NASCAR Offseason Withdrawal Therapy Thread 2005

Various News Sites ^ | 11-21-05 | Me & Jack

[WestCoastGal]

Trouble in river city?

Knaus leaving Hendrick? denied UPDATE 2 more: hearing [or have leaned] that #48 Hendrick Motorsports crew chief, Chad Knaus will leave the team and driver Jimmie Johnson and go back to Evernham Motorsports [was one of Evernham's first hires, until moving to #92 Melling team in 2001], then Hendrick Motorsports in 2002 to crew chief Johnson.
UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports says Knaus has no plans to leave Hendrick Motorsports and has multiple years remaining on his contract.(12-2-2005)
UPDATE 2: hearing some crew members from the #48 Lowe's Hendrick Motorsports team have left andf gone to Evernham Motorsports recently and that one of the Evernham's engineers could be headed over to be the crew chief on the #48.(12-19-2005)

Jayski

[NYTexan]

Rats jumpin' ship or more money? The silly season is still open huh?

[WestCoastGal]

Gives a whole new meaning to show me the money!!

I just wonder why anyone would leave Hendrick for Evernham???

[steveegg]

Yep. Looks as though the open wheel series(s) are in a bad state of affairs.

You can say that again. Take a guess as to what drew more fans; ChampCar/IRL combined at the Milwaukee Mile (with ChampCar having the historic weekend after Indy 500 date) or the Busch Series at the Milwaukee Mile?

[steveegg]

Some Busch news from BGNRacing -

• Mikey moved his Busch operation into the FitzBradshaw shop, will run the full season with the #99 on the car and the #40 owners' points (so he can get in the first 5 races).
• The Coast Guard jumps ship, will be on the #21 in 2006. Staying with the #21, it will be a full-time Buschwhacker team, with Happy doing up to 30 races (and a few in his own Busch team) and the Northurn Burton doing the balance as well as a few in the #29.
• The Las Vegas race will be at least partially under the lights next year.
• No major rules changes for 2006 - aero, impound, guaranteed starts, and Buschwhacker rules all stay the same.
• The Kentucky v NASCAR/ISC lawsuit will be heard in Kentucky; the France family had contended that various contracts mandated that any lawsuit be brought in Florida.
• Kevin Lepage says he'll be driving for the #56 Mac Hill team for 10-20 races pending sponsorship.
• Add Shrub to the full-time Buschwhacker list as he'll assume sole duties in the #5.

And on the local front, the deal to transfer promotion at the Milwaukee Mile to a private concern is now official. It's an 18-year deal, and the group also gets 9.4 acres along Greenfield Ave. (just south of Turns 1-2) for development. Short-term plans include a sports-themed restaurant, with a hotel among long-term plans. IIRC, the track was already slated to get the soft walls next year.

[steveegg]

A couple more itmes I forgot from BGNRacing -

• Rusty will supposedly get the #66 back next year.
• 3M will be sponsoring Todd Kleuver in the #06, and supposedly Danny O'Quinn will be in a 3rd full-time Roush ride (with Backflipper returning for another full season in the #60) to go along with Robot's, Biffle's and Martin's part-time runs.

[WestCoastGal]

Mike McLaughlin will test the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevy of 2005 Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart from Jan. 9-11 at Daytona.
Stewart's publicist Mike Arning said via e-mail that Stewart's 2005 Cup testing schedule will begin when his team tests at Las Vegas from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. Stewart also skipped Daytona testing in 2005.


Speaking of testing, 2003 Champ Car champion Paul Tracy and Erin Crocker, the only woman to win a World of Outlaws race, headlined ARCA Series testing at Daytona last weekend.

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051220/COLUMNISTS0303/512200332/1062/sports03

---

Also, Michael Andretti is unretiring to run the Indy 500 this year.

DEI's Richie Gilmore reported to Lee Spencer that the engine shop is being expanded and they are quite happy with their testing.

[steveegg]

Daily dose of Jayski -

• SWimmer to the #4 now official, AERO Exhaust to be primary sponsor.
• Cup impound races for 2006 - Both Talledega events, both Richmond events, and the Pepsi 400. That's right; only 5 of 36 races will be impounded next year.

[Jackknife]

That's a gimme.....

[WestCoastGal]

I had read somewhere that there would not be any next year.

It is good for the FR league because you can pick based on their practice times. Oh well.

It is better for the guys racing so I like it. :)

[steveegg]

Jayski's info comes off NASCAR.com, which cites a memo sent to the teams. I would like to see zero, but we're talking about Brainless France here.

[WestCoastGal]

MIKEY WALTRIPS #55 NAPA paint schemes.

http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2006/55cup.htm

[WestCoastGal]

"we're talking about Brainless France here."

Yep, so much for his dumb idea of impound to 'save' money for the teams. I'm thinking Dega should not be impound considering the repaving and all.

[SouthTexas]

It is good for the FR league because you can pick based on their practice times.

If you think so.LOL

[tubebender]

Speaking of Food, what are y'all having for dinner this weekend? We (First Wife) is doing a Prime Rib with all the trimmings. Invited guests are Son and Spouse, Daughter and Spouse and their Son and Daughter (17/21)

I am going to buy some gift certificates for hot laps in a Thunder Roadster here at Redwood Acres...

[SouthTexas]

Merry Christmas TB.

We do multiples. Christmas Eve we will be at brother's for tamales, enchiladas, roast and potatoes, + other accessories. Christmas dinner is at mother in law's, shrimp and oysters. Will have to see who survives all that for Christmas evening.

Kids and grandkids will be bouncing from family, to inlaws, to outlaws. Sure glad we don't have to do that anymore.

[WestCoastGal]

Check out Ebay

We're having prime rib, and crab stuffed shrimp.

Linguini with shallots, prociutto and vodka tomato sauce.
Grilled marinated vegetables
And a dessert bar of various things everyone is bringing. Someone is getting one of those chocolate fountains for Christmas so we will be dipping fruit and biscotti in that I think.

[steveegg]

Mmmmm, sure sounds good.

I see you found the DEI auction. In other news:

- PPI has no clue what it's doing; Jayski says that Kvapil is in and Hamilton is out of the Tide Slide.

- The Other Wallace (Mike) has a secret ride for the Daytona 500.

[Jackknife]

From ThatsRacin.com today. ..........

Cold-weather test session at Kentucky buoys No. 43 Petty team

I'm looking forward to my boy, Bobby, driving the #43 next year!!

[GRRRRR]

I win LAP 600!!!!

Merry Christmas to ALL

The TREE is up!