November 2000 News Archives

 

  • (11-30-2000)
  • Some Interesting Stats: Speedvsion.com found some numbers that show some interesting tendencies about the five major auto racing series in the United States. Speedvsion.com analyzed NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series, along with the Indy Racing Northern Light Series and CART FedEx Championship Series. Some of the stats included comparing: % of starters that finish, Caution flags per race, Accidents per race, Cars finishing on lead lap, Cars in accidents per race and more – see the full story and numbers at SpeedVision – 2000 Stats Show Series Differences by Eric Mauk(11-30-2000)
  • Hamilton and the #55 test: Bobby Hamilton and the #55 Andy Petree Racing team is testing Thursday and Friday at Greenville-Pickens (SC) Speedway. The team and its new driver feel that it is important to get a head-start on the new season(That’s Racin’)(11-30-2000)
  • #60 Closed? hearing that the #60 Joe Bessey Motorsports operation has ceased operations. Had been reported that the team was going to at least attempt the Daytona 500 with or without a sponsor(11-30-2000)
  • Wind Tunnel Testing: hearing a #02 Ford was at the N.A.S.A.’s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA today doing wind tunnel testing(11-30-2000)
  • Daytona 500 to move? NO WAY thank goodness: Rumors also were floating around that with Mike Helton at the helm of NASCAR, the 2002 schedule would shift the Daytona 500 from the first race of the season to the season finale or that Daytona International Speedway could lose the Pepsi 400 to another ISC venue. As for the Daytona 500 being moved to the end of the Winston Cup schedule, Speedway spokesman Glyn Johnston flatly denied the rumor(in part from Speed Magazine)(11-30-2000)
  • Get Well: Well wishes go to Jon Sands, who was diagnosed with Extratesticular Germ Cell Lymphoma earlier this month. Sands, who handles marketing for Galaxy Motorsports(#75 Pizza Hut/Wally Dallenach), has begun chemotherapy. The disease is the same that two time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong successfully defeated(Winston Cup Scene)(11-30-2000)
  • Burton all charged up: Jeff Burton driver of the #99 Exide Batteries Ford thru Martinsvilles Fall race, the the #99 CITGO/Superguard Ford(when sponsorship changed), won the Exide Select Batteries All Charged Up Award in 2000. Burton will receive a $50,000 check and a trophy from Exide Technologies at next Friday’s Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast in New York City. The Exide Select Batteries All Charged Up Award went each week to the driver (his team had to be part of the Exide Contingency Award Program) who advanced the most number of positions from start to finish in the previous race. The Exide NASCAR Select Battery is the Official Battery of NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series(Exide PR). For final results, see my Special Awards Standing page(11-30-2000)

    (11-29-2000)

  • Nelson to Stay UPDATE: NASCAR officials adamantly deny widespread rumors and published reports that Winston Cup Director Gary Nelson may be reassigned to a different role next season. Rumors have spread about Nelson for the last few weeks, prompting media reports that he is either planning to step down as Winston Cup director or will be reassigned by NASCAR. Despite denials from both Nelson and NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Helton, the talk about a major shakeup in NASCAR’s competition department intensified during the Winston Cup season finale at Atlanta(Winston Cup Scene)(11-23-2000)
    UPDATE: New NASACR President Mike Helton put one rumor to rest at the News Confernce on Tuesday: Gary Nelson, thought to be on shaky ground as Winston Cup director, will remain in that job(Daily Press)(11-29-2000)
  • Melling to the Wind Tunnel: Melling Racing will not test with the other Dodge teams at Kentucky Speedway on Wed and Thurs but plans to take three cars to the Lockheed wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga., Friday, according to a team spokesman. The team next plans to test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Jan 6-7(NOL)(11-29-2000)

    (11-28-2000)

  • Major NASCAR Announcement – UPDATE – Helton now President: Questions about a possible shakeup in NASCAR’s hierarchy could be answered Tuesday in a national teleconference scheduled to feature Bill France Jr., the president of stock-car racing’s sanctioning body. France, whose day-to-day role with the organization his father founded in 1949 has been reduced this year because of his treatment for cancer, is scheduled to participate with other NASCAR executives in a national teleconference Tuesday at 2:00pm/et to make “a major news announcement.”(That’s Racin’ and Kingsport Times News)
    UPDATE: Bill France, who assumed the president’s role at NASCAR in January 1972, becoming only the second president of the sanctioning body, today announced that Mike Helton, who has served as senior vice president and chief operating officer since 1999, will assume the role of president for NASCAR effective immediately. France will serve as chairman of a newly formed five-member board of directors for NASCAR that will oversee the following executive management structure:
    * Board of Directors: A board of directors that will consist of Bill France, Jim France, Brian France, Lesa Kennedy and Mike Helton has been formed and will be responsible for developing policy and vision for the sport.
    * President: Mike Helton, who joined the sanctioning body in 1994 as vice president of competition before assuming the COO position, will assume the title of president. He will be charged with executing the policies and visions developed by the board and will have day-to-day responsibilities for all aspects of the sanctioning body.
    * Executive Vice Presidents: Jim France will continue to serve as executive vice president and secretary for the sanctioning body with Brian France, who has served as senior vice president, also assuming the title of executive vice president.
    * Senior Vice President: George Pyne, who has been directing the sanctioning body’s marketing and licensing efforts while working out of NASCAR’s Charlotte office will be relocating to Daytona Beach to assume his new duties as senior vice president. Pyne will have day-to-day operational responsibilities for each of NASCAR’s departments and he will report to and execute Helton’s direction.
    Enhancing its depth, NASCAR also has a team of vice presidents whose roles are very specific and specialized. They include, Ed Bennett, recently promoted to vice president of corporate administration and who is based out of NASCAR’s Daytona Beach headquarters; Steve Boguski, recently named vice president of strategic marketing with responsibility of directing the Charlotte office; Paul Brooks, vice president of broadcasting who has relocated to Southern California to direct NASCAR’s newly opened Los Angeles office; Tom Deery, who is based in Daytona Beach and as vice president is responsible for NASCAR’s weekly and touring racing series; and Brett Yormark, who directs NASCAR’s New York office and recently assumed the title of vice president of corporate marketing.(NASCAR PR/NOL and listen to the broadcast at NOL and a story at That’s Racin’)(11-28-2000)

    (11-27-2000)

  • No More Rainbow on the #24? UPDATE 3 More images: Following this season, the paint scheme that Jeff Gordon has taken to 51 victories and three Winston Cup championships will not be seen on the racetrack again. Gordon’s #24 Chevy will feature a new DuPont paint scheme next season(Gordonline)(8-28-2000)
    UPDATE – an image: have posted the supposedly new 2001 DuPont Paint scheme for Jeff Gordon and DuPont on the Paint Scheme Gallery. Not sure where it came from or originated but I had six(now 10) readers email it to me(11-24-2000)
    UPDATE 2: have confirmed that the car in the image is the new scheme of 2001, the car along with the #25 and #5(which can be partially seen on the image) were introduced to Hendrick Motorsports employees this past week in front of the HMS Museum. Also added a bunch of images including the #5 Frosted Flakes, #88 UPS, #15 Napa diecast images(11-25-2000)
    UPDATE 3: got two more images of the 2001 #24 DuPont Chevy and two real images of the #5 Kelloggs/Tony the Tiger Chevy to the Paint Scheme Gallery and found who took the picture of the original image(11-27-2000)
  • former Exide PR: Who says NASCAR’s silly season is confined to drivers, crew chiefs and the like? Even PR people get caught up in it. Former Exide Racing PR rep Chris Dirato and the company he works for, New York City-based Kermish-Geylin Public Relations, are still without a “ride” for the 2001 season. Although discussions with a handful of teams from NASCAR’s three main series have taken place to date, nothing is set as yet. Hence, Dirato & Co. continue to cast their line out. Interested parties may contact Dirato at 201-750-3533 or at [email protected].(11-27-2000)
  • 4th Quarter Driver: Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Pontiac, easily cruised to fourth quarter DRIVER OF THE YEAR Honors today. For Stewart, 29, winner of three races during the quarter, it was de ja vu, since he repeated the honor he won last year with a like number of wins. In winning quarterly honors for the most prestigious award in motorsports, Stewart gathered nine first place votes and 109 points in a vote of a 16-member motorsports panel and viewers of ESPN. That out-distanced second-place Bobby Labonte, Stewart’s teammate and new NASCAR/Winston Cup champion. Labonte had four first-place votes and 86 points after winning two races in his #18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac. Third place in the final quarter voting went to CART Champion Gil de Ferran, who scored 49 points. Quarterly voting for the DRIVER OF THE YEAR awards points on a basis of 9-6-4-3-2-1 for the top six drivers. Later this month a secret ballot will be taken to determine the overall DRIVER OF THE YEAR, who will be feted at a luncheon at the Le Cirque restaurant following the Winston Cup Awards. Dale Jarrett is the defending DRIVER OF THE YEAR, while Mark Martin(1st), Juan Montoya(2nd) and Rusty Wallace(3rd) won previous quarterly votes this season. The DRIVER OF THE YEAR will be formally honored during the International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductions at Talladega in April. NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Gary Scelzi finished fourth with one first-place vote and 40 points, while NHRA Funny Car competitor John Force, the 1996 DRIVER OF THE YEAR, gained two first-place nods and 36 points. World of Outlaws Steve Kinser rounded out the top six, getting the other first place vote and 23 points(PR)(11-27-2000)
  • Nadeau to own a USAC team: Jerry Nadeau, driver of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy, announced he will team with Charlotte area businessman Tom Cotter in ownership of a USAC sprint car operation to be piloted by driver Tony Hunt in 2001. “We want Tom & Jerry Racing to be a stepping stone for young drivers looking for opportunities to move into NASCAR,” said Nadeau, whose victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this month was the first of his NASCAR career. The venture is just the latest stemming from a long-standing relationship between Nadeau and Cotter, chairman of SFX/Cotter Group — a relationship that began nearly seven years ago when Cotter got a tip from a friend about a young Connecticut driver that appeared to have what it takes to win races. Hunt finished second in points in the USAC Western Sprint Car Series with three victories and 10 top-ten finishes in just 15 starts this season. More info on Hunt at www.tonyhunt.com (Cotter Group)(11-27-2000)
  • Kulwicki Memorial: The final event in USAR ProCup racing will be the Alan Kulwicki Memorial 300 at 8:00pm/et, Saturday(11-25) night at USA International Speedway(Lakeland Ledger)(11-23-2000)
    UPDATE: winner was #0-Steve Christian in the Lucas Oil Products-Chevrolet(Hooters Pro Cup Site) and see story at the Lakeland Ledger(11-27-2000)
  • ISC News: Vertical Alliance was recently engaged by International Speedway Corporation – ISC in conjunction with Hydrogen Media, to integrate 18 web site communities into one fully integrated customer relationship management solution for the International Speedway Corporation (ISC). Customers can now log on at one site, www.iscmotorsports.com and be recognized across the entire family of ISC sites(11-27-2000)

(11-26-2000)
no news

(11-25-2000)

  • Musgrave looking…FULL time: Somebody told Ted Musgrave the other day that they’d read in the paper where he wasn’t looking for a full-time ride in Winston Cup racing. That was news to Musgrave, who took over as driver of the #01 Team Sabco Chevy after Kenny Irwin’s death in July and piloted that car until it didn’t make the field for the season’s next-to-last at Homestead. Musgrave says he has been offered some part time rides in 2001 but is actively looking for a full-time ride. Musgrave’s wife, Debi, is battling leukemia. One report said that Musgrave wanted a part-time job because of that, but the Musgraves have been dealing with that for some time and want to keep on living their lives while that fight goes on.(in part from That’s Racin’)(11-25-2000)
  • Wind Tunnel UPDATE 3: hearing NASCAR plans to take one of each manufacturer to the wind tunnel in Marietta, GA at the conclusion of the NAPA 500. Usually it is the top finisher for each manufacturer, unless the car is too damaged to give clean readings(11-19-2000)
    UPDATE: have not heard or seen a thing on if any cars were taken and if they were which cars were taken, it may had been postponed or cancelled due to the race being postponed and the Thanksgiving holiday(11-22-2000)
    UPDATE 2: heard the cars taken were the #12 Mobil 1 Ford, the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy and the #18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac, also the BGN cars #60, #57 and #4, no idea of the results(11-24-2000)
    UPDATE 3: hear the #25 Chevy was also taken, not sure if it was inplace of the #3 or in addition to(11-25-2000)

    (11-24-2000)

  • UPDATE: Tony Stewart, a six-time Winston Cup winner this year, and 1999 U.S. Auto Club midget champion Jason Leffler, who put on the season’s most exciting race in last year’s Turkey Night Grand Prix before Leffler won, are returning this year for an encore. They will be part of Steve Lewis’ four-car entry in the Nov. 23 race with defending USAC sprint car champion Dave Darland and Kasey Kahne, this year’s midget points leader.(LA Times). The race will be held at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California(10-27/11-22-2000)
    UPDATE: Stewart won the race and Jason Leffler can in 4th(11-24-2000)

    (11-23-2000)

