The Buzz: Oct. 8, 2001
October 8, 2001
4:14 PM EDT (2014 GMT)
In light of the United States launching air strikes against a variety of targets in Afghanistan virtually at the same time engines were scheduled to be fired for Sunday’s UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, race winner Sterling Marlin was psyched after the race to carry an American flag on a post-race victory lap.
“We wanted to show our support for the guys overseas and our Armed Forces here in the United States,” Marlin said after the race. But after picking up a flag from a crewman on the frontstretch, Marlin was directed by NASCAR officials into Victory Lane.
The reason the lap was not allowed was simple according to NASCAR Winston Cup communications manager Herb Branham. He said that due to a great number of people that overflowed from pit road to the start/finish line, officials decided any mobile display was inappropriate due to safety considerations.
At the Sept. 23 MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400 at Dover Downs International Speedway, the first Winston Cup race after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America, winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. stirred a lot of emotion by retrieving an American flag from a crewman and making a reverse victory lap carrying the banner.
HIGHLINE IN SCRAMBLE MODE
When it filed its entry for this weekend's Sam's Town 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park, Highline Performance Group driver Ron Hornaday was going to have to figure out how to scramble from Memphis, Tenn., to Martinsville, Va., to also practice and qualify for the Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race.
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Ron Hornaday
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But Monday afternoon the team said the only scramble it was involved in was trying to figure out who was going to drive its car for the final four races this Busch Series season. Hornaday, who was originally entered to drive the No. 11 Channellock Chevrolet in last weekend's Little Trees 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, was replaced last week by Todd Bodine, who qualified fifth and finished 15th.
Highline's driver for Memphis will have no Winston Cup responsibilities.
HORNADAY BACK TO TRUCKS?
As Silly Season rumors run rampant around race shops and garage areas, yet another has surfaced.
This new rumor has Ron Hornaday leaving his Winston Cup ride to return to his Craftsman Truck roots.
With Scott Riggs departing the No. 2 Dodge after this season to move into the No. 10 Busch Series ride, Hornaday has been mentioned as taking Riggs spot. Jeff Green is leaving the No. 10 Ford Busch ride to drive the No. 30 Chevrolet in Winston Cup.
The native Californian joined the NASCAR scene via the Truck Series in its inaugural season in 1995. He won four races that year and finished third in points. He then bested his nemesis Jack Sprague for the championship honors in 1996 and '98 driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. In 2000, he moved up to Busch Series competition before DEI folded the team at the end of last year to bring on another Cup team.
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