#90 Team Past News and Rumors
NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages
2002 News
#90 Looking for sponsor UPDATE 2 Sadler in, nope it is Berrier OR is it Bradberry?: #90 car owner Junie Donlavey said Sauer will not sponsor the team after this race. Donlavey said that if a sponsor isn't found, he won't send his team to Sears Point in two weeks. Donlavey said he probably would leave the Sauer decals on the car next week at Michigan.(Roanoke Times), doesn't say who will drive at Michigan, Hermie Sadler drove the last three races in place of Rick Mast who is still ill.(6-10-2002)
UPDATE: Rick Mast continues to rest at home while a battery of doctors try to determine the nature of a mysterious illness that has sidelined him for the last month. Hermie Sadler will drive Junie Donlavey's #90 Duke's/Sauer's Ford at Michigan while Mast remains sidelined. Sadler also plans to make his first BGN start of the season this weekend at Kentucky in his own #02 Little Trees Chevy. The team will skip Sears Point next week, but plans to attempt the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, no driver named.(NASCAR.com)(6-11-2002)
UPDATE 2: #90 owner Junie Donlavey announced today that Ed Berrier would drive for Hermie Sadler this weekend at Michigan. Berrier, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., started the 2000 season with Donlavey as a rookie-of-the-year candidate before Donlavey replaced him. Sadler was filling in for the ailing Rick Mast. Donlavey said the scheduling conflicts involved with Sadler's weekend plans of competing in both the Winston Cup and BGN (at Kentucky) events are the reason for the decision.(Keystone Marketing PR)(6-12-2002)
UPDATE 3? Gary Bradberry is now listed in NASCAR.com's entry list as being in the #90 Donlavey Racing Ford, not Ed Berrier.(6-14-2002)
AND Junie Donlavey will field an ARCA car for Clinton, MI, native Jason Hedlesky this weekend at Michigan. Hedlesky,
team manager for Donlavey's Winston Cup team, will make his third start in as many years at the famed speedway. Hedlesky is coming off of an impressive qualifying run of ninth at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May. Hedlesky finished 15th in the event, fighting a tight handling car all day. Superior Logistics Services, Accuturn and Action Drugs of Michigan will sponsor Hedlesky in the event.(Keystone Marketing PR)(6-14-2002)
UPDATE 3: Junie Donlavey's Richmond-based team is scrambling to find a driver for Winston Cup qualifying at Michigan today. Hermie Sadler, who substituted for the ailing Rick Mast in the #90 Ford the past three races, didn't make the trip because he is focused on the BGN race at Kentucky Speedway tomorrow. Ed Berrier, who drove for Donlavey Racing in 2000, also was contacted but won't be able to drive.(Richmond Times Dispatch), so I guess Gary Bradberry, listed on NASCAR.com's Entry List at MIS is in.(6-14-2002)
Mast to retire? UPDATE 2: the LTN Radio show reports that Rick Mast, who took a leave from the #90 Donlavey Racing team for health problems may retire from racing.
UPDATE: Being told Mast has said that retirement is NOT an option that he is considering at this time. His plan is to get back into the #90 car as soon as possible, but he did say, that is out of his hands at this time. His doctors are continuing his diagnosis, and he says they have ruled out "most of the serious stuff" including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but the problem has not pinpointed yet. Hermie Sadler (as announced last week) will be in the #90 car for Pocono, and beyond that, he does not know. Bobby King will come back to crew chief for the Pocono race, King was not with the team in Dover, and they didn't make the race.(WTVR-TV Richmond Report)(6-3-2002)
UPDATE 2: Rick Mast is still visiting doctors and undergoing tests, trying to find the answer for his recent fatigue and weight loss. Mast hasn’t felt well off and on this season. He took a break from Donlavey Racing in late May, missing races at Charlotte and Dover while undergoing a ceaseless string of medical tests. “Basically, what they’re trying to do is rule out different possibilities,” Mast said. “That’s where we’re at, is ruling out things.” Mast’s doctor advised him not to race again until he is well. He is visiting various doctors and clinics trying to go through a list of possible problems. Meanwhile, he remains out of racing. He was home in Rockbridge Baths, Va., during the race weekend at Dover. “The frustrating part is it takes time,” he said. “You have to be patient. That’s just frustrating.” Mast has no idea how long the testing process will take.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(6-6-2002)
#90 to lose sponsor? UPDATE 2: hearing Sauer/Duke's Mayo will not sponsor the #90 Donlavey Ford after the June Pocono race. Actually the sponsorship was for part of the season and supposed to end soon with the option of extending, supposedly that will not happen.(6-2-2002)
UPDATE: being told that the C.F. Sauer company will pull their sponsorship after the Pocono race but no official word has been given.(6-3-2002)
UPDATE 2: Team owner Junie Donlavey is seeking sponsorship sooner than he expected. Richmond-based C.F. Sauer is expected to cease funding the operation following the June 9 race at Pocono. That clouds the future for the team. Although Sauer’s contract was never for the full season, Donlavey has often said he felt he could keep the sponsor if the team could perform. Now finding sponsorship for a team that is deep in the points could be an overwhelming task. Sauer’s interest appears to have been as much with Mast as Donlavey’s operation. The company is evaluating the team based on performance to this point, including races when the ailing Mast battled fatigue and illness. With Mast out indefinitely, the team turned to fellow Virginian Hermie Sadler. But time will run out quickly for the young driver unless Sauer officials reverse their decision. Sadler finished 29th at Charlotte, his first race with the team. Out of provisionals (until Sears Point or their 16th attempted race), the team failed to qualify at Dover.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(6-6-2002)
#90 Driver at Dover? UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey hasn't decided who is driving his car [#90 Dukes Mayo Ford] at Dover next weekend. Rick Mast will miss another week of action while continuing to take medical tests to determine the cause of his recent fatigue and weight loss. Donlavey is meeting with sponsor representatives tomorrow to determine the driver for Sunday's event.(Richmond Times Dispatch). Hermie Sadler finished 29th after starting 41st at Lowes.(5-27-2002)
UPDATE: being told Hermie Sadler will be in the #90 Ford at Dover and the following weekend at Pocono.(5-28-2002)
UPDATE 2: Hermie Sadler will drive the #90 Donlavey Racing Ford in the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover International Speedway this Sunday and in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 9. Sadler finished 29th in the Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 in his first
assignment for Donlavey Racing this past Sunday. Sadler is temporarily spelling Rick Mast, who is ill. Sadler is the 72nd driver to have qualified for a Winston Cup event for legendary team owner Junie Donlavey.(Keystone Marketing PR)(5-30-2002)
Mast Ailing - Hermie Sadler In the #90 for the Coke 600 UPDATE: Hermie Sadler will replace ailing driver Rick Mast this weekend in the #90 Donlavey Racing Ford Taurus, according to car owner Junie Donlavey. Mast said he has not felt good physically for several weeks and is undergoing tests to determine the cause. The doctors have recommended he step out of driving at least for this weekend's Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Mast competed in The Winston qualifying races last Saturday night at the Charlotte track. Donlavey said Sadler was a natural choice to drive the car this weekend at Charlotte. The team is billed as an all-Virginia team. Donlavey's Winston Cup team has called Richmond, Va., home for six decades, and C.F.Sauer's Company is also located in Richmond. Sadler is a native of Emporia, Va., and races occasionally on the Winston Cup Series with a team he owns.(Keystone Marketing PR)(5-22-2002)
UPDATE: Car owner Junie Donlavey said he doesn’t know what ails Rick Mast and isn’t sure when or if Mast would be back in the #90 Fords. Hermie Sadler has taken over driving duties for this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway while Mast undergoes tests to determine what his medical condition is. Mast isn’t at the track this weekend. “Rick called me (Tuesday) night, and he said he had to take some time off because he had a bunch of tests he had to go through,” Donlavey said. “We’ve noticed that he’s lost a lot of weight recently, and we’re just hoping that everything is all right. But until he goes through all of his tests, we won’t know. We’re just going to take things one day at a time because we don’t know really know anything.” Sadler said he was happy to get the call from Donlavey, who is a Virginia native like Sadler. “Emporia (Sadler’s hometown) is only about 60 miles away from Junie, so I was able to buzz over there pretty quick and get my seat in there and talk to all the guys,” Sadler said. “I know many of those guys because a lot of them worked for me when I had my Busch team, so in a lot of ways, it’s like old times. It’s a great honor and a great opportunity, so we’ll see what happens.” Sadler said he’s “just filling in until (Rick’s) ready to come back.”(RacingOne), also of note, it was reported during FX's qualifying coverage that crew chief Ernie Cope had left the #90 team (after a week or so), he is supposedly helping out the #37 and #38 Derrike Cope teams, former #90 crew chief Bobby King is back working with the team.(5-24-2002)
#90 and crew chief part ways UPDATE new crew chief: Effectively immediately Mark Tutor and the #90 Donlavey Racing team have parted ways. "It is in both our best interest that this happens as we have drastically different views on racing in the year 2002. I have the utmost respect for Rick Mast and the Sauers' companys. I wish them both the best. I am looking for a team committed to and willing to do what it takes to be competitive, and not at what they do not have to spend," said Tutor.(5-1-2002)
UPDATE: Donlavey Racing has hired Ernie Cope to serve as crew chief on the #90 Donlavey Racing Ford and driver Rick Mast. Cope had been head mechanic since last October on the #9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge driven by Bill Elliott. Prior to joining Evernham Motorsports, Cope was the car chief for the #27 Pontiac fielded by Eel River Racing. Before his stint at Eel River, Cope called the shots for Geoff Bodine Racing in the CTS. "I'm real excited about the opportunity with Donlavey Racing and Rick Mast," Cope said. "I spoke with Junie and Rick before I decided to make the move. I felt this is an opportunity I could not pass up." Cope's first race will be this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. Cope is replacing Mark Tutor.(Keystone Marketing PR)(5-1-2002)
Donlavey Injured in Auto Accident: Junie Donlavey, owner of the #90 Dukes Mayo/Sauer's Fords driven by Rick Mast, suffered cracked ribs on his left side and a cracked right kneecap in a traffic accident Thursday night after arriving in California. "We were just driving along when, all of a sudden, this car comes out of a side street running 60 or 70 mph and he nailed us," said Donlavey, 78. "If we would have been a fraction quicker, he would have gotten us right in the door. As it was, he caught us right in front of the door. "…It was unbelievable. I've never been in a wreck like that. In 1939, I laid my A-model Ford over on its side, but that's the only other wreck I've been in." Donlavey and team manager Jason Hedlesky were in the car. They'd just landed at Riverside airport and were heading to their hotel in Pomona when the wreck happened. Hedlesky escaped major injuries, but he and Donlavey were both treated at a hospital in Fontana and released. Hedlesky said he called 911 after making sure Donlavey and the driver of the other car were OK, but had trouble getting help since he didn't know exactly where they were. Mast flew out on the same plane with Donlavey and Hedlesky, but was in another car. "They were following me to Interstate 10," Mast said. "We went through a light and then an intersection. I looked in the mirror and I didn't see them behind me." Mast kept going but got a call from Hedlesky and turned back. "I absolutely couldn't believe it," Mast said. "Those cars were absolutely torn all to pieces. I said to myself, 'How in the world did they survive this?' But they did." Donlavey and Hedlesky were both wearing seat belts and the car's air bags also deployed properly.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-26-2002)
UPDATE: during FX's coverage of Happy Hour practice, it was mentioned that Donlavey is fine and at the track for the weekend.(4-27-2002)
#90 to the Wind Tunnel: The #90 Donlavey Racing Team is attending a wind tunnel session today at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. The Donlavey Racing team is taking three down force cars to the tunnel. "We wanted to check the numbers on the intermediate cars to get a feel of where we are," Crew Chief Mark Tutor said. "These are the steps we need to be doing to get things heading in the right direction."(Donlavey Racing PR)(3-25-2002)
Donleavy/Hill Bros drop case: Winston Cup team [#90] owner Junie Donlavey and Hills Brothers Coffee have called off legal action against one another. Donlavey verbally sparred with the company after it announced last fall it would leave his team. Donlavey replaced driver Hut Stricklin with Rick Mast, and the sponsor withdrew its support, bringing a lawsuit from Donlavey. The company later moved to Bill Davis Racing [#23] with Stricklin. (Richmond Times Dispatch)(3-9-2001)
