#27 Team News and Links Page
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Kirk Shelmerdine
Ted Christopher
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#27 Team Past News and Rumors
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- Christopher to attempt New Hamphire race: Ted Christopher will go looking to hit the track with the Sprint Cup Series next weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Christopher will look to make his seventh Sprint Cup Series start in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire on June 28. Christopher will attempt to qualify a [#27 Toyota] car owned by Kirk Shelmerdine. Christopher has driven Shelmerdine owned cars in three previous Sprint Cup events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "I went over to see him last weekend when I was [in North Carolina]," Christopher said. "He said come over and try the seat in the car. It fit good and he called me on Monday and said they he had got a sponsor and wanted me to run his car. I'm looking forward to it. I think I've made the race for him every time we've tried to qualify at New Hampshire." Christopher last started in a Sprint Cup Series event in September 2006, finishing 41st at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in a Shelmerdine owned car.(Hartford Courant)(6-19-2009)
- Shelmerdine plans to run full Cup season: #27-Kirk Shelmerdine [KSR] has reached an agreement with his partners, including Wabash Motorsports as well as other stakeholders including TRD, friends, family and acquaintances. This new Toyota campaign represents a significant move in Kirk’s continuing quest to become a factor in the 2009 Sprint Cup Series. A private equity group has provided KSR something they have not had in the past. An influx of cash that has allowed the team to acquire new Toyotas and all of the pertinent accessories that it takes to start a competitive team. KSR fully intends to attempt every race on the 2009 schedule, however more help is needed. Kirk and his partners are actively seeking sponsorship that is geared to fit the location, size and demographics of businesses who are actively seeking a unique marketing opportunity. A variety of sponsorship packages are available and can be discussed on a case by case basis. We are especially looking for a long term partnership can result in long term benefits for all stakeholders. If interested in sponsoring KSR at (618) 847-7401.(KSR PR)(2-8-2009)
- Shelmerdine plans to attempt all Cup races: hearing Kirk Shelmerdine and several partners have bought some of the Toyotas campaigned last year by #22 Bill Davis Racing and are trying to put a plan in place to run all the Sprint Cup races. Bill Davis Racing was bought by Triad Racing Technologies and supposedly they will not run any races in 2009.(1-20-2009)
- Shelmerdine to test at Daytona for RCR: Kirk Shelmerdine will be testing the #33 RCR Chevy at the Daytona International Speedway Monday, January 7th and Tuesday, January 8th 2008 in preparation for the 2008 Daytona 500 on February 17, 2008. Kirk Shelmerdine began his career as a Crew Chief and tire changer at the age of 18. Shelmerdine is best known for his record-breaking achievements while working as Crew Chief for Richard Childress Racing. Between 1986 and 1992, he lead Dale Earnhardt, Sr. to four Winston Cup Championships and won honors such as Mechanic of the Year and UNOCAL Pit Crew Race Competitions multiple times. His statistics include 246 top tens, 142 top fives, 14 pole positions and 46 wins. Shelmerdine decided to become a full time Cup driver in 2002. In February 2006 he qualified for the Daytona 500 and finished 20th driving his Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Chevy. With his long history with Richard Childress Racing, Shelmerdine looks forward to driving for his friend and previous boss.(Wabash Motorsports PR)(1-6-2008)
- Shelmerdine is rebuked for Bush sticker: In a decision announced Tuesday [Dec 26th], the FEC [Federal Election Commission] sent an “admonishment letter” to Kirk Shelmerdine Racing. Kirk Shelmerdine was the former pit boss [crew chief, 4 Cup champinships] for the late Dale Earnhardt. Back in 2004 Shelmerdine placed a “Bush-Cheney ’04” decal on his rear quarter panel, which was otherwise unencumbered by advertising. Democratic activist Sydnor Thompson complained to the FEC, and the agency found that Shelmerdine “may have made an unreported independent expenditure or a prohibited corporate expenditure.” Former commissioner Bradley Smith dissented in one of the case’s early votes and blogged about the result this week. He has written that in reference to the FEC’s $250 expenditure limit, “evidence is strong that the market value of Shelmerdine’s rear quarter panel was approximately $0, give or take $249.”(Examiner)(12-29-2006)
- Skinner to qualify the #27 at Homestead: Mike Skinner will be driving the #27 Chevy for Kirk Shelmerdine Racing for Homestead, doesn't say if he will drive the #27 in the race.(KSR Site)(11-14-2006)
- Power Outage at NHIS causes problems, sets #27 back 4 laps: A power outage left only NASCAR’s generator-driven apparati up and running at the start of the race at New Hampshire. The governing body generously shared its power with television, so that the broadcast booth, along with the space housing race officials, could be air-conditioned. As a result, the pre-race prayer and singing of the national anthem were conducted for TV audiences only. The whole affair was staged, and most of the capacity crowd didn’t know it was taking place. In fact, while the prayer was being delivered, the crowd was taking part in “the wave,” and practically no one was standing at the beginning of the anthem. Gradually, fans became aware that something was going on because they could see the pit crews standing at attention on pit road. Since TV couldn’t fully eliminate from its live pictures all evidence that the fans didn’t know what was going on, TNT anchor Bill Weber had to mention afterward that there had been a power outage. During the first caution period, power was restored.(Gaston Gazeete)
AND Electrical power to the New Hampshire track blinked out just minutes before the start of Sunday's race. But the 300-mile event started right on time, thanks to generators that kept all of NASCAR's equipment, including timing and scoring, up and running.
