#61 Suspends Operations UPDATE: Effective immediately, the #61 Xpress Motorsports team and driver Hut Stricklin will not run any BGN races until the team can prepare better(Xpress Motorsports Site)(5-2-2000) UPDATE: hearing Derrike Cope will drive the #61 in a few races when the team is better prepared, probably as soon as early summer. Supposedly Hut Stricklin and the team have parted ways(5-9-2000)
Richert to Gibbs: Joe Gibbs, owner of the Porter-Cable BGN Team announced the hiring of veteran crew chief Doug Richert. Richert, 39, will oversee the #4 Porter-Cable Racing Team, with driver Jeff Purvis. Richert, a San Jose, CA native, brings a long list of racing success to the Joe Gibbs Racing organization. At the age of 19, he served as crew chief for Dale Earnhardt and led the 7-time Winston Cup Champion to his first title. The list of drivers Richert has worked with reads like a Who’s Who of NASCAR; Darrell Waltrip, Neil Bonnett, Alan Kulwicki, Benny Parsons, Jimmy Spencer, and Buddy Baker. More recently, Richert served as crew chief for PPI Motorsports and driver Scott Pruett. Richert went right to work on Monday, the team spent the day testing at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. The Porter-Cable Team will spend the next couple of days in the shop preparing for the Carquest Auto Parts 300 on Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway(TOTAL Sports Marketing PR)(5-23-2000)
#68 has a sponsor, needs help UPDATE 2 and an image: The #69 Premiere Motorsports team has signed with a sponsor and are hiring fabricators and mechanics. The team expects to make it’s 2000 debut at the June 10th race at South Boston. Go to their website www.premieremotorsports.com for more info or to e-mail about employment requests(5-13-2000) UPDATE: Premiere Motorsports will host a press conference at their brand new, 38,000 square foot facility in Pittsboro, NC on Wednesday, May, 31, 2000 at 11:00am/et to announce its participation in the 2000 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series. Premiere Motorsports and owner Steve Husketh will unveil the #68 Premiere Motorsports Ford, announce the sponsor of the vehicle, conduct a tour of the facility, and introduce the experienced champion who will drive the Ford this season(Team PR). I hear Jay Fogleman will be the driver(5-15-2000) #68 Sponsor and Image: Premiere Motorsports announced it’s partnership with NxView Technologies for ten races in the 2000 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series. Jay Fogleman, a veteran of the Hooters Pro Cup division will pilot the # 68 NxView Taurus owned by Steve Husketh. Jimmy Fitzgerald will call the shots from the pits. The team will start the season on June 10 at South Boston, Va. NxView, a Cary, NC-based company, is the leading provider of 3D content for the web. An interactive 3D model of the NxView Taurus can be seen at www.nxview.com. See an image of the car in the Jayski BGN Paint Schemes Gallery. The ten race schedule is as follows: South Boston, Myrtle Beach, Gateway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Bristol, Richmond, Charlotte/Lowes, Rockingham, Memphis and Homestead-Miami(Premiere Motorsports PR)(5-31-2000)
#46 News: Jim Jenkins II has joined Lewis Motorsports as a fabricator/mechanic. Jenkins comes to the team after working several years on Late Model teams in Virginia. Lewis Motorsports will take the next two weekends off after Dover to prepare for the June 25 Lysol 200 at Watkins Glen International. Lewis Motorsports will test at Watkins Glen the week of June 12.(Keystone PR)(5-31-2000)
Lefties: Jason Jarrett, driver of the #11 Rayovac Chevrolet (usually Pontiac) in the NASCAR Busch Series, will be featured in a piece on lefthanders on The Today Show on NBC this Thursday, June 1, in the 7:30 a.m. time block. The feature focuses on southpaws in jobs where they might have an advantage. Jason attests that being left-handed benefits him on smaller tracks where his left hand can turn the wheel while his right hand handles the shifting(MachOne PR)(5-31-2000)
