October 1998 News Archives

(10-31-98)

2nd round Cup qualifying is over at Rockingham and the field is set: Ten drivers made attempts and eleven stood on their 1st round time. Bill Elliott was the fastest 2nd round attempt at 154.162mph(would have been 23rd fastest) which moved him up to 26th. Three drivers missed the race including Dave Marcis. To see who missed the race and why and who took provisional and why, see the Jayski’s Provisional Page.(10-31-98)
Oops…my mistake…. Regarding pit-stalls, there are 31 of them on the front stretch at North Carolina Speedway(Rockingham).(2-20-98) — So that means the following teams will pit on the front stretch: #’s 94, 78, 31, 3(who I had said fell to the backstretch), 40 and 98. the #11 of Brett Bodine fell from 31st to 32nd and to the backstretch. Sorry for the confusion.(10-31-98)
Pit Crew Competition at the Rock, UPDATE 2: The Tosco 76/Rockingham Pit Crew Competition, which determines the fastest pit crew in NASCAR Winston Cup competition, is held at “The Rock” each Fall race as part of the AC Delco 400 weekend, Bill Elliott and his #94 Ford team took top honors and the $12,000 first prize in the competition a year ago.(TNN)(10-29-98) — see a That’s Racin’ story: Elliott’s crew in gear, Team prepares to defend pit title.(10-30-98) — The #31 Lowe’s Pit Crew won the Unocal 76/Rockingham World Championship Pit Crew Competition Saturday. The pit crew had a pit stop of 20.322 seconds to win the $15,100. The team, comprised of front tire changer Michael Lingerfelt; rear tire changer Ron Otto; jackman Mike Scearce; gasman Brian Englehart; gas catch man Rick Tulbert; front tire carrier Kevin Gabard and rear tire carrier James (Taco) Landon, edged the No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet crew, led by crew chief Phillipe Lopez, by .215-second.(NASCAR Online), see the results at That’s Racin’: Pit Crew Challenge results. TNN will televise the Unocal 76/Rockingham World Championship Pit Crew Competition on Nov 22nd at 1:30pm/et with a repeat on Nov 29th at 1:30pm/et.(10-31-98)
Scooby Doo is back: The Melling team had reported Scooby as missing since the Richmond race, Sept. 12, 1998. On Oct. 30th The No. 75 team of Rick Mast returned Scooby at The Rock. Check it out at: Ruh Roh, Scooby Doo is BACK.(Sue, just for fun folks)(10-31-98)
Irvan done for the year? There are strong indications that Irvan will skip the Atlanta race. He skipped Daytona and Phoenix. Irvan, who says he doesn’t feel quite right, met with Dr. Erroll Erlandson on Wednesday at St. Joseph’s in Ypsilanti, Mich., to discuss his aches and pains.(JournalNow)(10-31-98)
DJ Back but… Dr. James Magary has given Dale Jarrett clearance to postpone surgery to remove his gall bladder until after the remaining two races of the Winston Cup season. Jarrett will attempt to compete this weekend at Rockingham but will have Hut Stricklin standing by as a relief driver. Jarrett, who is 3rd in championship points, need only start the race to get whatever points the car wins during the event. We suspect Jarrett will make a large effort to qualify and start the race and then Robert Yates will use his “influence” to order the driver change should he feel it necessary before Jarrett. Jarrett said Friday during practice that he expects to put Hut Stricklin in the car after starting. He remains sore but more importantly feels somewhat weak from not eating much this entire week.(SCR)(10-31-98)
Rules…Rules: NASCAR officials say they do not plan to release any rules changes this weekend. Winston Cup crew chiefs and Detroit factory officials are braced for the fax machines to start ringing on Monday morning if Jeff Gordon, as expected, clinches the championship in Sunday’s 400.(JournalNow)(10-31-98)
Tony Furr returns to track: Broken leg and all Tony Furr is back in the Winston Cup garage area, now assisted by Dave Charpentier. Charpentier apparently will work as a team engineer for the Budweiser team. It is unclear right now whether Charpentier will spread his engineering across all three teams or concentrate on the #50 car in 1999. Furr also has Ken Howes, the former crew chief of the Budweiser team to fall back on if need be on race day.(SCR)(10-31-98)
#50 news: Dave Charpentier has started work as engineer for the Wally Dallenbach-Tony Furr team at Hendrick Motorsports.(JournalNow)(10-31-98)
Tabasco Stays….for now: McIlhenny Company, makers of TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce, announced today they have come to an amicable agreement with Tim Beverley and ISM Racing Corp. to complete the 1998 Winston Cup season. Darrell Waltrip will remain as the driver of the No. 35 TABASCO® Pontiac for the final two races of 1998. No plans are mentioned for Tabasco to return to NASCAR racing beyond the final two races of 1998. So far there has been nothing from Tyler Jet Motorsports indicating their intentions or plans, or those for Darrell Waltrip. (SCR)(10-31-98)
Irvan to race? UPDATE 2: Per PRN’s Winston Cup Today Radio show on Thursday – Ernie Irvan had been seen/examined in Michigan on Wednesday by Dr. Errol Erlandson, the doctor that treated him after the 1994 Michigan accident. Irvan was told that he was having a “normal” recovery from his Talladega crash. No additional damage to the head, etc. Erlandson did recommend an MRI to check out neck/pain pain Irvan had earlier in the summer. Depending on how Irvan feels on Friday will be the determining factor on if he will race at Rockingham this weekend. — Ricky Craven will practice and qualify the #36 Skittles Pontiac today at Rockingham, substituting for the injured Ernie Irvan. Irvan is awaiting results of an MRI taken on his neck Thursday in Mooresville, NC. After a review of Irvan’s tests and discussion of aches and pains, Erlandson recommended an MRI to examine neck pain that plagued Irvan earlier this year who reported pain in his shoulder and arm in late July. At that time, doctors diagnosed Irvan with a herniated disc between the fifth and six vertebrae.(NASCAR Online) Also see the GoRacing Item and Notes, updates on Irvan can also be found at Jayski’s Ernie Irvan Site.(10-30-98) — Ernie Irvan decided to sit out of the Rockingham race due to nagging problems with a herniated disc in his neck suffered in an earlier crash, then aggravated at Talladega. Ricky Craven practiced and qualified the Skittles Pontiac Friday and will continue through the weekend. Ernie will wait until further conversations with his doctors before making a decision on racing at Atlanta.(SCR)(10-31-98)
Entering your first NASCAR Busch race usually means a tough weekend, often ending in disappointment as even making the field is very difficult these days. Philip Morris didn’t let any of that get in his way as he qualified 12th and finished a remarkable 5th. You can bet there are some interested car owners wanting to know more about Morris. I´d be willing to bet there are car owners who are also interested in who was crewing his car. 5th in a Busch race at Rockingham is not something you luck into.(SCR)(10-31-98)
There is expected to be an announcement at Atlanta on Nov 6th that Fleming-IGA will become the fulltime sponsor on the #57 Progressive Motorsports Chevy’s driven by Jason Keller in the BGN series.(WC Scene) Didn’t happen(10-31-98)

(10-30-98)
Teams that failed to make the field in first round qualifying and are 26th or worse but are guaranteed(by this I mean whatever happens in 2nd round, not where things stand now) to make the ACDelco 400 at Rockingham based on owners points: #3-Dale Earnhardt(8th in owners points); #40-Sterling Marlin(14); #36-Ricky Craven/Ernie Irvan(15); #94-Bill Elliott(17); #31-Mike Skinner(19); #11-Brett Bodine(25); and yes #35-Darrell Waltrip(champ prov). The three teams that would miss the race if things stayed the same: #96-Steve Grissom(43); #71-Dave Marcis(44); and #80-Andy Hillenburg(–). The four teams that were out of provisionals, #7-Geoff Bodine(28 in owners points); #30-Derrike Cope(39); #9-Jerry Nadeau(34); and #41-David Green(37) all gained a provisional for attempting their teams 32nd race. Only the #41 may need it, the other three are in the race on 1st round speeds #7-7th, #11-8th, #9-11th. Dale Jarrett showed no ill effects of those gall stones and qualified 4th. Mark Martin wins the pole! See Jayski’s Provisional Page for the Provisional Standings.(10-30-98)
Kennedy New Job? UPDATE 2 Kyle Petty’s current crew chief Bobby Kennedy and the remaining crew of the #44 that has not left yet, will move with crew chief Kennedy when he announces his new deal which should be in the next few weeks. Kennedy will be the 1999 crew chief for a current NASCAR Winston Cup but we’ll have to wait until next week to find out the details.(MRN’s Marty Snider’s Two Cents)(10-28-98) — I hear Kennedy will be working at the #7 Mattei Motorsports team in 1999(10-29-98) — It’s on NASCAR Online, Kennedy will take over starting at Japan.(10-30-98)
Stewarts Crew Chief: The crew chief for the #20 Home Depot Joe Gibbs owned Pontiac that Tony Stewart will drive in 1999 wii be Greg Zipadelli(sorry for the miss spelling), who has been Jeff Burton’s chassis specialist this season at Roush Racing.(JournalNow) No word on what happened to news that Stewart would run a few Cup races at the end of the 1998 season.(10-30-98)
Hornaday and DEI, UPDATE: I hear CTS Driver Ron Hornaday will drive a 2nd BGN Dale Earnhardt Chevy at the Daytona BGN race in February 1999. NAPA will be the sponsor.(10-29-98) — was announced on RPM2Nite and will happen. No idea of a #.(10-30-98)
Earnhardt Sponsor: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and The Outlaw® will team up in the Cup Series for the next four years. Dale Jr. will carry Pennzoil’s The Outlaw® Performance Additives as an associate sponsor he runs five Cup races in 1999 and begins a full schedule in 2000. The black, yellow and orange The Outlaw® horse head logo will adorn the rear quarter panels of Earnhardt Jr.’s (#8?)Budweiser Monte Carlo. The Outlaw® Performance Additives are a family of high-quality fuel additives promoted as “additives with attitude.”(Pennzoil PR)(10-30-98)

(10-29-98)
ACDelco Stats: from TNN’s Motorsports site – AC Delco 400 At A Glance.(10-29-98)
STP and the #43? Hearing STP will scale down to an associate sponsor in 1999 with the #43 Richard Petty team and driver John Andretti. The team is supposedly talking to some primary sponsor candidates.(10-29-98)
Stavola Bros at Atlanta: The #8 Stavola Bros Chevy will race at Atlanta with Morgan Shepherd behind the wheel. The team has also agreed to give up the #8 to Dale Earnhardt Inc after the 1998 season. Earnhardt’s late father, Ralph used the #8 during his NASCAR career. The Stavola’s will also shut down operations of their team if they do not find sponsorship for the 1999 season by Nov 13th.(not 19th)(WC Radio)(10-28-98)
Ah..more testing/rules rumors: NASCAR’s proposed new testing rules and spoiler rules changes are still up in the air. There was again no word from Daytona Beach, Fla., headquarters yesterday about the rules changes. On the testing rules, NASCAR officials are expected to require that anyone testing a Winston Cup car during the year also try to make the field at that track during the season, to forestall any car owner from bringing in testing ringers. NASCAR is considering raising rear spoilers about 1 1/2 inches for the race at Atlanta to make the cars handle better. That prospect is meeting with mixed response.(JournalNow)(10-29-98)
Some sons of NASCAR folk making an attempt at the Rock this weekend in the BGN series: Adam Petty, son of Kyle Petty; Bobby Hamilton Jr.; Barry Bodine, son of Geoff Bodine; and Toby Robertson, son of former Sports Marketing Enterprises president the late T. Wayne Robertson. All of them tested on the 1.017-mile oval on Monday. (CBS SportsLine)(10-29-98)
Ernie Ready? Many readers have reported that during This Week in NASCAR last night(TV), Alan Bestwick mentioned that Ernie Irvan would be meeting with doctors this week to determine if he will race this weekend and that whether or not he will race is still a question. Also from Marty Snider’s My Two Cents(MRN): One of the other big story lines of the Phoenix race was the absence of Ernie Irvan from the starting line-up. Irvan is still recuperating from accident at Talladega that left him a little woosy but without any broken bones. Feeling ‘unsure of himself’ Ernie turned the car over to Ricky Craven in Saturday morning practice and Sunday’s race. The question now is, can Ernie drive this weekend? “That’s what we’re working towards is trying to get me better for Rockingham and at least as good as the car is,” said Irvan before the race. Some team members say that the possibility of Ernie sitting out the rest of the year exists. The reasons for Ernie staying out to avoid further injury are easy to come by…only two races remaining, you have a more than capable back up in Ricky Craven, and those two races are tough ones (Rockingham and Atlanta). The reasons to keep Ernie in the car are not so easy to come by…he wants to race. That’s not a strong enough argument. Right now it looks like the fear of further injury might win this battle…stay tuned.(MRN)(10-29-98)

(10-28-98)
Dale Jarrett Update 2: According Ned Jarrett, who was on NASCAR Live tonight (Tues), Dale is still in the hospital in Phoenix. Ned stated that Dale has gallstones. Some have moved to other parts of his body, and can not be treated with laser surgery because his gallbladder has been torn. Ned continued to say they would know more about Dale’s release from the hospital within the next day or two. Depending upon whether the gallstones pass soon, will determine if he can at least start the car at Rockingham this weekend. But according to Ned “it doesn’t look promising for Dale to do that at this point, as major surgery is still a possibility.” Ned and Jason are in Myrtle Beach, SC this weekend to fill in for DJ at his golf tournament.(SpeedRacerReturns via StockCarFans Newsletter) — Dale Jarrett is scheduled to be released from John C. Lincoln Hospital in North Mountain, Phoenix, AZ on Oct. 29 after a final day of rest. Jarrett’s condition will be monitored closely for the next two weeks and is tentatively scheduled to undergo surgery for his gallstone condition following the season-ending event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hut Stricklin will stand by in relief(GoRacing) also check out Dale Jarrett Online Q&A, updating fans on DJ’s condition.(10-28-98)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR Winston Series shoe Philip Morris will enter the AC Delco 200 this Sunday at Rockingham. Morris, from Ruckersville, VA racked up 13 feature wins in the tough NASCAR Winston Racing Series with top 5 finishes in 20 events this year. He will run a car bought from DEI, the #84(not 94) Chevy. See an image of the car at the Stock Car Racing Magazine site: PHILIP MORRIS MAKES JUMP TO BUSCH.(10-26-98) — McFarland Motorsports, Inc./ #82 Carolina Shoe raceteam of driver Mark McFarland is assisting Phillip Morris’s BGN team this weekend at Rockingham and also at Homestead with the use of their 18 wheeler and some of the pit equipment.(10-28-98)
Rules Change: Expect news on a rules change soon, not for Rockingham but possibly for Atlanta.(NASCAR Today Radio)(10-28-98)
Wallace/Elledge/Ifft: Jimmy Elledge will act as the crew chief for the #81 Filmar team and Kenny Wallace once again at Rockingham on Friday and Saturday and return to his regular duties as Mark Martins tire changer on Sunday. David Ifft will act as Wallace’s crew chief on Sunday. Elledge will be Wallace’s crew chief on the 2nd Andy Petree team in 1999, the #55 Square-D Chevy. Elledge and Wallace were in Atlanta the past two days testing.(RPM2Nite)(10-28-98)
Testing at Atlanta on Wed: Thirteen Cup teams tested at Atlanta on Wednesday, the speeds: 1) #22-Burton 188.957mph; 2) #75-Mast 188.443; 3) #12-Mayfield 188.315; 4) #4-Hamilton 187.996; 5) #33-Schrader 186.729; 6) #50-Dallenbach 186.603; 7) #97-Little 185.604; 8) #77-Pressley 185.600; 9) #98-Bickle 185.046; 10) #41-D Green 184.800; 11) #43-Andretti 184.554; 12) #55-K Wallace 184.370; no idea who #13 was.(NASCAR/WC Today Radio and RPM2Nite)(10-28-98)
Waltrip in Japan: Mattei Motorsports will put Michael Waltrip behind the wheel of the #7 Philips Ford at this year’s Japanese exhibition race.(NASCAR Online)(10-28-98)
Mast Rumors: It appears that Mast may be on the verge of finding a place to hang his hat for 1999. After flirting with offers from Bill Elliott and Larry Hedrick, Mast appears to be ready to sign with a brand new team for next year. This new team will be a second team to an already existing Ford team. Perhaps the much anticipated Peter Guild team that would be a second team to Travis Carter’s team?(MRN’s Marty Snider’s Two Cents)(10-28-98)

