Hooper at Milwaukee: Lance Hooper is in Milwaukee this weekend starting a back-up CTS truck and a BGN car to help fill the fields. Hooper received no new tires to qualify on and only 2 laps practice (to get in a time to be eligible to qualify) in each series. The #73 CTS truck listed is really the #88 back-up truck(qualified 22nd of 36). Hooper got in the #51 CTS truck during happy hour to help sort out handling problems for rookie Brian Rose. The #54/07 BGN team (#54-Kelly Denton, primary driver) is considering letting Lance run the whole race in their #07 Chevy(6-30-2001)
Did ya Know? In 10 BGN races at The Milwaukee Mile, there have been 10 different winners. Could No. 11 come on Sunday? Jeff Green and Randy LaJoie will be the only two previous winners in the field. There also have been 10 different pole winners in the 10 races at Milwaukee(Daytona Beach News Journal)(6-28-2001)
Hubert to the #0 for the Glen:Buckshot Racing announced today that Tom Hubert will drive its #00 BGN car in next weekend’s event at Watkins Glen. Hubert currently works as the car chief on Bill Davis Racing’s #93 Amoco Dodge in the Winston Cup Series while trying to find a full-time driving position for himself. While his expertise is in short track racing, he has made a name for himself in NASCAR by consistently performing well on its road-course tracks. He has competed at both Watkins Glen and Sears Point in NASCAR’s Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. Last weekend, Hubert qualified Petty Enterprises’ #44 Georgia Pacific Dodge 29th for driver Buckshot Jones at Sears Point(Buckshot Racing PR)(6-29-2001)
Pearson Hired: Big Fan Racing has announced the hiring of Ricky Pearson, son of NASCAR Legend David Pearson, as crew chief on the #89 Big Fan Racing Busch Team. Pearson, a past BGN crew chief for Buckshot Jones and Lyndon Amick is working with driver Mardy Lindley in his preparations for his BGN debut at the Kroger 200 at IRP on August 4th. He will be trackside as the crew chief for that race. The team is auctioning off the rear deck lid sponsorship for the debut race at IRP on EBAY. The auction can be found in the category Tickets/Experiences/Sporting events/NASCAR. The team continues to grow and receive publicity. An upcoming story in ESPN the magazine tells the story of how the team began with nothing but an idea and 20 weeks later were in position to race.(Big Fan Racing PR)(6-29-2001)
#49 News UPDATE 3: Dick Trickle will be returning to Milwaukee, WI for the BGN race on July 1st. Jay Robinson, owner of the #49 Busch team that Trickle drove for in Kentucky ask Trickle to drive again for the team. Robinson has sponsorship support from Rent-A-Wreck, but is looking for additional financial support to ensure Trickle a good motor for the race. From the fanclub letter: After the Kentucky Busch race Dick flew in Indianapolis to test IROC cars. While he was testing for IROC cars for three days, some fans took it upon themselves to start a crusade to have Dick race in the Milwaukee Busch race. They contacted Jay Robinson on Monday to see if the #49 team was interested, Mr. Robinson had expressed they’d love to have Dick in the car as often as possible, but they wanted to give him a competitive car, and they’re a new team, with a limited budget. By Wednesday, several fans had communicated via the internet and emails and have raised money to donate to the #49 team’s efforts. They’ve also contacted several businesses asking them to match their donations. Dick & fan club president Vicky have been approached in the past about raising funds via the fan club.(Dick Trickle Fan Club Newsletter) AND Rent-A-Wreck of America is very pleased to announce that its partnership with Jay Robinson Racing of Monroe, NC will be extended to include the remainder of the BGN Schedule. The new contract will extend the original 10-race deal to include each of the final 17 races culminating in the final race of the year in Homestead FL. The #49 Rent-A-Wreck team hopes to continue with Trickle or utilize the talents of an up and coming driver for the coming races(BGN Racing)(6-25-2001) UPDATE: Trickle will not be in the #49 at Milwaukee. The fan club sent out the message before anything was finalized. A driver has not been named for this weekend’s race.(BGN Racing)(6-26-2001) UPDATE 2: per the NASCAR.com Entry List, Robby Faggart is listed as the driver of the #49 at Milwaukee UPDATE 3: Robby Faggart returns to drive the #49 Rent-A-Wreck Pontiac at the Milwaukee Mile this weekend after missing the last two races with the team. Team Rent-A-Wreck instead used Phil Bonifield in Dover and Dick Trickle two weeks ago in Kentucky. Team Rent-A-Wreck will take the Pontiac used earlier in the season at Nazareth. Faggart qualified the car in 31st, and battled up to 24th before the engine blew and put the team out of the race in 33rd. The team has had nine different drivers in 16 races so far this season, six of which were with Robby Faggart behind the wheel. “I told Jay that I would stay with them and take it week by week.” said Faggart. “Jay has told me that I will most likely be the driver for the rest of the year. We will get better soon, and I think good things are just around the corner for us.”(BGN Racing PR)(6-28-2001)