#98 Assoc Sponsor: Rid-X Septic System Treatment, made by Reckitt Benckiser, will be an associate sponsor on the # 98 Lysol Ford this weekend. The decal will be shown on the rear quarterpanel of the car. Also in preparation for the June 10 NASCAR Busch Series race at South Boston Speedway, the Lysol team will test Wednesday, June 7, at Lanier Speedway in Georgia.(Keystone PR)(5-31-2000)
#92 News: While #92-Jimmie Johnson missed Daytona and was 44th in points after Rockingham, he’s jumped all the way to 18th in the standings, 164 points out of the top-10.(PR)(5-31-2000)
Watkins Glen Testing: the second BGN test session at Watkins Glen opens on Wednesday, May 31. Driver sceduled to test: #44-Terry & Justin Labonte; #7-Michael Waltrip Racing; #35-Lyndon Amick. Wednesday’s test session is open and fans that have purchased Lysol 200 or Bully Hill Vineyards 150 tickets will be admitted free of charge. Visiting fans should present their Lysol 200 / Bully Hill Vineyards 150 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 yet(Watkins Glen PR)(5-28-2000)
#55 News: Michael Ritch and the #55 Davis & Weight Motorsports Ford failed to qualify for the BGN race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The team fought car problems from arrival on Thursday morning. The team will take this opportunity to prepare for the BGN race at Dover(D&W PR)(5-28-2000)
#50 News: Tony Roper will be back in the #50 next week and for the remainder of the year. Stanton Barrett practiced and made a qualifying attempt in the #50 car at Charlotte, but supposedly it was only a temporary change(BGN Racing Site)(5-28-2000)
#68 Crew Chief: Premiere Motorsports hired Jimmy Fitzgerald as Crew Chief for their #68 BGN team. Ten candidates were interviewed for the position before Fitzgerald was chosen. A team spokesman was quoted as saying, “It wasn’t a hard decision to hire Jimmy. He and our driver seemed to communicate well right from the start and he knows these Busch cars as good as anyone in the garage.” Jimmy’s involvement in Busch racing includes working with drivers such as former Busch Series “Rookie of the Year” Johnny Benson, Rick Mast, back to back Busch Series Champion Randy Lajoie, and most recently Kenny Irwin. Premiere Motorsports will host a press conference at their new 38,000 sq. foot facility Wednesday, May 31st at 11am to announce their sponsor, driver and 2000 race schedule. For more information visit www.premieremotorsports.com(5-28-2000)
Wells 2nd Driver? UPDATE 2: Car owner(#32 and #97BGN) Cal Wells says he isn’t negotiating yet with either Sterling Marlin or Tony Glover, who are considering their futures now that Chip Ganassi is buying Felix Sabates’ operation. Wells is in the market for a driver and crew chief for his new McDonald’s team(PitNow) I guess #97 BGN driver Anthony Lazarro is not moving up to Cup as originally planned?(5-26-2000) UPDATE 2: Cal Wells is considering a shakeup in his slumping McDonald’s #97 BGN Ford team. Scott Pruett, who runs Well’s Ride Cup #32 Ford, may run the car for the rest of 2000. Current BGN driver, Anthony Lazzaro, failed to make the BGN race at Lowes. Pruett may take over that car next week at Dover.(PitNow) UPDATE: Anthony Lazzaro has been dismissed from Cal Wells’ #97 McDonald’s BGN Ford. Wells entered NASCAR this season with a Winston Cup effort for Scott Pruett and the McDonald’s Busch Series group for Lazzaro — both stock-car rookies. The plan had been to move Lazzaro, and McDonald’s, up to Cup next year. Officially, no decisions have been made, but team sources confirmed that Lazzaro was out. Team members say the plan is for Pruett to drive the McDonald’s car in companion events(SpeedVision)(5-27-2000)
#21 Assoc: Textilease officials announced that it would be an associate sponsor of the #21 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Busch Series car. Textilease, based in Beltsville, Md., signed a three-year agreement to be an associate sponsor on the Rockwell Automation Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Mike Dillon(PR)(5-25-2000)
Parker OK: Hank Parker Jr. had qualified in 10th position for Saturday’s CarQuest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Hank was participating in final Busch Series practice (a.k.a. “Happy Hour”) on Friday at approximately 1:30 p.m. EDT, and crashed in Turn 2. Hank was transported to University Medical Center in Charlotte for a precautionary CT (a.k.a. “catscan”) and was released shortly afterward. He is okay — although he has a headache. He is cleared to race and will drive his backup car (“Night Train”) on Saturday. Unfortunately, rules dictate that he start the backup car at the rear of the field (43rd).(Team Marines PR)(5-27-2000)