  • Man of the Year: Dale Jarrett was the fourth-quarter winner in NASCAR’s True Value Man of the Year balloting. Jarrett’s race team raised money all year for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and Jarrett served as a national spokesperson for the group. Jarrett generated $97,500 for the foundation in 1999 through the efforts of his sponsor, Ford Credit. The winners in the first three quarters were Ward Burton, Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon. The man of the year will be announced at the Winston Cup Awards Banquet(Gaston Gazette) the fans also contributed $33,000(11-23-2000)
  • Nelson to Stay: NASCAR officials adamantly deny widespread rumors and published reports that Winston Cup Director Gary Nelson may be reassigned to a different role next season. Rumors have spread about Nelson for the last few weeks, prompting media reports that he is either planning to step down as Winston Cup director or will be reassigned by NASCAR. Despite denials from both Nelson and NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Helton, the talk about a major shakeup in NASCAR’s competition department intensified during the Winston Cup season finale at Atlanta(Winston Cup Scene)(11-23-2000)
  • Holigan back in 2001 UPDATE: Jerry Nadeau’s race winning sponsor, Michael Holigan, has scrapped plans to take an active role in the sport next year, but after his team’s only victory, promised he would be back. Holigan said he was close to buying an ARCA team, presently owned by Eddie Sharp, and converting it to compete in BGN next year. But, Holigan said, “My father and I talked about it and kind of had a heart-to-heart, and he asked me to sit on the fence for a year and not go racing.” Holigan wants to own a team and not merely sponsor it. He said he expected to be back in NASCAR by 2001(Gaston Gazette) – Delphi Automotive/UAW will be Nadeau’s sponsor in 2001(11-21-2000)
    UPDATE: Michael Holigan said Nov. 20 that his only involvement in NASCAR for 2001 will be working on “a few marketing deals with one of the teams and one of the owners.” He won’t field teams in the BGN and CTS in 2001 as he’d previously planned upon getting out of his sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports. Holigan, however, says he’ll field a Winston Cup team in 2002(Winston Cup Scene)(11-23-2000)

    (11-22-2000)

  • Who is Scott Wimmer? UPDATE – why no points? see his website: Wimmer Racing(#05) to learn more(11-21-2000)
    UPDATE: been getting asked quite a bit why Wimmer got no drivers points for his Atlanta Cup finish and why Bill Davis got no owners points, the reason: Scott Wimmer’s entry blank was received after the deadline(not sure when that was), so therefore, was not eligible for any points. Wimmer didn’t enter the race until Friday, along with Tim Sauter and Larry Foyt after the ARCA Qualifying got rained out. See the results at NOL(11-22-2000)
  • Hendrick Motorsports Double wins: Two drivers from Hendrick Motorsports have won at least one Winston Cup race for seven consecutive seasons. No other current multi-car team has done that.(Gordon 1994-2000, T Labonte 1994-1999 and Nadeau in 2000)(11-22-2000)
  • Craven to stay with the #50: Ricky Craven, encouraged by his #50 Midwest Transit Co. team’s strong finish, will return to the Winston Cup team next season and intends to run the full 36-race schedule. The team didn’t have a primary sponsor this season so Craven was only able to run in 16 of the 34 races. And since they were limited, they couldn’t qualify for provisional starting positions. “This is the finest group of people I’ve ever worked with. They work so well together and have made so much progress over the last month and a half,” said Craven. “I don’t want to give up on that and I want to expand on what we’ve done here.” Craven’s name had been mentioned as a possible replacement for Bobby Hamilton in the Kodak Chevy #4 ride for Morgan-McClure Motorsports. But that ride went to Robby Gordon. Craven said longevity is a key to success in the business and he expects the entire team to return next season including crew chief Greg Conner. Craven talked to team owner Hal Hicks on Tuesday and he said, without elaborating, that “there are some very interesting things cooking, some very legitimate things.” Craven would love to have a primary sponsor in place for next season. Midwest Transit is an associate sponsor. But, even if they don’t, he feels Hicks has made a firm commitment to the team and will do his best to make further improvements. The improvements have already begun, according to Craven, who pointed out that they are in the process of lining up testing at the four tracks that host the first four races in 2001: Daytona, Rockingham, Las Vegas and Atlanta. As for his status on the BGN, Craven said he hasn’t thought about it. Craven ran six Busch Grand National races this past season but he hasn’t decided to what extent he will be involved next season(in part from the Bangor Daily News)(11-22-2000)
  • Rules Changes? UPDATE: One possible rules change NASCAR is considering for next season would take away some of the aerodynamics edge that Pontiac teams have enjoyed while winning 10 races and the Winston Cup championship this year. The expected change would be to raise the front airdam to 3 1/2 inches in order to take away downforce on the nose, downforce which allows Pontiac drivers to go deeper into the corners and turn more easily, particularly on the tour’s fastest flat tracks(PitNow)(11-21-2000)
    UPDATE: If NASCAR Winston Cup officials make any rule changes for next year’s Daytona 500, it should be minor, says Kevin Triplett, director of operations. Cup officials made aerodynamic and restrictor-plate changes before the Talladega race last month to improve the racing there and at Daytona. Both Daytona races this year were criticized for the lack of passing and excitement(News and Record)(11-22-2000)
  • Rookie of the Year UPDATE: nothing Official yet but looks like Matt Kenseth will win the ROTY. See stories at NOL: Kenseth rules rookie class in 2000 and from That’s Racin’: Kenseth, team celebrate rookie crown(11-21-2000)
    UPDATE – it’s Official: Matt Kenseth has officially been crowned the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2000 season. The driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford accepted his award Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony held at his Roush Racing shop. He was awarded a leather jacket in the ceremony, but will have to wait next month’s NWCS banquet to receive his $50,000 prize from Raybestos Brakes Corp(NOL and SpeedVision), have not seen the official points breakdown yet, have it calculated without the season ending bonus points on my ROTY page(11-22-2000)
  • Earnhardt a baseball team owner: In honor of #3 driver Dale Earnhardt joining its ownership group, the Piedmont Boll Weevils minor league baseball team has changed its name to the Kannapolis Intimidators. Team officials announced Tuesday that Earnhardt, current Piedmont owner and chairman Larry Hedrick, and Speedway Motorsports Bruton Smith will join to form Carolina Baseball Inc., pending approval of baseball regulators(AP/Total Sports)(11-22-2000)
  • #7 Driver, latest UPDATE: #7 Owner Jim Smith seems in no hurry to get a replacement for Michael Waltrip. Among the candidates: Kevin LePage, Ricky Craven and Mike Wallace, the odds-on favorite(Daily Press), but I hear sponsor Nations Rent nixed Wallace(11-21-2000)
    UPDATE: Rick Mast and car owner Chip Ganassi may not be teaming after all next season. The two had a handshake to sign, and an announcement was expected here over the weekend. Mast is now reported to be talking with car owner Jim Smith about that still open ride(the #7 car)(PitNow)(11-22-2000)
  • Garrow Returns: Mark Garrow, whose long-running Winston Cup Today nightly newscast was shut down in May in a dispute over rights fees, will be up and running again beginning Jan. 8 with a new evening Winston Cup news show, at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The show, Garage Pass, will be produced at Bruton Smith’s Performance Racing Network studios in Charlotte(PitNow)(11-22-2000)

    (11-21-2000)

  • A Winning Bid & A Worthy Cause: Three-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon, along with Bombardier Recreational Products, maker of Sea-Doo watercraft and sport boats, presented a lucky fan with an autographed, special Sea-Doo GSX watercraft modeled after Gordon’s No. 24 race car this past weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. See full story at TNN: Fan Wins Bid, Jeff Gordon Donates $50K(11-21-2000)
  • Evernham and Valvoline: Evernham Motorsports has chosen Valvoline as a technical partner for the return of Dodge to NASCAR Winston Cup racing next season. Valvoline becomes the official motor oil of Evernham’s Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/Ts and, in addition to lubricants, will supply Zerex coolant technology and Eagle One appearance products to the team. Evernham has been using Valvoline synthetic motor oil in the testing of the new Dodge Winston Cup engines. Valvoline will also partner with MB2 Motorsports to own the #10 Valvoline Pontiac to be driven next year by Johnny Benson(Valvoline Newsletter/PR)(11-21-2000)
  • Four 1st Timers: The four first-time winners is the most since 1988 when there were also four, those winners: Ken Schrader(Talladega), Alan Kulwicki(Phoenix), Phil Parsons(Talladega), and Lake Speed(Darlington). Parsons and Speed have not won in Cup since and are out of the series. Kulwicki died in an aircraft accident in 1993. Schrader is still active on the Cup circuit and has four career Cup wins. The winners in 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr(Texas), Matt Kenseth(Lowes), Steve Park(Watkins Glen) and Jerry Nadeau(Atlanta)(11-21-2000)
  • Alexander to the #01? or is it Mast? of Hamilton Jr? On RPM2Nights last 2000 daily show, John Kernan reported that while Rick Mast has been mentioned as the driver for the #01 BellSouth Dodge in 2001, sponsor BellSouth supposedly wants BGN/ARCA driver Blasie Alexander(RPM2Night) AND Bobby Hamilton Jr. now is the leading candidate over Rick Mast to drive the #01 Chevrolet for next year. Hamilton, who started just the second career Winston Cup race of his career on Monday, had extensive meetings with team owners Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates over the last couple of days(AJC)(11-21-2000)
  • #77 Wind Tunnel: Though the 2000 season just concluded, the Jasper Motorsports team is already thinking about next year. The team will travel to Langley, Virginia on Tuesday for a day of wind tunnel testing(Jasper PR)(11-21-2000)
  • Holigan back in 2001: Jerry Nadeau’s race winning sponsor, Michael Holigan, has scrapped plans to take an active role in the sport next year, but after his team’s only victory, promised he would be back. Holigan said he was close to buying an ARCA team, presently owned by Eddie Sharp, and converting it to compete in BGN next year. But, Holigan said, “My father and I talked about it and kind of had a heart-to-heart, and he asked me to sit on the fence for a year and not go racing.” Holigan wants to own a team and not merely sponsor it. He said he expected to be back in NASCAR by 2001(Gaston Gazette) – Delphi Automotive/UAW will be Nadeau’s sponsor in 2001(11-21-2000)
  • Wind Tunnel: Roger Penske’s new wind tunnel in Mooresville, NC is close to completion. It will handle 50-percent, scale-model race cars, so Rusty Wallace’s Ford team won’t have to make the haul to the Lockheed tunnel in Marietta. The new wind tunnel will be the first in North Carolina, and it marks a major escalation in the cost of the sport(PitNow)(11-21-2000)
  • BBBSA and Martin: The two-year total of money raised through Valvoline’s NASCAR effort for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s “Caring Hands” program, including Monday’s final race at Atlanta, is $540,577. Since 1999, Valvoline has donated $5,000 for each Mark Martin Winston Cup victory in the Valvoline Ford, $2,500 for each pole, $20 per lap led, and this year added a $1,000 contribution for a top-five finish(Valvoline Newsletter/PR)(11-21-2000)
  • Jarrett to test in December: Dale Jarrett will be testing at non-NASCAR tracks in December to help his team prepare for next season(Times Dispatch)(11-21-2000)
  • IROC: while not officially named yet, IRL drivers Buddy Lazier, Eddie Cheever and Scott Goodyear have joined the International Race of Champions(IROC) series for 2001(Times Dispatch) AND IRL champion Buddy Lazier and runner-up Scott Goodyear have been invited into the IROC 2001. Up to six Winston Cup drivers will be invited and the BGN champ(Jeff Green). It’s also conceivable that IRL driver Sarah Fisher will become the first woman in the 25-year-old series(Daily Press)(11-21-2000)

    (11-20-2000)

  • Sad News: #12-Jeremy Mayfield’s grandmother passed away Sunday, thoughts go out to Mayfield and his family(PRN Radio Broadcast)(11-20-2000)
  • DW Honored: Even though the race was not held on Sunday, the track’s farewell to retiring Darrell Waltrip did go off as scheduled. Among items presented to Waltrip were:
    A rocking chair from Dale Earnhardt.
    A mounted steering wheel from Jeff Gordon
    A commemorative Kellogg’s Corn Flakes box from Terry Labonte
    A crystal cross from Dale Jarrett
    A print of the famous crash in the 1987 Winston after which Waltrip said he hoped winner Rusty Wallace “chokes on that $200,000.” Wallace also presented Waltrip a sack of fake money representing what he “stole” from Waltrip in that race.
    A poster of Waltrip and brother Michael, along with $200 Michael said he “borrowed” from his brother in 1986.
    A set of golf clubs and a round of golf at Augusta National.
    A Georgia state flag, an enlarged replica of the Waltrip-themed NAPA 500 program,
    and an Honorary Citizen of Georgia designation.(Gaston Gazette)(11-20-2000)
  • Evernham Associate Sponsor: Bill Elliott’s and Casey Atwood’s Dodges, will carry Stihl as associate sponsors next season(AJC)(11-20-2000)
  • Elliott Honored: Bill Elliott was presented with the “Spirit of Ford” award yesterday. Elliott is ending his 25-year career with the manufacturer to move to Ray Evernham’s #9 Dodge team next season(Times-Dispatch)(11-20-2000)

(11-19-2000)

