-1999)
Speedwords Rumors: Speedwords is hearing that at least two drivers are offering their services to other car owners in a deal that includes their own crew chiefs. At first this sounded a bit weird, but it makes sense. With all the talk about chemistry and such hiring a driver complete with a crew chief they already know and trust sounds like a good deal. It often happens anyway shortly after the driver is hired so this move would just be ahead of the curve a little….AND….Hearing that Jimmy Spencer could be in a different car (GM?) within two weeks(Speedwords)(6-25-1999)

(6-24-1999)
Roush Contracts: In part from a USA Today story: Johnny Benson and Chad Little are well into the second year of their three-year contracts with Roush Racing and the contractual option for releasing either driver a year early expired a few weeks ago, meaning both will maintain their rides at least through this time next season. See complete story by Skip Wood at Roush Racing not satisfied(6-24-1999)
The Pits: thought this was interesting – Most NASCAR Winston Cup teams practice pit stops each week, some as much as twice a day. Melling Racing is no exception, but some of the crew members, led by team manager Jeff Buice, put in a little extra time before each race. Tire changers Steven Berry, 31; Kurt Binkley, 33; and Jason Pulver, 21, have a standard wheel hub mounted to the back of the “war wagon” — the tool cart used by the team on pit road during the race. Before the green flag flies, the three crew members take turns with their air wrenches, tightening and loosening lug nuts dozens of times(Cotter Group)(6-24-1999)
#2 Crewman: Bob Tracey, gas man/transport driver for Rusty Wallace, was recovering after he was injured on pit road at Dover. He broke two bones and had two chips in his left foot and was fitted in a full plaster cast. He’s also undergoing hernia surgery which he had been delaying(SpeedNet)(6-24-1999)
#26 Showcar Stolen: Roush Racing had one of its show cars and show car rigs stolen in Staten Island, N.Y., on Tuesday. The ensemble, which went missing around 11 p.m. ET, consists of a Ford F-350 dualie pickup truck, a 24-foot enclosed trailer and a #26 Cheerios Ford Taurus show car. The truck, trailer and show car were stolen from the Staten Island Inn parking lot. Anyone with information can contact the Staten Island Police Department at (718) 876-8500(NOL Notes)(6-24-1999)

(6-23-1999)
DW Announcement: look for Darrell Waltrip to announce that the 2000 season will be his final one. The announcement will take place in Indy at the Brickyard 400 on Aug 4th. Calling it Calling it “DW’s Victory Tour 2000” will supposedly have merchandise for the announcement and the Brickyard 400 weekend, then put it away until January 2000(6-23-1999)
Gordon Contract: in the goRacing chat with Jeff Gordon, someone asked about Gordon’s contract status. Gordon’s contract comes up at the end of the year 2000. No decisions have to be made until next June(2000). He would negotiation with owner Rick Hendrick first, and then he would go to the sponsors. Gordon also said: “If it was up to me, I’d like to drive a car for Rick Hendrick forever.”(6-23-1999)
Gilliland to run: Butch Gilliland will take his #38 Ralphs/Food 4 Less/Coca-Cola sponsored Ford Taurus to the Sears Point Cup event, in hopes of qualifying for his first Winston Cup race of the season. Earlier in the season the team planned to qualify for the Fontana Cup race, but encountered bad luck when rain cancelled qualifying and the starting grid was set by points. Gilliland has won 2 of the last 3 Winston Westraces at the track, sat on the pole twice and was leading the last race until he was knocked out by a competitor with only 4 laps remaining in the race, and was unable to return due to the damage to his car. Gilliland also ran the Cup race last year for injured driver Lake Speed in the Melling owned #9 Cartoon Network car(www.butchgilliland.com)(6-23-1999)
#75 UPDATE 2 SOLD? Butch Mock has said he is planning a significant reorganization of his #75 Cup operation and could have something to announce in the next few days(PitNow Notes), new sponsor? new partner? selling out?(6-19-1999) — UPDATE: from same story – Conrad Ordt(#40 team but isn’t the name Darwin Oordt), a little-known businessman who is one of the new figures on NASCAR’s Busch tour, is now interested in buying a Winston Cup team, according to sources familiar with the situation. There is speculation he may have his eye on Butch Mock’s team(PitNow)(6-20-1999) — UPDATE Mock Sold?Hearing that the #75 Butch Mock team has been sold, but that’s all I have heard(6-23-1999)
Polaris Switch? Hearing that Polaris will leave the #75 Cup Butch Mock(?) owned Ford and driver Ted Musgrave at the end of the year. Supposedly Polaris is forming some kind of co-operative marketing deal with DeWalt Tools and will be moving to the #17 Ford sponsored by DeWalt and the #22 Caterpillar Pontiac of Ward Burton(6-23-1999)
Marcis Miffed and no to retirement: “My body’s still sore, and I’m still a little upset with Brett Bodine,” Marcis said Tuesday. “(Bodine) did the same thing to his brother a couple of years ago at Indy. He just flat spun me out Sunday going into the tunnel turn at Pocono”. Marcis asked Kevin Triplett to review the film of the accident. He said they would. Marcis said his rib cage was sore, his hips were black and blue and he still had a mild headache from Sunday’s wreck, which did considerable damage to his #71 Chevrolet. Since he’s still not fully recovered, Marcis has decided to let West Coast driver R.K. Smith drive his car this weekend at Sears Point to gain owners points. Smith, 61, who has lived in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., since 1973, won the SCCA World Challenge Championship driving a Corvette in 1990 and 1992. He competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona this season and will also compete in Saturday’s Southwest Tour race in a Monte Carlo at Sears Point. Marcis also said Tuesday he has no plans to retire from Winston Cup racing, though rumors to the contrary have been circulating the garage area for weeks(That’s Racin’)(6-23-1999)
#91 News: LJ Racing will have the #91 car at Daytona next week, but they were not sure who the driver would be. No, they haven’t replaced the driver, Dick Trickle has a BGN commitment at the Milwaukee Mile next week, and won’t be able to make the Daytona race. Several names were mentioned as potential drivers, but no decision has been made yet but Andy Hillenburg may be the leading candidate(Victory Lane Online)(6-23-1999)
Nice: Chuck Trickle, father of the late Chris Trickle and brother of stock car veteran Dick Trickle, celebrated his 55th birthday and Father’s Day with the first victory of his career Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s 3/8-mile paved oval. See rest of story at NOL(6-23-1999)
Sad News: Marion Rider, the mother of Bahari’ Racing owner Chuck Rider(#30), died this morning after a lengthy illness. She was 85 and resided in Dillsburg, Pa(Bahari PR)(6-23-1999)
Daytona Test UPDATE 3: next Tuesday and Wednesday, June 22nd and 23rd with Elliott Sadler, Roush Racing using driver Matt Kenseth, and Buckshot Jones are scheduled to participate in that test, which will include night-time running on both days(NOL)(6-16-1999) — UPDATE: The Wood Brothers along with #21 driver Elliott Sadler have postponed their Daytona test due to bad weather predictions(NOL)(6-18-1999) — UPDATE 2: I now here that the #21 will be at the test(6-22-1999) — UPDATE 3: Rookies Elliott Sadler(#21) and Roy “Buckshot” Jones(#00) tested Tuesday at Daytona under the lights in hopes of gaining some insight to help them better qualify next week for the Pepsi 400. Busch Series driver Matt Kenseth also tested to check equipment for Roush(SpeedNet)(6-23-1999)

(6-22-1999)
Craven News: Ricky Craven received two Winston Cup offers on Monday but he is going to deliberate carefully before agreeing to a deal, according to his close friend and confidant Stan Meserve. Meserve wouldn’t divulge the names of the teams but said they are established Winston Cup teams on the NASCAR circuit. In the meantime, Meserve has gone to work building race cars for Craven’s BGN team(Bangor Daily News)(6-22-1999)
Different Drivers: Some different drivers will be at Sears point attempting to make the Cup race there. From the NOL Entry List: Boris Said #14 Federated Auto Parts Ford; Tom Hubert, #19 Bradford White Pontiac; Butch Gilliland, #38 Ralphs/Food 4 Less/Coca-Cola Ford; David Murry, #61 Midway Island Ford; Austin Cameron, #89 Mareon Products-Creative Touch Int. Chevy; Steve Portenga, #96 Golden Gate Meat Co. Pontiac; and Mike Borkowski, #09 AT&T Pontiac(NOL)(6-22-1999)
No #91: The #91 Joe Falk/LJ RAcing Chevy will not make the trip to the West Coast(Times-Dispatch). Driver Dick Trickle will be driving in the BGN Watkins Glen event Sunday(6-22-1999)
Marcis Injured UPDATE 3: Dave Marcis was taken to a local hospital by ambulance after hitting the wall hard midway in the race. He walked from the car but was woozy. His Team Manager said he had some cuts and chest pain. No further info known at 5:30pm/et – UPDATE: Dave Marcis was taken to a hospital after spinning out in turn 2 and hitting the wall. His helmet hit the driver’s side netting just as the left side of car smashed into the wall. Marcis sustained a laceration to his chin, and bruises to his neck, chest and right ankle. He was taken to Penn State-Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital for observation and released(Infobeat/AP)(6-20-1999) — UPDATE 2: From NOL – Dave Marcis was resting comfortably at home Monday morning following a brutal accident in Sunday’s Pocono 500 at Pocono. A team spokesman said Marcis’ participation in this weekend’s Save Mart/Kragen 350 at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., was “questionable,” but that it would be reevaluated on a day-to-day basis(NOL), GET WELL DAVE(6-21-1999) — UPDATE 3: RPM2Nite reports that the team has talked to Winton West driver R.K. Smith to possibly drive the #71 RealTree chevy at Sears Point if Marcis does not feel up to it(6-22-1999)
#90 at Sears Point UPDATE: Eric Comas, the former Formula One driver will try to qualify a Junie Donlavey #90 Ford at Sears Point. Comas is a Nissan factory sedan driver, and Nissan engineers are expected to be at Sears Point to check things out(PitNow)(6-14-1999) — UPDATE: It looks like Junie Donlavey will not take his #90 Ford team to Sears Point. Donlavey has been talking with another car owner about putting his #90 on another car that tries to qualify for the race. The owner bought a Butch Mock car and Donlavey’s team had everything ready, but now it looks as though the team is not going. Originally, Donlavey had talked about joining a one-race deal that would put a F-1 driver in for the event, but that plan fell through late last week. NASCAR — which owns all numbers — has rules about putting a number on a car not belonging to that team but does allow the transfer under certain circumstances(Times-Dispatch)(6-22-1999)
Irvan-Simo SP: Boris Said will attempt to make the field for the June 27th race at Sears Point #14 Federated Auto Parts Ford owned by Irvan-Simo Motorsports(RPM2Nite)(6-22-1999)
E-A-G-L-E-S: Members of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles(Jayski’s favorite team, insert joke here) were in the garage this weekend filming driver endorsements. Four Jack Roush drivers — Jeff Burton, Kevin Lepage, Chad Little and Johnny Benson — filmed the promotions. They will run on the Eagles’ JumboTron before games this fall(I’ll make 4 games so I’ll check them out)(Times-Dispatch)(6-22-1999)
DW BGN ride: Remember those DW BGN rumors a while back, well I am hearing that DW will drive the #48 Champion Potato Co Ford at Charlotte in October in a one race deal. His brother Michael is supposedly listed as the owner(6-21-1999)