#82 News: CARQUEST Auto Parts has reached an agreement for a one race associate sponsorship of the #82 Channellock Chevrolet Busch Grand National car drive by Glenn Allen for Saturday’s CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 BGN race. The sponsorship will include logo placement on the Channellock BGN car, along with logo placement in view of the car’s on-board camera. Allen and the Channellock team are qualified 25th for Saturday’s CARQUEST Auto Parts 300(PR)(5-26-2000)
#81 News: Blaise Alexander and the TRACFONE/WCW team will feature World Championship Wrestling Superstar, Goldberg on the hood of their #81 Chevy during Saturday’s running of the Carquest Auto Parts 300 at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Alexander’s #81 Chevy will also feature a black and gold paint scheme rather than its usual orange, green and purple colors. Goldberg is scheduled to attend the Busch Series event Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and will participate in driver introductions and help the TRACFONE/WCW crew in the pits(PR)(5-26-2000)
#87 Paint: Joe Nemechek and Cellular One from Dobson Cellular Systems will utilize this Saturday’s CarQuest Auto Parts 300 at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway-Charlotte to promote Wireless Safety Week May 22-28. Nemechek’s Cellular One Monte Carlo will feature a special red, black and yellow paint scheme with the wireless safety logo of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) on the hood(Nemco PR)(5-25-2000)
#42 Paint: In recognition of Wireless Safety Week, the #42 BellSouth Mobility/Ericsson Chevy driven by Kenny Irwin will carry a special decal on the hood in Saturday’s CarQuest 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. BellSouth Mobility is partnering with other NASCAR wireless service sponsors to promote safe and responsible wireless phone use during the weeklong effort that concludes with this weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series race(BellSouth PR)(5-25-2000)
Petty News: There’s the possibility that Kyle Petty will drive the #45 Busch Grand National car as well, but that decision will be based on sponsorship and Richard Petty says he “seriously doubts” it will happen(Times Dispatch) UPDATE: Petty Enterprises and sponsor Sprint announced Thursday that Kyle Petty will drive the #45 Sprint car in the Busch Series race at Dover next week(SpeedVision)(5-25-2000)
#30 Decklid: the website, RacingDiva.com will be on the rear deck lid of the #30 Little Tree’s Chevy at Lowes this weekend(5-25-2000)
#53 Night Train: Hank Parker Jr. will drive “Night Train” in the CarQuest Auto Parts 300 on May 27 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. It is, perhaps, the first time a NASCAR Busch Series car has been named after a disc jockey. Bobby “Night Train” Lane hosts the 7:00 p.m.-to-midnight shift on “Magic 96.1” in Charlotte, N.C. Lane grew up in Georgia, and attended short track races at Lanier, Peach State and Toccoa(Team Marines PR)(5-24-2000)
Little to the BGN UPDATE 3 Hermie back: Hermie Sadler has been released from his #30 Innovative Motorsports BGN ride, Chad Little will run the #30 Little Trees Chevy at Texas and probably for the rest of the 2000 BGN season when there are no conflicts with the CUP schedule and the team will run an un-named rookie the remaining races UPDATE: also see the story on NOL, along with another BGN driver getting released, Shame Hall from the #00 Alumni Motorsports car. The team will skip Texas and return at Nashville with an un-named driver(NOL: Sadler/Hall Lose Rides)(3-28-2000) UPDATE 2: RJR Enterprises, Inc., an established race team owner of 5 years, announced a five race deal with Winston Cup driver Chad Little for the 2000 season. Races will include both Winston West and Featherlite Southwest Tour dates throughout the season. The #9 car of RJR Enterprises will make its debut in the Winston West Series on Friday, April 21, 2000 at Las Vegas