Dan Pardus Returns to Broadcast Booth

Dan Pardus will provide color commentary for this weeks Winston West race at Irwindale Speedway. Irwindale, California.

The regional race will broadcast nationally tape-delayed on the Speed Channel. The broadcast is scheduled to air August 18 at 8:00 PM ET.

This year’s race, “The King Taco 200”, will mark the return of Austin Cameron to the race circuit in the #16 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy. Cameron, who has been recovering from an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, was both last year’s Irwindale’s Bud Pole and Race Winner. Austin recently tested at the track and showed he was ready to reenter the championship series. Since winning the Winston West Rookie of the year award in 1998, Cameron has been a consistent championship contender in the series.

Dan has worked in the broadcast booth at several race series this season. “I am still looking for a ride. I have talked with Busch team owners and feel my experience and ability will give me the opportunity to drive this season. Right now, I am happy to be part of the Fox Sports Network”

More information on the Winston West Series and the Irwindale race can be found at www.racingwest.com
 

PARDUS BEHIND THE MIKE
 
 Dan Pardus, Busch Grand National Driver will provide color commentary for Speed Channel’s broadcast of the Busch North Series race this weekend. He will be in the broadcast booth with Mark Garrow of Speed Channel.
 
 The Busch North Series makes it annual visit to Western New York for the Sunoco/Burnham Boilers 150 at Holland International Speedway on Saturday night, June 28. Holland Speedway, a .375 high-banked paved oval is located 30 miles south of Buffalo and has been part of the Busch North Series since its inception in 1987.
 
 “I welcome the opportunity to be part of the Fox Broadcast team. The Busch North Series is an exciting component of Nascar racing. Drivers Ricky Craven and Mike McLaughlin started their Nascar careers in this Series and Nascar driver, Andy Santerre is the current points leader this year. I am excited about this weekend. My first love is racing. My second is talking about racing.”
 
 Dan has provided color commentary for MRN radio during Speed Weeks at Daytona and served as a pit reporter on various weekends. He recently provided race commentary for the Outdoor Channel for their broadcasts of ARCA races.
 

CONVERSATION WITH DAN PARDUS

Dan, What are your plans for the 2003 season?

I am presently working on sponsorship programs for both the Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. I am looking at all options which include running a limited Busch schedule as an owner-driver, or as a driver only in either the Busch or Craftsman Truck Series.

In 2001, you had some top five finishes in the ARCA series and were a contender in the Speedway Challenge Series when the team moved up to the Busch Series? Was the move good for the team?

Yes, it was a positive move for Dan Pardus and Jim and Judie Motorsports. I had proven my driving ability in the Goody’s Dash Series and the ARCA Racing Series. Every racer aspires to run in the NASCAR Racing Series. When the opportunity presented itself this year, we were happy to take it. Even on a limited budget we proved we are a contender in the Busch Series.

Looking back, how would you rate your performance in the Busch Series this season?

Looking back over the past months, I consider it a success. As a new team with no provisional help, our concentration was focused on qualifying and making the races. We did and proved we could race in this Series. We earned the respect of other drivers and team owners. We made steady improvement and held our own racing against the best of the best in the racing community.

Everyone talks about the money it takes to race today. Is money all that important to field a competitive race team?

Yes. Funding needed is $80,000 to $120,000 per race. We were well short of that, but performed well with our limited resources. Additional funding would have provided us with more testing, an engine program, new parts and a race-day pit crew. Busch races last between two and three hours, but finishing positions are counted in seconds. An engine program will give added horsepower and save race seconds; testing helps you improve your race set up and racing line. It saves seconds. A trained pit crew working together each race saves seconds. This season Jim and Judie Motorsports had four full time employees, including myself, plus a group of dedicated volunteers of friends and family. Because of lack of funding, in the last half of the season we had to rebuild our engines from spare parts and curtail testing, yet we still made races and performed well.

You are an Owner-Driver in the Busch Series as co-owner of Jim and Judie Motorsports. Does being a car owner present special challenges to the driver?

Yes and No. In qualifying you understand the importance of making a race. It may mean making payroll that week. During a race, you worry that you have no back-up car. You think about the wall a lot and what you will race next week if you hit it.

