Ken's NASCAR Silly Season Notebook

Ken's NASCAR Silly Season Notebook - January 14, 1997

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News and tidbits
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The PR guy from Turner has been in touch with me, and he tells me that 
 the Cartoon Network car driven by Robert Pressley will have Scooby on 
 the car until mid-year, and then they will have another character 
 following the Fred Flintstone or Scooby Doo concept.

NASCAR Online has pictures of some of the new paint schemes for this 
 year, like Richard's #43 and Kyle's #44.  See them at this URL: 
 http://www.nascar.com/news/0102_0109news/mediascrapbook2.html

For Daytona, the #1 Richard Jackson team gets a one race deal for 
 sponsorship from Delco Remy America and National Corvette Museum, 
 Cruisin' America calling cards.  Continued sponsorship is dependent 
 upon performance.

Larry Pearson is in the #15 Bud Moore car, but unknown for how many 
 races.  Hayes is committed to stay on as an associate, but the team is 
 still looking for help with sponsorship dollars.

The Huskers deal with the #9 Melling Team has been a source of 
 controversy lately.  Apparently, no sponsorship money has been 
 received, and Harry Melling said he is committed to run Daytona with 
 or without sponsorship.  But the Husker News page says they are still 
 trying to raise the funds. See their homepage at:: 
 http://huskerwebcast.com/pages/news/general.html

This year will likely be Darrell Waltrip's last full season, as it 
 appears he may only run part time in 1998 - if at all.  1997 will 
 feature a 25th anniversary paint scheme commemorating the various cars 
 DW drove in his career.  Rich Bickle is first in line to take over the 
 driver's seat if DW steps down.

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NASCAR Silly Season Central
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A few more updates on the teams for next year:

Key for the acronyms:
OWN = Owner, DRV = Driver, CC = Crew Chief 

#0 - Master's Inn Ford
OWN: HL Waters
DRV:  Delma Cowart 
CC: Phil Branch

#00 Aquafresh/Keebler pontiac
DRV: Buck Shot Jones
Notes: Rumored to be a BGN team that will attempt a few cup races this year.

#1 Delco Remy/Cruisin' America Pontiac - Precision Products
OWN: Richard Jackson
DRV: Morgan Shepard
CC: (still looking)

#2 Miller Lite Ford - color change to blue & white
OWN: Roger Penske
DRV: Rusty Wallace 
CC: Robin Pemberton

#02 - Chevrolet - Miles Motorsports
DRV: Robby Faggart / Randy Baker?

#3 GM Goodwrench Chevy
OWN: Richard Childress 
DRV: Dale Earnhardt's
CC: Larry McReynolds (from the #28)

#4 Kodak Chevy
OWN: Morgan-McClure 
DRV: Sterling Marlin 
CC: Tim Brewer (ending speculation with #94)

#5 Kellogg's Corn Flakes Chevy
OWN: Rick Hendrick
DRV: Terry Labonte
CC: Gary Dehart

#6 Valvoline Ford
OWN: Jack Roush
DRV: Mark Martin
CC: Jim Fenning

#7 QVC Ford
OWN: Geoff Bodine
DRV: Geoff Bodine
CC: Pat Tryson (from #10)
Notes: Lee Morse, former Ford Motor Co. rep for SVO, now named as team manager.

#8 Circuit City Ford
OWN: Stavola Bros.
DRV: Hut Stricklin
CC: Philippe Lopez

#9 University of Nebraska Ford - (I hear this deal is shaky)
OWN:  Melling
DRV: Lake Speed
CC: Jeff Buice 

#10 Tide Ford
OWN: Ricky Rudd
DRV: Ricky Rudd
CC: Jim Long

#11 Close Call Ford - w/Roush engines
OWN: Brett Bodine
DRV: Brett Bodine
CC: Donnie Richeson
Notes: Frontier & Catalyst Communications will run Close Call Phone Cards.