with CUP driver Chad Little behind the wheel. The remainder of the dates will be on the Featherlite Southwest Tour, and include Sears Point on June 24, the Los Angeles Street Race on July 16, and the season ender at Phoenix on November 3. Little will also be driving in the Copper Classic at Phoenix in 2001(RacingWest)(4-2-2000) UPDATE 3: Innovative Motorsports announced major changes for the remainder of the BGN season with the #30 Little Trees Chevy, asking former driver Hermie Sadler to come back and drive the car for the rest of the season. Sadler will drive at Milwaukee, Nazareth, Pikes Peak, Gateway, Indianapolis, Memphis and Homestead. Chad Little will be in the car for the rest of the conjunction events with the Cup Series. Phillip Morris will drive for the races at South Boston and Myrtle Beach. Butch Leitzinger will run at Watkins Glen and the team will enter two Little Trees Chevrolets at Homestead, driven by Little and Sadler(NOL)(5-23-2000)
Gibbs News: Joe Gibbs Racing Busch operations has not yet named a permanent crew chief for the Jeff Purvis Porter Cable team. Joe Gibbs Racing is going through a thorough process of evaluating potential candidates ensuring that the right person with the right qualifications is selected for the position. A decision is expected within the next few weeks(5-23-2000)
#26 Sponor UPDATE 3: the television show “Baywatch” has signed on to sponsor Bobby Hamilton Jr.’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the Busch Series. Actor David Hasselhoff(thought he quit the show?), star of “Baywatch,” is expected to be at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday to watch Hamilton(Las Vegas Sun)(3-3-2000) — UPDATE and a rumor: Actor David Hasselhoff, who previously was involved as a part owner and sponsor of open-wheel cars, said Saturday his Baywatch Restaurants and Night Clubs signed a three-year agreement to sponsor the Busch Series car of Bobby Hamilton Jr.(SpeedNet/AP) — am hearing this is a deal in which would bring the #26 Allcar/Hamilton team to Cup in 2001. This sponsorship was rumored here in the past to be going to the #2-Rusty Wallace team as an assoicate or to a possible new Wayne Burdette Cup team as Burdette is looking to get back into Cup after the failed attempt to buy Cale Yarborough’s Cup team a year ago(3-5-2000) UPDATE 3: Bobby Hamilton is thinking about helping his son make the next step in his NASCAR career. Hamilton, who owns a Craftsman Truck Series team, carefully is watching Bobby Hamilton Jr.’s progress in the BGN this season. If his son performs well, Hamilton plans to help the 22-year-old compete in Winston Cup next season(Lap by Lap in the right hand column) Also of note: it is the Baywtach Restaurants not the TV show that is the sponsor of the BGN team(5-23-2000)
#55 News: Davis & Weight Motorsports will remove the Florida Gators decals from the #55 Davis & Weight Motorsports Ford for the CarQuest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 27th. The #55 Davis & Weight Motorsports Ford, driven by Michael Ritch, will feature black numbering with a red border. The Florida Gators logo was placed on the car because co-owners Jerry Davis and Tony Weight are significant contributors to the University of Florida, with Davis being an alumni. The team does not currently receive money from the University of Florida to carry the decals, so a decision was made to remove the Florida Gators material from the car. The team is actively seeking primary and associate sponsorship partners for the #55 Ford in the NASCAR Busch Series and the #81 Winston Cup car, which will debut in Michigan on August 20th. The team comes off a 22nd place finish at New Hampshire International Speedway, where Ritch made his first appearance at the track in the Busch 200 on May 13th. “Our team has now progressed to the point that we are ready to partner with a national sponsor. Continuing to run the University of Florida logo would discourage potential partners,” said Davis. Michael Ritch and the #55 Davis & Weight Motorsports Team return to action in the CarQuest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 27th at 1:05pm(5-23-2000)