  • Pizza Hut and the #75? UPDATE 2: Pizza Hut, rumored last fall to be a sponsor of some sort with the #75 team and Wally Dallenbach is once again a possible 2001 primary sponsors for the #75 Ford(That’s Racin’)(8-4-2000)
    UPDATE – many: the rumored #75 2001 sponsor, Pizza Hut, is on the 1/4 panels of the car at Atlanta this weekend, see a video captured image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page. Also added the #01 Coors Light, #00 Crown Fiber and #23 AT&T cars(11-19-2000)
    UPDATE – another: Bob Jenkins mentioned at the beginning of the ESPN NAPA 500 broadcast that Pizza Hut would be Dallenbach’s sponsor on the #75 Ford in 2001(11-20-2000)
  • #4 Driver? UPDATE 6 It’s Gordon OFFICIALLY: #4 car owner Larry McClure is close to making a decision on his new driver, and team sources say the decision is between Kevin Lepage and Robby Gordon with Ricky Craven suddenly only a long-shot(PitNow)(11-6-2000)
    UPDATE: hearing Robby Gordon is now the front runner and could be named within the next two weeks(11-8-2000)
    UPDATE: In Morgan-McClure news, look for an announcement on a new driver for the familiar yellow Chevy close to the Atlanta weekend. With Kodak offices located in Atlanta, a joint press conference with Kodak and Morgan-McClure Motorsports will likely take place at Atlanta Motor Speedway(Morgan McClure PR)(11-9-2000)
    UPDATE 2: Morgan-McClure Motorsports has narrowed its search for a new driver for next season down to veteran Rick Mast and Robby Gordon, ThatsRacin.com has learned. An announcement of owner Larry McClure’s new driver is expected before the conclusion of the season. McClure said Sunday he hoped to have the process concluded as soon as possible. “We’re working diligently on this and could have some announcements or be in the position to make an announcement in Atlanta.”(That’s Racin’)(11-12-2000)
    UPDATE 3: TNN’s Raceday reported on Sunday’s show that they hear Kevin Lepage will get the nod, hmm….a little conflict here, guess we gotta wait for the announcement
    UPDATE 4: sources tell me the driver of the #4 Car has been chosen and it’s Robby Gordon(11-13-2000)
    UPDATE 5: Car owner Larry McClure said he expects to announce his new driver here(Atlanta) on Sunday, and it is expected to be Robby Gordon. McClure is working the final details of the contract(PitNow) BUT on ESPN2’s RPM2Night, McClure said he didn’t expect to make an announcement until Monday(11-18-2000)
    UPDATE 6: ESPN2’s RPM2Night reports that Robby Gordon will announce later today that he will drive the #4 Kodak Chevy in 2001(RPM2Night)
    UPDATE 7: Robby Gordon was introduced today around noon/et at Atlanta as the new driver of the #4 Kodak Chevy for 2001(ESPN2’s NASCAR2Day)(11-19-2000)
  • Fireball Honored: Legendary mechanic and car owner Smokey Yunick awarded the Pioneer in Racing Award to the late Fireball Roberts during a ceremony Saturday morning. Roberts’ daughter, Pamela Trivett, accepted the award for her family(Kingsport Times News)(11-19-2000)
  • Penthouse to Outhouse: #16 Kevin Lepage, who won the pole for this race a year ago, will not be in the NAPA 500 at Atlanta as Lepage’s final-round qualifying lap, 186.686 mph, was 50th, and he was unable to get a provisional spot over Jeff Burton, Ricky Rudd, Mike Skinner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., John Andretti, Robert Pressley and Darrell Waltrip(Gaston Gazette)(11-19-2000)
  • Bill France Appearance UPDATE 4 Nelson Out? Denied: Bill France Jr. is expected at Homestead this weekend, after a rough summer of treatments, to make his first appearance trackside in quite a while(PitNow)(11-12-2000)
    UPDATE: NASCAR president Bill France Jr., who has been sidelined undergoing cancer treatments this season, made an unexpected visit to watch Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. France’s last appearance at a race was the May race at Richmond, Va., and his last public appearance at the memorial service for Adam Petty, also in May. France has made several visits to NASCAR’s office in Daytona Beach over the past several months, however. After visiting with drivers and team owners in the NASCAR hauler before the race, he watched the event from the race control tower with NASCAR officials.(That’s Racin’)(11-13-2000)
    UPDATE 2 – Nelson Out? NASCAR president Bill France, who has been undergoing cancer treatments all season, is expected to make an appearance in Atlanta. NASCAR teams want France to return with gusto because they have been disenchanted with many of the moves of CEO Mike Helton and technical supervisor Gary Nelson. Nelson reportedly will be replaced or reassigned during the off-season. Among other things, teams were upset over the way the deaths of Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin at New Hampshire were handled(Columbus Dispatch)(11-16-2000)
    UPDATE 3: Published reports have Gary Nelson, the Winston Cup Series director, leaving NASCAR after Sunday’s season-ending race. Nelson was at AMS on Thursday and said he had no intentions of leaving his current position. Nelson has been employed with NASCAR since 1991.(AJC)(11-17-2000)
    UPDATE 4: Despite rumors that have been flying, NASCAR officials said Saturday they have no intention of firing Winston Cup Series director Gary Nelson. What is apparently happening is a reorganization in the sanctioning body’s competition department. Nelson may soon receive a change in his job title, but he will not be fired. NASCAR is adding personnel, and some job descriptions are being shuffled, said NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter(Gaston Gazette)(11-19-2000)
  • #21 Crew Chief UPDATE: #16 team owner, Jack Roush, confirmed that Pat Tryson, who is now Lepage’s crew chief, will move over to become Elliott Sadler’s crew chief with the Wood Brothers team next year(That’s Racin’)(11-6-2000)
    UPDATE: After Kevin Lepage’s #16 team failed to make the field for the NAPA 500 Saturday, Lepage’s crew chief, Pat Tryson, joined the Wood Brothers’ #21 team and driver Elliott Sadler, effective immediately. Lepage’s #16 team is folding after failing to find a sponsor for the 2001 season. Tryson’s move has been rumored for a month or longer(That’s Racin’)(11-19-2000)

    (11-18-2000)

  • Hershey and Earnhardt: Hershey Food Corporation has joined RCR and driver Dale Earnhardt as an associate sponsor on the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy in 2001. The Hershey’s Racing program entitled “A Sweet Deal from Dale,” which allows fans to collect proofs-of-purchase from select Hershey’s products and redeem them for popular Earnhardt merchandise throughout 2001(NOL)(11-18-2000)
  • Pontiac Win Record: Pontiac Grand Prix, which just clinched its third NASCAR Winston Cup Driver championship and first since 1989, thanks to driver Bobby Labonte, can set a NASCAR modern-era standard for itself this weekend with a victory in Atlanta. Pontiac has 11 wins so far this season, matching the highest number of wins in a season that was set in 1993(Rusty had 10 of those). Tony Stewart, Labonte’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, has a series-leading six wins this season, while Labonte has four and Ward Burton one(AP), The All-Time Pontiac Record is held in 1961 with 30. Ford holds the all-time mark of 48 in 1965 while the all time modern-era(1972 to present) is held by Buick with 25 wins in 1982(Winston Cup Updates)(11-18-2000)
  • Bessey Still Looking: #60 Car owner Joe Bessey grimaces as he thinks about his team’s season and its future. The team’s sponsor is leaving after this season and no replacement has been found. Bessey said he’s hopeful a sponsor meeting early next week will be fruitful. Even if he doesn’t find a sponsor for next year, he plans to be at least at Daytona next year(Roanoke Times), Hermie Sadler is driving the car at Atlanta(11-18-2000)
  • NASCAR Changes? UPDATE an TV: Bray Cary, NASCAR vice president, broadcasting and technology, orchestrated the TV deal that begins next year along with senior vice president Brian France. But with Paul Brooks moving to Los Angeles to oversee the sanctioning body’s electronic media efforts, Cary’s future is uncertain. Cary said he haven’t sorted it all out and is just weighing everything to see what’s out there. No matter what he does next, Cary is proud of the contract he helped negotiate with Fox and the NBC/Turner Sports partnership.(in part from Winston Cup Scene Magazine)(11-16-2000)
    UPDATE: Bray Cary, the architect of NASCAR’s $2.4 billion TV package, apparently is moving out of NASCAR’s Charlotte office and into a new, undefined role as ”adviser” to NASCAR’s new TV czar, Paul Brooks. Brooks will run NASCAR’s TV ventures from NASCAR’s new Los Angeles office, and he’ll also run NASCAR’s Internet operations. Brooks’ first jobs are to hire a director of broadcasting and a director of ”new” media, the Internet and its spinoffs, and slowly build an office of eight to 10 people. Fox is helping NASCAR put together The NASCAR Channel, which could get up and running first on Fox’s FX cable outlet. But Brooks said there will be probably be no 24-hour NASCAR Channel kicking off in February for Speed Weeks(PitNow)(11-18-2000)
  • Petty Donates: The Richard Petty Driving Experience made a $12,500 donation to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps on Friday(Roanoke Times), Hermie Sadler is driving the car at Atlanta(11-18-2000)
  • Dodge Changes and Engine: The corporate shakeup at Chrysler this week could affect Dodge’s new NASCAR program, particularly its budget, according to Detroit sources. And the Chrysler situation puts pressure on NASCAR executives, who are banking on the return of the brand to the stock-car tour to help give the sport a new marketing tool. Supposedly some of the new Dodge team owners are second-guessing their decision to make the switch, in part because of continued engine problems AND NASCAR has officially OKed a backup engine program for Dodge if the company’s new Winston Cup engine continues having problems. But it’s a backup program Dodge doesn’t want — its Truck tour engine(PitNow)(11-18-2000)
  • Trickle in the #71 at AMS? UPDATE: Dave Marcis may turn over his #71 Realtree Chevy to Dick Trickle at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. Marcis’ father is having surgery today. Marcis will decide today if he’ll stay with his father in Wisconsin or race in the Winston Cup finale Sunday(Speed Magazine)(11-16-2000)
    UPDATE: Dave Marcis’ father had surgery this week for colon cancer and Marcis skipped Friday’s first-round time trials at Atlanta to be with him. Veteran Dick Trickle is subbing for Marcis, 59, who is not expected to be back in time for Sunday’s NAPA 500. “I’ll be here the whole weekend. Me and the boys are going to have as much fun as we can and see if we can get this thing in the race,” Trickle said. (That’s Racin’)(11-17-2000)
    UPDATE 2: Trickle stood on his speed and failed to make the race(11-18-2000)
  • IRL Laps: IRL driver Sarah Fisher will run some ‘hot laps’ at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday morning before the Cup race (unless it rains). It is being done to help promote the IRL race that will run at AMS in 2001(ESPN2’s RPM2Night)(11-18-2000)

    (11-17-2000)

  • #44 Unveiled UPDATE: LIVE on NASCAR Online, the legendary Petty Enterprises organization will reveal their new sponsor(Georgia Pacific) and paint scheme for their #44 Dodge Intrepid team in 2001 on Friday, November 17th at 2:00pm/et
    UPDATE: Buckshot Jones helped unveil the #44 Georgia-Pacific Dodge Intrepid R/T, which he’ll drive in the 2001 Winston Cup Series. G-P is partnering with racing’s first family, Petty Enterprises, to sponsor the car. Brands featured on the #44 Georgia-Pacific Dodge include many of the company’s products for home and office, including G-P Building Products, Georgia-Pacific Paper, Sparkle paper towels and napkins and Unisource office products distribution(G-P Site). Also see the story and images of the car at NOL(11-17-2000)
  • UPS IS OFFICIAL to the #88 UPDATE 5(for this week, about #50 since the rumor surfaced): UPS scheduled a news conference for Atlanta to announce its sponsorship of Dale Jarrett’s car for 2001(no time or date given)(Times Dispatch). Paint Job Note: hearing while the car will carry some of the UPS brown, the front will be white (sort of like the #2 Miller Lite car, white on the front, blue on the back, etc) and the rear half UPS brown, with a larger UPS logo adorning the hood(11-11-2000)
    UPDATE – an Image: see my Paint Schemes Gallery page for the SUPPOSED #88 UPS car, just as explained above(11-12-2000) – Actually Two images(11-13-2000)
    UPDATE 2: hearing that the way UPS will be announced at the sponsor at Atlanta, is that #88 Owner Robert Yates will be paged and a UPS truck will deliver to him a #88 with UPS
    UPDATE 3: look for the announcement to happen Friday, Nov 17th(9:30am/et) at Atlanta, UPS will supposedly announce the four year deal internally on Thursday, Nov 16th(11-14/16-2000)
    UPDATE 4: UPS will be announced today at 9:30am/et at AMS as the new sponsor of the #88 Robert Yates Ford and driver Dale Jarrett, also got another image posted on the Paint Scheme Gallery – see link above
    UPDATE 5 It’s Official: from the UPS site – UPS is proud to be the primary sponsor of #88 NASCAR Winston Cup car owned by Robert Yates Racing and driven by Dale Jarrett. See their site at www.racing.ups.com, they didn’t waste anytime getting their site up and running, good omen, it has DJ’s Bio, Stats, Team Members and 2001 Schedule. The image they have posted is pretty much the same scheme as I have up, the only difference is no yellow on the package above the UPS logo on the hood.
    And from the Press Release on the main UPS page: UPS announced today it will sponsor the #88 Robert Yates Racing Ford driven by NASCAR 1999 Winston Cup Series Champion Dale Jarrett. The official delivery company of NASCAR will link its entry into the 2001 Winston Cup season with aggressive on- and off-track programs for UPS customers and employees, capitalizing on the growing popularity of NASCAR. Jarrett, who has 24 career victories to his credit, including this year’s Daytona 500, was on hand with Windsor and team owner, Robert Yates, as the new #88 UPS Ford Taurus was publicly unveiled for the first time at the Atlanta Motor Speedway as qualifying began for Sunday’s NAPA 500. Jarrett met yesterday morning with UPS Atlanta-area employees after local UPS driver Ken Bouland secured a signature for the special race car “package” that emerged from the back of a familiar brown UPS vehicle before the morning dispatch. The public will see the new car and uniform design in ads that appear on Sunday’s race telecast to kick off an advertising campaign with Jarrett that will continue with the 2001 racing season. Today’s announcement marks the third significant NASCAR-related sponsorship deal by the Atlanta-based company this year. In February UPS became an official status partner with NASCAR and in July applied the familiar shield logo as associate sponsor of the #28 Texaco/Havoline Ford Taurus driven by Jarrett’s teammate Ricky Rudd. The Rudd associate sponsorship also will continue next year.(UPS), Also www.dalejarrett.com is already designed with the new colors and has a bunch of images of the new #88(11-17-2000)
  • STP Colors one more time UPDATE 2: John Andretti will run the STP colors one last time on the #43 Petty Pontiac at the season finale at Atlanta(RPM 2Night/ESPN2)(6-26-2000)
    UPDATE: The 2000 Cup season comes to a close this weekend as John Andretti and the #43 Cheerios/STP Pontiac head to Atlanta, driver John Andretti and the team look to end their season on a high note and will do it by carrying the colors of STP for one final time as a tribute to the company’s longtime relationship with Petty Enterprises(Williams Company PR)(11-13-2000)
    UPDATE 2: John Andretti will have the 1972 STP scheme on the car with a BIG ‘STP’ symbol on the hood, PLUS it was announced on RPM2Night that STP signed on through 2002 to be an associate sponsor on the #43 Dodge(11-17-2000)
  • License Plates: The long-awaited NASCAR plates are on sale in West Virginia! The West Virginia Dept of Motor Vehicles announced that the Race Plates are now available as registration plates for vehicles registered in West Virginia. Authentic commemorative collectible plates are available to race fans everywhere. Race fans have anxiously awaited the availability of the new NASCAR plates since they were introduced at a ceremony at the state capitol in September. West Virginia is one of the first states to offer this exciting program to residents. The Race Plate designs include a NASCAR fan plate and five different driver signature series plates including Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, and Ricky Rudd. Several more driver signature series designs are scheduled for release in the near future. DMV Commissioner Joe E. Miller predicted brisk sales for the plates, based on the response the state DMV has received since the plates were introduced. The web site providing information on the plates, www.raceplates.net, has received very strong fan response. For West Virginia residents interested in displaying the Race Plates as their legal license plates, the DMV’s “make the trade” program will allow them to trade in their current license plates and receive credit for the unused portion of their registration fee toward the new plates. Introduced just in time for the holidays, the commemorative Race Plates will be available to race fans everywhere. Order forms are available at DMV offices and through the state www.callwva.com website as well as the www.raceplates.net website. Transportation Secretary Sam Beverage said the plates not only allow people to express their support for NASCAR and their favorite driver, but also helps promote West Virginia tourism. “On every NASCAR plate is the address for the West Virginia tourism information website, www.callwva.com. This site provides information on tourism in WV. Response so far has been staggering. We’ve had plate orders from all over the U.S. and it’s exciting to know that West Virginia will be on every one of those plates.” Information on the new Race Plate Programs can be found at the above websites as well as all West Virginia DMV locations(Raceplates PR) past info on license the WV plates and on NY plates on my Collectible Links Page(11-17-2000)
  • Dodson to field ARCA car: #27 Crew Chief/Owner Barry Dodson will field a car for Trent Owens in Saturday’s Georgia Boot ARCA 400 race at Atlanta. Owens has been an instructor at the Richard Petty Driving Experience for the past six years and is Dodson’s stepson. Dodson says he wants to give Owens this opportunity to test his driving skills in true racing competition. Dodson will have some members of the #27 Eel River pit crew on hand to service Owens’ car during the event(Keystone PR)(11-17-2000)
  • Race Fans for a Cure: Dale and Kelley Jarrett, on behalf of the Race Fans for a Cure* program sponsored by Ford Credit, will present a check for $33,000 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation prior to the start of the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, November 19th. The check that will be presented to Linda Kay Peterson, Chairman of the Board for the Komen Foundation, is made up entirely of fan donations collected through the Race Fans for a Cure* program. Race Fans for a Cure* is an initiative designed to increase awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection, and to provide a way for race fans to support the Komen Foundation. Ford Credit sponsored Race Fans for a Cure* booths at various NASCAR Winston Cup events and Ford Racing Fan Appreciation Days during the 2000 season. Joining Dale and Kelley Jarrett for this weekend’s check presentation to the Komen Foundation will be Alicia Smith and Fred Crisante, winners of a drawing held last weekend in Miami, who will represent all race fans who supported the Race Fans for a Cure* program this year. Since 1998 Ford Credit, co-sponsor of the #88 Ford Taurus in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, has donated over $490,000 – based on Dale Jarrett’s on-track performance and end-of-season bonuses – to the Komen Foundation to help in its mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Ford Credit gives the Komen Foundation $10,000 for each of Dale’s victories, $5,000 for each pole, $7,500 for each second-place finish and $5,000 for each third-place finish over the course of the NASCAR season(Ford PR)(11-17-2000)