New #90 Crew Chief: Mark Tutor will call the shots in the pits for Winston Cup Driver Rick Mast, effective immediately, announced Junie Donlavey, owner of the #90 Ford. "Mark has worked with Rick in the past, and the trust and communication that exists between them will help make this team better and hopefully get us to that next step," Donlavey said. Tutor had been working on the CLR Ford with Derrike Cope. He has past experience with Petty Enterprises, Cale Yarborough Motorsports, Robby Gordon Racing and Loy Allen Racing. Tutor's first race will be this weekend at Atlanta.(Keystone Marketing PR)(3-5-2002)
#90 Changes and paint for the Rock UPDATE 2 looking for crew chief: the Duke's/Sauer's #90 Donlavey Racing Ford will be sporting a black and yellow paint scheme at Rockingham this weekend. Also Mastfans.com is reporting that crew chief Craig Huartson and the team have parted ways.(Mastfans.com), see an image on my Paint Schemes Gallery.(2-21-2002)
UPDATE: At North Carolina Speedway this weekend, #90 driver Rick Mast will run a new scheme as the #90 Duke's Ford underwent a facelift since Speed Weeks. "We wanted to make the car more visible for the fans to see while it was on the track," team owner Junie Donlavey said. "Duke's came up with a paint scheme that looks great, and we plan on running the scheme for the remainder of the season." The car is now predominantly black with the familiar yellow Duke's logo on the hood and a red Sauer's logo on the rear quarter panels. The #90 decal is also yellow and outlined in red. A yellow stripe runs below the 90 decal between the wheel wells and at the bottom of the back quarter panels. The rear spoiler is red. Donlavey Racing is also proud to announce the launch of its new Web site, www.donlaveyracing.com. The Web site will have weekly updates from the races, photos and a message board share information about the all-Virginia team and show their support.(Keystone PR)(2-21-2002)
UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey is once again searching for a Winston Cup crew chief. Craig Huartson, who joined the team in December, is no longer with the Richmond-based operation. "All the parties involved agreed that it would be in the best interests of everybody to do something different," driver Rick Mast said. "What we've been doing all week is trying to interview a few folks and work with a couple of folks and get somebody in place, hopefully, by the first of the week."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-24-2002)
Sauer not a full season deal: #90-Rick Mast says that Sauer's has signed to sponsor his team only for the season's first half. He said talks are ongoing for the company to continue as sponsor in the season's second half for the Junie Donlavey team.(Roanoke Times)(2-9-2002)
The #90 and Mast to test at Talladega: #90 Car Owner Junie Donlavey and Rick Mast are set to test at Talladega Superspeedway Jan. 30-31 in preparation for the 44th Daytona 500. The Donlavey Racing team will also test at North Carolina Motor Speedway [The Rock] Feb. 4-5 in preparation for the Feb. 24 event at the speedway in Rockingham.(Keystone Marketing PR)(1-30-2002)
#90 in the tunnel: The Donlavey Racing team will be taking three 2002 #90 Ford Tauruses to the wind tunnel at Langley Air Force base on Saturday. Donlavey has prepared two Superspeedway cars and one down-force car to test in preparation for the upcoming races at Daytona and Rockingham.(Keystone Marketing)(1-11-2002)
Sad News: Helen Martin Mast, mother of Winston Cup driver Rick Mast [#90], died December 31, 2001 after a short illness. Funeral services were scheduled for 11:00am Friday, January 4 at Ebeneezer Methodist Church in Rockbridge Baths, Virginia. Mrs. Mast, 74, is survived by her husband, R.K. Mast, two children (daughter Helena Mast Krohn and son Rick) and four grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic, 712 North Main Street Lexington, Virginia 24450.(Camp and Assoc PR)(1-5-2002)
Donlavey Hires Crew Chief: #90 team owner Junie Donlavey has announced the hiring of Craig Huartson as Crew Chief of Rick Mast's #90 Donlavey Racing Ford. Huartson rejoins Donlavey Racing from Team Rensi, where he served as crew chief on the Truck Series entry driven by Randy Tolsma before serving as Shop Foreman for the Team Rensi Busch series entry. Huartson served as crew chief at Donlavey Racing during the 2000 season. Donlavey also brought Car Chief/Shock Specialist Keith Roberson board to assist Huartson during the 2002 season. Robinson served as shock specialist for the Jasper Engines team during the 2000 season.(Keystone Marketing PR)(1-3-2002)
2001 News
Donlavey Announcement UPDATE 2 C.F. Sauer the Sponsor., Mast the driver...and... and images: there will be a 2002 Winston Cup Sponsorship announcement at the C.F. Sauer Company in Richmond, VA on Wednesday, December 12th at 1:00pm/et. Attendees Include: #90 Owner Junie Donlavey, Mark Sauer, Governor Jim Gilmore, [Driver?] Rick Mast, Kyle and Pattie Petty [not sure why - interesting](Keystone Marketing PR)(12-10-2001)
UPDATE: The C.F.Sauer Company and Swansboro Motor Company, Inc., announced today their agreement to an all-Virginia team for the 2002 Winston Cup season. The two Richmond-based companies also named Rick Mast, the Rockbridge, Va. veteran Winston Cup and Busch Grand National racer as driver of the #90 car. The 114-year old C.F. Sauer Company is family owned and operates manufacturing facilities in Richmond,Va., Greenville, S.C. , New Century, Kan., San Luis Obispo,Calif., and a distribution center in Orlando, Fla. The Company's brands are Sauer's, Dukes', Bama, Spice Hunter, Gold Medal, and Mrs. Filberts and also manufactures customer label margarine products for the retail, food service, and industrial markets. The Company also owns Pleasant's Hardware. "This marks our second season in racing," Sauer stated, "and everyone at The Company looks forward to a long and productive association with Junie Donlavey." Donlavey, owner of Swansboro Motor Company, added, "For the 52 years I've been in racing, I've wanted to field an all-Virginia team, and I reckon if you wait and work long enough, your dreams can come true." In addition to announcing the racing association, The C.F. Sauer Company named three non-profit charity affiliates to be involved in promotional efforts of the new team. The charities are the United Network for Organ Sharing, the Richmond based non-profit that manages the nation's organ transplant system; Victory Junction Gang, a retreat for seriously ill children founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty and new member of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps founded by Paul Newman; and the Winston Cup Racing Wives Auxiliary, which was established in 1965 to provide aid to Winston Cup families suffering injury or tragedy as a result of preparation or participation in Winston Cup events.(Sauer PR)(12-10-2001)
UPDATE 2: It's official see the Keystone Marketing PR at Sauer, Swansboro to Team for Winston Cup 2002 Season; also, see images of the #90 Sauer/Dukes Mayo Ford (layout and the front/side view), check it out on my Paint Schemes Gallery(12-12-2001)
Hornaday/Foyt to part ways - Mast to the #14? UPDATE 2: The New Hampshire 300 at NHIS will be Ron Hornaday's last race in A.J. Foyt's #14 Conseco Pontiac. Hornaday will announce his 2002 plans in the future (may include the #43 BGN ride) and Foyt and Conseco will decide on a new driver for 2002 in the near future(ESPN's RPM 2 Night), rumors include Rick Mast (who drove for Foyt in 2000)(11-19-2001)
UPDATE: FSN's NASCAR This Morning reports that Rick Mast could be headed back to the #14 in 2002(11-23-2001)
UPDATE 2: but on Friday's RPM 2 Night (ESPN2) it was reported that Rick Mast said he would be in the #90 Ford in 2002(11-24-2001)
Donlavey sues Hill Bros: #90 Cup owner Junie Donlavey has filed suit against Sara Lee, parent company of former sponsor Hills Brothers Coffee. Donlavey's case argues that Sara Lee wrongfully withheld $300,000 that is owed to the team, wrongfully terminated the contract and is not entitled to reimbursement of sums previously paid to Donlavey's team. Sara Lee, in a letter dated Oct. 26, has demanded restitution of $138,888.89 for each of the five races in which driver Hut Stricklin did not run. The total contract for the team is $5 million this season. The suit stems from an ongoing dispute about whether Donlavey had the right to replace Stricklin.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(11-16-2001)
Mast 2002 plans? Rick Mast received some good news recently. For the first time in three years, he will end the season knowing exactly where he will be next year. Mast did not divulge the identity of his new owner or car, but he said an announcement probably will be made early in December. "Everything is done," he said. "We'll be going into Christmas knowing what we're going to do for a change. That makes going into the holiday season a whole lot easier." Meanwhile, Mast will finish out the 2001 campaign with the No. 90 team. Two races remain on the schedule, one this weekend in Atlanta and the rescheduled race in New Hampshire over the Thanksgiving holiday.(News-Gazette)(11-16-2001)
Decals off the #90: Car owner Junie Donlavey's crew spent Saturday morning removing the Hills Bros. Coffee logos from the #90 Ford as the final chapter in that relationship. The sponsor announced several weeks ago that it would be leaving the team for 2002, and on Friday said that it will go along with driver Hut Stricklin to the #93 Dodges owned by Bill Davis. Donlavey decided earlier this week to put Rick Mast in his car in place of Stricklin for the rest of the 2001 season. "We received a registered letter today informing us that Hills Bros. Coffee does not agree with my decision and is terminating their contract with us effective immediately," Donlavey said. "They asked us to remove all identification from the car and we are complying."(That's Racin'). During TNT's Happy Hour coverage, the car was shown in a Salute to American Heroes, with the USA Flag on the hood. Also TNT pit reporter mentioned that Sara Lee has asked Donlavey for their money back for the remianing Cup races(10-27-2001)
Mast to the #90? now? UPDATE 2 Stricklin NOT happy: Word has it that Rick Mast was in Richmond today being fit (for seat) in the #90 Donalvey Ford and that Mast will be in the car for the rest of the 2001 season getting prepared for 2002. Supposedly Hut Stricklin is ok with the move. No word on if Hill Bros will sponsor the car for the rest of 2001 or if Philipe Lopez will be with the team(www.mastfans.com - site down?). Also, no word on if Sauer will be the sponsor on the car, they sponsored the #91 Ford Mast attempted to get in the race at Talladega(10-22-2001)
UPDATE: #90 team owner Junie Donlavey and driver Rick Mast, have formed a pact to compete at this weekend’s Winston Cup event at Phoenix. Hills Bros. has announced they will not be with Donlavey in 2002. Donlavey, 77, who has owned race teams for virtually all of NASCAR’s 53-year history, said taking this step was the only way he saw he had any chance of keeping his team, based in Richmond, viable past the end of this season. “With the future of this team going down the drain, I decided I needed to make this move,” Donlavey said of his decision to take driver Hut Stricklin out of the car and replace him with Mast. “Our sponsor, Hills Bros is leaving at the end of the year with Hut, and that was fine -- we appreciated what they’d done. But if we stayed together until the end of the season and they left, how could I get anyone to come and sponsor this team when the first thing they would ask is, ‘Who’s gonna drive?’” Hills Bros Coffee, a division of the Sara Lee Company, has allied itself with Stricklin and former crew chief Philippe Lopez, the company’s director of racing who worked with Donlavey and Stricklin only on the weekends. Donlavey said Lopez probably would not be with the team at Phoenix.(NASCAR.com)(10-23-2001)
UPDATE 2: contrary to what was reported here, Hut Stricklin is NOT ok or happy with being released from the #90 Donlavey Racing ride.(see story at NASCAR.com), also no word on if Hills Bros will be on the car at Phoenix(10-24-2001)
More Hills Bros: The sluggish U.S. economy has left Sara Lee's Hills Brothers coffee sponsorship as the hottest item in the Winston Cup garage, although it's estimated to be only a $6 million deal, not that much in a sport where top teams spend as much as $15 million a year. The battle for that deal is down to car owners Bill Davis [#93], Andy Petree [#33] and Cal Wells [#96]; the sponsorship comes with a driver, Hut Stricklin. According to team sources, Sara Lee wants to see some serious financial numbers from those owners before making a commitment.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-20-2001)
Mast in the #90 in 2002: Car owner Junie Donlavey has announced that Rick Mast will drive the #90 Ford next season. Mast will replace Hut Stricklin, who is moving to another, still-undetermined team along with sponsor Hills Brothers Coffee.(Birmingham Post), supposedly C. F. Sauer, who sponsored the #27 car in 2001 and was on the #91 Ford Mast attempted (but failed) to get into the race at Talladega, will be the sponsor of the #90(10-20-2001)
2nd Donlavey Car at Talladega? UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey's team could have an increased presence at Talladega next week. The Richmond-based team is considering running a second Cup car (No. 91) with driver Rick Mast and a C.F. Sauer product logo.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-13-2001)