Another Parker UPDATE: ppc Racing will field a third entry for Billy Parker in several races during the second half of the 201 BGN season. ppc Racing fields teams for #10-Jeff Green and #57-Jason Keller(Winston Cup Scene)(2-2-2001) UPDATE: #36-Hank Parker Jr. will get the chance to compete against his younger brother, Billy “Catfish” Parker, in the July 1 event at The Milwaukee Mile. Hank, 26, will pilot the #36 GNC Live Well Chevu for Cicci-Welliver Racing, while younger brother Billy, 24, will make his first start of 2001 in the #15 GNC Mega Men Supplement Ford for ppc Racing. This is only the second time the two drivers have competed against each other in a NASCAR event. The two faced off for the first time last October in the Sam’s Town 250 NBS event at Memphis Motorsports Park. Given how impressive ppc Racing has been in the past two seasons, fielding cars for defending NBS Champion Jeff Green and perennial frontrunner Jason Keller, Billy could certainly be a contender in Sunday’s event. Assisting the young driver will be Ronnie Silvers from Michael Waltrip Racing, along with several members of the #10 and #57 teams. Pit road duties will be handled by the pit crew from the #2 Ultra Motorsports Craftsman Truck team of Scott Riggs. Carrying nearly identical paint schemes for Team Marines Racing, the two brothers finished 34th (Hank) and 35th (Billy) in that event. As they did in the Memphis race, the Parker brothers will share a primary sponsor at The Milwaukee Mile. General Nutrition Centers (GNC Live Well), Hank’s primary sponsor and the title sponsor of the GNC Live Well 250, will sponsor Billy’s entry to promote its Mega Men Multiple Vitamin and Mineral Supplement.(Keystone Marketing)(6-27-2001)
Rudd Looks for sponsorship: Be a Sponsor on the #85 NASCAR® Busch Grand National and Late Model Stock Cars of Jason Rudd, for more info, see the Jason Rudd site(6-27-2001)
New Team UPDATE:BLV Motorsports and is planning to enter approximately (5) NASCAR Busch Series and (2) ARCA Re/Max Series events during the second half of the 2001 season. BLV Motorsports’ has pre-selected a pool of events, in different markets, from both the Busch and ARCA Series that are eligible for entering. Brian Vickers and BLV Motorsports are planning on running 5 BGN races during the second half of the 2001 season, with an eye on the full schedule in 2002. Vickers became the youngest winner ever in the USAR Pro Cup Series at age 17 in June 2000 and was that series’ Rookie of the Year last season(BGN Racing)(5-19-2001) UPDATE: Brian Vickers, an honor student and pending high school senior, is happy to see summer officially arrive. Unlike most teenagers, however, this 17-year-old isn¹t getting much of a break. In fact, this weekend may prove to be one of the busiest and most challenging yet in a budding professional racing career for the Thomasville, NC youngster. Vickers will be making his debut in the BGN and competing in the USAR ProCup Series in the same weekend. Vickers is entering the Hooters ProCup 250 presented by Oneganos Water in Holland, NY on June 30th as well as the GNC LiveWell 250 scheduled for July 1st at Milwaukee. Brian will travel approximately 1,700 miles this weekend – 350 on the tracks and 1,350 in the air. After the final “Happy Hour” practice session for the BGN on Saturday, June 30th, Vickers and five other members of his team will board a chartered jet and travel to Holland, NY. The #42 Stewart Components Chevy will be practiced and in qualifying trim awaiting Brian¹s arrival. “Toby Robertson’s (son of the late T. Wayne Robertson) team will be helping us out this weekend. His team will be transporting the ProCup car to Holland and preparing it for the race. Corey Smith, my old crew chief and spotter in Legacy Cars and Late Models will be shaking the car down in practice. We are in the top-3 in points in ProCup in the North and are running for the championship. We certainly appreciate Toby, his team and everyone¹s help in Holland. The USAR has also been very receptive and cooperative in working with our schedule,” stated Vickers. .. The Milwaukee Mile is the “home track” for Engineered Machined Products, based in Escanaba, MI, the primary sponsor on Vickers¹ Busch Series car and parent company to Stewart Components, the team¹s USAR ProCup Series sponsor. The BGNs effort will also be supported by Emerson Motors. You can learn more about Brian and his team at www.brianvickers.com. AND BLV Motorsports Inc. has announced that 17-year-old Brian Vickers and the team will represent Engineered Machined Products, Inc. (EMP), Emerson Motors in a Chevry for a minimum of three BGN events in 2001. The team plans to debut July 1st at the Milwaukee Mile, with additional events scheduled for Indianapolis Raceway Park on August 4th, and Richmond on September 7th. According to a team spokesperson, additional associate sponsor announcements are pending. The team may also enter the final two BGN events at Rockingham and Homestead-Miami, providing further preparation to compete for Rookie of the Year honors in the 2002 BGN.(BLV Motorsports PR)(6-25-2001)