(10-27-98)
Stavola Bros to shut down? Hearing the #8 Stavola Bros Cup team will cease operations at the end of the 1998 season. Supposedly DEI will get the #8 for their 2nd team with Dale Earnhardt, Jr who will drive five Cup races in 1999.(10-27-98)
Smith hospitalized UPDATE: Louise Smith, the first woman elected to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, AL, was in fair condition at Greenville(SC) Memorial Hospital Friday.(NandoNet)(10-23-98) — From iRACE: Louise Smith released from hospital.(10-27-98)
UPDATE 3 on Jarrett’s condition from GoRacing: Dale Jarrett is still in a local Phoenix hospital and is being evaluated for possible gall stone treatments. Jarrett, who was taken from his car on lap 127 of Sunday’s Dura-Lube/Kmart 500, was transported, via air ambulance, to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix on Sunday. Jarrett was examined at that time where doctors determined that Jarrett suffered from gall stones. At the family’s request and in order to consult with Dr. James Magary, a surgeon who specializes in gall bladder ailments, he was discharged from St. Joseph’s Hospital and admitted to John C. Lincoln Hospital – North Mountain in Phoenix. Jarrett remains in the hospital at this time and is listed in fair and stable condition while he undergoes a battery of tests to determine the best course of medical action. No determination has yet been made on whether Jarrett will be discharged and cleared in time for this coming weekend’s event at Rockingham with doctors saying they “not ruled out the possibility of Jarrett driving in this weekend’s NASCAR Winston Cup event at North Carolina Motor Speedway.”(GoRacing)(10-26-98) — From That’s Racin’ Jarrett searches for quick gallstones fix. — late Tuesday update at GoRacing: Jarrett Continues His Best Rest In Phoenix, also check out Dale Jarrett Online Q&A, updating fans on DJ’s condition.(10-27-98)
Charpentier to Bud Team? UPDATE Rumors are swelling that the # 50 Bud team may be on the verge of acquiring the services of the #75 crew chief Dave Charpentier. Charpentier has been shopping his name around over the past few weeks looking for a job, not as a crew chief but rather just as a team engineer. Many people in the garage area say that Charpentier has said that he has ‘tried being a crew chief’ and is ready to go back to ‘just being an engineer.’ Charpentier is widely considered to be one of the best engineering minds in stock car racing, any team will be extremely lucky to land him even though he may “just be the engineer,” as he puts it.(MRN’s Marty’s Two Cents Worth)(10-22-98) — It was mentioned on RPM2Nite that Charpentier has left the #75 Butch Mock team and he was supposedly at Atlanta assisting the #50 Bud team during testing. Charpentier’s replacement will be announced by Mock at a later date.(RPM2Nite) and see the story at TNN #75 Remington Arms Changing Crewchief(10-27-98)
Marcis and Realtree extend: Dave Marcis and Realtree has extended their agreement another year, Realtree will once again be on Marcis’ #71 Chevy.(NASCAR Online and TNN)(10-27-98)
Cool Stats: By the numbers: Wallace maintains streak of winning years by Gene Granger the iRACE Historian. Including: Consecutive-year race, pole winners; Drivers with 300 consecutive starts; Best winning percentage; Races with less than one-lap MOV(margin of victory)(10-27-98)
Testing at Atlanta: Fifteen Cup teams tested at Atlanta on Tuesday, the speeds: 1) #22-Burton 187.297mph; 2) #12-Mayfield 186.666; 3)#33-Schrader 185.915; 4) #4-Hamilton 185.666; 5) #97-Little and #75-Mast 185.480; 7) #43-Andretti 184.247; 8) #55-K Wallace 182.669; 9) #98-Bickle 181.940; #41-D Green 181.770; #77-Pressley 181.651; #50-Dallenbach 181.592; #42-Nemechek, #44-Petty and #07-Dan Pardus no speeds.(NASCAR/WC Today Radio and RPM2Nite)(10-27-98)
#41 team to talk to Green: #41 team plans to sit down with David Green this week in an effort to secure Green’s services for the 1999 season.(NASCAR Today Radio)(10-27-98)
Elliott Selling? Bill Elliott was asked about rumors that he was selling his 2nd race team and responded by saying he was not actively selling the team, but if someone came by with the right deal….right now he is concentrating on racing.(NASCAR/WC Today Radio)(10-27-98)
Pressley Tests at Atlanta: Robert Pressley tested his #77 Jasper Engines Ford at Atlanta Monday, no speeds mentioned. Pressley also tested his BGN car there.(WC Today Radio)(10-27-98)

(10-26-98)
New Cup Team to debut in Japan: UPDATE 2 It was reported on TNN’s Raceday that a new Winston Cup team would debut at the Japan race with Rich Bickle as the driver. This may be the rumored Mike Hillman run team. No 1999 driver has been announced yet. — Here is some info I hear on this new team(for Japan only at this point): I hear the team is Bickle/Smith Motorsports with Mike Hillman as crew chief. Turbine Solutions will be the sponsor on the #58 Ford Taurus. The Japan car is supposedly purchased from Roush Racing.(10-25-98) — The team is NOT Bickle/Smith Motorsports. The team is actually SBIII (that’s roman numeral 3) Motorsports owned by Scott Barbour, CEO of Turbine Solutions. Hillman is the crew chief. It is the #58 Ford Taurus. They will make their debut in Japan with Rich Bickle behind the wheel. Barbour and Hillman have not selected a driver at this point for the 1999 season. Turbine Solutions will be the sponsor on the car for the Japan race, however, they are seeking a full sponsor for the ’99 season.(10-26-98)
Six Seasons to Stardom: Jeff Gordon is completing his sixth full season in Winston Cup competition, and his statistics stack up well against those from the first six seasons of some of the sport’s other top drivers: Check out the story from That’s Racin’: Gordon is completing remarkable year and chart at Compare first six years of top drivers by David Poole.(10-26-98)
Craven to run 2nd MB2 Team? UPDATE Now there is talk that Ricky Craven is talking to MB2 Motorsports about fielding a 2nd team in 1999.(RACEDAY-TNN) During the Phoenix race Dick Berggren mentioned that on Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday, Craven would be attending meeting which would hopefully decide his 1999 Cup plans.(TNN)(10-25-98) — The MB2/Craven deal WILL NOT happen.(10-26-98)
Jarrett Taken to Hospital UPDATE 3: Dale Jarrett got out of the #88 Quality Care/Ford Credit Ford midway thru the Dura Lube/Kmart 500. Michael Waltrip relieved Jarrett. DJ was taken to the St Joesph’s Hospital in Phoenix for dehydration and adominal pain. He also has the flu. Get well DJ.(TNN during the race) — Jarrett will have an ultrasound on his adominal area, word is it may be a gall bladder/stone problem(RPM2Nite/AP)(10-25-98) — See a story at That’s racin’: Jarrett suffers from gall bladder ailment(10-26-98)
Bonus Points: Leaders in bonus points(leading a lap or the most laps) – Jeff Gordon 155, Mark Martin has 150, Dale Jarrett 105, Rusty Wallace 100 and Jeff Burton 80.(Henry/StockCarFans) The only driver who has made all the events and has no bonus points is Kyle Petty.(10-26-98)
Mast Looking, #41? Rick Mast has put his name in the hat for the ride with Larry Hedrick next season, according to sources close to the team. Mast still has details to work out with present car owner Butch Mock(#75) over the final year (1999) of his driving contract with that team. Hedrick says that Geoff Bodine is not on his list of drivers for next season.(JournalNow)(10-26-98)
Geoff to the #41? UPDATE Geoff Bodine and Tim Brewer, who have teamed both successfully and unsuccessfully over the years, may be teaming again next season, with Larry Hedrick’s Chevrolets(#41 Kodiak), according to sources close to the situation.(JournalNow)(10-24-98) — Hedrick says that Geoff Bodine is not on his list of drivers for next season.(JournalNow)(10-26-98)
Points and more points: Mark Martin has scored 123 more points this year thru the first 31 races than he did in 1997, but Gordon has scored 365 more. That is an improvement of almost 12 points a race. Martin’s total from the first 31 races of this season (4634) would have been good enough to be leading last years’ points race by 36 points going into the finale.(Henry/StockCarFans Newsletter)(10-26-98)
Provisional Stuff: With Michael Waltrip and the Wood brothers failing to make the field, there is some talk in the garage about changing second-round qualifying rules. The fastest 25 are now locked in after the first round, and the next 11 spots are given to drivers based on the fastest speeds run either in the first round or second round. Second-round qualifying is usually done under much less favorable conditions, such as a hotter time of the day. Hence, the prospect is being raised that everyone not making the top 25 have to requalify, and not stand on first-round times. Some in the garage said that if NASCAR officials had offered their champion’s provisional to the most recent eligible champion, Dale Earnhardt would have gotten the last starting spot, Darrell Waltrip would have been out, and Michael Waltrip would have made the race.(JournalNow) Jayski Note: I think NASCAR is trying to be as consistent as possible with the provisionals, letting Earnhardt use the champ would have gone against everthing they have done with provisionals in 1999, plus knocking an already upset high paying sponsor out of the race may have really hurt the #35 team with trying to retain Tabasco. Making everyone run 2nd round is a good idea. I hear NASCAR is happy with the current provisional setup and the only changes they may make is to limit the number of Champions Provisionals a driver can use in a year. Also see a good story about the champ prov at Speed Magazine – Past champs shouldn’t rest on provisionals.(10-26-98)
Rules Change Coming for 1999? UPDATE Winston Cup’s rules governing spoiler size and front air dam clearance haven’t changed since March, but that could change if Jeff Gordon clinches the points championship. NASCAR has been considering changes for several months, but with Gordon’s Chevrolet and Mark Martin’s Ford team locked in a tight points race for much of the summer it was reluctant to put anything into place that might alter the competitive balance. Based on several conversations in the garage area Saturday, it was not clear what changes NASCAR might make. Changes have been discussed with competitors, and — as is usually the case when different car makers are involved — there is disagreement over what changes should be made. Changes to 1999 testing rules may also be announced this week.(That’s Racin’)(10-25-98) — A major aerodynamic spoiler rule is coming, possibly for the Atlanta season finale. The change would come as soon as Gordon clinches the 1998 Winston Cup title. Supposedly and inch and a half, front and back.(JournalNow) Also the Times-Dispath reports it may be for the the Ford Taurus only. Wow, that’s a big change and would pretty much cancel out any testing done at Atlanta in recent weeks.(10-26-98)
Stricklin to New Team UPDATE: Looks like Hut Strickland will be signing up with the new team of RDJ Motorsports (known as the Sunshine Boys). An official announcement is planned to be made at Atlanta in Nov. Donnie Allison will also be signing up with RDJ as Crew Chief.(RDJ Motorsports PR Release)(10/24/98) — Stricklin has indicated an interest in driving a Ford for this team and Allison has agreed to become a consultant providing that certain criteria is met(not sure what that is)(RDJ)(10-26-98)
Testing Rules Announced Sunday? UPDATE NASCAR’s new testing rules will probably be released here on Sunday. One key provision is more NASCAR scrutiny. Another, four of the year’s seven tests will be at set tracks, Daytona, Talladega, Indianapolis and Charlotte. Teams will be allowed just two cars at each test. Yet another, NASCAR officials will be closely scrutinizing who teams bring to each test. NASCAR might like to limit teams to one driver per test, but that might be difficult to enforce, because some teams bring in different drivers for each test. Dave Marcis and Jay Sauter will be testing for Richard Childress’ teams next season, along with regular drivers Earnhardt and Mike Skinner.(JournalNow)(10-24-98) — NASCAR did not release the 1999 test dates to drivers this weekend, as had been expected. However, the four mandatory test sites do seem to be locked in as Talladega, Daytona, Indianapolis and Charlotte. There apparently was some discussion of substituting Las Vegas as one of the tracks. Drivers also have three open test sites during the season. Rookies are allowed three additional tests. In other NASCAR news, pit crew limits could be implemented before the end of the season. NASCAR could test the new limits in Atlanta.(Times-Dispatch)(10-26-98)
Fan gets Martin’s car: Scott Davis of Dripping Springs, Texas, is the new owner of a NASCAR Winston Cup Ford Taurus, and he says he has his 3 1/2-year-old son to thank. Davis entered the nationwide Valvoline SynPower Race Car Sweepstakes and won the grand prize, one of Mark Martin’s 750-horsepower race cars. Davis, 34, said he entered the contest after his son Spencer insisted he buy a bottle of the Valvoline product because it included a Hot Wheels toy replica of the race car. Davis’ name was drawn in September at random from nearly 150,000 entries. The car Davis won is no replica. Martin raced it 10 times, including a victory on Sept. 21, 1997, at Dover Downs International Speedway. The last time he raced the car was in Bristol, Tenn., in March. He finished seventh. Davis plans to store the car at his house in Texas.(Sue’s NASCAR Newsletter)(10-26-98)

(10-25-98)

Dura Lube/Kmart 500 at Phoenix: Race Results, Starting Lineup, Happy Hour, Qualifying, Practice speeds at Speedworld, GoRacing(2nd round) and, NASCAR Online. Jayski’s Provisional Page with unofficial owners points has been updated thru Daytona. Looks like 46 drivers for 43 spots, including first timer Jeff Ward in the #45 Chevy. Kenny Schrader won the pole with a speed of 131.234mph.
Rain…Rain didn’t go away: The Dura Lube/Kmart 500 at Phoenix has been rained out at lap 257 and Rusty Wallace declared the winner. Jeff Gordon did not gain 12 points on Mark Martin and will have to wait at least a week to gain his third Cup Championship. Gordon needs to finish 40th or better at Rockingham to clinch the championship or just start the car at the remaining two races.(10-25-98)
Gordon – UPDATE: Phoenix is one of only three tracks on the Winston Cup schedule that Jeff Gordon hasn’t won at. Texas and Las Vegas are the other two, only two starts at Texas and one at Las Vegas.(many sources)(10-22-98) — Still has not won at Phoenix(10-25-98)
Pre-Race Notes: #33-Kenny Schrader and #94-Bill Elliott had to change engines after Happy Hour practice. #88-Dale Jarrett has the flu and Michael Waltrip is standing by in case Jarrett needs relief. No driver starting in the top 10 at Phoenix today has won a race in 1998.(10-25-98)
Hearing rumors that Dick Trickle may quit the BGN series and has an opportunity with a competitive Cup team and wants to concentrate on the Cup ride. The team he is with at present, the #90 Junie Donlavey Heilig Meyers team is losing it’s sponsorship at the end of the year and Donlavey has told Trickle he is free to look around.(10-23-98) — According to the LTN Hour radio show, a NASCAR radio show from Milwaukee, WI: Dick Trickle will be running the Shoemaker BGN car in 1999. So which way will it go?(10-25-98)
Beverley Says NO Sell? Part III UPDATE Tim Beverley, the Texas businessman who bought Darrell Waltrip’s team earlier this year, may be selling that team, according to NASCAR sources. And a man possibly interested in buying it? Dale Earnhardt, who would not only wind up with some choice property near Charlotte Motor Speedway but also a piece in the marketing of Waltrip’s farewell tour. Waltrip has struggled the past few years and hasn’t won in quite a while, but he ran Earnhardt’s own cars as Steve Park’s sub this summer and did quite well, in a marriage that worked surprisingly well.(JournalNow)(10-24-98) — I heard from Tyler Jet Motorsports and this is the response to SELLING rumors: Despite published rumors, Tim Beverley has not had any discussions with Dale Earnhardt Inc., about the sale of Tyler Jet Motorsports. Tyler Jet Motorsports is not for sale, not closing down, and not downsizing. We are actively pursuing future sponsors as well as continuing talks with the McIlhenny Corp. Beverley is personally negotiating with Mr. McIlhenny to resolve the current situation, and we are very optimistic about Tabasco’s continued involvment in the sport. Our plans are to field a competitive Winston Cup car, as well as expand into the Craftsman Truck Series, and we are anticipating a very promising future. We have a great group of people working toward bringing this team to the winner’s circle.(10-25-98)
A little Little: Congrats to Chad and Donna Little on the birth of their daughter this week, Haley Steele Little(10-25-98)
Waltrip vs Little: Had a few questions on this. Why did Chad Little make the Dura Lube/Kmart 500 and Michael Waltrip miss the race when Waltrip is higher in points? Waltrip is higher in DRIVERS points. Provisionals are awarded per OWNERS points. Teams still get owners points when the team misses the race. When Little missed the race in Atlanta the team still got in OWNERS points, thus Little was higher in OWNERS points and got the provisional at Phoenix. See the Jayski Provisional Page which explains the rules, best to my knowledge, and the standing after Daytona. Other charts on the page are DNQ’s and who took provisionals race-by-race. Expect changes to the Champions Provisional for 1999, like a limit.(10-25-98)
Front Row? UPDATE No Cup race have ever been won at Phoenix by a driver starting from the front row.(RPM2Nite)(10-21-98) — and the streak continues(10-25-98)
Marcis to announce 1999 plans at Atlanta: On this weeks Inside NASCAR(Sunday at 10am/et also) there was a nice feature with Dave Marcis and it was mentioned that Marcis will return to Cup in 1999 and expects to make an announcement at Atlanta when the Cup series runs it’s finale.(TNN)(10-25-98)
Trickle to quit BGN? UPDATE Hearing rumors that Dick Trickle may quit the BGN series and has an opportunity with a competitive Cup team and wants to concentrate on the Cup ride. The team he is with at present, the #90 Junie Donlavey Heilig Meyers team is losing it’s sponsorship at the end of the year and Donlavey has told Trickle he is free to look around.(10-23-98) — According to the LTN Hour radio show, a NASCAR radio show from Milwaukee, WI: Dick Trickle will be running the Shoemaker BGN car in 1999. So which way will it go?(10-25-98)
Ribbs in Cup again? Willy T. Ribbs, who made a few Cup starts in the 1980s but who excelled in a variety of SCCA and IMSA road racing disciplines along with dabbling in Indy cars, was a visitor in the garage area the first two days of NASCAR activity at Phoenix. Kenny Wallace tipped that Ribbs had spent a long period of time in the front of the Filmar Racing hauler with team owner Fil Martocci, who over the last several weeks has lost his sponsor, driver, team manager, crew chief and a number of crew members.(NASCAR Online), no idea what this means(10-25-98)
Craven to Run the #36 at Phoenix: Just caught this on TNN’s Raceday. Ricky Craven will start the #36 car for Ernie Irvan in the Dura Lube/Kmart 500. See the story at GoRacing – Irvan Sits Out Phoenix Event — Craven to Wheel the #36. I had heard about this Saturday night but could not confirm it at all.(10-25-98)
During Happy Hour there were a few incidents and Bobby Labonte and Derrike Cope will have to start from backup cars.(GoRacing)(10-25-98)
The #21 Wood Brothers CITGO team will miss their first Winston Cup race since the Southern 500 at Darlington in 1971.(GoRacing) Michael Waltrip’s streak of 387 straight starts was the sixth longest active streak in Winston Cup behind Terry Labonte(600), Dale Earnhardt, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace and Ken Schrader.(10-25-98)
Kenseth Practices: Matt Kenseth practiced the #16 Primestar Ford in case he is needed to relieve sore Kevin Lepage. A driver must at least practice the car to be eligible to drive it in a race.(NASCAR Online)(10-25-98)

