The Buzz: November 19, 2001
November 19, 2001
2:32 PM EST (1932 GMT)
Word is that Jim Smith, owner of UItra Motorsports, is putting together a Winston West team to compete in the NASCAR Weekly Series program. Not usually any big news, but Smith is currently testing the program with female drivers only.
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Tina Gordon
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The first name mentioned was that of Tina Gordon of Centre, Ala. The married mother of one, Gordon has competed at Thunder Mountain, Green Valley Speedway and Birmingham International Speedway in Alabama.
Earlier this year, she competed in her first Busch Series race at Darlington and finished 43rd after handling problems forced her out of the race. Ultra could be testing with other females through the next month or two.
WHAT ABOUT BOBBY JR.?
Bobby Hamilton Jr. has driven the No. 4 Chevrolet for six of the last seven Winston Cup races since Kevin Lepage was released from Morgan-McClure Motorsports. Hamilton also put in a full season behind the wheel of the No. 26 Chevrolet in the Busch Series but said in Homestead that he had parted ways with Carroll Racing.
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Bobby Hamilton Jr.
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So, where does that leave him? Mike Skinner has already been announced as the driver of the No. 4 for next year and is expected to be fully healed and ready for action at Daytona.
Morgan-McClure Motorsports is reportedly looking for a second, primary sponsor in hopes of keeping Hamilton Jr.
KNEE-DED SURGERY
Multi-time NASCAR Touring Division champion and Craftsman Truck Series veteran Rick Carelli underwent successful reconstructive surgery of his right knee Monday in Denver, Colo. In a situation similar to Winston Cup driver Mike Skinner’s, Carelli had a longstanding ACL injury he had never bothered to fix.
Three weeks ago at Phoenix International Raceway, Carelli re-injured his knee in an off-track incident and had a multi-purpose surgery conducted by the physician group affiliated with the NFL’s Denver Broncos as well as the city’s professional hockey and basketball teams, the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets, respectively.
He underwent repairs to his ACL, MCL and meniscus. His recovery period is from four to six weeks and he will be on crutches for about the first four. Carelli will more than likely be back at a race track when the ARCA RE/MAX Series tests at Daytona International Speedway in December, and he also has a few other driving irons in the fire for 2002.
TRUCKS STILL TRUCKING
Craftsman Truck Series teams have a 21-event schedule in their hands that has yet to be released as NASCAR seeks to fill in a couple of additional dates. The 2002 series opens Feb. 15 at Daytona International Speedway and closes Nov. 15 in a previously-announced race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The current schedule has a couple of gaps -- from the opener to the second race set for April 13 at Martinsville Speedway, and from a Sept. 21 date at South Boston Speedway until a Nov. 2 date at California Speedway.
In addition to the Daytona, Martinsville and Homestead events, the trucks will appear with the Winston Cup Series at Dover May 31, New Hampshire July 20, Richmond Sept. 5 and Phoenix Nov. 8. The NCTS will appear in conjunction with the Busch Series at Milwaukee June 29 and Indianapolis Raceway Park Aug. 2.
Current stand-alone races or events held in conjunction with Touring Division or other series such as ARCA or the IRL include St. Louis May 5, Pikes Peak May 19, Texas Motor Speedway June 7 and Sept. 13, Memphis June 22, Kansas City July 6, Kentucky July 13, Michigan July 27, Nashville Aug. 10 and Chicago Motor Speedway Aug. 25.
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