Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Hurricane threatens weekend races in Delaware

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003 | 9:12 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

NASCAR is formulating plans in the event Hurricane Isabel strikes the Dover, Del., area later this week, but those plans don't include relocating Saturday's Busch Series or Sunday's Winston Cup races, NASCAR president Mike Helton said.

Isabel is expected to reach the central Atlantic Coast late Thursday or early Friday with sustained wind up to 130 mph. Both series are scheduled to practice and qualify on Friday.

"Obviously, Isabel is a big headliner this week and it certainly looks like that the area that we go into this weekend, around Dover, is going to be impacted in some form or fashion by it," Helton said Monday. "The schedule calls for it to be Dover Downs and that's where our intention is to be this weekend and if we can't be there, then we won't be anywhere this weekend."

Helton said NASCAR has "two or three different task forces" working on contingency plans if the hurricane hits the Dover area. Forecasters said Isabel could hit anywhere from North Carolina to New Jersey.

"We'll simply have to wait and see what direction Isabel goes and when it decides to hit landfall, what kind of reaction it creates," Helton said. "The ultimate goal, obviously, is to get the Busch race (in) on Saturday and the Cup race done on Sunday.

"The forecaster (is) talking about landfall somewhere Thursday ... even into Thursday night, so the next 36 to 48 hours, we'll just have to simply watch the path and try to predict where it's going to go and what kind of creation it leaves us to work with. Right now, we've got several plans in place -- we're ready to react on any one of them -- but certainly our intention is to try to get the events done this weekend."

Asked if handing the reins of NASCAR to his son was a prelude to his formally retiring from NASCAR's board, France replied: "If you mean where I walk out the door, I'm not planning on walking. I may get carried out, but I'm not planning on walking out. Not in a few years anyway."

Bill France Jr. will assume the title of co-vice chairman of NASCAR and remain on the board of directors.

"Since we started this race team a couple of years ago, we have been working hard to get a solid, quality primary sponsor," said Cope, who owns Quest Motor Racing. "Paramount Hospitality Management LLC is on board for the full 2004 season, but has also given us leeway for additional sponsorship and cross-promotional opportunities. For Quest Motor Racing, this is a great, great day."

Cope has competed in 12 Winston Cup races this season with sponsorship from Friendly Ice Cream.

Christian Fittipaldi, who usually drives the No. 43, will drive the No. 44 Petty Enterprises Dodge this weekend.

It was the first LVMS track championship for Trickle, 59, who finished the season with three victories, 11 top-five finishes and 16 top-10s in 18 starts.

Glen Burke (Late Models), Dave Green (Thunder Roadsters) and Jonathan Mawhinney (Bandolero Cars) also won track championships Saturday night.

Champions in the Chargers, Legends Cars and Bullring Bombers division will be crowned following the final regular-season points races Saturday night at The Bullring.

General admission to the regular-season finale is $5 and spectator gates open at 6 p.m.