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MB2 Motorsports

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MB2 Motorsports
Owner(s)Nelson Bowers
Tom Beard
Read Morton
James Rocco (MBV)
Bob Sutton (MB Sutton)
Jay Frye (CEO and Team Director)
Bobby Ginn
Thomas Ginn (Ginn Racing)
BaseMooresville, North Carolina
SeriesNASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series
Race driversSterling Marlin, Mark Martin, Ken Schrader, Ernie Irvan, Scott Riggs, Boris Said, Regan Smith, Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek, Johnny Benson Jr., Kraig Kinser, Bill Elliott
SponsorsUnited States Army, Waste Management, Inc., Mars Candy, Valvoline, Centrix Financial, Ginn Resorts, Panasonic, CertainTeed, USG Sheetrock
ManufacturerChevrolet, Pontiac
Opened1997 (as MB2 Motorsports)
2007 (as Ginn Racing)
Closed2007 (as Ginn Racing; merged with DEI)
Career
Drivers' Championships0
Race victories2

MB2 Motorsports was a NASCAR Cup Series team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, near the sport's hub in Charlotte. The team was founded by Read Morton, Tom Beard, and Nelson Bowers, from which the original team name derived. Bowers was the longest tenured of the original owners, and the listed owner of the teams' entries when resort and real-estate developer Bobby Ginn bought out the team (with his family having 80% ownership; longtime team director Jay Frye owned the remaining 20% of the rebranded team)[1][2] in 2007, renaming it to Ginn Racing for that season only.[1][2] The Valvoline corporation co-owned the No. 10 (later the No. 14) car with the principal owners from 2001 to 2005 as MBV Motorsports, while the No. 36 entry (later the No. 13) was co-owned by Centrix Financial, LLC owner Robert Sutton as MB Sutton Motorsports in 2005.

Throughout the existence of the team in both MB2 Motorsports and Ginn Racing iterations, the organization ran General Motors brands.

The logo of Ginn Racing under Bobby Ginn ownership

NASCAR Cup Series

[edit]

Car No. 01 history

[edit]
Derrike Cope (1997)
Derrike Cope in the original MB2 car in 1997.

The No. 01 car started out as the No. 36 Pontiac in 1997 with sponsorship from M&M-Mars through its Skittles candy brand, and driver Derrike Cope.[3] Cope finished 27th in the final point standings.

Ernie Irvan (1998–1999)

Veteran driver Ernie Irvan took over from Cope in 1998. The season was highlighted by Irvan's pole win at the Brickyard 400. M&M's replaced Skittles as the team's sponsor in 1999. Irvan retired from racing in September following a crash at Michigan International Speedway. Dick Trickle temporarily replaced Irvan before the driving chores were permanently turned over to journeyman Jerry Nadeau.

Ken Schrader (2000–2002)

Nadeau left MB2 due to a prior commitment to drive for Hendrick Motorsports, and MB2 signed four-time winner Ken Schrader to fill the seat. Schrader drove the No. 36 for three seasons before leaving for BAM Racing.

Jerry Nadeau (2003)

In 2003, the United States Army replaced M&M's as the team's sponsor. The car number was switched from 36 to 01 to support the Army's slogan, "An Army of One." Nadeau returned to MB2 as the driver of the No. 01 car, and in his first 10 races with the team he had only two top-20 finishes, with a fourth-place finish at Texas.

On May 2, 2003, during practice at Richmond International Raceway, Nadeau lost control of the No. 01 while trying to avoid another car in turn one, spun and slammed driver-side first into the concrete wall. He suffered fractures to his skull and several ribs along with a collapsed lung and temporary paralysis on his left side, and the cumulative effects forced him into retirement at age 33.[4] Busch Series veteran Jason Keller replaced Nadeau at the Richmond race and finished 32nd. The team went through several substitutes for the rest of the year. Mike Wallace ran the next four races, then four more races afterwards (skipping Sonoma) with a best finish of 19th at Dover. Mike Skinner, released from Morgan McClure Motorsports, made eleven starts in the #01, earning a pole at Richmond. Boris Said ran both road course races, with both a pole and sixth-place finish at Sonoma.

Said and Skinner earned spots in the 2004 Budweiser Shootout for their respective pole runs, with Said in the #01 finishing 10th, and Skinner finishing 15th in the #10 Valvoline car.

Joe Nemechek (2003–2006)
Joe Nemechek in 2005.

