#27-Kirk Shelmerdine was rolling his car toward his hauler to get ready to go home following Thursday’s qualifying races when a NASCAR official told him to roll it to the inspection line. He didn’t know it, but out of the 58 cars trying, he was one of the 43 that had qualified for the Daytona 500. Shelmerdine, who crew-chiefed for the late Dale Earnhardt in the 1980s, is a one-man team with no sponsor, no pit crew and no money for tires. He didn’t find a sponsor, but he did find a pit crew and received a donation for the tires from a random family in the infield. Earnhardt’s former boss, Richard Childress, flew Shelmerdine’s son, who had never been to Daytona, on his private plane. In turn, Shelmderdine put Childress Vineyard on the hood of his car. ”Without a big corporate deal it was hard to pull off,” Shelmerdine said. ”People jumped in and helped like the Lopez family. … They paid the whole tire bill, but I don’t think they want us to talk about that. They are some devoted Dale Sr. fans.” Shelmerdine not only finished on the lead lap, but wound up 20th. ”We couldn’t keep up with the other cars, but I guess we beat all the wrecked ones,” he said. ”I’ll be glad to go home and rest. It’s been a heck of a week.”(Allentown Morning Call)(2-20-2006)
UPDATE: When Welcome, NC – based Kirk Shelmerdine crossed the finish line in 20th-Place at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, he did so flying the Black and Gold colors of Apex Electric Company on the #27 Chevy his hood. Apex Electric Company is based in Apex, NC, and owned by Cary, NC businessman Mike Howington. Howington has supported Kirk Shelmerdine Racing at races in the past, but the relationship was never party to such a big “Cinderella Story” that Shelmerdine provided at the 2006 Daytona 500. “I cannot describe how proud I am of Kirk for finishing ahead of so many strong entries in this year’s race” said Howington, adding, “To have the Apex name on the hood of his car and provide exposure for the area as well as my business was only the icing on the cake”! With the success at Daytona, the 2006 season looks to be a great one for the #27 Chevy of Kirk Shelmerdine, and look for the Apex name to appear at a track near you soon as discussions are underway to the Shelmerdine / Apex Electric relationship to full-time status.(Apex Electric Company PR). Shelmerdine is not on the Auto Club 500 Entry List and his site Kirkshlemerdine.com says he is going out to Califonria Speedway, but at this point, word is that Shelmerdine is unsure if he will race or not..(2-22-2006)
