SpeedReading

Former NASCAR Busch North Series champion Brad Leighton is set to make a milk run.

Leighton, the 1999 and 2000 Busch North champ, will campaign a Ford Taurus out of the Phil Scott racing stable in this weekend’s 40^{th annual New England Dodge Dealers Milk Bowl, backed by his Busch North Series sponsor, Irving Oil/Mainway. The Center Harbor, NH, driver has run only a handful of races during a part-time Busch North campaign this season, but he hasn’t forgotten the way to Victory Lane. Just two weeks ago, he bested the Busch North troops at New Hampshire International Speedway, locking up the 2003 track championship at “The Magic Mile.”}

Leighton is also no stranger to the high banks of Thunder Road International Speedbowl. He competed there frequently during his years on the original American-Canadian Tour - including his ACT championship season in 1995, when he won the opening 50-lap segment of the Milk Bowl - and he comes to “The Nation’s Site of Excitement” this weekend as a definite threat for Victory Lane.

“I’m really excited to come back; to Thunder Road and to the Milk Bowl,” said Leighton this week. “Nobody came to me with this idea, I pushed it with Phil and his guys. It’s a great track and a great race.”

Leighton said he expects to have his hands full this weekend. “I’ve never driven an ACT Late Model before, and I know I’m going to have some adjusting to do. Those guys aren’t going to cut me any slack. I’ve got a great deal of respect for them and for their series, and I’ll be happy just to make the field, much less get a top-10 finish.”

Leighton’s return to Thunder Road adds a little more sizzle to what was already a mouth-watering Milk Bowl steak. The 2003 ACT Dodge Tour championship will be decided Sunday, with the top two contenders locked in a virtual dead-heat for the title. On the strength of his recent hot streak -- six top-five finishes (including two wins) in the last six races - Todd Stone now trails Jean Paul Cyr by only ten points; 1325-1315. Brent Dragon and defending ACT champion Phil Scott remain mathematically in the hunt, as well, 41 and 51 points back.

Cyr is no stranger to this situation. In 1996, the Milton driver clinched the ACT championship with a Milk Bowl victory. He may need to do it again Sunday. More than 40 Late Models are expected to compete for twenty-six starting spots on the Milk Bowl grid. The front row will be decided in Saturday’s Booth Brothers/Hood time trials. Two 50-lap features and a last-chance "B" feature will set the field for Sunday’s main event. The Flying Tiger Sportsmen, Street Stocks and Junkyard Warriors will also be in action Saturday, with a post time of 1:30. Sunday’s card includes the 40th Dodge Dealers Milk Bowl, the Tiger Sportsman Mini-Milk Bowl and a Street Stock feature, also beginning at 1:30 p.m. Thunder Road’s Tiger Sportsman, Street Stock and Junkyard Warrior championships will also be decided this weekend.

Two-day admission is set at $25 for adults, and $5 for kids (6-12). A Sunday-only ticket is $17 for adults, $5 for kids.

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The “Gentlemen’s Agreement” is no more. Last week, NASCAR officials announced a modification to their rules that eliminates the controversial practice of racing back to the caution flag. The revision applies to the Winston Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Truck Series’, effective immediately.

"We have reached the conclusion that it is time for us to take this step,” said NASCAR President Mike Helton. “We will eliminate the practice completely, and no longer depend on the gentlemen's agreement in an effort to further ensure the safety of the competitors."

The new rule prohibits all passing under yellow. Now, drivers will be required to fall into single file and reduce speed immediately when the caution flag is displayed. Drivers determined to have passed cars under the caution flag will be penalized with either a pit road pass-through penalty, or banishment to the end of the longest line on the ensuing restart. NASCAR officials will decide who belongs where, and those decisions will not be subject to review or appeal.

“We needed to find a better way to do it, and the new procedures we are putting in place are the first step in the process,” Helton said. “We will monitor and evaluate the new procedures, and fine-tune them if needed, as we move forward.”

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Shane Hmiel’s rising star crashed to earth last week, when the NASCAR Busch Series driver was suspended from competition for failing a drug test at Richmond International Raceway two weeks ago. Hmiel was immediately released by Innovative Motorsports owner George deBidart, and will not be eligible for reinstatement by NASCAR until he meets a number of terms and conditions, including counseling and periodic random testing.

