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Jimmy Means

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Jimmy Means
Means at Texas Motor Speedway in 2019
BornJames Bradford Means
(1950-05-29) May 29, 1950 (age 74)
Texarkana, Arkansas, U.S.
NASCAR Cup Series career
455 races run over 18 years
Best finish11th (1982)
First race1976 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last race1993 AC Delco 500 (Rockingham)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 17 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
3 races run over 1 year
Best finish65th (1989)
First race1989 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race1989 Gatorade 200 (Darlington)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
Statistics current as of December 25, 2012.
mid 1980s racecar

James Means (born May 29, 1950) is a retired American racing driver and owner, who competed in the Winston Cup Series as an owner-driver. He is currently an adviser for Front Row Motorsports and a former owner of NASCAR Xfinity Series team Jimmy Means Racing.

He competed in NASCAR for eighteen years in mostly his own equipment, posting seventeen career top-tens. He made three career Busch Series starts in 1989, finishing 10th at Darlington Raceway. Following his retirement, Means worked as a crew chief in NASCAR, working for Bud Moore Engineering and Moy Racing. Means was part the Alabama Gang which included Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Neil Bonnett and Red Farmer and later Davey Allison, Hut Stricklin, Steve Grissom and Mike Alexander.

Means' nickname "Smut" originated from his admiration for mechanic Smokey Yunick. Since the nickname "Smokey" was already taken in racing circles, Means' crew nicknamed him "Smut", the residue left behind by smoke.[1]

He is the father of Brad Means.

Local track career

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Means won dozens of late model races in Alabama and Tennessee in the early 1970s, including track championships at Huntsville Speedway and the historic Nashville Speedway USA.

Driving career

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Means made his Cup debut in 1976 at the Daytona 500, driving the number five Chevrolet for Bill Gray. He led one lap but finished 40th after an engine failure. He ran an additional eighteen races for Gray in the number 52 car with sponsorship from WIXC, finishing in eleventh place twice. The following season, Means drove twenty-six races and had a career-best six top-ten finishes, but due to twelve DNFs, he finished nineteenth in points.

In 1978, Means began running as an independent driver, except for the Winston 500, where he drove for Bill Champion. He had two top-tens and improved three spots to finish sixteenth in points. He received new sponsorship from Mr. Transmission, but only had one top-ten in 1979, forcing him to fall to 23rd in points. After a sponsorship change to Thompson Industries for 1980, Means failed to finish higher than 12th, but he was still able to move up to 17th in the standings. Broadway Motors became his new sponsor in 1981, and after two top-tens, he continued to move up to fourteenth in points. In 1982, he was able to garner an additional pair of ninth-place runs, and finished a career-best 11th in points. It also marked the first time in his career he ran every race on the schedule.

Means had the highest finish of his career in 1983, when he had a seventh-place run at Talladega. Combined with two other top-tens, he dropped seven spots in the standings. During the 1984, Means suffered injuries in a crash at Talladega Superspeedway, forcing him to miss several races. He did not have a top-ten finish over the next two years, and he lost his Broadway sponsorship, picking up funding from Voyles Auto Savage in late 1986. He also switched his manufacturer to Pontiac.

In 1987, Eureka Vacuum Cleaners became Means' new sponsor, and he had the last top-ten of his career at Richmond International Raceway. He dropped to what was at the time the lowest points finish of his career (30th) in 1988, and continued to struggle in 1989, failing to qualify for several races and dropping another spot in the standings despite a new sponsor in Alka-Seltzer. Means had already chosen to skip two races in favor of Bobby Hillin Jr. in 1991 after being involved with J. D. McDuffie's fatal crash; he continued to relinquish the ride to Mike Wallace at the end of the season.

After losing the Alka-Seltzer sponsorship, Means continued to drive a part-time schedule. After getting part-time funding from NAPA and Hurley Limo, Means ran eighteen races in 1993.

Means had planned to race again in 1994 for his own team. Speedweeks 1994 was marred by the deaths of fellow Alabama driver Neil Bonnett, and reigning Goody's Dash Series Champion Rodney Orr. The deaths of Bonnett and Orr convinced Means that he had no more reason to be racing. Means announced his retirement in the days following qualifying for the 1994 Daytona 500. He was winless in 455 starts.

In 1995 he had a brief stint as team manager for the Bud Moore-owned, Lake Speed-driven No. 15 Ford Quality Care Thunderbird.