Joe Nemechek, who had been released from Hendrick Motorsports' No. 25 car (where he had replaced Nadeau), was signed by MB2 as the new permanent driver of the No. 01 car starting with the last four races of 2003, and earned a Top 10 finish at Atlanta. Nemechek finished 19th in points in 2004, but won two consecutive poles with the second leading to victory at the 2004 Banquet 400, in which he led the final 37 laps to win his fourth and final career Nextel Cup race and giving him a weekend sweep at Kansas Speedway, after having won the Mr. Goodcents 300 Busch Series race the day before.[2][5] Nemechek finished with three Top 5 finishes and nine Top 10s, and signed a contract extension that kept him with MB2 through 2005.[6]

Nemechek started off 2005 with a strong run at the second race of the season at Auto Club Speedway. Coming off a solid 13th-place finish at Daytona, Joe started 4th and led leading a race-high 63 laps before his Hendrick Motorsports-built engine expired on lap 178. This was one of six Hendrick engine failures, which included that of teammate Scott Riggs.[7] By race 26 at Richmond, the No. 01 team found itself as a longshot of making the Chase, sitting 16th in the standings 135 points out of 10th place[8] as the last mathematical contender for a spot in the 10-race playoff.[9] The team's chase hunt was ultimately foiled when Travis Kvapil collided with Nemechek under caution right after he had gotten back on the lead lap, relegating them to a 26th-place finish.[10] Overall, Nemechek improved on the previous years points performance, ranking 16th with one pole and nine Top 10s but no wins and only two Top 5s.

2006 was a struggle for Nemechek and the No. 01 team, with the team not scoring a Top 10 until finishing 9th at Charlotte in October, the 31st race of the season. Nemechek went winless again, with no pole starts, only two Top 10s, and a dismal 27th-place points finish.[11]

Part-time Mark Martin (2007)
Mark Martin drove the 01 part-time in 2007, he would move to DEI's 8 car with Aric Almirola in 2008.
Regan Smith drove the 01 part-time in 2007, then drove the 01 for DEI in 34 of 36 races in 2008, winning Rookie of the Year.
Aric Almirola in the 01 following the DEI takeover in 2007 sharing the car with Mark Martin and Regan Smith, he would move to DEI's 8 car with Mark Martin in 2008.
Ron Fellows drove the 01 for DEI in the road course races in 2008.

Veteran Mark Martin, coming off his final year with Roush Racing, was signed drive the car for 23 races (21 points races plus the Budweiser Shootout and Nextel All-Star Challenge) in 2007, with Joe Nemechek moving over to the team's new No. 13 team. Regan Smith was pinned to fill the remaining 16 races of the season, while driving in the Busch Series for the team as well. The team also changed its name to Ginn Racing to reflect Bobby Ginn's new majority interest in the team.[12] Martin was leading in the final turn of the season-opening Daytona 500, after lining up on the final restart with former Roush teammates Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth behind him. Coming down the front stretch, and with the field wrecking behind him, Martin looked to have finally come through at Daytona. But the caution was not called, and Kevin Harvick caught Martin on his outside, beating him to the line by two-hundredths of a second.[13] Martin put together more strong finishes, and after the fourth race at Atlanta was leading the points standings in what was supposed to be his first season of semi-retirement. Resisting the chance to capture his first championship, Martin did step out of the car as scheduled, breaking a streak of 621 consecutive starts.[14] In 24 starts for the team, Martin scored five Top 5s and 11 Top 10s, and finished 27th in points despite missing 12 races.

DEI Merger and Beyond (2007)

Rookie Regan Smith meanwhile made his debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, finishing 25th. Smith would run six more races in the car, with a best finish of 24th at Talladega Superspeedway. On July 17, it was announced that Smith would move to the No. 14 car on a full-time basis, replacing veteran Sterling Marlin. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Aric Almirola, who was granted his release from Joe Gibbs Racing after being pulled out of a car he qualified on the pole during a Busch Series race in favor of Denny Hamlin, signed on to be the new co-driver of the No. 01.[15] With the merger of Ginn and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. not long afterwards, Smith was left on the sidelines while Almirola ran five races. Aric's results were not much better than Regan's, with a best finish of 26th at Phoenix. Both drivers would continue with DEI in 2008 running for ROTY, and both would become winners later in their Cup careers.

