JR Motorsports
Template:NASCAR Owner Infobox JR Motorsports is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and the owner of his Cup ride Rick Hendrick that currently fields the #5 National Guard , #83 and #88 NAVY "Accelerate Your Life" Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
History of JR Motorsports
 |
JR Motorsports began in a shed on the property of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in 1998 with just one employee, as the marketing division of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s race team. The original intent of the business was to help Earnhardt, Jr. sell t-shirts and negotiate sponsorship deals.[citation needed]
It wasn't until 2002 that Earnhardt, Jr. turned the business into a race team. That's when T. J. Majors drove the first race, in the street stock division, at Concord Motorsports Park, in North Carolina.
The first win for the team came at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA, in 2004.
Today the team operates out of a 66,000 square foot state of the art race shop near Mooresville, North Carolina. JR Motorsports fields late model stock cars, and the Number 88 car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with sponsorship from the US Navy driven by Brad Keselowski. Also the No.5 car that is driven by seven other drivers in the Nationwide seies.
Nationwide Series
Owner Statistics
| Year | Starts | Wins | Poles | Top Fives | Top Tens | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2006 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | |||||
| 2007 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | |||||
| 2008 | 53 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 29 | |||||
| 143 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 53 | ||||||
Statistics current as of November 15, 2008.
#5 car history
The #5 car is inherited from the Hendrick Motorsports' Busch Series stable, competing in the series since 1984. Shortly after Dale Earnhardt, Jr. signed with Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports announced that it would merge its operations with the JR stable to field a two-car team with the #5 and the #88, starting in 2008, using Hendrick engines and chasses.[1]
The #5 is scheduled to be driven by seven drivers in 2008 -- Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt, Jr., Martin Truex, Jr., Mark Martin and Landon Cassill as well as road course specialists, Ron Fellows and Adrian Fernandez.[2] The #5 will include sponsorship from Lowe's, National Guard, Delphi, and Godaddy.com. The 5 car won twice in 2008, with Mark Martin at Las Vegas and Ron Fellows in Montreal, the first NASCAR race run in wet conditions
#83 car history
Car #83 was fielded by JR Motorsports with driver and owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. behind the wheel at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 24, 2008. Earnhardt, Jr. drove the car to a 4th place finish.
#88 car history
The No. 88 began the 2006 season driven by Mark McFarland, but he was replaced by Shane Huffman,[3][4] with Martin Truex, Jr. and Robby Gordon filling-in for certain races. On Tuesday July 3, 2007 Dale Earnhardt Jr. released Shane Huffman from driving the #88 Navy Chevy for JR Motorsports. Earnhardt, Jr. drove the #88 on July 6, 2007 in the Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway.[5] Brad Keselowski will replace Shane Huffman for three races,[6] with "Road Course Specialist" and SCCA driver Andy Pilgrim to be in the car for the race in Montreal, and Watkins Glen.[7] Brad Keselowski finished the season.[8]. Keselowski signed a two year contract with JR Motorsports with the Navy returning as sponsor in 2008.[9] Brad won his first race at Nashville Superspeedway on June 7, 2008. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will have to find a new sponsor for the #88 in 2009 as the Navy announced it would not be returning after the conclusion of the 2008 season.[10]. However rumours have begun to circulate that Craftsman Tools will sponsor the #88 car in 2009 as a result of Craftsman not renewing their naming rights with NASCAR in the Truck Series.
Sprint Cup Series and Future of JR Motorsports
During a press conference at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 16, 2008, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stated that once the Nationwide Series starts using the Car of Tomorrow chassis, which is set for an August, 2009 debut at the intermediate tracks, his Nationwide teams possibly will leave the Nationwide Series, due to the costs of switching cars. When asked if he will move JR Motorsports to the Sprint Cup Series, Earnhardt Jr. said that due to the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series almost having the same expensive costs, he might move the team to the Sprint Cup Series as early as 2009 "if the right opportunity comes along with the right sponsorship and driver..." [11]
Other racing series
JR Motorsports fields the No. 88 Racing Clubs of America Chevrolet Monte Carlo Late model driven by Curtis Truex. The No.72 Champion Spark Plug Chevrolet driven by Richard Boswell. The 06 Champion Spark Plug chevy driven by Davin Scites. The No. 50 Southern Pipeing Chevy driven by Jamey Cadill. And the No.73 R and B Chevy driven by Owen Kelly.
SPEED 1
In 2007, JR Motorsports are supplying cars for SPEED's NASCAR coverage. The SPEED 1 fleet for NASCAR RaceDay includes a superspeedway car, and car for intermediate tracks, and a Car of Tomorrow. SPEED 1 is driven by Hermie Sadler.[12]
External links
- JR Motorsports site
- History of JR Motorsports
- Interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Brad Keselowski by Joshua Hudson, July 2008, G.I. Jobs Magazine [1]
References
- ^ JR Motorsports & Hendrick Motorsports to combine Busch Series operations
- ^ Busch Series No. 5 driver lineup star-studded for '08
- ^ McFarland released as driver of No.88 car
- ^ Notebook: Junior explains McFarland firing
- ^ Earnhardt to drive JRM Busch car at Daytona
- ^ JR Motorsports signs Keselowski to BGN deal
- ^ Earnhardt Jr. honoring dad's promise to Pilgrim
- ^ Keselowski to finish season with JR Motorsports
- ^ NASCAR.com: Keselowski, Navy back with JR Motorsports in 2008
- ^ NASCAR.com: Sponsorship woes stretch even to Junior's own team
- ^ GM Media Online: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Press Conference
- ^ NASCAR.com: SPEED, JR Motorsports take fans inside car