 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Jason Leffler |
Jimmy Spencer |
Target |
| |
 |
| Jason Leffler signs with Ultra Motorsports' No. 2 Dodge in the Craftsman Truck Series. Jimmy Spencer signs with Ganassi to drive this ride in 2002. Car will change to No. 41 and will be sponsored by Target.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Steve Park |
Park, Kenny Wallace |
Pennzoil |
| |
|
| Kenny Wallace signs an agreement with DEI to drive its car until Steve Park returns from rehabilitation following a Busch Series crash at Darlington, S.C. Kenny Wallace signed a one-year deal with DEI for 2002. Wallace will stay in the No. 1 until Park is fully recovered and then DEI will find a fourth ride for Wallace once Park returns.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Ryan Newman |
Ryan Newman |
ALLTEL |
| |
|
| ALLTEL announces Newman will contest a full season in 2002 competing for Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Newman's car will switch from No. 02 to 12. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Bobby Hamilton Jr. |
Mike Skinner |
Kodak |
| |
|
| Mike Skinner announced as driver through 2004 season, beginning with 2002 season, and Morgan-McClure is rumored to want to put Hamilton Jr. in a second car if sponsorship is secured, but Hamilton suigns to drive Rensi entry in the Busch Series. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Kevin Lepage |
Casey Atwood |
Sirius |
| |
|
| Ultra will switch to Dodge in 2002, with Casey Atwood the new No. 7 driver. Ultra Motorsports signs a partnership with Ray Evernham -- The No. 7 will team-up with Evernham for everything racing-related, while owner Jim Smith will run the business side of the team. Sirius signs as sponsor for the No. 7 Dodge.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Brett Bodine |
Brett and Geoffrey Bodine |
Seeking |
| |
|
| Brett Bodine is seeking a patchwork assembly of smaller primary sponsors to end up with a complete "package," while also trying to land enough backing to field a second car for his older brother Geoffrey. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Mike Wallace |
|
|
| |
|
| Penske Racing is going from three Winston Cup teams to two with drivers Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman. That leaves Mike Wallace out of a job, and Newman may switch to the 12 car in order to gain owners points for 2002. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Hermie Sadler |
Hermie Sadler |
Virginia Lottery |
| |
|
| Announces Jim Long will serve as crew chief for balance of 2001 season. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Ron Hornaday |
Stacy Compton |
Conseco |
| |
|
| Team owner A.J. Foyt signs Compton to a one-year deal to drive the No. 14 Conseco Pontiac.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Michael Waltrip |
Michael Waltrip |
NAPA Auto Parts |
| |
|
| Receives vote of confidence from team management despite repeated performance reviews. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Casey Atwood |
Jeremy Mayfield |
Dodge Dealers/UAW |
| |
|
| Evernham signs Jeremy Mayfield to drive the No. 19 Dodge in 2002. Casey Atwood will drive the No. 7 in 2002, as Ultra Motorsports signs a racing partnership with Ray Evernham. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Jimmy Spencer |
Joe Nemechek |
Kmart |
| |
|
| With one-year sponsorship from Kmart remaining, owners Travis Carter & Carl Haas sign veteran Joe Nemechek, replacing Jimmy Spencer. |
|
|
|
|
 |
None |
None |
None |
| |
|
| ERR team members summarily released due to lack of finances. Team is reportedly holding an auction in January to sell equipment. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Robby Gordon |
Robby Gordon |
Cingular Wireless |
| |
|
| Team owner Richard Childress re-signs Robby Gordon to stay in the No. 31 in 2002. Cingular Wireless is the new sponsor.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Joe Nemechek |
Mike Wallace? |
None signed |
| |
|
| Mike Wallace says he will drive for Petree at the 2002 Daytona 500 but the team has not found sponsorship yet. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Ken Schrader |
Ken Schrader |
M&M's |
| |
|
| Sponsor M&M's, Schrader and crew chief Newt Moore announce team will return intact in 2002. |
|
|
|
|
 |
None |
None |
None |
| |
|
| This is the former Hedrick Motorsports operation. The number will be gone in 2002 -- Chip Ganassi Racing will field Dodges for Jimmy Spencer under the "41" banner. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Mike Ege purchases Robert Yates Engine Manufacturing, announces deal as exclusive engine supplier in 2002 to Petty Enterprises' Nos. 43, 44 and 45. Andretti was rumored to be leaving, but nixed that talk saying he was committed to staying. |
|
|
|
|
 |
None |
None |
None |
| |
|
| Crew chief Greg Conner, team manager Bob Hewitt maintain facility; other team members released. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Bobby Hamilton |
Bobby Hamilton |
Square D/ Schneider Electric |
| |
|
| Announces two-year sponsorship extension with current sponsor Square D's parent company, Schneider Electric. Team receives jolt in December when young crew chief Jimmy Elledge resigns and is tabbed to crew chief Robert Yates' No. 88 Ford. No replacement is immediately named. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Anthony Lazzaro |
Anthony Lazzaro |
TWC Motorsports |
| |
|
| Announces a limited schedule of 2002 races with former Atlantics champion. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Dave Marcis |
Dave Marcis |
Team Realtree |
| |
|
| Marcis announces he will retire as a driver following the 2002 Daytona 500. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Robert Pressley |
Dave Blaney |
Jasper? Subway? |
| |
|
| Pressley leaves Jasper and signs with Bobby Hamilton's No. 18 Dodge in the Craftsman Truck Series. Dave Blaney is Pressley's replacement in the No. 77 in 2002. |
|
|
|
|
|
None |
Kirk Shelmerdine? |
Hooters? |
| |
|
| Rumors have Kirk Shelmerdine in the cockpit and Hooters on the side of the No. 80 Ford for a one-race deal at the Daytona 500. Hooters sponsored the Winston Cup championship-winning car of Alan Kulwicki in 1992. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Carl Long |
Carl Long |
Mansion Motorsports |
| |
|
| Makes field at Atlanta and finishes 43rd after crash. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Dale Jarrett |
Dale Jarrett |
UPS |
| |
|
| Crew chief Todd Parrott is moved to team manager and hand-picks replacement -- Jimmy Elledge from Andy Petree Racing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Rick Mast |
Rick Mast |
Duke's Mayonnaise |
| |
|
| The team announced Dec. 11 that C.F. Sauer, makers of Duke's Mayonnaise, will take over as primary sponsor, replacing Hills Bros, which left with driver Hut Stricklin to go to Bill Davis Racing.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Stacy Compton |
? |
None signed |
| |
|
| Compton signs one-year deal with A.J. Foyt to drive the No. 14 Pontiac. Future of the No. 92 remains uncertain. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Dave Blaney |
Hut Stricklin |
Hills Bros |
| |
|
| Hut Stricklin will drive in 2002 with sponsorship from Hills Bros Coffee. Philippe Lopez joins team as crew chief replacing Doug Randolph and Jimmy Penland moves from BDR's No. 22 team as car chief, replacing Tom Hubert. Team will switch from No. 93 to No. 23 next season. |
|
|
|
|
 |
None |
None |
None |
| |
|
| Cal Wells III shuttered this operation after sponsor McDonald's elected to cut back its program. Andy Houston will drive for Herzog Motorsports in Busch Series in 2002. Team was one of three considered by Hills Bros for placement of its 2002 sponsorship but Wells would not revive the team unless a sponsor was in place. |