(10-24-98)
Second Round qualifying is over. Only four teams made an attempt and all failed to improve on speed. #21-Michael Waltip, #35-Darrell Waltrip, #45-Jeff Ward and #71-Davie Marcis made attempts. M Waltrip, Marcis and Ward failed to make the race. DW will take another Champions Provisional. See Jayski’s Provisional Page for the Provisional Standings and who had to use provisionals.(10-24-98)

(10-23-98)
Teams that failed to make the field in first round qualifying and are 26th or worse but are guaranteed(by this I mean whatever happens in 2nd round, not where things stand now) to make the Dura Lube/Kmart 500 at Phoenix based on owners points: #18-Bobby Labonte(5th in owners points); #99-Jeff Burton(6); #3-Dale Earnhardt(8); #5-Terry Labonte(9); #4-Bobby Hamilton(11); #36-Ernie Irvan(15); and yes #35-Darrell Waltrip(champ prov). The three teams that would miss the race if things stayed the same(one big surprise): #21-Michael Waltrip(18); #71-Dave Marcis(44); and #45-Jeff Ward(no points). Also three team with no provisional’s left are in the 26th or worse group and could be in trouble depending on what happens with 2nd round qualifying: #7-Geoff Bodine(26th fastest); #9-Jerry Nadeau(34th) and #30-Derrike Cope(36th). Great runs by Rich Bickle(5th fastest) and #41-David Green(9th no prov’s left). See Jayski’s Provisional Page for the Provisional Standings.(10-23-98)
Mr. Lead Lap in 8th: An update on everybody’s favorite….Mr. Lead Lap. He’s still 8th in the points at 3646, and it doesn’t look like he can catch Jeremy Mayfield. He’s got a 150 point cushion over Dale Earnhardt, so looks like he’s found his spot for the season. His highest spot in the points this year was 6th after the April Talladega race, and his low was 19th after the Daytona 500. His average finish is 14.1, and he’s got 2 Top-5’s and 10 Top-10’s on the year. And NO…..he’s not going to Japan. See Joe Fink’s Mr. Lead Lap(or Mr. X) page at Driver, Mr. X!. (Henry/Stock Car Fans Newsletter)(10-23-98)
Winless: From Henry at the Stock Car Fans Newsletter: With only 3 races left, there are still three drivers who won last year winless this season: Rusty Wallace, Ernie Irvan, and John Andretti. With Ricky Rudd sitting precariously in the final Winners Circle contingency spot, the next 3 weeks could tell the tale. The Winners Circles program is worth approx $330,000 a year to a team.(10-23-98)
Terry Labonte Going Nowhere: By nowhere, I mean any other team but Hendrick Motorsports. I get more unfounded rumors on Terry Labonte leaving Hendrick then just about anything. Anyhow this in part from a USA Today story by Skip Wood about Terry Labonte: Labonte fielded team-jumping employment offers that come his way about this time every year. A few were from some pretty good teams. But Labonte’s contract with Hendrick goes through 2000, and he “loves driving for Hendrick Motorsports, and I’d love to run with them the rest of my career.” From USA Story: NASCAR mainstay Labonte in search of more consistency(10-23-98)
Bodine Returns to the #91: Todd Bodine returns to the #91 LJ Racing Chevy this weekend and takes over the driving duties for the remainder of the 1998 Winston Cup season. Bodine and the rest of the crew are looking forward to the final three races and a good showing to close out the year. Those next 3 races provide special motivation for the team. This will mark the first time the LJ Racing team has made the trip to Phoenix but they look forward to continuing what has been a remarkable record over the past half dozen races.(LJ Racing Website)(10-23-98)
Hmm…. One interesting twist. Had the Pepsi 400 at Daytona been run in July, with qualifying times the same, the lineup would have been missing both Ricky Rudd and Kyle Petty. Their 2 provisional spots would have gone to Dick Trickle and Rick Wilson/Steve Grissom on owner’s points. What a difference a couple months make.(Henry/Stock Car Fans Newsletter)(10-23-98)

(10-22-98)
Wallace to test #55 car: Kenny Wallace, who will drive a second car next season for Andy Petree Racing, will test for the team at Atlanta next Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for the 1999 spring race there.(NASCAR Online)(10-22-98)
Bodine Stuff: Geoff Bodine recently made his 500th career Winston Cup start, which his fans can now celebrate by purchasing collectible souvenirs of the event. For further info, see the Geoff Bodine Fan Club website or call 800-796-8989.(SpeedNet)(10-22-98)
2nd Morgan-McClure team? UPDATE I continue to hear the 2nd Morgan-McClure team is in the works.(10-19-98) — also hear the team is considering switching to Pontiacs and may even enter one in one of the final two races, with a 2nd driver.(10-20-98) — I now hear there will be no 2nd team and the team will not run a Pontiac.(10-22-98)
Bodine at NASCAR Thunder: Brett Bodine will sign autographs 10-23 from 7-9pm/pt at the NASCAR Thunder store at Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix.(WC Scene)(10-22-98)
STP news: Clorox said it’s purchasing consumer products maker First Brands for about $2 billion in stock and debt. The merger will create one of the largest consumer brands companies. Danbury, Conn.-based First Brands is the parent of such products as Glad plastic wraps and the STP products. Clorox is a $2.7 billion Oakland, CA and a manufacturer and marketer of household grocery products, both domestic and international, and products for institutional markets.(CBS Marketwatch and Yahoo Biz), not sure how or if this will effect the STP sponsorship of the #43 Richard Petty team for 1999 or the future.(10-22-98)
Pontiac Aero Changes: Ernie Irvan and Tony Stewart have tested a new Pontiac nose and a rear deck, looking for more downforce. Irvan tested at Daytona and Stewart tested at Indy. Irvan said his test was inconclusive.(WC Scene)(10-22-98)
#600 for Labonte: The October 25 Dura Lube/Kmart 500 will mark special milestone for Terry Labonte as he is slated to make his 600th consecutive series start.(DaytonaUSA/SpeedNet). I have been told that Atlanta is where he will run the special Iron Man paint scheme(can be seen on Jayski’s Paint Scheme Gallery), and I have heard he will run it at Phoenix also. From SpeedNet: This weekend’s Dura Lube 500 will be Terry Labonte’s 600th consecutive start, a mark that will be commemorated by “Iron Man 2,” a specially designed version of his #5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo. (10-22-98)
Furr to stay home UPDATE 2: During the race it was mentioned that the crew chief of the #50 Bud Chevy and Wally Dallenbach, Tony Furr had fallen over the pit wall and possibly broke his leg and that Grant Dorton had taken over as crew chief. Saw in an AP story that Furr does have a broken right leg, and he is scheduled to have surgery Sunday in Charlotte, NC. Best wishes and get well soon Tony.(10-17-98) — Furr had successful surgery and plans to go to Phoenix.(RPM2Nite)(10-19-98) — Tony Furr, crew chief for the #50 Bud Chevy fielded by Hendrick Motorsports and driven by Wally Dallenbach, will stay home this weekend as he continues to recover from a broken right leg he suffered last weekend at Daytona. Ken Howes, a former crew chief for the team who now works in Hendrick’s research and development shop, will serve as crew chief this weekend.(That’s Racin’)(10-22-98)
New Car for Rusty: Rusty Wallace is bringing a new Miller Lite Taurus to Phoenix for this weekend’s Dura-Lube/Kmart 500. Wallace and his Robin Pemberton-led Penske South Team are rolling out their “PR-22” Miller Lite Ford Taurus, the 22nd Hopkins Chassis race car to come out of their Mooresville, NC shop.(SCR)(10-22-98)
Stricklin to consult for #78: Triad Motorsports(#78) owners Jim Wilson, Steve Lane and Billy Hagan have hired Hut Stricklin to serve as a consultant at Phoenix. Stricklin will serve in an advisory role for the Pilot Travel Centers #78 Ford driven by Gary Bradberry, who is attempting to make his first Winston Cup start at Phoenix. Stricklin was quick to point out that he wasn’t going to be driving the car, though he did admit that “finding a full-time ride is still my #1 priority.(SpeedNet)(10-22-98)
Five Inducted in Hall of Fame UPDATE: The late Wendell Scott, the only African-American driver to win a major NASCAR race, Louise Smith, the first woman to be enshrined, four-time F-1 champion Alain Prost, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Gordon Johncock, and stock car crew chief and car builder Harry Hyde are the five 1999 inductees to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega. The inductees will be honored on April 22, 1999.(EPSN NASCAR Page)(10-21-98) — See the That’s Racin’ article: Hall Inductees at a glance by the AP.(10-22-98)
Stacy Compton has a special paint scheme at Phoenix, a pinkish Cherry RC Cola Ford.(RPM2Nite)(10-22-98)
Darrell Waltrip?, Rick Bickle and Kenny Irwin will be three Cup regulars driving the the Phoenix truck race this weekend(Winston Cup Radio/PRN), I think they mean Michael Waltrip??(10-22-98)
Some BGN speeds from Atlanta: #17-Matt Kenseth 184.430mph; #87-Joe Nemechek 184.235; #80-Mark Krough 181.180; #77-Ed Berrier 180.473; #35-Lyndon Amick 179.800; #23-Lance Hooper 179.800; #?-Chuck Bown no speed. Kenseth crashed the #17 but was not hurt.(RPM2Nite) Mike McLaughlin also tested but heard no speeds for him(WC Today Radio/PRN)(10-22-98)
Kevin Harvick is also said to be contemplating leaving the #75 Spears Truck team, possibly for a BGN ride.(TNN Racing)(10-22-98)
Mike Wallace, may leave the #52 Kenny Schrader-owned Chevy, if he can find a Cup ride. Scott Hansen, a seven-time winner on the ASA tour this year in Schrader-owned car, could be a likely replacement.(TNN Racing)(10-22-98)

(10-21-98)
Tabasco to Move? Tyler Jet to SELL? UPDATE The StockCarFans Newsletter reports: …heard from a source that Tabasco will be pulling their sponsorship from the #35 team(Tyler Jet) for 1999 (probably no great surprise), and may put their name on another car (a whole new team)…. just rumor at this time, but fairly strong.(SCF) – Well I hear that Tabasco wants out of Motorsports and will not be back in 1999 AND that Tyler Jet is looking to sell the team now. No word on what DW may do, but as he has said he plans to drive until the end of the 2000 season.(10-21-98)
DeVane to attempt Cup: ARCA driver Harris DeVane of Cuthbert, GA., tested Tuesday at Atlanta. DeVane will attempt to make his Cup debut next month at Atlanta. His speed was 172.441 mph.(NASCAR Online)(10-21-98)
Irwin to Trucks UPDATE I hear that Barry Dodson mentioned the truck team will fix up one of their roadcourse trucks for this weeks CTS race at Phoenix and that Kenny Irwin would drive it and be the driver and Mike Bliss’s teammate.(10-19-98) — Irwin will drive the #28(yes 28) Ford with Yates engines.(RPM2Nite)(10-22-98)
Three Cup driver truck at Phoenix: UPDATE Darrell Waltrip?, Rick Bickle and Kenny Irwin will be three Cup regulars driving the the Phoenix truck race this weekend(Winston Cup Radio/PRN), I think they mean Michael Waltrip?? — Didn’t see either Waltrip or Bickle on the practice or qualifying results.(10-22-98)
Fischer hires Wilson: In part from a PR – Fischer Engineering is proud to announce the addition of John Wilson to their engine building team. Reunited after eleven years, Dennis Fischer and John Wilson will be joining forces again at Fischer Engineering. John’s backgournd includes experience at Hendrick Motorsports (1987-1988), Head Engine Builder at Sabco Racing (1988-1995), and Head Engine Builder at Joe Gibbs Racing, overseening the develpoment of their new engine facility and Winston Cup program. Fischer Engineering has continued its success through the late 1980’s and into the 1990’s. The company’s milestones include the development of the first Buick V-6 engine to complete the Indianapolis 500, several Trans Am champoinships, multi championships in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour and Winston West Series’, as well as powering Dale Earnhardt to his first “restrictor plate” Busch Clash win. Fischer Engineering also helped bring Teresa Earnhardt her first championship as a car/truck owner, powering her Napa Chevrolet to a championship season in 1996, doing so with no engine failures the entire season. In 1997 Fischer Engineering made the move to North Carolina and has recently re-entered the Winston Cup ranks with the #91 LJ Racing Chevrolet. Now, with their renewed association and combined experience, John Wilson, Dennis Fischer, and the entire Fischer Engineering team look forward to offering one of the most competitive engine programs available in all of NASCAR!(Fischer PR)(10-21-98)
It’s Labonte: UPDATE 2 – I hear Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr. will be on QVC, Thursday October 22nd from 9 – midnight/et to endorse their new cars sponsored by Coca-Cola. Now I hear it’ll be Terry Labonte and can’t info on the QVC site.(10-20-98) — Many readers have contacted QVC and have been told the featured will be Terry Labonte not the Earnhardts — Labonte will be on this Thursday, they had to reschedule the Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. appearance to Nov. 5th. The show will be held live from Atlanta Motor Speedway.(10-21-98)
Atlanta Testing: UPDATE Sterling Marlin-#40 Coors Light Chevy and Joe Nemechek-#42 BellSouth Chevy tested at Atlanta on Monday/Tuesday. No speeds given.(NASCAR Today Radio) – speeds from NASCAR Online #42-186.064mph, #40-186-853mph(10-21-98)
Sponsorship Help: NEXZUS Motorsports Marketing, Inc. launched a new Web presence on the motorsports community GoRacing. The site www.thegreatmoneyhunt.com promotes the best-selling sponsorship guide, The Great Money Hunt…An Insider’s Practical Guide to Raising Motor Racing Sponsorship which has sold over 5000 copies world-wide and has been acknowledged as the best sponsorship search tool available to help a serious racer raise the ever-necessary race budget.(10-21-98)
Ward to race at Phoenix: UPDATE: BMR Motorsports will enter the the Dura Lube/Kmart 500 at Phoenix, AZ with IRL/Motorcycle driver Jeff Ward. Ward and the team tested there two weeks ago. The car will the #45 Chevy, I hear a Press Release will come out early this week. Ron Hornaday raced with the team at California in the Winston West race back on May 2nd and finished 30th.(10-19-98) — iRACE has a full story on Wards Cup attempt at Phoenix: Ward aims for Cup debut at Phoenix, Ward will drive in a car owned by Bill Strauser of Walla Walla, Wash. Ward won the pole for the Dura-Lube 200 IRL race in March at 172.753, a track record.(10-21-98)
Donlavey Optimistic: #90 car owner Junie Donlavey, who’s been entering cars in Cup races since 1950, says he’s optimistic that he’ll be in good shape for the 1999 season, despite having no sponsor and no firm contract with a driver. He says he can’t tie up current driver Dick Trickle yet. Donlavey is staying in Richmond, despite some explorations into moving the team to the Charlotte area.(News and Record Online)(10-21-98)
Testing at the Rock: Thirty BGN teams and Four Cup teams tested at Rockingham on Monday and Tuesday. No teams or speeds mentioned.(NASCAR Today Radio), Jeff Burton was one of the Cup drivers(WC Today Radio)(10-21-98)
Green Looking: Jeff Green, currently driver of the #46 Team Sabco Chevrolet, says he is exploring all options for 1999. Green has no contract to drive next season. See the iRACE story at: Jeff Green exploring options for 1998. Money Store will not be back in 1999(WC Today Radio)(10-21-98)
Bobby Hamilton, Jr and Adam Petty tested at Rockingham on Wednesday in preparation of the BGN race there next weekend. No speeds given.(NASCAR Today Radio/MRN) Also Buckshot Jones tested at the Rock with his BGN team(WC Today Radio/PRN)(10-22-98)
Former BGN champion, Chuck Bown, will attempt to make the Atlanta BGN race in a car owned by Mac Martin, who has fielded cars in the past for Larry Pearson(#92 Stanley Tools). Bown had the 7th fastest time in BGN testing at Atlanta today.(RPM2Nite)(10-21-98)
Bryan Reffner will be driving the Ridge Gate Motorsports, #39 Chevy truck at Phoenix and Las Vegas. This is the team Mike Clark bought from Tyler Jet Motorsports(that was DW’s).(NASCAR Online Chat)(10-21-98)
UPDATE: I hear the Brewco team will Casey Atwood in the #37 TimberWolf car for the last three races and Mark Green will finish out year in the #63 Lysol Chevy for Hensley Racing. Greens plans are still up in the air for 1999(MRM) – This rumor is FALSE as I was contacted by Brewco and told it would not happen, my apologies.(10-21-98)
Thirty BGN teams teams tested at Rockingham on Monday and Tuesday. No teams or speeds mentioned.(NASCAR Today Radio) – but I found out that Philip Morris is one of those testing their BGN cars at the Rock. The team has also pushed up their program to compete at next weeks BGN race at the Rock. The car will be #84 and be painted white and blue with some red stripes. No word on sponsors at this time(Racin’ with Russ)(10-21-98)