The TV broadcast by TNT was also able to continue without interruption until full power was restored after just four laps had been run.
Ted Christopher's [#27 Chevy] car was held in the garage until after the power came on because his spotter, who apparently was stuck on an elevator, had note reported to the spotters' stand at the top of the grandstand. Christopher started the race four laps behind. Officials said an auto accident away from the racetrack knocked down high voltage lines and caused the brief outage.(FoxSports/AP)(9-18-2006)
- Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine to sponsor Shelmerdine at Daytona: Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine will again adorn the Kirk Shelmerdine Racing #27 Chevy for Saturday's Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Positive fan response to the initial partnership between Catdaddy and Shelmerdine was so overwhelming, the additional race was added to the sponsorship agreement. Later this season Catdaddy will be on the car for the Oct. 14 Bank of America 500, also at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Additional races
could be added. "It's great to have Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine back on board for Daytona," Shelmerdine said. "The reaction to the sponsorship at Charlotte, inside and outside the garage, was very positive, and because of it, there's a lot of interest in our efforts; the exposure really elevated our race team. We're headed to Daytona confident we'll have a solid qualifying effort and a good run in the Pepsi 400." For more information on Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine, please visit catdaddymoonshine.com.(3-G Sports PR)(6-27-2006)
- Hubert to run the #27 at Sonoma: #22-Caterpillar Racing team member Tom Hubert hopes to spend Saturday afternoon racing in the NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series event at Infineon Raceway. Additionally, for the third consecutive year, Hubert will attempt to qualify Kirk Shelmerdine's #27 ride for Sunday's Cup race at the track. Hubert has made 10 Nextel Cup Series starts and has competed at Infineon Raceway in the Cup Series on five occasions, finishing as high as 28th. Chris Beeson, who works for Bill Davis Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series, will be standing by to take over Hubert's rear tire changing duties on the #22 Caterpillar Dodge that Dave Blaney drives.(BDR PR)(6-21-2006)
- Shelmerdine back at Talladgea: #27 Kirk Shelmerdine is back on the track! After an impressive 20th place finish in the 2006 Daytona 500, Shelmerdine plans to compete in Talladega's upcoming race on April 30, 2006: The Aaron's 499. Shelmerdine retreated from the spotlight after Daytona to work on the #27 and scout potential sponsors. KSR continues to offer unique sponsorship opportunities that cater to the needs and budget of each and every potential sponsor. Contact info and team/driver info at www.kirkshelmerdine.com.(MLF Sports PR)(4-26-2006)
- Shelmerdine got some help UPDATE: #27-Kirk Shelmerdine was rolling his car toward his hauler to get ready to go home following Thursday's qualifying races when a NASCAR official told him to roll it to the inspection line. He didn't know it, but out of the 58 cars trying, he was one of the 43 that had qualified for the Daytona 500. Shelmerdine, who crew-chiefed for the late Dale Earnhardt in the 1980s, is a one-man team with no sponsor, no pit crew and no money for tires. He didn't find a sponsor, but he did find a pit crew and received a donation for the tires from a random family in the infield. Earnhardt's former boss, Richard Childress, flew Shelmerdine's son, who had never been to Daytona, on his private plane. In turn, Shelmderdine put Childress Vineyard on the hood of his car. ''Without a big corporate deal it was hard to pull off,'' Shelmerdine said. ''People jumped in and helped like the Lopez family. ... They paid the whole tire bill, but I don't think they want us to talk about that. They are some devoted Dale Sr. fans.'' Shelmerdine not only finished on the lead lap, but wound up 20th. ''We couldn't keep up with the other cars, but I guess we beat all the wrecked ones,'' he said. ''I'll be glad to go home and rest. It's been a heck of a week.''(Allentown Morning Call)(2-20-2006)
UPDATE: When Welcome, NC - based Kirk Shelmerdine crossed the finish line in 20th-Place at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, he did so flying the Black and Gold colors of Apex Electric Company on the #27 Chevy his hood. Apex Electric Company is based in Apex, NC, and owned by Cary, NC businessman Mike Howington. Howington has supported Kirk Shelmerdine Racing at races in the past, but the relationship was never party to such a big "Cinderella Story" that Shelmerdine provided at the 2006 Daytona 500. "I cannot describe how proud I am of Kirk for finishing ahead of so many strong entries in this year's race" said Howington, adding, "To have the Apex name on the hood of his car and provide exposure for the area as well as my business was only the icing on the cake"! With the success at Daytona, the 2006 season looks to be a great one for the #27 Chevy of Kirk Shelmerdine, and look for the Apex name to appear at a track near you soon as discussions are underway to the Shelmerdine / Apex Electric relationship to full-time status.(Apex Electric Company PR). Shelmerdine is not on the Auto Club 500 Entry List and his site Kirkshlemerdine.com says he is going out to Califonria Speedway, but at this point, word is that Shelmerdine is unsure if he will race or not..(2-22-2006)
