Gentleman Start Your Engines

NASCAR to test in Dec? NASCAR officials are tentatively planning a major one-day Daytona 500 test of proposed new rules at the Florida track the first week of December, and are expected to invite a number of Winston Cup teams. Officials in December are expected to have drivers re-test the lower 60-degree spoiler rules package, without the roof spoiler, that drivers tested in August. With that rules package, cars cut a smaller hole in the air, and drivers expect to see only two-wide racing, not the three-wide racing with runs up the middle that the rules allow. It is not clear what other rules options NASCAR might test.

Alltel Official for 2002: Alltel announced their official sponsorship of his 2002 Winston Cup effort and Rookie of the Year bid for Ryan Newman in the #02 Penske Ford. Alltel recently held an employee day at their Little Rock, Ark. headquarters, where they unveiled next year's paint scheme, saw several pit stop demonstrations, and interacted with the team.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America will honor one of its most passionate public supporters, NASCAR Winston Cup racing superstar Jeff Gordon, with the 2001 Chris Greicius Award -- Favorite Athlete. The award will be presented by Make-A-Wish Foundation President and CEO Paula Van Ness at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, October 27.

Hornaday Will Drive Remaining BGN Races In No. 43 Car Winston Cup rookie Ron Hornaday will drive the Curb-Agajanian Motorsports No. 43 Chevrolet in the Grand National series the remaining three races of the season. Hornaday replaces Jay Sauter, who is moving to Richard Childress Racing next season.

Stricklin Joins Bill Davis Racing: Bill Davis Racing will field the No. 93 Dodges for Hut Stricklin in 2002, ending the long period of rumors and speculation concerning
Stricklin's move. "This new agreement with Bill Davis Racing really makes the Hills Bros Racing Team a triple threat in next year's Winston Cup circuit," said Henk de Back, president of Sara Lee Coffee. "First we're able to keep our long-standing and prosperous relationship with NASCAR driver Hut Stricklin who helps connect our brand with the race fans who follow his career. Second, we have the best opportunity to win with a powerhouse race team and proven winner in Bill Davis. And third, we capitalize on the chemistry that has been created between Hut, our
trade and consumers since we aligned with NASCAR."

Parrott and the #7: Brad Parrott is in the middle of a three-race deal as a consultant with Ultra Motorsports, having left Robert Yates Racing earlier this month. Parrott hopes to announce his 2002 plans by Oct. 31. He could have remained part of Dale Jarrett's crew under brother Todd Parrott, but decided to make a change.

Driver-turned-broadcaster Wally Dallenbach's plans are uncertain. NBC has picked up his option for 2002, but Dallenbach said that doesn't necessarily mean he agrees to return to the broadcast booth. "At the moment, I would say there's probably a pretty good chance I won't be doing the TV thing next year," Dallenbach said. "I'm looking for a full-time ride here and I'm also very close to a full-time Indy car deal. We'll see what comes up first.

Former Cup crew chief and current Fox broadcaster, Jeff Hammond has reached an agreement with Jack Roush and Roush Industries to be a manufacturers representative for them.

Gordon NOT signed: Robby Gordon denied rumors posted on various NASCAR
Internet sites that he has already signed with Childress Racing for next season. As for "Silly Season" rumors that have Gordon already filming commercials for RCR's new sponsor Cingular Wireless, Gordon said flatly, "Absolutely not true. This is a great team, and I think I could do some great things with this team, but I don't know what's going to happen. I've got several offers on the table, one here and several in Indy cars," he said. Gordon, who has filled in for RCR since Mike Skinner's season-ending knee surgery following a crash at Chicago in July, said
Childress will make his decision on the permanent replacement for Skinner in the #31 Chevy by next month's race in Atlanta.

SpeedVision = Speed Channel: Speedvision, the first and only 24-hour cable network devoted exclusively to motorsports, is being re-launched early next year as Speed Channel, it was announced Tuesday by the network's president, Jim Liberatore. In addition to the network's new name, Liberatore unveiled Speed Channel's new logo and set Feb. 4, 2002 as the official date for the network's new programming and look to debut.

Petty Team Notes -- "Steve Lane will be coming on as crew chief for the 45 team beginning this weekend in Phoenix. Lane had been car chief with Jeremy Mayfield on the #12 car for the last three or four years. It's just another change in what we're trying to do, " said Winston Cup driver and team owner KYLE PETTY. "We're trying to hire better people."

The Tonight Show: Dale Jr. will appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno next Monday (October 29) on NBC. Dale Jr. will appear along with other guests John
Travolta and the band Alien Ant Farm. It will be Earnhardt Jr's first appearance on Leno's show.