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Jarrett Rocks Rockingham.......© Thomas M. Sampson
Oct 23, 2000
The shuffle continues, and the Pop Secret 400 from the North Carolina Speedway at Rockingham.
The Shuffle Continues................
There's only three races left, which provides little time for drivers caught up in the Silly Season shuffle to show their stuff on the track. I would assume that some decisions have already been made, but haven't been announced. Playing the waiting game is just part of the shuffle. You don't want to show your hand too quick until all of the options have been exhausted.
A couple of drivers come to mind who seem to have ended up in the shuffle for the last few years, and who always seem to get the dirty end of the stick. Rick Mast and Ted Musgrave.
Ted Musgrave took over the Bell South Team SABCO No. 01 entry after the untimely death of Kenny Irwin. In the 11 races he's run for them up to Rockingham, his best finish
was 13th. Ted can handle a racecar to some degree, but he doesn't set the track on fire. The team hasn't given Musgrave any word about his status with them in 2001, and he is reported to be looking at other options. Maybe this will be Musgrave's lucky year, and he'll get the ride with Team SABCO. But, failing to qualify at Rockingham is going to dim his luck considerably. Open wheel driver Jimmy Vasser's name has been mentioned as a candidate. Keep an eye on this one!
Rick Mast came aboard A.J. Foyt's troubled Conceco sponsored team last spring, and has been the best addition the fledgling team has had up to this point. You may remember last year around this time, A.J. Foyt mentioned that he didn't want a "recycled driver" in the No. 14 Conceco Pontiac. This is the mode of thinking that may cost Mast his job. Ron Hornaday is the leading candidate within the rumor mill. Mast has seen the writing on the wall and is reported to be looking at other options. Maybe even a surprise ride that no one knows is open?
The main two rides open at this time are in the No. 4 and No. 7 cars. Morgan McClure is reported to be wooing a winning driver over to its team, but I haven't heard any rumors of defections. I've had it in the back of my mind that Mark Martin may be unhappy with Roush Racing, and could be a possible candidate for the No. 4 car. Who knows? Mark hasn't had a good year with Roush for some reason or other. I remember news of his back problem flaring up again last spring, so maybe he's racing in lots of pain again. Then there's the big driver safety issue. Mark's teammate (Jeff Burton) is one of the main "whiners" on the circuit when it comes to speed and driver safety. And, Mark is among the "shut up and drive" set. I'm sure there's some discourse in Roush Racing on this issue. But, another aspect is nagging at the back of my mind. Why would Mark leave the high technology multi-car team of Roush to go with the lesser funded Morgan McClure? For that matter, why would any winning driver step down?
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