- No sponsor or crew for Shelmerdine...yet: #27-Kirk Shelmerdine was still searching for a sponsor and a pit crew Saturday, one day before the biggest race of his career. "We're shaking the bushes," said Shelmerdine, a former crew chief for Dale Earnhardt and a surprise qualifier for the Daytona 500. Shelmerdine said few big-time sponsors have shown interest. As for a pit crew, he said paying a Busch Series team was an option, but that many of them had tight schedules because they have to travel to California next week and then Mexico.(ESPN.com/AP)(2-19-2006)
- Shelmerdine to sell ride? or pick up a sponsor? #27-Kirk Shelmerdine in his sixth long-shot try made the field for the Daytona 500. Shelmerdine, 47, was NASCAR's top crew chief in the 1980s and early 1990s, winning four championships with Dale Earnhardt. He abruptly left the Richard Childress team after 1992, went into semi-seclusion, and began pursuing a somewhat quixotic career as driver. This week, Shelmerdine's #27 entry amounted to a last chance. "If we didn't make it, I didn't know what I was going to do next week," he said after the heats. I was going to have to sell a bunch of stuff. I'd have had to sell the car and a lot of my old Ford stuff from last year." Basically put him out of business? "Yep," Kirk said. "But I didn't have much to lose." However it falls right now, Shelmerdine seems to have a lot to gain. Last place in the 500 pays about $275,000, and the bundle could go much higher if, say, Valvoline, which was shut out of the race when Scott Riggs failed to meet criteria, decides to buy Shelmerdine out [Jayski NOTE: Riggs runs a Dodge, Shelmerdine is a Chevy, have to use the same car]. Shelmerdine smiled his cat smile. "My lawyer's here, they can come talk to her," he said. "I don't know what we're going to do. The plan was to get through today in good shape. Now it's time for a new plan."(Speed Channel)
AND Thursday night, as Shelmerdine continued a massive effort to control his emotions, that #27 Chevrolet looked like a Rolls Royce. Beginning today, it might as well be. A few decent sponsors, and at least one prominent one (Valvoline, which bankrolls Scott Riggs' #10 car), might be ready to deal for a little logo placement in Sunday's big show. "The quarterpanels are open," said Shelmerdine, who smiled broadly and added, "the price has gone up."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-17-2006)
- Hubert to run the #27 for Shelmerdine at Watkins Glen: Kirk Shelmerdine Racing has announced that Tom Hubert will be piloting the #27 NASCAR Nextel Cup Ford Taurus at Watkins Glen International Speedway for the weekend of August 12-14, 2005. Kirk Shelmerdine Racing is also seeking primary and associate sponsorship for the remainder of the 2005 season. For further information, please visit www.KirkShelmerdineRacing.com, or contact Jennifer Vigh at 609-658-7103.(KSR PR)(8-11-2005)
- Christopher to run the #27 at NHIS: been told that Modified Racer, Ted Christopher, will drive the #27 Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford in an attempt to make the New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The team will also have a new associate sponsor. Green Valley Compressor the home of Pumatools.com announced an associate sponsorship agreement with Kirk Shelmerdine for the #27 Nextel Cup Series Team. Green Valley Compressor is a family owned business located in Keller, Texas in the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex just minutes from D/FW International Airport and the Texas Motor Speedway. Pumatools.com is a full service on line store for high quality Puma Air Tools as well as Ingersoll Rand air compressors. Green Valley has been the Ingersoll Rand Southern Region dealer of the year for three straight years. More info at Pumatools.com.(7-13-2005)
- Hubert takes over for Shelmerdine UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing's Tom Hubert will attempt to get the #27 Kirk Shelmedine Racing Ford in the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at the Infineon Raceway. Hubert has ran road course races in the Nextel Cup, Busch and Truck Series for various teams. The #27 team has made 10 attempts but failed to make a race in 2005.(Sonoma Entry List)(6-21-2005)
UPDATE: Kirk Shelmedine Racing (KSR) would like to welcome aboard Tom Hubert to Pilot the #27 KSR Ford at Infineon Raceway. KSR would like to welcome aboard Napa Valley Ford and PumaTools.com as associate sponsors for the Sonoma race.