UPDATE: [Rick] Mast said he'll be at Talladega next weekend, but he didn't say which team he'll be with. Any deal would be for that weekend only. In the past two weeks, Mast has served as a standby driver for Dale Jarrett and driven for Harvick.(Roanoke Times)(10-15-2001)
UPDATE 2: Winston Cup team [#90] owner Junie Donlavey will field a second car for driver Rick Mast in the EA Sports 500 at
Talladega Superspeedway. Mast will drive the #91 C.F. Sauer/BAMA Ford, a Richmond-based company that sponsored the #27 Pontiac for several Winston Cup events this season. Donlavey received permission to use the #91 from Joe Falk, who owns the rights to use the number in Winston Cup events.(Keystone Marketing)(10-17-2001)
More on Stricklin: With Hills Bros.’ backing, [Hut] Stricklin is considered a serious contender to replace Joe Nemechek in Andy Petree’s #33 Chevy. Petree has been seeking sponsorship for that team almost all season after Oakwood Homes announced it was pulling out after 2001. Stricklin confirmed that Hills Bros. has also talked with Cal Wells about the #96 team that lost McDonald’s as its primary sponsor and ran its last race of the season two weeks ago at Kansas. Stricklin may also be in the mix for the #93 car of Bill Davis and several others.(Anniston Star)(10-17-2001)
Hills Bros leaving Donlavey UPDATE 2 Officially Leaving: Hills Brothers Coffee and Donlavey Racing are parting ways at the end of this Winston Cup season. Team owner Junie Donlavey stayed in Virginia to fulfill an obligation to visit a school and wasn't at Kansas Speedway this weekend, but Donlavey does seem to be making plans to have sponsorship next season. Hills Brothers could be close to signing a deal with an established Winston Cup team. Driver Hut Stricklin and veteran crew chief Philippe Lopez, both employees of Hills Brothers' parent company Sara Lee, plan to remain with the sponsor next season. Stricklin said the sponsor wanted Donlavey to move his team to the Charlotte, N.C., area, but Donlavey remained loyal to his hometown of Richmond. "I really have to commend Junie for being very loyal to the city of Richmond and to the state of Virginia because, let's face it, this is big business and he didn't turn his back on his homeland," Stricklin said. "It's a deal for me that I felt like I had to do what I had to do to survive."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-29-2001)
UPDATE: Petree and Nemechek could have different colors the rest of the season, if Petree can finish a deal with Hills Brothers Coffee, to replace Oakwood on the car the last two months of the season(Winston Salem Journal)(9-29-2001)
AND Phillipe Lopez, team manager of Donlavey's #90 and of the Sara Lee NASCAR endeavor, confirmed Friday that Hills likely will move up a step or two. "They're talking to every team without a sponsor," Lopez said. "They have a lot of meetings scheduled over the next two weeks. After that, I don't know what they're doing. They may narrow it down to two or three for call-back meetings." The catch is that Sara Lee apparently intends to package driver Stricklin with the deal, although that is not beyond negotiation. "That's what they'd like to do," Lopez said(SpeedVision)(9-29-2001)
UPDATE 2: Sara Lee Coffee & Team Consumer Brands announced today that Hills Bros coffee will not return as the primary sponsor of the #90 Donlavey Racing NASCAR Winston Cup Series team in 2002. “Our experience with Donlavey Racing during the past two seasons has been every bit as exciting as we thought it would be,” said Henk de Back, President and CEO of Hills Bros Coffee, “Junie Donlavey is every bit the NASCAR statesman and gentleman that everyone in the sport knows him to be. We are honored to have had the chance to work with him and we wish his team continued success. Hills Bros Coffee is committed to participating in the Winston Cup Series and to being an active sponsor in NASCAR. To that end, Sara Lee Coffee & Tea Consumer Brands has announced its intention to continue racing with Philippe Lopez, NASCAR Director for Hills Bros Coffee racing team, and Hut Stricklin, team driver. Currently, Sara Lee Coffee & Tea Consumer Brands Board of Management is actively researching for top performing racing team sponsorship options and will make its decision in early November.(Hills Bros Racing Site)(10-9-2001)
Hut and the #96? #90-Donlavey Racing plans to continue running next season but has not announced sponsorship or driver. Driver Hut Stricklin, team advisor Philippe Lopez and sponsor Hills Brothers are looking for a Charlotte team to work with. They could land with Cal Wells, whose second team ran its last race of the season last week(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-5-2001)
Sauer looking to stay in Cup? UPDATE: hearing C. F. Sauer Company, the current sponsor of the #27 Eel River Racing team, is looking to stay as a Cup sponsor in 2002, but with another team. Sauer currently has Duke's Mayo on the #27 Pontiac and other assorted products(9-26-2001)
UPDATE: hearing that Sauer reps met with the #90 team over the weekend at Dover, Sauer is from Richmond, VA where the #90 Donlavey Racing is based. Hut Stricklin currently is the driver(9-27-2001)
#300 for Hut: after a week delay (missed the race at Bristol), #90-Hut Stricklin will make his 300th career Winton Cup start when he starts 36th at Darlington for the Southern 500(9-1-2001)
Lopez to Stay at #90 UPDATE: Team Consultant Phillippe Lopez will remain with the #90 Hills Bros. Ford team with driver Hut Stricklin for the remainder of the season(National Speed Sport News Print Edition May 30th)(6-5-2001)
UPDATE: Sara Lee Coffee and Tea and veteran crew chief Philippe Lopez have agreed to work together on the #90 Hills Bros Racing Team. Philippe Lopez will report to the Sara Lea Coffee and Tea Consumer Brands Board of Management on all current and future racing activities in support of the Hills Bros Racing Team. Lopez's role is to assist crew chief Bobby King at the track, in the shop if needed, and during the testing. Lopez worked with the Hills Bros Coffee crew in Michigan when the Team posted its best effort during the 2001 Season(6th).(Keystone Marketing PR)(6-13-2001)
Stricklin/Donlavey: Hut Stricklin finished sixth in the Junie Donlavey-owned #90 Ford, the team's best finish since 1998. Since Phillip Lopez, a former crew chief for A.J. Foyt Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc., joined the team as a consultant in April, Stricklin has posted four top-20 finishes in the past six races(That's Racin'), it was also Stricklin's best finish since a 2nd in the Southern 500 at Darlington in 1996(6-11-2001)
Lopez to Stay at #90 UPDATE: Team Consultant Phillippe Lopez will remain with the #90 Hills Bros. Ford team with driver Hut Stricklin for the remainder of the season(National Speed Sport News Print Edition May 30th)(6-5-2001)
UPDATE: Sara Lee Coffee and Tea and veteran crew chief Philippe Lopez have agreed to work together on the #90 Hills Bros Racing Team. Philippe Lopez will report to the Sara Lea Coffee and Tea Consumer Brands Board of Management on all current and future racing activities in support of the Hills Bros Racing Team. Lopez has a fantastic background and as a native of France, defied convention in 2000 by making a successful transition working with volatile Texas team owner A.J. Foyt. Lopez has used his all-around versatility to good effect, teaming with journeyman Rick Mast in 2000 to improve the competitiveness of Foyt's first year team. Lopez's role is to assist crew chief Bobby King at the track, in the shop if needed, and during the testing. Lopez worked with the Hills Bros Coffee crew in Michigan when the Team posted its best effort during the 2001 Season(6th).(Keystone Marketing PR)(6-13-2001)
#90 in the Wind: The #90 Hills Bros Coffee Racing team has two intermediate cars (for Lowes) in the wind tunnel at N.A.S.A.'s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA today(5-10-2001)
Simo in the #90 at Road Courses: Hills Bros Coffee Racing team owner Junie Donlavey has tabbed Trans-Am Series Champion Brian Simo (SIM o) to run the Hills Bros Coffee Ford at both Sears Point Raceway in June and Watkins Glen International in August. Looking at the opportunity to help his Hills Bros Coffee Racing team gain points in the standings, Stricklin supported the opportunity to put Simo behind the wheel. Simo is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the #90 car. "Junie Donlavey is the nicest man in racing," Simo said. "I appreciate the opportunity he's given me to get back in a Winston Cup car and I'm looking forward to working with the Hills Bros Coffee crew again. I think it's great that we'll be doing some testing prior to the Sears Point race. Hopefully, that will translate into a solid starting position, and then we'll just work it from there." Donlavey Racing is hoping to get the team's road-course car ready to test at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, Va., prior to making the trip to Sears Point in June. Simo competed in the BGN events at Watkins Glen in 1997 and 1998. Both times, he was leading the race before suffering engine failure. His first Cup start came at Sears Point last June where he qualified 34th and finished 36th, despite a long pit stop to replace a broken gear(Keystone Marketing)(5-9-2001)
Hills Bros Stays with #90, Lpoez Hired UPDATE Lopez Short Term? Junie Donlavey denied Internet reports that sponsor Hills Brothers would be leaving his Richmond-based team. Donlavey said he had been in contact with the CEO of the parent company of Hills Brothers. "He assured me they would be with us all year long," Donlavey said. "We have a good relationship with Hills Brothers." Philippe Lopez, former crew chief for A.J. Foyt's team, has joined Donlavey's team as a consultant to crew chief Bobby King on a race-to-race basis. Driver Hut Stricklin had failed to qualify for three of the past four races before securing the 30th spot yesterday for tomorrow's NAPA 500 at California Speedway. "We're right on the edge of good vs. bad," Donlavey said. "We need that tip to push us to the good side."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-28-2001)
UPDATE: Hills Bros had been rumored on the way to the #27 of Kenny Wallace, although Donlavey has firmly denied the rumors. Wallace, meanwhile, has said his team may or may not be at Richmond next week, with hints that the end may be near for the unsponsored group. One key to the improved work by the Donlavey #90 team was consulting work by Phillipe Lopez, who recently walked out of the crew chief's job for A.J. Foyt's #14. Lopez says he has another job offer in the works, with only money details remaining to be finalized(SpeedVision)(4-30-2001)
Hut and Hills Bros to the #75? Lopez to the #90 UPDATE 2 Hills Bros STAYING: Anonymous sources indicate that Hut Stricklin and Hills Bros Coffee may be moving to the #75 Galaxy Motorsports team. The Galaxy Motorsports front office says "I can't comment on anything at this time." Racin.net has heard rumbles from the garage and from Hills Bros racing site(only on the unreliable message boards) that the #75 Galaxy Motorsports might be trying to lure Hills Bros sponsorship along with driver Hut Stricklin. Sources say Junie, who's old fashioned, has a hand shake agreement with Hills Bros & driver Hut Stricklin. This old fashioned agreement brought up speculation that Hills Bros might move to Kenny Wallace and the #27 ride after the #90 team failed to make Martinsville(which was squashed by Hills Bros) but, now that the team missed Talladega with Yates Motors the Hills Bros site stated Hut Stricklin will drive for Hills Bros and will be in Atlanta in a Hills Bros Ford and the end of this year...they failed to mention if that Ford would have #90 on it(pure speculation). Also rumor has it now that Hut & Hills Bros might unite with #75 Galaxy Motorsports and hire Phillipe' Lopez as crew chief after being released(he left wasn't released) from the #14 AJ Foyt team(Racin.net), so far none of my sources have heard this and seems to be quite a few holes, but we'll see(4-25-2001)
UPDATE: Hills Bros Coffee Racing team owner Junie Donlavey has hired Felipe Lopez as a consultant for his #90 Cup team that fields Fords for veteran driver Hut Stricklin. "I think Felipe is an excellent addition to the Hills Bros Coffee Racing team," Donlavey said. "He has experience with Hut and they communicate well with each other." Lopez was released earlier in the season by Foyt Racing and was previously employed by Dale Earnhardt Inc. to work as crew chief with driver Steve Park. "I'm excited to work with (crew chief) Bobby King and Hut," Lopez said. "I'm here to help them get back on track and to help Bobby continue the excellent job that he's been doing. I feel they have the pieces laid to make this a competitive team. I'm here to help them get to that point." Lopez worked alongside of Stricklin in 1996 and two races in 1997. The duo combined for Stricklin's career-best, second-place finish at Darlington in 1996. "I'm happy to see us get Felipe," Stricklin said. "He has a lot of experience that can help this young team gel together as we progress through the season. He's a good friend and understands Bobby and myself very well." Lopez's first race with the Hills Bros Coffee Racing team will be this
weekend at California Speedway in Fontana, CA(Keystone Marketing PR)(4-26-2001)
UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey denied Internet reports that sponsor Hills Brothers would be leaving his Richmond-based team. Donlavey said he had been in contact with the CEO of the parent company of Hills Brothers. "He assured me they would be with us all year long," Donlavey said. "We have a good relationship with Hills Brothers." Philippe Lopez, former crew chief for A.J. Foyt's team, has joined Donlavey's team as a consultant to crew chief Bobby King on a race-to-race basis. Driver Hut Stricklin had failed to qualify for three of the past four races before securing the 30th spot yesterday for tomorrow's NAPA 500 at California Speedway. "We're right on the edge of good vs. bad," Donlavey said. "We need that tip to push us to the good side."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-28-2001)
Hills Bros to the #27? UPDATE um...NO: Rumor had it Friday that Hills Bros. Coffee, primary sponsor of Junie Donlavey's #90 Ford, was contemplating a full-time move to the #27 Eel River Pontiac. Hills Bros. sponsored the #27 at Las Vegas(NASCAR Buzz)(4-6-2001)
UPDATE: A spokesman for Hills Bros. Coffee said April 8 that rumors the firm would withdraw its Winston Cup sponsorship from Donlavey Racing and move it to Eel River Racing were untrue(Winston Cup Scene - need subscription to read online)(4-12-2001)
UPDATE: A spokesman for Hills Bros. Coffee said April 8 that rumors the firm would withdraw its Winston Cup sponsorship from Donlavey Racing and move it to Eel River Racing were untrue(Winston Cup Scene - need subscription to read online)(4-12-2001)
Billy Ray on the #90: Donlavey Racing will display the image from the cover of Billy Ray Cyrus' latest album, "Southern Rain," on both doors of the Hills Bros Coffee Ford at the Harrah's 500. The decal will be located just behind the familiar #90.(Keystone Marketing)(3-28-2001)
Junie switches engines: Hills Bros Coffee Racing Team owner Junie Donlavey has announced a decision to switch to Robert Yates Racing engines for the remainder of the season. Donlavey Racing fields the #90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford driven by veteran Hut Stricklin. The team will use Yates horsepower and engineering for the remainder of the 2001 season. "We went through this engine change with the understanding that Mark Smith with Tri-star motors was doing an outstanding job," Donlavey said. "We have an obligation to be on the track and we decided to try something new so we can represent Hills Bros Coffee in the manner in which they expect." Yates Racing engines are currently run by eight teams in the Winston Cup Series and have a win, seven top-five finishes and two poles in the 2001 season. Donlavey Racing will begin using Robert Yates Racing engines this week at Texas Motor Speedway for the Harrah's 500.(Keystone Marketing)(3-27-2001)
Yates to Supply Junie's Engines UPDATE NO: Due to a significant lack of performance, the #90 Hills Bros Ford owned by Junie Donlavey has plans to start using Robert Yates engines(NASCAR.com BUZZ)(3-5-2001)
UPDATE: Junie Donlavey released the following statement today regarding the status of the #90 Hills Bros Coffee Racing Team engine program: "I am confident that changing the engine program at this time is not the right move for this team. We will continue to rely on Mark Smith and Tri-Star Motors to supply the engines for the Hills Bros Coffee Ford."(Keystone Marketing PR)(3-6-2001)
Stricklin Tests the HANS: #90-Hut Stricklin crash-tested his HANS device Sunday. A blown right front tire sent Stricklin's car into the wall. Stricklin was not injured and credited the head and neck support system for that. He first raced with the device last week at Rockingham. "I was pretty impressed," Stricklin said of the HANS device. "Any other time an impact like that, you would feel your back and neck stretch." Stricklin said his head and neck felt fine(Roanoke Times)(3-5-2001)
Hill Bros to sponsor two cars? UPDATE 2: Hills Bros full time sponsor of the #90 Ford driven by Hut Stricklin, has plans to sponsor Kenny Wallace's #27 Pontiac as well in a few races. Not at Rockingham but at Las Vegas, where Wallace is a candidate for the No Bull 5. Hills Bros. sponsored Wallace during the Daytona 500 after Stricklin failed to make the race(NOL's Buzz)(2-21-2001)
UPDATE: Sara Lee Coffee & Tea will sponsor two teams in the Cup race next week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The first entry is Hut Stricklin's #90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford, which is fielded by Junie Donlavey. The #90 Ford has carried the brand's logo since 1999. Kenny Wallace will drive the second entry - the #27 Pontiac. Fielded by Eel River Racing, the car will don a paint scheme featuring the 100% Columbian blend of Hills Bros Coffee. Wallace is one of four drivers eligible for the "No Bull 5" bonus, which is awarded to the winner of the race at Las Vegas. Wallace's #27 Pontiac will sport a different paint scheme to promote the Hills Bros Coffee Columbian blend. The front half of the car will be the same Ferrari red as the #90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford, but it will fade to black toward the rear of the car. The "television panel" will display the Hills Bros Coffee 100% Columbian blend logo(Keystone PR)(2-24-2001)
UPDATE 2: added a couple images of the #27 Hill Bros Pontiac to the Paint Scheme Gallery(3-1-2001)
Donlavey Streak Ends UPDATE: Virginia car owner Junie Donlavey(#90 Hills Bros Ford) had had a car in every Daytona 500 since 1979 until Thursday, when driver Hut Stricklin failed to make the field thanks to 22nd-place showing in the second 125-miler(Gaston Gazette)
UPDATE: actually Donlavey has fielded a Ford in every Daytona 500 since its relocation to Daytona International Speedway from the beach in 1959(Keystone Marketing PR), probably a type from the Gazette but there was no Donlavey car listed in the 1970 Daytona 500 results either(2-16-2001)
Musgrave: what happened to Ted Musgrave's #90 Ford that made him come down pitroad as the green flag waved to start the Budweiser Shootout? because a wheel on the #90 Ford was loose(That's Racin')(2-12-2001)
Musgrave in the #90 for the Shootout: Winston Cup driver Ted Musgrave found a car to drive in the Feb. 11 Bud Shootout at Daytona, and it will have Hills Bros Coffee decals and Junie Donlavey’s familiar #90 on it, Donlavey announced today. Musgrave was the fastest second-round qualifier for the Pennsylvania 500 in July at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. Musgrave and the rest of the fastest second-round qualifiers were part of a drawing for one starting spot in the Bud Shootout, and Musgrave’s name was drawn. Musgrave plans to drive the 2001 season for Ultra Motorsports in the CTS with Mopar Performance Parts as his sponsor. Musgrave spent the 2000 season driving for Bessey Motorsports, Fenley Moore and Team Sabco. He drove for Team Sabco following the death of Kenny Irwin(Keystone Marketing)(2-1-2001)
2000 News
#90 Ride Open? UPDATE 4 It's Hut: hearing #90 Owner Junie Donlavey is talking to a few drivers for the #90 Hills Brothers Ford ride in 2001 including: Hut Stricklin, who drove the car for most of 2000; Greg Sacks, who last made a Daytona 500 attempt in the defunct #96 Perry-Huggins team in 2000; Geoffrey Bodine; Rick Mast; Jeff Fuller; and Ed Berrier, who started the 2000 season in the #90. Sacks recently coached CTS drivers Ricky Hendrick at the ARCA Daytona testing. Hendrick will run a few ARCA events in 2000 also(12-17-2000)
UPDATE: Apparently, it is not a foregone conclusion that Hut Stricklin will be back as driver of Junie Donlavey’s #90 Ford. Donlavey has talked with several other drivers, one of them being veteran Greg Sacks. Reportedly, sponsor Hills Brothers Coffee will make the final call(Gaston Gazette) AND Team owner Junie Donlavey is letting sponsor Hills Brothers play a major role in selecting the driver for next season. It's almost Christmas, but no contract has been signed with the team. Donlavey said Jeff Fuller, Greg Sacks, Rick Mast and Hut Stricklin all have spoken with the company. The team has added five crew members from the defunct Grubb Motorsports BGN operation(Richmond Times Dispatch)(12-24-2000)
UPDATE 2: In a cross-promotion with sponsor Hills Bros Coffee and his hometown minor-league hockey team, car owner Junior Donlavey will announce his driver for 2001 during first intermission of Saturday night's Richmond Renegades home hockey game against Charlotte. Donlavey remained mum on who the driver will be, with Hut Stricklin apparently the front-runner at the end of the season, having taken the wheel at mid-year. Others said to be in the running are Rick Mast, Greg Sacks and Jeff Fuller. Hills Bros, which joined Donlavey full-time in 2000, re-upped in October, and Donlavey, as always, promised to give the sponsor first call in driver choice.(SpeedVision), will also have NASCAR RIR Jersey's available Dec. 29th and 30th at the merchandise stand there at the game(12-28-2000)
UPDATE 3: have heard from a few sources that Hut Stricklin will be named the driver of the #90 AND
Yesterday afternoon, Hut Stricklin was standing in Junie Donlavey's Richmond-based shop when his cell phone rang. Asked to confirm he would be the driver for the #90 Winston Cup team in 2001, Stricklin waited half a second and responded. "I hope so," he said. "We've got a lot invested here, just time and stuff." But Hut, aren't you standing in Donlavey's shop right now? "Yes." Isn't that a sign that you will be the driver when the an-nouncement is made in just more than 24 hours? "I hope so." There's no breaking a driver trying to secure a deal with a sponsor. There's a garage full of drivers who can attest to the fact that if you speak too early, you lose the deal. Stricklin isn't risking anything. Still, he is expected to be the man in the spotlight tonight when Hills Brothers reveals Donlavey's 2001 driver. In a ceremony at the Richmond Renegades hockey game, Donlavey and his team will join the sponsor in a showcase announcement. The group includes five crew members from the former Grubb Motorsports BGN (#83) operation. And Stricklin. He and Donlavey joined forces in 2000 for the second time in their careers and began working to rebuild the team. Donlavey's driver announcement is scheduled for the first intermission during tonight's 7:30 game at the Coliseum.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(12-30-2000)
UPDATE 4: #90 owner,Junie Donlavey announced his driver and crew chief for the 2001 season and unveiled the new paint scheme for the Hills Brothers Coffee Ford during an on-ice announcement at the Richmond Renegades hockey game Saturday. Hut Stricklin will return in 2001 as Donlavey's driver. The crew chief will be Bobby King, recently of the #83 Grubb Motorsports team that shot doen at the end of the 2000 season(That's Racin')(12-31-2000)
#90 Ride? hearing #90 Owner Junie Donlavey is talking to a few drivers for the #90 Hills Brothers Ford ride in 2001 including: Hut Stricklin, who drove the car for most of 2000; Greg Sacks, who last made a Daytona 500 attempt in the defunct #96 Perry-Huggins team in 2000; Geoffrey Bodine; Rick Mast; Jeff Fuller; and Ed Berrier, who started the 2000 season in the #90. Sacks recently coached CTS drivers Ricky Hendrick at the ARCA Daytona testing. Hendrick will run a few ARCA events in 2000 also(12-17-2000)
Hills Bros re-ups UPDATE: #90 team owner, Junie Donlavey has signed sponsor Hills Brothers Coffee for another season. His driver hasn't been determined. Hut Stricklin, who is both driving and working as crew chief for the team this weekend, has talked with Donlavey, but no decision has been reached about 2001(Times Dispatch)(11-11-2000)
UPDATE: #90 Crew Chief, Craig Huartson left that job after last weekend's race at Phoenix, and much of the reason has to do with the team's race shop location in Richmond, VA. Stricklin handling both driver and crew chief duties(Alabama Live)(11-13-2000)
#90 Team News: the #90 The Hills Bros Coffee Team will be taking a brand new down-force car with a Hopkins chassis to Rockingham, the first new car for Donlavey Racing since 1998. It is a standard Hopkins chassis with a lot of down force. Hut Stricklin scored his only Winston Cup pole at Rockingham in the fall of 1995(Keystone Marketing)(10-18-2000)
Hut's Plans: Hut Stricklin has plans for a $1 million, 10-acre motorsports complex across the street from his Rowan County(NC) home, with the idea to launch a BGN race team at the site. Stricklin, who drives the #90 Hills Brothers Ford for Junie Donlavey's Richmond-based team, wants the facility to be large enough for two cars and the teams to support them. But those plans have encountered problems before the first bolt can be turned in the proposed race shop. The agricultural zoning on the site allows construction only on 10% of the acreage, meaning only an acre of land could contain buildings at the site. And a rezoning to allow industrial use seems unlikely after Rowan County planners said the complex wouldn't fit with the agricultural uses around the proposed site. Stricklin says he wants to pursue the idea but not at the expense of offending his neighbors along Caldwell Road near the Mount Ulla community. Stricklin's plans call for two structures on the property: a 43,000-square-foot main shop where finishing work would be done and a 30,000-square-foot fabrication shop where the Busch cars would be assembled as a preliminary step. Stricklin says he's heard that neighbors are concerned about engine noise at the site, but he doesn't plan an engine shop, which are the loudest of race operations, at the site(Charlotte Business Journal)(9-11-2000)
#90 News: The #90 Hills Bros Coffee crew tested at Richmond Monday and Tuesday. Monday, the team prepared to test at RIR and removed the qualifying motor used by driver Hut Stricklin last weekend in Bristol, where he failed to qualify. When the team inspected the motor, fragments and oil were found. The team completed a two-day test at Richmond on Tuesday. Crew Chief Craig Huartson said they feel comfortable with their test times, but the team may attempt to go to Southampton Motor Speedway in Capron, VA., early next week to get a better feel for the car. Did ya Know? Junie Donlavey is the only car owner in NASCAR that has attempted to qualify for every Southern 500 at the famed Darlington Raceway. In Sept 1996, Stricklin had his best career finish at Darlington, a 2nd(Hills Bros Racing Site/PR)(8-30-2000)