Car No. 01 and 36 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
1997 Derrike Cope 36 Pontiac DAY
36
CAR
31
RCH
30
ATL
DNQ
DAR
20
TEX
41
BRI
16
MAR
34
SON
18
TAL
13
CLT
12
DOV
20
POC
11
MCH
8
CAL
29
DAY
28
NHA
20
POC
16
IND
41
GLN
38
MCH
16
BRI
32
DAR
14
RCH
16
NHA
26
DOV
30
MAR
36
CLT
33
TAL
18
CAR
20
PHO
16
ATL
5
27th 2901
1998 Ernie Irvan DAY
6
CAR
19
LVS
30
ATL
15
DAR
36
BRI
20
TEX
43
MAR
9
TAL
6
CAL
13
CLT
11
DOV
9
RCH
29
MCH
14
POC
34
SON
36
NHA
20
POC
9
IND
6
GLN
33
MCH
6*
BRI
22
NHA
28
DAR
6
RCH
14
DOV
8
MAR
8
CLT
31
TAL
37
DAY
8
16th 3457
Ricky Craven PHO
30
CAR
37
ATL
25
1999 Ernie Irvan DAY
14
CAR
29
LVS
6
ATL
7
DAR
24
TEX
37
BRI
43
MAR
22
TAL
40
CAL
35
RCH
33
CLT
36
DOV
35
MCH
7
POC
8
SON
30
DAY
9
NHA
21
POC
11
IND
24
GLN
41
35th 2831
Dick Trickle MCH
40
Jerry Nadeau BRI
20
DAR
43
RCH
18
NHA
32
DOV
16
MAR
26
CLT
34
TAL
40
CAR
37
PHO
37
HOM
38
ATL
20
2000 Ken Schrader DAY
9
CAR
13
LVS
16
ATL
23
DAR
22
BRI
26
TEX
18
MAR
13
TAL
36
CAL
24
RCH
12
CLT
37
DOV
23
MCH
16
POC
18
SON
15
DAY
23
NHA
23
POC
19
IND
22
GLN
18
MCH
19
BRI
12
DAR
16
RCH
17
NHA
10
DOV
30
MAR
16
CLT
25
TAL
37
CAR
18
PHO
40
HOM
32
ATL
26
18th 3398
2001 DAY
13
CAR
22
LVS
25
ATL
8
DAR
13
BRI
35
TEX
10
MAR
25
TAL
40
CAL
33
RCH
9
CLT
21
DOV
36
MCH
14
POC
9
SON
37
DAY
15
CHI
29
NHA
22
POC
17
IND
28
GLN
19
MCH
20
BRI
22
DAR
10
RCH
23
DOV
18
KAN
26
CLT
14
MAR
11
TAL
31
PHO
18
CAR
19
HOM
42
ATL
31
NHA
39
19th 3480
2002 DAY
26
CAR
35
LVS
26
ATL
24
DAR
35
BRI
22
TEX
34
MAR
36
TAL
24
CAL
43
RCH
15
CLT
18
DOV
36
POC
16
MCH
25
SON
38
DAY
25
CHI
40
NHA
24
POC
20
IND
14
GLN
28
MCH
14
BRI
14
DAR
26
RCH
26
NHA
13
DOV
22
KAN
28
TAL
41
CLT
31
MAR
26
ATL
42
CAR
22
PHO
37
HOM
27
30th 2954
2003 Jerry Nadeau 01 DAY
28
CAR
26
LVS
22
ATL
31
DAR
35
BRI
28
TEX
4
TAL
36
MAR
41
CAL
14
31st 3032
Jason Keller RCH
32
Mike Wallace CLT
31
DOV
19
POC
31
MCH
23
DAY
42
CHI
37
NHA
42
POC
23
Boris Said SON
6
GLN
39
Mike Skinner IND
35
MCH
22
BRI
18
DAR
29
RCH
18
NHA
22
DOV
41
TAL
27
KAN
29
CLT
39
MAR
21
Joe Nemechek ATL
10
PHO
31
CAR
25
HOM
17
2004 Chevy DAY
6
CAR
24
LVS
19
ATL
15
DAR
20
BRI
27
TEX
14
MAR
27
TAL
32
CAL
28
RCH
36
CLT
14
DOV
38
POC
18
MCH
35
SON
29
DAY
10
CHI
8
NHA
20
POC
16
IND
17
GLN
22
MCH
13
BRI
42
CAL
12
RCH
22
NHA
6
DOV
35
TAL
7
KAN
1
CLT
5
MAR
30
ATL
4
PHO
12
DAR
8
HOM
27
19th 3878
2005 DAY
13
CAL
39*
LVS
19
ATL
35
BRI
33
MAR
10
TEX
17
PHO
10
TAL
31
DAR
11
RCH
18
CLT
18
DOV
27
POC
3
MCH
6
SON
23
DAY
15
CHI
15
NHA
18
POC
22
IND
28
GLN
9
MCH
8
BRI
12
CAL
10
RCH
26
NHA
25
DOV
17
TAL
9
KAN
20
CLT
4
MAR
23
ATL
18
TEX
37
PHO
17
HOM
24
16th 3953
2006 DAY
33
CAL
27
LVS
13
ATL
17
BRI
28
MAR
23
TEX
23
PHO
35
TAL
27
RCH
28
DAR
16
CLT
18
DOV
35
POC
29
MCH
26
SON
25
DAY
19
CHI
33
NHA
41
POC
17
IND
24
GLN
42
MCH
26
BRI
26
CAL
25
RCH
32
NHA
32
DOV
26
KAN
27
TAL
18
CLT
9
MAR
20
ATL
9
TEX
18
PHO
19
HOM
13
27th 3255
2007 Mark Martin DAY
2
CAL
5
LVS
5
ATL
10
TEX
3
PHO
12
RCH
17
DAR
14
CLT
11
DOV
7
POC
7
MCH
29
DAY
17
CHI
14
IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 27th 2960
Regan Smith BRI
25
MAR
26
TAL
24
SON
30
NHA
32