Many Winston Cup teams provide backing for Busch Series teams with engines, technical support and personnel as well as drivers. Teams like Hendricks, Roush, Childress and Bill Davis are all involved. Can an independent car owner find happiness in the Busch Series?

When you make a race, qualifying ahead of one of these teams, that’s happiness! When you finish a race on the lead lap with Greg Biffle, Jason Keller, Kenny Wallace or any of the other big team drivers, that’s happiness! Finishing a race and having a top twenty finish is happiness. Driving a car back to the team hauler, instead of having it towed back is happiness for any car owner.

Looking back on this season do you feel your driving performance was aggressive enough?

I drove safely. There were times I could have been more aggressive but I had to realize my equipment limitations. When you are racing in a pack of cars and leaders are approaching we sometimes gave way and let them pass. We lost laps in these situations. There were times I thought I could race them and stay on the lead lap. With 43 cars on the track and new to the Busch Series I wanted to drive smart and learn patience and gain respect. We did. Now with my Busch experience and the right equipment, I feel I can be more aggressive.

Do you plan to continue as an owner-driver next season?

We are looking at all options. I know I can drive in the Nascar Series. I am looking at all opportunities in both the Busch and the Craftsman Truck Series. If sponsorship money is available, I want to put together a five, ten or full race package for either the Craftsman or Busch Series. Also, I am available as driver for another team looking to put together a limited or full race program package.

Most importantly, I am a racer and that’s what I want to continue doing next year. In my heart I know I can compete with the best.

TEAM OUTDOOR CHANNEL
PREPARES FOR CHARLOTTE TEST

Dan Pardus and the Outdoor
Channel crew are busy preparing for a two-day open test date that begins October 1st at the Lowe’s Motorspeedway.

Testing is a serious perquisite to race preparation. On race weekends there is normally just two hours of practice before qualifying. The level of competition has become so equal that...more

RAINY DAY BLUES FOR PARDUS

The Outdoor Channel Team was looking forward to a return to Darlington. “This is one of our better tracks to run. Once you earn your Darlington Stripe, learn about the different corners and tire management, it is a great track to race and the prestige and history of Darlington pump you up.”

A rainy Labor Day weekend brought disappointment. Rain washed out...more

DAN PARDUS POST CABELA’S 250 RACE NOTES

UNCERTAINTY

Dan Pardus and the Outdoor Channel Chevy Monte Carlo finished 27th in the Cabela’s 250 at Michigan International Speedway this past weekend.

Dan spoke after the race about the uncertainty the team faced going to Michigan. “We started the weekend with a big question mark. We had never raced a Busch car at Michigan and had no track notes. Our car was brand new, untested and we were attempting to make the field where 52 cars were entered that included all the Busch regulars plus seven full time Winston Cup drivers. Knowing we needed to make the field on speed, running in the top 36 qualifiers gave me a few sleepless nights. I felt good about our motor, but we needed the track practice to work on the set up. When rain shortened the practice session, it was not a feel good time. I made a trek through the Busch and Cup garages talking to driver friends, hoping to pick up pointers. We needed to make the “show”, but could not afford to lose another car in qualifying driving over the edge. With my friend, Greg Culver, we spent time in all four corners watching Winston Cup practice observing the proper entry and exit points. Our qualifying draw number was 51 of the 52 entries. I asked Greg to watch the first 30 Busch qualifiers and give me input data on how they were entering and exiting the corners. Overdriving a corner entry will slow you down considerably. Greg’s input gave me the confidence I needed to run that one qualifying lap I needed to make the race. We qualified 32nd with a lap time of 40.096 and a speed of 179.569.

The weekend turned into success. Without testing, shortened practice and rain canceling Happy Hour, Greg Conner, our crew chief and the Outdoor Channel team gave us a stable car that responded to adjustments each pit stop. Our pit crew rose to the occasion, giving us sub 20 seconds times each pit stop helping us move forward all day.

