James Finch, the defending winner owner [#09 Chevy in Cup, #1 Chevy in NNS] of this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway, is putting his Phoenix Racing operation up for sale. For a price, the new owner would acquire a 70,000 sq. ft. building complete with 35 race cars, all the machinery and two houses on nine acres in Spartanburg, S.C. “I’ve had a real good time,” Finch said. “But it’s time to do something else. Offer me a fair price then give me half and we’ll have a deal.” Finch fielded cars for a variety of drivers in NASCAR’s Cup and Nationwide Series as well as ARCA. He won 12 NNS races with six different drivers on nine different tracks. But his most coveted win came at Talladega last year as Finch provided rookie Brad Keselowski with an opportunity to earn his first Sprint Cup victory. Finch took his entire share of the $312, 075 purse and offered it to Keselowski for his parents, lifelong racers who campaigned in ARCA and NASCAR with their family-owned operation. Keselowski made his NASCAR debut behind the wheel of the K Automotive Ford truck in 2004 at Martinsville. “I did some cool things for my parents with that,” Keselowski added. “That was something I was proud to be able to do to help them out financially because they’re going through some hard times. It’s cool to be able to be there for them.” #1-James Buescher is Finch’s latest protg. The 20-year-old from Plano, Texas, finished the last two races of the season for Finch in the NNS and is currently 19th in the point standings. His best finish this season was eighth at Daytona.(FoxSports)(4-24-2010)
UPDATE: James Buescher is not worried about his future with the #1 Phoenix Racing Nationwide Series team. FoxSports broke news last week that James Finch’s Phoenix Racing team, a longtime NASCAR fixture, is up for sale. The 20 year-old Buescher tells Frontstretch.com that this news has no effect on the team’s operations this season. “I don’t have any doubt,” said Buescher at Talladega Sunday morning, in regard to whether or not the #1 Chevy will complete the rest of the season. “We’re here through Homestead. James Finch, at the beginning of the year, told me we’re running through Homestead, then we lost Miccosukee [an Indian-run casino and resort and longtime Phoenix Racing sponsor in both the Cup and Nationwide Series]. He still says we are running through Homestead. If he says he is going to do something, then he is going to do it. I really don’t have any doubt of that.” (Frontstretch)(4-27-2010)
UPDATE 2: James Finch is putting the brakes on Phoenix Racing. Nine weeks into his 22nd season as a NASCAR owner, the Panama City native has put his Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams up for sale. The Bay County businessman, who owns Phoenix Construction, said he has spent close to $2 million of his own money since February, when Phoenix Racing lost its primary sponsor, Miccosukee Resort and Gaming. Finch said The Miccosukee Tribe elected a new chairman who discontinued a contract to sponsor 35 Nationwide and 18 Sprint Cup races, leaving Phoenix without the majority of its financial backing. Finch, 59, said Phoenix will finish this season, and that he hopes to sell an “up-and-running team.” After considering his options since the end of last season, Finch came to the decision to sell his racing operation a couple of weeks ago. Finch said he is asking $12 million for nine acres in Spartanburg, S.C., where his racing team is located. Included are 35-40 cars, two houses, a 70,000-square-foot shop and equipment including the trailers. Since publicly announcing Saturday that Phoenix was for sale, Finch said he has received about 100 inquiries, of which “one or two might be legitimate.” Finch said he is meeting with prospective buyers this week in Texas. Finch said he plans to sell his #09 Sprint Cup and #1 Nationwide teams as a package, or his Nationwide team individually. He won’t sell his Sprint Cup team without the Nationwide team included. Phoenix will honor its season-long contract with Nationwide driver James Buescher, and has used two drivers, Aric Almirola and Mike Bliss, in its Cup car.(News Herald)(4-28-2010)