(10-20-98)
Dodson to chief the #81: Due to a family commitment, interim crew chief David Ifft won’t be joining Wallace’s crew in Phoenix. The 28-year-old Elledge will fill in on Friday and Saturday, but must honor his 1998 commitment with Jack Roush Racing as Mark Martin’s tire changer. So Barry Dodson, who serves as Mike Bliss’ crew chief in the Craftsman Truck Series, will stay an extra day in Phoenix to fill the role of Wallace’s crew chief on race day.(CNNSI)(10-20-98)
No broken bones for Lepage: UPDATE 2 – Kevin Lepage suffered a fractured right shoulder blade in the first big wreck during the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, but says he’ll be back in the car next week at Phoenix.(10-17-98) — Lepage is feeling better and plans to make the trip to Phoenix. Matt Kenseth will practice the #16 Primestar Ford and the team and Lepage will make a decision on if he will qualify the car and take it day-by-day on if Lepage will run the DuraLube/Kmart 500.(RPM2Nite), also see the story at GoRacing.(10-19-98) — RPM2Nite reported that Lepage has no broken bones but a has a bruised rotator cuff and plans to qualify and race the car. Kenseth will still stand by in case Lepage needs him.(10-20-98)
New Crew Chief for Kyle: Doug Hewitt will leave the #30 Bahari Racing team at the end of the season to take the crew chief job with Petty Enterprises and Kyle Petty’s #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac(RPM2Nite)(10-20-98)
FirstPlus in Trouble: FirstPlus Cuts Staff, Sells Parts Of Business from the Washington Post by Caroline E. Mayer. Not sure what this means to the #13 team and the sponsorship.(10-20-98)
DW Speaks: NASCAR Online Chat Tuesday: Darrell Waltrip was in the chat today, check the at 11am/et – NASCAR Online Transcript. Some highlights(paraphrased): DW plans to be at Tyler Jet Motorsports in 1999, in the #17, in a Pontaic, hopefully with Tabasco, but it’s unsure becasue of the lawsuit, looks like 2000 will be his last year as a driver.(10-20-98)
Buckshot Done? Everything I hear or read seems to indicate that Buckshot Jones will not run anymore Cup races in 1998 and go for the Rookie of the Year title in 1999(MRN’s Marty Snider’s Notes from last week)(10-20-98)
UPDATE: Martin/Craven scuffle?: Heard this from quite a few readers – During the red flag, Mark Martin and Ricky Craven had a finger pointing, pushing match. Martin got out of his car and went right over to Craven. And supposedly after the checkers flew on the cool down lap, Martin hit right rear of the #36. Maybe that is how Craven got the flat tire at the end. No idea what caused this incident.(10-18-98) — Story at the JournalNow: REVITALIZED: Strong run has Craven ready for comeback, no mention of ‘the scuffle’ but mentioned the tire went flat with 15 laps to go, not at the end.(10-19-98) — Bascially everything I hear from many sources is that Martin felt Craven cut him off and voiced his opinion and Craven responded and the incident is over(10-20-98)

(10-19-98)
Rusty to Icehouse? Hearing many rumors that Rusty Wallace will carry the Icehouse Beer (made by Miller) on the #2 Penske South Ford in 1999.(10-19-98)
Nice story about David Green at the Peoria Journal Star by Jane Miller: Ex-Cat driver feels vindicated since release.(thanks Mark)(10-19-98)
Irvan Back? While not officially announced, everything I hear indicates that Ernie Irvan will be behind the wheel of the #36 Skittles Pontiac the entire weekend at Phoenix. Ricky Craven will be at Phoenix to stand by for Irvan in case he is needed.(10-19-98)
SABCO down to two? The current three-team operation of Team SABCO may be trimmed to two cars next year. SABCO’s #46 team with 1998 backing from The Money Store does not have a sponsor for next year and one team executive says that if they don’t have a sponsor locked in by Atlanta, then that team stands the strong possibility of simply going away next year. That doesn’t mean that SABCO officials have quit trying to secure sponsorship for that team, there have been several potential sponsors that the team has talked to but nothing firm as of yet.(MRN’s Marty Snider’s Notes from last week)(10-19-98)
Got a few email on this: The Tabasco Website just came out with a new NASCAR screensaver available free from: Tabasco Screensaver, no idea what this means for the future of their sponsorship if anything.(10-19-98)
I hear that Barry Dodson mentioned the truck team will fix up one of their roadcourse trucks for this weeks CTS race at Phoenix and that Kenny Irwin would drive it and be the driver and Mike Bliss’s teammate.(10-19-98)

(10-18-98)

Pepsi 400 at Daytona: Results, Points, Starting Lineup, Qualifying and Practice speeds at Speedworld, GoRacing(2nd Round) and, NASCAR Online. Jayski’s Provisional Page with unofficial owners points has been updated thru Talladega. Bobby Labonte wins the pole with a speed of 193.611mph and how about Billy Standridge!! Qualifies the Team Fans Can Race #47 Ford 18th with a speed of 190.565mph! Other pleasant surprises include Steve Grissom in the #96 Caterpillar car and Dave Marcis makes the show!
Speed Magazine at the Daytona Beach News-Journal has a ton of stories to check out about the first night time running of the Pepsi 400, see the main page at Speed Magazine – Pepsi 400.(10-18-98)
Jeff Gordon’s #24 DuPont Chevy may be painted with new colors next season. (JournalNow)(10-18-98)
UPDATE: Ford teams are using a new rear decklid this weekend, according to NASCAR sources, though there has been no official word of any template change in the Taurus. General Motors men are unhappy about the decklid.(JournalNow)(10-16-98) — No New Ford Decklid: Rumors of the Ford Taurus using a new trunk lid have proven to be false according to high placed sources at Ford. While there is no change to the factory stampings the teams use there is a probable change in how NASCAR checks their compliance with the templates. Areas of the templates that now are allowed 1/4 inch of variance are likely to be held to a 1/8 inch tolerance in the near future. This may be a part of NASCAR´s effort to be sure specific portions of the body are true to the centerline of the car.(Stock Car Racing Magazine)(10-18-98)
Bliss Returns: Craftsman Truck Series driver Mike Bliss returns to Buzz McCall’s #96 Chevrolet at Phoenix next weekend. Bliss drove for the team in Martinsville earlier this season. As a sprint car driver, Bliss has won Silver Crown races at Phoenix. He already will be in Phoenix for the Truck race. Steve Grissom, currently unsigned, is tentatively slated to return to the car for the final two races of the season unless he gets another ride. Buzz McCall still is weighing his options for next season. He lost his deal with Caterpillar and has been unable to secure a sponsor for 1999.(Times-Dispatch)(10-18-98)
Sammy Johns will be crew chief of the #33 Andy Petree owned Skoal Chevy and driver Kenny Schrader in 1999. Petree feels he cannot handle all the duties of being an owner and a crew chief, plus will have to watch over his new 2nd team with Kenny Wallace. Johns comes from the #96 Caterpillar team which has been widely rumored to be selling out or closing shop after the 1999 season.(in part from the JournalNow)(10-18-98)
Bill Elliott has at least one offer on the table from a Tennessee businessman wanting to buy his team, according to team sources.(JournalNow) Jayski Note: It was rumored a week ago or so Elliott may sell out, also I am sure McDonald’s would have a big say in what happens here.(10-18-98)
Crew chief Doug Richert, who has played a key role in the success of Joe Falk’s #91 unsponsored team this season, and Dave Charpentier, crew chief for Butch Mock and the #75 Remington Ford team, are two of the top candidates to become crew chief for Tony Stewart and the #20 Home Depot Pontiac team, according to team sources. Jimmy Makar still hasn’t signed a crew chief yet for Stewart’s rookie season as teammate with Bobby Labonte in the Joe Gibbs’ operation.(JournalNow)(10-18-98)
Sacks Back?: Here is some good news from NASCAR Online – Greg Sacks was at Daytona to take in the inaugural nighttime Pepsi 400. Sacks, who has been virtually unseen since his accident at Texas Motor Speedway in April, told Sean Kernan of The News-Journal, the local Daytona Beach paper, that he was putting together a deal for 1999 but was not able to say much more about it. So I checked the News-Journal Pepsi 400 section and there is a story in the Notes section: Sacks, injured earlier this year in a hard crash at Texas, put to rest rumors his racing career was over. He hopes to be behind the wheel of a car instead of behind the pits when the next 400 is raced under the lights.(10-18-98)

(10-17-98)
Happy Hour practice is over. Looks like there was rain and it got delayed for a few hours. Bobby Hamilton was the fastest at 191.346mph. During the practice, the hood flew off of Johnny Benson’s #26 Betty Croker Ford Taurus, damaging a good part of the roof. The crew couldn’t figure out exactly why it happened because three of the four hood pins were in place after the incident. The team took a hood from Benson’s backup car to fit onto the car(Orlando Sentinel). Ricky Craven drove the #36 Wild Berry Skittles Pontiac for 13 laps and then Ernie Irvan jumped in after the rain and rain 11 laps with a speed of 190.597mph which was 8th fastest. NASCAR Online says Irvan ran a few laps at the beginning of practice. Either way Irvan can now run if he feels up to it on Saturday. Looks like a race day decision. See the latest news on Ernie Irvan’s condition and links to stories at Jayski’s Ernie Irvan Site.(10-16/17-98)
Jeff Gordon won for the first time during his Cup career in October. Gordon needs to finish 32nd(NOT 37th) or better in the last three races to win his 3rd Winston Cup Championship.(10-17-98)
Two big wrecks tonight: The first invloved #’s 7, 13, 16, 21, 26, 46, 55 and 98. The #’s 7, 16 and 55 were done for the night. The second involved #’s 1, 9, 10, 23, 28, 43 and 97. The night was over for the #’s 1 and 28. Billy Standridge was the first car out with a blown motor and finished 43rd. Rain caused three cautions including the last one, which turned into a red flag. Last lap accident occurred when Jimmy Spencer tapped Chad Little.(10-17-98)
Standridge Racing has secured sponsorship for the Pepsi 400 from Competitive Motorsports, a Mooresville, NC-based company which produces a variety of officially licensed NASCAR products including calendars, desk pads and pocket planners. Independent owner/driver Billy Standridge qualified an impressive 18th for the the inaugural event under the lights at Daytona International Speedway driving the same Ford Thunderbird he competed in last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. He finished 28th in that event after sustaining damage in an accident with Geoff Bodine during the final practice session. “Last week, we had to make emergency garage repairs to get the car on the track,” explained Standridge. “We ran with a front end vibration and could not achieve maximum speed. The crew spent day and night, Monday and Tuesday at our shop in Shelby, NC rebuilding the front end of the car. The guys did a great job.” One of just a handful of “independents” left running on the Winston Cup circuit, Standridge has attempted to run six events this season — qualifying for four — including both races at Daytona and Talladega. “We are still looking for a prime sponsor,” said Standridge, “however, two associate sponsors, All Wood Machinery and Diabetes Home Care, have been with us all year. They helped bring us to Daytona.” In addition, the team has received support from The Fans Can Race program, an Internet-based fan club which sells racing memorobilia.(GoRacing)(10-17-98)
DW Wonders: “What would happen if about 15 or 20 of us were racing along and the lights went out?” he asked. “I hope somebody else thought about that.” Track officials did, of course. There’s a backup system running on generators whenever the lights are on, and that system would provide enough light if the primary system failed to allow the cars to slow down safely.(That’s Racin’)(10-17-98)
Interesting tidbit from TNN’s Motorsports site: Why have Larry McReynolds’ and Buzz McCall’s (team owner of the #96 American Equipment Racing CAT car) names been linked lately? Supposedly Larry Mac and McCall may partner-up in a new team for 1999.(TNN) More from the Stock Car Racing Mag site: Word in the garage area at Daytona indicate Larry McReynolds, crew chief for Mike Skinner’s RCR Monte Carlo could be talking with Winston Cup owner Buzz McCall (#96) team about a partnership or outright purchase of McCall´s team. McCall has said lately he is unsure of his plans for 1999 since losing Caterpillar, his primary sponsor to the #22 Bill Davis team. McReynolds has expressed an interest in becoming a car owner in the Winston Cup series. McCall´s team is said to have good equipment and a solid base of personnel, both would make the team attractive as a beginning for McReynolds. Another factor could be the prospect of franchising of Winston Cup teams, something that is thought to be coming in the near future.(10-17-98)
Four for Four: Billy Standridge of Shelby,NC is perfect in restrictor plate races this year, making the field in all four of the events at Daytona and Talladega. Standridge will start 18th tonight after his lap at 190.565 mph in Thursday night’s first-round qualifying. He started and finished 28th last weekend at Talladega. He also finished 28th at Talladega in April and 35th in the Daytona 500. Standridge, running without major sponsorship, used Ford Thunderbirds to make those four races. He tried to make the race at Texas and the May race at Charlotte in a Taurus, but failed. An Internet-based fan club called Fans Can Race at www.fanscanrace.com helps provide Standridge some backing for his independent effort. The Thunderbird Standridge will race tonight is the same one he had last weekend at Talladega. It was damaged in a wreck with Geoff Bodine in the final Winston Cup practice. “We had to make emergency garage repairs to get the car on the track,” Standridge said. “We ran with a front-end vibration. …The crew spent day and night Monday and Tuesday at our shop in Shelby rebuilding the front end of the car. The guys did a great job.”(That’s Racin’)(10-17-98)
UPDATE: During the ESPN2 Qualifying show at Daytona, Benny Parsons said that Hut Stricklin would run a couple of races in the #55 Andy Petree Chevy, didn’t elaborate on which races.(10-15-98) — I hear it’s just a one race deal.(10-17-98)
Ernie Irvan says he feels good and will start the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in the #36 Wild Berry Skittles Pontiac. Ricky Craven will stand by to jump in the car at the first caution as Irvan does not feel it’s worth risking the rest of the season and get better. Irvan will have to start from the rear of the field, which is no big deal since the car was scheduled to start 39th anyhow.(many sources)(10-17-98)
Pre-race festivities for the Pepsi 400 will include a salute to the fire fighters. Apparently, those attending the race will see footage of local television coverage of the wildfires that caused the postponement of the Pepsi 400 in July. As I understand it, there will be jumbotrons throughout DIS for those fans in attendance to watch the tribute.(StockCarFans Newsletter/Nancy)(10-17-98)
Even Though Ernie Irvan drove only a few laps around the speedway on Friday night, he still may compete tonight in his #36 Pontiac. Ricky Craven practiced and qualified the car on Thursday while Irvan was recovering from injuries sustained last Sunday in a crash at Talladega. Irvan said he will make a decision whether to race just before tonight’s event.(Orlando Sentinel). The Happy Hour move led to conjecture that Irvan would take the green in the Pepsi 400 Saturday evening and then give way to Craven at the first caution flag.(TNN’s www.tnnracing.com)(10-17-98)
Jimmy Elledge recently announced as the crew chief for the Andy Petree 2nd team, #55 Square-D and driver Kennu Wallace in 1999, will crew chief the #55 Oakwood Homes Chevy at the Pepsi 400 as well ascontinue his old job of changing tires for Mark Martin tonight. He will leave the #6 team at the end of the 1998 season.(SpeedNet)(10-17-98)
After a testing session Friday night for the first nighttime running of the Pepsi 400, several drivers concluded tonight’s race was shaping up as a multi-car wreck waiting to happen. The combination of restrictor-plate racing, a lack of familiarity with running under the lights at NASCAR’s showcase facility, and the pressure to put on a good show could create a volatile mixture. See the complete Speed Magazine artice at: Rough drafts can spark wrecks.(10-17-98)
Bill Elliott is the last driver to win at Daytona from the pole, doing so in the 1987 Daytona 500.(That’s Racin’)(10-17-98)
Also hear the sponsor for Brewco Motorsports second team and Driver Casey Atwood is signed and should be announced at St. Louis.(10-4-98) – didn’t happen(10-17-98)
#13 FirstPlus news: Ted Musgrave will drive the car for the remainder of the 1998 season(10-17-98)

(10-16-98)
2nd round Cup qualifying is over at Daytona and the field is set: Seven drivers made attempts and sixteen stood on their 1st round time. Dan Pardus was the fastest 2nd round attempt at 189.946mph which moved him up to 26th and he makes his first Winston Cup race, Congrats Danny! Five drivers missed the race including Dick Trickle and Robert Pressley(who stood on his 1st round speed or some reason). Kenny Wallace borrowed shocks and springs from the #96 Caterpillar team and got in the race. Darrell Waltrip took another Champions Provisional. Ricky Rudd took only his 2nd provisional of the year, the other? The Daytona 500. To see who missed the race and why and who took provisional and why, see the Jayski’s Provisional Page.(10-16-98)
Thanks to John Kernan for mentioning Billy Standridge and his great qualifying run on 1st round and Bill Weber talking about Danny Padus’ great run in 2nd round and making the show.(10-16-98)
Dan Pardus, driver of the Midwest Transit #07 Chevy, announced he will run 15 races next season. Pardus has attempted to qualify for Cup races this season, but has never made the field.(Times-Dispatch)(10-16-98)
Despite the rumor mill, all indications point to Jerry Nadeau returning to the #9 Mehling Racing Ford next season. According to a source close to the team, an announcement should come in the next two weeks that Nadeau, who started the year in the #13 car out of the Bill Elliott stable, will be back in 1999. Expect the same for the Cartoon Network, sponsor of the #9 machine.(TNN Motorsports Site)(10-16-98)
Rich Bickle’s crew had to replace an engine after reportedly sending the car out without any engine oil during practice at DIS Thursday Oct. 15, 1998(Speed Magazine)(10-16-98)
A “Fan Forum” — one of several scheduled in the Pepsi Theater at DAYTONA USA will be on Saturday, October 17th: A “Legends” forum is scheduled at noon with retired drivers Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker tentatively scheduled to be joined by Darrell Waltrip.(NASCAR Online)(10-16-98)
When Eric Bodine is in need of some pointers, there is no one better to turn to than cousin Todd. Eric Bodine hopes the advice he receives from his cousin will count when it comes time to qualify for the CarQuest Auto Parts 250 BGN event at the Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill. Bodine, a regular on the Busch North series, is looking to make his second career BGN start this weekend. It is his first time competing at the 1.27-mile track. See the story at: Eric Bodine ready for second start in Busch series.(10-16-98)