Following the last caution restart, the car was bad loose off turn 2, and loose going into turn 3. It felt like a left rear going down but with less than 20 laps remaining, I was reluctant to pit. We lost eight or nine positions on the track before I was able to get the car back up to speed, realizing it was either water or oil on the track that caused the car to go loose. I was able to gain several positions back and finish on the lead lap in 27th place.

This weekend we proved we could be competitive running against established, well-funded Winston Cup backed teams. The Moose had a winning day.

The next scheduled race for Dan and the Outdoor Channel car is the South Carolina 200 at Darlington Speedway, August 31.

Tournament Fishing in Hawaii

Dan Pardus will be a member of the Buzzard Anglers team sponsored by the Outdoor Channel at the Hawaiian Billfish Tournament. Known as the grandfather of big game fishing tournaments, this year’s event takes place August 5-10 off the coastal town of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Dan will joining anglers Wade Sherman, VP of the Outdoor Channel, Brock Ray, host of Better Built’s World of Outdoors and Lannie Wallace of Mossy Oak Brand Camo.

“Yes, this is one of the perks of having the Outdoor Channel as our primary sponsor. I am told that Kenny Schrader has a lifetime supply of M&M’s, Ricky Rudd has a garage full of Havoline Motor Oil and Bobby Hamilton Jr. gets to go to Marine Boot Camp. Me...I get to hunt big game in Texas, and now big game fish in Hawaii.”

The weeklong fishing tournament begins with an eye-catching parade in the oceanfront town. A variety of activities are scheduled in the area while anglers are offshore seeking thousand pound marlins called granders. More information about the tournament can be found at the website, www.konabillfish.com.

The Outdoor Channel is a full time cable television network dedicated to traditional outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and boating.
 

Dan OK After Crash at Chicagoland

Dan Pardus, driving the Outdoor Channel Chevy Monte Carlo crashed during qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway.

The car hit the outside retaining wall in Turn Four, igniting the fuel cell and the car erupted into flames. Dan escaped uninjured, but was treated at the infield care center for smoke inhalation. Dan was released and is feeling well now.

Dan and the team are disappointed and now face the difficulty of returning home and preparing a new car for the Michigan Race, August 17th. Dan commented, “We wanted to take the Chicago car to Michigan, but this one is toast. We have a new car at the shop that is about 60% complete. The crew will work to complete it and get it track ready.”
 

BUCA di BEPPO joins Dan Pardus @ Daytona

Jay Robinson Racing and Driver Dan Pardus welcome BUCA di BEPPO as an associate sponsor for the Stacker2/GNC Live Well 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July5th.

BUCA di BEPPO is a growing national chain of Family Style Italian restaurants known for their “Freakishly Large Entrees”. The name means “Joe’s Basement” in Italian derived from the first location opened in 1993 at a basement in Minneapolis. Today it is a collection of neighborhood restaurants, each operating under the watchful eye of a Paisano Partner whose pride of ownership reflects both the southern Italian tradition and a commitment to community.

Daytona Beach Restaurant partner, Steve Kaplan, “The NASCAR community has welcomed us in Daytona. Many drivers, owners and crewmembers are frequent patrons. We are pleased to help sponsor local Daytona Beach driver, Dan Pardus and be a part of the racing community.”

DAN PARDUS ENTERS STACKER2/GNC LIVE WELL 250
@ DAYTONA

Dan Pardus will drive the Jay Robinson Racing Ford Taurus in the Stacker2/GNC Live Well 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 5th.

Dan is a co-owner and driver for the Outdoor Channel Chevy Monte Carlo in the Busch Grand National Series. “Presently, our team, Jim & Judie Motorsports does not have cars set up for restrictor plate races, so we welcome this opportunity to participate at my hometown track, Daytona International Speedway.

Dan has a wealth of experience at DIS, having participated in Goody’s Dash Series, ARCA, Busch and Winston Cup Races at the Speedway. Dan was the chief Driving instructor for the Richard Petty Driving School at Daytona International Speedway.

The Outdoor Channel is sponsoring Dan Pardus is 15 Busch Grand Races this season.

Jay Robinson Racing is scheduled to run a full Busch Grand National Schedule this season with various drivers participating. In the last restrictor plate race at Talladega, Andy Kirby drove a Jay Robinson car to a sixth place finish.

