October 2001 CTS Archive

• Lester to drive for Hamilton: Bill Lester will be Dodge Motorsports’ driver in the CTS in 2002. Lester, 40, an engineer who made a late career switch to professional motorsports after a long stint in amateur road racing, has six career starts in the CTS and will run for the CTS Raybestos Rookie of the Year in 2002 while driving for Bobby Hamilton Racing. Reportedly, in the original driver tryout for the diversity seat, Lester was the quickest candidate who tested at Nashville Speedway USA, but Dodge opted to go with the more well-known Willy T. Ribbs.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(10-31-2001)
• New Dodge Unveiled: Dodge Motorsports on Friday unveiled the racing version of its new 2002 model Dodge Ram 1500 truck, which will compete in the CTS beginning next season. The truck’s new look closely mirrors the redesigned 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 that went on sale last month. The new Ram features more “big rig” styling, a larger grille and a more-pronounced crown effect on the hood that slopes to the front fenders. NASCAR approved the truck for competition on Oct. 17.(That’s Racin’)(10-27-2001)
• Gaughan and NAPA in 2002: Brendan Gaughan and Orleans Racing have signed a contract with NAPA AUTO PARTS as their major sponsor for the upcoming 2002 CTS season. Flying the NAPA blue and gold banner on his new Dodge Ram truck, Gaughan, the reigning Winston West Champion, will enter into a full year of CTS competition(Orleans Racing PR)(10-25-2001)
• Biffle wins Phoenix: #99-Greg Biffle won the CTS race at Phoenix, with #24-Sprague was 2nd, and #14-Rick Crawford was third. Sprague will clinch his third series championship by simply starting the series’ final race next Saturday at California. He also won titles in 1997 and 1999.(10-26-2001)
• Compton on pole at Phoenix: #92-Stacy Compton’s lap at 127.700mph earned him the pole for Friday’s Silverado 125 CTS race at Phoenix International Raceway (ESPN2). Series points leader #24-Jack Sprague was second, followed by #14-Rick Crawford. #46-Dennis Setzer and #52-Ken Schrader in the top five. See That’s Racin’ for the Chevy Silverado 150 lineup(10-25-2001)
• Crafton to Double up at Phoenix: #88-Matt Crafton will perform double-duty for the second time this season, competing in both the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series and the Truck Series events at Phoenix International Raceway. Crafton competed in the Featherlite event at Pikes Peak International Raceway on May 20 where he qualified 23rd and finished 6th. Crafton also finished 6th in the truck race that same day.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(10-24-2001)
• Stefanik wins championship: 1999 CTS Rookie of the Year Mike Stefanik recently won the Featherlite Modified Tour Championship in Thompson, CT by finishing 2nd in the season finale to Ted Christopher. It was Stefanik’s 5th Mod Series Championship, and 7th NASCAR Touring Championship overall. No word on Stefaniks 2002 plans(Mod Series Scene)(10-24-2001)
• Musgrave wins at Las Vegas: #1-Ted Musgrave passed Jack Sprague with 17 laps remaining and went on to win the NASCAR Truck series Orleans 350 on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. See That’s Racin’ for NASCAR Truck series Orleans 350 results(10-14-2001)
• Pit Challenge: hearing that the crew of the #1 Musgrave team won the Pit Crew Challenge in Las Vegas(10-13-2001)
• #02 News UPDATE: Roadrunner Motorsports and driver Jim Inglebright will announce plans for 2002 sometime next week(10-13-2001)
  UPDATE: Jelly Belly and Jim Inglebright have announced they will be part ways at seasons end. Inglebright has run the past two years with Jelly Belly on a limited basis and was hoping to go full time in 2002. “This was a decision predicated more on the new direction with our advertising program, ” said Robert Simpson, president and chief operating officer for the Jelly Belly Candy Co. “It had nothing to do with Jim and the performance of the team. In fact, we exceeded all of our marketing objectives these last four years. .Above all, we consider Jim to be family and will always root for his success.” The Jelly Belly Candy Co. first came on board with Inglebright and the Roadrunner Motorsports team back in 1998 when Inglebright was running part time in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series. He won three times with Jelly Belly as primary sponsor, twice at the Sears Point Raceway in 2000 and 2001 and once at the Phoenix in 1999, a place where