Petty, Dallenbach Part Ways

Although it likely will not be as crazy as last year’s Silly Season, positioning for 1995 already has begun.

Wally Dallenbach’s tenure with car owner Richard Petty, which lasted all of 20 races, is finally over. That relationship went from sour to ugly two weeks ago at Indianapolis, when Dallenbach and crew chief Robbie Loomis got into an argument during a pit stop. Dallenbach, who finished 14th last week for Petty’s team at Watkins Glen, N.Y., made 14 starts, finished in the top five once and was 31st in the points standings.

Hagan Enterprises will run only two more races this season, freeing up John Andretti to drive for Petty this week in Michigan. An STP spokeswoman said Petty and Andretti will meet Monday to evaluate the one-race deal.

Sponsor talk: Look for Budweiser to sponsor driver Ken Schrader, and McDonald’s to go with Bill Elliott, who is forming a team with brothers Ernie and Dan. That leaves Junior Johnson with a onecar team without a sponsor. Lowe’s might be the next sponsor for Johnson’s driver, Jimmy Spencer.

Cope signs on: Derrike Cope of Spanaway, Wash., will drive seven of the last eight NASCAR Busch Series races for Ron Zook, an Orlando businessman who earlier this year bought Davey Allison’s old Busch team. Cope will be in the car on Saturday in Michigan.

Notes: Dale Earnhardt has finished in the top 10 in seven of the past eight races… . Joe Nemechek now trails Jeff Burton by just six points in the Winston Cup rookie chase… . Spokane’s Chad Little, who drives for Mark Rypien, has moved to fourth in the Busch points standings after being 11th just eight races ago. He has seven consecutive finishes of eighth or higher… .IROC champion Mark Martin gave half of his $200,000 winner’s check to his Winston Cup crew. “They’re the ones who helped me get invited to be in IROC,” Martin said… . The National Race Car Drivers Memorial Fund has been set up to honor drivers who have died and who made significant contributions to racing. The Memorial is planned for a 15-acre, park-like setting in a location to be decided. Call (800) 918-7223.