Monte Dutton
Freedom News Service

The Busch Series has its first full-time Hispanic driver. Champ-car standout Michel Jourdain Jr. has signed with the PPC Racing team.

Ford Racing’s Dan Davis called Jourdain’s signing “another important step in promoting diversity in NASCAR.”

Jourdain, from Mexico, won Champ-car races in Milwaukee and Montreal in 2003.

He made 152 starts in nine years of CART and Champ CAR competition and was third in the 2003 points standings.

Looking for a crew chief

Kyle Petty is looking for a crew chief after dismissing incumbent Bill Henderson last week. The team also lost engineer Adam Stevens, who took a job at Joe Gibbs Racing.

“When we made the change to put Adam and Bill in charge of the ‘45’ team in August of last year, we looked at it as a combination effort,” said Petty. “When Adam came back from the Christmas holiday and told us of his intention to take an offer with Gibbs, we decided to reevaluate the leadership of the team.”

Like father, like son

Barry Dodson, who helped lead Rusty Wallace to his lone Cup championship in 1989, is now in charge of directing the career of the veteran driver’s son, Steve, in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series.

“Barry was watching me when I was just a rookie on the Cup Series, and he helped get me the Blue Max ride,” recalled Rusty Wallace. “We’ve been like brothers ever since. There’s nobody I’d trust my kid with more than Barry Dodson, and we’re so pleased that he’s agreed to take the reins and lead Steve’s team.”

Meanwhile, in Vegas …

Another former Wallace crew chief, Bill Wilburn, will lead the Truck Series effort of Brendan Gaughan at the Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing team. Gaughan will compete in at least 16 truck races as a teammate of Steve Park.

“It’s not often someone of Wilburn’s caliber becomes available,” said Gaughan, “and to be able to have him come to our race team is a real plus for our team.”