AND Hubert made the race and the team has picked up associate sponsorship from www.myracingteam.com.(KSR PR)(6-24-2005)
- Shelmerdine gets an assoc for 2005: #27 Kirk Shelmerdine Racing would like to welcome back Wabash Motorsports as an associate sponsor for the Nextel Open. Wabash Motorsports will be continuing as an associate sponsor through the rest of the 2005 season.(Kirk Shelmerdine Racing)(5-21-2005)
- Shelmerdine gets sponsor for Richmond: Kirk Shelmerdine Racing’s #27 will be carrying the Drug Abuse Resistance Education “D.A.R.E.” & “Just Say No to Drugs” logos on the hood at Richmond for the Chevy American Revolution 400. Support for this program is courtesy of Apex Electric Company of Apex, NC; Fixture Specialists of Richmond, VA; KBS Builders of Richmond, VA; and the Apex North Carolina Police Department. For more information on the D.A.R.E. program, please visit www.DARE.com.(Kirk Shelmerdine Racing)(5-11-2005)
- Spencer and Shelmerdine? Jimmy Spencer still has not been picked up by another Cup team – nor by a Busch or Trucks program – for a full-time ride in 2005. With few opportunities, Spencer may be relegated to driving for a second- or third-tier team, or may have to be content with occasional fill-in stints in Cup, Busch or Trucks. There have been rumors about Spencer driving on an occasional basis for #72 Kirk Shelmerdine, but those do not appear to have much substance behind them.(Yahoo Sports)(1-3-2005)
- Shelmerdine plans to run full 2005 Cup schedule: Kirk Shelmerdine has announced that his independent NASCAR Nextel Cup team, #72 Kirk Shelmerdine Racing, will attempt to run the full NASCAR Nextel up Schedule in 2005. Currently, the team is looking for primary and associate sponsors to offset the escalating costs of running in the Nextel Cup series. Kirk Shelmerdine earned his reputation powering Dale Earnhardt to four Winston Cup titles from 1984-1992, before retiring to form his own team in 1993. With the rising operating costs in NASCAR, it is imperative for Kirk Shelmerdine Racing to have sponsors to compete. Full sponsorship and associate sponsorship packages are available and very affordable.(12-20-2004)
- #72 at NHIS: didn't see the car on TV and driver/owner Kirk Shelmerdine had Bush-Cheney '04 on his #72 Ford at New Hampshire.(Boston Herald)(9-20-2004)
- Shelmerdine gets sponsorship for California: 2nd Chance Race Parts and RacingUnderdog.com are once again teaming up with NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Kirk Shelmerdine, and will be on board the Freddie B's #72 Ford Taurus as associate sponsors for this weekend's Pop Secret 500 at the California Speedway. The two companies were also associate sponsors for Shelmerdine for several events earlier this year. Rick Russell, owner of 2nd Chance Race Parts, has just launched a website, 2ndchanceraceparts.com. 2nd Chance, based in Mooresville, NC, buys and resells used race cars, parts, and accessories from top-tier Nextel Cup teams. Russell will be directly involved with the team's effort - he's driving Kirk's hauler out to California for the Pop Secret 500. 2nd Chance Race Parts supplies race teams in all levels of competition from Canada to Australia, and includes several NASCAR independents among its clients. RacingUnderdog.com is a NASCAR commentary and opinion site which focuses on the drivers who are generally out of the media spotlight. This weekend, the site will combine fantasy with reality as it sponsors the two main events for ESCORS, the European Online Stock Car Racing Series. ESCORS is the top simulated racing league in Europe. Kirk Shelmerdine is the only independent driver who has attempted to qualify for every Nextel Cup event in 2004. He is currently 42nd in the NASCAR Nextel Cup driver point standings, and 41st in the Nextel Cup owner point standings. In his only prior career start at Fontana, Kirk finished 42nd in the Auto Club 500 in May.(Racingunderdog)(9-1-2004)
- Red, White and Blue for Kirk: Kirk Shelmerdine and the #72 crew head for the Monster Mile at Dover, Delaware this weekend for the MBNA 400 “A Salute To Heroes.” Shelmerdine’s Ford Taurus will sport a red, white, and blue paint scheme to honor our veterans, and the other heroes who have given so much to keep us free. Kirk and his crew also wish to send a special salute to honor the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Freddie B’s, RacingUnderdog.com, and The Winning Team Racing Apparel are Shelmerdine’s associate sponsors for this week’s event.(RacingUnderdog / Hearsay Entertainment PR)(6-2-2004)
- Different Look for Shelmerdine in the Open: The #72 team of Kirk Shelmerdine will be sporting a different look this weekend at the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge Open. The car is the same one he ran at Richmond last week, with the black paint scheme. The different look will be decals saying "VOTE FOR KIRK" as an invitation for fans and viewers to vote for Kirk as the one entry other than the Open winner to advance to the Nextel All-Star Challenge [see story and links below to vote]. Shelmerdine said, “It would be a great honor to race with the guys in the Challenge, but I'd have to be voted in to be able to do that, so I'm relying on all my fans to help me. Let’s go, Underdog fans, VOTE FOR KIRK!" Shelmerdine continues to seek primary sponsorship for the Coca-Cola 600 and beyond. Interested parties may contact Rick Russell at (704) 662-5458.(Racing Underdog)(5-20-2004)