#21 Paint at LMS: Rockwell Automation, primary sponsor of the #21 RCR/Brant Motorsports Chevy, will don a special paint scheme for the Busch race in Charlotte, NC on May 27th. The design, which will highlight one of Rockwell Automation’s products – DODGE Quantis Gearing – will retain the familiar banner stripe across the hood of the #21 Chevy, but modify its primary colors to silver and black. See the full story and image at the Rockwell Automation Racing page(5-23-2000)
Buckshot Racing: The Buckshot Racing team is bringing a brand new Chevrolet Monte Carlo to race with at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The car was purchased from a Hooter’s ProCup team before having new front and rear clips installed on the car(IMG Motorsports PR)(5-23-2000)
Petty News: Petty Enterprises’ Grand National team, which fielded the #45 car Adam Petty drove, will not compete in next week’s BGN Carquest 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. NASCAR officials have confirmed that the Petty car is not entered in next week’s race. Petty Enterprises has not made any decisions about when Adam’s father, Kyle, will return to Winston Cup racing and whether or not anybody will drive the Grand National car again this season. The elder Petty is not driving either this week of next. He will be replaced in the Coca-Cola 600 by Steve Grissom, who drives for Petty Enterprises on the NASCAR truck circuit(InfoBeat/AP)(5-21-2000)
Martin News: Mark Martin will compete in the BGN race at Charlotte on May 27. Martin will be racing the #60 Ford with a special Winn-Dixie paint scheme for the second time this year. This paint scheme will be a tribute for the Memorial Day weekend(J-Mar Newsletter)(5-20-2000)
Testing: Watkins Glen International hosted its first day of NASCAR Busch Series testing for the upcoming Lysol 200 Wednesday. Ron Fellows led the way driving for Joe Nemechek in the #87 Bully Hill Vineyards Chevrolet. Fellows posted some of the best speeds of the day with several laps clocked by hand at an average speed of 116.850 mph. Elton Sawyer also had a strong showing with an average speed of 115.310 mph in the #98 Lysol Ford Taurus. Jimmy Johnson, driver of the #92 ALLTEL Chevrolet, was making his first appearance at the historic road course. Matt Kenseth and Jason Schuler, co-drivers of the #17 Visine Chevrolet, were both at the track. Kenseth will be racing his Winston Cup car in Sears Point the weekend of the Lysol 200 but wanted to help his teammate prepare in his first visit to Watkins Glen(Watkins Glen PR)(5-18-2000)
Blaney to run a few BGN events: Bill Davis Racing today announced a driver change for the #20 AT&T sponsored Busch Series car previously driven by Mike Borkowski. Their 1999 BGN driver and current Winston Cup regular, Dave Blaney will handle the driving chores at Charlotte, May 28, and Dover on June 3. A permanent replacement will be announced prior to the June 10th race in South Boston, VA. Blaney drives the #93 Amoco Pontiac in Cup for Davis(Bill Davis PR)(5-18-2000)
600th Start UPDATE: the second Cicci-Welliver Team to qualify at Charlotte will represent their 600th career NASCAR start(5-16-2000) UPDATE: this is 600 total NASCAR starts: 53 starts in the Modified Series, 1985-87, with Jimmy Spencer. 1 Cup start in 1997 with Todd Bodine. 544 BGN starts since 1985. BGN drivers include Jimmy Spencer, Randy LaJoie, Clifford Allison, Jack Sprague, Todd Bodine, Mike McLaughlin, Mike Cope, David Green, Matt Hutter, Tim Fedewa. Total NASCAR stats as of 5/13/00: 16 Poles, 34 Wins, 166 Top Fives, 295 Top Tens, Total Winnings: $6,877,606(5-17-2000)
#61 News UPDATE: hearing that Rich Bickle will drive the #61 Xpress Motorsports Chevy?/Pontiac? at Charlotte. No word if Derrike Cope will drive any races with the team in 2000. Also hearing Darrell Lanigan who has raced in the ARCA and BGN series may drive a few races(5-15-2000) UPDATE – Bickle..no: am being told from Bickle-Smith Motorsports that Bickle will be in the Bickle/Smith Motorsports #91 Pontiac racing for Aqua Velva at Charlotte/Lowes, not the #61(5-16-2000)
Fuel Violation: #03 Driver/Owner Ken Alexander was fined $10,000 and penalized six points in the owners’ standings. Crew chief David Lackey was suspended from NASCAR until June 7 for fuel violations found May 5 prior to qualifying for the Hardee’s 250. Alexander failed to make the race at Richmond(RPM 2Night) Note: ESPN is reporting this as the #3 Ron Hornaday car, but that is incorrect. See full story at That’s Racin’(5-16-2000)
