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NASCAR briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 1, 2001

Childress won't run No. 3 again

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Dale Earnhardt's No. 3 will not be back on the track next season.

Team owner Richard Childress ended speculation Sunday about the direction of the team since Earnhardt, the seven-time Winston Cup champion, was killed at Daytona in February.

Kevin Harvick will continue to drive the No. 29 with a new silver and black paint scheme on the Goodwrench Chevrolet in 2002. It replaces the white car Harvick has driven since taking Earnhardt's place on Childress' team.

"We've had a long year and the No. 29 has obviously become part of our organization and our team," Harvick said. "Hopefully this puts a little pressure on NASCAR to do what is right with the No. 3 car."

Unlike other sports, motorsports is reluctant to retire numbers. NASCAR has not made a decision about what to do with the No. 3.

Also, Childress said he hoped to have a decision on the future of the No. 31 car by November at the Atlanta race. Mike Skinner, who had already lost the ride for next year, is out for the season with a knee injury.

NOT SO FAST: Bill Elliott saw a good chance for victory go up in smoke.

By Lap 134, he had led 33 laps and was riding with the leaders when the engine blew in his No. 9 Dodge.

"It just quit running," Elliott said. "That's the best race car I've had all year. It's just a shame."

The race was even worse for teammate Casey Atwood. After qualifying fifth, he was knocked out by a crash on the opening lap.

The Evernham team's struggles personified the day Dodge had. The manufacturer, which had four cars qualify in the top five, had just two finish in the top 10. Sterling Marlin's fifth place was the best finish by a Dodge, followed by Dave Blaney in 10th.

TIRE PROBLEMS: At least three drivers wrecked because of blown tires. Goodyear spokesperson Carole Swartz said the right front tires on the cars driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth were either cut or had low inflation. Jason Leffler's left rear tire failed after he ran over debris, Swartz said.

BUSCH BLAMES TRACK: Rookie Kurt Busch, who finished ninth, has become one of the better drivers at putting things in perspective. He said the 13 caution periods, a season high for superspeedways, weren't surprising considering the newness of the racing surface.

"You just have to get through all the wrecks and be sure you are positioned correctly on restarts," Busch said. "Nobody has a consistent base for a chassis set-up. It's very edgy, and you are unfamiliar with the circumstances that each race track gives you."

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