Grammy award-winning rapper Nelly will buy into a Craftsman Truck team starting on March 14 at Darlington Raceway. The deal to purchase part of #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports will last the rest of the season, Nelly’s representative, Michael Warmack, told The Associated Press by phone Tuesday. The truck will sport a new paint scheme and feature Nelly’s Vokal clothing label. It will be unveiled in time for the Darlington 200 truck event. Warmack will be the point man for the Atlanta-based Vokal Racing Team, and said the group eventually will look for a minority driver. For now, Warmack said they will continue with Ballew’s driver, NASCAR truck veteran Andy Houston, at the 1.366-mile superspeedway. Warmack said plans came together last month at Daytona International Speedway. Darlington Raceway spokeswoman Cathy Mock said her office got a call about security and protection for an appearance next week by the platinum-selling artist. Warmack was hopeful Nelly would be at NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway to debut the truck and watch the race.(Sporting News/PR)(3-5-2003)
UPDATE: Grammy award-winning rapper Nelly has canceled his appearance at Darlington Raceway Wednesday, track spokeswoman Cathy Mock says. Nelly was expected to be on hand when a Craftsman Truck bearing the colors and name of his Vokal clothing line was to be unveiled, but Mock says the rapper had a family emergency in St. Louis. The platinum-selling artist recently purchased part of Billy Ballew Motorsports. The Vokal Racing Team will be based in Atlanta. Mock said there was hope for Nelly to be at NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway Friday to watch his truck in the season’s second truck race.(Greenville News)(3-12-2003)
