Evernham and Ultra teams split

The squads teamed up this season to run driver Casey Atwood in a Dodge Intrepid. However, Ultra crew members were reportedly unhappy with Atwood's efforts this season, prompting the team to replace him. The driver raced for the main Evernham team last year, but was moved across to the satellite squad after a disappointing season.

Atwood will now drive a third Evernham run car for the remainder of the year. Speaking about the split, team boss Ray Evernham said: "Jim and I formed this team at the end of last season to give Casey some additional seat time in Winston Cup. Without Casey driving the No. 7, there was no reason for us to continue our relationship."

After the split was announced, Ultra team boss Jim Smith named Jason Leffler as his driver for the final two races of the season. The deal is only for the end of this year, and no word has yet been given on whether Leffler might stay with the team for 2003.

Smith publicly thanked Evernham, saying: "We probably wouldn't have been able to run a full season this year if it hadn't been for Ray coming on board with [sponsor] Sirius."