Donlavey Hires Crew Chief: Winston Cup driver Hut Stricklin said last week that he and Junie Donlavey wanted to take the time to find a crew chief that would complement the Hills Bros Coffee Team instead of rushing to fill the position. That complementary piece of the puzzle turned out to be Craig Huartson, as Donlavey named Huartson as crew chief of his #90 Fords. Huartson, a native of Bellingham, Wash., previously worked with Stricklin on the #61 IWX Busch Series team. Donlavey and Stricklin had been sharing crew chief responsibilities(Keystone Marketing)(8-21-2000)
Stricklin in the #90, rest of the year: Hut Stricklin was named driver of #90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford for the remainder of the season, according to team owner Junie Donlavey. Stricklin has been with the team for three weeks, finishing well at Indianapolis and acting as the crew chief for Brian Simo at Watkins Glen last week, Simo failed to make the race when Qualifying was rained out. Donlavey has not hired another crew chief because Stricklin, who has been calling the shots for himself, said he wants to take the time to hire someone he is sure will complement him(Keystone Marketing/Hills Bros Racing)(8-15-2000)
Hut at the Glen: Although Hut Stricklin will not drive the #90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford at Watkins Glen, he will serve as crew chief with oversight from team owner Junie Donlavey. Road Racer Brian Simo will drive the car at the Glen(Keystone Marketing). Also, look for Stricklin to return to the seat of the #90 Ford at Michigan and run the rest of the season for Donlavey(8-11-2000)
#90 Driver and Crew Chief Gone UPDATE 3: #90 Ford owner Junie Donlavey, Ed Berrier and crew chief Dean Johnson have agreed “to go their separate ways,” according to Donlavey. “Despite the hard work that everyone has put into this program, we were not getting the results we know we can produce,” Donlavey said. “It’s not any one person’s fault. Everyone put forth their best effort but there was a lack of chemistry on this team, and Ed and Dean and I agreed that it would be best for everyone if we ended the relationship and moved forward.” Berrier was in his rookie season as driver of Donlavey’s Hills Bros Coffee Fords in the Winston Cup Series. Johnson was hired in May as crew chief. The change takes effect immediately. Donlavey has not announced replacements for Berrier or Johnson(Hills Bros Racing/Keystone Marketing) AND Berrier was planning to weigh his options before making a decision on his future. “I’m going to sit back and see what happens,” he said. “I’m not going to try to rush into anything.” Donlavey plans to make the trek to Indianapolis Motor Speedway next week. He is considering Hut Stricklin, Gary Bradberry and Morgan Shepherd as possible replacements. Donlavey could make a driver selection today(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-26-2000)
UPDATE: no full time driver or crew chief named yet but Brian Simo will run the car at Watkins Glen(Daily Press)(7-27-2000)
UPDATE 2: hearing that Hut Stricklin will be named to drive the #90 Ford at the Brickyard 400
UPDATE 3: Hut Stricklin will drive the Hills Bros Coffee Ford in the Brickyard 400, and road-racer Brian Simo will drive the Hills Bros Coffee Ford in the Global Crossing @ The Glen, announced Junie Donlavey, Hills Bros
Coffee Racing team owner. Donlavey said he has not decided who will finish the season in the #90 Ford(Hills Bros Racing/Keystone Marketing)(7-28-2000)
Simo to drive the #90 at Sears Point Raceway in the Cup race. Brian Simo, current points leader in
the BF Goodrich Trans Am Series, will drive Junie Donlavey's Hills Bros Coffee #90 Ford Taurus at Sears Point Raceway in the Winston Cup race on June 25. Simo replaces regular driver Ed Berrier in the car for the race. "This is a move to help the team," said Berrier. "I lack experience on the road courses and the car we have is a pretty good road racing car. It just makes a lot of sense to put a road racing specialist in the car." Simo's experience in road course races comes from his experience in the Trans Am Series, where he has finished second in points on three different occasions. Simo has eight wins in his career in the Trans Am Series. Simo has plenty of track time at Sears Point Raceway in the Trans Am Cars and Stock Cars, but this will be his first experience in a NASCAR Winston Cup car. Berrier will return as the driver of the Hills Bros Coffee Ford at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona Beach on July 1(Keystone Marketing/Hills Bros Racing)(6-15-2000)
#90 Green: Hills Bros Decaffeinated Coffee is one of several different Hills Bros Coffee flavors that Sara Lee Coffee & Team produces. The shade of green on the car matches the color of the decaffeinated coffee cans that are distributed throughout the United States. Berrier will drive the Hills Bros Decaffeinated Coffee Ford in the Winston Open and the Coca-Cola 600. See the car in the Paint Schemes Gallery(Hills Bros Racing Site)(5-19-2000)
Donlavey ARCA UPDATE 2: #90 team owner Junie Donlavey plans to field an ARCA team for a limited schedule. Jason Hedleski, who works with Donlavey, plans to drive the car which will all be built in the same shop(Richmond Times-Dispatch)(3-19-2000)
UPDATE: Been told that Donlavey will not run any ARCA races as they want to concentrate on getting the CUP team running well and making races(3-20-2000)
UPDATE 2: #90 Cup Series team owner Junie Donlavey will enter a car in six events in ARCA, beginning at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Jason Hedlesky, who is Donlavey's team manager, will drive the car. Hedlesky, of Ann Arbor, MI, is a former Super Late Model driver who competed in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Powerboat Magazine(http://www.powerboatmag.com) is the primary sponsor of the car, and Hills Bros Coffee and Suburban Lodges are associate sponsors. All three are sponsors of Berrier's Winston Cup team. Hedlesky and the Hills Bros Coffee Racing Team spent an extra day at Lowe's Motor Speedway following their Winston Cup test to help Hedlesky prepare for his ARCA debut(Hills Bros Racing Site/Keystone Marketing)(5-16-2000)
New #90 Crew Chief: Hills Bros Coffee Racing Team owner Junie Donlavey named Dean Johnson as crew chief for the #90 Fords driven by Ed Berrier in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Johnson's first event will be the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond this Saturday. Donlavey has been calling the shots on race day for the first third of the season(Keystone Marketing/Hills Bros Racing)(5-2-2000)
Donlavey ARCA UPDATE: #90 team owner Junie Donlavey plans to field an ARCA team for a limited schedule. Jason Hedleski, who works with Donlavey, plans to drive the car which will all be built in the same shop(Times-Dispatch)(3-19-2000)
UPDATE: Been told that Donlavey will not run any ARCA races as they want to concentrate on getting the CUP team running well and making races(3-20-2000)
Hills Bros: Hills Bros Coffee supported rookie of the year contender Stacy Compton and the #9 Melling Racing team in Sunday's race at Las Vegas as an associate after their driver Ed Berrier missed the race in the #90 Ford, it was a one race deal(TachZone)(3-6-2000)
#90 News: Henk de Back, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sara Lee Coffee & Tea Company of North America, Retail, announced that HILLS BROS coffee will be the primary sponsor of the #90 Cup team owned by Junie Donlavey beginning with the 2000 Daytona 500 and continuing through the entire 2001 season. Junie Donlavey first fielded a team in a NASCAR sanctioned event in 1950. He is the recent recipient of the Myers Brothers Award from the National Motorsports Press Association, and the Spirit of Ford Award, the most prestigious motorsports honor Ford bestows. He is in his 51st consecutive season as a team owner, the longest such streak in NASCAR. Donlavey, who entered nine races in 1999 with Hills Bros as a sponsor, said starting his second half-century in NASCAR with support from Hills Bros is a tremendous opportunity. Second generation driver Ed Berrier was named to drive the Hills Bros
Coffee Ford Taurus. The son of former NASCAR driver Max Berrier, Ed has raced in the NASCAR Busch Series and scored his first win in 1998. In 2000 he will be competing for rookie-of-the-year honors against some great young drivers. He has made nine NASCAR Winston Cup Series starts, including four last season in Donlavey’s cars. In the past he has served as a test driver for Donlavey in Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) events since in 1995(Keystome PR condensed)(2-19-2000)
#91 Sponsor: When Joe Falk’s #91 Chevrolet Monte Carlo sponsored by KMC Telecom came up three spots short of making the Daytona 500 starting grid, his first concern was finding another team to carry the KMC Telecom decals. "The people at KMC Telecom have been absolutely great to us, and they have a lot of people coming in for this race. We wanted to make sure they had a car to cheer for and a Team who would appreciate their involvement," said Falk. "Since their slogan is ‘Creative Solutions With a Hometown Touch,’ my first thought was to talk to Junie Donlavey. Junie and I go back a long way in NASCAR racing, we are both single car team owners, and we both call Virginia home." The KMC Telecom decals will share space on the #90 Ford Taurus with Hills Brothers Coffee, primary sponsor of Donlavey Racing(LJ Racing Site)(2-18-2000)
Donlavey News UPDATE 3: #90 Ford Owner Junie Donlavey is made an appearance in Richmond VA before heading to Daytona. Donlavey is brought his show car to the Suburban Lodge(his assoc sponsor) grand opening on Saturday, Feb 5th. Donlavey still is working on sponsorship for 2000 but has signed Ed Berrier to drive the first two races of the season(Daytona and Rockingham)(Times-Dispatch) -- UPDATE: NASCAR Winston Cup Series team owner Junie Donlavey has added one more name to the list of Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates. Donlavey has chosen second-generation driver Ed Berrier to drive his #90 Ford Tauruses. Donlavey Racing, based in Richmond, Va., will enter each of the 34 races on the 2000 Winston Cup schedule. In addition, Suburban Lodges of America, Inc., the nation's largest economy extended stay hotel company, announced today that they are an associate sponsor of the #90 Ford Taurus(Keystone Marketing) before I get any questions, Berrier only ran in four Cup races in 1999(2-4-2000) -- UPDATE: But look for Hills Brothers as the primary sponsor on the #90 at Daytona and Rockingham, Donlavey told country.com Motorsports, and the team is working to secure them for the full season(TNN Motorsports)(2-5-2000) -- UPDATE 4: Donlavey, with long-time ties to engine builder Larry Wallace, will receive engines this season from Penske Racing, which bought out Wallace's operation a year ago(SpeedVision)(2-6-2000)
Junie close? #90 Ford owner, Junie Donlavey remains optimistic about finding a sponsor for the 2000 season. The Richmond-based owner is close to signing at least a partial sponsorship agreement(Times-Dispatch), hearing that Hill Bros Coffee is close to signing up for half the season(1-30-2000)
Remember... Big Daddy's? Check out this story: Team Owner gets into Bar-B-Que Sauce in a Big Way for the Cahill Racing Page(IRL)(1-28-2000)
#90 at Daytona: Junie Donlavey has secured sponsorship money from Hills Brothers Coffee to participate in January testing at Daytona and to participate in the Daytona 500 - Ed Barrier will be the driver. A decision will be made following the 500 as to further sponsorship and further races. If no further sponsorship agreement is made after the Daytona 500, Donlavey will likely sell the team, which would have been sold last year had a buyer been found who was willing to keep the team in Richmond, VA as opposed to moving it to the Charlotte, NC area. This is Donlavey's 51st year in NASCAR(Stockcarfans Newsletter)(1-7-2000)
Donlavey's team still alive: #90 Ford owner Junie Donlavey is still working to secure sponsorship for the 2000 season. He says he’s close with two or three companies, but has not signed with anyone. Meanwhile, the team has built the 2000 car for the race at North Carolina Speedway. Donlavey plans to use his 1999 car for the mandatory manufacturers’ tests at Daytona, but will have his 2000 car ready before the race week. Regardless of the sponsor situation, he’ll run the Daytona 500(Times-Dispatch) no word on a driver, Ed Berrier was the last driver for Donlavey in 1999(12-12-1999)
Junie Honor: W.C. ‘Junie’ Donlavey owner of the #90 Ford team who just completed his 50th year as a stock-car owner was honored with the 40th annual TOSCO 76/NMPA Myers Brothers Award, which recognizes the individual or group that has made the greatest contribution to the sport during their career(Racer Magazine)(12-3-1999)
#90 Car: Junie Donlavey will have Ed Berrier in his #90 Ford for the Rockingham weekend. Donlavey also plans to run with Nestle sponsorship at Miami and Atlanta. No driver has been named for those races(Inside Motorsports)(10-20-1999)
#90 Plans: Junie Donlavey plans to run three more Winston Cup races this season. The #90 Ford owner will take his team to Talladega Superspeedway next weekend with driver Ed Berrier. They plan to compete at the Homestead-Miami and Atlanta races as well, but no driver has been named for those events(Times-Dispatch)(10-9-1999)