“NASCAR has zero tolerance for (that) type of behavior,” said NASCAR President Mike Helton last week. “Our primary responsibility is the safety of our drivers and our fans, and we also have a moral responsibility to protect the integrity of our sport.”

While not contesting his suspension, Hmiel insisted that he never placed his fellow competitors at risk.

“I am deeply saddened by the circumstances that resulted in my suspension,” he said. “I understand and expect there to be widespread criticism and conjecture. I am beyond a doubt prepared to cooperate with NASCAR to meet the terms and conditions set forth for my future reinstatement. While I look forward to adhering to NASCAR's program, which I fully support, I want to make it clear that I have never taken any substance that would interfere with my ability to drive a racecar, or place my fellow competitors at risk.”

DeBidart, meanwhile, released a strongly worded statement severing all ties with Hmiel, and vowing to take steps to prevent this situation from happening again.

“Our entire organization wants to apologize to our sponsors, NASCAR, each of the NASCAR competitors, and our fans for the recent developments surrounding this situation,” said deBidart. “We do not condone this type of
behavior, and we fully support NASCAR in its decision. In an effort to prevent these circumstances from embarrassing our team in the future, we will immediately institute a drug testing policy within our organization for all employees.”

While Hmiel said he “expects to see (his) friends and acquaintances during the suspension,” and asked for their support, NASCAR Winston Cup Director John Darby said the driver will be denied entrance into any area
restricted to NASCAR members.

"There's a maze of doors that read 'Must be a NASCAR member to enter,'" Darby said. "He's not barred from the premises. He can go to the suites or the campground, but he can't enter the garage until NASCAR deems it appropriate. That means any NASCAR garage, even local short tracks.”

At the time of his suspension, Hmiel ranked eighth in Busch Series points with four top-five finishes in 26 starts.

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Short (Track) Subjects…

…Ricky Craven’s team owner wants to put Joe Nemechek in a second car next year, if the money can be found. Cal Wells has been working on a second team all season, and said last week that "decision time is imminent. We have to have the money to do this, but we are really, really close,” said Wells. “Our organization is developed to a point where we could really get things done with a second team if we have the opportunity."

…Busch Series standout Brian Vickers will drive the U.S. Army/MB2 Pontiac in the final four races of the Winston Cup season. The 19-year-old Vickers will substitute for Jerry Nadeau, who continues his recovery from injuries sustained in a May 2 accident at Richmond, before moving to Rick Hendrick’s #25 GMAC-sponsored Winston Cup car next season. Vickers has won three of the last six Busch races, including last weekend’s event at Dover.

…Richard Childress says he has picked a new driver for his #30 AOL-sponsored Chevrolet, but he isn’t saying who it is. Drivers said to be in the running include Ward Burton, Jeremy Mayfield, Steve Park and Ron Hornaday, but Mayfield said last weekend that he wants to stay with his present team owner, Ray Evernham.

"Ray and I want the team to stay together, and that's best way to say it," he said. "Whoever would split this team up is crazy."

…Dale Earnhardt, Inc., has reportedly signed a deal with Kodak to put the photo giant on the side of one of its cars beginning in 2004. Kodak currently sponsors the Morgan-McClure Motorsports team, and crewchief Tim Brewer said recently that two years remain on that contract. Kodak could attempt to get out of the deal, citing the team’s lack of competitiveness this season, or it could elect to buy-out its contract. The possibility also exists for Kodak to sponsor both teams next season, though that option is not considered likely.

… Jason Jarrett, son of former Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett, will make his Winston Cup debut
in Sunday’s EA Sports 500 at Talladega, driving a Ford Taurus fielded by his father’s team, Robert Yates Racing. The Jarretts have raced against each other once before, but not on the Cup Series.

…Mike Olsen has re-signed his sponsor through the 2005 Busch North season. CAR-FRESHNER Corporation, makers of the "Little Trees" auto air fresheners, has backed the North Haverhill, NH, driver since 1995.

…Jason Keller will drive the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet in this weekend’s “EA Sports 500” at Talladega Superspeedway. Keller won Busch Series “Aaron's 312” at Talladega earlier this year.