Car No. 13 history

[edit]
Part time No. 36 (2004-2006)
Boris Said (far right) at Sonoma in 2005.

On April 30, 2004, MB2 Motorsports announced a partnership with CENTRIX Financial, LLC, coming on as an associate sponsor for the No. 01 car and No. 10 car. In addition, the team's original number 36 would be resurrected to field a third team part-time for Road course ringer Boris Said, who had driven the No. 01 for two races in 2003 which included a pole at Sonoma. Centrix was scheduled to sponsor two races, debuting with a 6th-place finish at Sonoma.[16] Centrix sponsored Said again at the oval track Auto Club Speedway, where he finished one lap down in 30th. USG Sheetrock (an associate on the No. 01) came on to sponsor two more races for Said, DNQing at Watkins Glen and finishing 28th in the season finale at Homestead after a transmission failure late in the race.

The No. 36 team returned for 2005, expanding Said's schedule to a minimum of 10 races beginning with the Daytona 500. Like the 10 team which was co-owned by Valvoline executive James Rocco, sponsor Centrix's owner and racing enthusiast Bob Sutton came on as an equity partner for the No.36 car, changing the team name to MB Sutton Motorsports. Said had stated that he would have liked to drive the car on a full-time basis if sponsorship was found.[17][18] Veteran crew chief Frankie Stoddard would lead the No. 36 team.[19] Said ultimately attempted 12 races, struggling on oval tracks, with a best finish of 27th at Daytona and Texas and three DNQs. He did run well at Talladega in May, qualifying 12th and running in the Top 15 before a 25-car pileup ended his day with 35 laps remaining.[20] Boris was, however, strong as always in his road course element. At Sonoma in June, Said was running well when he entered the pits while they were closed after a caution was thrown with 40 laps to go. Sent back to 32nd place, he made it up to 13th place with 10 laps to go, but was relegated to a 17th-place finish after a caution with seven laps to go.[21] Said shined later in the year at Watkins Glen, starting 41st after qualifying was rained out, and racing with NASCAR Road Course aces Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon for the win. Said would score a career-best 3rd-place finish.[22] Said left the team to drive for No Fear Racing in the No. 60 Ford in 2006.

Joe Nemechek drove the team's No. 01 car from 2003 to 2006, then the No. 13 for 2007.

Early in 2006, 1988 Cup Champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner Bill Elliott announced that he would pilot the No. 36 Chevrolet in the 2006 Daytona 500, with Ginn Resorts coming on to sponsor the effort.[23] Elliott qualified 33rd, but avoided several wrecks to finish 19th in the Great American Race.[24] The team would not run again in 2006.

Joe Nemechek (2007)

The team went full-time in 2007, switching to No. 13 with Joe Nemechek moving over from the No. 01 and Peter Sospenzo taking on crew chief duties.[1] CertainTeed was announced as the primary sponsor of the car for 18 races, with associate sponsor status for the other half of the season.[25] Bobby Ginn's Ginn Resorts filled out the remaining races. Nemechek opened the year with a 9th-place finish at the Daytona 500, but missed the fifth race of the season at Bristol and did not have another Top 10 with the team for the rest of the year. After sitting 33rd in points following the race at Chicagoland, Nemechek was released from the No. 13 car as well as teammate Sterling Marlin from his No. 14 ride, with the team's status "being evaluated because of lack of sponsorship."[26] Ultimately, the No. 13 team was shut down after the merger with DEI, and Nemechek would move to Furniture Row Racing for the remainder of the season beginning at Fontana.[11]

