Steve Grissom, Joe Falk Part Company

Grissom, Falk end trial, part company

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 15, 1999) Three days after his independent NASCAR Winston Cup Series team failed to qualify for the second time in just four races this season, LJ Racing owner Joe Falk announced Monday that he would not extend his four-race agreement with driver Steve Grissom to continue in the No. 91 Chevrolet.

Falk said he expected to make an announcement Tuesday as to who will drive the car this weekend at Darlington Raceway, site of Sunday's TranSouth Financial 400. The team is in the third race of what was originally announced as a three-race sponsorship by Textilease, a uniform company.

"Steve is one heck of a nice guy, and I wish him the best," Falk said of the former NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division champion. "It was a real difficult phone call to make. I know we have a good team and good cars -- we proved that last year."

"Everyone in this business knows chemistry is an important ingredient for success. We just couldn't find that chemistry with Steve."

The team failed to qualify for the season opening Daytona 500. Grissom then failed to qualify but started 41st on a car owner's provisional at Rockingham, where he finished 36th. He then qualified 29th and finished 42nd after being involved in an accident at Las Vegas. At Atlanta last weekend, LJ Racing was one of only four teams that did not qualify.

"In my position (racing without a full time primary sponsor), I can't afford to let our performance level drop," said Falk, who has often sponsored his effort with his own company, Little Joe's Autos. "We still have two races left with Textilease as our sponsor, and we want to give them their money's worth.

"We will make a driver announcement tomorrow. Meanwhile, we are still in pursuit of a full time primary sponsor."

Source: NASCAR Online