Buckshot Racing Plans: Buckshot Racing Team added Milwaukee and IRP to its limited 2001 BGN schedule. Jesel Valvetrain Innovation will be sponsoring the car for the two newly added races. Tim Fedewa will be driving the #00 at Milwaukee and possibly at IRP. Buckshot Racing will be running the next 6 consecutive BGN events (Milwaukee thru IRP) as they continue to search for a sponsor(Buckshot Racing PR)(6-23-2001)
BGN Testing at Watkins Glen: The rookies in the BGN are making their way to Watkins Glen on June 18 for the final test session before they take the green flag on July 8. #23-Scott Wimmer, #27-Jamie McMurray, #25-David Donohue and Larry Foyt will be in strong company, with several veterans also taking to the track, #71-Scott Pruet, #35-Lyndon Amick, #87-Ron Fellows, #37-Kevin Grubb. Fans that have purchased tickets for the Festival of Speed & Sound weekend, July 6-8, will be admitted free of charge on Monday, June 18. Fans should present their Festival of Speed & Sound tickets at the gate to gain free admission or pick up a voucher at the ticket office if they have not received their event tickets. All other spectators can take in the action for only $10.00 at the gate. Gate 4 will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Monday.(Watkins Glen PR)(6-18-2001)
Geoffrey to run in BGN, replaces Fedawa UPDATE out already? no: Geoffrey Bodine has been named as the new driver for the #66 Phillips 66 BGN team, replacing Tim Fedewa. Bodine will start driving at the Outback Steakhouse 300 in Kentucky on June 16th(sorry, not this weekend)(Cicci-Welliver Website)(6-5-2001) UPDATE: Cicci-Welliver Racing Monday issued a rebuttal to rumors that flew before and after Saturday night’s NASCAR Busch Series Outback Steakhouse 300 that Geoffrey Bodine would be released as driver of C-W’s #66 Phillips 66 Chevrolets following the event. The talk started when Bodine crashed his primary and backup #66 Chevies Thursday and Friday. The team used a provisional to make the starting field for the Kentucky Speedway Busch Series inaugural and Bodine started the race in a backup car borrowed from the #36 Cicci-Welliver team. Team owner Frank Cicci gave Bodine a vote of confidence, saying the driver was on his way Monday with the #66 team to a two-day test session at Chicagoland Speedway(NASCAR.com Buzz)(6-18-2001)
Harvick Wins at Kentucky: Kevin Harvick took the lead following a yellow flag pit stop and dominated the rest of the way to win the inaugural Outback Steakhouse 300 Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway. Harvick, the only driver in modern NASCAR history to attempt to compete in every Winston Cup and Busch Series event in a single season, picked up his second Busch victory before hopping a flight to Long Pond, Pa., to race in Sunday’s Pocono 500. Greg Biffle stayed close over the final 12 laps but was not able to catch Harvick, who earned $82,000 of the $1.15 million purse. See That’s Racin’ for Outback Steakhouse 300 results(6-17-2001)
Sauter Wins the Pole at Kentucky: #43-Jay Sauter won the pole at Kentucky Speedway with a speed of 171.860 mph. Outside pole went to #10-Jeff Green at 171.772. CTS driver Travis Kvapil, in the RCR #21 Chevy was third in his first BGN start. #97-Phil Parsons, making his 2001 debut starts 5th. #99-Kerry Earnhardt will start 30th, Ron Hornaday’s son, Ronnie will start 31st, and Dick Trickle makes his 2001 debut in the #49 starting 35th. #66-Geoffrey Bodine had to take a provisional and will start 41st. Missing the race were #32-Dan Pardus, #8-Jeffrey Falk and #44-Mike Harmon. #87-Jeff Fuller and #81-Dwayne Leik(in a Dave Marcis owned car) withdrew on Friday. See the lineup at That’s Racin’: Outback Steakhouse 300 lineup(6-16-2001)
Wrecks at Kentucky: it was reported on FSN’s Cup Qualifying coverage that Geoffrey Bodine wrecked two #66 Phillips 66 and #87-Jeff Fuller wrecked during practice at Kentucky. They said the #87 team packed up and went home, no word on Bodine’s plans, but since he is part of a three car team (#’s 34 and 36), he could use one of their backups. AND The halfway point of the practice period saw a second on track incident when 66-Geoffrey Bodine spun out in turn four. Damage was done to the right front and right side of the car. Bodine was treated and released from the Infield Care Center and hearing that Bodine will go to one of the team (Cicci-Welliver Racing) cars for qualifying tonight(at 7pm). And Fuller – The third mishap of the practice session came two-and-a-half hours into the evening when Jeff Fuller got into the corner in turn three and touched the wall, casuing considerable damage. “We were trying to setup a mock qualifying run and the car just got out from underneath us,” Fuller said. “We really don’t have a game plan from here. #11-Marty Houston also wrecked and went to a backup car.(Kentucky Speedway Notes)(6-15-2001)