    (11-16-2000)

  • #16 Done? UPDATE yep: hearing multiple Cup team owner(#’s 6,16,17,97,99), Jack Roush, will shut down the #16 Team, freeing up driver Kevin Lepage to look for other rides. Lepage is one of the driver up for the #4 Morgan McClure ride, but that looks like it’s going to go to Robby Gordon. Also hear that Lepage is close to buying a new shop for his #71 BGN team and could always run that full time if a Cup ride does not materialize(11-14-2000)
    UPDATE: Roush Racing representatives have confirmed that the #16 team, with Kevin Lepage as driver this year, will be shut down after the season because of lack of sponsorship. Sources inside the team said late Wednesday that what had been suspected since late summer was now true. The move reduces owner Jack Roush’s Winston Cup stable from five teams to four. The #97 lost sponsor John Deere in late summer, with no replacement named. Roush has declared he will run the #97 with rookie Kurt Busch in 2001, sponsor or not.(SpeedVision)(11-16-2000)
  • Kimmel may try some Cup: Two-time ARCA champ, Frank Kimmel, may try to run a few Cup races in 2001 if ARCA sponsor Advance Auto Parts, decides to run a few Cup races or another sponsor is found(ESPN2’s RPM2 Night)(11-16-2000)
  • Finch to Run some Cup races: #1 BGN team owner, James Finch has purchased Ford equipment from Bill Elliott’s operation to run in a handful of Winston Cup races next season. He says he will probably continue to field Chevrolets in the BGN. Jeff Purvis may be the driver for Finch’s Cup runs(Winston Cup Scene Magazine)(11-16-2000)
  • Kmart Gone? UPDATE no..well maybe: Just 24 hours after announcing a staggering $67 million third-quarter loss, Kmart Corp. announced it would end its role as a sponsor in automobile racing. The company confirmed it’s marketing its NASCAR and CART sponsorships toward the goal of exiting the agreements prior to next season. Rather than spending nearly $40 million annually on auto racing sponsorships, the company will strive to build a stronger emotional bond with its customers, said Conaway. He plans new promotional and marketing programs directly aligned with customer research and preferences. Kmart has been the primary sponsor of a NASCAR stock car team for five years, the last three with Haas-Carter Motorsports. There are two years remaining on Kmart’s current NASCAR racing contracts. One year remains on Kmart’s associate sponsorship of the Newman/Haas CART Texaco racing team, which began in 1988. The team’s No. 1 driver, Michael Andretti, left after the season-ending race and will be replaced by Cristiano da Matta next year, racing alongside veteran Christian Fittipaldi. If buyers for these sponsorships are not found, Kmart will have to pay out both contracts. Kmart plans to continue selling NASCAR merchandise and develop special in-store promotions due to strong customer interest in NASCAR-branded products.(in part from the National Speed Sport News)(11-14-2000)
    UPDATE: a simplier explaination – Looking to shift its advertising dollars elsewhere, Kmart is trying to sell its sponsorship of Haas/Carter Motorsports’ two Winston Cup teams to other companies for 2001. Kmart officials say the company will honor the two years remaining on its contract and will be on the cars if no other companies assume the sponsorship(Winston Cup Scene Magazine)(11-16-2000)
  • 75 still looking for a sponsor UPDATE 2: #75 Galaxy Motorsports driver Wally Dallenbach says his team’s uncertain sponsorship issues are jeopardizing its potential for success. “We’ve got probably five guys right now who will come and work if we can do this deal,” Dallenbach said of his No. 75 Ford team, owned by Galaxy Motorsports, which does not have a primary sponsor signed for next year. Dallenbach says the team has been talking seriously with potential sponsors for several weeks but just hasn’t been able to solidify a deal(more at That’s Racin’) one rumor that has been around for a while has been Pizza Hut as a potential sponsor. No word on if RedCell, RotoZip, Cartoon Network or WCW are returning in any capacity for 2001(11-11-2000)
    UPDATE: Unless something falls through, Pizza Hut is expected to sign on as the #75 team’s sponsor for 2001. Owner Darwin Oordt wouldn’t confirm the sponsor, but he has been talking with the company for some time. Sponsorship for this season has rotated among three sponsors – RotoZip, Red Cell Batteries and Superstation TBS – and Oordt said none of them will be the primary sponsor in 2001(Winston Cup Scene Magazine) and
    UPDATE 2: Darwin Oordt is still trying to wrap up a deal with Pizza Hut to sign on as his team’s primary sponsor for the next three seasons. Dallenbach is still under contract to Oordt for two more years and has his fingers crossed that the sponsorship deal goes through. Dallenbach said the team expects to receive a letter of intent on the proposal later this week, and Oordt is to meet with key company officials early next week to nail down the deal(FoxSports)(11-16-2000)
  • Fox Over-Joy’ed UPDATE: FOX Sports has hired long-time CBS and TNN announcer Mike Joy to provide play-by-play for their broadcasts next season. Joy will lead a three-man booth that will include Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds when FOX undertakes its first season of NASCAR coverage next year(SpeedVision)(11-15-2000)
    UPDATE: Fox Sports Chairman David Hill, and President Ed Goren announced the anchor chair in their NASCAR announce booth Wednesday. Mr. Goren’s announcement stated “In my CBS days I had the pleasure of seeing a young pit reporter grow and eventually move up to the booth, and I am delighted to announce today what has been one of the worst-kept secrets along pit road for many months. Mike Joy has joined FOX Sports as our NASCAR play-by-play announcer.” Darrell Waltrip said, “This is a hand-picked team, this didn’t just fall together. Larry and Mike and I were each asked early on, ‘who do you want to work with?’, and this is the core group we all wanted.” David Hill remarked, “This is the best commentary team that can be, with a beloved driver, a crew chief to fill in the technical side, and Mike’s passion, knowledge and accuracy.” Mr. Joy moves to FOX Sports from CBS, where he covered NASCAR and broadcast 14 other sports over the last 18 years. Joy has also been the voice of Formula 1 on Fox Sports Net since 1998. His career began in 1970 doing public address at local tracks in New England. He has anchored NASCAR telecasts for MRN, ESPN and TNN, and hosts a weekly racing show on Fox Sports New England. A native of Windsor, Conn, where he served four elected terms to the Town Council, Mike, his wife Gaye, 18 month old Scott and 3 month old Katie reside in Simsbury, Conn.(Fox PR)(11-16-2000)
  • Dale Jr get game: #8 Budweiser Chevy driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has joined InterAct Accessories to endorse the company’s family of racing wheels for electronic games. InterAct, Inc. will introduce its newest racing products and packaging, featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr., at a press event on the weekend of November 17-19, 2000 at Atlanta(Yahoo Biz)(11-16-2000)
  • Donlavey’s Team Mgr to Race: Jason Hedlesky, team manager for Junie Donlavey’s #90 Winston Cup team, attempted to qualify for four ARCA races this season and was successful in each attempt. This weekend, Hedlesky, a native of Clinton, MI, will try to qualify for his fifth event of the season today at Atlanta Motor Speedway(Keystone Marketing)(11-16-2000)

    (11-15-2000)

  • Thanks ESPN: Kenny Wallace will have a “Thanks ESPN” sticker on the back bumper of his #55 Square-D Chevy during the season finale at Atlanta. Additionally, the official Kenny Wallace web site has opened a special discussion board where fans can express appreciation to ESPN for their 19 years of Winston Cup coverage(MotorsportsTV)(11-15-2000)
  • Little E Tests: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will go to Sebring, Fla., after the Atlanta race for three days of testing in the C5-R Corvette he will drive along with his father and Andy Pilgrim in the 24 Hours of Daytona in February(Roanoke Times)(11-15-2000)
  • Craven Honored: NASCAR driver Ricky Craven receives The Governors Service Award from Angus King, Governor of Maine. #50 Midwest Transit driver Ricky Craven received the award for the countless hours he gives to four different charities….The Children’s Miracle Network, The Bone Marrow Foundation, Make A Wish Foundation, and The Travis Roy Foundation. The Ricky Craven Charity Snowmobile Ride raised $73,600.00 last year. Plus, Ricky’s appearances at the local children’s ward of Eastern Maine Medical Center(PR)(11-15-2000)

    (11-14-2000)

  • Alexander Hopes to Debut at Atlanta: Blaise Alexander will attempt to qualify for his first-career NASCAR Winston Cup race this weekend at Atlanta behind the wheel of the #91 Ericsson/BellSouth Mobility Chevrolet fielded by LJ Racing. Alexander is no stranger to the 1.5-mile facility. His season-best finish of seventh place came in the BGN race at Atlanta last March and has raced in two BGN and six ARCA races at Atlanta(SABCO PR), see image of car on my Paint Schemes Gallery(11-14-2000)
  • NASCAR Announces Penalties: NASCAR announced they have penalized #4 Cup Series crew chief David Ifft following the race at Phoenix for improperly attached weight. Ifft was fined $10,000. Ifft was penalized under Section 12-4-W in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: “Any car using added weight… attached improperly…” and Section 12-4-A: “…actions deemed detrimental to stock car racing…” AND NASCAR announced they have penalized #32 Scott Pruett for intentionally running into the car driven by Robert Pressley during the cool-down lap at Phoenix. Pruett, driver of the #32 Tide Ford, was fined $10,000 and penalized under Section 12-4-A in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: “…actions deemed by NASCAR Officials as detrimental to stock car racing…”(NASCAR PR)(11-14-2000)
  • IROC tests at Daytona, in Cup Talladega trim: After seeing NASCAR’s aerodynamic rules produce 49 lead changes among 21 drivers in the recent NASCAR Winston Cup Series restrictor-plate race at Talladega, the International Race of Champions(IROC) is giving the package a try during its three-day test at Daytona International Speedway. Four Pontiac Firebirds that were shook down on Tuesday, the second day of IROC testing, were all equipped with a metal deflector across the roof of the car and a dirty spoiler. Round 1 of IROC XXV, which will feature 12 of the best drivers in the world in identically-prepared Pontiac Firebirds, will return to the “World Center of Racing” on Feb. 16 during Speedweeks. IROC test drivers Dave Marcis, Andy Hillenburg, Dick Trickle, Jim Sauter and 2001 IROC participants Scott Goodyear and Buddy Lazier ran in Tuesday’s session. It is expected that IROC will have some kind of aerodynamic package in place for the 25th season of IROC next year. IROC testing continues today and is open to the public with access through DAYTONA USA, the official attraction of NASCAR(DIS PR)(11-14-2000)
  • Motorcraft Gets Early Start: Motorcraft, the Ford Motor Company brand of quality automotive components, will return to sponsoring the Wood Brothers’ #21 Ford at Atlanta this weekend. Originally Motorcraft was to return to NASCAR competition next February at the 2001 Daytona 500. Motorcraft reached agreement with the Wood Brothers and their longtime sponsor, CITGO, on a late-season sponsor swap(NOL) – see images of the car in the 2001 section of the Paint Schemes Gallery(11-14-2000)
  • Musgrave out at Atlanta? UPDATE 3 Hamilton Jr in and A switch: hearing Ted Musgrave will not drive the #01 BellSouth Chevy at Atlanta and that Chad Little may drive the car. Also hearing Rick Mast will be the 2001 driver of the #01 BellSouth Dodge and it was also reported on TNN’s Raceday
    UPDATE: have confirmed Musgrave will not drive the #01 BellSouth/Peach Bowl Chevy at Atlanta but hearing it will not be Chad Little
    UPDATE 2: Team SABCO is giving Bobby Hamilton, Jr., the opportunity to compete in only his second NASCAR Winston Cup event. Hamilton, Jr., will drive the #01 Coors Light Chevrolet in the season finale NAPA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. Wanting to keep a more experienced driver in the sponsor’s (BellSouth) hometown market, Team SABCO chose veteran Sterling Marlin to wheel the #40 BellSouth/Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Chevrolet entry(SABCO PR) AND surprise – RPM2 Night reports that Hamilton Jr is being looked at as the possible driver of the #01 Ganassi Racing Dodge for the 2001 season(11-13-2000)
    UPDATE 3 hearing that Hamilton, Jr is not under consideration for the #01 ride in 2001 and that Atlanta is a one race deal only, stong rumor still has Rick Mast getting the ride in 2001. Hamilton Jr supposedly will stay in the #26 Carroll Racing BGN Chevy with Dr Pepper as the sponsor(11-14-2000)