(6-21-1999)
Bud Moore deal? UPDATE: whatever happened to the #15 Bud Moore/AMVETs deal? No idea(6-20-1999) — UPDATE: Looks like it’s still on, I hear the deal is still being finalized. Moore is going to the AMVETSNational conference or meeting in early/mid July, where supposedly they are bringing a show car to display. Supposedly the deal would be to run the final 5 races this year with 2 full seasons in the deal begining next year. No word on a driver yet(6-21-1999)
and moore: “The Bud Moore Engineering #15 Winston Cup team is very close to forging their deal with AMVETS and is looking for the help of loyal NASCAR fans. Asking that fans contact the AMVETS at their national headquarters in Lanham, Maryland by calling at 301-459-9600, faxing them at 301-459-7924, emailing them at [email protected] or writimg them at Amvets National Headquarters, 4647 Forbes Blvd, Lanham MD 20706-4380″(Moore PR-(doh not Melling))(6-21-1999)
Sponsors: Two new sponsors hoping to get into Winston Cup racing are Freightliner and Sea-Land, according to NASCAR sponsor seekers(??). The two companies could be on Larry McClure’s(Morgan-McClure #4) proposed second team(PitNow)(6-21-1999)
DNF’s: #22-Ward Burton suffered his first DNF of the season. Only four teams are left that have started all 15 races and have no DNF’s: #18-Labonte, #20-Stewart, #33-Schrader; and #98-Mast. The #75-Musgrave has no DNF’s but did miss one race. #60-Geoffrey Bodine leads with 6 DNF’s in 15 races. See my DNF-Did Not Finish Page for the run down of each race and how many each team has(6-21-1999)
Bill Davis BGN: Bill Davis is looking for a driver for his Busch team for next year since Dave Blaney plans to move up to the Winston Cup tour. One man on his list, according to sources close to the situation, has been Jason Lefler, who is also on Joe Gibbs’ short list(PitNow)(6-21-1999)
TV Cash? NASCAR executives are planning to change the way they divide up television revenues, with an eye to the hoped-for increase in TV money. According to several sources in a position to know, NASCAR is considering giving each car owner a lump sum TV money package at the beginning of the season, say $3 million a team. Currently television money is doled out race by race. The kicker: not every team would get the money. Only two teams per car owner would get new TV money(PitNow) – Jayski Note: If this happens I am sure there will some criteria to make a team eligible for the money(6-21-1999)

(6-20-1999)

Mast Leads: Rick Mast in the #98 Woody Woodpecker Ford, led a lap for the first time in 1999 in the Pocono 500, he was the 36th driver in 1999 to lead a lap. To see who has led the most laps in 1999, see my 1999 Bonus Points Page(not updated for Pocono…yet)(6-20-1999)
Marlin Top 5: Sterling Marlin’s 4th place finish in the Pocono 500 was his first in 62 races(6-20-1999)
Pontiac: Bobby Labonte’s win in the Pocono 500 was Pontiacs first since Kyle Petty in 1993(6-20-1999)
It’s Back…UPDATE Speculation continues to grow that Terry Labonte may be driving for Yates’ operation next season(PitNow Notes), expect denials within a few days from one or both teams, Yates saying no third team and Hendrick saying Terry and Kelloggs are signed with them through the end of 2000(6-19-1999) — UPDATE: sources tell me that Labonte is signed through 2000 with Hendrick and Kelloggs, and plans on retiring there. And from Speedwords: Rumors of Terry Labonte moving to a third (or current) Robert Yates team appear to be unfounded. Sources deep in the Yates organization are very skeptical of such a deal due to what they describe as Roberts “total concentration” on Dale Jarrett’s shot at the Winston Cup championship(6-20-1999)
Rudd News UPDATE: During qualifying today Eli Gold noted that Tide will let Ricky Rudd know by June 30th if they will stay with the team next year. Ricky says if they decide to leave he has a “contingency plan” lined up(MM)(6-18-1999) — UPDATE His team is behind schedule, but Ricky Rudd said he still is working to secure a business deal that will allow him to start up a second team. Rudd hopes to have his plans finalized by June 30 to get a head start on the new venture(Times-Dispatch)(6-20-1999)
#75 UPDATE: Butch Mock has said he is planning a significant reorganization of his #75 Cup operation and could have something to announce in the next few days(PitNow Notes), new sponsor? new partner? selling out?(6-19-1999) — UPDATE: from same story – Conrad Ordt(#40 team but isn’t the name Darwin Oordt), a little-known businessman who is one of the new figures on NASCAR’s Busch tour, is now interested in buying a Winston Cup team, according to sources familiar with the situation. There is speculation he may have his eye on Butch Mock’s team(PitNow)(6-20-1999)
Now this is New – Schrader UPDATE 2: I had heard rumblings that Skoal may not return but….from PitNow: Andy Petree says that he’s signed a sponsorship contract with a new company to back what would be his third Winston Cup team next season and that Kenny Schrader will drive for the new team. Petree says he is still waiting to hear from U.S. Tobacco(Skoal) on whether it wants to sponsor him again next season. If UST says yes, Petree says he will begin looking for a new driver for #33, the car that has been so closely associated with UST’s Skoal brand since the Burt Reynolds-Hal Needham Bandit days with Harry Gant. Petree says he has talked with Greg Moore, the Indy-car driver who has expressed an interest in a NASCAR ride(PitNow Notes) — UPDATE: Sources tell me Oakwood Homes will move up to Winston Cup to sponsor Schrader in 2000(#52?)(6-19-1999) — UPDATE 2: but you have to wonder after seeing this story if Oakwood Homes will be it: Oakwood Homes Corp., the country’s largest retailer of manufactured homes, announced Friday that third-quarter earnings could fall as much as 50 percent below Wall Street expectations and that the company is looking for a potential buyer. See complete story at – Oakwood says company is for sale(The Depot)(6-20-1999)

(6-19-1999)
#98 Crew Chief? UPDATE: hearing rumors that Dave Charpentier, who presently is working as an engineer at the #1 Pennzoil team and recently left the #25 Hendrick Bud team, may be the new crew chief on the #98 Woody Woodpeacker Ford driven by Rick Mast. Mast and Charpentier worked together at the #75 — UPDATE: but saw this in an NOL story: “Interim crew chief Mark Tudor, who may remove the the first word from that title if things go right with the team. After Friday’s lap, that looks more like a possibility for Tudor, who had a similar role with Darrell Waltrip earlier this season. Mast says that the addition of Universal made the addition of people like Tudor possible”(NOL)(6-19-1999)
No Moore? Rumors of a Greg Moore ride at Daytona in two weeks seem to have subsided. Bill Elliott said he has no ride for the CART driver. Another possibility is Felix Sabates’ recently founded #01 Chevrolet, but Sabates was unavailable for comment, and representatives of his teams professed no knowledge of any arrangement with Moore(Monte Dutton/SpeedNet Notes)(6-19-1999)
Carter’s Picks? If car owner Travis Carter and Spencer split at the end of the season, two drivers who may possibly be on his list: Jerry Nadeau and his former driver Rick Mast(PitNow Notes), but expect Mast to stay with the #98(6-19-1999)
Felix to show: #40/#42/#01 Team owner Felix Sabates had not planned to come to Pocono for the Pocono 500, usually doesn’t make the trip. But after Sterling Marlin(#40) won the pole he changed his mind and will come up for the race(6-19-1999)
Gordon Worst: Jeff Gordon’s 17th starting spot for the Pocono 500 is his worst of 1999. Gordon and Mark Martin are the only two Cup drivers to have started every race and made it on first round qualifying(6-19-1999)
Lead Laps: Geoffrey Bodine has led the most laps in the history of the Pocono Raceway, 801 laps(GoCarolinas) — Bodine slowed down 3/10’s of a second from his best lap in qualifying. The cause of this was a skip in the engine during the one lap of qualifying. The team first encountered the problem in practice and made changes in the fuel system in an effort to solve the problem. These changes did not help and the problem was much worse in qualifying. After qualifying, the team tore down the engine and determined that a faulty camshaft was the cause of the day’s problems. The team will change engines before Saturday’s first practice session(PowerTeam Site)(6-19-1999)