Pruett at the Glen? UPDATE yes: hearing that Scott Pruett will be driving the #71 State Fair Corn Dogs/Ball Park Franks Taurus for Kevin Lepage at the Busch race at Watkins Glen next month. They plan to test there later this month. This is.a one race deal(6-6-2001) UPDATE: Matrix Motorsports has reached an agreement with Scott Pruett, a native of Sacramento, Calif., to drive the #71 BGN entry at Watkins Glen, N.Y., on July 8, 2001. Pruett, who was a full time driver of the #32 Ford on the NASCAR Winston Cup Circuit last season, is pleased with the opportunity to drive for Matrix, owned by Donna and Kevin Lepage. Lepage, driver of the #4 Kodak Chevy in Winston Cup, has succeeded in the Busch Series as an owner and a driver. He has two wins (Bristol Motor Speedway in 1998 and Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1996) and 15 top-five finishes in 152 starts. Although he is running a limited BGN schedule of 15 races for the 2001 season, Lepage is looking to expand his team to possibly include a full time driver for the 2002 season. State Fair Brand Ball Park Corn Dogs is the primary sponsor on the #71 driven by the Vermont native. However, Matrix Motorsports is actively seeking a sponsor for the #71 Ford to run a full schedule. Pruett, a former Professional Karting Association World Champion and CART Racing Series winner, stepped into the Cup Series in 2000 for the first time. Now, he is looking to gain valuable seat time in a stock car in the Busch Series(Matrix Motorsports PR)(6-15-2001)
Hornaday III to debut: Ronnie Hornaday III will make his BGN debut in the inaugural Outback 300 at Kentucky. Hornaday III, who has competed in 10 CTS races, will drive a second Foyt Racing entry for the event. “I’m looking forward to racing at Kentucky,” said Hornaday III, who will be driving the #41 Foyt Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo. “I was able to get some test laps around here last summer. This track is fast, and we should put on a great show for the spectators.” This will be Hornaday III’s first start at Kentucky Speedway, and his second race event in the state of Kentucky. “I raced in the last NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Louisville Speedway,” said the Palmdale, CA native. Kevin Cram will be the crew chief for the Kentucky race, and Lucas Oil Products will be an associate sponsor. “Bob Patison and Lucas Oil Products have been behind me all season. I also want to thank AJ and Lucy Foyt for providing me with this opportunity to race, and David Evans for giving us the engine support,” said Hornaday III. In 2001, Hornaday III has competed in four CTS events, driving the #94 Chevy Silverado owned by father Ron Jr., and mother Lindy. The Outback 300 marks the first appearance of the Hornaday name in a BGN race this season.(PR)(6-14-2001)
Sauter Rumors Untrue: had not heard this – Rumors that Tony Stewart might replace Jay Sauter as the driver of the Curb-Agajanian Motorsports Chevrolet are untrue, says team co-owner Cary Agajanian. “That is so far-fetched,” Agajanian said June 7. “Tony is under contract with Joe Gibbs, and I would not ask him to drive our car. It’s really not true. The one thing I can tell you is that Tony Stewart won’t be driving our car. I wouldn’t impose on him. We’ve never, ever talked about it. I talk to Tony Stewart every weekend. I suppose that if somebody watched me talking to Phil at Dover and then saw me walk over and go into Tony Stewart’s motorhome and talk to him, rumors start flying.” The team will field a second car at Kentucky for Phil Parsons with primary sponsorship from Morton’s Salt. None of this, however, will impact Sauter, who will continue to have Morton’s Salt as an associate sponsor. “We’re absolutely pleased with Jay, and that’s absolutely the truth,” Agajanian said. “But I know there were rumors flying. That’s some of the things you face when you start making changes or bringing different people in.” Sauter says such rumors are a distraction, but he’s been assured that his status with CAM is stable. “That’s just part of this business,” Sauter said June 11. “Obviously, it’s a distraction. It’s probably harder on the guys in the shop than it is on me. It makes it hard to get everybody pulling on the rope in the same direction, but I think we’re gonna be OK.”(Winston Cup Scene)(6-14-2001)
Parker to Meet with Kids: Hank Parker Jr., driver of the #36 GNC Live Well Chevy in the BGN, will visit the Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati (CHMCC) on Thursday, June 14. At 2:00pm/et, Parker will be present as Kohl’s Department Stores presents a $55,000 check for it’s Kohl’s Cares for Kids* program to CHMCC. The Medical Center will dedicate all of its proceeds to the department of Child Life. Child Life at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is one of only a few child life programs in the country. This unique department of dedicated individuals focuses on promoting optimal growth and development in children, reducing the stress of health care experiences, providing support and education to children and their families and advocating for psychosocial care in pediatrics. Child Life plans to purchase 18 new computers for the Bone Marrow and Dialysis Centers located in the new hospital tower opening in summer 2002. Pediatric patients operating the STARBRIGHT World program will use the computers. Parker, who is in town to compete in the inaugural Outback Steakhouse 300 race at Kentucky, will be in attendance to “chat” with Lexington and Cincinnati patients on the STARBRIGHT World program.(Keystone Marketing PR)(6-14-2001)
