Fenley Motorsports (was the #15 and then #16 and former Bud Moore Motorsports) may be on the verge of signing a major sponsorship deal that would bring it back to the big time after years of struggle. But if the deal doesn’t come through in January as Fenley hopes, the Spartanburg-based race operation’s longstanding financial and legal problems suddenly will become urgent. In a February court hearing, the Fairview Avenue race shop could be foreclosed on and scheduled for sale at public auction in the Spartanburg County. SC courthouse. Company president Robert Fenley said Friday that a happy ending is more than possible. “We’ve been assured that we have a deal for a major sponsor for five years — one year in the Busch Grand National series and four years in Winston Cup — but we just haven’t signed anything yet,” Fenley said. “We’re pretty optimistic that everything will be signed and done by the end of January.” Fenley declined to identify his operation’s potential new sponsor. He estimated that the sponsor would provide at least $12 million of the $14.5 million needed to compete in the 2002 Busch season and the 2003 Winston Cup season. The legal battle is with Ernie Elliott over engine and technical services. Also driver Derrike Cope, who left the Fenley operation in April 2000, claims it still owes him an unspecified portion of a $667,236 judgment levied by an arbitrator in federal court nine months ago. Cope had claimed in legal papers that Fenley violated his contract by failing to enter some NASCAR Winston Cup events. The driver also accused Fenley of being late with his February and March 2000 payments and failing entirely to make the April 2000 payment. The Revenue Department has tax liens on Fenley’s Fairview Avenue property — more than $53,000 worth, according to court papers filed by Cauthen.(full story at the Herald Journal), looks like a real mess(12-4-2001) UPDATE: Challenge Motor Sports, Inc., owned and operated by Randy Fenley, announced that it has secured several associate sponsors for the 2002 BGN and Cup series seasons. Challenge Motor sports has entered into an agreement with “theracefanschoice.com” (TRFC Inc) to promote more intimate fan participation in auto racing. Challenge Motor Sports will support all programs the TRFC Inc “theracefanschoice.com” has on line. Additionally, Challenge Motor Sports is still in negotiations for primary corporate sponsors for the team. The outcome of these negotiations will determine the extent of the 2002 BGN and Cup schedules. Challenge Motor Sports is negotiating with several drivers, but no driver has been named for the upcoming season. Challenge Motor Sports has a contract to purchase the race team from Fenley Motor sports and a lease agreement for the facility. Challenge is no way affiliated with Fenley Motor Sports. The disposition of litigation between Fenley Motor sports and Ernie Elliott, Inc. will determine whether Challenge Motor Sports continues to be based at the present facility in Spartanburg, SC.(Challenge Motor Sports PR)(12-6-2001)