(6-18-1999)
More Tethers: At Pocono on Sunday, three cars will help NASCAR test tethers designed to keep a car’s hood attached to the car in case of a crash. The #2-Rusty Wallace, #24-Jeff Gordon and #18-Bobby Labonte have been fitted with the hood tethers. NASCAR is trying one tether with each car make to be sure the restraints don’t offer any interference with the way the car performs on the track. As for the wheel tethers? Each team now has set of tethers they are permitted to use at all tracks. NASCAR has not yet made them mandatory in the Winston Cup series, but that may change in the next few weeks(David Poole/That’s Racin’)(6-18-1999)
From NOL: In response to the extreme hardship being suffered by the refugees forced from their homes in Kosovo, Robert Yates Racing sponsor Texaco has partnered with Relief International, a Los Angeles-based humanitarian relief organization. The focus is to offer help and hope to the refugees by addressing their short and long term needs. Texaco has implemented two humanitarian relief programs through Relief International, first by committing $50,000 to establish 10 schools that will provide education and social activities for up to 300 children per day, and second by matching gifts donated by Texaco employees in support of the Kosovo crisis (to an aggregate total of $25,000)(NOL-Thursday Notes)(6-18-1999)
Rudd News: During qualifying today Eli Gold noted that Tide will let Ricky Rudd know by June 30th if they will stay with the team next year. Ricky says if they decide to leave he has a “contingency plan” lined up(MM)(6-18-1999)
More on Moore: Who is Greg Moore? Good interview in the Vancouver Sun at: Moore still in hunt for CART crown by Lyndon Little. One Note: at the end of the story it mentions – Moore says any discussion of his future with Player’s Forsythe will have to wait until June 30. That’s the day he can begin talking to potential suitors in rival circuits(Vancouver Sun, thanks Sean & Crystal)(6-18-1999)
Hubert and the #19: Tom Hubert, who works for Bill Davis Racing, will drive the #19 Kurt Roehrig owned Pontiac at Sears Point Raceway next week. The team will also run the August Michigan Cup race with Bradford White Water Heaters as the sponsor for both events(WC Scene), Bradford White also has a racing related contest going, check out the above link(6-18-1999)
Gentilozzi to Cup UPDATE: Paul Gentilozzi, defending SCCA Trans-Am Champion will attempt the two road course events at Watkins Glen and Sears Point(TNN’s Raceday)(4-18-1999) — UPDATE 1: Paul Gentilozzi Gentilozzi, reigning champion in the Trans-Am Series, plans to make his Cup debut in the Frontier at the Glen, Aug. 15 at Watkins Glen. He will be in a Ford Taurus bought from NASCAR team owner Jack Roush. Gentilozzi is also considering becoming a Cup team owner when his driving days are over. The car will be sponsored by Homelink a Johnson Controls electronic device for activating garage doors, estate gates and lighting(That’s Racin’)(6-18-1999)
Trump, team owner? Speedwords is hearing that “The Donald” Trump is interested in more than just co-owning a track with NASCAR. Sources in Charlotte say representatives of Trump are quietly investigating opportunities to buy an established team or facility in which to start a new team(Speedwords)(6-18-1999)

(6-17-1999)
Buckshot news? UPDATE: Hearing that Buckshot Jones may step back his Winston Cup program and run most of the BGN events remaining in 1999(6-14-1999) — UPDATE: Buckshot Jones and the Buckshot Racing team announced today that they will be scaling back the races they compete in on the Cup circuit for the remainder of the 1999 season. Jones will also be taking over the driving duties of the team’s #00 Cheez-It® Pontiac on the BGN series when the schedule allows. Jones will not compete in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway this weekend, with the next scheduled Winston Cup race being the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 3rd. Jones is also scheduled to drive in the Lysol 200 Busch Series race at Watkins Glen on June 27th(Buckshot Racing Site)(6-17-1999)
The ‘Hat Man’ UPDATE 1: been getting a rash of what happened to Bill ‘The Hat Man’ Broderick? Well from what I hear, after he was released of his duties when Tosco bought out Unocal he bought a restaurant or tavern in the Chicago area(6-16-1999) — UPDATE 1: some more tidbits, Broderick is the owner of a tavern near the Fox River in Algonquin, Illinois, in the Northwest Chicago suburbs, that he actually has owned for some time(6-17-1999)
Moore to Cup? UPDATE 2: Look for a CART driver to jump into a Cup car during the July 4th weekend. Greg Moore has an open weekend and after savvy driving today in the IROC race he could prove quite a handful at Daytona. A team has yet to be officially announced(SpeedNet)(6-12-1999) — UPDATE 1: CART FedEx Championship PPG Cup contender Greg Moore has made no secret about his interest in NASCAR. The Winston Cup Series to be exact. Rumors were rampant earlier this season that Moore would leave CART after this season. Depending on who you talk to, Moore will a) definitely attempt to qualify for the July 3rd Pepsi 400 or b) test with the Roush organization, or c) drive a second McDonald’s backed car for Bill Elliot at the Pepsi 400. Take your pick.(in part from a GoRacing article)(6-16-1999) — UPDATE 2: Sources tell me that Moore will NOT drive a 2nd Elliott Ford. Elliott also mentioned in his recent NOL chat that he has no plans for a 2nd team in 1999(6-17-1999)
The Return of Gordon? Robby that is? In a SpeedVison column, Morgan-McClure close to fielding second car, it mentions that: Whether he inks a deal or not, McClure intends on testing the waters with a second car this year. He admits he has discussed his driver’s position with Jeff Green as well as Robby Gordon, and they could both be considered “possibilities”. Other things mentioned in the story include, the team is taking two vars to the GM wind tunnel on Thursday(6-17), a Daytona car and a high-downforce car and the team have 22 chassis built(SpeedVision)(6-17-1999)
Mag Covers UPDATE 1: TV Guide’s June 19 issue will have three different covers, featuring Jeremy Mayfield, Jeff Burton or Bobby Labonte(News and Record)(5-26-1999) — UPDATE 1: Hmm…my June 19th issue has That’s 70’s show, no NASCAR drivers(6-17-1999)
Lake Speed to Drive? from the Lake Speed Fan Club Site: Many of you have been writing wanting to know what the possibility would be for Lake to drive the #50 Midwest Transit Chevrolet at Daytona next month in the Pepsi 400. According to Lake he will not drive in that race. He stated that he had been concentrating 100% on getting the race team reorganized and turned around to bring them up to a competitive level. How ever he did mention there “could” be a possibility that he might drive the car at a later date, if and only if the situation and the conditions were right(Lake Speed Fan Club(6-17-1999)
Gordon Tested UPDATE 1: Jeff Gordon tested his BGN and Cup cars at Memphis Motorsports Park on Tuesday. Not sure why they chose the track(6-16-1999) — UPDATE 1: Gordon was driving a primer Cup car and Ryan Newman was driving the BGN car. They were testing to see how well the BGN car would keep up with a Cup car on a track the size of Memphis’s(reason given in the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper). The track is a 3/4 mile tri-oval with eleven degrees banking which very similiar to Richmond. Derrike Cope was testing the #30 cup car on Monday June 14th(6-17-1999)

(6-16-1999)
2nd Morgan-McClure sponsor? UPDATE 3: hearing LandAir(LandAir Transport, Inc. and ForwardAir), an associate on the #4 Kodak Chevy driven by Bobby Hamilton, may be the primary sponsor for the rumored 2nd Morgan-McClure team(6-12-1999) — UPDATE 1: Hearing Jimmy Spencer spoke to the Larry McLure concerning the ride??(6-14-1999) — UPDATE 2: I also hear that owner Larry McClure has talked to Steve Grissom regarding the second car, most recently at Dover(6-15-1999) — UPDATE 3: Morgan-McClure Motorsports owner Larry McClure all but affirmed Tuesday that he will add a second NASCAR Winston Cup Series team by the end of July, and may even take the track with two cars by season’s end. See the complete NOL story at: McClure says second team is ‘close’. See the #14 Morgan-McClure page I have which compiles the news and rumors I have heard. Also, PitNow has a good story on the team: McClure says a second team is almost a necessity for next season(6-16-1999)
Rudd news: NASCAR Today radio reports that Ricky Rudd hopes to announce something by the end of the month concerning a sponsor, a partner and a possible 2nd team(6-16-1999)
Spencer stuff: Jimmy Spencer says “my name’s in the hat” after learning that sponsor Winston will leave Travis Carter at the end of the year. Spencer has been vocal about the lack of power his Pro Motor engines provide and has had a dismal year with no top 15 finishes(Racer Magazine)(6-16-1999)
Marcis News: Dave Marcis(#71) is denying rumors that this will be his final season in the series. Reports have said Marcis will announce his decision at the Pepsi 400 next month in Daytona, and will retire from driving after next year’s Daytona 500(Tennessean)(6-16-1999)
No Pocono for Buckshot: Buckshot Racing canceled its entry in this weekend’s Pocono 500 for Buckshot Jones. Jones intends to test at Daytona next Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for the July 3 Pepsi 400(NOL)(6-16-1999)
3rd SABCO team: Jeff Green will be at Pocono this weekend attempting to get the #01 Trac Fone Chevrolet owned by Felix Sabates in the race. It’ll be the 2nd attempt for Green and the orange chevy, they tried the Coke 600 also(6-16-1999)
Randon Thoughts: Pontiac had five cars in the top 10 last week at Michigan, but Pocono hasn’t been the Grand Prix’s best track. In the past 16 Winston Cup races there, a Pontiac has been in the top five only eight times out of a possible 90 chances. Kyle Petty had Pontiac’s last win here in 1993(That’s Racin’)(6-16-1999)