    (11-13-2000)

  • #7 News UPDATE: #7 Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith has recommended driver Mike Wallace to sponsor NationsRent, but the company is hoping that Robby Gordon will shut his own team and become available for 2001. Gordon says he’s heard from several Winston Cup owners with vacancies for next year, but wouldn’t offer specifics. He says he’s also had interest from CART FedEx Championship Series and Indy Racing Northern Lights teams, but prefers to stay in NASCAR. If a sponsor isn’t found, he’ll simply shut the team down and move on.(Winston Cup Scene) BUT I continue to hear Gordon will end up in the #4 Kodak Chevy…(11-9-2000)
    UPDATE 3: TNN’s Raceday reported on Sunday’s show that Mike Wallace says he will be in the #7 Ford in 2001(11-13-2000)
  • #01 Special Scheme UPDATE 2 images and a number switch: The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and BellSouth Corporation, a corporate sponsor of the Bowl, unveiled a special Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl paint scheme on the #01 BellSouth/Team SABCO Chevy prior to the Georgia Tech vs. Virginia football game on Saturday. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl paint scheme will be featured in the NAPA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on November 19. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl logo will appear on the hood of the car and on the side panels. This sponsorship marks the first time that a college bowl game has cross-marketed to the NASCAR audience. Die-cast versions of the special Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl paint scheme on the BellSouth/Team SABCO Winston Cup car will be sold via the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Web site during Bowl Week(SABCO PR)
    UPDATE: got a few images, see my Paint Scheme Gallery to see the car UPDATE 2: the #01 and #40 cars will switch sponsors for the race at Atlanta, #01 will run Coors Light and #40 will run BellSouth/Peach Bowl colors(see story above)(11-13-2000)
  • Robinson to Cup in 2001? UPDATE 2: Shawna Robinson, on the verge of becoming the first female to finish in the top 10 in the points standings of a major national oval-track touring series, has begun taking a look at NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series. The driver of the Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs Ford in the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series could make that move as early as next season. If things work out the way she and her team hope, Robinson will become the first female to start a NASCAR Winston Cup race in over 18 years and the five to seven races they have planned would give her more starts than any female in the past 30 years in the major leagues of stock car racing. In 2002, she would become the first female to run a full NASCAR Winston Cup schedule in the history of the series. MK Racing owned by Michael Kranefuss(and owner of the #12 Cup car driven by Jeremy Mayfield), is owner of the team which fields Robinson’s cars(Williams Company PR)
    UPDATE/CORRECTION: Actually it was 11 years ago, in 1989 when a female last ran a Cup race. Patty Moise ran the #45 Amway Buick in the July Daytona and Talladega races in 1989, finishing 36th at Talladega(10-4-2000)
    UPDATE 2: Saturday’s ARCA race, the Georgia Boot 400, at Atlanta will be Robinson’s final race behind the wheel of the Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs Ford, making her the first female in U.S. motorsports history to have completed a full season in any national stock car oval-track motorsports series. When the race ends, she will have clinched the seventh spot in the final standings, making her the first female in motorsports history to have finished in the top 10 of the final standings in a national oval-track motorsports series. “Next year, we want to have a car running with the first woman to run seven races in a NASCAR Winston Cup season,” Robinson said, “and we’re working hard to make that a reality.” Robinson, 35, will drive a car for MK Motorsports, owned by the former head of Ford Motorsports and Winston Cup team owner Michael Kranefuss, next season. After a successful full season of ARCA racing this year, which saw Robinson most competitive on the same tracks where the Winston Cup teams compete, Kranefuss intends to move the team to a partial NASCAR Winston Cup schedule in 2001, as well as selected ARCA events at the superspeedways(Williams Company PR)(11-13-2000)
  • No Short Tracks: Bobby Labonte became the second driver to win a Winston Cup title without recording a short-track victory. Dale Earnhardt did it in 1993(Palm Beach Post)(11-13-2000)
  • Irvan News? hearing retired Cup driver, Ernie Irvan, will not re-new the lease on his shop to Robby Gordon/Team Gordon and run a part-time BGN or CTS team out of the shop. Gordon is rumored to be driving the #4 Kodak car or the #7 NationsRent car in 2001, closing his own #13 Team Gordon operation. No word on what Gordon will do if he is not selected for #4 or #7 rides(11-13-2000)
  • Hills Bros re-ups UPDATE: #90 team owner, Junie Donlavey has signed sponsor Hills Brothers Coffee for another season. His driver hasn’t been determined. Hut Stricklin, who is both driving and working as crew chief for the team this weekend, has talked with Donlavey, but no decision has been reached about 2001(Times Dispatch)(11-11-2000)
    UPDATE: #90 Crew Chief, Craig Huartson left that job after last weekend’s race at Phoenix, and much of the reason has to do with the team’s race shop location in Richmond, VA. Stricklin handling both driver and crew chief duties(Alabama Live)(11-13-2000)
  • Spencer ties best: #26-Jimmy Spencer tied his best finish of 2000 at Homestead, 5th. Spencer also finished 5th at Talladega in April(11-13-2000)
  • Bodines Best: #11-Brett Bodine’s 14th place finish at Homestead was his best of the year, his 16th at Atlanta in March was his previous best(11-13-2000)
  • Elliott to Dodge? UPDATE: Ernie that is. Engine builder Ernie Elliott, Bill’s brother, who builds Ford engines for the #’s 94, 11 and 9 teams, will supposedly build Dodge engines in 2001 for the Ganassi Cup team (#01(was 42) and #40) and possibly the #92(is now #9) Melling team. Supposedly Elliott is building a new shop in the Charlotte area but will kewp the current Georgia shop. No word on if Elliott will still build Ford engines for the #11 Brett Bodine team. Bill Elliott will be driving for Ray Evernham in 2001 who has his own Dodge engine dept(7-14-2000)
    UPDATE: A NASCAR engine builder will begin construction soon on a $2 million shop on 7 acres near Concord. Land at 7165 Mount Pleasant Road has been cleared for Ernie Elliott Inc. to build the 12,500-square-foot shop, and plans are complete for the building. “All the hard stuff is done,” says Tony Santanicola, spokesman for Ernie Elliott. Santanicola expects the building to be complete in April. The engine builder, which has nine employees, has worked from the former Cale Yarborough shop at 4200 Stowe Road in Concord. Now the shop needs more space, Santanicola says. Elliott builds engines for his brother’s company, Statesville-based Bill Elliott Racing, which fields the McDonald’s Corp.-sponsored Winston Cup car(Business Journal of Charlotte) and Bodine gets Yates Engines in 2001, see the past news on the #11 Team News and Links page(11-13-2000)

(11-12-2000)

  • 3rd Gannassi Car at Atlanta? UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing is considering running a third team again at the season finale next weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The team is expected to allow BGN driver Blaise Alexander to once again attempt to make his Winston Cup debut. Alexander tried to make the field for the October race Talladega in a Ganassi-prepared Chevrolet, but failed to qualify(That’s Racin’). NOTE: At Talladega the car was the #91 with Joe Falk of LJ Racing listed as the owner, not sure if this will once again be the case at Atlanta, if it does happen or if Ericcson will be the sponsor once again(11-11-2000)
    UPDATE: actually hear it won’t be a Ganassi car but an old SABCO car fielded by LJ Racing (#91)(11-12-2000)
  • Carter Announcement UPDATE Official: Haas/Carter Motorsports has scheduled a press conference for Nov. 11 at Homestead to formerly announce Todd Bodine and Jimmy Spencer as its drivers for next year and that Kmart still has two years left on its contract(Winston Cup Scene)(11-9-2000)
    UPDATE: Todd Bodine was officially announced Saturday as next year’s driver for the #66 BigKmart Fords owned by Travis Carter and Carl Haas. Bodine will drive for the team with which Darrell Waltrip is now completing his driving career. Larry Carter, the 66 team’s crew chief, will stay on to work with Bodine. Kmart has two years left on its sponsorship deal with the Carter-Haas teams, but is looking at getting additional sponsors to pay part of the cost of that deal for those two years(That’s Racin’)(11-12-2000)
  • Petty News: Winston Cup Illustrated announced Saturday it has selected the Pettys as the magazine’s Persons of the Year. And…Sprint PCS will sponsor Kyle Petty ‘s charity motorcycle ride. Next year’s ride is the seventh annual cross-country trek(Roanoke Times)(11-12-2000)
  • New Rusty Sponsor: Amtrak, the nation’s passenger train service, is making its first venture into NASCAR as an associate sponsor for Rusty Wallace, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Fords(That’s Racin’)(11-12-2000)

    (11-11-2000)

  • Cope/Johnson News: on his website, Derrike COpe mentions that Quest Motor Racing is hopeful that their sponsorship package will be in place by December 1st. Their first intermediate car(Lowes, Texas, LV etc) is complete and anticipate that their first super speedway car will be in assembly by Thanksgiving. The goal is to have two super speedway cars to test at Daytona on January 11, 2001. The engine development program is going well and they continue to test their motors(in part from the Derrike Cope Site)(11-11-2000)
  • Cheez-It: Cheez-It announced an associate sponsorship next year on the Winston Cup Pontiac of Tony Stewart(Gaston Gazette)(11-11-2000)
  • 75 still looking for a sponsor: #75 Galaxy Motorsports driver Wally Dallenbach says his team’s uncertain sponsorship issues are jeopardizing its potential for success. “We’ve got probably five guys right now who will come and work if we can do this deal,” Dallenbach said of his No. 75 Ford team, owned by Galaxy Motorsports, which does not have a primary sponsor signed for next year. Dallenbach says the team has been talking seriously with potential sponsors for several weeks but just hasn’t been able to solidify a deal(more at That’s Racin’) one rumor that has been around for a while has been Pizza Hut as a potential sponsor. No word on if RedCell, RotoZip, Cartoon Network or WCW are returning in any capacity for 2001(11-11-2000)
  • DW to race in 2001: Darrell’s Waltrip’s farewell tour this season might not be a final goodbye, the three-time Winston Cup champion said Friday. Waltrip, who has qualified for 24th for the Pennzoil 400, said he would consider being a fill-in driver during the second half of the 2001 schedule. During the first half of next season, Waltrip will be in the booth as Fox’s lead commentator for NASCAR races(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(11-11-2000)

    (11-10-2000)

  • #88 five year thank you car: Ford Quality Care and Ford Credit will commemorate their five-year sponsorship of the #88 Robert Yates Racing Taurus driven with a special paint scheme at Atlanta for the NAPA 500. Dale Jarrett’s car will carry the original 1996 paint scheme with a special message of thanks to the team. The racecar, originally a Ford Thunderbird, was first seen on the racetrack at Daytona Speedweek where Jarrett teamed up with rookie crew chief Todd Parrott to win what was then the Busch Clash and the 1996 Daytona 500. Ford Quality Care and Ford Credit joined Robert Yates Racing five years ago to sponsor what has since become one of the most successful and consistent teams in NASCAR Winston Cup. The message on the decklid will read “Robert Yates Racing, Thanks for 5 great years. Your friends at QC and Ford Credit.” See an image of the car at my Paint Schemes Gallery(Ford Racing PR/Campbell & Co)(11-10-2000)
  • Harvick runs some Cup practice: RCR BGN Driver, Kevin Harvick briefly tested Dave Marcis’ #71 Realtree Outdoors Chevy on Friday in the two-hour morning practice session(NOL)(11-11-2000)
  • Silver #44: Check out NOL’s Friday Photo Gallery, the #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac is all silver at Homestead instead of it’s normal blue, very cool looking(11-10-2000)
  • Shepherd Withdraws: Morgan Shepherd, scheduled to run the #80 Hover Motorsports Ford at Homestead, withdrew their entry due to problems with the chasis. Shepherd does still plan to attempt Atlanta next week(11-10-2000)

    (11-9-2000)