Car owner

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Means' 2009 Nationwide car

Means continued to own NASCAR cars through the 1990s and 2000s, primarily in the Busch Series (now Xfinity Series). In 2012, he was a part-owner of the new Hamilton Means Racing team, which fielded his traditional number 52.[2]

Motorsports career results

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NASCAR

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

Winston Cup Series

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NASCAR Winston 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 NWCC Pts Ref
1976 Jimmy Means Racing 5 Chevy RSD DAY
40
CAR RCH BRI 24th 1752 [3]
52 ATL
34
NWS DAR MAR TAL
31
NSV
15
DOV CLT
39
RSD MCH
23
DAY
11
NSV
24
POC
23
TAL
11
MCH
24
BRI
19
DAR
18
RCH
24
DOV
27
MAR
20
NWS
27
CLT CAR
23
ATL
17
ONT
DNQ
1977 RSD DAY
8
RCH
29
CAR
28
ATL
20
NWS
27
DAR
20
BRI
9
MAR
8
TAL
34
NSV
9
DOV
29
CLT
19
RSD MCH
14
DAY
20
NSV
29
POC
20
MCH
17
BRI
27
DAR RCH
10
DOV
14
MAR
9
NWS
11
CLT
28
CAR
22
ATL
40
ONT
DNQ
19th 2640 [4]
Osterlund Racing 98 Chevy TAL
36
1978 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Chevy RSD DAY
35
RCH
12
CAR
10
ATL
32
BRI
23
DAR
12
NWS
14
MAR
10
DOV
17
CLT
37
NSV
30
RSD MCH
15
DAY
13
NSV
24
POC
13
TAL
32
MCH
15
BRI
19
DAR
11
RCH
13
DOV
32
MAR
23
NWS
23
CLT CAR
13
ATL
23
ONT
22
16th 2756 [5]
Champion Racing 10 Ford TAL
26
1979 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Chevy RSD DAY
DNQ
CAR
24
RCH
27
ATL
33
NWS
30
BRI
28
DAR
30
MAR
28
TAL
12
NSV
11
DOV
31
CLT TWS
23
RSD
31
MCH
16
DAY
22
NSV
10
POC
16
TAL
13
MCH
22
BRI
19
DAR
16
RCH
20
DOV
16
MAR
17
NWS
24
CAR
31
ATL
19
ONT 23rd 2575 [6]
Cunningham-Kelley Racing 14 Chevy CLT
40
1980 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Chevy RSD
21
RCH
30
CAR
20
ATL
12
BRI
24
DAR
28
NWS
14
MAR
12
TAL NSV
12
DOV
27
CLT
14
TWS
19
RSD MCH
22
NSV
16
POC
14
TAL
15
MCH
14
BRI
22
DAR
16
RCH
13
DOV
27
NWS
12
CAR
13
ATL
20
ONT
31
17th 2947 [7]
Buick DAY
15
DAY
26
Price Racing 45 Chevy MAR
30
CLT
1981 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Chevy RSD
18
BRI
14
NWS
14
NSV
14
NWS
9
14th 3142 [8]
Pontiac DAY
21
RCH
14
CAR
29
ATL
21
DAR
23
MAR
12
TAL
27
DOV
9
CLT
23
TWS
19
RSD
28
MCH
28
DAY
18
POC
19
TAL
16
MCH
25
BRI
12
DAR
38
RCH
16
DOV
19
MAR
15
CAR
20
ATL
35
RSD
Buick NSV
15
Negre Racing 8 Dodge CLT
12
1982 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Buick DAY
17
ATL
16
DAR
11
NWS
18
MAR
13
TAL
9
CLT
14
POC
24
RSD
18
MCH
20
DAY
21
TAL
17
MCH
11
RCH
19
CLT
11
11th 3423 [9]
Chevy RCH
18
NSV
14
BRI
14
MAR
9
CAR
15
ATL
13
Pontiac BRI
16
CAR
17
NSV
23
DOV
31
POC
17
DAR
23
DOV
17
NWS
14
RSD
12
1983 Buick DAY
14
ATL
32
TAL
7
CLT
38
MCH
21
DAY
36
18th 2983 [10]
Chevy RCH
16
NWS
14
MAR
10
NSV
12
BRI
14
RSD
18
POC
20
NSV
12
BRI
26
DAR
20
RCH
24
DOV
21
MAR
15
NWS
22
CLT
23
CAR
9
ATL
18
RSD
16
Pontiac CAR
14
DAR
12
DOV
12
POC
35
TAL MCH
1984 Chevy DAY
17
RCH
28
NWS
25
TAL
40
NSV
22
MCH
26
RCH
18
DOV
15
25th 2218 [11]
Pontiac CAR
13
ATL BRI
17
DAR
14
MAR DOV
16
CLT
27
RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC
25
TAL BRI
30
DAR
18
MAR
15
CLT
19
NWS
16
CAR
18
ATL
16
RSD
21
1985 Chevy DAY
14
RCH
21
ATL
28
BRI
12
TAL
12
RSD
37
DAY
32
DAR
27
23rd 2548 [12]
Pontiac CAR
30
DAR
15
NWS
17
MAR
14
DOV
30
CLT
32
POC
22
MCH
35
POC
23
TAL
42
MCH
15
BRI
27
RCH
23
DOV
13
MAR
13
NWS
21
CLT
38
CAR
18
ATL
41
RSD
20
1986 DAY
39
RCH
11
CAR
19
ATL
41
BRI
DNQ
DAR
25
NWS
20
MAR
12
DOV
24
CLT
DNQ
RSD
22
POC
22
MCH
DNQ
DAY
24
POC
13
TAL
15
GLN
21
MCH
25
BRI
27
DAR
15
RCH
26
DOV
24
MAR
22
NWS
27
CLT
18
CAR
22
ATL
29
RSD
17
22nd 2495 [13]
Chevy TAL
16
1987 Pontiac DAY
24
CAR
22
RCH
14
ATL
32
DAR
36
NWS
30
BRI
29
MAR
14
TAL
33
CLT
15
DOV
13
POC
19
RSD
23
MCH
DNQ
GLN
19
BRI
13
RCH
9
DOV
22
MAR
30
NWS
21
CAR
20
RSD
27
ATL
29