#55 and Green at Kentucky UPDATE Busch Ladies Logo Images: Mark Green will enter to run the inaugural Outback Steakhouse 300 at Kentucky Speedway on June 16. Green will return to action in the NASCAR Busch Series in the #55 Davis & Weight Motorsports Ford to run the Kentucky race. The team is currently in the process of preparing cars for their move to the Winston Cup Series later this year. “It will be really nice to go back home. We have been working really hard to prepare for our Winston Cup debut at Indianapolis, but we really wanted to run this Kentucky race. The guys in the shop are really itching to go racing, so maybe running at Kentucky will give us our fix before we go to Indy in August. I am really happy that I will be able to run in the opening Busch race here in a couple of weeks,” said Green. The team currently seeks sponsorship for the Busch Series, as well as for their Winston Cup program. For more information on how your company can join hometown hero Mark Green in the Outback Steakhouse 300, please call Jeff Armstrong toll free at 888-300-7102(Davis & Weight Motorsports PR)(5-25-2001) UPDATE: Davis and Weight Motorsports will run the logo of the Busch Series Ladies Association (BSLA) during this weekend’s BGN race at Kentucky Speedway. The #55 Davis & Weight Motorsports Ford is driven by Mark Green, a native of Owensboro, Kentucky. His wife, Cathy, is currently the Vice President of the BSLA.(6-12-2001) UPDATE: see an image of the car on the Paint Schemes Gallery(6-14-2001)
New Innovative Motorsports COO: Christopher Joseph Lencheski has been named chief operating officer of Innovative Motorsports. IMI is part of a triad of companies owned or controlled by George deBidart that includes Winston-Salem, N.C.-based The Source International (TSI) and Charlotte-based Innovative Hospitality, Inc. Among the responsibilities involved in his new role, Lencheski, who has retained an interest in IMI, is charged with combining the three business units and expanding the footprint of IMI in both the NASCAR Busch and Winston Cup series, as well as to other racing series. “Chris and I have known each other for years, and we have discussed getting together for quite some time,” said deBidart, whose Lowes Motor Speedway-based IMI company currently campaigns driver Kenny Wallace on the NASCAR Busch Series in the #48 Goulds Pump Chevy. IMI, founded in 1998, has campaigned the #30 and #48 BGN cars for drivers Chad Little, Hermie Sadler, Andy Santerre and, currently, Wallace. Prior to accepting his new position, Lencheski most recently was president of Southern California-based marketing communications company MFP, which also involved managing directorship of commercial operations during the inaugural (2000) season of the Mo Nunn Racing team on the CART FedEx Championship Series. MFP was founded by former Campbell and Company chairman and CEO Rod Campbell.(Innovative Motorsports PR)(6-14-2001)
Fellows and Nemechek: NEMCO Motorsports announced today plans to compete in three NASCAR events with driver Ron Fellows this season. Fellows, who won the Rolex 24 at Daytona in February, will pilot the Nortel Networks #87 Chevy in next weekend’s Savemart 350 Winston Cup Series event at Sears Point Raceway. From there, the team will move on to Watkins Glen for the BGN race on July 8, and the Winston Cup Series race on August 12. Bully Hill Vineyards will be the primary sponsor for both events at The Glen. Over the past three seasons, Fellows and Nemechek’s team, led by Crew Chief Brian Pattie, have tallied two wins and a second in three tries in the BGN event at Watkins Glen, as well as a second-place finish in the 1999 Winston Cup Series race. Newcomers to the Sears Point event, Fellows insists the team’s goal remains the same regardless of venue or series. “As always, whether it’s Winston Cup or Busch, the main priority is to make the race,” said Fellows. “I’ve raced at Sears Point in the Trans Am Series and in the Corvette, but this will be my first time in a Winston Cup car. We came out to Sonoma to test and were quite pleased with the result,” Fellows added. “It’s a very different track than Watkins Glen. It’s a fun track because of the elevation changes, but generally, the corners are slower. You’ve really got to have a handle on shocks at Sears Point and Brian (Pattie) was able to accomplish that during the test.” A Toronto, Ontario native, Fellows competes in the American Le Mans Series driving the GM Racing Corvette, as well as select NASCAR events with NEMCO Motorsports. Currently he is in France, competing with the GM Racing team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans(NEMCO Motorsports PR)(6-13-2001)