(6-15-1999)
Track Star to Own Cup Team? Heard this on the Winston Cup Today Radio show by PRN and went hunting, found the story in the St Louis Business Journal: Track Star Jackie Joyner-Kersee is roaring into auto racing with an $8 million NASCAR team that might be backed by local corporate sponsors. Joyner-Kersee and her husband, trainer Bob Kersee, have been negotiating for months with potential sponsors, including Ralston Purina Co. and World Wide Technology Inc. They hope to announce a driver and car manufacturer soon and to have the team in place by Sept. 1st. The couple’s race for a NASCAR team comes amid efforts by Gateway International Raceway to attract a Winston Cup by increasing its seating(6-15-1999)
RJR Back? While the release does say that Winston doesn’t have any plans to sponsor an entry in 2000 ‘at this time’, the Speedway Scene has learned that if RJ Reynolds could put together the right combination they might consider forging ahead with a “super” team in 2000(6-15-1999)
Craven? UPDATE 4: Hearing Ricky Craven has signed with the #50 Midwest Transit Winston Cup Chevy, makes sense if true since he and the new #50 crew chief, John Monsam, have worked together in the past(6-11-1999) — UPDATE 1: Ricky Craven, released this week by car owner Scott Barbour(#58) and replaced by Loy Allen, didn’t have to look long for a new ride. Craven was approached by Joe Falk(#91) but is now expected to be in Ted Milner’s and Hal Hicks’ Midwest Transit #50 car next week at Pocono(PitNow)(6-12-1999) — UPDATE 2: BTW: the owners are Mike Witters and Hal Hicks, not Ted Milner. I hear they will NOT go to Pocono, checking on this further. TNN’s Raceday also reported that the team would go to Pocono next week(6-13-1999) — UPDATE 3: Sources tell me that the #50 team has NOT spoke to Ricky Craven about the ride….yet. As for Pocono, the team is not scheduled to race there and has not sent in the NASCAR Entry Form for the race. They hope to announce a driver within the next week(6-14-1999) — UPDATE 4: From NOL – Lake Speed, general manager of the #50 Midwest Transit Racing team, is still in search of a driver to fill the position vacated when Dan Pardus was released from his driving responsibilities in May. Although Speed failed to specify the exact number of possible replacements for Pardus, he didn’t shy away from a notion that Ricky Craven will likely be among those in consideration, see complete NOL story at Speed moving slowly with Midwest reorganization(6-15-1999)

(6-14-1999)
Team Status: Larry McReynolds has another sponsorship meeting scheduled this week in his negotiations to put together a new Winston Cup team for next season. He’s working against a June 30 deadline(PitNow)(6-14-1999)
Buckshot news? Hearing that Buckshot Jones may step back his Winston Cup program and run most of the BGN events remaining in 1999(6-14-1999)
RAD News: Only days after NASCAR approved the Winston Cup version of the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo team at Dale Earnhardt Inc along with two other RAD teams are working on a test car. RAD – the aerodynamics alliance of Richard Childress Racing, Andy Petree Racing and DEI – plan to model the cars it builds based on the information gathered by the test car(Pennzoil PR)(6-14-1999)
Tethers and Rain Tires: NASCAR officials reminded Crews during the driver’s meeting to bring the steel cables used to keep the front wheels attached to the cars to Pocono next weekend. The devices were not mandatory in Sunday’s race. Crews also were reminded to make sure their cars for the Sears Point race course were prepared to run in the rain. Rain tires have been developed and NASCAR officials have said they would hold the race in the rain(News and Record)(6-14-1999)
Ford/Chevy: Ford expects to get NASCAR approval of all the templates for their 2000 Taurus by the end of August. That would be remarkably fast, particularly for a model that has suposedly been in development for only a few months. General Motors officials say they expect Ford’s new Taurus to have to meet the same aerodynamic numbers they had to meet with their own new 2000 Monte Carlo(PitNow)(6-14-1999)
#23 in trouble? Travis Carter’s #23 team faces uncertainty with this week’s announcement that R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.(Winston) won’t return as the team’s primary sponsor next season. Carter said Sunday he sensed as soon as last year that the contract wouldn’t be renewed beyond its expiration after this season, and he knew well in advance of this week’s announcement that the decision had been made. The team has been looking for a sponsor since the beginning of 1999 and is encouraged by the response he has found. Driver Jimmy Spencer is not signed beyond the end of the current season, and Carter said he wants to get the sponsorship matter settled before tackling that issue. Whatever happens, Carter said, his struggling team still needs to make the most of what’s left this season(in part from That’s Racin’)(6-14-1999)
Interesting, but… With R.J. Reynolds’ announcement it will no longer sponsor the Jimmy Spencer-Travis Carter team, several rival car owners in the garage are looking at that potential sponsorship. The three team owners considered most likely to land an RJR-Winston sponsorship if the company keeps a car on the tour are Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress and Robert Yates. There are increasing indications that Spencer and Carter will not be back together next season(PitNow) JAYSKI Note: In RJR’s press release on leaving the #23 it said it would not sponsor another Cup team in 2000. See that story at NOL(6-14-1999)
#90 at Sears Point: Eric Comas, the former Formula One driver will try to qualify a Junie Donlavey #90 Ford at Sears Point. Comas is a Nissan factory sedan driver, and Nissan engineers are expected to be at Sears Point to check things out(PitNow)(6-14-1999)
Condolences: Dave Monsam father of Winston Cup Crew Chief John Monsam(#50) died June 10, 1999. Dave was a long time modified owner and crew chief in the north east in the 1960’s and 1970’s(6-14-1999)

(6-13-1999)

Melling Remembered: Team members, drivers, media etc are wearing red #9 buttons in honor of #9 team owner Harry Melling who passed away a few weeks ago(Raceday)(6-13-1999)
Park’s Best: Steve Park had his best finish of his short career so far. At Michigan he came home in 6th(6-13-1999)
Caution free: The Kmart 400 at Michigan was the first caution free Winston Cup race since the two-week postponed Winston 500 at Talladega, which Mark Martin won with an average speed of 188.354mph and Winston Cup record for any track. The Kmart 400 was the fastest ever at Michigan for the Cup cars with an average speed of 173.997mph. The old record was recently set my Rusty Wallace in 1996 with a ave speed of 166.033mph(6-13-1999)
Rudd/Tide: Inside NASCAR reports that Ricky Rudd and Tide are negotiating for the future, their contract runs out at the end of 1999. Rudd hopes the TV rights and increase in revenue will help out smaller teams. Also discussed the franchising options that are being supposedly being discussed(6-13-1999)
NASCAR and F-1: NASCAR senior vice president Mike Helton wasn’t at the track on Friday because he spent the day visiting Formula 1 teams at the site of that circuit’s race this weekend in Montreal(That’s Racin’)(6-13-1999)
Gas Spill: Fuel spill about three feet-wide just past the start finish line had officials doing extra maintance to the Michigan Speedway on Saturday. The spill was cleaned-up and the area re-sealed Friday night, according to track officials. However, after Saturday’s final practice there were reports of the area being “gritty” and officials will again repair the damage overnight in preparation for Sunday’s race(SpeedNet)(6-13-1999)
Remington UPDATE 4: I hear Remington will announce their future plans Thursday in Michigan(6-8-1999) — UPDATE 1: Dale Earnhardt Inc. will hold a news conference on Friday at 9am/et in the Michigan Speedway media center. Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be present to answer questions(Pennzoil PR), NOTE: this could be the Remington announcement for the #1 or/and #8 car(6-10-1999) — UPDATE 2:nothing happened Thursday that I heard of, but it could be the DEI announcement on Friday??? — UPDATE 3: Remington Arms Company announced today a six-year agreement with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Terms of the agreement include a personal endorsement contract with Dale Earnhardt and an associate sponsorship of the Dale Earnhardt Jr., #8 Budweiser Monte Carlo. The agreement with Dale Earnhardt begins immediately and Dale Jr.’s #8 car begins in 2000. Both agreements run through 2005(Pennzoil PR)(6-11-1999) — UPDATE 4: Remington will be on the decklid of the #8 Bud Chevy in 2000(Inside NASCAR)(6-13-1999)
Quick Turnaround UPDATE 1: The #55 Square-D crew took the wrecked Chevy from Dover and rebuilt it so Kenny Wallace could run it at Michigan, feeling the car was worth saving because it ran so well at Dover as a brand new car(The Motorsports Decisions Group PR)(6-11-1999) — UPDATE 1: See what it took in an That’s Racin’ article: From wrecked to ready in nothing flat(6-13-1999)
Interesting Stat from NOL: Jeff Gordon’s 4.9 finishing average in 12 starts at Michigan is better than the best finish recorded there by several drivers in their career there. Ken Schrader (best finish is a 6th in 29 races), Michael Waltrip (7th in 27 races), Bobby Hamilton (8th in 13 races) and Chad Little (10th in 12 races) all have best finishes below Gordon’s average(NOL)(6-13-1999)

(6-12-1999)
#98 Crew Chief? UPDATE 1: I hear crew chief Jerry Pitts has left the #98 Team(6-11-1999) — UPDATE 2: Team manager Waddell Wilson resigned on Monday and crew chief Jerry Pitts followed him in leaving on Wednesday(That’s Racin’) Mast said the team’s crew chief this weekend would be a “collective effort.”(Times-Dispatch)(6-12-1999)
Moore to Cup? Look for a CART driver to jump into a Cup car during the July 4th weekend. Greg Moore has an open weekend and after savvy driving today in the IROC race he could prove quite a handful at Daytona. A team has yet to be officially announced(SpeedNet)(6-12-1999)
Buckshot News: Buckshot Jones was the first entry received for the upcoming Lysol 200 at Watkins Glen. Jones, a rookie in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series will be skipping the race at Sears Point and instead will try to capture the Empire Cup by driving the #00 Cheez-It Pontiac at Watkins Glen on June 27th(The Glen Site)(6-12-1999)
The King Returns? UPDATE 1: Burger King that is, I hear BK will return to NASCAR as a primary sponsor on a BGN team fielded by a current Winston Cup multi-team(5-20-1999) — UPDATE 1: Burger King is being wooed for a major Winston Cup sponsorship, and its logo could be on Larry McReynolds’ proposed new cars next year, according to sources close to the situation(PitNow)(6-12-1999)
DW Notes: Darrell Waltrip, who missed last week’s race at Dover because he is out of provisionals until Sears Point(unless he gets back into the top 25 on owners points) and because he never got his Ford up to speed, made the top 25 on Friday. His lap at 184.852 mph got the final spot available in the first round, but he wasn’t exactly thrilled. “Last week when I went to qualify the motor goes dead on me,” he said. “Today I go to qualify and the motor goes dead on me. It won’t pull. Something is killing the motor when I get ready to go qualify. This is a super-fast car.”(That’s Racin’) DW ran 10th and 20th in the Friday practices(6-12-1999)

