The Buzz: May 11, 2001

May 11, 2001
7:31 PM EDT (2331 GMT)

Mark Green's return to the NASCAR Busch Series was short-lived Friday, consisting as it did of less than 10 laps of practice and a qualifying run.

When Foyt Racing's primary driver Larry Foyt slapped the Turn 2 wall midway through Happy Hour, Green's opportunity to start Saturday's CVS Pharmacy 200 presented by Bayer went away when his No. 41 Harrah's Chevrolet was withdrawn from its 32nd starting spot to revert to Foyt's back-up car.

Mark Green would have started 32nd in Saturday's CVS Pharmacy 200.

Foyt will thus start 33rd in his re-numbered 14, then drop to the rear on the pace laps. Bobby Gerhart moves into the 36th position since his qualifying speed was faster than Robby Faggart's, who takes the only provisional.

Green's Davis & Weight Motorsports team at this point does not plan to test its NASCAR Winston Cup Ford effort until later this summer in the manufacturer's session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Low-key remembrance

New Hampshire International Speedway will take a low-key approach to remembering the first anniversary of Adam Petty's death at the track one year ago Saturday.

Petty, who was killed in a crash in the opening practice session, will be briefly saluted during the pre-race invocation prior to the CVS 200.

Goopy Monday

On Monday following the CVS Pharmacy 200, Slurry Paving, Inc. of Richmond, Va., will apply a coat of sealer to the 1.058-mile New Hampshire International Speedway identical to the material applied to Richmond International Raceway prior to the 2001 Pontiac Excitement 400.

The race track had its surface ground by a laser-guided milling machine in the weeks preceding this weekend and was called "the smoothest it's been since it was originally paved" by NHIS multi-divisional veteran Steve Park, who has raced at the "Magic Mile" in four NASCAR divisions.

Who's taming who?

Darlington Raceway can be daunting enough for a driver making a first-time visit in any division. This weekend, the Craftsman Truck Series is making its inaugural visit to the 1.366-mile speedway. So, who's already got their Darlington stripe at the "track too tough to tame?"

During Thursday's optional test/practice session Lance Norick, Billy Bigley Jr., Travis Kvapil and Rodney Sawyers all sustained minor right-side damage. Friday's pre-qualifying sessions had only one driver garnering a stripe when Chuck Hossfeld brushed the wall.

Looks like the track is living up to its nickname, so far.