(10-15-98)
Teams that failed to make the field in first round qualifying and are 26th or worse but are guaranteed(by this I mean whatever happens in 2nd round, not where things stand now) to make the Pepsi 400 at Daytona based on owners points:
#4-Bobby Hamilton(11th in owners points); #23-Jimmy Spencer(12); #36-Ricky Craven/Ernie Irvan(15); #21-Michael Waltrip(16); #94-Bill Elliott(17); #26-Johnny Benson(21); and #35-Darrell Waltrip(champ prov). The five teams that would miss the race if things stayed the same: #81-Kenny Wallace(33); #75-Rick Mast(35); #41-Rick Wilson(36 and out of provisionals); #98-Rich Bickle(37); and #78-Gary Bradberry(45). See Jayski’s Provisional Page for the Provisional Standings.(10-15-98)
Qualifying Notes: Kenny Schrader is in the Black and Green #33 Skoal Chevy he drove at Daytona in February; Johnny Benson the Betty Crocker colors on the #26 Ford; Kenny Wallace has the #81 Square-D Black Lightning Ford; Bobby Labonte has the #18 Small Soldiers Pontiac again; Jeff Burton has the red #99 still on his car from the Winston 500; The #36 team has the Wild Berry Skittles Pontiac again; Rich Bickle has the #98 Gone Grill Crazy Paint Scheme on his Tbird; Mark Martin is running his regular paint scheme and not the SynPower as was rumored on this site; Joe Nemechek has the #42 Americast/BellSouth Chevy Paint Scheme; the #07 of Danny Pardus is running a Hendrick Motorsports Engine; Steve Park is using a Richard Childress Engine in the #1 Pennzoil Chevy; Rick Mast has the #75 Stren/Remington Ford in it’s purple colors. Dave Marcis is once again running a Richard Childress engine at Daytona. See all these cars at Jayski’s Paint Scheme Gallery.(10-15-98)
ESPN2 did an excellent job during qualifying, and even interviewed many of the ‘small team’ drivers like Gary Bradberry, Billy Standridge and Dave Marcis. Thanks(10-15-98)
Teams running Thunderbirds this week at Daytona are: #97-Chad Little, #23-Jimmy Spencer, #98-Rich Bickle, #90-Dick Trickle and #47-Billy Standridge. Robert Pressley who had a Tbird at Talladega has a Taurus this week.(10-15-98)
NASCAR has decided not to let Randal Ritter run at Daytona in the Pepsi 400 due to an illegal chassis. The chassis was built it wrong, so much so that they cannot even fix it at the track. ESPN2 Qualifying show mentioned that Ritter has withdrawn from the race.(10-15-98)
Gary Bradberry has not firmed up his 1999 Racing plans yet and hopes to announce something within the next 2-3 weeks.(ESPN2 Qualifying)(10-15-98)
Winston Cup Today Radio reports that the 2000(not 1999) Chevy Monte Carlo is rumored not to be ready for Daytona and may make it’s debut at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600.(10-15-98)
According to wire service reports FirstPlus Financial has entered into a Strategic Alliance with Coast-To-Coast Financial Corporation and certain of its affiliates, including Superior Bank FSB (“CCFC”). The move brought 3,000 layoffs at the corporate offices of FirstPlus today. No word on what this may do to the sponsorship of the Elliott-Marino #13 team or the rumored move of Rick Mast into the seat in ’99. Ted Musgrave, however, will drive the #13 for the remainder of the 1998 season.(GoRacing)(10-15-98)
Mark Martin is the third-quarter nominee for the National Motorsports Press Association’s Spirit Award, which recognizes sportsmanship, determination and extraordinary performance in the face of adversity.(That’s Racin’), incorrect: Kyle Petty was the 1st quarter and Jeff Gordon was the 2nd quarter nominee for the True Value Man of the Year. 1st quarter nominee for the Spirit award was Dale Earnhardt, 2nd quarter was Junie Donlavey.(10-15-98)
UPDATE 2: Speedworld has the Pepsi 400 at Daytona entry list posted. Add the #55 Oakwood Homes Chevy with Hut Stricklin driving, the 07 Chevy with Danny Pardus will make an attempt as will occasional ARCA driver Randal Ritter, from Franklin, TN, who drove the #31 HG Hills Food Stores Chevy to a 23rd place finish in February in the ARCA 200. No word on if the #’s 79 or 85 are going to make an attempt. Of course, #47 Billy Standridge will be making an attempt in a Ford TBird. Also I have heard that Dennis Setzer will not run anymore races for Bill Elliott in the #13 or #89.(10-14-98) — Ritter will be in the #68 HG Hills Food Stores Chevy, no #79 or 85. 49 cars are planning on making an attempt for 43 spots.(10-15-98)
Despite the fact that Ernie Irvan has been medically cleared to race this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, the MB2 Motorsports driver has decided that he is not ready to get in the car. Ricky Craven has been chosen to practice and qualify the #36 Skittles Wild Berry Pontiac at the 2.5-mile superspeedway this evening while Irvan’s status will be evaluated on a day-by-day basis.(GoRacing)(10-11/15-98)

(10-14-98)
CORRECTION: Buckshot Jones team tested a BGN car at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for Monday and Tuesday and had a top speed of 177.2mph. His second car is a car that has not been on the track for three months. Also the Stavola Racing Team was there with Geoff Bodine as their driver.(Rich via StockCarFans Newsletter)(10-14-98)
MBNA will move it’s sponsorship from the #22 in 1999 to Bobby Labonte’s Pontiac in the BGN and J.D. Gibbs’ BGN car. MBNA will also be the associate sponsor of the Winston Cup car of Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart.(RPM2Nite/iRACE) — Bobby Labonte will drive for Joe Gibbs in 12 BGN events and 2 or 3 BGN events for Terry Labonte in the Slim Jim Car. Terry will be driving nearly all of the races, and son Justin will drive in the events that neither Terry nor Bobby attempt.(DWS44 Online – Labonte Tribute Page(10-14-98)
UPDATE 2: Buckshot Jones will attempt three more Winston Cup races this season — Phoenix, Rockingham and Atlanta. Should he qualify for any of the three, he would lose the opportunity to run for the Winston Cup rookie of the year title in 1999.(That’s Racin’)(10-10-98) — Buckshot Jones, a regular on the BGN, said he will meet with the Stavola Brothers Monday and decide whether to run any more Winston Cup races this season with the team. A sixth start would cost him his eligibility for the rookie of the year title in 1999.(That’s Racin’)(10-12-98) — Sunday at Talladega was Buckshot Jone’s last Winston Cup race for 1998. Dividing Buckshot’s time between the Winston Cup and the Busch schedules proved to be very demanding. By racing in only 5 Winston Cup races this year, Buckshot will retain his rookie status for 1999.(10-13-98) — “Retraction”- The Winston Cup schedule for Buckshot Jones for the remainder of the 1998 season has yet to be determined. Updates will follow.(The Official Buckshot Jones Page)(10-14-98)
UPDATE: I HEAR that Caterpillar has a sponsorship announcement on WEDNESDAY!(not Thursday), And here we go, finally OFFICIAL:
In 1999, Caterpillar, Inc. will begin its fifth season in NASCAR as the primary sponsor of the #22 Bill Davis Racing Pontiac Grand Prix with driver Ward Burton. Siemens Energy & Automation, Distribution Products Division, also joins BDR as the major associate sponsor, continuing its relationship with the Caterpillar motorsports program for a second consecutive year. Burton ran 12 NASCAR Busch Series events in 1995 in Caterpillar-sponsored entries, posting three top-five and five top-ten finishes.(Press Release in part)(10-14-98)
Mark Gibson, injured in Saturday’s Winn Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, underwent surgery on Sunday at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama to set broken bones in lower left arm and has been released. Plans to compete in ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway Nov. 6.(ARCA Racing Website)(10-14-98)
Skittles Donation – Ernie Irvan will be involved in a special program with his sponsor this weekend. Skittles Wild Berry and Smokey Bear will team up together and put a one-two punch on the effort to stamp out forest fires. The M&M/Mars division, through the Skittles brand candies will donate $50.00 per lap Ernie Irvan completes in Saturday’s Pepsi 400 to the Florida Division of Forestry. In addition to the lap incentive, the company will donate $1,000 if Irvan should win the pole and an additional $1,000 if Irvan should win the race. A $5,000 check, minimum, will be presented to the Florida Division of Forestry regardless of Irvan’s results. “This is a way for the SKITTLES(r) Wild Berry Brand to help the people of Florida that were affected by the wildfires and do everything that we can to make sure they’re prevented in the future,” stated Pat D’Amato, M&M/Mars spokesperson. “With October being Fire Prevention Month, we hope others will join in this effort so that we can make a bigger impact throughout the state.” The program is in direct response to the local area that was ravaged by wildfires back in July, the same fires that forced the postponement of the Pepsi 400 from its scheduled July 4th date to this weekend. There are other, still undisclosed, plans for NASCAR to thank firefighters that put a stop to the fires that ravaged the area earlier in the year.(GoRacing), one of course is the #43 STP Pontiac will have Smokey Bear and a Thank You on the car(10-14-98)
Crew Chief Harold Holly has left Joe Bessey and Powerteam Racing to be the crew chief at Progressive Motorsports and driver Jason Keller for the rest of 1998.(MRM)(10-14-98)
I hear that David Ridling (formerly Ridling Motorsports #88) may return to the BGN series with sponsorship from Very Fine Juice.(10-14-98)

(10-13-98)
UPDATE 2: I hear that the #98 Cale Yarborough team has released crew chief Skip Eyler as of Sunday night. Also I continue to hear Thorn Apple Valley will not return as the teams sponsor in 1999. — I hear Michael “Fatback” McSwain has replaced Skip Eyler at the #98. Still no official announcement on Thorn Apple Valley(TAV) leaving but I hear they have sent out letters to TAV employees saying they will leave after the 1998 season. Also Jeff Green is under consideration as a driver for the #98 and Rich Bickle is still a candidate to return, it now looks like Bodine is out of the picture.(10-12-98) — Mike McSwain, the former crew chief for the #77 Jasper Engines Ford team, has agreed to finish out the season with Cale Yarborough Motorsports, but team manager Marlene Emery said McSwain will seek out other opportunities for next season.(NASCAR Online)(10-13-98)
From a reader: I hear on the Talladega Superspeedway Show which airs weekly in Birmingham had an interview with Dale Jarrett. Jarrett denied a 3rd Yates team and made it clear that Yates was very happy with Irwin and felt as if Irwin was on schedule to what they thought he would be at this point. RPM2Nite also reported that Dale Jarrett would probably retire from the BGN series and that his son Jason Jarrett would drive the full BGN season and that he may run Kenny Irwin in a few BGN races.(10-13-98)
Some Hut Stricklin rumors: The #81, #27 and #41 teams are possibilities. Stricklin is waiting for after his run in the #55 Petree car at Daytona to see if it will help his stock.(10-13-98)
Check out this story: The world’s fastest sport is creating a niche in cyberspace as rapidly as cities are building speedways to host races – Auto racing sites gaining popularity by T.B. Elia, which includes: “One unusual fan page is worth a visit from knowledgeable fans who want “insider” details about racing teams and sponsors. Jayski.com lists media reports that its author, a New Jersey computer programmer and NASCAR diehard, has heard or read. He notes the source of all reports(Jayski note: not all…) and confirms or disputes many of them, making his site somewhat more substantial than a gossip sheet.” Story may be short lived on the site, seeing how they have it set up.(Palm Beach Post)(10-13-98)
UPDATE 3: Michael Waltrip will announce his 1999 Winston Cup plans on RPM2Nite in Daytona, Monday October 12th at 7pm.(ESPN2 Qualifying)(10-9-98) — The #7 Mattei Motorsports team will switch from Fords to Chevy in 1999. Michael Waltrip is expected to be the driver in 1999.(Raceday)(10-11-98) — I hear Waltrip has signed and the announcement will be tonight on RPM2Nite — IT’s OFFICIAL: Announced on RPM2Nite and NASCAR Online: Michael Waltrip has signed a 2 year deal with Mattei Motorsports to drive the #7 Philips CAR. When asked during RPM2Nite about the possible switch from Ford to Chevy, Jim Mattei, didn’t commit either way, but said the team is looking at all aspects of the team to improve and manufacturer is one of those aspects.(NASCAR Online/RPM2Nite)(10-12-98) — Waltrip will finish out the year in the #21 and Geoff Bodine will finish out the season in the #7 Philips car.(GoRacing)(10-13-98)
This looks pretty official: A story at Yahoo about Thorn Apple Valley in part: “Among the first casualties of the cost-cutting process will be Thorn Apple’s NASCAR race car sponsorship, Dorfman said. He did not disclose how much Thorn Apple had spent on NASCAR, but said the company will not continue the sponsorship.” See the complete story at INTERVIEW-Thorn Apple Valley will listen to offers from October 9th.(10-13-98)
DieHard Racing has named Jeri Jones, an X-ray technologist from Jonesborough, TN, the DieHard Race Fan of the Year, the Grand Prize winner in the DieHard Race Fan contest held to honor stock car racing’s loyal and enthusiastic fans. Her award for winning the contest is a trip for two to the Daytona 500 in February 1999 and an April trip to the DieHard 500, where she will wave the green flag to start the race.(SpeedNet)(10-13-98)
TODAY: This Friday (10/16) Texas Motor Speedway and the Speedway Children’s Charities are hosting a special event, Laps For Charity. For $25 (going to SCC), you can drive your car behind the TMS pace car for three laps on the track. Thanks to Mike from Pubbers Paradise Motorsports Page for the heads up.(10-13-98)
I hear Dick Trickle and #64 BGN car owner Dennis Shoemaker has been talking about the 1999 BGN season. One issue is a possible two car team. A couple of sponsors have been talking with the team about the possibility.(10-13-98)
Look for Larry Pearson to debut in a 2nd BGN car for Buckshot Racing Pontiac at either Atlanta or Rockingham in preperation for next year.(MRM)(10-13-98)…didn’t happen
Rumor is Tim Fedewa will be a 2nd driver to Jason Keller and Progressive Motorsports next season…not sure of sponsor…hear Kleenex might possibly sponsor Keller because of certain contract obligations with Fedewa and Bace Motorsports(MRM)(10-13-98)

(10-12-98)
Scheduled for Friday afternoon at 5:45pm/et, at Daytona, is Winston’s unveiling of its bonus program for next year. Sources say the No Bull Five will undergo a bit of fine tuning, but the basic program will remain intact.(SpeedNet) — Look for the program to return next year, but for the five races involved may be a little different. We’re hearing that the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600 in May at Charlotte and the Winston 500 at Talladega will once again be bonus races, but that they will be joined by the Las Vegas race and by the August night race at Bristol. Those two would replace the Brickyard 400 and Southern 500.(That’s Racin)(10-12-98)
UPDATE: (Geoff)Bodine may be headed to the Stavola Brothers once Buckshot Jones moves into his father’s new Pontiac team with crew chief Ricky Pearson. Mickey Stavola may be getting ready to announce a sponsor for him and Bodine(SpeedNet) — I actually hear that Bodine has already signed with the team.(10-12-98)
I hear Caterpillar has signed with the #22 Bill Davis team(10-12-98)
UPDATE: Junie Donlavey assumed a new responsibility with his Heilig-Meyers team: crew chief. After losing Tommy Baldwin to the Bill Davis team earlier this season, Donlavey picked up driver Dick Trickle’s former crew chief Mike Hillman starting with the Dover(fall) race. Hillman left Donlavey Racing earlier this week to concentrate on his team. He has formed an alliance with Scott Barber, an associate sponsor on the #98 Cale Yarborough car. The duo plans to compete in the postseason race in Japan. Barber remains with the Yarborough team as well. Donlavey, meanwhile, remained upbeat about his team’s prospects. Team manager Jeff Kirk is also on the short list. This weekend is his last with Donlavey Racing.(Times-Dispatch) – Jayski note: not sure what this means with the Hillman-Barber duo being at Japan, in what?? Until I saw this story, I had not heard that Hillman had left.(10-10-98) –Team Manager Jeff Kirk of the #90 Junie Donlavey team will NOT be leaving the team until the end of the season, not after Talladega as reported a few days ago.(10-12-98)
Some interesting tidbits at Winston 500 notebook from the Alabama Online page.(10-12-98)
Bill Elliott, who has owned his own Winston Cup team for four years, is rethinking his role as owner-driver, according to Ford sources, and may be considering a driver-only role. The pressures on NASCAR’s owner-drivers, sich as Ricky Rudd, Elliott, Geoff Bodine and Brett Bodine, have become intense over the past two seasons, with the success of multi-team owners such as Rick Hendrick and Jack Roush.(JournalNow)(10-12-98)
Dave Marcis used a borrowed Richard Childress engine for Sunday’s Winston 500 at Talladega, both in qualifying and the race, and when Marcis suffered damage to his car Sunday, Childress allowed Marcis to borrow some parts needed to keep his #71 Chevrolet on the track. See the rest of the story about Dave Marcis and Richard Childress Racing at Thats’s Racin’: Marcis gets big boost from RCR.(10-12-98)
Chuck Rider said Saturday that he will soon be ready to announce a new sponsor for Derrike Cope and the #30 Pontiac. Apparently it will be from the Sara Lee Group, most likely the Jimmy Dean line of sausage and breakfast foods.(SpeedNet)(10-12-98)
Brett Bodine has regained control of his race team, according to NASCAR sources. Bodine sold a large part of his team to Andy Evans last summer.(JournalNow)(10-12-98)
UPDATE: Jeff Gordon is set to make his TV sitcom debut on Spin City with Michael J. Fox, according to NASCAR sources.(JournalNow), one of my favorite shows.(10-10-98) — Jeff Gordon said that his Spin City television appearance with Michael J. Fox will come Nov. 17.(JournalNow)(10-12-98)
Many of NASCAR Winston Cup’s biggest names are scheduled to make special guest appearance at DAYTONA USA, Daytona International Speedway’s award winning “Ultimate Motorsports Attraction” during festivities leading up to the inaugural nighttime running of the Pepsi 400 on October 17. Headlining the list of drivers is John Andretti, defending champion of the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, who is scheduled to greet hundreds of fans in an informal 20-minute Q&A session at 12 noon on Thursday, October 15. Other drivers scheduled for Thursday’s fan forums include Andretti’s car owner Richard Petty, Joe Nemechek and Brett Bodine. A full list of drivers who are scheduled for Thursday and the times they are scheduled to appear follow (drive availability is tentative and subject to change). Thurs. 10/15/98: 10am-Jeff Green; Noon-John Andretti and Richard Petty; 1pm-Joe Nemechek; 2pm-Brett Bodine. An attraction ticket is required for attendance to these forums. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors over 60, and $6 for children 6-12. DAYTONA USA features a variety of hands-on-activities and live shows designed to thrill audiences of all ages. Guest can change tires in a timed pit stop, design and video-test a stock car, and experience “The Daytona 500” ThunderRound-Sound(TM) movie. For more information, contact DAYTONA USA at 904-947-6800, or for Pole night tickets call 904-253-7223(10-12-98)
It was announced that late Model driver Philip Morris has entered the final BGN race at Homestead. Morris, a 29 time winner at six different race tracks in 1998, has combined forces with three other owners to put together a full campaign for 1999 and are actively looking for backers. The team, just last week, purchased a second DEI BGN car and will be renting a brand new hauler but have a new one on order. The crew chief will be Sammy Houston, the ex-crew chief for the Grubb Brothers of Virginia who currently campaign on the Busch tour. The team will test at Homestead at the end of October.(Racin’ with Russ)(10-12-98)

