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Front Page-» Briefs 04-09-05
Top Stories from the Cup Scene Daily Front Page
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Marlin looking for ride in 2006
Sterling Marlin said Friday he's looking for a new ride next season after getting the indication that he is losing his seat in the Chip Ganassi-owned No. 40 Dodge at the end of this season. "Chip hasn't told me anything, but I've heard it other ways," Marlin said, adding that he's especially disappointed to lose the ride he has had since 1998 because he stuck with Ganassi last season even though he had an offer of a three-year deal from another multi-car team owner. "I was going to be loyal and stay where I was, but I guess there's no loyalty there," he said. Ganassi issued a statement indicating nothing has been finalized, but many in the garage say they believe Busch Series driver David Stremme will move to one of Ganassi's three Cup cars, possibly the No. 40, next year. "At this time no plans have been finalized in regard to the No. 40 car for 2006 and beyond," Ganassi said. "We will share with everyone our plans for the No. 40 Dodge past the 2005 season as soon as those decisions have been made and finalized."
No harm, no foul, says Gordon after garage run-in with Harvick
A garage-area incident left Jeff Gordon’s Chevrolet slightly crunched and briefly caused a bit of discord between the teams of Gordon and Kevin Harvick. No harm, no foul, said Gordon. “He (Harvick) was backing out, and his spotter never told him I was back there,” said Gordon. “It did damage, but it’s fine. Luckily, we’re at a short track. If we were at Atlanta or some place like that, we’d be pretty upset. “It wasn’t his fault. When you’re backing out of the garage like that, your team should be on the radio telling you what’s behind you, because there are a lot of blind spots, and I saw him coming and my en-gine wasn’t even running. All of a sudden — bam! — he drove right over the top of me
Ward Burton shows up at Martinsville
Virginian Ward Burton, out of a Nextel Cup ride since the fall, was roaming the garage at Martinsville, a track where he has started in the top six for the past three Cup races. But he said he wasn't on site in hopes of finding a driving job. "I came here to see some friends I haven't seen in a while, smell the smell of tires burning and sign some autographs," he said, adding that he is making the most of his unexpected time off. "I'm not really trying (to find a ride) right now," he said. "I'm kind of enjoying some new activities and just having some time." He said that if he returns to the Cup circuit, it won't be in a backmarker. "If I come back I want to be in a competitive car," he said. "I'm not coming back just for the sake of coming back."
Services set for Hendrick mechanic
A graveside service for Mark Russell "Rusty" Kilgore, who worked most recently as a mechanic for the Hendrick Motorsports shop that houses the teams of Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers and Terry Labonte, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern time Saturday at Cabarrus Memorial Gardens in Concord, N.C. Kilgore, 50, died of an apparent heart attack on Wednesday at work. Kilgore had worked at HMS since 2003 and was an Air Force veteran. Survivors include his daughters, Sandra Cooper of Concord, Susan Kilgore of Concord; sister, Vickie Hogan of Concord; brother, James Kilgore Jr. of Elon, N.C.; and one grandson. Visitation is 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. today at Wilkinson Funeral Home, Concord. Memorials may be made to The Victory Junction Gang Camp, 4500 Adam's Way, Randleman, NC 27317. Shane Hmiel offers apology, addresses some of the issues
Allison has fond memories of track
Bobby Allison strolled through the old Fairgrounds gates last night and more than 40 years rolled away. Allison served as grand marshal for the night's races at the Music City Motorplex, and the visit brought back a lot of memories for the legendary NASCAR racer.
''The first time I came here was in '59,'' Allison said. ''It was a Sunday afternoon and I planned to run this race and go to Birmingham and race there that night. I won this race driving a '34 Chevy, but I wasn't able to get to Birmingham in time to race there.'' Allison, part of the famed Alabama Gang, barnstormed the South in the old days, frequently racing three or four nights a week. He also competed in NASCAR's premier Grand National (now Nextel Cup) Series, winning 84 races — one of which came at Fairgrounds Speedway in 1972. Allison's racing career — and almost his life — ended with a horrific crash at Pocono Speedway in 1988. Today Allison, 67, works for his old racing sponsor, Miller Brewing Co., as a good-will ambassador. ''I travel to a lot of tracks, car shows, meet-and-greets,'' he said. ''I enjoy meeting the fans. I consider it a compliment when they ask for my autograph.'' Allison's racing exploits are chronicled in a biography, Bobby Allison, A Racer's Racer. ''Back then we raced all the time and barely made ends meet,'' he said. ''That's one of the things I like about where the sport is today — it's growth and success. Guys like (David) Pearson and (Richard) Petty and I helped build the sport and I'm happy for the current guys.'' Something about the new NASCAR he doesn't care for? ''The cookie-cutter cars,'' Allison said. ''Back when I raced all cars were different and a lot of fans pulled for the different models. Now they're all alike. And how can you pass somebody if all the cars are exactly the same?'' Allison, known for his fiery competitiveness, fears that NASCAR ''has pushed the courtesy thing too far,'' referring to an increased number of penalties for bad behavior by drivers or their teams. ''I don't think they should drain all of the emotion out,'' said Allison, who was involved a memorable fracas in the 1979 Daytona 500. He and brother Donnie were involved in a fist-shaking, helmet-swinging infield scuffle with Cale Yarborough. ''Aw, I wasn't fighting,'' Allison said with a smile. ''We were just having a little disagreement and Cale just kept hitting me in the fist with his nose.''
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