The Buzz: Jan. 17, 2002

January 17, 2002
4:34 PM EST (2134 GMT)

When Casey Atwood was switched from Ray Evernham's No. 19 Intrepid to Jim Smith's switching-to-Dodge No. 7 Ultra Motorsports team, there was a certain amount of conjecture that Atwood would still get to drive some of the Dodges that he had excelled with in 2001, when he was a rookie member of Evernham's primary team.

Rumor has it that Atwood will be in the No. 19 Dodge for the Bud Shootout, NASCAR's 70-lap non-points Budweiser Shootout event for 2001's Bud Pole winners on Feb. 10 at Daytona International Speedway.

Atwood he won his first career pole at Phoenix International Raceway last fall.

Mayfield, after winning four poles in 2000, failed to win one in 2001 and is ineligible for the event.