The Buzz: June 23, 2001

June 24, 2001
12:26 PM EDT (1626 GMT)

Team owner Richard Childress said on Saturday at Sears Point Raceway that while Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse would definitely be back with his No. 31 Chevrolet team next season, in light of one more year remaining on their contract, driver Mike Skinner might not be -- although Childress left the door open for the possibility that Skinner would return.

“No, Mike Skinner's fate has not been decided yet,” Childress said. “We have a contract with Skinner through next year. We both discussed that if we're not both completely happy here in another few weeks, we'll sit down and talk about the direction we're going to go."

BUCKSHOT SIGNED UP FOR DURATION

After he finished 16th on the lead lap in the Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring SNAP-ON Tools 200 Saturday at Sears Point, Buckshot Jones pronounced himself ready to run the full Dodge/Save Mart 350 Sunday.

Jones entered the race in a FSW team’s car to get track time. He started 39th but had raced up to ninth, when he inadvertently unhooked his safety harness and had to pit.

“I learned a bunch of stuff today,” said Jones, who opted to have part-time driver Tom Hubert -- who is the full-time car chief for driver Dave Blaney -- practice and qualify his Cup car Friday. “Me and Kyle talked about having Tommy run the race, but I am not going to learn if I don’t drive, so I am doing the whole race.”

HITTING THE BUSCHES

Childress said he more than likely would continue with his NASCAR Busch Series program next season, for obvious reasons.

"Right now, our plans are to still have the Busch team next year,” he said. “We feel the Busch teams have really complimented our Winston Cup teams. Right now, it's sort of like our minor league teams going into the major leagues like baseball.

“Without our Busch teams, we wouldn't have a Kevin Harvick. We have a tire carrier from one of the Busch teams (in the Cup program). It's a great source to bring in new talent."