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Kirk Shelmerdine

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Kirk Shelmerdine
Born (1958-03-08) March 8, 1958 (age 66)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Achievements1986, 1987, 1990, 1991 Winston Cup Series Champion (Crew Chief)
NASCAR Cup Series career
26 races run over 6 years
Best finish47th (2004)
First race1981 Budweiser NASCAR 400 (College Station)
Last race2006 Pepsi 400 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
13 races run over 4 years
Best finish49th (1995)
First race1994 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race2008 Camping World 300 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
2 races run over 2 years
Best finish79th (1995)
First race1995 Pizza Plus 150 (Bristol)
Last race1997 Virginia Is For Lovers 200 (Richmond)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of February 25, 2006.

Kirk Shelmerdine (born March 8, 1958 in Philadelphia) is a NASCAR driver and former championship-winning crew chief for Dale Earnhardt.

Crew chief

After spending his early NASCAR career as an engineer for Hylton Engineering, in 1982 he joined Richard Childress Racing to become the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt had 46 wins, 142 top 5 finishes, and 246 top 10 finishes with Shelmerdine en route to four championships in 1986, 1987, 1990 and 1991.[1] The pit crew won four consecutive Pit Crew Titles over the next eight years. His accomplishments include being the youngest crew chief to win a NASCAR race, and the youngest crew chief to win a Winston Cup championship. In 1992, he announced he was retiring from his crew chief duties, and embarked on a racing career on his own to pursue his dream of being a driver.[1]

Driving career begins

He started running in the ARCA series in 1993 where he has three career wins. He has since run in all the top levels in NASCAR. Shelmerdine has run a total of two Craftsman Truck Series races with a best finish of 17th at Bristol in 1995. He has also run 12 Busch Series races with a best finish of 17th in 1994 at Daytona for Levin Racing.

Cup driving career

Shelmerdine's Nextel Cup career actually started in 1981 in a race at College Station (Texas World Speedway, where owner/driver James Hylton brought out a 2nd car (No. 8) for Shelmerdine to drive. After two laps, he quit and finished 33rd of the 34 cars. His next start would come at Talladega Superspeedway in 1994 for Jimmy Means. Shelmerdine finished 26th in the No. 52 Ford. He started his own Cup team in 2002 and ran races at Talladega, Loudon and Pocono, but he was primarily a "field filler" driver.

2004 was a breakout year for Shelmerdine, as he attempted all 36 races as an owner,[1] 32 as a driver. As team owner he had other drivers fill in for him at selected tracks: Tom Hubert at Infineon and Watkins Glen, Brad Teague at the fall Bristol race, and Ted Christopher at the July Loudon race. Shelmerdine's best finish would be a 37th at Michigan. His car qualified 18 races but completed none of them.

2005 was a step back. The team qualified for only three races (Infineon with Hubert, Loudon with Christopher, and Pocono with Shelmerdine). Shelmerdine finished 42nd in the Pocono race with heating conditions ending his day 192 laps short of the finish.

He started out 2006 on a better note. He was rolling his car on to his hauler after failing to qualify high enough in his qualifying race for the Daytona 500. A NASCAR official stopped him and informed him that he qualified for his first Daytona 500 by gaining the final spot with his qualifying speed. He finished in 20th place on the lead lap, the best finish of his Cup career. His performance gained media attention as he said if he did not qualify, he'd sell his race team because he was extremely low on money. He was using a motor from Richard Childress (in exchange for a displaying a sponsorship decal). His tires had been donated by a family of Dale Earnhardt fans. He had no full-time pit crew, only his loyal teammates such as Phil Harris, J.V. Daniels and a few others.

Shelmerdine's plans for the rest of 2006 were limited, however, he did race at Talladega. He qualified 22nd and was having a good run when he wrecked early in the race. Shelmerdine finished 40th. Since then, he has attempted to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600 but failed to make the race after a qualifying crash, his next appearance was at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona where he made the show but fell out early and finished 43rd.