Junie takes a break: #90 Ford team owner Junie Donlavey had a great weekend at Dover Downs(made the race and finished 31st), but that wasn’t enough to encourage him to make the trek to Martinsville. The team is skipping the race and then heading to Lowe’s Motor Speedway(next week). The team has not named a driver yet(Times-Dispatch)(9-28-1999)
Sad News: #90 Ford Cup owner, Junie Donlavey's mother, Esther Mary Donlavey, 93, died Sunday. Her funeral is today(Times-Dispatch)(9-9-1999)
Wood Bros/Donlavey Honored UPDATE: In honor of the Wood Brothers longevity with Ford Racing, Edsel B. Ford II will present the Wood Brothers with the Spirit of Ford Award in honor of their accomplishments in Racing. The reception and ceremony is scheduled for 6:00pm/et on Thursday, September 9, 1999 in the Virginia World Building at the Richmond International Raceway. Ford representatives will be in attendance, along with NASCAR drivers, members of the media, Winston Cup and Richmond track officials. The Wood Brothers Racing Team is one of the most successful and historical teams in NASCAR. The Wood Brothers have made their mark on NASCAR by setting many records that still stand today. Records such as 80 superspeedway wins, 53 500-mile wins, 87 superspeedway poles and 26 superspeedway races won from the pole. The Wood Brothers have accumulated a total of 96 wins and 112 pole positions. When NASCAR named the 50 greatest drivers from 1948-1998, seventeen of those 50 drivers had piloted a Wood Brothers racecar. The team is headquartered in Stuart, Virginia and is owned by Glen Wood, Kim Wood Hall, Len Wood and Eddie Wood(Cox Marketing PR)(9-7-1999) -- UPDATE: Ford will also honor Junie Donlavey, owner of the #90 Ford, who is celebrating his 50th year in NASCAR and has been in a Ford for most of them(9-8-1999)
#90 Crew Chief: Former Junie Donlavey crew chief Greg Conner has left the team to work with SBIII Motorsports as a shock-and-chassis specialist(Times-Dispatch)(8-28-1999)
#90 Sponsor News: Junie Donlavey's team is carrying sponsorship from Nestle this weekend for the third race of a five-race contract. Working without full financial support, Donlavey has been forced to skip several races. The longtime team owner would like to have Nestle aboard for the tradition-rich Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 5. Donlavey's #90 Ford will be sporting Nestle sponsorship for the Exide 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 11 and the Winston 500 on Oct. 17 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Mark Rossi, who structured the sponsorship for Donlavey, has pitched Nestle on becoming a full-time sponsor in NASCAR next year, either in Winston Cup or Busch Grand National. The company could make a decision on sponsorship next month(Times-Dispatch)(8-21-1999)
No #90: Junie Donlavey does not plan to compete at Watkins Glen next weekend with his #90 Ford team(Times-Disptach)(8-7-1999)
#90 Sponsor: Junie Donlavey is celebrating the longest consecutive tenure as an individual team owner in motorsports history, and Nestle will join Donlavey's 50th anniversary celebration by sponsoring his team in four upcoming NASCAR Winston Cup Series events, Donlavey announced Wednesday. Donlavey said that Hills Brothers Coffee and NesQuick chocolate drink, both made by Nestle, will share primary sponsorship locations on the #90 Ford at the upcoming Winston Cup events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Michigan Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway. Hills Brothers Coffee also sponsored Donlavey at Richmond, Charlotte and Pocono in July. Associate sponsors on Donlavey's #90 Ford Taurus will be Carnation Coffee-Mate non-dairy creamer, Nestea and Toll House morsels, all products made by Nestle. Suburban Lodge, which has also partnered with Donlavey in several races this season, will return as an associate sponsor(Keystone Marketing)(8-4-1999)
#90 News UPDATE: Junie Donlavey and driver Stanton Barrett are remaining together for the Indianapolis race. The team still is seeking sponsorship. Last week, Donlavey revealed that he had talked with Corona Beer in February about supporting his Winston Cup team(Times-Dispatch)(8-1-1999) -- UPDATE: The team will attempt to make ALL the remaining races, with or without sponsorship(Inside Motorsports)(8-2-1999)
Donlavey News UPDATE: Junie Donlavey has a four race deal in place with Hills Bros. Coffee. The firm has agreed to sponsor Stanton Barrett in the #90 Taurus in the upcoming races at Indianapolis, Michigan, Richmond and Talladega. Donlavey will run the sponsor's logo at Pocono as well this weekend as a bonus race. Donlavey, commenting on his team's recent struggles, said the situation was much like that of a first year team. His team has had such a dramatic turnover in personnel, that it is taking them some time, much like a start-up team, to get used to working together. He thinks he has a very promising young driver in Barrett and sees brighter days ahead for his re-energized group(Inside Motorsports)(7-23-1999) -- UPDATE: The #90 will be unsponsored at Indy, the other race Hills Brothers will sponsor the car is in the season finale at Atlanta. Stanton Barrett is slated to drive the car at Indy and the Hills Bros races(7-29-1999)
Barrett Returns: Stanton Barrett, who ran the #90 Hills Bros Junie Donlavey Ford at Pocono(and Vegas) will also drive the car again in two weeks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway(Keystone/Williams Co)(7-27-1999)
Donlavey News: Junie Donlavey has a four race deal in place with Hills Bros. Coffee. The firm has agreed to sponsor Stanton Barrett in the #90 Taurus in the upcoming races at Indianapolis, Michigan, Richmond and Talladega. Donlavey will run the sponsor's logo at Pocono as well this weekend as a bonus race. Donlavey, commenting on his team's recent struggles, said the situation was much like that of a first year team. His team has had such a dramatic turnover in personnel, that it is taking them some time, much like a start-up team, to get used to working together. He thinks he has a very promising young driver in Barrett and sees brighter days ahead for his re-energized group(Inside Motorsports)(7-23-1999)
#90 News: Stanton Barrett will attempt to make the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono in the #90 Donlavey Ford with Hills Brothers coffee as the sponsor(Williams Company)(7-21-1999)
#90: Junie Donlavey did not go to the New Hampshire International Speedway. The team is preparing with driver Stanton Barrett for the July 25 race at Pocono Raceway(Times-Dispatch)(7-11-1999)
No #90: Junie Donlavey will not run his #90 Ford at Loudon, NH this week, no sponsor(Inside Motorsports), also noticed no #00-Buckshot Jones(7-9-1999)
#90 Driver UPDATE: Stanton Barrett will drive the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, no word on a sponsor(NOL Entry List)(6-29-1999) -- UPDATE: Suburban Lodge will be the sponsor(Times-Dispatch)(6-30-1999) and Sonic Burger(Williams Co) and Donlavey plans to stay with Barrett, at least for the short term(next few races)(NOL)(7-1-1999)
#90 at Sears Point UPDATE: Eric Comas, the former Formula One driver will try to qualify a Junie Donlavey #90 Ford at Sears Point. Comas is a Nissan factory sedan driver, and Nissan engineers are expected to be at Sears Point to check things out(PitNow)(6-14-1999) -- UPDATE: It looks like Junie Donlavey will not take his #90 Ford team to Sears Point. Donlavey has been talking with another car owner about putting his #90 on another car that tries to qualify for the race. The owner bought a Butch Mock car and Donlavey's team had everything ready, but now it looks as though the team is not going. Originally, Donlavey had talked about joining a one-race deal that would put a F-1 driver in for the event, but that plan fell through late last week. NASCAR -- which owns all numbers -- has rules about putting a number on a car not belonging to that team but does allow the transfer under certain circumstances(Times-Dispatch)(6-22-1999)
#90: The Junie Donlavey #90 Ford has the blue with a red front scheme and AccuTune as a sponsor(6-4-1999)
Hut News: Junie Donlavey says he plans to have Hut Stricklin in his #90 Ford for the rest of the 1999 season. Suburban Lodge and Lucas Oil Products sponsored the car at Charlotte/Lowes(Times-Dispatch). No idea who may sponsor the car at Dover(6-1-1999)
#90 Sponsor: Suburban Lodge and Lucas Oil Products were the sponsors on the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford and driver Hut Stricklin in the Coca Cola 600(5-31-1999)
Hills Brothers? Didn't see the Hills Brothers decals on the #90 during qualifying(TBS Qual)(5-26-1999)
Hills Brothers and the #90 UPDATE 1: Besides being on Junie Donlavey's #90 Ford at Richmond this weekend, Hill Brothers Coffee will sponsor the car for two additional races, Talladega in Oct. and at Richmond in the fall. Donlavey will receive less than $100,000 per event from Nestle in the name of Hills Brothers(Times-Dispatch)(5-15-1999) -- UPDATE 1: The #90 Donlavey Ford missed making the Richmond race but did get some good news yesterday. Roger Bear of Keystone Marketing said Hills Brothers Coffee is interested in extending its sponsorship with Donlavey to the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 30(Times-Dispatch)(5-16-1999)
Failed to make the Pontiac Exitement 400 at Richmond(5-15-1999)
Noticed on RPM2Nite: Some paint schemes, the #98 has Hobas Pipe as their sponsor and has a white paint scheme with light blue decals. The #90 Junie Donlavey Ford has Hills Brothers Coffee as the sponsor for driver Hut Stricklin and is red with white decals. The #16 Primestar/TV Guide Ford is painted white this week(RPM2Nite)(5-14-1999)
#90 Junie/Hut UPDATE 1: I hear Hut Stricklin will drive for Junie Donlavey in the #90 at Richmond and they hope to have Hills Brothers Coffee as the sponsor(Inside Motorsports)(5-5-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Junie Donlavey has a one-race sponsorship contract with Hills Brothers Coffee for the Pontiac 400(Times-Dispatch)(5-11-1999)
More Junie/Hut: I hear Hut Stricklin will drive for Junie Donlavey in the #90 at Richmond and they hope to have Hills Brothers Coffee as the sponsor(Inside Motorsports)(5-5-1999)
RIR Testing: The #90 Junie Donlavey Ford tested at Richmond on Tuesday, the Winston Cup team’s first test of the year, with Hut Stricklin driving. Stricklin’s best lap was 123.007mph(Times-Dispatch)(5-5-1999)
#90 News UPDATE 2: I hear Hut Stricklin will drive the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford at California(4-26-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Hut Stricklin will drive the Donlavey Racing Ford this weekend at California Speedway. Stricklin last competed in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona last October(in the #55 Oakwood Homes Chevy)(Times-Dispatch) -- UPDATE 2: Hut Stricklin may get the #90 ride if owner Junie Donlavey can find a sponsor. Donlavey met with a potential sponsor early this week(RPM2Nite)(4-28-1999)
Donlavey Sponsor UPDATE 1: I am hearing Lucas Oil Products out of Corona, CA. will serve as the #90 Junie Donlavey team primary sponsor at California this weekend with driver Hut Stricklin. Lucas Oil Products is a world leader in heavy duty and high performance lubricants and involved in Motorsports.(4-29-1999) -- UPDATE 1: The #90 didn't amke the show, so Stricklin and Lucis won't be racing, unless Lucas lines up with another team(like the #98??)(5-1-1999)
#90: I hear Loy Allen will drive the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford at Talladega(4-20-1999)
Shepherd/#90: Junie Dunleavy's Driver of the Week for his #90 Ford will be Morgan Shepherd for the upcoming Talladega race. Triple Edge Silicon Wiper Blades may return for the race as sponsor. The veteran car owner continues to look for full sponsorship for his Taurus this season(Inside Motorsports)(4-19-1999)
Shepherd Back UPDATE 1 why? Hearing Morgan Shepherd will be in the #90 Donlavey Ford at Martinsville, not Stanton Barrett as previously reported here(4-16-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Stanton Barrett turned down the opportunity to drive the car(That's Racin')(4-17-1999)
Barrett and the #90: I hear Stanton Barrett will be in the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford at Martinsville also(4-8-1999)
Barrett full BGN: Stanton Barrett, part time Cup driver, has signed to drive the #40 ChannelLock Chevy in the BGN series. He will also drive the #90 Donlavey Ford in the Cup race at Bristol(The Williams Co)(4-7-1999)
Barrett has two rides for now anyway: Stanton Barrett will rejoin car owner Junie Donlavey at Bristol in the #90 Cup Ford, and moves behind the wheel of Doug Taylor’s #40 ChannelLock BGN Chevy for its next event at Nashville. Barrett made both announcements today. Donlavey has arranged sponsorship from Triple Edge Silicon Wiper Blades and Suburban Lodge, the latter which sponsored his car also at Texas Motor Speedway(but failed to make the race). ChannelLock is the primary sponsor for Taylor’s team(The Williams Co). Taylor is also the crew chief for the #10 Phil Parsons team(3-30-1999)
#90 Sponsor: Donlavey Racing and Stanton Barrett has a one-race deal for the PRIMESTAR 500 with Suburban Lodfges of America, Inc, an economy extended stay hotel company(NOL) that could turn into a full-time deal(Times-Dispatch), failed to make the race(3-27-1999)
Next Driver UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey said Stanton Barrett will drive the team’s #90 Ford at Texas Motor Speedway next weekend(Times-Dispatch)(3-20-1999) -- UPDATE: Stanton Barrett, fourth in the NASCAR Rookie of the Year points standings, will drive the Heritage Consumer Products Taurus for Donlavey in Sunday’s Texas 500 at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway.
