Late Racing News.(auto racing)

Is Lauda out?

Speculation about who will lead the Jaguar Formula One effort took another soap opera turn Nov. 25 as Ford Motor Company executives called for a press conference with Richard Parry-Jones, the group vice president of product development and head of Formula One, and Sir Jackie Stewart. Insiders speculate that Stewart will be appointed to lead the Jag effort, summarily bouncing former F1 champ Niki Lauda from the top seat. Those who follow F1 remember that Ford Motor Company gave Stewart seed money to start Stewart Racing in 1997. The company reportedly then paid the Scotsman between $110 million and $160 million for his interest in the team. No word on whether Stewart will take an equity position in this latest iteration.

Bodine sidelined

* NASCAR driver Todd Bodine is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks after undergoing endoscopic back surgery Nov. 22 at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte to repair a ruptured disk. Dr. Tim Adamson did the 45-minute procedure on an outpatient basis, then ordered Bodine to full rest until the middle of January. Bodine apparently aggravated the disk when he crashed during the Nov. 3 Cup race at Rockingham and again during practice for the Nov. 16 Busch Series race at Homestead. He was examined and diagnosed the Monday after the Homestead race (he let his brother, Geoffrey, sub for him in the Cup finale) and underwent surgery four days later.

Is Atwood done?

* Casey Atwood's future in NASCAR remains somewhat muddled and doesn't promise to get much clearer anytime soon. The former ``can't-miss'' Busch Series star had two poor years in Ray ...