- Sponsors for Shelmerdine at Richmond: Rick Russell, owner of 2nd Chance Race Parts, the primary sponsor for Kirk Shelmerdine’s #72 Nextel Cup Ford Taurus, announced today that the team will also be carrying the logo for RacingUnderdog.com on the its entry in the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday night. RacingUnderdog.com, a small-media Internet site that devotes its coverage to Nextel Cup’s underdog and independent drivers, recently chronicled Shelmerdine’s race efforts in California and the team’s week-long trip there. “We’re honored to be included on a car at a Nextel Cup event,” said Dave Laurence, owner of RacingUnderdog.com, adding that “this is simply a joint effort between two Underdogs trying to help each other out.” Kirk Shelmerdine was among the drivers who tested on Thursday, May 6
at Richmond International Raceway. "The track had a tremendous amount of grip, and had the feel of a track with several races on it instead
of a new surface," Shelmerdine said. His car handled well off the trailer, responded well to adjustments, and was only a second slower
than the Childress cars that were testing there that day. Shelmerdine and his 2nd Chance Race Parts Team are looking forward to an improved performance this weekend at Richmond.(PR)(5-12-2004)
- Shelmerdine on 'field-fillers': Quote-unquote [#72] Kirk Shelmerdine on the whole "field-filler" issue: "I think most of them are that. If you haven't won in three to four years, you're a field-filler anyway. You're just wasting a lot more money than we are." Shelmerdine's is one of the low-budget operations that have been rounding out the fields each week. He'll start 41st today with a qualifying speed almost 15 mph slower than Newman's pole-winning speed. He said he doesn't feel at risk in a slower car. "There's not really a direct parallel between speed and safety," he said. "The fast cars are safe. The slow cars are safe. NASCAR makes sure of that, and we who put the cars together make sure of that." Shelmerdine has competed in four of five races this season and hasn't lasted more than 46 laps in any of them. He's made $249,102.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(3-28-2004)
- #72 Sponsor? saw the decals on Kirk Shelmerdines #72 Ford, Tucson, what is that? Tucson Cigarettes made by the Renegade Tobacco Company in Mocksville, NC which is up near Welcome, NC [where Shelmerdine's shop is]. NOTE: NASCAR's Jim HUnter was interviewed on XM Satelitte - NASCAR Radio 144 and said while cigarettes are not allowed to be a sponsor on a car, the brand name can as long as the words 'Cigarette' or 'Tobacco' is not used.(3-19-2004)
- Field Filler? [yeah is is long, but it interetsed me]: Kirk Shelmerdine went to the rear windshield of his #72 Ford Taurus with a wrench and took a few wedges out of the rear springs. He returned to the front of the car and began working under the hood. Later he jacked up the left side, rolled tires to the hauler and checked air pressure. When it was time to push the car to the inspection line he was there, too. To know Shelmerdine is not your typical NASCAR Nextel Cup series driver, one only has to look at his hands and uniform. They’re dirty. Shelmerdine, who will start 42nd in today's Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, is one of the so-called field fillers that have become a hot topic during the first four races. The issue has ranged from NASCAR being accused of lobbying many low-budget teams to show up to fill the 43-car fields to those teams being criticized for not being able to meet the minimum race speed, thus endangering others. The issue peaked a few weeks ago at Rockingham when Joe Ruttman was pulled after one lap because he didn't have a pit crew. “There’s been a lot more made of it than is actually going on,” Shelmerdine said. “I don't think there's people showing up just to fill up the field. That's all conjecture by the press. NASCAR is not inviting people to come.” Shelmerdine's only competition today will come from within. His qualifying speed of 178.413 mph is about 15 mph slower than the 193.575 mph posted by pole-sitter Ryan Newman. But Shelmerdine, who turned 46 on Monday, isn't here to beat Newman. He’s here because he loves what he does. Racing isn't easy when you don’t have a major sponsor, when you have two sets of good tires while everybody else has a dozen and when your car parts are older than some of the young drivers. Shelmerdine failed to make the field at Daytona, and he completed a combined 27 laps in races at Rockingham and Las Vegas. At Rockingham he was blackflagged after 19 laps for not meeting the minimum speed. His engine blew after eight laps at Las Vegas, leaving him with three. “We’ve got two worn ones and one good one,” Shelmerdine said. “If this one goes, we'll stick a worn one in there and hope it doesn't grenade.” Shelmerdine doesn't live race to race. He’s one of the few drivers you'll see