The 26-year-old Barrett drove for Donlavey in the Las Vegas 400 two weeks ago, and was the second highest-finishing rookie driver in that event. His only other attempt came in the Daytona 500 when he finished 16th in his 125-mile qualifying race, missing the most difficult field to make in motorsports by less than one-tenth of a second. The Taurus will be sponsored by Heritage Consumer Products Company, which delivers high quality healthcare products to
consumers which fulfill specific needs. Heritage Consumer Products markets and distributes such well-known products as Acutrim, Allerest, Sinarest, Fiberall, Eucalyptamint, Privine, Ting, Konodremul, Caldesene and Americaino. There won’t be much of a cushion as far as provisional starting spots are concerned as the team is out until Martinsville.
(Williams Company of America) -- UPDATE 2: Please note that the Junie Donlavey Taurus driven by Stanton Barrett of Bishop, Calif., at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend will be unsponsored.
Donlavey hired Barrett for the Texas NASCAR Winston Cup event directly. A previous release mentioning Heritage Consumer Products Company as sponsor for the Texas event was in error. We regret any problems or inconveniences this might have caused(Williams Company of America)(3-23-1999)
Next Driver: Junie Donlavey said Stanton Barrett will drive the team’s #90 Ford at Texas Motor Speedway next weekend(Times-Dispatch)(3-20-1999)
Donlavey (Darlington)Sponsor UPDATE 3: Bryan Foods will sponsor the Junie Donlavey-owned #90 Ford driven by Ed Berrier in at Darlington. Bryan(Sara Lee) is the primary sponsor of the #30 Pontiac and driver Derrike Cope, but it failed to get in the race(NOL)(3-20-1999) -- plus the team gets an in-car camera too(Times-Dispatch) UPDATE 2: NASCAR Online had the #90 car listed as the #90 Mean Green Ford, the sponsor Berrier brought with him, its a cleaner. Accu-Turn was also on the var along with Bryan(3-21-1999) -- UPDATE 3: Here is the story on this Team Green deal - Mean Green Super Strength Cleaners is a product manufactured by Chempro out of Spartenburg, SC. They have been with Ed Berrier for many years, primarily on his ARCA car. They are also the current primary sponsor of Elaine Hughes. Elaine is the Office Manager for Jaspar Motorsports and campaigns a Legends car at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and also competes in the Late Model Stock Division at Concord Motor Speedway. She was voted Most Popular driver in 1998 and finished 7th in points. She is currently leading the points in the legends car at Concord Motor Speedway. Her Husband/Car Owner/Crew Chief Kevin Hughes is the Operations Supervisor for Diamond Ridge Motorsports. Just thought it was interesting(3-23-1999)
#90 UPDATE 4: Willy T. Ribbs, who ran three Winston Cup races in 1986, is back in the garage and searching for a ride. Ribbs, one of only a handful of black drivers to compete on the Winston Cup circuit, has been talking with owners for the past several months about making a comeback this season. Ribbs isn't attempting to start a new team. He said he wants to drive for an established outfit(Times-Dispatch) -- sources tell me Ribbs could be in the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford at Darlington(3-14-1999) -- Donlavey will bring one of three drivers to Darlington: Morgan Shepherd, Stanton Barrett or Ed Berrier(current driver of the #77 BGN Ford). Ribbs remains a longterm possibility(NASCAR Today Radio)(3-16-1999) -- Sources tell me that Berrier will be in the #90 Ford and has brought sponsorship with him, no idea who(3-17-1999) -- BGN regular Ed Berrier, will pull a double shift this weekend at Darlington. In addition to driving his #77 Lear BGN Ford, Berrier will be driving the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford. Berrier is Donlavey’s fourth driver in the five races this season(Times-Dispatch)(3-19-1999)
The #90 at AMS: Morgan Shepherd will be in the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford for Atlanta. No sponsor on car. Both Shepherd and Stanton Barrett are trying to put together a sponsorship package for Darlington, but nothing has materialized as yet. Junie is taking it race to race(Inside Motorsports)(3-10-1999) -- Donlavey said the car would carry sponsorship from Accu-turn Industries, a Richmond company that has supported him previously, including the season-opening Daytona 500(3-11-1999)
Shepherd back to #90? I hear that unless another driver comes up with sponsorship dollars, Morgan Shepherd will be driving the #90 Ford in Atlanta next week. The #90 Team is still looking for sponsorship after the Big Daddy's deal and Shepherds deal with the insurance company has fallen through(3-3-1999)
Barrett News? I hear the #84 PBH Motorsports team of Stan Barrett, Beau Petty, and Wayne Huggins have split and that Petty will run the team at Texas and Talladega with another un-announced driver. I hear Stanton Barrett and his sponsor, Heritage Consumer Products will continue after Vegas for an undetermined time in the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford(2-27-1999)
Big Daddy's returns? In a SpeedNet story about Big Daddy's BBQ signing on with the IRL this was mentioned: According to (David)Lloyd, his company's return to the Winston Cup series is just a matter of days away, with an announcement possibly coming at Las Vegas. Supposedly a very, very, very familiar Winston Cup team. The crew, the team, a top-10 driver are all very well known(SpeedNet), no idea who..(2-26-1999)
oh yeah...More Big Daddy's UPDATE ?: From the StockCarFans Newsletter: An anonymous source is quoted - "The "hand-shake" agreement is a lie! There was a contract, lawyers from both parties were involved in the drafting of the contract. The first check was supposed to be delivered on Jan. 1st, then it was delayed until Jan. 15th, then it was forward dated Jan. 27th. Dan Lloyd, the C.E.O. of Big Daddy's ... came down (to Daytona) making out to be the big-shot sponsor, while all the while not having made good one cent.... He went so far as to offer to buy some tires for the team, which was declined ..... the team just wanted its sponsorship contract honored. Mike (Harmon) did come along with the deal, set up by Jason Hedlesky, but Jason was never named team manager by Donlavey Racing, he assumed that title on his own. (Harmon) was fired Tuesday prior to the twin 125s at Daytona for getting upset at the notion of letting Morgan (Shepherd) shake the car down and try to get some more speed out of it, which the team needed badly. Since Big Daddy's had not come through with the money and
after checking with Donlavey Racing's lawyer, it was decided to fire (Harmon) and put Mike Wallace in the car." As Mike says and I agree: "I don't want to get in the middle of a great debate here, but I did feel it was necessary to present both sides of the story as given to me." See Big Daddy's Press Release here Big Daddy's BBQ Responds (2-24-1999) -- Two Updates: 1) I hear from a very good source that Jason Hedlesky was asked by Donlavey to be the Team Manager in December 1998 and check this out: 2) Galles Racing has signed Big Daddy's BBQ as a primary sponsor for their 1999 IRL program. Davey Hamilton, the runner up in the 1998 IRL Championship, will pilot the Big Daddy's Galles Racing G-Force Aurora. hmmm(2-25-1999)
Junie, driver, Vegas: Junie Donlavey, owner of the #90 Ford has named rookie Stanton Barrett to drive at Las Vegas. In a one race deal that may expand deeper into the season, Barrett brings Heritage Consumer Products aboard for the Las Vegas 400. Some of Heritage's products include: Acutrim, Allerest, Nice, Sinarest, Fiberall, Eucalyptamint, Privine, Ting, Konodremul, Caldesene and Americaino. Stan Barrett, Stanton's father, drove for Donlavey for four races in 1989(Williams Company)(2-23-1999)
Donlavey/#90 News UPDATE 2 Pepboys and drivers: During the race, TNN broadcasters Mike Joy and Dick Berggren were discussing the #90 and Big Daddys' mess and mentioned the sponsors on the car today, Accu-turn and Pep Boys and Berggren said Pep Boys was looking hard at sponsoring the team for the full season(2-21-1999). Car owner Junie Donlavey, who had Morgan Shepherd in his #90 Ford at Rockingham says his team can continue without a primary sponsor through Atlanta. He had Morgan Shepherd in the car at the Rock and Stanton Barrett is supposed to be in the car at Las Vegas. Mike Harmon, who came along with the ill-fated Big Daddy's BBQ sponsorship, has been released and will not drive for the team, Donlavey felt Harmon would not work out for the team and "felt it was better to settle it now." Donlavey says Harmon might try to drive the #81 Ford of owner Filbert Martocci, who had Shepherd behind the wheel in Daytona 500 qualifying(In part from IcFlordia)(2-22-1999) -- At this point, Donlavey is uncertain who will be his driver for the Vegas race. Donlavey is talking to Morgan Shepherd and Stanton Barrett, who could become the second rookie to drive for Donlavey this season, the other was of course Mike Harmon. Rumors ran rampant after he put Pep Boys on the quarterpanel at Rockingham last weekend. Reports that the company is making a deal for a full season are greatly exaggerated -- Donlavey didn't even charge Pep Boys for the quarterpanel logo Sunday. (Times-Dispatch)(2-23-1999)
Need to Clear Something Up: The Big Daddy's announced their sponsorship with the #90 Cup Ford, the #75 BGN Chevy(still negotiating?) and the #14 CTS Ford and didn't come through is based in Oklahoma and is a company that makes BBQ Cooking products BBQ Sauce, see their website at Big Daddy's BBQ, not any other Big Daddy's establishment such as Big Daddy's restaurant in the Mooresville/Lake Norman, NC(whom I hear is a big NASCAR supporter and was one of the first NASCAR themed restaurants) or any other business of the same name. Just wanted to clear this misconception up(2-19-1999)
Donlavey News(#90) UPDATE: Junie Donlavey announced today(Tuesday) that Morgan Shepherd will drive his #90 Ford at the Rockingham event this weekend. Donlavey feels that putting the veteran Shepherd in his Ford is the best plan for getting the still unsponsored machine into the race. Big Daddy's BBQ has officially backed out of their sponsorship deal for 1999, and Donlavey is continuing to search for a full time backer. The veteran car owner feels he will be able to run 3-4 more races before he may have to consider missing some events, due to finances, something he hasn't had to do in decades. The well-respected Donlavey says he is working with Rookie of the Year candidate Stanton Barrett for a one race deal for the upcoming Las Vegas event. Willie T. Ribbs has also expressed interest in running some races in the Donlavey Ford(Inside Motorsports/Bill McDonald)(2-18-1999) -- Accu-Turn will again be the product sponsoring the hood of Junie Donlavey's #90 Ford this weekend at the Rock. Donlavey is looking for a sponsor for his car's quarterpanels(Times-Dispatch)(2-19-1999)
#90 Driver for the future UPDATE 2: Junie Donlavey will announce later this week who will drive the #90 Ford at Rockingham next weekend. Mike Wallace, who drove for Donlavey in yesterday’s Daytona 500, definitely will not be in the car(Times-Dispatch)(2-15-1999) -- Hearing it will be Morgan Shepherd in the car for the Rock. No word on sponsorship for the race -- RPM2Nite reported that Morgan Shepherd will be in the #90 at the Rock in a one race deal, no sponsor mentioned(RPM2Nite)(2-16-1999) Morgan Shepherd will be in the #90 Ford of Junie Donlavey in the Dura Lube/Big K "400" at Rockingham this weekend. They are seeking sponsorship for Rockingham and for the races to follow. Any interested parties should contact either Donlavey Racing @ 804-233-8592 or Shepherd Racing @828-256-2194, I hear Stanton Barrett continues to talk to Donlavey about bringing his teams sponsorship over to the #90(2-17-1999)