Inglebright made his CTS debut. Inglebright also claimed victory in the inaugural NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series event at the Pikes Peak International Raceway. Simpson and other officials at the Jelly Belly Candy Co. are assisting Inglebright and his Roadrunner Motorsports team to secure sponsorship for next year and beyond. They have written a letter of recommendation to anyone interested in associating themselves with the team. Inglebright says he is looking at several options for next year. “My future is up in the air right now,” said Inglebright, who has competed in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series since 1993. “I would like to stay in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series or try the Busch Series, if possible. But if nothing comes up, I will probably be a spectator next year. We still have two races to go under our agreement with Jelly Belly and I’m very optimistic about these last two races of the season, I’m starting to understand these trucks and how to drive them the way they need to be driven. We’re running good and Rodney Haygood, my crew chief and I are working better together.(Roadrunner Motorsports PR)(10-18-2001)
• Rose to honor Victims: CTS rookie Brian Rose will be racing for a different reason Sunday, October 14, as he pilots the #51 Sunclear Energy Chevy around Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Orleans 350. Rose, currently 24th in championship points after joining the series midway through the season, will be donating his prize money to the New York Firefighters Disaster Relief Fund and the American Red Cross. Rose’s Chevrolet Silverado will carry the logos of the New York Fire Department and the American Red Cross on his race truck’s hood and tailgate. Sunclear Energy, a developer and operator of gas and oil properties and sponsor of Rose’s Chevrolet, will donate an additional ten dollars for each lap Rose completes in the 150-lap race. Efforts are under way to get as many other teams as possible to participate with sponsor donations. Rose is joining an effort of his hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky, which has named October 26 “Bowling Green Salutes America” day. “Just about everybody in Bowling Green will be wearing patriotic shirts and gathering on the downtown square,” he said. “The money they raise will go to the Firefighters fund and the Red Cross as well.”(PR)(10-10-2001)
• Cook to stay with the #29? Terry Cook, who sits eighth in the points race with five top-fives and 14 top-10s, should be back with the #29 Ford in 2002, according to team co-owner Kay Keselowski. Keselowski said Cook’s return hinges on an announcement — which should come this week — from primary sponsor Power Stroke Diesel, which came on board mid-season(Daytona Beach News Journal)(10-10-2001)
• Hornaday back to the CTS? A new rumor has Ron Hornaday leaving his [#14] Winston Cup ride to return to his Craftsman Truck roots. With Scott Riggs departing the #2 Dodge CTS ride after this season to move into the #10 BGN ride, Hornaday has been mentioned as taking Riggs spot.(NASCAR.com)(10-9-2001)
• Kvapil wins at Texas: #60-Rookie Travis Kvapil won the Silverado 350 Friday night for his first NASCAR Truck series victory, taking the lead with six laps left when #2-Scott Riggs (finished 13th) slowed because of a flat tire. #14-Rick Crawford was 2nd and #24-Jack Sprague was 3rd. #24-Sprague remains in the points lead with three races left. Sprague now leads #18-Joe Ruttmann by 64 points (3240 to 3176) and #2-Riggs by 88 points. See That’s Racin’ for Silverado 350 Truck series results and a column: Kvapil scores first Truck win (10-5-2001)
• Riggs wins pole at Texas: #2-Scott Riggs set a track qualifying record with a lap at 181.953mph Thursday to earn the pole at Texas Motor Speedway. #1-Ted Musgrave, #17-Ricky Hendrick, #50-Jon Wood and #99-Kyle Busch round out the top five. See That’s Racin’ for the NASCAR Silverado 350 lineup(10-4-2001)
• #63 gets help: Veteran NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series crew chief, Gary Showalter, will work with the #63 Waterloo Tool Storage Ford Truck team during the remaining 2001 race schedule. Gary will apply his chassis and suspension expertise to the #63 Ford truck to assist driver Larry Gunselman motor around Texas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and California Speedway. Showalter has worked with drivers Butch Miller, the late Kenny Irwin Jr., Terry Cook, and Randy Tolsma.(Trackside Marketing)(10-4-2001)