Watkins Glen Testing: the first open test session of the season on Wednesday, May 17. Teams from the NASCAR Busch Series will be preparing for the June 25, Lysol 200. #87-Joe Nemechek and Ron Fellows; #10-Jeff Green; #98-Elton Sawyer and others. The session is open to the public from 10:00am – 2:30pm/et with fans that have purchased Lysol 200 or Bully Hill Vineyards 150 tickets will be admitted free of(Watkins Glen PR) UPDATE: The #10 Jeff Greem ppc Racing team will not test at Watkins Glen but will stay in Charlotte to concentrate on the race the May 27th(5-16-2000)
Purvis milestone: #4 Porter-Cable NASCAR Busch Series driver Jeff Purvis is set to record a milestone in Saturday’s BUSCH 200 race. In his 133rd career Busch Series start, Purvis will pass the $2 million dollar mark in career earnings in the series. Purvis currently stands at the $1,996,468 mark in earnings(Total Sports Marketing)(5-13-2000)
#30 Little Tree’s News: Innovative Motorsports has announced that BGNN driver Mike Olsen will drive the #30 Little Trees Chevy at New Hampshire(NOL)(5-11-2000)
Markham at Richmond: Curtis Markham attempted to qualify at Richmond in the #29 Hot Rod Magazine Pontiac. Markham did not make the field but was the highest qualifying driver out of the Joe Gibbs Racing stable. Both #4-Jeff Purvis and #18-Jason Leffler had to take provisionals to make the field. Markham was in a backup car after he wrecked the primary car on Thursday during practice when an oil line came off and sprayed oil on the tires putting him in the wall(5-11-2000)
CBS Sportsline:Looking back by Randy LaJoie(5-11-2000)
#34 News: AFG Glass Team 34 Chevrolet has a new featured associate sponsor for this weekend’s Busch 200 at NHIS. KAS-KEL Windows from Fonda, NY will appear on the rear quarter panel of the Team 34 Chevrolet. This is the first time the window manufacturer has been featured on the AFG Glass Chevrolet. AFG Glass features a different associate sponsor each event to partner with the manufacturers that use their glass products. KAS-KEL Windows was founded in 1946 and has been known as a leader in innovative window design since 1953. The family owned and operated business is now one of the largest window manufacturers in the Northeast(Disson Furst & Partners)(5-10-2000)
Lowes Testing: With Mark Martin not participating in the second day of the BGN test, his teammate, Jeff Burton, assumed the top spot on the speed chart with an unofficial lap at 176.470mph in the #9 Northern Light.com Ford Taurus. Rookie Anthony Lazarro was second-quickest with a speed of 176.125mph in the #97 McDonald’s Ford. #3-Kevin Harvick and #21-Mike Dillon were third and fourth fastest respectively with speeds of 176.010 and 175.953. Point leader Jeff Green was clocked at 175.324mph(LMS PR)(5-10-2000)
Buckshot News: #00-Buckshot Jones will again drive a Chevrolet Monte Carlo at New Hampshire. The Busch 200 will mark the third consecutive race for Jones in a Chevy. The team will be bringing the car that was raced in Richmond last weekend(Bucksot PR)(5-10-2000)
Waltrip and Christopher: Michael Waltrip, BGN car owner and driver of the #7 BAND-AID® Brand Chevrolet, is expanding his BGN program for the 2000 season to include driver Ted Christopher. Christopher will be behind the wheel this weekend at the New Hampshire International Speedway and will return for the June BGN race at Watkins Glen. Christopher’s sponsor, Les Care Kitchens Inc., and Michael Waltrip Racing have high expectations for one of NASCAR’s most diversified drivers. Les Care Kitchens Inc. and Waltrip agree this relationship is one they would like to see progress. Both parties have agreed to walk before they run, but they also see the potential with Waltrip as a car owner and Christopher as the driver. Waltrip believes the addition of a full time Busch Grand National Team would enhance what he is trying to accomplish in the series. Christopher has competed in pro-stocks, modifieds, the Craftsman Truck Series, Busch North, Busch Grand National and the Winston Cup Series. In 1999, Ted made racing history at Watkins