Parsons to run at Kentucky: Cary Agajanian, co-owner of Curb-Agajanian Motorsports announced today that veteran BGN driver Phil Parsons will drive a second C-A Motorsports car sponsored by Morton Salt, the #97 Chevy, in the June 16th Outback Steakhouse 300 at the Kentucky Speedway. Morton Salt will also continue as the major associate sponsor on the #43 Quality Farm Stores Chevrolet driven by Jay Sauter. The team will have Ken Schrader Racing pit crew(CTS/ARCA etc). Parsons is a veteran of sixteen years in Busch Series competition. The Detroit, Michigan driver has 284 career Busch Series starts with two wins, six pole awards, and over $2.7 million in career earnings. Parsons has thirty-eight top five and ninety-six top ten finishes in his Busch Series career. Parsons also serves as an announcer of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races on ESPN. The Outback Steakhouse 300 will make seven Busch Series races in 2001 where Morton Salt will be the primary sponsor of a Curb-Agajanian entry. Morton Salt was the primary sponsor for the #43 car at the California Speedway on April 28th. The remaining races for the #43 Morton Salt car will be Milwaukee (July 1), Chicago (July 14th), Indianapolis (August 4th), Phoenix (October 27th), and Homestead (November 10th).(Sport Management PR)(6-5-2001) UPDATE: see an image of the car on the Paint Schemes Gallery(6-12-2001)
Trickle Back in BGN: BGN veteran Dick Trickle will pilot the #49 Rent-A-Wreck Ford at the inaugural Outback Steakhouse 300 at Kentucky Speedway, marking his first start in the series since the Hotwheels.com 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November of 2000. Trickle has over 150 starts in the Busch Series and two career wins, the most recent coming in 1998 at Darlington Raceway. Although he has not been in the BGN lately, Trickle has kept himself busy. Trickle helps test and build the IROC cars in preparation for the races. BGNRacing.com will appear on the lower rear quarter panels of the #49 Jay Robinson Racing cars through the remainder of the 2001 season.(BGN Racing)(6-12-2001)
Musgrave in the #00 at Kentucky UPDATE 2 No it’s Fedawa: Ted Musgrave has gotten the call to run Buckshot Racing’s BGN #00 car at Kentucky on June 16th(NASCAR.com)(6-8-2001) UPDATE: Buckshot Racing announced that Ted Musgrave would drive its #00 BGN car at the race at Kentucky Speedway, June 15-16. This is a one-race deal between Buckshot Racing and Musgrave, who currently drives the #1 Mopar Performance Dodge in the CTS. Buckshot Racing has competed in 13 of the first 15 Busch Series races of the season, with Todd Bodine driving 12 times and Buckshot Jones driving once. The team has two victories (North Carolina Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway) and six top-10s overall. The #00 Buckshot Racing team, which has competed in the BGN since 1996, is currently unsponsored. It will run a part-time schedule in 2001, until a full-time sponsor is found.(Buckshot Racing PR)(6-9-2001) UPDATE 2: Tim Fedewa was named Monday to drive Buckshot Racing’s #00 Chevrolet at Kentucky this weekend. CTS driver Ted Musgrave was originally entered in the car as its previous drivers, Buckshot Jones and Todd Bodine, will be at Pocono running the Cup race. Cicci-Welliver Racing fired Fedewa from its #66 Chevrolet last week(NASCAR.com), supposedly Musgrave called and declined the ride as he had another oppurtunity, no idea what that is(6-12-2001)
Santerre Fan Car: Santerre-Reece Motorsports, co-owned by BGN driver, Andy Santerre, Winston-Salem area businessman, Mike Reece, and Briggs Cunningham III, and the Andy Santerre Fan Club, have developed a promotion to allow race fans t he opportunity to sponsor and have their name on the #01 BGN. The FAN CAR will debut at Pikes Peak International Raceway in the live, nationally-televised NAPA Auto Care 250 on July 28, 2001. The idea was born after Sue Santerre, the team’s Public Relations Director, posted a message on the team’s website, www.Santerre-Reece-Motorsports.com, that the team would not compete at Richmond International Raceway due to a lack of sponsorship. Response was immediate, as fans started e-mailing the team, asking what it would take for the team to race more often. From that initial round of e-mails and subsequent conversations with fans, the idea of a FAN CAR took root and flourished, laying the gr ound work for an innovative promotion that would give race fans a chance to sponsor a NASCAR Busch Series race car. “I was amazed at the number of e-mails we received from fans about not racing Richmond,” Andy Santerre said. “Racing is a matter of economics, with no financial backing in the form of sponsorship, you can’t race. Being without adequate corporate backing, we have to pick and choose which races we run. We definitely wanted to race my home track at New Hampshire, but couldn’t do both Richmond and New Hampshire. I didn’t realize how many fans were disappointed in our decision to skip Richmond.” “I posted the message that we wouldn’t be racing at Richmond on our web board,” Sue Santerre confirmed. “Within an hour I started receiving e-mails from fans asking what