under the hood getting dirty. While other drivers are making public appearances or testing at other tracks, he is at his small garage in Welcome, N.C., working morning to midnight to make sure he has a chance to qualify for the next race. He has been known to go through dumpsters for parts thrown away by other teams. Most of his parts are — like his hauler — used. “They only run the crankshafts about a 1,000 miles,” Shelmerdine said. “We buy them and run them another 1,000. Money is so tight that there isn't enough to change the number on the side of the hauler from 27 to 72 [the number he used in 2003]. “Actually, we don't have a ladder that goes that high.” He doesn't have to look far to know what life is like on the other side. Richard Childress Racing, one of NASCAR's empires, is across the street. “It's a pretty big contrast,” Shelmerdine said of his shop and RCR’s multi-building facility. “We're pretty much the outhouse.” Shelmerdine worked at RCR for 12 years. He was the crew chief for the late Dale Earnhardt for four of his seven Winston Cup (now Nextel Cup) points championships from 1986-92. When he was 25, he became the youngest crew chief to win a race and later the youngest to win a championship. But in 1992, at the age of 34, Shelmerdine left RCR to pursue his dream. He moved into the shop he had built while working for Earnhardt and began building cars. Since 1995, he has driven at practically every level, from ARCA to Busch to Trucks to Nextel Cup. “It’d be pretty neat to work with a really top team for a while,” Shelmerdine said. “I'm sure it would open some eyes from my end and other people’s ends as well.” When Shelmerdine says work he means drive. He has no desire to do what he did before because everything has become so high tech and assembly line. “We built chassis from the ground up when nobody was doing it,” he said. “It’s not nearly the art form it used to be. I’d be miserable doing that job now.” Shelmerdine said the negative publicity over low budget teams has been good. “It’s thrown a little more light on this end of the field, even if it’s not completely positive,” he said. “If I’m a sponsor I’m looking at these cars because they've been kind of a running story every week. It ain’t all good, but it's news.”
The good news for Shelmerdine is he has made enough money, about $143,000, to keep him coming back. “If I don't pass out from lack of sleep, we can keep going indefinitely,” he said. “We'll do as many of them as we can. If we have a bunch of wrecks three or four weeks in a row we're going to be out for a while. But we're getting better every week. By summer we might not be so pitiful.”(The State)
.....why post this? cause Jayski has always been about trying to help out and mention the smaller teams and so called 'field-fillers' like Kirk, Hermie, Carl Long, Andy Hillenburg, Andy Belmont and whoever else, if there is a spot open in the field, why shouldn't these guys gets a shot to get noticed.(3-14-2004)
- Shelmerdine trying to make the Daytona 500: Kirk Shelmerdine, a four-time NASCAR champion crew chief and Dale Earnhardt's ace-in-the-hole for so many Sundays, is back behind the wheel trying again to make his first-ever Daytona 500 as a driver. It has been more than 10 years since Shelmerdine suddenly retired as the boss at Richard Childress' operation to try his hand at driving. Since then, he has won ARCA races and had fun and made a modest living out of his tiny shop across the street from Childress' vast racing compound just south of Winston-Salem. Inside that nondescript, one-story shop, Shelmerdine has been pounding out the wrinkles on the Ford he'll take to the grid here Thursday in the 125-mile qualifying races that will determine whether he finally makes the 500. In his first few days here, Shelmerdine has learned one brutal fact: "We're behind on technology." Shelmerdine is also behind on cars. He has two. His former boss has 62. "The car is a good car, drives OK, it's just not that fast. The engine is better than the car right now. We don't have any of the 'stuff' these other teams have to work with, and it shows. Nobody is trying to fool anybody, that's just the way it is. We're looking to get a spot to start, and it would be neat if we could do it."(Winston Salem Journal)(2-10-2004)
- Shelmerdine Article: Just a few days ago Kirk Shelmerdine added another victory to his modest resume as a driver, winning Charlotte's ARCA race. Today, the winning car - a vintage three-year-old model, in a sport where last month's model is usually already out of date - is in the middle of Shelmerdine's modest shop. The shop is right across the street from Richard Childress' spiffy new shop [Welcome NC], a giant racing factory in the heart of Childress-ville, a massive conglomeration of NASCAR shops that is a far, far cry from that Waughtown shop where Childress started. Shelmerdine continues to say that he's a racer and not a crew chief, even though he hasn't been doing much of either this season. He ran for Junie Donlavey at Daytona in February but failed to finish high enough in his 125 to make the 500. He ran the Winston Open in May. And he won last week at Charlotte. A Hooter's sponsorship vanished quickly, leaving Shelmerdine picking and choosing his spots. And pondering his future.; how 'bout a ride in the #30 AOL car?.(10-15-2003)