Glen International where he was the first NASCAR driver to enter the Winston Cup, Busch North and Featherlite Modified Series races to finish 33rd, 2nd and 1st respectively. His reputation to race anything, anywhere at anytime is proof of his ambition to be a successful racecar driver. Christopher is excited about the opportunity this weekend at Loudon and also hopes it leads to bigger and better things for his racing career. “This is a great opportunity for me. New Hampshire Speedway has been good to me and I know Michael is supplying me with good equipment for this weekend. I would like to have a full time ride in the Busch Series for 2001 and Michael and Les Care Kitchens Inc. are behind me all the way.” Les Care Kitchens Inc., headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut, is owned and operated by James and Louis Lestorti. Since its inception in 1945, Les Care Kitchens Inc. has evolved into the industry’s largest privately held cabinet maker. The company is ranked in the top-15 leaders in kitchen and bath cabinetry worldwide(Cox Marketing)(5-10-2000)
Bessey Returns: Joe Bessey returns to BGN action at NHIS in the #6 Power Team Chevy(5-10-2000)
Jeff Green Scheme: Jeff Green, driver of the #10 Nestlé NesQuik/ppi Racing Chevy in the BGN and the current points leader and latest race winner, will drive a different paint scheme for the Busch 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway on May 13, 2000 and for the MBNA Platinum 200 at Dover Downs International Speedway on June 3, 2000. The new paint scheme will promote the Nestea brand of the Nestlé USA beverage family. The color of the car is bright blue, which is a departure from the signature yellow color of the NesQuik brand. The Nestea car is supporting a special on-pack promotion which allows consumers to mail in UPC symbols from any size Nestea soluble tea package and receive their choice of souvenir. One of the mail-in purchase offers is a collector’s edition poster honoring the “Legends of Racing” featuring the Allison family. The poster was illustrated (continued) NESTEA CAR / PAGE TWO by the famed racing artist, Jeanie Barnes and includes the likenesses of Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Davey Allison. This poster was designed specifically for this promotion and is not available anywhere else for purchase. The other offers are a 1:64 scale diecast car of the #10 Nestea car driven by Jeff Green or a Nestea Racing hat. Nestea will remain as an associate sponsor on the #10 ppc Racingentry for the 2000-2001 NBS seasons(Disson Furst & Partners PR) Also Jeff Green Nestle Nesquik souveniers are now available at ppcracing.com(5-9-2000)
Penske to Indy…as a sponsor: Joe Gibbs BGN driver, Jason Leffler, will be sponsored by Roger Penske under the UnitedAuto Group banner for his 2000 Indy 500 attempt in the #55 Treadway Racing owned GForce/Aurora(SpeedVision)(5-5-2000)
#19 Team Update: Following a team meeting held Saturday, Emerald Performance Group (EPG) crew members determined they would prepare to go to the next event on the NASCAR Busch Series schedule held in Loudon, New Hampshire next Saturday, May 13. Crew chief for EPG, Christain Lovendahl, was fatally injured in an automobile accident late Friday afternoon, May 5. Winston Cup driver, Mark Martin, was made aware of his nephew’s death just before the “Hardees 250” event began on Friday evening. “We knew Mark had made the decision to get in his Busch car Friday night and we all feel that was the example we should follow,” stated team owner, David Ridling. “After learning of Christain’s death, I’m sure Mark would have much rather been with his family, but he also realized what he had to do. Christain always looked to his uncle for guidance and example, and to make this decision to go to New Hampshire, we turned to his example as well.” The team was expected to participate in a two-day open test session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Monday and Tuesday, May 8 and 9, but have opted to try and determine another test date so they may attend funeral services and begin the slow and difficult healing process. George Church has been hired as crew chief for the #19 team. Most recently, Church has worked with Boris Said and Jimmy Spencer in their NASCAR Busch Series’ program(Grandstand Communications)(5-8-2000)
