Joe Falk is partnering this year with fellow Chesapeake businessman Curtis Key, merging to create the #33 Circle Sports/The Motorsports Team, to race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Key brings a shop in Mooresville, N.C., that he calls three to fourtimes a day from his Indian River plumbing office – Falk checks in once daily from his used car lot – to direct and monitor work done by their 15 employees. The team has 16 cars and 11 engines. Falk cut a deal with Jeffrey Earnhardt to drive the #33 Chevy, and the driver also brought a sponsor – Starter sporting apparel – for the first four races. Other Falk deals include one with Richard Childress Racing for restrictor-plate motors and engineers for Daytona and Talladega (at about $80,000 per race); and one with the Hendrick organization to provide a trained pit crew and manager each week. Falk also brings potentially the most valuable asset to a team looking toward the future: one of the 36 charters NASCAR hands out. It’s what guarantees a spot in every race’s 40-car field and with it a revenue stream, if not a profit. Key recognizes the value of the charter from experience.(The Virginian-Pilot)