(10-11-98)

Winston 500 at Talladega: Race Results, Starting Lineups, Qualifying Results, Happy Hour speeds, Practice speeds at Speedworld, GoRacing(2nd round coverage) and, NASCAR Online. Jayski’s Provisional Pagewith unofficial owners points has been updated thru Talladega.
How about Dave Marcis pulling off a 12th place finish, awesome, even after blowing a tire and losing most of his front drivers side fender. And part time driver, Billy Standridge, was able to keep an ill handling Ford Thunderbird out of trouble and finished 28th in the #47 Team Fans Can Race Ford. Standridge’s Ford was damaged in a Happy Hour accident with Geoff Bodine and the crew did a great job getting it repaired so it could run the race.(10-11-98)
Where did the five No Bull 5 drivers finish in the Winston 500? #88-Dale Jarrett 1st(and winning the bonus); #24-Jeff Gordon 2nd; #99-Jeff Burton 10th; #3-Dale Earnhardt 32nd; and #12-Jeremy Mayfield 5th.(10-11-98)
Drivers eligible for the Winston plan at the Daytona 500 bonus in February 1999: Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Jimmy Spencer and Jeremy Mayfield. The new plan will be announced at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona.(10-11-98)
UPDATE: The five finalists for Winston’s “They Win, You Win” sweepstakes(No Bull 5), are Elizabeth Naylor of Boaz, AL; Paige Siker of Montogomery, AL; Sheila Altmann, Jamesburg, NJ; Wayne Lechleidner, Moorestown, NJ; and Carlos Vogel, Beaver Dam, WI. Jeff Gordon, who won the the Southern 500, chose the winner today Talladega. The winner: Elizabeth Naylor of Boaz, AL, congrats(10-11-98)
UPDATE: Hearing former Winston Cup driver Robby Gordon will drive in the CART(not IRL) for John Menard in 1999 if Mernard decides to move to CART and leave the IRL(10-10-98) — If Menard stay IRL, the team will probably go to one team with Robby Buhl.(Raceday)(10-11-98)
Possible drivers for the #98 Cale Yarborough Ford for the 1999 season are present driver Rich Bickle and Geoff Bodine.(10-11-98)
NASCAR’S Mike Helton says to discount those reports that NASCAR’s plan to limit the size of Winston Cup pit crews may be dying on the vine. The bulletin will be coming out in about two weeks, Helton says, with all the details.(more at the JournalNow)(10-11-98)
Kenny Schrader will run the old 18 degree chevy engine instead of the SB2 that he had problems with during happy hour.(RPM2Day)(10-11-98)

(10-10-98)
NASCAR appears to be close to a decision on new rules regarding testing. Testing has been a hot topic this year because it is widely regarded that the current rules favor multi-car teams. Each car gets seven tests, meaning a three-car team can share information from 21 test dates while a single-car team gets only seven. It appears likely that NASCAR will set up a series of tests for Ford and General Motors cars at tracks where most teams test. These would be similar to the tests at Daytona each January and would likely be at Charlotte, Talladega, Indianapolis and perhaps Texas or Las Vegas. Multi-car teams would likely be limited in the number of cars and drivers it could bring to the sessions. Beyond that, each car would get two to three additional tests at tracks of their choosing.(That’s Racin’)(10-10-98)
NASCAR inspectors cracked down hard on teams during inspection at Talladega Friday, so hard that when practice opened only a few drivers were cleared to go out on the track. Even Richard Childress was busy with the Bondo on his car’s rear. NASCAR inspectors confiscated Childress’ rear decklid, altered padding from Bill Elliott’s safety fuel cell, and fender braces from Robert Yates’ car. NASCAR had no word on possible penalties.(JournalNow)(10-10-98)
Alec Bell, a three-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who lives in Sylvania, Ala., got to visit with his NASCAR hero — Derrike Cope — today at Talladega. Bell and his family were treated to a limousine ride to the track by Cope’s Bahari’ Racing associate sponsor Jimmy Dean Foods, which serves as the national sponsor for United Cerebral Palsy. Earlier this year Cope donated some autographed caps and sheet metal to a benefit auction for Alec that raised more than $10,000. His condition has improved since he began hyperbaric oxygen treatments enabled by the donations, and Cope was elated to hear the news and to finally get to meet his special fan.(NASCAR Online)(10-10-98)
Several Winston Cup moves that were rumored to be forthcoming are not being made, and as a result, the mad rush of hirings that usually follows has not yet taken place. The linchpin was Ward Burton, who, contrary to the best efforts of John Hendrick, will not be moving in Team Hendrick’s third car. That’s because Burton has another year on his contract with Bill Davis, and Davis is not going to let him out of it. As a result, Wally Dallenbach Jr. has now been signed to drive the car, which will revert to #25 and probably pick up Caterpillar sponsorship, next year.(Monte Dutton/SpeedNet), but I continue to hear taht Caterpillar will go to the #22 and Ward Burton and the only way Caterpillar was going to the #25(/50) was if Burton was part of the package.(10-10-98)
And…Buz McCall, owner of the #96 Chevrolets, has decided to allow his sponsor out of the final year of its contract, making way for Caterpillar to move to the #22 Pontiacs owned by Bill Davis next season, a source close to the situation said. The move ensures Ward Burton will remain Davis’ driver. Burton had been rumored as a candidate for several teams next season after Davis lost his sponsor. According to the source, McCall is exploring his options. They include selling his team, merging with another team or finding another sponsor.(That’s Racin’)(10-10-98)
Chevrolet’s new Monte Carlo is still under wraps, and company officials are reluctant to give a date for its 1999 debut. Ford executives said yesterday that they wouldn’t be surprised if General Motors waited until the Brickyard 400 in August to bring out the new model, because that would allow Chevy teams to run the well-tested current model in three of next year’s four restrictor-plate tracks.(JournalNow)(10-10-98)
Ten NASCAR fans were selected this weekend as winners of the NASCAR Fan Fantasy Weekend contest. Each of the 10 winners will be offered an honorary position to help produce the season-ending NAPA 500 Winston Cup race Nov. 8 at Atlanta. The winners were selected from among 50,000 fans that correctly answered four NASCAR history questions. There were 55,000 entries in all. The winners are: Joseph Worsham of Jackson, Mich., Paula Smith-Lane of Tunkhannock, Pa., Kenneth Thuis of Highland, Calif., Kimberly Stetson of Lakeville, Mass., Terri Clark of Dover, Fla., Teresa Cawley of Carnegie, Pa., Randy Clayton of Alta Loma, Calif., Leslie Howard of Joplin, Mo., Pat Hayes of Conneaut, Ohio, and Charles Kiehl of Myerstown, Pa. The winners will fill these honorary positions: NASCAR technical inspector, pace car passenger, ESPN reporter, PRN radio reporter, Victory Lane assistant, Winston Cup Scene photographer, NASCAR Online photographer, driver introductions assistant and a drivers’ meeting assistant. Winners will also receive VIP tours of Atlanta Motor Speedway, a press conference in their honor, dinner with NASCAR personnel and suite passes for that weekend’s Grand National race. On Winston Cup race day, the winners will be recognized during pre-race festivities and perform their honorary “duties” during the race.(That’s Racin’)(10-10-98)
Kenny Schrader’s and Bobby Hamilton’s teams had to make engines changes after Happy Hour practice.(NASCAR Online)(10-10-98)
There was a three car wreck during Happy Hour involving Geoff Bodine, Derrike Cope and Billy Standridge. With less than 10 minutes remaining in Happy Hour practice on Saturday afternoon Bodine spun his #7 Philips Ford coming out of the trioval at Talladega after getting “tangled up” with Derrike Cope’s Gumout Pontiac. He suffered all the damage when Billy Standridge came through the smoke cloud and collided, nose to nose, with his car. Bodine will go to a back-up car, Copes care was untouched and Standridges team was hacking, grinding and bending the nose of his Team fanscanrace.com Ford Thunderbird to rebuild the car and preserve its 28th starting spot.(NASCAR Online)(10-10-98)
2nd round Cup qualifying is over at Talladega: Thirteen drivers made attempts and eleven stood on their 1st round time. Dan Pardus was the only driver who stood on his time and missed the race(he crashed in practice). Derrike Cope was the fastest 2nd round attempt at 193.103mph which moved him up to 26th. Six drivers missed the race including Rick Mast and Rich Bickle. Darrell Waltrip took another Champions Provisional. To see who missed the race and why and who took provisional and why, see the Jayski’s Provisional Page. Billy Standridge improved to 192.754mph and will start the Winston 500 in 28th place.(10-10-98)
Morning practice is over, speeds are mixed, some teams are faster some are still slow. Bobby Labonte was fastest with a speed of 195.656mph. There should be quite a few runs during 2nd round. Bobby Gerhart did takes osme laps but was 47th of 49 drivers with a speed of 189.838mph. Other drivers who are running slow include #41-Rick Wilson, #78-Gary Bradberry, #35-DW(but he’s safely in the race with the champ prov). #47-Billy Standridge was 10th fastest with a speed of 193.775mph in pnly 8 laps. He is running a Cale Yarborough engine this weekend.(10-10-98)
Ken Schrader left after winning the pole to fly to Pevely, Mo., to attend the opening night of a two-night Skoal Bandit World of Outlaws show he’s promoting at I-55 Speedway, which is located about 20 minutes outside of St. Louis.(NASCAR Online)(10-10-98)
NASCAR Online Truck Notes are up: Notes.(10-10-98)
Randy Tolsma will drive the #11 Phil Bonafield owned Nicklaus Golf Equipment/Red Line Oil Chevrolet.(NASCAR Online)(10-10-98)
If it rains at Sears Point during the Kragen/Exide 151 truck race, teams should be prepared to change to rain tires, add windshield wipers, and activate the taillight and defogger. Teams will given ample time to make the mods. The weather forcast shows little chance of this happening.(NASCAR Online Notes)(10-10-98)
Dale Fischlein has stepped down as the driver of the #70 Adrian Carriers /Murphy Motorsports Chevy Monte Carlo. The team will be at Gateway next weekend with 21 year old ARCA driver Eric Jones. Jones and team tested at Gateway a couple weeks ago and were quite pleased. Fischlein will probably take on the role of crew chief possibly even partial owner as he still has a good relationship with the team owners.(10-10-98)

(10-9-98)
Teams that failed to make the field in first round qualifying and are 26th or worse but are guaranteed(by this I mean whatever happens in 2nd round, not where things stand now) to make the Winston 500 at Talladega based on owners points: #4-Bobby Hamilton(11th in owners points); #23-Jimmy Spencer(13); #21-Michael Waltrip(17); #16-Kevin Lepage(19); #26-Johnny Benson(20); #22-Ward Burton(21) and #35-Darrell Waltrip(champ prov). The five teams that would miss the race if things stayed the same: #41-Rick Wilson(36 but out of provsionals); #98-Rich Bickle(37); #13-Ted Musgrave(42); #71-Dave Marcis(44); and #78-Gary Bradberry(45). Kenny Schrader gets his first 1998 pole with a speed of 196.153mph in the #33 Skoal Bandit. See Jayski’s Provisonal Page for the Provisional Standings.(10-9-98)
Some part-time drivers listed on the Qualifying Order list: #54-Bobby Gerhart, Chevy; #00-Buckshot Jones, Chevy; #07-Danny Pardus, Chevy; and of course #47-Billy Standridge, Ford. Gerhart was not listed on the practice charts and didn’t make a qualifying attempt. The #00 is 11th; #07 is 32nd; #47 is 33rd.(10-9-98)
NASCAR Inspectors took exception with the rear deck lid of the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy and confiscated it from the team. See the complete story at GoRacing: Pain in the Tech.(10-9-98)
Really bad fumes and smoke inside the #50 Bud car of Wally Dallenbach, apparently very toxic, when Wally attempted to get in twice, his face got all red and eyes tears up immediatly. Then when he went out the first time to qualify his window net fell down and he had come back in to get it fixed. Wally went out a 2nd time and shut it off, Benny Parsons said he saw a puff off smoke and during an interview, Wally said something under the hood, not sure what. He will have to try again tomorrow.(ESPN2 Qualifying)(10-9-98)
Some things noticed during qualifying on ESPN2: Kenny Wallace is running the #81 Square-D Lightning Ford; Geoff Bodine making his 500th start has a special decal on the car that says “Way to go Dutch”; GTE is on the lower quarterpanel of the #36 Wild Berry Pontiac Ernie Irvan is driving; John Andretti is running the special paint scheme planned to be used at Daytona without the Smokey the Bear and Firefighter thanks; the #91 LJ Racing Chevy is back to the dark blue and has no sponsor on the car at all; Bobby Labonte is running the #18 Small Soldiers/Interstate Batteries Pontiac; Sterling Marlin has an all silver #40 Coors Light Chevy with yellow numbers; #98 car had the Gone Grill Crazy Paint Scheme; and Jeremy Mayfield has bleached his hair(ESPN2 Qualifying)(10-9-98)
Where did the five No Bull 5 drivers qualify for the Winston 500? #88-Dale Jarrett 3rd; #24-Jeff Gordon 6th; #99-Jeff Burton 9th; #3-Dale Earnhardt 14th; and #12-Jeremy Mayfield 24th.(ESPN2 Qualifying)(10-9-98)
Check some Talladega stats at the TNN Motorsports site, Winston Cup Race #29 – The Winston 500, such as: 48 of the 58 Talladega races have been won from the Top 10 – 83%.(10-9-98)
At the Petty Page: The Petty In-Car Audio Feed at Talladega featuring Kyle Petty and John Andretti on a dedicated Raceday In-Car Audio Feed.(10-9-98)
From iRACE: Special Edition: Talladega Boycott, September 8-14, 1969: Talladega opener marred by driver boycott.(10-9-98)
UPDATE: Correction in this story from the icFlorida site: Contrary to rumors circulating in Winston Cup garages, Steve Park is not out of a ride, close to being out of a ride, or even remotely in danger of being out of his ride. The rumors are totally false. They started in Martinsville, when the Charlotte Observer quoted Don Hawk, president of DEI, about Dale Earnhardt, Jr, running a Winston Cup car in Charlotte. That was all the rumor-millers needed to get this one underway, even after Hawk held a small press conference race morning to clear up the confusion. The #1 team was built around Steve Park, he made many of the suggestions on whom to hire on the team, and many would leave if indeed he were on his way out. Plus the phone would be ringing from other owners wanting to hire the highly talented driver. If you want to judge it yourself, here’s a link to the Charlotte report that started all the fuss.(Inside Central Florida Garage Notes)(10-9/10-98)
1998 ARCA Champion Frank Kimmel is rumored to be a candidate for the #41 Larry Hedrick Kodiak Chevy in 1999. Also his ARCA team may attempt a Cup race in 1999.(RPM2Nite)(10-9-98)
Ted Musgrave let the cat out of the bag during an interview with Jerry Punch. He said he would be in the #75 car in 1999 with Yates engines. Present driver of the #75, Rick Mast wouldn’t bite and said he is looking at all his options for 1999.(ESPN2 Qualifying)(10-9-98)
ESPN race announcer Bob Jenkins mentioned during Winston 500 Qualifying on ESPN2 that Winston would have some sort of special plan like the No Bull 5 in 1999 and that the top drivers from the Winston 500 race will be a part of it.(10-9-98)
Buckshot Jones is in the #00 Stavola Bros Aquafresh Chevy with a Hendrick engine this weekend at Talladega. The Stovola Bros are talking to some sponsors and have talked to a veteran Winston Cup driver about driving in 1999.(ESPN2 Qualifying), I hear it may be Lake Speed or Geoff Bodine.(10-9-98)
I now hear Thorn Apple Valley will not return to the #98 Cale Yarborough team in 1999.(10-9-98)
Triad Motorsports has made some changes in recent weeks that driver Gary Bradberry hopes will allow the #78 Pilot Ford to become more competitive as the 1998 season winds down. Joining the team as a minority owner and general manager is Fred Turner who has been fielding a part-time BGN team since the late 1980’s and joins principal owners Jim Wilson, Steven Lane and Billy Hagan. Most relevant to the next two weekends, is the fact that the team’s Taurus will be powered by Robert Yates-built engines.(GoRacing)(10-9-98)
The #78 team has a new crew chief as Dennis Adcock takes over at Talladega.(GoRacing)(10-9-98)
ANOTHER UPDATE – IT’s OFFICIAL: I hear that Wally Dallenbach signed with Hendrick Motorsports this afternoon for the 1999 season.(10-5-98) — Per Winston Cup Today (PRN) Radio: Hendrick Motorsports denies reports that it has signed Wally Dallenbach for 1999 and still has not decided on a driver for next season. They expect to make an announcement in the next 2-3 weeks. But this is the same team that said Ricky Craven would be their driver for the rest of the season and released him a week later.(10-6-98) — Sources continue to tell me that Wally Dallenbach HAS signed for 1999 with Hendrick Motorsports to run the #25/50 chevy. I hear Budweiser may stick it out for the 1999 season.(10-7-98) — Wally Dallenbach Jr., who replaced Ricky Craven this summer in the #50 Bud Chevy will drive the car again in 1999.(RPM2Nite) also see the AP story at the WRAL site: Dallenbach to Drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 1999.(10-8-98) — From NASCAR Online: “Budweiser Racing is excited to have Wally Dallenbach Jr. as our driver for the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup season,” said Tony Ponturo, vice president, corporate media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. So that looks to me like Budweiser WILL be the sponsor of the #25/50 Chevy in 1999 along with Dale Earnhardt Jr’s limited run.(10-9-98)
In part from the Victory Lane Online Website: With races left to go, and Joe Falk is going ahead with plans to add a 20,000 square foot expansion to their new race shop. That alone indicates he has something up his sleeve. Falk has never stopped hunting for a sponsor, and says he was close to getting one. He also indicated he had been close before, but many of the major sponsor’s that he has been courting, have gone with better known teams.(10-9-98)
Budweiser is in the same predicament as Pennzoil last year. They want out of a deal that has another year left on the contract. Hendrick wants Bud to pay the remaining year and leave, while Bud just wants out clean. Who will blink first? Hendrick has a sponsor ready to sign, but does not want to let Bud off the hook that easy.(Inside Central Florida – NASCAR), Jayski note: I hear there is a possibility that another Anheuser-Busch beer may be the sponosr on the car in 1999.(10-9-98)
Everyone knows it is a done deal, but there hasn’t been a statement on Michael Waltrip’s future. However, expect an announcement in Daytona that Michael Waltrip will officially be going to the Mattei Motorsport team to drive the #7 car.(Inside Central Florida – NASCAR)(10-9-98)
Morgan-McClure should know this week, if they will field a second car in ’99. Managing partner, Larry McClure, is talking to several sponsors about the ride. Tops on his driver list is Jerry Nadeau.(Inside Central Florida – NASCAR)(10-9-98)
Yahoo NASCAR Team Power Rankings Through Sunday, October 4th.(10-9-98)
Apparently Tony Stewart was given a talking to by Joe Gibbs about his language on TV. He said the “s” word during the Indy 500, and did the same in the recent IRL race. It seems that one of the teams sponsors was worried about Stewart’s on camera P.R.(Inside Central Florida – NASCAR)(10-9-98)