Sad News UPDATE: Christain Lovendahl, crew chief for the #19 Team Yellow BGN team, was killed in an automobile accident Friday afternoon while returning from Richmond. Lovendahl, nephew of NASCAR Cup/BGN driver Mark Martin, had flown back to Concord, N.C., after the David Ridling-owned #19 car and driver PJ Jones, failed to qualify for Friday night’s Hardee’s 250 at Richmond. He was driving a car, with three crewmen as passengers, when the accident occurred outside Mooresville, N.C. The other three men in the car were treated at a Mooresville hospital and were expected to be released tonight. Lovendahl, 27, was born in Batesville, Ark., also Martin’s hometown. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer. No information was available on further arrangements. According to later reports, the car Lovendahl was driving ran off the road and overturned. Lovendahl, who police say was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car and died at the scened(SpeedVision)(5-6-2000) UPDATE: two columns with news on the accident and funeral services at That’s Racin’/AP: Speeding, alcohol suspected in crew chief’s fatal wreck and Lovendahl funeral scheduled Tuesday by Jim Utter. Memorials may be made to Motor Racing Outreach, 5555 Concord Pkwy. South, Smith Tower, Suite 405, Harrisburg, NC 28075; or to Christain Lovendahl Scholarship Fund, care of J Mar Express, PO Box 9198, Searcy, Ark 72143. Expressions of condolences may be sent to: Emerald Performance Group, 152 So. Iredell Industrial Park Road, Mooresville, NC 28115 or Neill Funeral Home, 627 Gum Street, Mooresville, NC 28115(5-7-2000) INFO on arrangements and the team, see the Team Yellow Site(5-8-2000)
Blaney BGN: Bill Davis Racing announced a temporary driver change for their #20 AT&T BGN Pontiac. Dave Blaney, their former BGN driver and current Winston Cup regular(#93 Amoco Pontiac) will step in for rookie Mike Borkowski in three of the next four races starting at Richmond this Friday night May 5. Blaney will also handle the driving chores at Charlotte, May 28, and Dover on June 3. Borkowski will return for the May 13 Busch Series stand-alone date at New Hampshire and will resume his full-time duties at South Boston, VA June 10(Bill Davis Racing PR)(5-5-2000)
Keller 200: #57-Jason Keller will make his 200th career BGN start at Richmond Friday night(5-5-2000)
#44 Crew Chief: Justin Labonte’s father Terry Labonte and grandfather Bob Labonte are taking over the crew chief role for the #44 Slim Jim team(Times-Dispatch) looks like Kevin Caldwell is out, no idea of his plans(5-4-2000)
Allen back in the #82: hearing Glenn Allen Jr will drive the #82 ChannelLock Chevy at Richmond. Allen drove the car at California also. No word on what Derrick Gilchrest’s plans are at Richmond, if he will drive the #15, #51 or not at all(5-3-2000)
Sawyer to Test: The #98 Lysol Racing Team will test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., May 8-9 for the upcoming CarQuest Auto Parts 300 on May 27(Keystone Marketing)(5-3-2000)
#46 Scheme: Lewis Motorsports will again run a special paint scheme in honor of late comedian Jerry Clower. The #46 car design will feature frogs, dogs, fish and raccoons. The team first debuted the car last month at Nashville(Keystone Marketing). See the car on the BGN Paint Scheme page(5-3-2000)
Buckshot stays in a Chevy: Buckshot Jones will again pilot a Chevrolet Monte Carlo at Richmond instead of a Pontiac Grand Prix. The Hardee’s 250 will mark the second consecutive race in a Chevrolet for Jones. The team finished 23rd at California last week with the new #00-Monte Carlo(IMG Motorsports)(5-2-2000)
Parker and Amick busy weekend: NASCAR Busch Series regulars Hank Parker Jr. and Lyndon Amick are set for double duty this weekend. The pair will compete in Friday evening’s Hardy’s 250 at Richmond International Raceway, and then fly to Miami to race in Saturday’s three-hour Motorola Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway during the Grand-Am Nextel 250 weekend. Parker and Amick will co-drive the No. 34 Team Amick Motorsports Dodge Vipers. Both drivers led the 2000 Motorola Cup opener at Daytona(Homestead-Miami PR)(5-2-2000)
