The Buzz: Nov. 15, 2001
November 15, 2001
11:02 AM EST (1602 GMT)
SPENCER ON TARGET FOR GANASSI
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Jimmy Spencer
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Look for Jimmy Spencer to be officially named the driver for the No. 01 Dodge owned by Chip Ganassi Racing this weekend. The team has already scheduled a press conference and reports indicate they will announce Target stores as the sponsor.
The team has reportedly already painted some cars in Target's trademark red with Spencer's name over the driver's side window.
Ganassi and Target already have a relationship from his CART teams and the move for both of them into NASCAR seems like a natural progression. Jason Leffler has driven the No. 01 this season and should be released from the ride.
Where does this leave Leffler? As previously mentioned in The Buzz, speculation is high that he will be driving the No. 2 Craftsman Truck for Ultra Motorsports.
MAYFIELD DODGE-ING PUBLIC LIFE
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Jeremy Mayfield
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As the Silly Season has yet to end, The Buzz is hearing that Jeremy Mayfield will resurface very soon to the Winston Cup garage area. After being released from the No. 12 Ford of Penske Racing, he hasn't been seen in the garage area politicking for a ride.
Reason is, he reportedly already had a three-year deal with Evernham Motorpsorts to drive a Dodge when he was released by Penske. Is owner Ray Evernham adding a team? Sort of.
Look for Casey Atwood to be moved from the No. 19 Dodge, he has been fairly successful in as of late, to the No. 7 Ultra Motorsports soon-to-be Dodge team. Evernham and Ultra owner Jim Smith will partner on that deal keeping Atwood under Evernham's guidance and still in the Dodge program.
Ultra already has a solid relationship with Dodge as its two Craftsman Truck Series teams are made up of Dodge trucks. Ultra gave the car maker its first manufacturer championship in the Craftsman Truck Series with 12 combined victories from Ted Musgrave and Scott Riggs.
So, if Spencer goes to Ganassi and Leffler is released, Leffler goes to Ultra in the No. 2 Dodge truck. Then Mayfield goes to the No. 19 Dodge, that would move Atwood to the newly forming No. 7 Dodge team at Ultra.
See why it's called Silly Season?
WHAT'S UP WITH KENNY WALLACE?
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Kenny Wallace
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With Steve Park still recuperating from a Busch Series race crash at Darlington in September, Kenny Wallace has been fairly impressive filling in behind the wheel of the No. 1 Chevrolet. So impressive, in fact, that Dale Earnhardt Inc. just might keep the hard-driving, fun-loving Wallace around for awhile.
DEI has scheduled a press conference in Atlanta on Friday to make a formal announcement. The Buzz has had its crystal ball working overtime during this Silly Season and predicts that Wallace will stay in the No. 1 Chevrolet, through the beginning of next year, until Park is fully recovered. A head injury is nothing to mess with and DEI and Park would rather be cautious than rush back into things.
Once Park is deemed ready to drive again, DEI may field a fourth team for Wallace in order to keep him in the fold. As far as sponsorhip goes, Pennzoil may ante up for another team for Wallace with one of its other petroleum related products on board. To add to the fourth team fund, DEI could also approach its multitude of associate sponsors on the No. 8 and No. 15 teams.
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