they could do to help us race more. I was amazed at how much support was shown in ju st a few days. I discussed the idea of a FAN CAR with friends and they thought it would be a great idea. Then I ran the idea by some of my Public Relations/Marketing colleagues and they thought it was a great idea as well.” Santerre continues, “What do we have to loose? We’ll open up the sponsorship of our car to race fans in the way of a FAN CAR and see what happens.” The FAN CAR will debut at the NAPA AutoCare 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway on July 28, 2001. The top-50 sponsors name’s will be placed on the trunk deck and/or lower rear quarter panels of the #01 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the NBC nationally-tele vised broadcast. If the response is significant, we will also put sponsor’s names on the trunk deck of the #01 Chevrolet Monte Carlo at Watkins Glen International Speedway on July 8, 2001. All sponsor’s names, regardless of the sponsorship amount will be listed in the Santerre-Reece Motorsports media guide, in the Andy Santerre Fan Club Newsletter and on the Santerre-Reece Motorsports web site. The highest monetary sponsor and a guest, (both 18 years an older), will be invited to attend Pikes Peak International Raceway as guests of the team. They will receive two garage passes, be guided on an in-depth garage and pit tour with a team representat ive, be an honorary pit crew member during the event, and receive a radio/scanner to use during the event to listen to team communications. Hotel accommodations are included, though travel to and from Pikes Peak is the sponsor’s responsibility. Due to the fact that Santerre-Reece Motorsports is not a non-profit organization, sponsorship pledges are not tax deductible. “The FAN CAR is open for sponsorship from fans across America,” Andy Santerre explains. “NASCAR fans give so much to this sport and they are the main reason NASCAR is successful and that we have such a strong sanctioning body to race under. The FAN CAR i s our small way of offering those fans a chance to be a part of the sport they love to support.” Sue Santerre adds, “If you have ever dreamed of putting your name on a race car, now is the time, you have a perfect opportunity to be an integral part of a race program for a fraction of the cost of a team sponsor.” Sponsorship pledges must be received by Thursday, July 12, 2001 to be eligible for the top-50 sponsors’ list and the trip to Pikes Peak. Andy Santerre heads back to Pikes Peak International Raceway, the site of his first and only NASCAR Busch Series victory, with the best performance record of any NASCAR Busch Series driver to-date at the 1.0-mile oval. Log on to www.santerre-reece-motorsports.com for more information on the FAN CAR promotion and to sign up.(6-9-2001)
2nd Foyt Team? David Starr, who will compete in Friday night’s CTS race at Texas, is hoping to work out a deal with A.J. Foyt Racing to drive a second Busch car for Foyt’s team on a full-time basis next season. Starr drove a Busch car for Foyt at Texas in March. Larry Foyt, A.J.’s youngest son, drives the #14 Harrah’s Chevy as a rookie in the BGN series this year. Starr will join Larry Foyt next season if the team can secure a second sponsor. Foyt is confident he can find sponsorship, even though several BGN teams are struggling this season to find major sponsors(Dallas Morning News)(6-8-2001)
Bodine. Todd not to race at the Glen: Todd Bodine will not drive in the BGN race at Watkins Glen on July 8, the track’s spokeswoman said. “They’re bringing the car(Buckshot Racing #00), but he won’t be driving it,” said Julie Giese, public relations manager at the track. “They didn’t say who the driver will be.”(Elmira Star Gazette)(6-8-2001)
Testing at Watkins Glen UPDATE: First NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division test session of 2001 in preparation for the Watkins Glen 200 on July 8 will be held on Wednesday, June 6 from 10:00am – 2:30pm/et. Teams/Drivers attending the test session: #7-Randy LaJoie, #36-Hank Parker Jr., #66-Geoffrey Bodine, #87-Ron Fellows, #92-Jimmie Johnson, and #98-Elton Sawyer and others(Watkins Glen PR)(6-5-2001) UPDATE: Watkins Glen International hosted its first day of BGN testing for the upcoming Watkins Glen 200 on Wednesday. Several drivers were on hand to make their first trip of 2001 around the 2.45-mile road course. Teams will wrap up the test session on Thursday. Some Speeds: #92-Jimmy Johnson and PJ Jones 115.33 mph; #36-Hank Parker Jr. 114.32 mph; #66-Geoffrey Bodine, 114.31mph; #98-Elton Sawyer 113.66mph; #87-Ron Fellows 113.00mph(Watkins Glen PR)(6-7-2001)
Ruttman to run Kentucky: CTS driver, Joe Ruttman will run the #1 Team Yellow Chevy at the Kentucky Speedway this week. Jimmy Spencer is the regular driver(6-5-2001)
Kvapil to test for RCR UPDATE and run Kentucky: #60 CTS driver Travis Kvapil will test an RCR Busch car at Chicago this week(ESPN CTS Race Coverage) UPDATE: A source close to Richard Childress Racing said Monday that NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Travis Kvapil will drive the #Chevrolet for RCR in next weekend’s Kentucky 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Rumor has it Kvapil and Scott Riggs are being considered to take over that ride full-time in 2002(NASCAR.com Buzz)(6-4-2001)
