Hearing that Las Vegas based Vision Aviation Racing, who in 2010 finished first and second in the Super Late Model division at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA, will run two Toyota Tundras with drivers Justin Johnson and Dusty Davis in 2011. Running Daytona is still up in the air as both drivers need approval from NASCAR, and it is also not confirmed if the teams will be full-time or run a partial schedule. Also hearing that the team purchased a shop in North Carolina and that they are getting trucks from KBM.(12-6-2010)
UPDATE: Billy Ballew Motorsports announced today that the team has merged with Vision Aviation Racing to continue to field the No. 15 and No. 51 entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The announcement was made today by Ballew and Vision Aviation Racing General Manager Tom Davis. The team will compete under the Vision Aviation Racing banner and race with the same winning equipment and resources Billy Ballew Motorsports is known for. Ballew will keep an ownership stake in the team. Up-and-coming drivers Justin Johnson and Dusty Davis, who both competed in the Super Late Model and K&N Pro Series West divisions in 2010 for VAR, will make their Truck Series debut in 2011. The team will remain supported by Toyota. Vision Aviation Racing, already a winning team on the West Coast, will carry on the tradition of Billy Ballew Motorsports, which just completed a history-best season with two wins and a second-place finish in the drivers’ championship by Aric Almirola. The team is also known for teaming with Kyle Busch to collect 16 wins before Busch started his own operation. The team merger is still in process with key personnel yet to be finalized. The team will compete out of VAR’s Mooresville facility, located directly across from the former Billy Ballew Motorsports location.(VAR/BBM PR)(12-22-2010)
UPDATE 2: Billy Ballew told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he will play a major role in the operation of the newly merged Vision Aviation Racing. “I’m going to be very involved in the operation for at least the next 12 months,” said Ballew. “I am also exploring a couple of options in the Sprint Cup Series for next year. I’m not going away.” Ballew said his 2010 sponsorship struggles played a major role in his decision to merge operations. “I needed help,” he said. “From a financial standpoint, I couldn’t continue to do it on my own. (A merger) seemed to be the best way to ensure that we continue on in the Truck Series. The biggest part of the puzzle was finalized last night, and we’ll take care of the minor details after the holidays.”(Sirius-Speedway.com)(12-22-2010)
UPDATE 3: A VAR representative informed us the team will run at least one full-time truck and a 2nd part-time truck; possibly full-time if funding allows. At Daytona there will be one truck for sure; driver yet to be named. Also, both drivers have to get approval from NASCAR to run the series.(Jayski/Nancy)(12-22-2010)