  • Trickle Looking: Dick Trickle will leave Jimmy Spencer’s #5 BGN team at the end of the season and is seeking a new ride for 2001. Trickle said he is exploring rides in both the BGN and CUP Series for 2001. Schneider National, who had been Trickles sponsor for the last three years, announced a few weeks ago it was leaving the sport(NOL)(11-9-2000)
  • Martin #400: Mark Martin will make his 400th consecutive Winston Cup start at Homestead. Martin is fifth in active consective starts streaks in Cup, behind Dale Earnhardt with 645, Ricky Rudd with 606, Rusty Wallace at 515 and Ken Schrader with 485(11-9-2000)
  • Hamilton Start #300: Bobby Hamilton will start his 300th NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Homestead on Sunday in the Pennzoil 400. The race will be also be Hamilton’s 100th start with Morgan-McClure Motorsports(Morgan McClure PR)(11-9-2000)
  • Tide Gives: In line with their commitment to Give Kids The World, Tide Racing has donated $35,000 to the organization following Scott Pruett’s race performance at Phoenix. Tide had pledged a $100 donation to Give Kids The World for every lap Pruett completed in the 312-lap Phoenix event. Pruett, driving a specially-painted #32 Tide/Give Kids The World Ford Taurus in honor of the charity, completed 310 circuits around the one-mile oval to earn a total of $35,000 (rounded up by Tide) for the day. Give Kids The World is a non-profit resort for terminally ill children whose one “wish” is to visit Central Florida’s theme parks and attractions. Tide Racing annually conducts a car coloring contest for children who visit the resort, inviting them to design their own paint scheme for the #32 Tide Ford in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. This year’s winner, Heather Mason (13, of Berkeley, Ill.), attended the Phoenix race to watch her very own car compete. In addition to Tide Racing’s monetary donation, Mattel has produced and donated 75,000 commemorative miniature die cast cars based on Heather’s design. For a five-dollar donation to Give Kids The World, the cars can be obtained either on the Tide merchandise trailer or through the Give Kids The World website, www.gktw.org. Scott Pruett also created a special matching helmet, worn throughout Phoenix race weekend, which he has signed and donated for an auction at Give Kids The World to help raise additional funds(PPI Motorsports PR)(11-9-2000)
  • Parts News: Hawk Corporation announced that it has acquired Tex Racing Enterprises, Inc., a leading manufacturer of premium branded drive train components for motorsports and performance automotive markets. The products are used by leading teams in the NASCAR racing series, as well as for high-performance street vehicles, and other road race and oval track competition cars. Tex Racing, located in Ether, North Carolina, was founded in 1975. The company had 1999 sales of $7.9 million. William “Tex” Powell will continue as president of Tex Racing under Hawk’s ownership(PRN Newswire). Powell is listed as the ‘owner’ of the #72 Chevy that Marcis Racing has attempted to run in a Cup races this year(11-9-2000)
  • Rotozip Contest Winner: RotoZip Tool Corporation is well-known in the NASCAR garage as an innovative company providing tools applicable to a mechanic’s needs. Outside of the garage, the company has extended that innovation this season with its fan-interactive Ultimate Paint Scheme Design Contest. Mike Dexter, a resident of Columbus, Ohio, has been announced as the contest winner with his design to be featured this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway on the #75 RotoZip ® Ford driven by Winston Cup veteran Wally Dallenbach. RotoZip has sponsored the #75 for eight Winston Cup races this season, including Rockingham, Bristol, Charlotte, Indy, Richmond and Martinsville. Homestead will be the final appearance of the RotoZip brand on the Galaxy Motorsports machine this season(RMI Atlanta), see images of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery(11-9-2000)

    (11-8-2000)

  • Evernham Crew Chiefs: Ray Evernham announced Tuesday that Mike Ford would remain Bill Elliott ‘s crew chief next season when Elliott joins Evernham’s team. Patrick Donahue will be Casey Atwood’s crew chief. Elliott will drive the #9 Dodge Dealers Dodge and Atwood will drive the #19 Dodge, sponsor unknown(Roanoke Times)(11-8-2000)
  • More Dodge Testing UPDATE: Dodge teams will conduct tests this week at Talladega and Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Bill Davis, owner of the #22 and #93 teams that will be converting to Dodge next season, said his teams and the teams from Petty Enterprises will be at the Charlotte track working with the engine package that is still awaiting final approval from NASCAR. Davis said that the teams owned by Ray Evernham would be working at Talladega(That’s Racin’)(11-5-2000)
    UPDATE: Dodge’s test schedule has been altered. A scheduled manufacturer test at Las Vegas this week was postponed until Jan. 6-7, 2001. Dodge teams will test at Talladega and Charlotte on Nov. 14-15. Dodge also has a test scheduled Nov. 20-21 at Kentucky Speedway(Roanoke Times)(11-8-2000)
  • Atlanta Testing: #46-Todd Bodine set the pace on a full day of testing at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a top speed of 188.636mph (29.39 seconds). Winston Cup drivers Jeremy Mayfield, Buckshot Jones, Brett Bodine, and Hermie Sadler, as well as ARCA driver Larry Foyt, were also testing Wednesday at AMS in preparation for the Nov. 17-19 NAPA 500 weekend. Todd Bodine ran his fast lap in a third Haas/Carter Motorsports car, which he will run in the NAPA 500. Bodine is expected to take over the seat vacated when Waltrip retires this season. #11-Brett Bodine was second fastest of the day with a lap of 187.045mph. The track record is held by Geoffrey Bodine, 197.478 mph set in 1997. Geoffrey Bodine is also expected to run the NAPA 500 in a third Andy Petree Racing car, teaming with Kenny Wallace and Joe Nemechek. #12-Jeremy Mayfield’s fast lap of the day was 185.915 mph, and Buckshot Jones, who will run the NAPA 500 with his own team – Buckshot Racing – had a fast lap at 183.942mph. Sadler, a BGN veteran, is expected to run the #60 Power Team Chevy at Atlanta and ran a fast lap of 184.010mph. And in his first laps around Atlanta in an ARCA car, Foyt had a fast lap of 180.525mph(AMS PR)(11-8-2000)
  • BBBSA/Martin Update: Mark Martin’s on-track performance in the Valvoline Ford, combined with contributions from Valvoline and NASCAR fans, has brought the current total raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters since 1999 to $536,278. Valvoline is donating $5,000 for every Winston Cup race Martin wins, $2,500 for each pole, $1,000 for a top-five finish, and $20 per lap Martin leads in this “Caring Hands” program.(Valvoline PR)(11-8-2000)

    (11-7-2000)

  • Todd Bodine at Atlanta: have heard that Todd Bodine will drive a third Travis Carter Ford at Atlanta in the Winston Cup finale(10-16-2000)
    UPDATE: Bodine will drive the #46 Kmart Ford at Atlanta(11-7-2000)
  • Geoffrey at Atlanta: Geoffrey Bodine will run a 3rd Andy Petree Racing Chevy at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The car will be #35 and crew chiefed by Chris Carrier, no word on a sponsor(APR Site). Bodine will run the #98 Miccosukee MacPherson Motorsports Ford at Homestead(11-7-2000)
  • #15 for DEI? UPDATE 2: hearing Michael Waltrip will run the #15 on the NAPA Auto Parts DEI Chevy in 2001(9-23-2000)
    UPDATE: Michael Waltrip will unveil his number for next season, 15, on his new Dale Earnhardt-owned NAPA Chevrolet tonight on SpeedVision’s Inside Winston Cup. Waltrip said the number is a tribute to Bud Moore, the former car owner who enjoyed success with #15 in NASCAR’s early days. Waltrip moves to the #15 car next season(AJC). NOTE: Bud Moore is no longer in the sport, selling to Fenley Motorsports, who have been heard from since early in the season and I have no idea what their 2001 plans are if any(11-6-2000)
    UPDATE 2: it was announced on SpeedVision’s Inside Winston Cup that Waltrip will drive the #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy, the car was shown, even have a few images, see my Paint Scheme Gallery(oops, forgot to send the pages, they are updated now)(11-7-2000)
  • Another Hamilton? UPDATE yep: Bobby Hamilton still is planning to have his son, Bobby Hamilton Jr., attempt to qualify for two Winston Cup races this year. Hamilton is picking up one car Monday and a second one the next week for his son to drive. Hamilton Jr. could compete in the races at Homestead and Atlanta(Times-Dispatch)(9-24-2000)
    UPDATE: hearing it’ll be the #57 Chevy, no sponsor known yet. Also saw NOL has Hamilton listed on the Homestead Entry List(11-7-2000)
  • Atlanta Testing UPDATE 2 – Bodine to run Atlanta?: Winston Cup drivers Jeremy Mayfield and Todd Bodine and ARCA driver Shawna Robinson tested Monday at Atlanta Motor Speedway in preparation for the NAPA 500 weekend Nov. 17-19. Mayfield, who will race in the Winston Cup season-finale NAPA 500, turned a best lap 187.678mph in the #12-Mobil One Ford, which was the fastest lap of the day. The Winston Cup qualifying record is a 197.478, set in 1997 by Todd Bodine’s older brother, Geoffrey. Todd Bodine, who was testing the #66 Haas/Carter Motorsports car driven by Darrell Waltrip, had a best lap 187.487mph. Robinson, who will run the ARCA finale Georgia Boot 400 this November, ran a top lap of 183.333mph. The ARCA qualifying record is 184.345 mph, set in Nov. 1998 by Bobby Hamilton Jr(actually it is 188.021 held by Derrick Gilchrist in the Andy Petree Racing Chevy)(AMS PR).
    UPDATE: have heard that Todd Bodine will drive a third Travis Carter Ford at Atlanta in the Winston Cup finale(10-16-2000)
    UPDATE 2: Bodine will test a Travis Carter Ford at Atlanta again on Wednesday, supposedly will run the #46 Ford in a third Carter Ford at Atlanta in the season finale. Also it is expected that the formal announcement of Bodine taking over the #66 BigKmart Ford in 2001 at Homestead this weekend(11-7-2000)
  • TV Info UPDATE 2 NBC ANNOUNCEMENT: Hearing from sources that while although nothing has been announced by anyone, hearing ESPN has released Matt Yocum and Bill Weber from there contracts to allow them to pursue other opportunities with NASCAR’s new TV partners in 2001. It’s rumored Weber had 3 years left, while for Yocum next year would have been an option year. Hearing both will finish out the rest of the year for ESPN(10-30-2000)
    UPDATE: In an unexpected move(??), Bill Weber and Matt Yocum have been given their release by ABC/ESPN and will be taking jobs covering the Winston Cup tour for NASCAR’s new TV partners Fox and Turner. Weber is expected to take a job with NBC; Yocum, with both Fox and NBC(PitNow)(11-4-2000)
    UPDATE 2: NBC Sports and TBS Superstation today officially announced their 2001 NASCAR broadcast team, which will call 20 NASCAR Winston Cup races and 18 Busch Series races beginning in July 2001. The team consists of host Allen Bestwick, analyst Benny Parsons and pre-race host and lead pit reporter Bill Weber. Pit reporters Marty Snider, Dave Burns and Matt Yocum complete the lineup. The joint announcement was made by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Sports and Olympics and Mark Lazarus, President, Turner Sports. Lazarus said: “This respected lineup of talent will enhance the viewing experience for race fans on TBS Superstation and NBC. We are pleased to be entering into this exciting new television deal with this knowledgeable, accomplished group of broadcasters.” The NASCAR on NBC and TBS team is led behind the cameras by Emmy Award-winning NBC Sports producer Sam Flood and long time motorsports director Mike Wells, ESPN’s respected NASCAR director since 1981. Every Winston Cup race on NBC and TBS will be preceded by a comprehensive 30-minute pre-race show, hosted by Weber. For the first time, network NASCAR coverage will provide race fans with an in-depth look at the weekend’s race before the green flag drops. NBC and TBS will begin coverage of the second half of the 2001 NASCAR season in primetime on July 7 from the Daytona International Speedway. Coverage extends through the season finale at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on Nov. 18. Of the 20 Winston Cup races, 13 are broadcast on NBC and seven on TBS. Of the 18 Busch Series races five are on NBC and 13 are on TBS(NASCAR PR)(11-7-2000)

    (11-6-2000)