The Stacker2/GNC Live Well 250 will be broadcast of FX television at 7:00 PM on July 5th.
 

MOVING ON UP! (Kentucky Notes)

Dan Pardus and the OUTDOOR CHANNEL CHEVY finished 27th in the Kroger 300 at the Kentucky Speedway.

With a new car and new engine package, the team was pleased with the overall performance. Dan remarked, “We qualified for the race with only six laps on the car. It performed well in early practice and we qualified 24th. Our previous experience here at Kentucky in ARCA races and Busch testing helped the team with the car set up.”

“During the race I ran with Kenny Wallace and Shane Hall. Together, we were moving through the field. I was running 22nd when the rain delay forced a red flag on Saturday night. With the race resuming on Sunday afternoon, track conditions were completely different, however we kept pace with the leaders until Lap 110 when a bump in my rear by Stuart Kirby caused me to spin. Fortunately, I did not hit the wall, but the resulting caution and pitting to change tires resulted in the loss of two laps.”

For the balance of the race, up until lap 194, our race speed was consistent with the race leaders. On lap 194, we experienced a broken left front wheel bearing and I entered the pits for a quick check. We were in the pits when the caution flew for a car hitting the wall and the ensuing red flag was waved. When the race was restarted we rejoined the cars on the track to finish 27th.

We felt very positive about our performance at Kentucky Speedway.

We had a car that could've finished in the top ten. The Outdoor Channel team shows continued improvement each race both in qualifying and on-track performance. Dan added, “We were definitely competitive today, with a strong motor and a good handling car.”

NASHVILLE RECAP

Nashville, the city of broken dreams, broken hearts and crying eyes for many country music hopefuls, gave Dan Pardus and The Outdoor Channel Chevy a dose of disappointment.

Dan qualified 34th for the Inside Traxx 300, and with a tight handling car managed to work his way to 28th before a tire started to go down around lap 50. After a 4 tire change pit stop, Crew Chief Greg Conner noted we would be all-right as the rest of the field would be making green flag pit stops within the next 5 to 10 laps. Not to be, a caution came two laps later, and Dan became the only car forced to make a green flag pit stop putting us three laps down from the field.

The car continued to run tight and adjustments were made during each pit stop. The tight handling caused excessive heating of the front brakes and at Lap 152; the Right Front Brake Rotor gave way sending the Outdoor Channel car into the outside wall. Dan finished 34th.

“We love running at Nashville, the personnel, the facility and the track are among the best on the circuit. We just wish a little luck will shine on our efforts and put an end to the heartbreak we have at Nashville”

KENTUCKY PREVIEW

Dan Pardus and The Outdoor Channel will field a brand new racecar at the Kentucky Speedway this weekend.

Dan added, “We have a new engine package that has just been installed in our new car prepared for the Kentucky race. We thank our sponsor, The Outdoor Channel and friends Wayne and Steve Medlin of D&M Motorsports for their continued support in helping us move our race program forward. We have always performed well at the Kentucky Speedway and we are excited about returning this weekend.”
 

An Awesome Team Effort.

Dan Pardus was quick to praise the Outdoor Channel Team after finishing 25th in the Carquest 300 at the Lowe’s Motorspeedway.
 

“We had to overcome a lot of adversity this race to finish in the top twenty-five. This race was a wreck-fest and the Outdoor Channel car was involved in two on track incidents. Some heads-up calls by crew chief, Greg Conner and the work of the pit crew kept us in the lead lap throughout most of the race.”

The first incident occurred early in the race when Kevin Lepage and Dan came together in Turn One. There was sheet metal damage and the toe-in was knocked out. Greg made the call to fix the toe-in and not change tires to keep us running on the lead lap. It worked. Seventy laps into the 200-lap event; we were running 32nd, but only 9.5 seconds back of the leader. We stayed on the lead lap until lap 137, a awesome feat as with each caution, the pit crew had to rework the sheet metal damage from the first incident with duct tape patches across the front and sides of the car.

Dan worked the car to 18th place on Lap 163. With just eight laps to go, Casey Mears punted Dan on the backstretch to bring out the final caution. The hit separated the rear bumper from the car. A pit stop to check rear end damage, add more duct tape sent Dan back on the track to earn a 25th place finish.