On December 22, 2006, the Federal Election Commission sent an "admonishment letter" to Shelmerdine as a response to him for running with a Bush/Cheney decal on his car in 2004.[2]

Shelmerdine drove the Richard Childress Racing No. 33 in the 2008 Daytona testing sessions and was to be entered in the 2008 Daytona 500. He attempted a number of races during the 2009 season after buying Toyotas from Bill Davis Racing. Shelmerdine used Tom Hubert for road courses and New England staple Ted Christopher for Loudon.

It was announced on August 26, 2010, that on September 14, 2010, the assets of Kirk Shelmerdine Racing were to be sold at Public Auction at the team's basis in Welcome, North Carolina. Shelmerdine stated the reason for the closure is lack of sponsorship and technology provided for independent teams.[3]

Personal life

Shelmerdine resides in Welcome, North Carolina, and is the father of two children.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Sprint Cup Series

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year Team 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 NSCC Pts Ref
1981 Richard Childress Racing 8 Pontiac RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS
33 		RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD NA 0 [4]
1994 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
26 		SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS 66th 85 [5]
53 CLT
DNQ 		CAR PHO ATL
2002 Hover Motorsports 80 Ford DAY
DNQ 		CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY 73rd 77 [6]
Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 72 Ford CHI
DNQ 		CLT
DNQ
27 NHA
42 		POC
41 		IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV KAN
DNQ 		TAL MAR
DNQ 		ATL CAR PHO HOM
2003 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY
DNQ 		CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX TAL MAR CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO CAR HOM NA - [7]
2004 Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 72 Ford DAY
DNQ 		CAR
42 		LVS
43 		ATL
40 		DAR
39 		BRI
41 		TEX
42 		MAR
DNQ 		TAL
DNQ 		CAL
42 		RCH
DNQ 		CLT
DNQ 		DOV
39 		POC
40 		MCH
43 		SON DAY
DNQ 		CHI
DNQ 		NHA POC
41 		IND
DNQ 		GLN MCH
37 		BRI CAL
DNQ 		RCH
41 		NHA
42 		DOV
40 		TAL
DNQ 		KAN
43 		CLT
DNQ 		MAR
40 		ATL
DNQ 		PHO
DNQ 		DAR
42 		HOM
DNQ 		47th 723 [8]
2005 27 DAY
DNQ 		CAL
DNQ 		LVS
DNQ 		ATL
DNQ 		BRI MAR
DNQ 		TEX PHO TAL DAR RCH
DNQ 		CLT
DNQ 		DOV
DNQ 		POC
DNQ 		MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC
42 		IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH
DNQ 		NHA
DNQ 		DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 84th 37 [9]
2006 Chevy DAY
20 		CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL
41 		RCH DAR CLT
DNQ 		DOV POC MCH SON DAY
43 		CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL
DNQ 		CLT
DNQ 		MAR ATL
DNQ 		TEX PHO HOM 58th 177 [10]
2007 DAY
DNQ 		CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY
DNQ 		CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT
DNQ 		MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 73rd 0 [11]
2009 Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 27 Toyota DAY
DNQ 		CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH NHA DOV KAN CAL CLT MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM 82nd 0 [12]
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
2002 Hover Motorsports Ford DNQ
2003 Donlavey Racing Ford DNQ
2004 Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford DNQ
2005 DNQ
2006 Chevy 42 20
2007 DNQ
2009 Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Toyota DNQ

Nationwide Series

NASCAR Nationwide Series results
Year Team 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 NNSC Pts Ref
1994 Levin Racing 19 Chevy DAY
17 		CAR
42 		RCH
18 		ATL
20 		MAR DAR HCY BRI ROU NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW SBO TAL HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CAR 59th 361 [13]
1995 Beverley Racing 25 Chevy DAY
41 		CAR
24 		RCH
24 		ATL
19 		NSV
32 		DAR
24 		BRI
29 		HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM 49th 562 [14]
2002 Jay Robinson Racing 49 Ford DAY
31 		CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI GTY PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL CAR PHO HOM 110th 70 [15]
2008 Jay Robinson Racing 28 Chevy DAY
30 		CAL LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO MXC TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 122nd 78 [16]