  • Sadler to test at Atlanta: hearing that after a successful test at Homestead last week, Hermie Sadler will be testing Joe Bessey Motorsport’s #60 Power Team Chevy on Wednesday and Thursday at Atlanta in preparation for the NAPA 500. Hearing that Sadler will run both the Cup events at Homestead and Atlanta in the #60. Bessey’s team is looking for sponsorship to run the 2001 season and beyond and Sadler could be a candidate for the ride if a sponsor is found(11-6-2000)
  • Rudd Special Paint? UPDATE 2: hearing Ricky Rudd will run a few special paint schemes on the #28 Texaco Ford in early 2001, not known yet what they will be or promote, hearing it may be to promote Texaco’s 100th birthday(10-25-2000)
    UPDATE: Rudd will be running a special scheme for the Bud Shootout and at Texas related to the 100th anniversary, have not seen the schemes or had them described(10-26-2000)
    UPDATE 2: the rumored Bud Shootout car for Rudd is similar to the new look of the cases of Texaco Oil, see a diecast image of the car on my Paint Schemes Gallery(11-6-2000)
  • Roush teams update: multiple Cup team owner(#’s 6,16,17,97,99) Jack Roush said he would prefer to run five Cup teams in 2001, but that four cars was a definite possibility. The Nos. 6, 17 and 99 have sponsorship in place for 2001 but the 16 and 97 do not. Roush said that he was committed to run the #97 with Kurt Busch even though there is no sponsor agreement signed yet, but that the team is a go program regardless. Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member Henry Aaron is dealing with Roush trying to establish a motorsports program that would ideally feature a minority driver. Roush addressed that issue with the media, saying he would ultimately like to step away from the #16 operation — to partner with Aaron and to help him do that thing or provide leadership in it for two or three years and then back out of the picture by the point in time where they’ve got a minority driver organized for it. Roush expressed his support of Lepage and said, as much as he is seeking sponsors for both his teams in the CTS as well as the #97 Cup car, he was doing the same with Lepage’s operation( in part from NASCAR Online and That’s Racin’)(11-6-2000)
  • Not NASCAR but Jayski.com at Nashville on a truck UPDATE: Today there will be a SuperTruck race at Nashville Speedway. The truck #84 Lightning Lube/Pennzoil truck, driven by Ronnie Campbell has WWW.JAYSKI.COM on the tailgate, see the images of the truck at: Jayski Paint Page. The race was supposed to be run last night, but rain knocked that out. They’ve rescheduled the races to today(11-5) after the All Pro race and it’ll be televised on TNN November 19th at 4:00pm/et. CTS driver Joe Ruttman drove a Late Model in the All Pro race(11-5-2000)
    UPDATE: Campbell started 28th due to a plugwire falling of during qualifying and the spotter’s radio battery died early in the race. Campbell finished 28th of 32 trucks. Been told the site was mentioned on the broadcast a few times and mentioned during the driver interview after Campbell retired the truck due to the radio problems. Crew Chief for Campbell was #8 ASA car owner Mike Houge. Teammate Mike Reynolds finished second after leading most of the event running side by side. With luck Campbell may run more races in 2001 and is talking to Pennzoil about sponsorship. Thanks Ronnie. To see the results of the race, check the Nashville Speedway site. NOTE: Jayski.com was not a sponsor on the truck but was posted on the truck per the drivers request, thanks it is appreciated(11-6-2000)
  • Mast to the #01? Rick Mast appears to be car owner Chip Ganassi’s pick to drive the #01 BellSouth Dodge in 2001, according to sources close to the team that call it “almost a done deal.”(PitNow)(11-6-2000)
  • Mayfield to Leave #12? NO UPDATE 3 – #4 Close to naming a driver?: still hearing a ton of rumors that Jermey Mayfield will leave the #12 Mobil One Penske Racing LLC team and go to the #4 Kodak Morgan-McClure team but was leaving it alone since there were also so many stoires out there with quotes from Mayfield saying he is staying, but today on the CBS Sprotsline site there is a story: He won’t admit it, but Mayfield ready to jump ship by Jeff Owens, in which it says: Mayfield and McClure are working on a deal, and if their lawyers can work through the legal gobbly-gook, Mayfield may just stun the NASCAR world by walking away from Penske and Rusty Wallace and joining a team that is currently 31st in points(CBS). If this happens, it may be the big surprise with Rick Mast going to the #12, and the Winston Cup Scene mentions Mast, Kenny Wallace and Robby Gordon as possible drivers for the #12(10-27-2000)
    UPDATE: hearing that Mayfield flew to California last weekend and met with Roger Penske during the CART race there. There Mayfield supposedly told Penske he had every intention of returning next season and Penske told him he would hold Mayfield to his contract. Mayfield reportedly told #4 Owner Larry McClure this week that he was not leaving the #12(11-4-2000)
    UPDATE 2: After his strong second-place finish in Sunday’s race at Phoenix, Jeremy Mayfield repeated – this time with great emphasis – that he’ll be back as driver of the #12 Fords again next season(That’s Racin’)
    UPDATE 3: #4 car owner Larry McClure is close to making a decision on his new driver, and team sources say the decision is between Kevin Lepage and Robby Gordon with Ricky Craven suddenly only a long-shot(PitNow)(11-6-2000)
  • #21 Crew Chief: #16 team owner, Jack Roush, confirmed that Pat Tryson, who is now Lepage’s crew chief, will move over to become Elliott Sadler’s crew chief with the Wood Brothers team next year(That’s Racin’)(11-6-2000)
  • Daytona Testing UPDATE: NASCAR has released its 2001 testing schedule for the month of January at Daytona International Speedway for the NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series’ teams. BGN 2000 final car owner point standings will determine which days the teams will test. Those car owners finishing in odd-numbered positions in the final point standings (ex. 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc…), will test on January 22nd and 23rd, while car owners finishing in even-numbered positions in the final point standings (ex. 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc…), will test on January 24th and 25th. The schedule is as follows: Winston Cup, Ford Jan 8-10th; Winston Cup, General Motors(Chevy/Pontiac) Jan 11-13th; and Winston Cup, Dodge Jan 16-18th. CTS, all makes Jan 19th-21st; and BGN Car Owner Points, Odd Number Finish, Jan 22-23; and BGN Car Owners Points, Even Number Finish, Jan 24-25th(NASCAR PR)(10-30-2000)
    UPDATE: NASCAR on Sunday informed crew chiefs and drivers it has altered the pre-Daytona testing schedule for January. The dates of the three manufacturers’ testing sessions will remain the same, but the three-day tests will be become two-day tests with one rain date. Ford will test Jan. 8-9, with Jan. 10 as a rain date. General Motors (Pontiac and Chevrolet teams) will test Jan. 11-12, with Jan. 13 as a rain date. And Dodge will test Jan. 16-17, with Jan. 18 as a rain date(That’s Racin’)(11-6-2000)
  • Oakwood Homes stock news: not sure how or if this effects sponsorship of the #33 Chevy driven by Joe Nemechek, but: Oakwood Homes Corp. faces the possibility of being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange if its stock price continues to languish below $1 per share. Meanwhile, the struggling manufactured home maker has undergone another consolidation aimed at slashing costs. A new subsidiary, HBOS Manufacturing LP, has been created, under which all of Oakwood’s manufacturing operations will be placed Jan. 1.(Business Journal of the Great Triad Area)(11-6-2000)
  • Fuel Cells Unapproved: NASCAR officials confiscated the fuel-cell containers from the cars of #13-Robby Gordon and #97-Kurt Busch over the weekend during prequalifying inspections. They were listed as “unapproved” and displayed outside the NASCAR hauler(That’s Racin’)(11-6-2000)
  • Wells cars inspected after race: After the race, NASCAR officials impounded the two Fords owned by Cal Wells, the #32-Scott Pruett and #96-Andy Houston cars. The officials apparently suspected irregularities in the cars, perhaps due to a tip from someone at a rival team. No penalties were announced(Gaston Gazette)
    AND Scott Pruett finished 34th after a final-lap crash with Robert Pressley. Andy Houston, Wells’ other driver, was 36th. Pruett and Pressley apparently exchanged words after their crash. NASCAR officials interviewed Pressley after the race in an effort to assess what happened. The cars of Houston and Pruett were torn down after the race as NASCAR officials checked the wiring harness. Officials found no problems with the devices(Times Dispatch)(11-6-2000)
  • Dodge Engine Approved: Dodge Motorsports today reached another milestone in its return to Winston Cup Racing with the approval by NASCAR of the engine for its Dodge Intrepid R/T race car. Dodge Motorsports presented engine parts to NASCAR for approval on September 27, including cylinder block, heads and three intake manifolds, along with other Dodge engine parts such as the water manifold, head gasket, water pump and fuel pump. The 358 cubic inch V-8 Dodge Magnum engine features an open deck and a deep skirt for high-powered performance. Termed the R5-P7 engine, it is the new millennium’s first addition to the Dodge Magnum family of engines designed and produced for racing by Dodge Motorsports. For Ray Evernham, Dodge team owner and leader of the development effort, approval of the engine was the final hurdle between Dodge and the Daytona 500(Dodge PR, see full story/PR at NOL)(11-6-2000)
  • Sad News: Peter Sospenzo, Jeremy Mayfield’s crew chief, was understandably absent at Phoenix Sunday. On Saturday, Sospenzo attended his grandmother’s funeral in New York. He planned to fly to Phoenix that afternoon. Unfortunately, while leaving the funeral, an uncle of Sospenzo’s was struck by a car and killed. Steve Lane served as crew chief in Sospenzo’s absence(Gaston Gazette)(11-6-2000)

(11-5-2000)

  • Blaney career best: #93-Dave Blaney finished 8th at Phoenix, his first ever career top 10 and his best career finish, Blaney also was the best finishing ROTY candidate(11-5-2000)
  • Sad News: Frank Stoddard, crew chief of the #99 CITGO Ford, which won at Phoenix, mentioned at the end of the broadcast at Phoenix that his grandmother passed away on Saturday, thoughts go out to Stoddard and his family(11-5-2000)
  • #4 Crew Chief: Morgan-McClure Motorsports names David Ifft interim crew chief for the remaining three races of the 2000 Winston Cup season. Ifft comes to Morgan-McClure with 29 years of racing experience. The veteran crew chief returns to the Winston Cup Series following a few years in the BGN. Ifft has interest in returning to the Winston Cup Series full time next season(Morgan McClure PR)(11-5-2000)
  • Jarrett’s Provisional Streak: Dale Jarrett has never used a provisional starting spot to make a Winston Cup race since his current #88 team was formed at Robert Yates Racing at the beginning of the 1996 season. That streak would have ended Saturday had any of the nine drivers making second-round qualifying attempts for Sunday’s Checker 500 gone faster than Jarrett’s lap of 131.325 mph from Friday’s first round(That’s Racin’) and of note: #24-Jeff Gordon has NEVER used a provisional in his Winston Cup career, see my Provisional status page for rules and past provisional info(11-5-2000)

    (11-4-2000)

  • Dodge Cancels Vegas Test? UPDATE yes: Dodge has canceled a major planned test at Las Vegas because of continued engine problems. Production difficulties with the casting of blocks has forced Dodge to recall a number of pieces, and Dodge drivers and teams aren’t happy, considering their Daytona 500 debut is only 106 days off(PitNow) BUT later in the same Notebook column it says: Dodge is scheduled to hold a three-day test session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Monday through Wednesday. The test will be closed to the public. So which one is it??
    UPDATE: Dodge has cancelled its three-day test at LVMS(LVMS PR)(11-4-2000)
  • Skinner News – UPDATE: The son of Winston Cup driver Mike Skinner was arrested in North Carolina on Thursday on multiple drug charges. A spokesman for the Randolph County Sheriff’s department said they arrested Michael James Skinner, 22, of Randleman, N.C., after a search warrant turned up valium, anabolic steroids, marijuana and two digital scales with cocaine residue on them in his home and garage. Officials said they also found 88.9 grams of cocaine inside a race car belonging to the younger Skinner. He was jailed and bond was set at $100,000.(ESPN/AP) ESPN2’s RPM 2Night also reported this, and Skinner’s son, Jamie (nickname) raced in two CTS races and four BGN races, Also see story at SpeedVision(11-3-2000)
    UPDATE Mike Skinner Comments: The following are comments by Mike Skinner on the Nov. 2 arrest of his 22-year-old son, Michael James (Jamie) Skinner, on violations of drug laws. “I’m devastated by the news as any parent would be,” said Skinner. “But right now, since we don’t have all the information, there’s not a lot I can say,” said Skinner. “Jamie and I talked on the telephone but it was a conversation between me and my son that will be kept private. I own the house and the shop where Jamie lived and rented them to him. It is not the home I have in Sophia (N.C.). I spend a small amount of time there during the year but I’ve lived full time in Spruce Creek (a suburb of Daytona Beach, Fla.) for about a year now. I will make a further statement after I know all of the details. Until then, there’s not a lot more I can say.”(Richard Childress Racing Ent PR)(11-4-2000)
  • Kodak/Lowes Swap?? here is an interesting RUMOR – There has been some speculation in the garage that Kodak might be looking at moving over to Richard Childress’ #31. Supposedly, it would be a one-year deal. Kodak would pay Childress what they have been paying McClure, and Lowe’s would make up the difference. Then Lowe’s would move to the #4 for one year only, and McClure would get the same money Kodak has been paying(11-4-2000)

    (11-3-2000)

  • Hornaday and Foyt? UPDATE 5 It’s Official: hearing Ron Hornaday may join AJ Foyt’s team, either in an 2nd BGN car, a 2nd Cup car or taking the seat of the #14 Conseco Pontiac. The last option seems odd as it has been reported current #14 driver, Rick Mast, is supposedly close to signed up with Foyt for 2001 to drive the #14 Pontiac(10-12-2000)
    UPDATE: A.J. Foyt appears to have hired driver Ron Hornaday and crew chief Fred Graves to drive his #14 Conseco Pontiac next season. Word is the deal is done, with only contract formalities remaining(SpeedVision) and Rick Mast said he could not comment on the rumor that Ron Hornaday is joining the A.J. Foyt team next season. Mast joined the team in May and has worked to build the slow-starting operation. Crew chief Phillipe Lopez and several crew members followed Mast from the Larry Hedrick #41 team(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-14-2000)
    UPDATE 2: hearing that Rick Mast has been told that he will not be asked back to the #14 Foyt team next year. Also hearing Ron Hornaday is in the process of signing a multi-year deal with Foyt. Mast is supposedly speaking with the #7 Ultra Motorsports team, but has not yet been approached by the #4 Morgan McClure team(10-15-2000)
    UPDATE 3: #14 Team owner A.J. Foyt will name Ron Hornaday as his new driver in NASCAR Winston Cup Series at the end of this season, according to sources. Foyt would not confirm the hiring of Hornaday(National Speed Sport News)(10-17-2000)(no where does it say Hornaday has signed with Foyt)

    UPDATE 4 Foyt’s Announcement: hearing AJ Foyt will announce his 2001 Cup plans at Phoenix on Friday, Nov 3rd, Supposedly Ron Hornaday will be named the new driver of the #14 Conseco Pontiac for 2001(11-1-2000)
    UPDATE 5 ANNOUNCED: A.J. Foyt announced today(11-3) that he has signed two-time CTS Champion Ron Hornaday to drive the #14 Conseco Pontiac in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Hornaday will make his bid for the 2001 NASCAR Raybestos Rookie-of-The-Year title behind the wheel of the #14 Conseco Pontiac as the team enters its second year of operation in the Cup Series. Crew chief Phillipe Lopez will remain with the team and work with Hornaday(Conseco Site)(11-3-2000)

