Beneath The Banyan Trees
CUTLER RIDGE, FLA. (October 25)- - Jeff Gordon
tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation
for the Pennzoil 400 on November 12. He'll also drive the Pepsi Chevrolet
in his final Busch series race
on Saturday, November 11 at Homestead. Gordon tested at the track
last year but struggled to a 10th place finish in the inaugural race
in Homestead. The long, flat corners at Homestead place a premium on
handling. "It’s certainly one of the most unique race tracks," Gordon said.
"It’s one that’s really important to test at and get
information in the computers. It’s such a tricky race track to get around.
It’s hard to find the right combination." Unofficially, Joe
Nemechek turned the fastest lap among the 20 Winston Cup teams that tested
at the track.
State Of The Rainbow
HARRISBURG, N.C. (October 18)- - Jeff
Gordon and crew chief Robbie Loomis recently discussed a variety
of topics including the Talladega race, the rest of the 2000 season,
testing plans, and the state of the DuPont team as it progresses into 2001. The pair
also brought up something that is becoming increasingly rare in Winston Cup racing- time off.
Gordon also addressed something that most
had been wondering about. "Even if we had made no changes this year and Ray Evernham was still there, it was
getting tougher and tougher for us to dominate the way we did," Gordon said. "There are just times when you
hit on things. You put a team together and it gels and it comes together and goes extremely
well. You try to hold on to it as long as you can. We did that, and now it's time to move on,
rebuild and try to get that back and hold on to it as long as we can if we get it back."
Testing In Kentucky
HARRISBURG, N.C. (October 16)- - Kentucky Speedway, a 1.5-mile
oval track located just a few miles south of Cincinnati, has become a hotbed
for Winston Cup testing. Kentucky was bypassed by NASCAR for a 2001 Winston Cup date as the organization
chose to visit Chicago and Kansas City next year. Teams are only allowed seven test sessions
at tracks on the current Winston Cup schedule. However, testing
is unlimited at tracks not on the schedule. The track provides
a groundwork for handling, engine performance and other
functions in preparation for races at Las Vegas, Charlotte,
Atlanta, Texas, and tracks of similar dimensions. The cost of renting the track is $5,000 a day, and teams
usually rent a day or two with a contingency day for
rain.
Hendrick Motorsports is scheduled to test on Monday-Wednesday,
November 6-8. "Fans can come down if they wish and have a view of
Turn 3 behind the Speedway Administration Building
and gift shop," Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Cassis said. "We've been told by drivers and teams, 'We'll test no
matter how cold it gets as long as the track is dry.'"
(Cincinnati Post)
Scenes From A French Restaurant
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 14)- - Jeff Gordon
fueled up the night before the recent
UAW-GM 500 at Patou, a Charlotte-area French
restaurant. Patricia Moity, who owns the restaurant with her husband and
chef, Thierry, says Brooke Gordon stopped by for lunch on Friday and then brought Jeff
back for dinner Saturday night. The NASCAR star very unassumingly asked for a table for
two and drank a bottle of Evian during his dinner of spinach salad and pepper steak. His wife
had salad and halibut before the couple shared a bread pudding,
Moity said.
(Business Journal of Charlotte)
A Chat With Rick
HARRISBURG, N.C. (October 12)- - Hendrick
Motorsports CEO Rick Hendrick recently sat down for a chat
on a number of subjects. He discussed the season's fortunes and misfortunes
of his three Winston Cup teams and drivers Jeff Gordon,
Terry Labonte, and Jerry Nadeau. In addition, he talked about
his 20-year-old son Ricky who has been impressive in a limited
Busch and Truck series schedule this year. Hendrick
also discussed the addition of a fourth Winston Cup team
in 2002 for Jimmie Johnson and the expanding NASCAR schedule.
But the most important thing he mentioned was his health.
"I'm feeling better every day, and my checkups are
great," Hendrick said. "I hope by the end of the year I'll be back to full speed. You don't put your
body to sleep for three years and on chemo and all that stuff and just bounce
right back as soon as you get off. It's been a struggle.
One thing I have learned, you get up every day and thank the Good Lord
you're here and you've got a chance to do it again."
Benefit Auction
HARRISBURG, N.C. (October 12)- - The Driver of
the Year award program made a $25,000 donation to The Jeff Gordon
Foundation following the auctioning of the Jeff Gordon Indian Chief
Motorcycle. The Jeff Gordon Foundation centralizes Gordon's
charitable efforts toward a variety of charities. Each year, Indian Motorcycle Corp. creates two custom motorcycles for the winner of the driver of the year
award. The winner of the award receives one motorcycle, with the other being
auctioned through Southeby's Auctions. The proceeds go to the charity of
the driver's choice. The Jeff Gordon motorcycle was purchased by the Barber Vintage
Motorsports Museum located in Birmingham, Alabama. The motorcycle will remain
on permanent display at the museum.
(Thatsracin.com)
+Barroom shooting (Hoosier Times)
Continuing Problem
SPENCER, IN. (October 7)- - This item
underscores the national problem of guns and violence. It is mentioned
here because of the item that started the argument that led
to the unfortunate outcome. It's a situation
that happens all too often these days in the United States.
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