BY TEAM FORD RACING CORRESPONDENT

Charlotte, N.C. — Geoff Smith, Roush Racing president, is very bullish on the prospects of getting Jeff Burton’s Ford sponsored for the 2004 season and beyond. In fact, Smith hopes to have something to announce soon.

“We’re in discussion with sponsors,” the executive told TFR. “I hope that one of the prospects will have a deal within 30 days.”

Asked about the difficulty placing sponsors, Smith said, “We’re having a really good selling year. We’ve had three companies sign with us that could have gone away.” Plus, he is speaking with four potential parties for Burton’s car,

Meanwhile, some shifts and changes have taken place within Greg Biffle’s rookie team.

“We have a new program that has a new driver and new crew chief,” Smith said of the re-evaluation the team underwent, “to get the right support system around the program.”

However, Smith added, “I can tell you unequivocally that [crew chief] Randy [Goss] wasn’t one of the people that will be shifted. That doesn’t mean that he won’t be shifted, but that’s not happened – the reports are premature.”