Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508210104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER
DATELINE: BROOKLYN, MICH. LENGTH: Medium
It's always a challenge to try to keep track of the team, sponsor and driver changes - potential, rumored and actual - because of the number of deals in the works and the uncertainty surrounding them.
``The only thing you know right now is that no one will tell you the truth,'' said Geoff Bodine, who has been the subject of rumors that his sponsor, Exide batteries, is leaving. ``We're still negotiating with them,'' he said Saturday between practice sessions at Michigan International Speedway.
Here are some of the other key pieces of the puzzle:
ERNIE IRVAN'S FUTURE: There has been no talk of Robert Yates re-signing Dale Jarrett, but no one knows if Irvan will be able to race again. If not, Yates will need a driver for his highly regarded Ford Thunderbird.
There also has been talk of Yates starting a second team.
Yates said he plans to field two cars later this year for Irvan and Jarrett, but has no immediate plans to start a second team for 1996.
``I would like to be right where I was a year ago'' before Irvan's crash, he said.
THIRD ROUSH TEAM: Another key is whether Jack Roush will start a third team. He is not commenting, but it may hinge on whether The Family Channel returns as a sponsor, which Roush said he expects will happen.
Roush is said to have the inside track on the Ford Quality Care sponsorship for his third team and is rumored to be considering Jarrett, Todd Bodine and the Burton brothers for the ride.
If the Ford sponsorship indeed goes to Roush, that leaves Bud Moore in the lurch. Bud's son, Greg, said their team hasn't lost Ford, at least not yet.
DALE JARRETT'S PLANS: Jarrett made it clear this weekend that his primary interest is in starting his own team and that he has given potential sponsors until Aug.28, the Monday after the Bristol race, to decide whether to go with him.
His ace in the hole is that several other teams, perhaps including his old Wood Brothers team, reportedly remain interested in hiring him.
ELTON SAWYER: Hooters chief Robert Brooks is in the process of taking over the ownership of this Hooters-sponsored team. He reportedly is not too keen on Sawyer, but the team is.
``The driver situation is what is in question right now,'' said Mike Hill, team manager and crew chief. ``We're showing progress with Elton and we'd like to keep him.''
Sawyer, of course, also wants to stay. And his options have become more limited since Dennis Setzer signed to take over his Grand National car next year.
BILL DAVIS' TEAM: The almost-done deal for Bill Davis' Pontiac Grand Prix is that driver Ward Burton and longtime wrench-turner Buddy Parrott will join forces with Davis for 1996.
``The only thing I can comment on is that MBNA will be our sponsor and Chris Hussey will be our crew chief for next year,'' Davis said. ``There's a lot of things happening.''
THE DICK BROOKS CAR: Car owner Dick Brooks has been planning to switch from Pontiac to Chevy in 1996, but the question now is whether he'll have any car at all.
``This is not fun,'' Brooks said. ``If we can get it better, I'll be back. If not, I'll go fishing.''
Brooks is looking for a sponsor and said he definitely won't return without one.
A KRANEFUSS TWO-CAR TEAM: This was a recent hot rumor, but Michael Kranefuss said it isn't going to happen and he is set for next year with John Andretti as his driver and Kmart and Little Caesar's as sponsors.
KENNY BERNSTEIN'S TEAM: Team manager Richard Broome said he has potential buyers and he still is interested in buying the team.
The problem is the lack of a sponsor, with Quaker State leaving.
Broome said he and potential buyers are looking for a replacement. As for the driver: ``I want to race with Hut Stricklin.''
WOOD BROTHERS: The Wood Brothers of Stuart, Va., are expected to re-sign Morgan Shepherd, but they reportedly are interested in Jarrett, too. ``We're not set yet,'' Eddie Wood said.
SMOKIN' JOES: The Smokin' Joes sponsorship of the Travis Carter-owned Ford Thunderbird driven by Jimmy Spencer is up in the air. ``We will make that decision by September,'' said RJR's T. Wayne Robertson, who controls the sponsorship.
by CNB