The Buzz: April 13, 2001

April 25, 2001
11:10 AM EDT (1510 GMT)

Tempest over Talladega

A Winston Cup team member says that the teams, not NASCAR, will likely budge first in the great Talladega debate, unless a concerted effort is given from everyone.

Rumors over a possible boycott of Talladega persist.

For weeks, speculation of a team boycott at Talladega has loomed if NASCAR made no rules changes. Every driver asked has said he’ll run the event, but Bobby Labonte has confirmed that his sponsor, Interstate Batteries, would allow him to skip it.

Rumor has it that several teams will come to Talladega with varying alterations that may or may not be consistent with NASCAR’s rules.

The team member said those with altered cars “include assurances the owners and sponsors are prepared to fight for their approval in the inspection line should questions be raised by NASCAR.”

Crushably soft?

According to the same team member, at least three new chassis featuring softer, more crushable front ends will be run at Talladega. The teams that will run them developed the chassis.