#12 ??? Ford - Allison Motorsports
OWN: Frank Plessinger, Bobby Allison and Nathan Sims. 
DRV: ???
CC: ???
Notes: This team is still questionable for Daytona.  Only time will tell...

#14 General Mills Chevy
OWN: Theresa Earnhardt 
DRV: Ron Hornaday Jr. 
CC: ??
Notes:  I hear they are still working on which cereal as the official 
 sponsor, but its supposed to be a firm deal.

#15 Hayes Modems Ford
OWN: Bud Moore
DRV:  Larry Pearson (right now)
CC: Jimmy Means

#16 Family Channel/PrimeStar Ford (new paint scheme)
OWN: Roush
DRV: Ted Musgrave
CC: James Ince

#17 Western Auto's Parts America Chevy
OWN: Darrell Waltrip
DRV: Darrell Waltrip
CC: Pete Peterson

#18 Interstate Batteries "Pontiac"
OWN: Joe Gibbs
DRV: Bobby Labonte
CC: Jimmy Makar

#19 Child Support Recovery International Ford - TriStar Motorsports
OWN: Mark Smith
DRV: Loy Allen Jr.
CC: Peter Sospenzo
Notes: New sponsor brought on board.

#20 -  sponsorless Ford?
OWN: Ranier/Walsh 
DRV: Greg Sacks
CC: 
Notes:Tony Stewart possibly will run 4 race, and then run the full 
 schedule in 1998 to attempt ROTY.  

#21 Citgo Ford 
OWN: Wood Bros.
DRV: Michael Waltrip
CC: Len Wood

#22 MNBA Pontiac - 
OWN: Bill Davis
DRV: Ward Burton
CC: Chris Hussey

#23 Smokin' Joes Ford
OWN: Travis Carter
DRV: Jimmy Spencer
CC: Donnie Wingo	

#24 Dupont Chevy - Hendrick Motorsports
OWN: Rick Hendrick
DRV: Jeff Gordon
CC: Ray Evernham
Notes: Pepsi is new associate sponsor for all of Hendricks.

#25 Budweiser Chevy - Hendrick Motorsports
OWN: "Papa" Joe Hendrick
DRV: Ricky Craven
CC: Phil Hammer

#26 ??? Chevy - Needs sponsor
OWN: Terry Byers?
DRV: Terry Byers 

#27 ? Ford - David Blair Motorsports 
OWN: David Blair
DRV: ???
CC: ???

#28 Havoline Ford
OWN: Robert Yates
DRV: Ernie Irvan
CC: Marc Reno

#29 Cartoon Network Chevy - Diamond Ridge Motorsports
OWN: Gary Bechtel
DRV: Robert Pressley
CC: Bill Ingle	

#30 Pennzoil Pontiac - Bahari Racing 
OWN: Chuck Rider
DRV: Johnny Benson '96 WC ROTY
CC: Doug Hewitt

#31 Lowe's Chevy
OWN: Richard Childress
DRV: Mike Skinner
CC: Kevin Hamlin

#33 Skoal Bandit Pontiac
OWN: Andy Petree
DRV: Kenny Schrader
CC: Andy Petree

#36 Skittles Pontiac - MB Motorsports
OWN: Nelson Bowers,Tom Beard, Read Morton
DRV: Derrike Cope
CC: Ryan Pemberton 

#37 Kmart/RC Cola Ford (new associate sponsors)
OWN: Kranefuss & Haas
DRV: Jeremy Mayfield
CC: Paul Andrews (from the #7)

#40 Coors Light Chevrolet - Sabco Racing
OWN: Felix Sabates
DRV: Robby Gordon
CC: Tony Glover

#41 Kodiak Chevy - new Team mgr Mike Hill
OWN: Larry Hedrick 
DRV: Steve Grissom
CC: Charlie Pressley

#42 Bell South Chevrolet - SABCO Racing
OWN: Felix Sabates
DRV: Joe Nemechek
CC: Mike Hillman

#43 STP Pontiac - Petty Enterprises
OWN: Richard Petty
DRV: Bobby Hamilton

#44 Hot Wheels Pontiac - Petty Enterprises 2
OWN:  Kyle Petty, Richard Petty, David Evans
DRV: Kyle Petty 
CC: Bobby Kennedy 

#46 First Union Chevy - SABCO Racing
OWN: Felix Sabates?
DRV: Wally Dallenbach
CC: Brad Noffsinger

#52 Pedigree Pontiac - 
OWN: Kenny Schrader/Rick Hendrick?
DRV: Jack Sprague

#60 -
DRV: Ed Berrier.