Car No. 13 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
2004 Boris Said 36 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON
6
DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN
DNQ
MCH BRI CAL
30
RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO DAR HOM
28
55th 302
2005 DAY
27
CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX
27
PHO TAL
35
DAR RCH CLT
DNQ
DOV POC MCH SON
17
DAY
28
CHI NHA POC IND
31
GLN
3
MCH BRI CAL
30
RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN
31
CLT
DNQ
MAR ATL
DNQ
TEX PHO HOM 42nd 791
2006 Bill Elliott DAY
19
CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 61st 111
2007 Joe Nemechek 13 DAY
9
CAL
14
LVS
38
ATL
17
BRI
DNQ
MAR
27
TEX
18
PHO
16
TAL
38
RCH
33
DAR
28
CLT
26
DOV
25
POC
15
MCH
30
SON
38
NHA
41
DAY
30
CHI
29
IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 45th 1547

Car No. 14 history

[edit]
Johnny Benson in the No. 10 Pontiac for MBV in 2003.
Johnny Benson (2000-2003)

What became the No. 14 team originally ran several different numbers part of Darrell Waltrip Motorsports and the Tyler Jet Motorsports. At the second Pocono race weekend in 2000, MB2 Motorsports purchased Tyler Jet's unsponsored No. 10 team, driven by Johnny Benson. When MB2 bought the team, Benson remained the driver, with an announcement that Aaron's and RCA would sponsor the No. 10 for the remainder of 2000 and Valvoline would begin sponsoring the car in 2001. Benson finished the season driving full-time for MB2 with Aaron's and RCA on the car.

Scott Riggs' No. 10 Valvoline Chevy in the MB2 shop in 2005.

In 2001, Valvoline became the team's new sponsor, with Benson remaining the driver. Additionally, Valvoline purchased an ownership stake in the No. 10 team, becoming the first corporation to own a NASCAR team. The No. 10 team's name was changed to MBV Motorsports to reflect Valvoline's presence (though the overall team remained MB2). Benson and Valvoline returned for the full season in 2002. He eventually drove to his first career win at the 2002 Pop Secret 400 at Rockingham.[2]

Both Benson and Valvoline remained with the car in 2003. Midway through the season, the team announced it was parting ways with Benson at the conclusion of the season.

Scott Riggs (2004-2005)

32-year-old Busch Series driver Scott Riggs was signed to a multi-year contract, and would to replace Benson for the 2004 season.[27] Riggs was set to compete against a strong rookie class that included his former Busch Series competitors Brian Vickers, Kasey Kahne, Scott Wimmer, and Johnny Sauter as well as Truck Series driver Brendan Gaughan. With Pontiac leaving the sport, the team was forced to switch to Chevrolet. Mike Skinner ran the exhibition Budweiser Shootout in the No. 10 after winning a pole at Richmond driving the No. 01 in 2003 subbing for Jerry Nadeau. Riggs missed the fall race at Atlanta, and scored only two Top 10 finishes and had eight DNFs en route to a 29th-place finish in the points standings in his rookie season.

In 2005, Riggs won the pole at Martinsville and finished 4th in the Daytona 500. Riggs had a career best performance at Michigan, using a fuel mileage gamble to drive from 29th to 2nd place in the final 51 laps.[28] Riggs statistics improved slightly (four Top 10 finishes), but he had seven DNFs and finished 34th in the season standings. Valvoline announced that it was to sell its ownership stake back to MB2's principal owners and ended sponsorship of the car,[29] taking Riggs and the No. 10 to Evernham Motorsports.

Sterling Marlin (2006-2007)
Sterling Marlin (14) racing Michael Waltrip at Bristol in 2006.

In November 2005, it was announced that veteran driver Sterling Marlin would come over from Chip Ganassi Racing to drive for MB2 in 2006. The team would be sponsored by Waste Management in 12 races, with Centrix Financial returning and Ginn Resorts coming on to fill the remainder of the schedule. In tribute to Marlin's father Coo Coo who had passed away the previous year, the team took on the No. 14.[2][30] Midway through the season, the team replaced crew chief Doug Randolph with Scott Eggleston, who worked with Marlin at Team SABCO.[31] The team had only one Top 10 finish and ranked 34th in points at the end of the year.

For 2007, Marlin returned as did Waste Management for 12 races, while new sponsor Panasonic signed on for 12 races as well, and veteran crew chief Slugger Labbe handled the team.[32] After a 2007 season filled with struggles and a best finish of 13th, in July Marlin was to be replaced by Regan Smith, who had previously been co-piloting the No. 01, for the remainder of the year.[33] However, upon the merger of Ginn Racing and DEI at Indy, and before Smith even got the chance to drive the No. 14, the No. 14 team was merged with the No. 15 team, and its owner points were carried to the Paul Menard-piloted Menards car. Smith would pilot the No. 01 full-time in 2008 with DEI.