(6-11-1999)
Mock Sponsor: this weeks Winston Cup Scene reports that the #75 Butch Mock team is close to signing a new sponsor for 2000. Remington is leaving the team at the end of the 1999 season and is rumored to be going to DEI. One rumor has Polaris becoming Mocks sponsor. Mock hopes to make an announcement within the next two weeks(6-11-1999)
#98 Sponsor: Yep, it’s Universal Studios and Woody Woodpecker. Very cool looking car. See the complete story and an image at NOL: Yarborough, Mast team up with Woody Woodpecker. I hear the sponsor money will be thru merchandising and not a direct payment, see story below…(6-11-1999)
SBIII changes UPDATE 4: something is going on with the SBIII team, meetings with Key Personnel are taking place currently(NASCAR Today Radio), sources tell me Ricky Craven and the SBIII have parted ways, no word yet on where Craven will end up or who will drive the #58 Ford at Michigan, stay tuned(6-9-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear Loy Allen will drive the #58 at Michigan this weekend — UPDATE 2: Official per NOL – Ricky Craven has been dismissed from his duties as driver of the #58 Turbine Solutions Ford and will be replaced by Loy Allen, SBIII Motorsports owner Scott Barbour announced Thursday see full story at NOL: SBIII dismisses Craven, taps Allen, the story seems to say Allen is their long term driver. No word yet on Craven’s plans(6-10-1999) — UPDATE 3: FYI: Mark Smith builds the engines for the #58 Ford and was the team owner/engine builder of the #19 Ford that Loy Allen won a few poles with a couple of years ago, including the Daytona 500, wonder if Hooters will come back as a sponsor and complete the circle? — UPDATE 4: Check out a local Maine story on the situation at Craven loses NASCAR ride(note: this will be a short term story probably gone from their site tomorrow) the story mentions: Stan Meserve of Unity, Craven’s mentor and the only other Maine driver to race in the Daytona 500, was relieved of his duties as race shop foreman earlier in the week(Portland Press Herald)(6-11-1999)
#58 Spotter too: RaceComm Publisher, Mike Calinoff, resigned this morning from his position at SBIII Motorsports as Team Spotter. Calinoff stated that his resignation was “amicable” and that he is pursuing new opportunities. An announcement to that effect will be forthcoming. Calinoff is also the Spotter for NASCAR Busch Series driver Randy LaJoie(RaceComm)(6-11-1999)
Roush News UPDATE 3: I hear some sort of major announcement from True Value Hardware, NASCAR, Roush Racing and Exide will happen soon(6-3-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear an announcement will take place at Michigan on Friday of next week. Check out the Toolbox that Rocks at the TrueValue Site(6-4-1999) — UPDATE 2: True Value, Exide and NASCAR announced the #99 Ford driven by Jeff Burton in Sunday’s Kmart 400 will feature a NASCAR Rocks-themed paint scheme to commemorate the kick-off of the summer music tour and festival in Denver this weekend. The car will be unveiled on Friday(NOL)(6-9-1999) — UPDATE 3:See NOL updates on the helmet, uniform and car at: NASCAR Rocks, NOTE: please do NOT send me the NOL images)(6-11-1999)

(6-10-1999)
No More Winston: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and its Winston brand will not renew its contract with the #23 Ford team owned by Travis Carter and driven by Jimmy Spencer. RJR has no plans to sponsor another Cup team. Spencer’s contract runs through the end of 1999 with Carter. See the story at NOL(6-10-1999)
Kyle and the IRL UPDATE 1: Kyle Petty will be in Indianapolis Wednesday being fitted in an IRL car out of the Panther Racing stable. They plan on testing next week in Atlanta with the notion of running an IRL race when NASCAR has the week off. This was all just confirmed by a local Indianapolis ABC affiliate,WRTV. With the leaking of the news that a Cup car is being prepared for Adam for next season(John Andretti Fanpage/Newsletter).(the Adam Petty thing was reported on Jayski a few days ago from info obtained on the Adam Petty site) Also, if all goes well, he could run one of the team’s cars in the Atlanta IRL event on July 17(AP/WRAL)(6-9-1999) — UPDATE 1: The #43 and, hopefully if it is ready, the #44, are going to test at Road Atlanta this coming Monday(6-14). Panther Racing was planning on testing there Tuesday. Terry Lingner, who has a management relationship with Panther Racing and is also a friend of Kyle’s through ESPN (Lingner is president of Lingner Productions, which produces the ESPN races), asked Kyle if he would be interested in staying over Tuesday and trying a few laps in the IRL car. Kyle, being a racer, said he would like to. They were supposed to fit the seat for Kyle Wednesday(6-9) but because of committments Kyle had in New York City, he couldn’t be there. The seat won’t be fitted and Kyle won’t be testing Tuesday in an IRL car. Basically, it was a fun-type deal and something Kyle, like any racer, wanted to try. There was no talk beyond a few laps at Road Atlanta Tuesday. Kyle was at a licensing show for Mattel in New York City. Kyle Petty has said he has NOT discussed running the IRL event at Atlanta with anyone and, for that matter, hasn’t discussed any IRL events in the future(Williams Co)(6-10-1999)
Roush Shop: Roush Racing’s new headquarters may not be coming to Concord, after the company Tuesday withdrew a controversial rezoning request to build its new facility and test track there. The $75 million proj-ect drew opposition from hundreds of Concord residents who live near the proposed 106-acre facility on U.S. 29. The residents feared the test track would generate too much noise. See the rest of the Charlotte Observer article at: Roush Racing abandons rezoning effort, Concord site(6-10-1999)
Softball: had a few questions asked on a softball fundrasier played by many of the teams and media, see the story at the PowerTeam site: PLAY BALL!(6-10-1999)

(6-9-1999)
Buckshot News UPDATE 1: Cheez-It will sponsor the #00 Pontiac team and Buckshot Jones at the Winston Cup race in Michigan and the team will sit out the BGN South Boston event(NOL) — UPDATE 1: Contrary to previous release, BSR will be racing in the Busch race in South Boston this weekend, with Larry Pearson behind the wheel. Keebler Co.’s Cheez-It brand snack crackers will be the primary sponsor for both of Buckshot Racing’s NASCAR entries this weekend – Buckshot Jones in Brooklyn, MI and Larry Pearson in South Boston, VA(Buckshot Site)(6-9-1999)
#9 Crew Chief:Newt Moore has been named crew chief of the #9 Melling Racing Ford driven by Jerry Nadeau, beginning with the June 13 Kmart 400 at Michigan Speedway. Moore, 36, joined Melling Racing in late May as car chief and was responsible for car setup, shocks and chassis. He will continue to work closely with team manager Jeff Buice, who is taking on more responsibilities with the organization in that position. Moore’s responsibilities as crew chief will include overseeing at-track operations for Melling Racing. He will also continue his work on car setup, shocks and chassis(Cotter Group PR)(6-9-1999)
Midwest Hires: Midwest Transit Racing’s General Manager Lake Speed announced that John Monsam will lead the team as crew chief while Dale Watkins will join the team to run the shop. Monsam, (38), has been involved in racing for 15 years. He currently resides in Sherrills Ford, N.C., with his wife Cinde and daughter Darby. Becoming a Winston Cup crew chief is something Monsam has worked for all his life. Watkins, (47), will direct the day-to-day operation of the race shop, keep track of inventory and production of racecars. He has 12 years of NASCAR experience. Watkins said he was eager to start his new assignment with Midwest Transit Racing, which is owned by Hal Hicks and Mike Witters. Speed is in the midst of reorganizing Midwest Transit Racing. He said the next step is hiring a driver with Winston Cup experience. The team’s next race is the Pepsi 400, scheduled July 3 at Daytona(MTR PR)(6-9-1999)
Pocono Testing: On Monday and Tuesday (6/7, 6/8), Tony Stewart, Steve Park, and Jeff Green practiced at Pocono Raceway in preparation for the Pocono races. No speeds reported on Monday, but Steve Park was rumored to be quickest of the three at a little over 168 mph on Tuesday. Also, it is reported that Tony Stewart wrecked his primary car for the June race in Turn 2 at Pocono during a Tuesday morning practice session. Tony Stewart was uninjured and continued practice using a 2nd car(Stock Car Fans Newsletter)(6-9-1999)
Paint Scheme and Greyhounds… I don’t usually do this, but I basically copied this from NOL, what can I say I like dogs(animals). “Ernie Irvan will team up with associate sponsor Pedigree Food for Dogs, to encourage greyhound dog adoptions in Michigan. Irvan will accept the challenge to help greyhound dogs during a Detroit area appearance with Second Chance for Greyhounds, a Michigan adoption organization. In recognition of Irvan’s effort in Sunday’s Kmart 400 at Michigan Speedway, the Pedigree brand will make a donation to the local adoption group to help find caring homes for former fast-track greyhound dogs. Irvan, who won the Michigan event in 1997 and earned a Bud Pole last year, along with his dog Ryder, a yellow lab, will co-host this event, greeting greyhounds from the adoption group. Second Chance For Greyhounds is a non-profit volunteer organization that has placed hundreds of retired racing dogs in Michigan. The Greyhound Protection League and the ASPCA have cited the organization for its high-quality adoption program. During the Kmart 400, Irvan will sport the blue & yellow Pedigree Food for Dogs logo. The temporary re-design will call attention to Irvan’s crusade to help find homes for retired greyhound racing dogs. M&M/Mars, the manufacturer of M&M’s, is a sister company to Kal Kan Foods Inc, manufacturer of Pedigree Food for Dogs. Irvan, Pedigree team up to help greyhounds(NOL)(6-9-1999)
Update on Rusty crewman: Bob Tracey, transport driver/gas man for Rusty Wallace’s Team Penske car, was scheduled to see an orthopedic surgeon in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday afternoon to determine whether any additional medical procedures are necessary on his left foot he injured on pit road at Dover last week when an air gun was spun by the rear tire of Wallace’s car when the jack dropped. Tracey was initially treated in the infield medical center before being transferred to Kent General Hospital in Dover for further observation. He was diagnosed with a hairline fracture and a chipped bone on the side of his foot. Tracey was released from the Dover hospital Sunday evening and flown back to Charlotte. Doug Ingold will be moved in as gas man until Tracey returns while Earl Barban will be filling in as the transport driver(SpeedNet)(6-9-1999)
#98 Changes UPDATE 1: Waddell Wilson has resigned as the Team Manager of the #98 Cale Yarborough team(WC Today Radio) — UPDATE 1: see the NOL article(6-9-1999)

