Elder to run Cup race in 2002:Akins Motorsports announced their sponsorship agreement with Christian Elder to drive the #38 Great Clips Ford has been extended to include a full BGN schedule for 2003 plus the addition of the Brickyard 400 Cup race to their 22 race BGN schedule for 2002. Deka Batteries will be a major associate sponsor with the program. “If anyone had any doubts about my commitment to racing, this announcement should put them to rest,” said Brad Akins. “I recently sold the #98 BGN (to Michael Kranefuss) team to let go of the responsibility involved with running one full time team and another partial schedule team as I needed to fulfill some personal and family obligations at this time. Stepping back to one team with a limited schedule for 2001 and 2002 is giving me the break I need to come back with a full time Busch Series program for 2003.” Great Clips began its motorsports program in 1998 sponsoring Elder in the NASCAR Dash Series.(Akins Motorsports PR)(8-31-2001)