23rd 2483 [14]
Chevy DAY
29
POC
38
TAL
36
MCH
37
DAR
22
Hendrick Motorsports CLT
40
1988 Jimmy Means Racing DAY
25
RCH
24
30th 2045 [15]
Pontiac CAR
40
ATL
42
DAR
35
BRI
32
NWS
30
MAR
DNQ
TAL
23
CLT
12
DOV
27
RSD
43
POC
20
MCH
36
DAY
27
POC
39
TAL
23
GLN
14
MCH
38
BRI
DNQ
DAR
24
RCH
29
DOV
19
MAR
23
CLT
42
NWS
DNQ
CAR
39
PHO
24
ATL
38
Donlavey Racing 90 Ford NWS
24
1989 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Pontiac DAY
DNQ
CAR
33
ATL
18
RCH
DNQ
DAR
38
BRI
DNQ
NWS
32
MAR
DNQ
TAL
41
CLT
41
DOV
24
SON
DNQ
POC
29
MCH
28
DAY
12
POC
24
TAL
39
GLN
33
MCH
27
BRI
DNQ
DAR
26
RCH
19
DOV
21
MAR
31
CLT
37
NWS
22
CAR
31
PHO
25
ATL
DNQ
31st 1698 [16]
1990 DAY
29
RCH
18
CAR
21
ATL
31
DAR
31
BRI
29
NWS
28
MAR
19
TAL
21
CLT
DNQ
DOV
22
SON
DNQ
POC
27
MCH
39
DAY
12
POC
21
TAL
30
GLN
39
MCH
27
BRI
22
DAR
36
RCH
18
DOV
24
MAR
16
NWS
30
CLT
39
CAR
28
PHO
25
ATL
28
29th 2271 [17]
1991 DAY
39
RCH
31
CAR
27
ATL
31
DAR
23
BRI
DNQ
NWS
DNQ
MAR
DNQ
TAL
20
CLT
38
DOV SON POC
26
MCH
27
DAY
26
POC
21
TAL
23
GLN
39
MCH
27
BRI
DNQ
DAR
28
RCH
35
DOV
23
MAR
DNQ
CLT
24
CAR
35
PHO ATL 33rd 1562 [18]
Olds NWS
28
1992 Pontiac DAY
DNQ
CAR
33
RCH
35
ATL
38
DAR
20
BRI NWS
32
MAR
30
TAL
34
CLT
42
DOV
31
SON POC
35
MCH
23
DAY
39
POC
39
TAL
32
GLN MCH
39
BRI
24
DAR
22
RCH
29
DOV
23
MAR
DNQ
NWS
DNQ
CLT
38
CAR
26
PHO 32nd 1531 [19]
Ford ATL
21
1993 DAY CAR RCH ATL
22
DAR
31
BRI
16
NWS
27
MAR
DNQ
TAL
32
SON CLT
38
DOV
26
POC
22
MCH
28
DAY
36
NHA
34
POC
DNQ
TAL
25
GLN MCH
25
BRI
18
RCH
26
DOV
17
MAR
DNQ
NWS
DNQ
CLT CAR
29
PHO ATL
DNQ
36th 1471 [20]
53 DAR
39
Daytona 500
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Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1976 Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 20 40
1977 23 8
1978 39 35
1979 DNQ
1980 Buick 26 15
1981 Pontiac 26 21
1982 Buick 40 17
1983 42 14
1984 Chevrolet 41 17
1985 25 14
1986 Pontiac 42 39
1987 40 24
1988 Chevrolet 37 25
1989 Pontiac DNQ
1990 37 29
1991 39 39
1992 DNQ

Busch Series

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NASCAR Busch 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 NBSC Pts Ref
1989 Mac Martin Racing 92 Pontiac DAY
30
CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI NZH SBO LAN NSV CLT
30
DOV ROU LVL VOL MYB SBO HCY DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR
10
RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR 65th 280 [21]

References

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  1. ^ "The Scene Vault: Jimmy "Smut" Means". 2 September 2020.
  2. ^ Adamczyk, Jay (December 1, 2011). "Jayski's Nationwide Series Silly Season Site". Jayski.com. ESPN. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
  3. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  4. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  5. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  7. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  8. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  9. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  10. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  11. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  12. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  13. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  14. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  15. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  16. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  17. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  18. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  19. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  20. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  21. ^ "Jimmy Means – 1989 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
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