Fines: The following crew chiefs were fined for rules violations at Daytona: Newt Moore from the #77 Jasper Engines Ford team fined $5,000 for unapproved brake rotors; Greg Conner from the #90 Acu-Turn Industries Ford fined $3,000 for a non-magnetic driveshaft; Joe Garone, crew chief for the #94 McDonald's Ford and Wayne Orme, crew chief for #13 NationsRent Ford were fined $2,000 each for use of unapproved exhaust pipes(NASCAR Online)(2-17-1999)
Pit Road at Daytona: Since there are only 42 pit stalls at Daytona, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Mike Wallace were forced to share their pit stall at the start of the Daytona 500. When John Andretti dropped out of the race, Irwins Texaco Havoline Ford race team moved all of their equipment to the opp'osite end of pit row in Andretti's slot so they wouldn't have to schedule their pit stops around Wallace.(Alabama Online) Jayski Note: I had no idea they only had 42 spots, seems odd(2-17-1999)
Big Daddy's Release: Big Daddy's BBQ Racing Co. reached a mutual release of its sponsorship with Donlavey Racing, announced CEO Dan Lloyd. Big Daddy's wishes the best for the Donlavey team this season. Meanwhile, Big Daddy's BBQ Racing Co. continues to go forward with its sponsorship efforts. Big Daddy's BBQ Sauce and Spices products are now available in the Big Daddy's Fans'S mart portable convenience shop now on location inside the track for the Daytona 500 race this weekend. The transport will be traveling to many of the major tracks this 1999 season following the Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series races(www.bigdaddysbbq.com(2-13-1999)
Hmmm....UPDATE 2 on #90 and Kodiak: Representatives of Kodiak have approached Richmond, Va.-based owner Junie Donlavey about a possible sponsorship agreement with his car. The group currently funds the Larry Hedrick car driven by David Green(Times-Dispatch). Jayski note: not sure if this means just for Daytona since the #41 failed to make the 500 or for Kodiak to sponsor a 2nd team or move -- well John Kernan let us know on RPM2Nite, it's a one race deal with Kodiak on the #90 Ford with Mike Wallace driving(2-12-1999) -- Actually, I hear that the #41 team approached Junie to put the Kodiak decals on the #90 and even lent their firesuits to the team, nice gesture(2-13-1999)
Barrett to the #90? Rookie Stanton Barrett, who is sponsoring and running his own car, also has talked to Donlavey about joining up for the rest of the season. Barrett's father, Stan, drove for Donlavey in 1989. Mike Wallace will drive Donlavey's #90 Ford in the Daytona 500(Times-Dispatch) I had heard from a source that Barrett would switch to Ford's after Daytona, not sure if this was the deal or not(2-12-1999)
Harmon out/Shepherd In? UPDATE 5 YEP um...no Wallace: The sponsor's decals have, for the moment, been removed from the #90 Ford of driver Mike Harmon, pending arrival of the funds. Junie Donlavey said he would give his new sponsor another week. Don't be surprised to find Morgan Shepherd in Donlavey's car by Thursday's Daytona 500 qualifying races(SpeedNet/Monte Dutton)(2-6-1999) -- sources tell me the check has cleared and Big Daddy's will be on the car as the sponsor, hope to have more details on Tuesday(2-8-1999) -- Also Harmon was interviewed on a Richmond TV News station and showed no indication he was out of the ride - ANOTHER UPDATE: hope to get some answers on this situation, no later then Wednesday morning(2-9-1999) -- After waiting patiently for a $1.5 million installment on a Big Daddy's BBQ Racing sponsorship, Junie Donlavey has found a different sponsor to fund his car for the Daytona 500. AcuTurn, a brake-and-tire company in Hanover County, Va., will be featured on the car in the season-opener. Big Daddy's had given Donlavey a partial payment on the yearlong sponsorship in January but the check failed to clear. Therefore, Donlavey did not place the company's decals on the car for practice and qualifying runs at Daytona. Daniel Lloyd, president of Big Daddy's, said as late as yesterday morning that the company was waiting on money from the sale of stock to fund the Winston Cup effort(Times-Dispatch). Sources tell me that Mike Harmon is out and Morgan Shepherd will assume driving duties at least for Daytona - add more to this saga, Mike Wallace practiced the car today and I hear he will replace Harmon, not Shepherd, who is still running the #81. -- announced on NASCAR Online: Junie Donlavey announced on Wednesday that Mike Wallace has replaced Raybestos Rookie candidate Mike Harmon as his driver for the Daytona 500; and that he has signed a primary sponsor for his blank-sided #90 Ford. Wallace will drive in the Twin 125's and the 500 if he qualifies, but who will drive the car after that is still uncertain. AcuTurn Industries out of Richmond, VA will sponsor the #90 Ford for the rest of Speedweeks in Daytona. Donlavey did not rule out the possibility of Harmon coming back to the team after Daytona, but said a lot depends on the status of proposed sponsor Big Daddy's BBQ Sauce & Spices(2-10-1999)
Ut-oh again: As many readers pointed out, Big Daddy's BBQ was not on the #90 Junie Donlavey Ford during Friday's practice, why? As the Times-Dispatch reports - "The car ran with a solid red hood after the payment from sponsor Big Daddy's BBQ failed to clear the bank. Donlavey had received the partial payment late last week after giving the company a Jan. 26 deadline. Donlavey plans to remain in Daytona and run the Daytona 500 on Feb. 14 whether he receives payment or not. Yesterday, he said that Dan Lloyd, chief executive officer of Big Daddy's, was meeting with bank officials in New York. Big Daddy's logos have never been placed on Donlavey's car, and the transporter is not painted in the team's colors. Donlavey wasn't the only team waiting for payment from Lloyd(Times-Dispatch)(2-6-1999)
Junie says he's safe UPDATE: Junie Donlavey said his Richmond-based Winston Cup team isn't worried about receiving funding from Big Daddy's BBQ, the team's new sponsor. Big Daddy's reportedly still owes money from sponsorships in the Slim Jim All-Pro Series last season. Donlavey said the company has a deadline of Wednesday to make its first payment to Donlavey Racing(Times-Dispatch)(1-25-1999) -- Junie Donlavey and sponsor Big Daddy’s BBQ remain intact. Big Daddy’s made its first payment to Donlavey as scheduled this week(Times-Dispatch)(1-30-1999)
Ut-oh Trouble with the #90? NOPE UPDATE 2: There appears to be some trouble with the Big Daddy's BBQ sponsorship announced last month for the No. 90 Fords owned by Junie Donlavey. A NASCAR source said Donlavey gave the sponsor this weekend as a deadline to make the first payment on the deal. Rookie driver Mike Harmon was scheduled to appear at a luncheon at the NMPA convention on Sunday, but he was a no-show.(That's Racin') -- Contract was signed Friday, final details were worked out; both parties signed Friday, all parties and everything going forward; Mark Harmon's no show had no bearing on the contract details; also it is noted that other rookies did not show up either. Confirm CONTRACT WAS SIGNED FRIDAY. Source talked to Junie at 11:55 CDT and he said "Contract signed with Big Daddys Friday!" Everything is a go.(1-18-1999)(1-18-1999) -- >Talk last weekend about possible problems with the sponsorship for Junie Donlavey's Winston Cup team was apparently unfounded. Big Daddy's BBQ and Donlavey, the veteran Cup team owner based in Richmond, finalized details of their 1999 deal on Friday and everything appears to be set for the year ahead. Mike Harmon will drive the #90 Fords beginning with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 14.(That's Racin')(1-19-1999)
Big Daddy's BBQ News UPDATE: Echo Resources Inc. Changes Name To Big Daddy's BBQ Racing Co, Promotes BBQ Sauce Products and Racing Souvenirs Through Sponsorship Of NASCAR Winston Cup Race Team(1-9-1999) -- Big Daddy's BBQ and Enerjetix Motorsports have agreed to merge their resources to form Big Daddy's BBQ Racing Co (OTC BB: ECOX). It was also announced that Richard J. Balestrieri will become the new President of the Big Daddy's BBQ Racing program(Big Daddy's BBQ PR)(1-11-1999)
More Mike Harmon info: In a Birmingham News story - Birmingport's Harmon will drive Donlavey's Ford(12-17-98)
Junie announcement UPDATE 3 Big Daddy's! and driver: Long-time car Cup owner Junie Donlavey(#90 Ford) has a press conference scheduled for noon Wednesday in Richmond to announce his plans for the 1999 Winston Cup season(That's Racin') -- Donlavey said Dick Trickle would not return as his driver. Should the sponsorship deal go through Tuesday night, Donlavey said it would be a different driver, one that hasn't participated in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series on a regular basis previously. It would be a full-year deal with a rookie driver. Donlavey said he has not named a crew chief for the team as of yet. If and when the sponsorship deal is finalized, he said, he'll concentrate on that(NASCAR Online) -- Veteran NASCAR Winston Cup car owner Junie Donlavey is expected to announce a new primary sponsor -- Big Daddy's -- at a press conference to be held Wednesday in Richmond, VA. Big Daddy's is a major producer of Bar-B-Que(and an advertiser of this site) sauce, spices and meat products. Country.com Motorsports has also learned the team will make a surprise driver announcement naming short-track veteran Mike Harmon as the pilot of the #90 Ford Taurus(TNN's Motorsports Site)(12-15-98) -- It's official: Big Daddy's backing Donlavey in 50th year(NOL), by the way Harmon is Junie's 68th driver in the Cup series.(12-16-98)(12-17-98)
Who is Mike Harmon? Mike Harmon will drive the Winston Cup car in 1999 for Richmond-based NASCAR owner Junie Donlavey. OK, that's great but....who is he and what has he done? From the Times-Dispatch story today - Harmon, who turns 41 in January, spent the past seven seasons competing in NASCAR All Pro Series, BGN and short-track races. He ran 11 All Pro races in 1998 and a full schedule in 1997. He will be a candidate for 1999 Winston Cup rookie of the year. Harmon approached Donlavey in July and hammered out his deal with a sponsor earlier this month. Harmon learned the sport at the Fairgrounds Raceway in Birmingham, AL, the track that produced NASCAR standouts Bobby Allison, Davey Allison, Neil Bonnett and Red Farmer. He won a pair of track championships there and one at the Heart of Dixie track, also in Alabama. The Birmingport native has always run cars out of his hometown shop. Harmon posted one top-five and two top-10 finishes on the All-Pro circuit last season. In 1997, he closed the season fifth in points with nine top five finishes. He ran seven BGN races in a row in 1996 before his sponsor bailed out of the deal and ended his season prematurely.(Times-Dispatch/TNN), also found a page about Harmon at the Unofficial Birmingham International Raceway Site: Mike Harmon, no stats, but an images and a story.(12-16-98)
Donlavey News: Junie Donlavey, owner of the #90 Ford team, is confident that his team will be back next season -- he is building the 1999 cars in the Richmond shop. He has not signed with anyone yet, but says he is talking to a few people. Some of those deals come with their own driver, others would give him a choice. For now, it's business as usual for the veteran owner(Times-Dispatch)(11-20-98)
Donlavey/Shepherd? If Junie Donlavey can sign a new sponsorship, and he's talking with a financial services company, he is considering hiring Morgan Shepherd to drive for him next season, according to sources close to the team.(JournalNow) Everything I have heard is that Shepherd plans to run his own team in 1999 and supposedly has a three year sponsorship deal in place.(11-9-98)
Junie #800: When Dick Trickle starts the #90 Heilig-Meyers Ford today in Atlanta, it'll mark Junie Donlavey's 800th start as a Cup car owner.(Times-Dispatch)(11-8-98)