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team 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 NCTC Pts Ref
1995 AAG Racing 65 Chevy PHO TUS SGS MMR POR EVG I70 LVL BRI
17 		MLW CNS HPT IRP FLM RCH MAR NWS SON MMR PHO 79th 112 [17]
1997 Kenneth Appling Racing 03 Chevy WDW TUS HOM PHO POR EVG I70 NHA TEX BRI NZH MLW LVL CNS HPT IRP FLM NSV GLN RCH
32 		MAR
DNQ 		SON MMR CAL PHO LVS 124th 71 [18]
1998 WDW
DNQ 		HOM PHO POR EVG I70 GLN TEX BRI MLW NZH CAL PPR IRP NHA FLM NSV HPT LVL RCH MEM GTY MAR SON MMR PHO LVS 126th 25 [19]

ARCA Re/Max Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Re/Max Series results
Year Team 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 ARMC Pts Ref
1993 Kenneth Appling Racing 98 Olds DAY
3 		FIF TWS TAL
8 		KIL CMS FRS TOL POC MCH
26 		FRS POC KIL ISF DSF TOL SLM WIN ATL
5 		50th - [20]
1994 DAY
5 		TAL FIF LVL KIL TOL FRS MCH
29 		DMS POC POC KIL FRS INF I70 ISF DSF TOL SLM WIN ATL
16 		75th 690 [21]
1996 Kenneth Appling Racing 98 Chevy DAY ATL SLM TAL FIF LVL CLT
4 		CLT
6 		KIL FRS POC MCH FRS TOL POC MCH INF SBS ISF DSF KIL SLM WIN CLT ATL 119th - [22]
1997 3 DAY ATL SLM CLT
37 		CLT
7 		POC MCH
30 		SBS TOL KIL FRS MIN POC MCH DSF GTW SLM WIN CLT
3 		TAL ISF ATL
7 		50th - [23]
1998 DAY
15 		ATL
1 		SLM CLT
2* 		MEM MCH
7* 		POC
3 		SBS TOL PPR POC
13 		KIL FRS ISF ATL
26 		DSF SLM TEX
25 		WIN CLT
15 		TAL
27 		ATL
9 		15th 2175 [24]
1999 DAY
10 		ATL
32 		SLM AND CLT
3 		MCH
30 		POC
16 		TOL SBS BLN POC
7 		KIL FRS FLM ISF WIN DSF SLM CLT
1* 		TAL
26 		ATL
41 		28th 1260 [25]
2000 DAY
5* 		SLM
10 		AND
23 		CLT
36 		KIL
19 		FRS
6 		MCH
17 		POC
34 		TOL
13 		KEN
DNQ 		BLN 15th 2340 [26]
Team CLR 57 Ford POC
16 		WIN ISF KEN DSF SLM CLT
8 		TAL
3 		ATL
13
2001 DAY
4 		NSH WIN SLM GTY KEN CLT KAN MCH POC MEM GLN KEN MCH POC NSH ISF CHI DSF SLM TOL BLN CLT TAL ATL 105th 240 [27]
2003 Hylton Motorsports 48 Ford DAY ATL NSH SLM TOL KEN CLT BLN KAN MCH LER POC POC NSH ISF WIN DSF CHI SLM TAL CLT
1* 		SBO
DNQ 		60th 510 [28]
2008 Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 27 Chevy DAY
34 		SLM IOW KAN CAR KEN TOL POC MCH CAY KEN BLN POC NSH ISF DSF CHI SLM NJE TAL TOL 149th 60 [29]

References

  1. ^ a b c Bonkowski, Jerry (April 13, 2004). "Shelmerdine doing 'what can't be done'". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  2. ^ "FEC COMPLETES ACTION ON TWO ENFORCEMENT CASES". Archived from the original on 2007-02-04.
  3. ^ Buchanan, Mary Jo (August 27, 2010). "Kirk Shelmerdine's Fire Sale Symbolic of Death of NASCAR Independents". Bleacher Report. Turner Sports. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  4. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  5. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  6. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  7. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  8. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  11. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  12. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  13. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1994 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  14. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1995 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  15. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2002 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  16. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  17. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  18. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  19. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  20. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  21. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1994 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  22. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1996 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  23. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine –". Racing-Reference. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  24. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1998 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  25. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 1999 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  26. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2000 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  27. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2001 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  28. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2003 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  29. ^ "Kirk Shelmerdine – 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
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