Billy Ballew Motorsports
Encyclopedia
Billy Ballew Motorsports is a team that competes in the NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series. They were formed in 1996 by Georgia
businessman Billy Ballew. They currently field the #51 Bullet Liner F-150 for Colin Braun
.
finished eighth in its first race, followed by Andy Houston the next race. After Lance Hooper
started their next event, Kenny Hendrick
drove for the rest of the season, providing a best finish of 31st. The team disbanded at the end of the season.
The 15 truck of Billy Ballew Motorsports had been its original truck since the 1996 season. Originally based in Georgia, the team debuted at Bristol Motor Speedway
with Mark Gibson driving the Ford F-150 with sponsorship from Isaac Leasco. In their first race, Ballew Motorsports finished 12th, and followed it up with a ninth place run at their next race at The Milwaukee Mile. After running the next five races with L.C. Smith Sales sponsorship, Gibson stepped out of the ride and was replaced by Bobby Gill
. Gill brought Nashville Auto Auction sponsorship, and had two eleventh-place runs before Rick Johnson finished out the season. His best finish was a fifteenth at Phoenix International Raceway
. In 1997, Mike Cope
was hired to run a limited schedule with Penrose Meat Snacks sponsorship. They ran six races that year, with a best finish of 12th coming at Louisville.
After taking nearly a year off, the team returned at Milwaukee in 1998. Scott Hansen qualified the Oshkosh Trucks/Neihus entry eighth but finished twenty-fourth. Bickle would then drive in two races later that season with Turbine Solutions sponsorship, finishing in the top-five in both races. The team's first start in 1999 came at Martinsville, where Joe Ruttman
finished thirteenth in the Ortho
truck. Their next start came late in the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
when Cope returned and finished thirtieth with sponsorship from Manheim Auctions
.
The team gained notoriety in 2000 when their truck, sponsored by Line-X and driven by former Daytona 500
winner Geoffrey Bodine was involved in a fiery crash in the tri-oval at Daytona International Speedway
. Bodine survived, and for the next three weeks, his son Barry
drove the truck, and had two top-twenty finishes. Bobby Gill then returned for two races, but he did not finish higher than 32nd. At Chicago Motor Speedway
, the briefly switched to the #32 to accommodate Anthony Lazzaro, who finished 22nd in the race. For 2001, the team had originally with African-American driver Preston Tutt, but the deal fell through. Their first race of the year came at Martinsville Speedway
, Jon Wood
made his first start in the Mark Warner
-sponsored truck, and finished 31st. Derek Gilcrist then drove at Darlington Raceway
, and finished seventeenth, followed later by Rick Beebe finishing 30th at Kansas Speedway
in the Trailside RV entry.
Ballew's #15 changed its name to Countryman-Ballew Motorsports, the team improved its standings from 23rd to 14th would run full time in 2002 with driver Trent Owens
and jeans manufacturer Dickies
sponsoring the truck. After Owens attempted seven races, he was replaced by Rich Bickle, who had a sixth place run in his first race. Before the Power Stroke Diesel 200
, Dickies had signed a deal to sponsor Bobby Hamilton Racing
's #18 truck and driver Robert Pressley
for the remainder of 2002 and all of 2003, causing the team to go without major sponsorship. Mark Gibson returned for two races, followed by Brian Rose before Andy Houston
finished out the year.
Houston was signed for 2003 with Vokal Clothing sponsoring. Houston had a top-five finish at Daytona, but was released after five races, and Bickle returned with a top-ten finish.Mike Skinner
then drove for four races as the team switched to Dodge
for various races. After separate three-race runs by Ryan Hemphill
and Robby Benton, Bickle returned to run Fords and had two twelfth-place runs. In 2004, Ballew switched to Chevrolet and hired Shane Hmiel
to drive the truck full time, with sponsorship from Small's Harley-Davison, Whittaker Farms, and later Trim Spa. Hmiel would bring Ballew his first Truck Series win at the Las Vegas 350
, passing Todd Bodine
late in the race. Hmiel moved to the Busch Series
in 2005, and Kerry Earnhardt was originally hired to drive the 15, and won the pole for the season-opening race in the Kraft Foods
truck, but was replaced after two races for Hmiel. Kyle Busch
and ditech
then took the truck, and won his first two races in the ride. Blake Feese
, Martin Truex, Jr., Kenny Wallace
, Johnny Sauter
, and David Gilliland
ran one-race deals for the team, and John Andretti
had two top-tens in four races. Busch finished out the season, and added another win at Atlanta.