#54 Crew Chief: Hearing that Teddy Brown has been hired as Crew Chief for the BGN #54 General Creation/Baby Bear Chevrolet driven by Kelly Denton. Brown moves over from the Eel River Winston Cup operation. Ron Silver was serving as an interim crew chief(6-3-2001)
Ut-Oh Rain at Dover: it is raining at Dover (as it is here in South NJ right across the bay from Dover). Looking at the Weather Channel maps, lots of green on the radar, which means rain. Busch qualifying has been canceled and the field has been set by Owners points and other rules. See NASCAR.com for the MBNA Platinum 200. No one missed the race as there were 43 cars making the attempt(6-1-2001)
Bonifield in the BGN? UPDATE: Long-time CTS driver Phil Bonifield said at Pikes Peak on Sunday he planned to do his first double-dip weekend at Dover in two weeks. Bonifield tipped that he would run Friday’s truck race and Saturday’s BGN event at Dover(NASCAR.com Buzz)(5-21-2001) UPDATE: Jay Robinson, owner of the #49 Rent-A-Wreck team, gives the wheel of the #49 Pontiac over to Truck Series veteran Phil Bonifield for this weekend’s MBNA Platinum 200 at Dover. Bonifield, who has competed in the Truck Series on and off for the last three years, will make his first Busch Series start this weekend. Bonifield will be the only driver this weekend running both Truck and Busch races. Phil will pilot the #49 Rent-A-Wreck Pontiac this weekend, which is the same car that gave the team its best finish to date, a 16th-place finish at Talladega in April of this year. BGNRacing.com covers the NASCAR Busch Series exclusively, providing up-to-the-minute news and information on the Busch Series teams and drivers. BGNRacing.com will appear on the lower rear quarter panels of the #49 Jay Robinson Racing cars through the remainder of the 2001 season.(Jay Robinson PR)(6-1-2001)
Blaney to show ALS colors: Team owners of the #93 BGN car, Bryan and Jane Goewey, have dedicated their race car to PROJECT ALS for the Busch race at Dover on June 2, 2001. Jane’s mother was stricken with ALS 3 years ago, and she fights with her strong spirit every day to beat this tragic illness which has no cure, and no treatments. Dave Blaney will be driving the #93 Project ALS car at Dover Downs. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), better known as Lou Gerhig’s disease is a fatal, neuromuscular disease that is not rare (ALS is diagnosed with roughly the same frequency as multiple sclerosis). It is a progressive, insidious disorder that occurs when motor nerve cells in the nervous system cease functioning and die. While a person’s mind remains sharp and alert, muscle control becomes completely lost, resulting in paralysis of their entire body and eventually their breathing. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages about 2-5 years. The Goewey’s have decided to use their race car at this highly publicized, and Nationally televised race (FX) to try to raise awareness of ALS, and to encourage support of Project ALS. Project ALS was started by the Estes sisters in NYC, after their sister, Jenifer was diagnosed with ALS at the young age of 35. Project ALS is a leader in funding the most progressive research for a cure for ALS. Project ALS distributes funds raised through its charitable efforts to the most exciting ALS and related researchers worldwide. Donations can be made to Project ALS via their website at PROJECTALS.org, or via telephone at (800) 603-0270. (Bill Davis Racing PR)(6-1-2001)
#63 Assoc Sponsor UPDATE: Mike Scerbo, President of DWAI® (Don’t Worry About It™), a brand for apparel and related licensed goods, has long been a NASCAR fan and this weekend he is taking his passion for the sport one step farther. DWAI® will be the associate sponsor on the #63 Lance Snacks Ford, fielded by Hensley Racing and driven by Shane Hall, in the Car Quest Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend. The lower quarter-panels and C-posts of the No. 63 Ford Taurus will feature the logo of DWAI® as well as the company’s signature trademark “Bexter the Dog.” DWAI® is a new brand created by Scerbo. The Staten Island, N.Y. business is currently looking to license the brand to manufacturers across various product categories. “Bexter the Dog” is an additional trademark that is being developed as the signature logo for the company.(iMAGE500 PR)(5-23-2001) UPDATE: Mike Scerbo, President of DWAI (Don’t Worry About Itä), is feeling the need for speed and utilizing that as a marketing tool for his company. As a result, DWAIâ will be an Associate Sponsor for the second week in a row on the #63 Lance Snacks Ford, fielded by Hensley Racing and driven by Shane Hall, in the MBNA Platinum 200 BGN race at Dover this weekend. The lower quarter-panels and C-posts of the No. 63 Ford Taurus will feature the logo of DWAI as well as the company’s signature trademark “Bexter the Dog.”(iMAGE500 PR)(6-1-2001)