“This was a new car we acquired from Terry LaBonte’s Busch team. We tested here at Charlotte and learned a lot about tire management. Our testing and the experience of Greg Conner our crew chief helped make the difference. It was an awesome team effort.”

Dan Pardus next race with the Outdoor Channel car will be the Inside Traxx 300 at Nashville, June 8th.

*NEW ASSOCIATE SPONSOR*

Dan Pardus and The Outdoor Channel welcomed a new associate sponsor at the Richmond Hardee’s 250 last weekend.

Barry Boatner of Daytona Beach, Florida and inventor of the Laser Trainer will continue as an associate sponsor for the remaining scheduled Busch Series races.

The Laser Trainer is a simple but revolutionary training system designed to improve the most critical elements of your golf swing – the swing path and swing plane. The system is explained more fully on infomercials broadcast on the OUTDOOR CHANNEL later this month. Broadcast dates and times are listed are listed here.

“Barry and I were classmates together at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. It is wonderful to welcome a friend back as a sponsor of our racing program.” Dan added, “ I know had I not become a race car driver, I would have tried my hand at professional golf. Barry’s Laser Trainer system has already helped me cut a few strokes off my charity golf match handicap. I am hoping Barry will invent a Laser Trainer for race tracks that could help improve driver comfort.”

The first broadcast of the infomercial on the OUTDOOR CHANNEL will be Monday 5/27 at 5:00 AM. (Set your recorders). Click here for more info on the Laser Trainer.

Dan’s next race is the CarQuest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motorspeedway on May 25.

PARDUS WILL DEBUT NEW CAR AT CHARLOTTE

Dan Pardus and Jim & Judie Motorsports have added two new Busch Grand National Cars to the Outdoor Channel Team.

“We have purchased an new intermediate track car from Terry Labonte’s team, plus built a new intermediate car on a Hopkins chassis. We took the LaBonte car to the two-day test at Lowe’s Motorspeedway on May 5th and 6th and were very pleased with the results. The extended testing gave us time to try several different spring and shock set-ups. We found combinations that vastly improved our lap times over previous Charlotte track appearances.

At the Carquest Auto Parts 300 we will continue with Winston Cup pit crewmembers working our pit stops. This crew helped during various races this year, and having the same personnel working together in the pits for each race is important to the race program.

“I am excited about the progress the team has made. The team is working well together, and with each test session and race we have learned more about the Goodyear racing tire. We are ready to tackle the bumps and temperamental track conditions at the Charlotte track.”

The Carquest Auto Parts 300 starts Saturday, May 25th at 1:00 PM EDT at Lowe’s Motorspeedway.

CLEAR! CLEAR!

This race recap is dedicated to all Dan Pardus fans that must follow Dan’s race day activities in Busch Series Racing on FX Sports. Normally, we are in Dan’s pit taking photos and filing our race report. This past weekend we were not in Nashville with the team and watched the race on FX, a Fox Sports Channel. Until an unfortunate incident on Lap 167 of the 225 Lap race causing Dan to hit the outside wall, Dan was one of a number of “unmentioned” drivers reported by TV announcers Steve Byrnes and Larry McReynolds, and even then we were not granted a replay or told what had happened.

A lot happened during the race to make Dan Pardus fans stand tall and proud.

“We had our best prepared car to date”, Dan commented when contacted by telephone. The car drove steady from the start and we were moving up through the field. When the first caution came out around lap 81, we were on the lead lap running 28th. Exiting the pits, the car was smoking. (Those of us watching TV saw the smoke and became concerned) Crew Chief Greg (Conner) thought it might be a piece of rubber wedged up against the brake pad and burning. We returned to the pits with the race still under caution and discovered the power steering hose had broken. Repairs were started, then Dan quickly returned to the track to stay on the lead lap. Another pit stop was made to finish sealing off the power steering unit.” Dan returned to the track just in front of the leaders as the green flag was waved. He was on the tail end of the lead lap in 35th position. (During the activity under caution, TV viewers got to watch the Rockwell Automation Car 21 circle the track for three laps.)

