NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II driver swapping
By Thomas Chemris - Motorsport.com Martinsville, VA - In what is reminiscent of the old Abbott & Costello routine "Whose On First" fans and teams scrambled this weekend to understand what drivers were in there respective rides, and who was ...
Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM
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By Thomas Chemris - Motorsport.com
Martinsville, VA - In what is reminiscent of the old Abbott & Costello routine "Whose On First" fans and teams scrambled this weekend to understand what drivers were in there respective rides, and who was not.
The problems began with the scheduling conflicts between the Busch Grand National Series and the Winston Cup Series.
Kevin Harvick, who has spent the year pulling full time double duty in both divisions, broke from his usual routine and opted not to practice or qualify his Cup car in Virginia.
"With just four races left in the Busch Series this year and Kevin leading the points, we decided to keep him in Memphis to get as much time in the AC Delco car as possible", noted car owner Richard Childress.
Veteran Rick Mast was recruited to qualify and practice the car.
Another affected team was that of DEI's No. One entry, normally driven by Steve Park.
Park who was injured at Darlington has been out of the car. Kenny Wallace has been contracted to finish out the season.
Wallace, who also competes in The BGN series, remained in Memphis, and Kerry Earnhardt practiced and qualified the car with some help from half brother Dale Jr.
The Morgan McClure entry, which has played musical drivers all season, was to finish the season with Bobby Hamilton Jr behind the wheel, but due to his Busch Commitment, Rich Bickle was in the car for the event.
Both Harvick and Wallace were to fly up to Martinsville after the Busch race, but the itinerary changed as the Memphis event was postponed due to rain.
Leaving the No. One team scrambling for a driver with Cup experience.
Enter Kyle Petty, who failed to qualify for the event.
It what is fitting to the situation, the storm system that delayed the Busch race apparently did not have a solid commitment in Busch, and made a Winston Cup Debut causing the sanctioning body to delay the Sunday event.
The best laid plans of race teams once again fell astray.
Both Wallace and Harvick were in Virginia Monday morning to start the event.
Hamilton Jr did not run the four, under NASCAR rule, drivers with limited experience must practice and qualify the car they run.
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