- Shelmerdine enters NHIS: FSN's Totally NASCAR reports that #27-Kirk Shelmerdine has entered the New England 300 at New Hampshire, increasing the short field to 42. 43 cars would be a full field.(7-16-2002)
- Shelmerdine Start Pushed Back UPDATE: Kirk Shelmerdine's plans to try to qualify the #27 Ford [not sure what number will be used now since Bill Davis Racing is using the #27] for the Coca-Cola Family 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway are being scrapped. "Testing showed us that our level of performance and our state of preparedness were not where we thought they should be," Shelmerdine says on the Brett Bodine Racing Web site. Atlanta-based Eastern Foods Inc. has agreed to sponsor Shelmerdine as part of a two-car team effort with #11-Brett Bodine.(Winston Cup Scene daily newsletter)(5-15-2002)
UPDATE: Kirk Shelmerdine, the former longtime crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, will make another stab at getting his Winston Cup driving career going in the July 14 Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Shelmerdine plans to enter the race with sponsorship from Atlanta-based Eastern Foods Inc. and its Naturally Fresh Dressings & Dips and Jackaroo Sauces.(Winston Cup Scene daily newsletter)(7-3-2002)
- Shelmerdine doing more: Kirk Shelmerdine will be on hand at Hickory Speedway on July 27th - standing atop the MJ Motorsports pit box. Shelmerdine, who helped the late Dale Earnhardt win four Winston Cup titles, will call the shots for 19-year-old "Aazie" Zimbelmann who will make his USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series debut in an MJ Motorsports Chevrolet. Zimbelmann is a Rookie candidate in the NASCAR Late Model Super Truck Series at Hickory. "Adding Kirk to the mix was the final ingredient we needed to ensure a solid effort," said Mike Calinoff, "his influence on our program will be dramatic." Zimbelmann, who is currently 7th in the Hickory point standings, feels the addition of Shelmerdine will also work to help his confidence. "Mike (Calinoff) and Jenn (Kovach) have given me great equipment in the truck series and we are preparing an awesome car for the Hooters race. Having Kirk on board will certainly help us on pit strategy and adjustments." Shelmerdine is in the midst of boosting his own Winston Cup driving career. He will compete in at least five events this season with sponsorship from Hooters [actually Naturally Fresh in the #27? Ford]. He is the youngest crew chief ever to win a Winston Cup race and series title[in 1986-87,89-90 - actually thought Doug Richert at 19 years old in 1980 was the youngest].(MJ Motorsports PR)(7-1-2002)
- Shelmerdine's Schedule Announced UPDATE #27: Atlanta-based Eastern Foods Inc. and their driver Kirk Shelmerdine have released a five-race schedule for the 2002 Cup season. Shelmerdine will drive a Ford as part of a two-car team effort with Brett Bodine. Shelmerdine will showcase the colors of Naturally Fresh Dressings & Dips and Jackaroo Sauces produced by EFI, Inc. for his first race at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte in May. The next race scheduled for the Naturally Fresh Racing team will be at Chicagoland Speedway on July 14th. The team will return to the Midwest to Kansas Speedway on September 29th.. Shelmerdine will bring the Naturally Fresh Ford back to Lowes Motor Speedway on October 13th and finish the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October. Eastern Foods Incorporated is based in Atlanta, GA has been actively involved in stock car racing sponsorship at various levels since 1991 and currently sponsors competitors in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series. In returning to the Winston Cup Series, Eastern Foods, Inc. will also become an associate sponsor on the #11 Ford driven by Bodine.(Naturally Fresh Racing PR), no word on a car number.(4-4-2002)
UPDATE: Shelmerdine's Ford will run the #27.(4-6-2002)
- Hooters signs with Brett Bodine for rest of 2002 and gets a teammate: Brett Bodine got some good news on Thursday. The Hooters Restaurants chain has decided to sponsor #11 Ford Bodine's team for the remainder of the 2002 season. The company had been one-race sponsor for Bodine in the past two races [Atlanta and Darlington]. "This is a great opportunity for our race team to be involved with Hooters Restaurants for the remainder of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season,” said Bodine. "This sponsorship will put stability back into our race team so we can focus on making our team more competitive. The sponsorship agreement will give Hooters primary sponsorship of a Winston Cup series car for the first time since 1996. The company won the 1992 Winston Cup championship as sponsor of the #7 Ford driven by the late Alan Kulwicki.(ThatsRacin)
and....Bodine gets a teammate: Kirk Shelmerdine, a regular in the ARCA series, will run a limited schedule this season in Winston Cup as a second team with Brett Bodine Racing. Shelmerdine, once a crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, has picked up sponsorship for his schedule by Eastern Foods Inc. The team plans to enter as many as five races this season. “This is a great opportunity for me,” Shelmerdine said. “We look forward to this new partnership.”(ThatsRacin)