(6-8-1999)
Cale back in control UPDATE 3: Cale Yarborough has taken control of the #98 Ford he has owned for years from Wayne Burdette who was trying to buy the team from Yarborough. Burdette missed a few deadlines to assume control of the team. Yarborough re-took control on June 1st. And even better, Cale has supposedly inked a three year deal with a major entertainment company as the new #98 sponsor. It is supposed to be announced in New York next week. The car has ‘Guess Who?’ and ?’s on the car, actually looks pretty cool(RPM2Nite)(6-4-1999) — UPDATE 1: A sponsorship deal for the team could be announced next weekend at Michigan, and the sponsor is apparently Universal Studios, which owns the rights to the Woody Woodpecker cartoon character. The “guess who” message could also be applied to the team owner for Mast. Cale Yarborough owned the team until South Carolina car dealer Wayne Burdette bought controlling interest earlier this year. As of this weekend, however, Yarborough is back in control of the team(That’s Racin’) — UPDATE 2: I have heard a few things about the sponsorship deal. I hear the deal will start, in part, announcing a new race game involving the character Crash Bandicot. Also I hear the deal is set up so the team gets a split of the royalties from promotions done on the car, movies, games, diecast, tshirts, etc, instead of direct payment. Burdette is no longer part of the team and am hearing conflicting stories on how the ‘buyout’ was handled, so I’ll leave it alone(6-5-1999) — UPDATE 3: Looks like the Woody Woodpecker deal, check out this site: www.universalstudios.com/woody/, looks like the writing that was on the hood of the #98 at Dover(a few readers)(6-8-1999)
Sparky Plug Hears…UPDATE 2: “One of our garage area spies tells us venerable Dave Marcis will announce his retirement at the July race at Daytona. The rest of the year will be a farewell tour. In honor of Marcis, our source(Sparky source) says, Dale Earnhardt will drive a special camouflage paint scheme — gold and black car with Goodwrench service on the hood — at the Daytona night race. Marcis is expected to be back for one more race next year — the Daytona 500 in February 2000. That would give him a Daytona 500 start” (assuming he qualifies, which he has done every year since 1968) in five decades and two centuries(iRace/SpeedVision)(5-12-1999) — UPDATE 1: On WC Today Radio, Dave Marcis said it was news to him and he’d make an announcement when/if he was to retire. He said there was no retirement planned, nor any decision made about when it would come about(5-13-1999) — UPDATE 2: Haven’t seen it yet, but many readers say the latest RCCA magazine/catalog has a #71 Dave Marcis retirement car for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Top of the car is CAMO and bottom of car is black and is separated by red trim. No mention of an Earnhardt tribute car(6-8-1999) – NOTE: email Sparky Plug if you have any problems with the ‘century’ comment…
Nadeau Colors: Jerry Nadeau’s #9 Melling Racing Ford paint scheme will feature a special tribute to late team owner Harry Melling at Michigan Speedway. Nadeau’s Taurus will be painted red — Melling’s favorite color and the same as the colors used when Bill Elliott won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship and the inaugural Winston Million in 1985. The car’s decklid will carry a special decal that reads, “This one’s for you Harry. We’ll miss you.”(Cotter Group PR)(6-8-1999)
Rudd News UPDATE 1: According to sources of PitNow, Ricky Rudd’s new business could be Heilig-Meyers’ Bill Derusha. Rudd just hired Jeff Kirk, the man who ran Junie Donlavey’s Heilig-Meyers-sponsored team(#90) so well for several years. Rudd, owner/driver of the #10 Tide Ford, doesn’t want to sell the team but wants to add a business partner and has two offers on the table(PitNow)(6-7-1999) — UPDATE 1: Sources say one offer is from Stoops Freightliner(SpeedNet) NOTE: Sources tell me that Stoops Freightliner is not involved at all(6-8-1999)

(6-7-1999)
2000 Monte Carlo: Eddie Dickerson, 43, director of chassis engineering for Hendrick Motorsports Winston Cup operation, is a native of Milford, Del. While at Dover Downs International Speedway for Sunday’s MBNA Platinum 400, Dickerson took time to discuss the status of the 2000 Monte Carlo. See the NOL article: Chevy teams steam ahead with 2000 Monte Carlo(6-7-1999)
Benson Schemes and Contest UPDATE 1: while I have an image of two of the Pop Secret cars, there are actually four Pop Secret cars. Pop Secret will be running a contest where fans can vote for their favorite paint job, the winning paint job will run at Rockingham in October. Pretty neat, see the image of two of the cars at the Paint Scheme Gallery(6-4-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear Johnny Benson will run two other paint schemes in 1999: HMM Solid gold Ford running in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona and the rumored Wheaties car at the Brickyard(Roush Racing Fans Page)(6-7-1999)
Adam Petty to Cup? From the Adam Petty site in his Dover Journal – “I’m not supposed to comment on that question, but if y’all can keep a secret I’ll tell you that we are building a Cup car for next year. Whether or not I run it depends a lot on how this year goes. As of today, we are planning to run 5 Cup races next year”(www.adampetty.com)(6-7-1999)
Childress 3rd Cup Team? If Richard Childress, owner of the #3 and #31 Cup teams, adds a third Cup team, Wally Dallenbach is one of the drivers under consideration(PitNow), Dallenbach’s contract with Hendrick is up at the end of 1999 as is Budweiser, the sponsor of the #25 Chevy Dallenbach drives.(PitNow)(6-7-1999)
More Childress BGN stuff: #98 Porter Cable Truck driver, Kevin Harvick, is among the list of drivers for Childress’ new BGN Team. Supposedly AC Delco is one possible sponsor(PitNow)(6-7-1999)
Teather News: Winston Cup director Gary Nelson said NASCAR is continuing to test the cable restraint system used to tether the front wheels to the cars and hopes a decision on whether to require the devices will come soon. More than half used it in Sunday’s MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover(That’s Racin’)(6-7-1999)
Rusty’s Gasman hurt: Bobby Tracey, gasman and truck driver for the #2 Miller Lite Team and driver Rusty Wallace, injured his left ankle during a pitstop. According to team officials, Tracey was apparently hit by an air gun and a lug nut that spun off a tire as Wallace was leaving the pits. Tracey has a hairline fracture of his foot(NOL) Get well Bobby!(6-7-1999)

(6-6-1999)

More #98 News UPDATE 1: Cale Yarborough might be shaking up his race team, according to driver Rick Mast. Team manager Waddell Wilson didn’t make the trip to Delaware, and Mast said that Wilson’s status is unclear. Yarborough had been in the process of selling his team to another South Carolina businessman this season, but Yarborough is now back in command of the operation(PitNow)(6-5-1999) — UPDATE 1: Sources at Dover tell me Wadddell Wilson was in the garage area on Saturday(6-6-1999)
Happy Hour News: Ernie Irvan crashed the #36 M&M’s Pontiac hard but fortunately wasn’t injured. The team did have to unload the back up car so he will be starting 43rd, Irvan was able to run around 12 laps in the backup(6-5-1999) — UPDATE 1: Also see the That’s Racin’ story – Crash in practice moves Irvan to back of field(That’s Racin’)(6-6-1999)