#63 Purina Chevy - 
Notes: This is the car that Dick Trickle ran at Daytona in 96.

#71 Prodigy Chevy
OWN: Helen Marcis 
DRV: Dave Marcis
CC: Terry Shirley
Notes: Prodigy is likely only an associate sponsor.

#75 Remington Arms Ford - 
OWN: Butch Mock
DRV: Rick Mast
CC: Gere Kennon

#77 Jasper/Federal-Mogul Ford
OWN: Doug Bawel
DRV: Bobby Hillin Jr.

#78 Diamond Rio & Hanes Activewear Ford - Wilson Racing
OWN: Jim Wilson
DRV: Billy Standridge

#79 - 
DRV: Norm Benning.

#81 Square D Ford -  FilMar Racing
OWN: Filbert Martocci
DRV: Kenny Wallace
CC: Gil Martin

#85  - HS Die Ford
OWN: Tim Steele
DRV: Tim Steele
CC: 
Notes:  He will apparently run attempt a partial schedule in 97 and 
 hopes to run the full schedule in 98.

#86 HYPE Chevy - Ridling Motorsports
OWN: Ridling
DRV: Kevin LePage

#87 ? Chevy 
OWN: SABCO/NEMCO
Notes: This team has been consumed by the other SABCO teams.  No word 
 on whether the number has been relinquished.

#88 Quality Care Ford - 
OWN: Robert Yates.
DRV: Dale Jarrett
CC: Todd Parrott

#90 Heilig-Meyers Ford 
OWN: Junie Donlavey 
DRV: Dick Trickle
CC: Bob Johnson

#91 Spam Chevrolet - Pro-Tech Motorsports
OWN: Ron Neal and Tom Hanley
DRV: Mike Wallace
CC: Vic Kangus

#94 McDonald's Ford (w/ Super 8 Motel)
OWN: Bill Elliott
DRV: Bill Elliott
CC: Mike Beam

#95 Shoney's Inn Ford - Sadler Motorsports 
OWN: Earl Sadler
DRV:  Gary Bradberry
CC: Lee Leslie

#96 Caterpillar Chevrolet
OWN: Buz McCall 
DRV: David Green
CC: Butch Enders
Notes: Shelmerdine is a consultant-strategist.

#97 John Deere Pontiac - Rypien Motorsports
OWN: Mark Rypien and Greg Pollex
DRV: Chad Little 
CC: Harold Holly

#98 RCA Ford
OWN: Cale Yarborough 
DRV: John Andretti
CC: Tony Furr

#99 Exide Batteries Ford - Roush Racing
OWN: Jack Roush?
DRV: Jeff Burton
CC: Buddy Parrott

#? - DW Motorsports
OWN: Darrell Waltrip
DRV: Rich Bickle 

#? Ford - Ron Barfield to run a limited WC schedule (one confirmed race 
 was named) in an Elliott-prepared cup car.  Barfield drives for 
 Elliott in BGN, Truck and ARCA.

#? - According to Winston Cup Scene, 1981 WC ROTY Ron Bouchard is 
 reportedly trying to lease a WC car from Rick Hendrick to try to run 
 the Daytona and Talledega races.  Bouchard has not driven in a WC race 
 since 1987.

#?  - Odyssey Motorsports
OWN: Don Hume, Thomas Ungurean, Dick Bahre (brother of the NHIS owner)

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Happy Motoring :-)
=Ken=

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