AND more: Hooters of America chairman Bob Brooks will sponsor Brett Bodine's #11 Ford for no less than 26 of the remaining 31 races on the schedule and will also back a second car out of the BBR shops in five races for Kirk Shelmerdine using the Naturally Fresh brand of his Eastern Foods company. Bodine's team has the option of selling the remaining five races to another primary sponsor, but a team spokesperson said Hooters might opt to be on the car for those events as well. Bodine’s associate sponsorship programs with Wells Fargo Financial, Timberland Pro, TEC Graphics and Express Services Inc. all will continue. Doug Richert, who joined Bodine at the season’s second race, at North Carolina Speedway, working in the crew chief’s role as a “consultant,” will continue in that position at Bristol as Bodine weighs his options.(NASCAR.com)(3-21-2002)
- Hooters on the #11? UPDATE 2 more races, two cars?: hearing from some readers that it was reported on a local Atlanta sports talk radio, 790 AM The Zone, that during an interview with Cup driver/owner #11 Brett Bodine, that he will have Hooters Restaurants as his sponsor at Atlanta in a one race deal.(3-8-2002)
UPDATE: -- While Hooters restaurants owner Robert Brooks ponders future long-term involvement in NASCAR Winston Cup racing, he has reached a temporary sponsorship agreement with team owner-driver Brett Bodine for Sunday's MBNA 500. Bodine's #11-Ford will carry Hooters colors for the Atlanta Motor Speedway event. Bodine has been struggling to keep his team afloat because of sponsorship difficulties. Bodine and Brooks worked out the agreement Thursday night, the eve of race qualifying. Also involved in those discussions was driver Kirk Shelmerdine. Brooks sponsored Shelmerdine in a failed effort to qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500, then announced that he planned to start a Winston Cup team with Shelmerdine as the driver. Brooks has been exploring options, including buying a race shop or suitable property in the Charlotte area to start a Winston Cup team. He also has talked to Bodine about becoming more involved in his operation, possibly as a co-owner, Brooks said Thursday. Brooks' restaurants sponsored Alan Kulwicki's unlikely Winston Cup championship run in 1992. The next spring, Kulwicki and three Hooters representatives, including Brooks' son, Mark, were killed in the crash of a private plane on the way to a race in Bristol.(Greenville News)(3-8-2002)
UPDATE 2: Brett Bodine’s #11 Ford will be sponsored by Hooters restaurants for the MBNA 500, a one-race deal that may turn into a larger association down the road. Bob Brooks, the Hooters CEO, met with Bodine on Thursday to begin discussions about a possible future together. Brooks had previously announced his intentions to start a Winston Cup team to run a limited schedule beginning later this season. Driver Kirk Shelmerdine, who tried to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a Hooters-sponsored Ford, was to be part of that new team. Brooks said Thursday night that if he and Bodine work out a deal for 20 or more races this year, there may be some events where Bodine and Shelmerdine both attempt to qualify.(ThatsRacin)(3-8-2002)
- Hooters back in Winston Cup UPDATE: Bob Brooks, the controlling owner of the Hooters restaurant chain, plans to rejoin the Winston Cup Series as car owner and sponsor. Brooks said Wednesday that he plans to field a team for driver Kirk Shelmerdine and expects to be racing by midseason. They are in the process of applying to NASCAR for a car number, purchasing race cars and opening a shop near Charlotte. Brooks said he hopes to run few races this season and more next year. However, he doesn't plan to run the full schedule. Hooters was Alan Kulwicki's sponsor during his championship season in 1992. Brooks' son Mark perished in the same plane crash in which Kulwicki died in 1993. Brooks sponsored Shelmerdine in an unsuccessful attempt to run the Daytona 500 last month, and he says that rekindled his interest in Winston Cup racing. He still plans to operate the Hooters ProCup series for short track racers.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(2-28-2002)
UPDATE: Bob Brooks, who plans to return to Winston Cup as a car owner and sponsor, said he believes today's race teams are asking sponsors for too much money. He hopes to be able to operate his team for far less than the $15 million or so that many top teams get from sponsors, even if it means not running the full schedule. Brooks, who is the majority owner of the Hooters restaurant chain and Eastern Foods, a maker of salad dressings and dips, has teamed with driver Kirk Shelmerdine and plans to run a limited number of races this season. They plan to add races next season. Brooks said he believes his money will be best spent if he owns the team rather than sponsoring someone else's organization.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(3-1-2002)
