DaimlerChrysler is expected to announce today that its
Dodge division is "returning" to NASCAR after more than two
decades (Bill Koenig, STAR-NEWS, 10/14). In Philadelphia,
Bill Fleischman reports that Jeff Gordon's former crew chief
Ray Evernham is the "likely choice to steer"
DaimlerChrysler's program (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/14).
ESPN's Bill Weber, on Chrysler's return to NASCAR next
season: "Chrysler's timing is perfect. They let Ford and
General Motors do all the groundwork, build the popularity
of the sport to an all-time high, then go and grab the most
successful crew chief of the 90s [Ray Evernham] and let him
call the shots" ("RPM 2Night," ESPN2, 10/13).
PIT NOTES: Jeff Gordon's No. 24 Winston Cup car will
feature a character from the new Fox Kids cartoon "Nascar
Racers" at next month's inaugural Pennzoil 400 at Homestead-
Miami Speedway. The program will make its TV debut in
February (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 10/13)....ESPN's Bill
Weber, noting Gordon's up-and-down year: "There have been
two Jeff Gordons this season. ... One Jeff Gordon has been
Jeff the race car driver. The other has been Jeff the
businessman, the endorser, the Busch car owner, the guy
losing the race to the girl on the bike in the Pepsi
commercial." Gordon: "I got distracted this year, started
doing too much away from the racetrack, and the team started
getting neglected because of it" ("RPM 2Night," 10/13).
...PA-based Lawman Armor Corp. announced a partnership where
NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace will endorse Unbrakeable
Autolock anti-theft device (Lawman)...SPEEDNET's Bill Koenig
writes that Pennzoil's decision to "renew its sponsorship"
of Pennzoil Panthers Racing was "good news" for the IRL:
"With the IRL and CART going their separate ways for the
foreseeable future, the IRL and its teams must reinvigorate
their search for sponsors. Keeping Pennzoil involved is
only a step in that direction" (SPEEDNET, 10/14).
