News 98-01-8

NASCARFans E-Mail Newsletter =====

There's a lot of news today. I expect it will pick up quite a bit as we move closer to Daytona's race. ===== Jayski's News

Here is some updated info I hear about Washington-Erving Motorsports: I hear the sponsor contracts are signed but the money hasn't changed hands so they are not operating as a team as of yet. The colors are Blue/Yellow and the team is located in the new Industrial park in Mooresville, NC. The sponsor is supposedly "a new industry in Nascar. I hear the car will be #12 and the team will run Thunderbirds for the first part of the season. Super-speedway cars were purchased from TriStar Motorsports(#19 in 1997) and engines will be supplied by Larry Wallace(1-7-98)

I hear Mattei Motorsports/Geoff Bodine Racing will be at the second Ford test with 2 brand new Taurus's, sponsorship is in the works.

I hear that it has been reported on local Michigan TV stations that Steve Hmeil will be Johnny Benson's crew chief and Cheerios will be the sponsor on the #26 Ford, both rumored here (Jayski's) for months now.

I hear that it was announced by Andy Santerre this morning on WZON, Bangor, Me. that his two new owners have bought Bobby Allison Motorsports. No further info.

"Hank Parker Jr. plans to compete for Grand National rookie of the year honors in 1998, replacing Nathan Buttke as driver of the No. 78 Chevrolet owned by Dan Browder." (Charlotte Observer)

I hear all the legal stuff that happened between DuraLube and Shoemaker Racing(#64 BGN) is straightened out. Schneider Trucking is still sponsoring the car this year but they have not finalized a paint scheme yet. It will probably be orange and ?

UPDATE: A question as I read all my backlogged email and looked at some news: Who is Dan Pardus of Gardner Racing, who tested the #03 Chevy at Daytona? Well I did some hunting and found much info at the Official Dan Pardus Homepage, He is an ARCA driver who had the fastest ARCA car in testing back in Dec!(1-5-98) - Testing went alright for Pardus considering it was a brand new car with a new Laughlin chassis. Plans right now for Pardus are for 12 ARCA races and 8 WC races, Daytona(both), Talladega(both), Texas, Indy, Charlotte(fall) and California. The sponsor is MIDWEST TRUCKING.

Toby Porter went to Kartweek in Daytona and won. Sat on pole, then it rained out race, so he was given the win(Radar)

I hear the new #90 Heilig Meyers Ford paint scheme will be mostly black with a lot of red and some teal. Have not seen a picture of it yet.

Earlier this week, John Hendrick, Rick's brother, became President and CEO of Hendrick Motorsports, and now heads the multicar Winston Cup effort and NCTS team that won the '97 championships in their racing series. John Hendrick had accompanied the Winston Cup teams during the '97 season as he stood in for his brother at the track, and now will increase his participation in the day-to-day running of the multicar effort. Long-time Hendrick Motorsports Director of Operations, Jimmy Johnson will remain at the group.(www.country.com)

There is an interesting and touching story on SpeedNet: "Many requests too bizarre to consider, but pros try to accommodate", written by Mark Armijo of The Arizona Republic(SpeedNet) here:

http://www.starnews.com/speednet/nascar/98/jan/0103SN_Xrequests.html

Thanks, Jay. ===== Fans who have been waiting to get their NASCAR fix will have to wait no longer. The NASCAR Winston Cup Preview, presented by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Winston, will kick off the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup season this Saturday at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem.

Doors open at the coliseum at 8:30 a.m. EST. Tickets are $10, with children under 12 free if accompanied by a paying adult. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum ticket office, or by calling (910) 725-5635, or Ticketmaster at (910) 722-6400.

The revised schedule of driver appearances is as follows:

9 a.m.-11 a.m.: Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Ken Schrader, Bobby Hamilton, Ricky Rudd, Geoff Bodine, John Andretti, Derrike Cope, Kenny Wallace, Lake Speed, Wally Dallenbach, Steve Park, Randy LaJoie, Rich Bickle, Dave Marcis.

11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.: Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Ted Musgrave, Steve Grissom, Jeremy Mayfield, Ward Burton, Ricky Craven, Jack Sprague, Rick Mast, Chad Little, David Green, Todd Bodine, Billy Standridge, Tim Flock, Buddy Baker, Ned Jarrett.

1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Johnny Benson, Kyle Petty, Richard Petty, Jimmy Spencer, Kevin Lepage, Dick Trickle, Hut Stricklin, Jeff Green, Robert Pressley, Kenny Irwin, and Ed Berrier.

3:45 p.m.-5:45 p.m.: Jeff Burton, Terry Labonte, Bill Elliott, Ernie Irvan, Michael Waltrip, Sterling Marlin, Brett Bodine, Mike Skinner, Morgan Shepherd, Joe Nemechek, Gary Bradberry, Greg Sacks, Jerry Nadeau, Tim Steele.

(NASCAR Online)

I know, I just put this out yesterday, but the schedule had been revised, so be sure to check it out again before making plans. ===== NASCAR legends Tim Flock, Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker will sign autographs Saturday at the NASCAR Winston Cup Preview at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum -- part of the kickoff festivities for NASCAR's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The legendary drivers will sign autographs from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (NASCAR Online) ===== Good article about John Andretti, and his recent testing at Talladega with the Richard Petty team, written by Shawn Akers of NASCAR Online here:

http://www.nascar.com/news/97news/00524504.html ==== The Busch Series Preview is Friday, January 9, at the Hickory Mall in Hickory, NC. The preview runs from 4:00pm to 9:00pm with 30 drivers expected to sign autographs. There is a $5.00 donation for autographs. The $5.00 donation gets you a wrist band which allows you to get autographs for the entire evening.

If anyone needs further info, call the Hickory Mall at (704)328-2436.

Many thanks to Kim H. for the details of this information. ===== Kevin Cywinski, the 1997 ASA Series champion, has signed a deal with Key Motorsports to run a limited Busch series schedule this season. Cywinski said the team plans to run anywhere from six to eight races in 1998, and perhaps more if it can obtain sponsorship. (NASCAR Online) ===== One of our readers, Robert is attempting to get one of the Pocono races dedicated to the memory of Tim Richmond, who was a friend of the Pocono owners. For more information, check here:

http://nascar.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa010798.htm ===== Ken W. sends us this little nugget:

On I-81 North, just across the Tennesse-Virginia border in Bristol, VA there's sign that reads: SPEED CHECKED BY RADAR AND VASCAR. Someone had taken some white paint or tape and added a single straight line to the V in "VASCAR", making the sign read instead: SPEED CHECKED BY RADAR AND NASCAR. ===== As promised:

T minus 10 days and counting 'til the Craftsman Chevy Trucks Challenge T minus 31 days and counting 'til the Winston Cup Bud Shootout T minus 35 days and counting 'til the Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifiers T minus 37 days and counting 'til the Busch Series NAPA Auto Parts 300 T minus 38 days and counting 'til the Winston Cup Daytona 500 =====

Mike Irwin (mailto:Mike@NASCARFans.Com) NASCARFans _______________________________________

NASCAR Fans Website http://www.NASCARFans.com _______________________________________