Car No. 14 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
2000 Johnny Benson 10 Pontiac DAY
12
CAR
14
LVS
6
ATL
DNQ
DAR
24
BRI
2
TEX
42
MAR
16
TAL
13
CAL
23
RCH
25
CLT
16
DOV
15
MCH
24
POC
34
SON
18
DAY
13
NHA
14
POC
12
IND
25
GLN
27
MCH
5
BRI
13
DAR
38
RCH
7
NHA
11
DOV
2
MAR
19
CLT
8
TAL
33
CAR
11
PHO
16
HOM
30
ATL
10
13th[1] 3716[2]
2001 DAY
28
CAR
6
LVS
4
ATL
7
DAR
7
BRI
26
TEX
3
MAR
20
TAL
7
CAL
11
RCH
6
CLT
20
DOV
41
MCH
12
POC
24
SON
29
DAY
13
CHI
27
NHA
36
POC
5
IND
3
GLN
16
MCH
5
BRI
36
DAR
14
RCH
10
DOV
31
KAN
37
CLT
36
MAR
6
TAL
23
PHO
10
CAR
3
HOM
20
ATL
23
NHA
12
11th 4152
2002 DAY
10
CAR
23
LVS
32
ATL
27
DAR
33
BRI
39
TEX
13
MAR
19
TAL
39
CAL
15
POC
20
MCH
6
SON
16
DAY
43
POC
30
IND
37
GLN
25
MCH
8
BRI
12
DAR
34
RCH
35
NHA
4
DOV
10
KAN
23
TAL
40
CLT
18
MAR
2
ATL
23
CAR
1
PHO
16
HOM
13
21st 3583
Joe Nemechek RCH
12
Jerry Nadeau CLT
28
DOV
27
NHA
18
Mike Wallace CHI
38
2003 Johnny Benson DAY
19
CAR
13
LVS
12
ATL
11
DAR
25
BRI
19
TEX
32
TAL
41
MAR
32
CAL
36
RCH
15
CLT
24
DOV
5
POC
24
MCH
26
SON
30
DAY
27
CHI
18
NHA
26
POC
20
IND
13
GLN
27
MCH
10
BRI
14
DAR
40
RCH
9
NHA
25
DOV
21
TAL
41
KAN
35
CLT
16
MAR
34
ATL
24
PHO
21
CAR
29
HOM
4
24th 3448
2004 Scott Riggs Chevy DAY
34
CAR
31
LVS
29
ATL
25
DAR
30
BRI
34
TEX
15
MAR
28
TAL
34
CAL
25
RCH
35
CLT
25
DOV
5
POC
17
MCH
20
SON
42
DAY
21
CHI
29
NHA
28
POC
22
IND
37
GLN
23
MCH
19
BRI
17
CAL
7
RCH
39
NHA
26
DOV
31
TAL
11
KAN
26
CLT
38
MAR
26
ATL
DNQ
PHO
14
DAR
25
HOM
15
29th 3090
2005 DAY
4
CAL
33
LVS
31
ATL
9
BRI
10
MAR
21
TEX
32
PHO
18
TAL
27
DAR
36
RCH
26
CLT
19
DOV
11
POC
37
MCH
23
SON
24
DAY
41
CHI
23
NHA
32
POC
33
IND
35
GLN
31
MCH
2
BRI
40
CAL
36
RCH
29
NHA
28
DOV
24
TAL
36
KAN
30
CLT
33
MAR
24
ATL
33
TEX
34
PHO
38
HOM
38
34th 2965
2006 Sterling Marlin 14 DAY
34
CAL
32
LVS
36
ATL
34
BRI
17
MAR
14
TEX
30
PHO
12
TAL
37
RCH
9
DAR
28
CLT
28
DOV
31
POC
42
MCH
24
SON
42
DAY
24
CHI
26
NHA
16
POC
30
IND
31
GLN
39
MCH
29
BRI
32
CAL
29
RCH
30
NHA
25
DOV
31
KAN
20
TAL
40
CLT
11
MAR
21
ATL
20
TEX
40
PHO
36
HOM
37
34th 2854
2007 DAY
17
CAL
35
LVS
34
ATL
24
BRI
30
MAR
21
TEX
34
PHO
27
TAL
16
RCH
23
DAR
13
CLT
33
DOV
16
POC
31
MCH
20
SON
43
NHA
24
DAY
40
CHI
23
IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 48th 1209

^ Johnny Benson raced races 1-18 of the 2000 season with Tyler Jet Motorsports before the team (and its Owners Points) were purchased by MB2.