Dan was now racing without the benefit of power steering. “The car was fast, really a top ten car in this race. I was able to race in front of the leaders for 8 to 10 laps before I had to move up the track and let the leaders race by. After settling in to the race pace, I started to pass other competitors. On lap 128 I had moved into 27th, and by lap 141 I was running 22nd. My lap times were similar to the top ten cars. It was going to be a GREAT DAY for The Outdoor Channel Chevy Monte Carlo. There were 18 cars on the lead lap, and with a little finesse during a caution; I could get my lap back.”

“On lap 170, we were racing two wide going into Turn One. I completed a pass of the car on the inside groove and heard the spotter on the radio call, “Clear, Clear” and pulled down on the track. It was not all that clear, Casey Mears was running behind me on the inside groove and hit me in the rear. The back end turned out and hit the outside wall. The impact caused the front end to spin around and hit the wall. The car backed down and came to a rest in the center of the track on the backstretch. I was alright, except for a bruised ego.”

(Editor’s note. The Outdoor Channel Chevy Monte Carlo has been improving each race weekend. As fans, maybe we can hope TV coverage for the full field of contenders can improve as the season progresses. Gary Buchan)
 

Pardus on Track and In the Booth for Nashville

Dan Pardus, driver of the Busch Series Outdoor Channel Chevrolet Monte Carlo, will be doing double duty in Nashville this weekend. After Busch Series happy hour on Friday, Dan will move up to the broadcast booth for the Television broadcast of the ARCA Re/Max PFG Lester 150. Pardus will join Wade Sherman fro the Outdoor Channel and Tommy Praytor host of ARCA Racing This Week in the booth. " This is the first time The Outdoor Channel will carry flag to flag coverage of an ARCA Re/Max race and we wanted to bring the best team we could to the broadcast booth. As a former ARCA Re/Max driver, we think Dan Pardus will bring a lot of knowledge about the series, the cars and the teams to the broadcast. Dan will also be able to add the unique perspective of having just left the race track in the his Busch car."

Race Coverage will air on The Outdoor Channel on April 20th at 4:00 EST.

For more information, visit The Outdoor Channel web site at www.outdoorchannel.com.

DAN PARDUS ROCKS AND ROLLS
TO TOP 25 FINISH

After a series of early-unscheduled pit stops, Dan Pardus and The Outdoor Channel Chevy found the racing groove at Darlington and finished 23rd overall.

Spotter Tommy Praytor commented, “Early in the race, I thought someone was messing with the radios when I heard, ‘Dan pit’, after we just completed our first four tire pit stop.” Dan pitted, and then pitted again. A series of mismatched tires on the car caused the multiple pit stops early in the race. There was a fifteen second pit stop penalty when the tire confusion resulted in pit crew personnel over the wall too soon on one of the stops.

Being four laps down did not stop Dan. “I just kept digging” The car came in, and for the next 100 plus laps, full story

Sam's Town 300 (3-2-02)

TIGHT,TIGHT,TIGHT!

This seems to be the sum of Dan’s Radio transmissions during the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Speedway this past weekend.

“The car would not turn in the corners. We tried chassis adjustments each pit stop, and noticed some improvement late in the race, but the car kept tightening up even after making adjustments.” Dan added, “The Outdoor Channel Chevy Monte Carlo ran great in qualifying when the front was all taped up. When we changed to race set up and removed some of the grill tape to keep the car from overheating, it ran tight.”

We raced with Kenny Schrader most of the day who was also having handling problems. Late in the race, we passed Kenny, he did a POQ, and went behind the wall. We kept fighting the poor handling condition, ran a clean race and finished 33rd, four laps down from the leaders.

The team welcomed the opportunity to meet the many Outdoor Channel friends and associates who came to the race and spent the weekend in Las Vegas.

“Our next race is the Darlington 300 on March 16th. We have tested, qualified and run well at Darlington, so we are looking forward to a race where the Outdoor Channel Chevy is capable of being a front runner.

Photos Viva Las Vegas

HIGHS AND LOWS FOR TEAM OUTDOOR AT DAYTONA

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