(10-8-98)
The last time the Winston Cup series stopped at Talladega Superspeedway, the race produced one of the biggest wrecks of the season. Only one accident marred April’s DieHard 500 at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, but it claimed nearly half the 43-car field. The wreck, started when Ward Burton tagged the rear of Dale Earnhardt’s car on Lap 142, was wide-ranging. Twenty cars suffered damage (10 were knocked from the race) and two drivers — Earnhardt and Bill Elliott — were injured. See the rest of Jim Utter’s story at That’s Racin’: Drivers bracing for “the crash”.(10-8-98)
If Mark Martin can gain 35 points in each of the remaining races, Martin will take home the Winston title by one point over Jeff Gordon.(Bill Weber/ESPN/RPM2Nite)(10-8-98)
TODAY – Bill Elliott, along with legends Junior Johnson and David Pearson, has been voted by the fans to be inducted into the Talladega/Texaco Walk of Fame Saturday, October 10, the eve of the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. See the full story at iRACE: Talladega Walk of Fame to honor 3(iRACE)(10-8-98)
Despite the in-court efforts of The McIlhenny Co., first-year Winston Cup team-owner Tim Beverley of Tyler will conclude the 1998 schedule with Tabasco sponsorship on the #35 Pontiacs driven by Darrell Waltrip. Beverley bought the team from three-time Cup champion Waltrip in March, and merged it with ISM Racing and owner Bob Hancher in July. The McIlhenny Co., the Louisiana-based manufacturer of Tabasco, has claimed breach of contract on nine points in its bid to pull financial backing worth a reported $8.3-million.(That’s Racin’/John Sturbin/Fort Worth Star-Telegram)(10-8-98)
Chuck Gafrarar, Rusty Wallaces former Tire Specialist, took home a second place finish on Sunday night, October 3rd at the Concord Motorsports Park in his 5th start. Gafrarar presently serves as a fabricator for Team Penske. At the shop, he helps hang the bodies on the race cars. Gafrarar is known for his accomplishments in the Pro Kart circuits and Legends car series. He claimed over 15 champion titles in his kart racing endeavors ranging from National, Regional, Grand National, Indoor World and Pro Kart Champion. His accomplishments in the Legends Series include fourteen wins, a Charger Division National Championship, and the Young Lion of the Year Award! Gafrarar’s next race will be Saturday, October 17th at the Nashville Speedway, Nashville, TN, and will be televised live on TNN. See the Tarheel Racing Page for more info.(10-8-98)
Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon tested at Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex on Tuesday (10-6) and Wednesday (10-7) in preparation for the inaugural Winston Cup Jiffy Lube Miami 400 scheduled for Nov. 14, 1999. Martin ran a lap of 148.80mph and Gordon ran 148.47mph(GoRacing)(10-8-98)
UPDATE: The #99 Bill Papke owned Luxaire BGN team’s shop was broken into and approx $75,000 worth of Computers, Welder, Engines, Transmissions, etc was stolen.(RPM2Nite)(10-7-98) — It was actually the race team transporter that was broken into instead of the shop at the #99 team(10-8-98)
UPDATE: Matt Kenseth recorded the fastest time in unofficial testing at the Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex, turning in a lap of 147.139 mph on the 1.5-mile circuit in preparation for the November 13-15 Jiffy Lube Miami 300. Kenseth and Mike McLaughlin, the two drivers chasing Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the 1998 championship, were among seven drivers testing for the NASCAR Busch Series season finale. McLaughlin, the current track record holder, was second fastest with a lap of 146.659 mph – less than three-tenths of a second off his track record lap of 147.771 mph, set in qualifying for last year’s Jiffy Lube Miami 300 qualifying. Also practicing were Joe Nemechek, Dave Blaney, Andy Michner, Ashton Lewis and John Preston. Nemechek, the defending winner of the Jiffy Lube Miami 300, ran a fast lap of 146.341 mph. Blaney, a former World of Outlaws champion, turned in a lap of 145.591 mph, in his first visit to the circuit. Other drivers testing were Ashton Lewis and John Preston, driving a pair of Fords fielded by Ruark Racing. Lewis, who once raced in the IMSA Barber Saab Pro Series in the streets of Miami, ran a lap of 144.0 mph, while Preston, a NASCAR Busch North winner at Holland, N.Y., had a best speed of 142.857 mph.(StockCarFans BGN Newsletter) — Andy Michner broke his leg in a crash at Homestead yesterday, 2nd time he has wrecked Busch cars in 3 tests to date(10-8-98)
From iRACE: Diamond Ridge Motorsports, owned by Gary Bechtel, won’t run any races in 1999 unless they have sponsorship, see the story at: Diamond Ridge Motorsports searching for sponsorship.(10-8-98)
UPDATE 2: Adam Petty, the 18-year-old son of Winston Cup driver Kyle Petty, said he hopes to enter three Grand National races before season’s end. Petty, who won the EasyCare 100 ARCA race at Charlotte Wednesday night in his debut in the series, plans to enter the Oct. 17 race at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis. He also hopes to enter BGN races at Rockingham and the season finale at Homestead, Fla.(That’s Racin’), I hear he’ll be in the #59 BGN car in 1999(10-2-98) — Adam Petty will drive the #22 ST Motorsports BGN Spree Chevy at Gateway(RPM2Nite)(10-7-98) — Petty may drive for ST motorsports next year, but it would be a 2nd car, Mike Dillon has already committed to ST for the 59 car next year from what I hear(10-8-98)

(10-7-98)
Continue to hear that Caterpillar would go where ever Ward Burton decided to go, stay at Bill Davis Racing or move to the #25/50 Hendrick Chevy. Everything I hear or read says Ward Burton will stay with Bill Davis racing in the #22 and Caterpillar will come aboard. There is no rush to make an announcement.(10-7-98)
I hear Mattei Motorsports(#7) has not, and will not sign anyone until after Talladega, or possibly even Daytona.(10-8-98)
Hut Stricklin plans to race at Daytona next week in the new #55 car. The car is owned by Andy Petree and will compete in a one-race deal as part of a team with Ken Schrader.(That’s Racin’) In July the car was supposed to be sponsored by Oakwood Homes, Petree’s BGN sponsor, not sure if that is the case still. Stricklin at present does not have a ride for Talladega this weekend, which is a shame as he is from Alabama. You can see an image of the #55 on Jayski’s Paint Scheme Gallery(10-7-98)
Final speeds from the 2nd and last day of testing at Daytona: #3-Dale Earnhardt 189.514mph; #36-Ernie Irvan 189.268; #7-Geoff Bodine 188.758; #30-Derrike Cope 188.758; #3a-Mike Dillon 188.285mph; #89-Dennis Setzer 187.970(in an Elliott owned car); #13-Ted Musgrave 187.931; #41-Rick Wilson 187.032; #11-Brett Bodine 185.567. Ernie Irvan had the fastest overall speed in the #36 Skittles Pontiac with a speed of 189.713 mph(SpeedNet/RPM2Nite), see the speed chart at SpeedNet: Earnhardt turns quick lap as Pepsi 400 testing closes.(10-6/7-98)
Jamie Jones has joined the #89 BGN Team as the crew chief with Ashton Lewis as the driver.(10-7-98)

(10-6-98)
Interesting things being done for the Talladega-Daytona two step: The Mark Martin, Terry Labonte, and Jeff Burton teams built an additional speedway car. Petty Enterprises built a new car that they are purposefully leaving unpainted, if Kyle wrecks it gets painted in Hot Wheels colors, if John Andretti wrecks it’s an STP machine, if both wreck…..? Ricky Rudd and Dick Trickle are among those who will have T-Birds on the truck as back-ups. The #98 Thorn Apple Valley team will have a Thunderbird as the primary and a Taurus as the backup. Ray Evernham had sold a speedway car earlier in the year and bought it back when the Pepsi 400 was postponed.(paraphrased from Marty-MRN Notes)(10-6-98)
From David Poole’s Random Thoughts at the That’s Racin’ site: Bobby Labonte has clearly had the right stuff when it comes to restrictor-plate racing so far this year, winning the DieHard 500 at Talladega in April and finishing second in the Daytona 500 in February. Here are the top drivers (based on Winston Cup points earned) in those two races this year: 1) Bobby Labonte 355. 2) Ernie Irvan 300. 3) Terry Labonte 299. 4) Jimmy Spencer 298. 5) Jeremy Mayfield 289. 6) Rusty Wallace 287. 7. Jeff Gordon 280 (10-6-98)
Geoff Bodine goes for his 500th career Winston Cup start at Talladega. He will become the 19th Cup driver to accomplish the feat and the 7th active with 500 or more starts.(NASCAR Today Radio)(10-6-98)
This weekend at Talladega, Speed Demon will once again be the official trackside apparel for Y92FM the MRN affilate in Talladega, AL. The ARCA event on Saturday will be produced and broadcast by Y92FM. Speed Demon will be a sponsor on the ARCA event and also will have two in car radios linked back to Y92FM. One of the radios will be carried by Jimmy Kitchens not sure of the other one yet.(10-6-98)
UPDATE: I hear Roush Racing will announce soon that Hardees will come on board as an associate sponsor on most or all of the Roush Cup cars in 1999.(10-5-98) — Confirmed today for the 1999 season, will be announced soon(10-6-98)
Here is what I hear about the #98 Cale Yarborough team: The driver situation has not been decided yet, Rich Bickle could still be the driver for 1999. Thorn Apple Valley looks like they will be back as the sponsor and Yarborough is still talking about selling part of the team to three owners from the Arena Football League.(10-6-98)
Adam Petty was supposed to test his father’s NASCAR Winston Cup car at Rockingham this past Monday. The test was canceled however because PE-2 is so short of people. There has been a mass exodus over the past two weeks because all of the shop employees were told they would not be moving with the team to Level Cross, NC, home of Petty Enterprises and the stable for car #43.(paraphrased from Marty-MRN Notes)(10-6-98)
Butch Mock and Ted Musgrave are close to signing a deal that would put Musgrave behind the wheel of the Remington Ford next year. Mock’s current driver Rick Mast has expressed an interest in being released so he can pursue other options. Musgrave has driven for several teams since being released by Jack Roush. Beyond changing drivers next year it appears that Mock may be changing around his own in-house engine program. Mock is reportedly on the verge of signing an alliance with Robert Yates Racing. The alliance would include Mock leasing engines from Yates and the two teams working together on engine research and development.(paraphrased from Marty-MRN Notes)(10-6-98)
UPDATE 2: Daytona International Speedway News Release for 10/2/1998: Six NASCAR Winston Cup teams will particiate in a two-day test session Monday and Tuesday at Daytona International Speedway in preperation for the inaugural nighttime running of the 10/17/98 Pepsi 400. The following drivers and teams are scheduled to participate: #36-Ernie Irvan; #11-Brett Bodine; #13-Ted Musgrave; #30-Derrike Cope; #41-Rick Wilson; #89-Dennis Setzer. The test is scheduled for 3 – 10pm/et. A section of the Oldfield Grandstand will be open for the two-day test at no charge with access through DAYTONA USA. Tickets for Bud Pole Qualifying for the Pepsi 400 are still available through the Speedway ticket office at 904-253-7223(StockCarFans Newletter) — Some speeds from the testing on Monday: #36-Ernie Irvan 188.403mph; #3-Mike Dillon(in DE’s car) 188.363; #89-Dennis Setzer 186.761; #7-Geoff Bodine 186.413; #30-Derrike Cope 186.146; #13-Ted Musgrave 185.529; #41-Rick Wilson 185.414 and #11-Brett Bodine 184.995.(SpeedNet/RPM2Nite)(10-5/6-98)
After sitting out the last year from his NASCAR Slim Jim-All Pro Series effort in 1997, 32 year old Atlanta, GA resident, Steve Allison – nephew of NASCAR icons Bobby and Donnie Allison and cousin of Davey and Clifford Allison – is looking to 1999 for his re-entry into the sport he knows and loves. “With the new generation of drivers from all of the premier families in motorsports making such an impact, it’s a shame that the Allison family name is not being represented,” Steve recently stated. He continued, “Therefore, my Uncle Bobby, Brother Tommy and I, through our marketing team at Adalio/Roussel & Associates, Inc., have aggressively been pursuing sponsorship for our team in hopes of solidifying a program for the upcoming 1999 season.” Currently, there are a number of potential sponsors that are interested in capitalizing on the combined benefits of the extraordinary history of the Allison family and the tremendous growth of NASCAR racing. Dean Roussel, President of Adalio/Roussel & Associates, Inc. stated, “This sponsorship opportunity is unique in several ways. First, as with all Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series Sponsorships, it provides an entry-level situation for companies interested in achieving high visibility to the lucrative and loyal NASCAR audience. Second, it links the well established and highly merchandisable Allison name to the company and third, it provides a very credible stepping-stone to a Winston Cup program in the not too distant future.” The staff at Adalio/Roussel & Associates, Inc. has developed a complete sponsorship program for the Allison team that incorporates not only the standard logo representation on the car, transporter and other team equipment, but also provides for increased on-site visibility, hospitality, and wholesale and retail value-added programs as well. John Adalio, Vice President of Adalio/Roussel & Associates, Inc. added, “Although we have made a number of formal presentations that have been well received and are progressing nicely, we are keeping every option open. Steve Allison, with the full support of his family, is preparing himself and his team for next year and we are talking to anybody who appreciates the superior driving skills of this young man and the exceptional marketability of his family’s legacy.” Interested sponsors and/or teams who are looking for a first-class driver with a high degree of marketability should contact John Adalio or Dean Roussel at Adalio/Roussel & Associates, Inc.(401) 455-0300.(PR)(10-6-98)
Ron Parker, Owner/President of Parker Racing announced that he and driver Mike Dillon will end their 3-year relationship following the end of the 1998 season. Parker Racing, which fields the #72 Detroit Gasket/MGM Brakes Chevrolet Monte Carlo, is in their 10th year as Owner/Sponsor in the BGN series.(Parker PR)(10-6-98)