Car No. 39 history

[edit]

In addition to his 16-race schedule in the No. 01 shared with Mark Martin, Regan Smith was set to make his Nextel Cup debut at the 2007 Daytona 500 in a fourth Ginn Racing car, with Ginn Resorts sponsoring.[34] The car was numbered 39 due to the No. 36 being taken by Bill Davis Racing and Jeremy Mayfield. In his debut, Smith qualified 26th, which earned him a 12th starting position in the 2nd Gatorade 150 duel race. He finished 19th of 30 cars, and 7th out of the 13 drivers who needed to race their way into the 500, which was not enough to get him into the race.[35] The No. 39 was on the Fontana entry list the next week, but was withdrawn. Smith would make his Cup debut in the No. 01 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Winston/Nextel Cup Series drivers

[edit]
15-time winner Ernie Irvan as the driver of MB2's No. 36 Pontiac.

Driver development

[edit]

Beginning in 2006, MB2 Motorsports established a partnership with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, fielding a full-time truck with MB2/Ginn development driver Kraig Kinser (son of Steve Kinser). Kinser struggled in his rookie season and was pulled from the ride late in the season.

For 2007, Ginn expanded its development program, signing motocross racer Ricky Carmichael and Drive for Diversity member Jesus Hernandez to development contracts.[1] Kinser returned to the Truck Series, scheduled to share the ride with Hernandez, with Ginn Resorts sponsoring.[1] The team also started a Busch Series team for Cup rookie Regan Smith and Kinser, also funded by Ginn Resorts.[1] This was originally numbered No. 04, but NASCAR reassigned No. 4 to Ginn after Biagi-DenBeste Racing shut down in January 2007. The No. 4 Busch Series team was shut down after the Kentucky race in June, with Smith 12th in the championship standings at the time. Following the DEI/Ginn merger, Smith was placed in the 47 Morgan-Dollar truck for the balance of the season. Aric Almirola ran a single truck race at Nashville, finishing 23rd.

DEI/Ginn merger

[edit]
The #01 owned by Bobby Ginn (Ginn Racing); this car was later added to the DEI stable as part of the merger
The #1 owned by Teresa Earnhardt (pictured in 2008)
The #8 owned by Teresa Earnhardt
The #15 (pictured in 2008) inherited the #14 owner points, with the listed owner changing from Teresa Earnhardt to Bobby Ginn
The #14 owned by Bobby Ginn (pictured in 2006) shut down after merge with DEI; the #14 inherited the #15 owner points

On July 25, 2007, Ginn Racing announced it had merged with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. The No. 01 team joined the No. 1, No. 8 and No. 15 teams.[36] The merger did not affect the DEI team name.

The acquisition had the following effects:

