Who's Next?

September 17, 1999 - With the success of open wheel racers on the stock car scene, more and more owners and fans are looking into the open wheel ranks for the next "star." Leaving the big question of "Who's next?"

Tony Stewart has astounded many people, even though his career statistics were staggering. That is, unless you were familiar with IRL, then chances are Stewart was no surprise. Then, add the fact that Jeff Gordon started in open wheel cars, love him or hate him, his statistics speak loudly for themselves. Numerous other drivers started in go-karts, midgets, and other open wheel forms. Generally moving their way through the ranks reaching for their chance to run in the coveted Winston Cup series.

So who's next?

Jason Leffler, the reigning Coors Light Silver Bullet Series champion, who comes with the approval of Tony Stewart, will be fielding the Joe Gibbs # 18 Busch Grand National Pontiac for five races this season, with plans to run for the Rookie of the Year award next season. Leffler also won the MCI WorldCom Midget Car Series title last season, in his first full season of the Coors Light Silver Bullet Series. If that wasn't enough, in 1997, Leffler had 21 consecutive top-five finishes in the WorldCom Midget Car Series. Prior to this season, Leffler has stacked up 10 career USAC wins. Leffler came up through the TQ midget ranks in California and is on the rise to bigger things.

Recently, Tyler Walker signed with Tyler Jet Motorsports to field their BGN team full time next season. This prompted Walker to leave the World of Outlaw ranks in order to gain seat experience with stock cars in ARCA and Hooter Cup races. Walker won the Knoxville Nationals 20-lap main event, preliminary event, and finished 6th in the A-main Saturday event earlier this year. Walker also finished second in the 1998 Pennzoil WoO series ROTY race, ranking 11th overall. With all his attention turned towards BGN, look for Walker to make a name for himself.

The KOOL/Toyota Atlantic series will be delivering two potential drivers for next season. First being Anthony Lazzaro, who will be piloting the Cal Wells BGN ride with the sought-after sponsorship backing of McDonald's. (Side Note: McDonald's will remain with Bill Elliott Racing through the end of the 2000 season.) Lazzaro is not new to the sport of racing, he has run in various series. He was also the Hooter Formula Cup Champion in 1995, winning 6 of the 14 races and 9 poles. The second is driver Matt Sielsky, who spent the last couple of years preparing for the CART series. That is, until Emerald Performance Group decided to give him a chance at a two-race deal with their # 19 BGN team. Sielsky has been racing since the age 12, but is new to stock cars. His list of wins and titles is impressive, including two WKA Grand National titles. Since opportunity hasn't knocked for Sielsky in the CART series, his sights have turned to BGN.

The ARCA, Slim Jim All Pro, and ASA ranks are also lending talent to the BGN ranks this season and next, with such drivers as Derrick Gilchrist and Josh Baltes. Gilchrist began in the Slim Jim All Pro touring series in 1996, where he finished 8th overall. In 1998, he finished 2nd, with 2 wins and 3 poles. At the youthful age of 21, Gilchrist has moved into the ASA AC Delco Challenge Series, seeking ROTY honors and is in contention for the championship. Gilchrist will be driving for MB2 Racing.

Baltes, the former ARCA ROTY, finishing 6th overall, will make his appearance on the BGN circuit later this season and then full time next season. His owners, Alumni Motorsports, purchased Jeff Krogh's team. The team is located in Rhonda, NC, in a building formerly occupied by Junior Johnson. Alumni Motorsports has formed a partnership with Ohio State University, of which all of the owners and driver are alumni of, including former NFL All-Pro Jim Lachey, current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak, Brent Bushu, Drew West, and Terry Baltes. FSG Energy, MCI World Com, and CAPT (Celina Aluminum Precision Technology) have signed on as associate sponsors of the team. With 173 starts, Balts has 56 wins, 92 top-fives, and 123 top-tens.

Then there is Jason Schuler, who will steer Robbie Rieser's # 17 BGN car whenever Matt Kenseth is not behind the wheel, which will be for about 12 races. Schuler started racing in 1988 at Jefferson Speedway and has been racing short tracks ever since. Schuler, who is currently 3rd in the Re/Max Challenge Series (formerly ARTGO,) grew up with Kenseth and went to school with him in Cambridge. Schuler has pretty big shoes to fill but is coming from the same roots as Kenseth.

Jason White, who, to the best of my memory, was referred to LAR Motorsports by Ray Evernham, or Jeff Gordon, or both, has attempted three BGN starts thus far. White has one DNQ at Richmond, where 59 drivers were vying for 43 spots, a 26th at Indianapolis, and a 43rd at Bristol. White will be driving the # 28 BGN car next season. Also seen in the BGN series this season was Damon Lusk, who is running a limited season with America on Line as a sponsor. Lusk finished 34th at Pikes Peak in July, only 8 laps down. Lusk is currently driving on the Featherlite Southwest Series.

The Craftsman Truck Series is also a breeding ground for BGN potentials, with Ron Hornaday taking over the # 3 car, Kevin Harvick driving for Richard Childress Racing, and Jay Sauter looking for a ride, possibly with ST Motorsports. All three have strong statistics in the truck series. Harvick has 20 starts, with an average finish of 14th. In the CTS point standings, Harvick is currently 13th, Sauter is 6th, and Hornaday is 8th overall.

Look for Ross Thompson to run the CTS full time next season. Thompson recently left the Winston West series to drive the trucks. He has won in various types of cars, including trucks, sedans, and open-wheel formula cars. It won't be long before you will be hearing his name as a BGN potential or even Cup.

Keep your eyes open for Brendan Gaughan, whose family recently purchased Rick Carelli's truck team. Gaughan ran the BGN race in Japan last season and is currently competing in the Winston West series. Austin Cameron, who scored his first win in the Winston West series, has been looking into running three Cup races. He will be trying to make the field in Phoenix this November. Cameron is currently trying to put something together for next season.

I want to thank those people (you know who you are) that provided me with information to help with this report. There are so many drivers looking to move up in the ranks, I apologize if I missed anyone of them. I hope that I have given you a good preview on who's who for next season.

Well that's it for this report. Take care and remember Safety First! Also don't forget to send in your "In the Pits" questions. I will do my best to get your questions answered and posted. Until next time race fans!

Nikki

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