(6-5-1999)
No Michigan: the #91 LJ Racing team has canceled its entry for next weekend’s Kmart 400 at Michigan(NOL)(6-5-1999)
Dyno Back UPDATE 1: Following the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR announced they were taking the top six cars to the chassis dyno. The dyno measures the horsepower over the RPM range to give NASCAR a comparison of the GM motors to Ford(SpeedVision)(5-31-1999) — UPDATE 1: The PitNow site has some dyno numbers from the dyno testing last week in Charlotte: Tony Stewart had the most power: #20-Tony Stewart 674 horsepower, finished 4th; #88-Dale Jarrett 665, 5th; #3-Dale Earnhardt 664, 6th; #18-Bobby Labonte 663, 2nd; #99-Jeff Burton 658, Won; #6-Mark Martin 648, 3rd. See the story at PitNow. Remember these numbers are unofficial and sort of proves horsepower dosesn’t always win. The #99 and #6 had the least and were 1st and 3rd, the story goes on to explain the results in more detail, the numbers are always the complete story(6-5-1999)
Roush News UPDATE 1: I hear some sort of major announcement from True Value Hardware, NASCAR, Roush Racing and Exide will happen soon(6-3-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear an announcement will take place at Michigan on Friday of next week. Check out the Toolbox that Rocks at the TrueValue Site(6-4-1999)
What team is Remington going to? According to PitNow and sources close to the situation, Remington Arms has signed with Dale Earnhardt Inc.(DEI)(PitNow), probably as a major associate(6-5-1999)
Noticed: The MBNA logo is featured on the hood of the #18 Interstate Batteriess Pontiac this week at Dover. MBNA is the title sponsor and is based in Delaware(6-5-1999)
Penalties: NASCAR officials announced today James Ince, crew chief of the #45 Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac and Jeff Buice, crew chief of the #9 Melling Racing Ford have both been fined $2,500 for rules violations prior to last Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. Both crew chiefs were penalized under Section 12 Rule 4 Article Q in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: “…parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules,” and a violation of Section 20A Rule 11.2: “Holes drilled in frames, frame supports, and cross members with the intent of making the metal lighter are not permitted(NASCAR PR)(6-5-1999)
From Goodyear: An escalation in speed, evidenced by the 32 cars that broke the track record — set just last September — in qualifying for the MBNA 400 on Friday, has led Goodyear to recommend and NASCAR to grant a 30-minute extension to today’s final Winston Cup practice. The purpose of the extra time is to allow teams preparing for tomorrow’s MBNA 400 to scuff their tires. “Our engineers have notified every crew chief this morning that we recommend scuffing their race tires,” said Wayne Torrence, product manager for Goodyear Racing Division. “You can’t tell much from the short-run practices before qualifying, but none of the longer-run pre-race practices in either Winston Cup or Busch have produced any evidence of a problem. “However, increased speed means increased tire heat and scuffing, which reduces tire temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees, is a proven way to offset that increase,” said Torrence. A second round of grinding Dover Downs International Speedway’s concrete surface during the off-season has made the track smoother and faster, according to two of Friday’s top qualifiers. Third-quickest Mark Martin said, “They’ve made significant progress. See all the white spots on the track? Everywhere it’s white, they’ve ground bumps off.” Outside pole-sitter Dale Jarrett said, “The people here at Dover have done a really good job of smoothing it (the track) out and Goodyear has a good tire here for us. It makes not only for fast speeds here today (in qualifying), but for good racing on Sunday.”(Goodyear PR)(6-5-1999)
MBNA donation: James Brady, Chairman of the National Brain Association and former White House Press Secretary to Ronald Reagan, was at Dover Downs to receive a check for $53,000 from MBNA, this weekends title sponsor. Since MBNA’s full-time involvement in NASCAR on the #22 Pontiac five years ago, they have allowed the participating drivers in their credit card program to select a favorite charity to donate a percentage of the company’s profits. Total contributions have reached nearly $800,000(SpeedVision)(6-5-1999)
Interesting Comparison/Stewart-Blaney Press Conference: In 36 Busch Series races (1996-98) prior to his full-time Winston Cup debut at Daytona this February, Tony Stewart posted seven top-ten finishes, earned six top-five and 12 top-ten starting spots (including two pole positions at Rockingham in 1998) and won $364,585. In 34 Busch starts entering Dover, Dave Blaney has registered seven top-ten finishes, eight top-five and 18 top-ten starting positions (including track-record pole efforts at Charlotte, Atlanta and Texas) and has won $390,657. Dave Blaney and Tony Stewart will participate in a press conference at the Adam’s Mark in Philadelphia, PA on Thursday, June 3rd at 12noon/et(in part from a Bill Davis Racing PR) No idea what it’s about(6-2-1999) — UPDATE 1: never found out what this was about, possibly just to promote the race in the Philly area(6-5-1999)

(6-4-1999)
Tide Paint: At the Sears Point race on June 27th, the #10 Tide Taurus paint scheme will showcase the introduction of New Tide with Activated Hydrogen Peroxide. New Tide takes a quantum leap forward in removing tough stain and dingy buildup and helps keep colors bright(6-4-1999)
Christopher at the Glen? I hear NASCAR Modified, BGN and BGNN Driver Ted Christopher has purchased a Winston Cup Chevy and will attempt to qualify for the Bud at The Glen. I hear this was announced at the Stafford Motor Speedway last weekend(6-4-1999)
More Yates: Robert Yates says he’s putting the finishing touches on a contract renewal with sponsor Texaco and Irwin. While Yates has put the pressure on Irwin and his crew, there are persistent rumblings of trouble in that part of the Yates camp. Texaco officials were the driving force in Yates’ hiring of Irwin fresh out of the NASCAR truck ranks, and Texaco is still satisfied with Irwin as standard bearer. According to one report, if Yates wants to renew with Texaco he will also have to re-sign Irwin. Along with all this are reports, which Yates confirms, that he has had offers to buy the team(PitNow) but….accodrding at a Winston Cup Scene article in this weeks issue: concerning a recent team meeting….”but team owner Yates said he did not intend to imply that Irwin’s job is on the line. He was merely trying to fire his team up..”, Irwins’s take was “win or else”. Yates said he did not tell Irwin that his job is on the line, but stressed the team must improve(6-4-1999)
TV Ratings CLARIFICATION: An estimated 3,770,000 households watched the Coca-Cola 600 on TBS, according to Nielsen Media Research, with an estimated 9,734,140 viewers tuning in to see the Coca-Cola 600. It earned a national cable rating of 4.9 according to Nielsen Media Research(NOL). In contrast the Indy 500 on ABC drew a rating of 5.3(SpeedNet)(6-3-1999) — CLARIFICATION: didn’t quite understand the ratings deal – note that the ratings are NOT directly comparable. TBS’ 4.9 is 4.9% of folks who get TBS. That’s 4.9% of 75 million homes, or 3,770,000 homes. Indy’s 5.0 rating on ABC, is 5.3% of about 95 million homes, or 5,035,000 homes tuned in. sorry about that(6-4-1999)
Earnhardt/Childress: as reported a few times in recent weeks: Dale Earnhardt appears to be close to agreement on a new contract with and Richard Childress Racing that would keep him driving for the team(#3) through 2003 see story at SpeedNet and another story at The Tennessean(6-4-1999)
Childress: in part from PitNow, in a story linked below – Richard Childress is trying to decide what to do with his Truck team. It may a Busch or Cup team. The travel of the Truck series is making it very expensive to run a CTS team. The sponsorship for a possible third Winston Cup team isn’t an issue and has offers on the table(6-4-1999)
Taurus Testing: Ford is still about a month away from track testing the new 2000Taurus. Roush Racing and Yates Racing are currently working on the short and mid-size track model, while Penske Racing is developing the Super Speedway version. Reports from Penske say the modifications will be minor, with just some adjustments to the front and rear to make it look more like the new street model(Inside Motorsports)(6-4-1999)
FAIN Announcement: Fain MotorSports announced today that it has signed Bobby Davis, Jr., World of Outlaw Champion, to a contract through the year 2002. F.M.S. will run in a limited number of Busch races the remainder of the season and will run a full season in Busch next year with a limited appearance in Winston Cup events. In 2001 they will run a full Busch season and in 2002 will move to Winston Cup. F.M.S. will operate from their shop in Lexington while looking for a location in North Carolina to relocate to next season. More information can be obtained about F.M.S. and Bobby Davis at their web site www.fainmotorsports.com(6-4-1999)
DEI Open: Dale Earnhardt Inc. announced the opening of its spacious 8,700 square foot Showroom and Retail Store to the public today. Exhibits in the Showroom include trophies from Dale Jr.’s, Steve Park and Ron Hornaday’s career wins and an impressive exhibit of Dale Earnhardt’s 7 Winston Cup Championship Trophies. This marks the first time any of Dale’s trophies or memorabilia from his amazing racing career have been on display for the general public. Also exhibited in the Showroom is a photographic look at “Dale Earnhardt Inc.- Behind the Scenes” along with vintage trophies from Ralph Dale Earnhardt’s successful racing career. Fans will also have the opportunity to view the interior showroom where a wide variety of show cars, concept cars and car’s from Dale’s personal collection can be seen. Through a large,glass wall, fans can also gain a glimpse of a working Engine Room or the Pennzoil Hauler when it is not on the road or at the track. One area of the showroom is dedicated to Sponsor and Product Endorsements and a video wall highlighting commercials of DEI’s team of drivers will soon be an exciting addition. Fans can call 1-877-DEI-Zone for opening hours that are updated on a weekly basis. There is no admission fee(Pennzoil PR)(6-4-1999)