  • The No. 01 (Mark Martin/Aric Almirola) team was added to the DEI teams.
  • The No. 15 (Paul Menard) inherited the owner points from the former No. 14 (Sterling Marlin), which guaranteed a starting spot for Menard at Indianapolis.
  • The No. 13 (Joe Nemechek) and the No. 14 (Sterling Marlin) teams of Ginn Racing were disbanded.
  • Bobby Ginn was listed as the owner of the No. 01 and No. 15 for the remainder of 2007; these cars were housed at the Ginn Racing shop, renamed DEI West[37] which also houses the team's fabrication work.
  • Teresa Earnhardt was listed as the owner of the No. 1 and No. 8 for the remainder of 2007; these cars remain housed at DEI's shops.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would eventually merge with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2009 after DEI's star driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. left for Hendrick Motorsports the year prior; the resulting team was known as Earnhardt Ganassi Racing until 2013, after which it reverted to Chip Ganassi Racing name before being purchased by Trackhouse Racing Team in 2021.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Livingstone, Seth (February 14, 2007). "New approach gets Ginn team revved up". USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hinton, Ed (July 26, 2006). "Ginn buys NASCAR team: Real estate magnate Bobby Ginn says he will turn MB2 Motorsports into a winning outfit". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  3. ^ Zeller, Bob (February 8, 1997). "BOB ZELLER'S WINSTON CUP SCOUTING REPORT". News & Record. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  4. ^ Smallwood, Mike (2013). "Richmond Marks 10 years After Jerry Nadeau Crash". Fansided. Fansided, Sports Illustrated.
  5. ^ Sharp, Seth (June 25, 2014). "Remember When: Joe Nemechek's Kansas Sweep". popularspeed.com. Popular Speed. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  6. ^ "MB2 extends Nemechek's contract". motorsport.com. Concord, North Carolina: motorsport.com. July 21, 2004. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  7. ^ Henderson, Martin; Kupper, Mike (February 28, 2005). "Nemechek Comes Up Short". Los Angeles Times. Fontana, California. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Richmond II: Round 26 preview". motorsport.com. motorsport.com. September 8, 2005. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Richmond II: Joe Nemechek preview". motorsport.com. Richmond, Virginia: motorsport.com. September 8, 2005. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  10. ^ MB2 Motorsports (September 11, 2005). "Richmond II: Joe Nemechek race report". motorsport.com. Richmond, Virginia: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ a b Demmons, Doug (September 12, 2007). "Lawsuit offers insight into NASCAR driver salaries". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  12. ^ MB2 Motorsports (November 23, 2006). "BUSCH: MB2 Motorsports gets a new name". motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Bernstein, Viv (February 19, 2007). "Amid Crashes and Controversy, Harvick Edges Martin at the Finish". The New York Times. Daytona Beach, Florida. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  14. ^ Ginn Racing (March 23, 2007). "Bristol: Ginn Racing - Martin spotlight". motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  15. ^ Ginn Racing (July 18, 2007). "Ginn Racing outlines future plans". motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  16. ^ MB2 Motorsports (April 30, 2004). "MB2/MBV announce sponsor partner: Centrix Financial Announces NASCAR Nextel Cup Team Partnership". motorsport.com. Centennial, Colorado: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ King, Bill (January 27, 2005). "MBSutton: NASCAR's Newest Team". motorsport.com. motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  18. ^ MB2 Motorsports (November 11, 2004). "MB2, Said 2005 plans announced: Boris Said's 2005 Nextel Cup Ride Announced". motorsport.com. Concord, North Carolina, Denver, Colorado: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ MB2 Motorsports (December 21, 2004). "Stoddard named crew chief for Said's Chevy". motorsport.com. Concord, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ MB2 Motorsports (May 2, 2005). "Talladega: Boris Said race report". motorsport.com. Talladega, Alabama: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ MB2 Motorsports (June 28, 2005). "Sears Point: Boris Said race report". motorsport.com. Sonoma, California: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ MB2 Motorsports (August 15, 2005). "Watkins Glen: Boris Said race report: SAID LIGHTS IT UP IN WATKINS GLEN WITH CAREER-BEST FINISH". motorsport.com. Watkins Glen, New York: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ MB2 Motorsports (February 9, 2006). "Elliott No. 36 Daytona ride sponsor named". motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "Daytona 500: Bill Elliott race report: ELLIOTT AVOIDS WRECKS, FINISHES 19TH IN DAYTONA 500". motorsport.com. Daytona Beach, Florida: motorsport.com. February 20, 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  25. ^ Ginn Racing (February 9, 2007). "Ginn Racing names No. 13 primary sponsor: CertainTeed Corporation to be Primary Sponsor on Nemechek's No. 13 Ginn Racing Chevrolet". motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  26. ^ "Ginn Racing Replaces Sterling Marlin, Releases Joe Nemechek". sportsbusinessdaily.com. Sports Business Daily. July 18, 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  27. ^ MBV Motorsports (October 24, 2003). "Riggs named to No. 10 car for 2004". motorsport.com. Concord, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  28. ^ MB2 Motorsports (August 23, 2005). "Michigan II: Scott Riggs race report". motorsport.com. Brooklyn, Michigan: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Valvoline (June 30, 2005). "MB2 Motorsports sponsorship to end". motorsport.com. Lexington, Kentucky: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  30. ^ "Waste Management to Sponsor Marlin's No. 14 Chevy in 2006". race2win.net. Homestead, Florida: Race 2 Win. November 19, 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  31. ^ MB2 Motorsports (June 22, 2006). "MB2 Motorsports announce crew chief change". motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Ginn Racing (January 22, 2007). "Ginn Racing names Marlin's sponsor". motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  33. ^ ESPN.com news services (July 17, 2007). "Smith replaces Marlin at Ginn; Nemechek released". ESPN Sprint Cup. Mooresville, North Carolina: ESPN. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  34. ^ Ginn Racing (February 8, 2007). "Daytona 500: Regan Smith preview". motorsport.com. Daytona Beach, Florida: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  35. ^ Ginn Racing (February 16, 2007). "Daytona Duel: Regan Smith race notes: Smith Finishes 19th in Gatorade Duel; Falls Short of Making Field for Daytona 500". motorsport.com. Daytona Beach, Florida: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  36. ^ David Caraviello (2007-07-25). "Dale Earnhardt Inc., Ginn Racing complete merger". NASCAR.com. NASCAR.com. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  37. ^ Blount, Terry; Chengelis, Angelique (2007-10-01). "DEI in a moving mode with acquisition of Ginn facilities". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
[edit]