(10-5-98)
UPDATE: I hear Loy Allen may get a one(or two) race deal to drive for the #91 LJ Racing Chevy team at Talladega and/or Daytona.(9-22-98) — HEARD WRONG: Andy Hillenburg will drive the #91 LJ Racing Chevy at Talladega and Daytona.(WC Today Radio)(10-5-98)
I hear that Siemens, associate sponsor on the #96 will follow Caterpillar to whatever team it moves to, which I still hear is the #22 Bill Davis team(10-5-98)
I hear that #96 team owner, Buz McCall has told his employees to start looking for other jobs and that he’s supposed to race the new Corvette GT-2 in world-class sports car events with driver Ron Fellows.(10-5-98)
I hear that the #77 will share info(Aero and Wind Tunnel) with the #75 and #90 teams in 1999. Much like many single car teams are doing this year(#10 and #90, #21 and #23, #81 wit the #’s 13 and 94)(10-5-98)
Per the StockCarFans Newletter(link below): Michael Waltrip will announce at Daytona that he will drive the #7 Philips Ford in 1999.(10-5-98)
Rodney has posted The Mathmatics of the Championship Race.(10-5-98)
Following Sunday’s race, NASCAR officials — including Winston Cup director Gary Nelson — called Hendrick Motorsports president John Hendrick and Tony Furr, crew chief of Hendrick’s No. 50 Chevrolet, to the NASCAR hauler for a meeting to discuss an incident during the race. According to a NASCAR source, the No. 50 crew wanted to move to a vacated pit stall during the race, asked for permission but started moving their equipment before NASCAR approved the move. Hendrick and Furr were admonished to follow NASCAR directives in the future, the source said.(That’s Racin’ Notes)(10-5-98)
UPDATE 2- OK Which is it? Tim Stephens of Liberty Racing announced that crew chief Doug George will be the team’s driver for the Sears Point road course in two weeks(now this coming week). There was no word as to who will fill the role of crew chief, and Stephens said he’s open to offers. George is currently 42nd in driver points with four starts in the series this year. He is a former NASCAR Winston West Series and Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring, champion.(RacingPR)(9-27-98) and….Randy Tolsma will drive the #84 Truck at Sears Point Raceway and plans to make an announcement on future plans soon.(Inside NASCAR/TNN)(10-4-98) — sources tell me it’ll be Doug George. NASCAR Online has posted that Doug George will drive the truck at Sears Point.(10-5-98)

(10-4-98)

UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte. Race Results, Happy Hour results, Starting Lineups, Qualifying Results and Practice speeds at Speedworld, GoRacing(2nd Round) and, NASCAR Online. How about that, Derrike Cope pulls off the upset and wins the pole, just the kind of luck the #30 Gumout team and Cope need. Cope’s speed was 181.690mph.
Some Race Notes from the UAW-GM 500: The race was red flagged on lap 94 when a sewage pump on U.S. Highway 29, which runs in front of Charlotte Motor Speedway, temporarily shut down Sunday afternoon, causing a line backup. The malfunction caused an overflow from a manhole located in the East Grandstand on the backstretch of CMS, and the overflow made its way onto the race track causing a slick condition for the cars, the red flag lasted 40 minutes or so; The #3 looked like the old Earnhardt espicially with the old paint job back(No more red Plus) until the big wreck; Wow, lap 202 a Talladega/Daytona-like wreck broke out when he #18 of Bobby Labonte spun(just spun out, didn’t blow an engine) involving the following teams: #10-Ricky Rudd; #12-Jeremy Mayfield; #2-Rusty Wallace; #5-Terry Labonte; #3-Dale Earnhardt; #31-Mike Skinner; #40-Sterling Marlin; #7-Geoff Bodine; #28-Kenny Irwin ; #24-Jeff Gordon(very slight damage on left rear 1/4 panel); and #99-Jeff Burton, amazing how Ernie Irvan just barely missed hitting the #18. Ward Burton’s 2nd place finish was his first top 5 in 85 races. I have updated Jayski’s Stat Page and Jayski’s Provisional Page.(10-4-98)
According to Waddell Wilson, vice president of racing operations for Mattei Motorsports, NASCAR is considering limiting the number of tests for each team. Each car is currently allowed seven independent tests per season, meaning that Jack Roush’s five-car team essentially has 35 tests. The proposed rules change would allow each car three independent tests, with the potenital for four more manufacturer’s tests.(Times-Dispatch)(10-4-98)
UPDATE: During the BGN race the announcers (Ken Squier, Buddy Baker and Darrell Waltrip) mentioned that Dale Jarrett would ‘retire’ from the BGN series at the end of the season and concentrate on Winston Cup in 1999.(TBS), (10-3-98) — Dale Jarrett’s son Jason will be taking over the driving duties of the #32 DAJ Racing team for the ’99 season. The team is actively seeking sponsorship to run a full season, but will run as many events as sponsorship levels allow. Jason has put together some good runs so far this year. In 11 starts this year, he has 4 top 20’s and a total of 14 BGN starts in his short career.(10-4-98)
Francis Flock, widow of former NASCAR champion Tim Flock, received a check for $67,584.69 on Friday for a trust fund set up to honor her late husband’s memory. Darrell Waltrip presented the check to Flock Friday afternoon during his ninth annual fan club celebration at his shop near Charlotte Motor Speedway. Diecast models of the car Waltrip drove at Darlington were sold to raise money for the family of Flock, who lost his battle with cancer this spring. Race fans and other race teams also contributed to the donation given to Flock’s widow on Friday.(That’s Racin’)(10-4-98)
I hear Frank Leisson, former chief engine builder at Bill Davis Racing(#22 MBNA Pontiac) resigned Friday. No idea of his plans, he had been with team for eight or nine years.(10-4-98)
Bruton Smith, by moving his Indy Racing League event to May 1 next year, is giving Indy’s Tony George a big boost with the flagging IRL. In effect, Smith and Humpy Wheeler will be the advance team for the Indy 500. And the fate of the IRL is in some jeopardy. There has been speculation in the Winston Cup garage that NASCAR itself might be taking over the IRL and putting that league under its impressive corporate umbrella.(Mike Mulhern/JournalNow)(10-4-98)
Rain could be a problem today at Charlotte today. The Derrike Cope and Jerry Nadeau teams had to change engines this morning. The race is blackedout in Charlotte because there are 10,000 unsold tickets, that’s not good(10-4-98)
Jay Guy has replaced Bobby Guilbranson as the crew chief for Hermie Sadler’s #29 Chevrolet in the BGN.(That’s Racin’)(10-4-98)
Dale Jarrett’s son Jason will be taking over the driving duties of the #32 DAJ Racing team for the ’99 season. The team is actively seeking sponsorship to run a full season, but will run as many events as sponsorship levels allow. Jason has put together some good runs so far this year. In 11 starts this year, he has 4 top 20’s and a total of 14 BGN starts in his short career.(10-4-98)

(10-3-98)
#96 owner Buz McCall lost his sponsor recently when Caterpillar began eyeing more successful teams in the garage. As McCall begins to search for a new source of money, he has little to offer, at least on the major points. Although most of his team is in place, the No. 96 car has had eight drivers this season.(in part from the Times-Dispatch)(10-3-98)
Sources tell me Chris Hussey will NOT become the new crew chief of the #44 Hot Wheels PE2 Pontiac and Kyle Petty.(10-3-98)
Strange things happening over at Petty Enterprises2. It was expected that half of the team would move at seasons end with the team to Level Cross, to be a part of the Petty Enterprises. However, crew chief Bobby Kennedy was informed before Martinsville that he nor anyone else would be moving with the team. Kennedy then apparantly informed the crew guys, some of which left the team. Glenn Funderburk, a general mechanic quit nearly on the spot. The PE2 team could look pretty bare by the time Atlanta roles around. The new crew chief is expected to be Chris Hussey, the son-in-law of Dale Inman who is the Petty Enterprises team manager.(Garage Note from Inside Central Florida)(10-3-98)
Although everyone denies it, sources tell me(not sure who me is) say that Thorn Apple Valley will not be back as sponsor on Cale Yarborough’s Ford’s in ’99. Yarborough is talking to investors, so there might be partners in his team before season’s end.(Garage Note from Inside Central Florida)(10-3-98)
#90 Owner Junie Donlavey says he is close to signing a sponsor. Other teams have made him offers to merge or sell — proposals he has kindly but firmly rebuffed. After half a century in the sport, the Richmond, Va.-based owner has no doubt that a sponsor will be signed in the coming weeks.(in part from the Times-Dispatch)(10-3-98)
Brian France, senior vice president of NASCAR, along with seven-time Winston Cup champion Richard Petty, will present a donation for $50,000 to country music star Willie Nelson during tonight’s Farm Aid benefit concert at the New World Amphitheater located outside of Chicago (6pm-midnight/et, Country Music Television). The concert is held each year to raise public awareness about the plight of the American family farmer and provide assistance to those families whose livelihoods are dependent upon agriculture.(That’s Racin’)(10-3-98)
UPDATE: Noticed the #91 LJ Racing Chevy was mostly red(actually a florescent orange color) in a shot on RPM2Nite from Charlotte, see image of the red car at www.fanscanrace.com.(10-1-98) — ok, it’s Day-Glo Orange, and from what I hear is that it was repainted to make the car more visible.(Victory Lane Online(10-3-98)
Sunday’s pre-race program at Charlotte will be billed as a Showdown at Charlotte featuring Batman and The Joker with the frontstretch transformed into Gotham City.(NSSN), Of course the Batman car will be the #88 with Dale Jarrett and the Joker car will be the #28 with Kenny Irwin, Jr as the driver.(10-3-98)
Not sure why, but Sterling Marlin did not participate in the Saturday AM Winston Cup practice.(10-3-98)
In a JournalNow story, Gordon set for five Busch races next year, Tony Libertti and Wally Dallenbach from Hendrick Motorsports say there are tricks to keeping a driver cool. Thought it was interesting after the Martinsville meltdown.(10-3-98)

(10-2-98)
UPDATE 2: I hear the new M&M’s #36 Pontiac design is supposedly complete and approved. The scheme will be simliar to what Ernie ran at Vegas. I hear that there will be a press conference on Friday, October 2nd to announce the 1999 change from Skittles to M&M’s in Charlotte.(8-30-98) — TNN’s Raceday reports that this announcement will happen as I hear, I also hear the announcement will take place at Ernie’s ranch/home.(9-27-98) — RPM2Nite had the Ernie Irvan/MB2 Press Conference/Barbecue on the show and it’s now Official, M&M’s will be the sponsor in 1999 thru 2001. The #36 Pontiac is similar to the Vegas car, the differences I could see was that it has M&M’s on the front in various areas and the number 36 is more rounded sort of like the Wild Berry car.(RPM2Nite)(10-2-98)
UPDATE: Here are a few highlights from the Gordon-Evernham Motorsports press conference in Harrisburg, NC today: Jeff Gordon will run in 5 BGN races in 1999: Both Charlotte races, Texas, Las Vegas, and Michigan. All are on the Saturday of a WC race weekend. Ricky Hendrick will race in other events (not the full season schedule). For Ricky, Gordon said that they just want him to qualify, stay out of trouble, and learn as much as he can. See the story on Jeff Gordon Online(by Larry), Ricky Hendrick, son of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, will drive 5 short track events, including Richmond and South Boston. Other drivers and dates could be announced later. Pepsi of course will be the sponsor of the #24 Chevy, associate sponsorship also from Fritos and Hasbro. See images and full stories at Gordon-Evernham Motorsports Unveil ’99 BGN Carand The Stock Car Racing Magazine Site.(10-2-98)
I hear Caterpillar will make an announcement what team it’ll sponsor in 1999. Rumors I have heard and posted include: staying with the present #96 Buz McCall team; going to the #22 Bill Davis Pontiac and driver Ward Burton(the strongest rumor); and going to the #25/50 Hendrick Motorsports Tony Furr crew chiefed team(seems to be the front runner now).(10-2-98)
The #50 Budweiser car of Hendrick Motorsports is a prime ride. There are plenty of people who will whisper that Wally Dallenbach doesn’t stand a chance of keeping that seat in ’99. Don’t be so sure. According to a source close to the team, their chemistry is coming together. The first association that has to work is that between driver and crewchief, and that seems to working well with Tony Furr and Dallenbach. See more good NASCAR notes and images from Charlotte at TNN’s Motorsports site at: Slouching To The Season’s End.(TNN-www.country.com)(10-2-98)
The Winston Cup Scene reports that Larry Hedrick Motorsports has offered the #41 Kodiak Chevy ride to David Green for the 1999 season. Green has not made a decision about the 1999 season yet. Green will drive the car for the rest of 1998 with the exception of Talladega and Daytona. Rick Wilson will run the #41 at those races.(10-2-98)
Some Announcements/Functions scheduled today: Ray Evernham and Jeff Gordon have an 11am/et news conference to announce details of their plans for a BGN team of their own next year. Gordon will drive the car in several races, with another driver in the others. This evening, Ernie Irvan is hosting a media event at his farm to announce his sponsor is changing from Skittles to M&M’s. Darrell Waltrip will hold his annual fan club event at his team’s shop near the speedway, and Mattei Motorsports is also hosting an event at its shop in the same neighborhood.(That’s Racin’)(10-2-98)
Rick Wilson will drive the #41 Kodiak Hedrick Racing Chevy at Talladega and Daytona.(JournalNow)(10-2-98)

(10-1-98)
2nd round Cup qualifying is over at Charlotte: Nine drivers made attempts, Dick Trickle was the fastest 2nd round attempt at 177.795mph which moved him up to 35th and dropped #75-Rick Mast into the provisional mix. Five drivers missed the race. Darrell Waltrip took another Champions Provisional. Sadly Dave Marcis missed the race. To see who missed the race and who took provisional and why, see the Jayski’s Provisional Page.(10-1-98)
Don’t forget to check out the http://www.tbssuperstation.com website for info, RaceCams the Batman and Robin showdown.(10-1-98)
Speeds are slower in both AM practices. Jimmy Spencer was fastest at 176.759mph in the 1st AM practice, which would had been 41st fastest in 1st round qualifying. Geoff Bodine was fastest in the 2nd AM practice, with a speed of 176.516mph, would have been 42nd fastest yesterday. This does bode well for some the teams 37th and worse. 2nd round comes up at 1:30pm/et.(10-1-98)
A FOLLOW-UP: On the most recent(9-30-98) Winston Cup Today Radio program, Darrell Waltrip dispelled the DEI rumor(that I posted) and said 1999 would not be his last season. He said that if he does have a farewell tour it may be in 2000 if at all.(10-1-98)
The Petty Page will bring In-Car Audio on race day for Kyle Petty and John Andretti for the UAW-GM 500 on Sunday.(pettypage.home.mindspring.com)(10-1-98)
Derrike Cope, Pole winner for Sunday’s UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte, will drive the IWX Motor Freight Pontiac BGN car at the upcoming STIHL 300 race at Atlanta on November 7. Xpress Motorsports recently announced the limited campaign in 1999 with Cope. Cope and Fuge have a long history both beginning their career in the northwest. Cope and Fuge came east together in 1987 at the beginning of Cope’s Winston Cup career. While both have enjoyed considerable success in different directions, the timing was right for them to get back together. The taupe-colored Pontiac will hit the track on Friday, November 6 for qualifying determining a starting spot in Saturday’s race at the state-of-the-art Georgia facility. The STIHL 300 is the next-to-last race of the 1998 BGN campaign.(XPress PR)(10-1-98)
Adam Petty, Kyle’s 18-year-old son, opened a new phase of his young career with a victory in the ARCA 100, his first ARCA race and his first race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(JournalNow)(10-1-98)
Once Again: The newly formed Grand National team of Gordon-Evernham Motorsports — owned by Brooke Gordon, wife of Winston Cup driver Jeff Gordon, and Jeff Gordon’s crew chief, Ray Evernham — has a press conference planned for Friday at their new shop in Harrisburg. The team plans to unveil its new car, announce sponsorship and its race schedule for next season.(That’s Racin), #24 Pepsi(diet?) Chevy with possibly Ricky Hendrick driving a few races along with Gordon(10-1-98)
Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace, who will be Cup teammates in 1999 at Andy Petree Racing, will join as owners of a BGN car for the 10-17 Carquest 250 at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill. Driving the car will be Scott Hansen, who pilots Schrader’s car in ASA events. The blue and yellow #12 Graybar/Bussmann Chevrolet will appear only at the second annual visit for the BGN at Gateway.(NASCAR Online)(10-1-98)
Hearing that Nabisco is rumored to be the sponor of the new 2nd team for James Finch and driver Randy LaJoie(10-1-98)
Late Model driver Philip Morris has had a record year of 28 wins at six different race tracks in 1998. The Ruckersville, Va. driver has teamed up with local businessman Calvin Spencer to move up to a NASCAR Busch effort. They have recently purchased a ready-to-go ex-Dale Earnhardt Jr. #3 Monte Carlo with a spare engine as a good start. The No. 01 Chevy team is currently putting together the rest of the pieces for a full season next year and an entry in the Busch finale at Homestead, FL(Racin’ with Russ, Daily News Leader, Staunton, VA)(10-1-98)
Jay Sauter will continue as driver of the Richard Childress Racing #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy Craftsman Truck in 1999, the team announced Wednesday. See full story at iRACE: Sauter confirmed in RCR ride next year(10-1-98)
Hey got some Kat news! Kat Teasdale is excited about driving for DK Ulrich in 1999. A formal announcement is expected very soon detailing sponsorship and who will be crew chief for the Busch Grand National Team. She completed testing at the 1.25 mile Gateway International Raceway during General Motors open test days last week. Kat says, “I’m very excited about working with DK Ulrich who gave Ernie Irvan, among other drivers, their start in racing. Testing at Gateway went really well and I’m looking forward to putting together a top notch team and going after the Rookie of the Year title in 1999.”(Kat Teasdale Webpage)(10-1-98)