(6-3-1999)
Underbird for sale: To launch its new online auction service and redesigned website, SoldUSA.com will offer the late Alan Kulwicki’s “Underbird,” one of the most famous cars in NASCAR history. The online auction begins July 1 and closes Aug. 3. A decided “underdog” in the battle for the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship with the late Davey Allison and Bill Elliott, Kulwicki renamed his Ford Thunderbird the “Underbird” for the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kulwicki drove the car to a second-place finish, led the most laps and edged Elliott and Allison for the title(PR)(6-27-1999), the owners of the car have a website: www.underbird.com, doesn’t mention the auction(6-28-1999)
Spencer to stay: Rumors saying Jimmy Spencer’s recent verbal outbursts signaled the end of his association with the Travis Carter owned #23 team are said to be flat wrong. Speedwords is being told that the sound bites with an attitude are simply Spencer’s frustration at not performing as well as he wants and do not signal his departure from the organization(Speedwords)(6-3-1999)
McReynolds and SABCO? Speedwords has heard that in his search for a team to buy Larry McReynolds has been approached by Felix Sabates about a relationship that would include McReynolds being named at least partial owner of a new team with full ownership coming in a specified amount of time. This of course is not the first time Sabates has tried to lure McReynolds to a different job. We also hear that this attempt is likely to be turned down as it was in the past. All indications are that McReynolds wants his own deal and will pass on a partnership, especially in light of a proposed sponsorship that is said to be very near signing. UPDATE: SPEEDWORDS hears there may be another owner with a similar offer for McReynolds, partial ownership for the first two years, it’s his team after that. this one would take Larry back to the Ford camp, something Ford would be very happy about and may be helping behind the scenes(Speedwords)(6-3-1999)
SABCO Crew Chief CORRECTION, UPDATE 2: Jay Smith has been named as the crew chief for the #40 Coors Light SABCO Chevy and driver Sterling Marlin(NASCAR Today Radio) Smith was most recently the crew chief of the #34 Goulds Pumps BGN Chevy. Also worked for Bobby Hillin’s BGN team and Irvan-Simo in the past few years — CORRECTION: hmmm….I hear this incorrect, folks from SABCO tell me that Smith is not the new #40 crew chief but has been hired by SABCO to work on the #42 shocks. An announcement should be coming in the next day or two concerning the #40 crew chief(6-2-1999) — UPDATE 1: Hearing that Scott Eggleston will switch over from the #42 to be the #40 crew chief — UPDATE 2: it’s official – Scott Eggleston has been named crew chief for Team SABCO’s #40 Coors Light Chevrolet and driver Sterling Marlin. He moves the 20 feet or so from where he was crew chief for Team SABCO’s #42 BellSouth Chevrolet and driver Joe Nemechek. Team manager Tony Glover will serve as interim crew chief for the BellSouth team and Nemechek(The William Co/SABCO)(6-3-1999)
Monte Carlo UPDATE 1: I hear the new Chevy Monte Carlo design has been approved by NASCAR and an announcement will happen in the next week or so(6-1-1999) — UPDATE 1: that was quick — From SpeedVision: So far, there have been no plans for a public showing of a 2000 NASCAR Monte Carlo, but the new Chevrolet race car has been given approval and teams can begin building cars for next year. GM engineer Terry Laise said Wednesday that the race-version Monte Carlo built by Richard Childress Racing has been given thumbs-up by NASCAR, and templates will be ready soon for fabricators to use in constructing new bodies. See the rest of the story at – NASCAR approves body for 2000 Monte Carlo. Also see some images I have from an Autoshow of the new car decked out in the #3 paint at my Paint Scheme Gallery(6-3-1999)
Best Driver Vote UPDATE: It’s the finals of a Best Driver vote on the CNNSI site. It pits Richard Petty vs Ayrton Senna. Senna is winng by an almost 2 to 1 margin with Thursday being the last day of voting. See the poll at: Century’s Best(6-2-1999) — I hear the vote isa much closer now, today is the last day! — UPDATE – final vote: Petty Lost by only 500 or so votes, we came close. Senna won the best driver of the century, he was a good one(6-3-1999)
Gibbs Testing: Tony Stewart and Jason Leffler tested the #18 MBNA BGN Pontiac at Greenville Pickens on Wednesday(MRM), also a article at SpeedVision/iRace: Stewart protege Leffler tests Gibbs BGN car, Looks like Leffler will drive 5 races in 1999, full seasons in 2000-2001 and then to Cup(6-3-1999)
FAIN Motorsports UPDATE 1: From their site – They are currently negotiating with another Winston Cup driver. They feel that this will be a much better fit for F.M.S. if they can work it out and should know in about 48 hrs. F.M.S. is looking for a driver that is looking long term, one that will promote the interest of the entire operation. FAIN Motorsports obtained their license from NASCAR at Charlotte. If everything works out in the next 48 hours watch for an announcement(FAIN Motorsports site) NOTE: this is not an endorsement, but an FYI on the this new fan team(6-2-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear that Fain Motorsports have applied for a team owners license, but they do not have a car number assigned as of yet(6-3-1999)
NASCAR on the tube – UPDATE 1: “Fox Files, the Fox Network’s top-rated newsmagazine, sent crews to Darlington, Charlotte, Bristol, Atlanta and Level Cross, N.C. to meet two of NASCAR’s living legends for an insider’s look at the fastest growing sport in America. Chris Cuomo, son of former New York state Governor, Mario Cuomo, interviews NASCAR Winston Cup Series champions Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and 1998 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Kenny Irwin. Their cameras are there for Petty Enterprises’ “50 Year Celebration” and get a rare look at four generations of racing royalty together on one stage. Cuomo gets behind the wheel of a NASCAR Winston Cup Series car at the Richard Petty Driving Experience and using vintage footage mixed with modern racing action, the segment traces the extraordinary changes driving NASCAR into the next millenium”(copied from NOL) didn’t say when it would air — UPDATE 1 I hear this show will air TONIGHT at 8pm/et on FOX(6-3-1999)
Knuckles: Akins Motorsports has hired veteran NASCAR crew member Joey Knuckles as a chassis specialist for the #38 Barbasol Ford Taurus driven by Glenn Allen in the NASCAR Busch Series, team owner Brad Akins announced today. Prior to his appointment at Akins Motorsports, Knuckles began the 1998 season with Ted Musgrave at the #15 Bud Moore Winston Cup operation. In 1997 Knuckles worked for Akins Motorsports on the Barbasol Ford, then driven by Elton Sawyer. Knuckles has worked as crew chief for NASCAR legends Davey Allison, Cale Yarborough and Buddy Baker(Keystone PR)(6-3-1999)

(6-2-1999)
DW Engine dies early: Darrell Waltrip lost an engine very early in the Coca-Cola 600. Crew Chief Phillipe Lopez wanted to change the engine before the race but was vetoed(TBS Telecast)(5-31-1999) — UPDATE 2: I hear DW also mentioned during Happy Hour that the engine wasn’t performing well(6-2-1999)
Nothing but a rumor, but….UPDATE 1: hearing that Johnny Benson may end up in the #28 Ford….(see Roush story below, which mentions JB)(6-1-1999) — UPDATE 1: Hearing conflicts on this rumor, and that Benson won’t go to the #28 and that General Mills is very happy with him as their driver(6-2-1999)
#98 Sponsor: The three-race sponsorship the Rick Mast team had ended with Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. Car owner Wayne Burdette said he’s talking with Hobas Pipes, which did the sponsorship, about extending the deal(News and Record)(6-2-1999)
Sprague: CTS driver Jack Sprague was interviewed on RPM2Nite on Tuesday and John Kernan asked about the Winston Cup rumors and Sprague said he hopes to move up but nothing is set(6-2-1999)
#30 Crew: Corrie Stott, former crew chief of the #40 SABCO car, has been named as the Team Manager of the #30 Bahari Pontiac team and Derrike Cope(RPM2Nite) former Team Manager Dayne Pierantoni has been given a new title on the team — general manager(NOL)(6-2-1999)

(6-1-1999)
Yates UPDATE 1: Robert Yates said that his contract with Texaco for future years of sponsorship of the #28 Ford and Kenny Irwin, is practically a done deal. All it needs is a little fine-tuning(Times-Dispatch)(5-31-1999) — UPDATE 1: The fine tuning may be Texaco’s insistence that Irwin stay as the driver(6-1-1999)
Roush and TV Guide UPDATE 2: Jack Roush announced that he is still working with TV Guide about sponsoring the #16 car next year. If he cannot find a sponsor for the team, he may run with only five drivers in 2000. That does not mean that driver Kevin Lepage would be out of a job(Times-Dispatch) the story didn’t speculate on this, but mentioned six teams for 2000. Also: Roush was asked how many more teams he would add, but he said he might have to drop the team Lepage drives for unless a sponsor is found. The sponsor, Primestar, was purchased by TV Guide earlier this season and its future with the team is uncertain(News and Record) — UPDATE 1 NOTE: Primestar was not bought by TV Guide but by DirecTV who is owned by Hughes Electronics which is a subsidiary of General Motors. Roush runs Ford’s, that may be the reason Primestar is leaving(see the Jan 99 press release – Hughes to Acquire PRIMESTAR(5-31-1999) — UPDATE 2: Good story at the Times-Dispatch site on this deal: Fueled by Faith / Sponsorship looks shaky, but confident Lepage believes in Roush. In another Roush matter, I hear Johnny Benson may not be with the #26 in 2000, this could be where Lepage ends up. No idea what Benson would do(6-1-1999)
#91 and Larry: Larry’s Homes, who most recently appeared on LJ Racing’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo at Martinsville Speedway on April 18, 1999, is back for two more races: the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover on June 6, 1999, and the Pocono 500 on June 20, 1999. Larry’s Homes’ 32nd Annual Open House campaign is currently underway in all of their 49 sales centers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina, including North Carolina’s four brand new locations in Asheville. Brian McKinley, Vice President of Marketing for Larry’s Homes, is excited about using the #91 Larry’s Homes Chevy show car at existing and new sales centers. Larry McKinley founded Larry’s Homes in 1967, with one Retail Sales Center in Bear, Delaware. Focusing on providing quality homes at reasonable prices, as well as a Customer Satisfaction driven referral system, has provided Larry’s Homes the resources and stature in the Manufactured Housing Industry to expand from the original Sales Center to now operating 49 sales centers. Customers can choose from one of many turn key home packages with numerous floor plans. For more information about Larry’s Homes, visit their site on the world wide web at www.larrys-homes.com(LJ Racing Website/PR and see show car locations there)(6-1-1999)
Johnson returns UPDATE 1: Jimmy Johnson, once general manager of Hendrick Motorsports, has agreed to come out of retirement to manage Galaxy Motorsports, a Busch Grand National team headquartered in Murfreesboro, TN(#40 ChannelLock Chevy). Galaxy, whose BGN driver is currently Stanton Barrett, plans to upgrade to Winston Cup next year. According to team sources, a sponsor will be announced in the near future. The team may compete in both Cup and BGN next year(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton)(5-31-1999) — UPDATE 1: I hear the team has a deal for Cup in the works, supposedly a good one. Not sure if Barrett moves up with the team, but they are happy with his performance so far in the #40(6-1-1999)
Hut News: Junie Donlavey says he plans to have Hut Stricklin in his #90 Ford for the rest of the 1999 season. Suburban Lodge and Lucas Oil Products sponsored the car at Charlotte/Lowes(Times-Dispatch). No idea who may sponsor the car at Dover(6-1-1999)