  • Earnhardt Jr on the tube UPDATE and in People Magazine: Following Sunday’s Phoenix race, Dale Earnhardt JR will fly to Los Angeles for two days of national television appearances. Earnhardt JR will appear on “The X Show” on the FX cable network on Monday night, Nov. 6 (11:00pm/et), and on “Turn Ben Stein On” on Comedy Central (to air in January). He will also tape a segment for Fox Sports Network for the “National Sports Report” show.(fingerprint.inc/Budweiser PR)(11-1-2000)
    UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will appear in this week’s special “Sexy Men” double-issue of People Magazine that hits newsstands Friday. While Brad Pitt is the chosen cover boy as the “Sexiest Man Alive” (the first to receive this “honor” twice), Earnhardt Jr. makes his first appearance in the magazine as one of NASCAR’s sexiest drivers. He was photographed for the magazine during a recent race weekend in Dover, Delaware. In addition to the People Magazine coverage, Dale Jr. will be seen in a variety of national television interviews and features in the coming months. Following the race Sunday in Phoenix, Earnhardt Jr. will fly to Los Angeles to tape a series of interviews. Dale Jr. is the featured guest on Monday’s edition of “the X Show” on the FX Network. The show will air at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday evening. FX is a part of the Fox family of networks that will televise NASCAR races beginning in 2001. He will also tape a segment with the Fox Sports Network that will air sometime this week on the “National Sports Report.” Dale Jr. will also appear on “Turn Ben Stein On” on Comedy Central. Hosted by the laconic Ben Stein, the 30-minute talk show will air early in 2001. Work also continues on the MTV documentary “True Life” that will chronicle Dale Jr.’s life behind the scenes as a race driver. The one-hour program is scheduled to begin airing on MTV in the week prior to the 2001 Daytona 500(fingerprint.inc/Bud PR)(11-3-2000)
  • #88 Sponsorship? and scheme..UPDATE 3: the fate of Ford’s lucrative Quality Care sponsorship seems up in the air. Robert Yates is apparently planning to change Dale Jarrett’s colors to UPS brown for 2001. That leaves Ford officials scrambling to find a car for Quality Care.(PitNow) for more on this rumor, see the #88 Team News and Links page(5-27-2000)
    UPDATE: Word is that Robert Yates has decided to accept a top-dollar sponsorship offer from United Parcel Service for his #88(Dale Jarrett) team, replacing Ford Credit/Quality Care(FC/QC). Some say FC/QC does not want a full car at present prices and might end up distributed among both Yates teams(as an assoc sponsor)(SpeedVision). Jayski Note: I hear the colors will be Next Day Air red, not the UPS brown and yellow(5-28-2000)
    UPDATE 2: It appears now that deal is all but signed. The team and sponsor already are talking about possible paint schemes, sources say(That’s Racin’)(5-29-2000)
    UPDATE 3: hearing Dale Jarrett’s UPS car in 2001 will be a UPS/paper bag brown color not the next day air red as speculated(11-3-2000)
  • Wallace to the #7? reports I hear have Mike Wallace driving the #7 Nations Rent sponsored Ultra Motorsports owned Ford in 2001, replacing Michael Waltrip(who is going to the new DEI #15 NAPA Chevy). Winston Cup Scene says the team is waiting to see if the sponsor OK’s Wallace(11-3-2000)
  • GMAC News: GMAC, a longtime member of the Hendrick family of racing sponsors, announced today a comprehensive sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports for 2001 that includes involvement in NASCAR’s Winston Cup, Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series. GMAC, which will expand its presence on Hendrick entries in NASCAR’s three major touring series, will be the primary sponsor on the #17 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Ricky Hendrick in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as well as a major associate sponsor on the #24 Chevrolet of Jack Sprague. In 2001, netzero.com will assume primary sponsorship of the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet truck now driven by Sprague. Additionally, GMAC will also serve as the primary sponsor for Ricky Hendrick in a select number of NASCAR Busch Grand National and ARCA events during the 2001 season. Dennis Connor, the all-time winningest crew chief in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history, will oversee the new GMAC racing operation, which will operate out of its own separate facility. And as it has since 1993, GMAC will continue to be an associate sponsor on all three HMS Winston Cup cars: the #24 DuPont Chevrolet driven by three-time champion Jeff Gordon, #5 Chevrolet of two-time champion Terry Labonte and the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet of Jerry Nadeau(RaceWorks, LLC)(11-3-2000)
  • Dodge Testing at Daytona UPDATE 4: The Chip Ganassi Racing team with driver Sterling Marlin and the Melling Racing team with driver Stacy Compton will be at Daytona International Speedway Tuesday, October 31, and Wednesday, November 1, for a two day Dodge manufacturers test. The test will be CLOSED to the public and the press(DIS PR)(10-28-2000)
    UPDATE: added TWO images of the #92 running at DIS in the Paint Scheme Gallery
    UPDATE 2: see a story about the testing at Speed Magazine: Dodge gets busy at Daytona (11-1-2000)
    UPDATE 3: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver Sterling Marlin and Melling Racing driver Stacy Compton completed a two-day test of the Dodge Intrepid R/T today on the high banks of the Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the Feb. 18 Daytona 500. The drivers shook down their Intrepids with the new Dodge engine that’s still awaiting NASCAR approval. Both Marlin’s and Compton’s Dodges were fitted with restrictor plates and NASCAR’s aerodynamic package that was recently used in the Winston 500 at Talladega. Marlin and Compton were both pleased with the results of the test and said the Intrepid picked up speed from its recent test session at Daytona’s sister track. At least 10 teams will field Dodge Intrepids for the season-opening Daytona 500 and preparing for the season’s biggest and most prestigious race is no easy chore. Marlin is confident that the car and engine can compete for a victory in the restrictor-plate race. “They had a little trouble in Talladega, but it was a core that slipped in a block,” said Marlin, a two-time Daytona 500 champion. “That got fixed. Casey has been to Kentucky and they’ve run like 1,400 miles on a motor turning 9,200 rpms(DIS PR)(11-2-2000)
    UPDATE 4: hearing that the teams used Ford engines at the testing at Daytona(11-3-2000)
  • Mikey at Homestead? UPDATE probably not: hearing that Michael Waltrip was testing a Dale Earnhardt Inc Chevy at Homestead this week. Waltrip is of course going to drive the #15? NAPA Auto Parts Chevy for DEI in 2001 and rumor has it that he MAY drive the last two Cup races(Homestead and Atlanta) of the season in the car. Waltrip presently drives the #7 Ultra Motorsports Chevy(10-26-2000)
    UPDATE: RPM2 Night reported that Waltrip said it was unlikely that he would drive for his new DEI team at Homestead and/or Atlanta. BUT, just in case #7 owner Jim Smith and sponsor Nations Rent changes their minds and lets Waltrip out of his contract, DEI has two Chevy;s ready for Waltrip to drive, for Homestead the car would be sponsored by Aaron’s Rent and the Atlanta car is a NAPA Auto Parts scheme(11-3-2000)

    (11-2-2000)

  • Sad News: not NASCAR but….Steve Evans, a familiar face to drag race fans for more than two decades through his outstanding television work covering NHRA Winston Drag Racing, passed away Nov. 1. Evans was discovered dead in his motel room in Las Vegas, where he was preparing for a World of Outlaws event(NHRA Site) Memorial contributions may be made to: Steve Evans Memorial Fund, 27422 Via Garcia, Mission Viejo, CA 92692.(11-2-2000)
  • Stewart and WoO: Tony Stewart announced he will field a full-time team in the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Sprint car series beginning in 2001 with proven winner Danny Lasoski of Dover, Mo. as the driver and general manager of the team. Stewart further announced Indiana-based JD Byrider has teamed with TSM as sponsor of the #20 Sprint car, with Hamm America joining the effort as a major associate supporter(TNN)(11-2-2000)
  • Phoenix Stats: None of the 12 Phoenix races have been won by the pole winner. Average starting position of Phoenix race winners: 13.0. Lowest start of a Phoenix winner: 29th by Ricky Rudd, 1995. Most Phoenix poles: 2 – Geoffrey Bodine, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader. Most Phoenix wins: 2 – Davey Allison. Most common starting position of all Phoenix race winners: 3rd, twice, and 13th, twice. Eight drivers have won a pole at Phoenix. Most DNFs in a race: 16, 1989. Fewest DNFs in a race: 2, 1998, 1999. Average finish of pole winner: 13.1. Mark Martin has finished either first (1993) or second (five times) in six of the last eight Phoenix races. Terry Labonte is the only driver to be running at the end of all 12 Phoenix races(TNN)(11-2-2000)
  • #36 to the Dogs UPDATE image: The familiar “M&M’s”® Pontiac will sport a different paint scheme at Phoenix this weekend. PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs will be the primary sponsor of the #36 Pontiac in support of their national crusade to aid homeless pets. M&M/MARS, the manufacturer of “M&M’s”® Chocolate Candies, is a sister company to Kal Kan Foods, Inc., manufacturer of PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs(IMG Motorsports PR)(11-1-2000)
    UPDATE: see an image of the car in my Paint Scheme Gallery(11-2-2000)

    (11-1-2000)

  • Shepherd at HMS and AMS CORRECTION: starting all over here – Morgan Shepherd will be attempting to qualify for both the Homestead and Atlanta Cup races this year. Shepherd will be driving the #80 Hoover Motorsports Ford(NOT the #05 Pontiac). Shepherd/Hoover Motorsports are searching for sponsors to run a full season of Winston Cup in 2001(Shepherd PR), this is right from Shepher dand his real PR people(11-1-2000)
  • Vasser in Cup? UPDATE 4 – NO, stays in CART: Ganassi CART driver, Jimmy Vasser is slated to test for Ganassi’s NASCAR team next Friday(Oct 6th). Vasser also won Sunday’s CART race in Houston(SpeedVision)
    UPDATE: Vasser said he will test Friday in Lakeland, Fla., with Ganassi’s Winston Cup team, the former Sabco Racing. The team has an opening because of the death of Kenny Irwin at New Hampshire International Speedway this summer(Dallas Morning News)(10-2-2000)
    UPDATE 2: hearing Vasser tested #01 Ganassi Racing Chevy at Lakeland and did fine, no accidents and may test at Las Vegas in the next few weeks(10-7-2000)
    UPDATE: Jimmy Vasser might yet wind up driving for Chip Ganassi next season. “I’m hoping he’ll drive our Winston Cup car next year,” says Ganassi, who has bought controlling interest in a NASCAR team. “The job’s his if he wants it.” Vasser’s comments: “It’s a little strange that he doesn’t think I can do the job in CART, where I won a championship and am going to finish in the top three (in the points standings) four years out of five, and now he wants me to drive in NASCAR where I’d be a rookie,” Vasser says. One thing Vasser says he won’t do is contact Scott Pruett or Robby Gordon, who have struggled this year after making the jump from CART to NASCAR(more at the USA Today)(10-26-2000)
    AND a larger story today at the USA Today: Now Ganassi wants Vasser(10-27-2000)
    UPDATE 4: Mo Nunn Racing will announce this week the addition of a second car driven by CART veteran Jimmy Vasser, with sponsorship from MCI WorldCom and Pioneer, to its stable for the 2001 CART FedEx Series. Nunn was Ganassi’s chief engineer before retiring and starting his own team this season. Vasser won the Houston Grand Prix in early October. Vasser was rumored as a candidate to drive one of Ganassi’s Winston Cup Chevy(#01) next season. Ganassi has yet to fill that position with his #01 NASCAR entry(Speed Magazine)(11-1-2000)
  • More Homestead Testing: Hermie Sadler and Ricky Hendrick ran the fastest unofficial practice laps for their respective Cup and BGN teams on Tuesday, the final day of testing at Homestead. Sadler ran a lap of 154.950mph in the #60 Power Team Winston Cup Chevy owned by Joe Bessey, beating the time of 154.639mph recorded on Monday by Kevin Harvick, driving Dale Earnhardt’s #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy. Hendrick unofficially shattered the Speedway’s BGN track record, running a lap of 150.796mph in the #24 GMAC Chevry owned by his father, Rick Hendrick. Hut Stricklin holds the track BGN record at 149.456mph. The team will field a pair of Chevy in the Nov. 11 Miami 300, to be driven by Hendrick(#14 GMAC Chevy) and Winston Cup driver Jeff Gordon(#24 Pepsi Chevy). David Green, the Homestead-Miami Speedway Winston Cup track record holder, assisted the Hendrick team during the test, and also bettered the track BGN record with a lap of 150.292mph. Also impressive in Tuesday’s final testing was Geoffrey Bodine, who ran the third-fastest lap of pre-race testing, 152.715mph, driving the #98 Miccosukee Ford owned by Chip MacPherson. Also testing was driver Doug Reid, driving a Busch Series Chevy owned by Marcrum Motorsports(HMS PR)(11-1-2000)
  • Labonte’s Points: If Bobby Labonte leaves Phoenix with a 302-point lead, he would only have to take the green flag in Homestead and Atlanta to win the championship. Labonte leads Dale Earnhardt by 201 points(Roanoke Times)(11-1-2000)
  • #25 Sponsor? UPDATE 3: while Lowes is making the rumor rounds as the next sponsor of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy with driver Jerry Nadeau, hearing that Delphi Automotive may be the next sponsor for the #25 team(9-28-2000)
    UPDATE: hearing the #25 will have a co-primary sponsor with Delphi Automotive and UAW-GM as the sponsors(10-13-2000)
    UPDATE 2: The International Union, UAW and Delphi Automotive Systems announced a partnership to sponsor Hendrick Motorsports’ car #25 driven by Jerry Nadeau in the Cup series. The announcement was made at a press conference at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas. The announcement was part of Delphi’s U.S. launch of its aftermarket brand(HMS Site see a drawing of the car there and PR at Delphi Auto Site)(10-31-2000)
    UPDATE 4: see more drawings of the car at the Jerry Nadeau Site(11-1-2000)