In 2006, Ballew signed on ARCA RE/MAX Series
driver Kyle Krisiloff
, with sponsorship from ditech
. However, after conflicts with Kyle's father Steve
, a famous USAC driver, Ballew would release Krisiloff and again field multiple drivers. The rotation included recently reinstated driver Kevin Grubb
, Andretti, Mike Wallace
, and Busch returned to the team. The best finish came for Busch, who finished second at Texas. For 2007, African-American driver Bill Lester
was tapped to drive the #15 truck. However, with ongoing sponsorship difficulties midway through the season, Lester stepped out of the truck, handing it over to drivers Denny Hamlin
, Andrew Myers, J.R. Norris and Shane Sieg
. Rookie Marc Mitchell was signed to compete for Rookie of the Year in the 15 with Hyprene Ergon sponsoring for 21 races in 2008. He drove thirteen before being replaced by a variety of drivers, including Hamlin, David Stremme
, Ryan Lawler, Kenny Wallace
, John Andretti
, James Buescher
, and Jason White
. For 2009, Sieg, Ickler, Aric Almirola
, and Blake Feese
shared the #15. Ted Musgrave, Steve Wallace, Johnny Benson, Nelson Piquet Jr, and Johanna Long shared the 15 in 2010.
For 2011, Ballew merged his organization with K&N West Series team Vision Aviation Racing. Their drivers Dusty Davis and Justin Johnson will run for Rookie of the Year. However, since neither driver is approved to run at Daytona International Speedway
, two-time Daytona 500
winner Michael Waltrip
drove the #15 at Daytona with sponsorship from the Wounded Warriors Project and NASCAR.com RaceView. Waltrip would later win the race, ironically on the 10th anniversary of his first Cup Series win as well as the 10th anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt
. The team fielded West Series driver Dusty Davis for only two races before shutting down temporarily. VAR fielded Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen
in his NASCAR debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway
. The team then shut down and laid off many of it's employees.
in 2006 with Kyle Busch driving. With sponsorship from National Land Liquidations, Busch won his first race in the truck, and finished eighth in his next race in the truck at Dover. Sauter and Truex also ran one race apiece in the 51. In 2007, Busch ran a majority of the races with the Flanders Beef Patties truck, and winning twice. Kenny Wallace
, Aric Almirola
, and Paul Menard
each ran one race in the truck, with Kelly Sutton
driving in four races with Copaxone sponsorship.
In 2008, Busch and Shane Sieg shared driving duties in the 51 in 2008, running Toyota Tundra
s with NOS Energy Drink
, Miccosukee Indian Resort & Gaming
, and San Bernardino County as sponsors. Busch drove the #51 part-time in 2009 with NOS and Miccosukee returning as sponsors, and Brian Ickler drove the races Busch didn't. After 2009, Busch formed his own team, Kyle Busch Motorsports
, and signed Ickler as a driver. Aric Almirola ran the full 2010 season
with Graceway Pharmecuticals sponsoring. Almirola took two wins and scored 21 top-tens en route to finishing 2nd in points to Todd Bodine
. Almirola left the team to drive JR Motorsports
' #88 Chevrolet. Almirola drove for VAR at Daytona, though the #51 was intended to be driven by VAR development driver Justin Johnson. Financial problems forced Vision Aviation owners to shut down the Truck team. Chris Fontaine
drove the truck at Dover. The team was bought out by Ballew once more and is fielding a Ford for Colin Braun
.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series. They were formed in 1996 by Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
businessman Billy Ballew. They currently field the #51 Bullet Liner F-150 for Colin Braun
Colin Braun
Colin Braun is an American racing driver. He currently drives the #51 Ford F-150 Truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Early career:...
.
Fasscore Motorsports
In 2003, Ballew began running a second truck under the name Fasscore Motorsports with Christopher Beckington as the owner. Rich BickleRich Bickle
Richard "Rich" Bickle, Jr. is a journeyman NASCAR driver. Bickle, who has never completed a full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has a long history in short track racing.-Early career:...
finished eighth in its first race, followed by Andy Houston the next race. After Lance Hooper
Lance Hooper
Lance Allen Hooper is a race car driver in NASCAR as well as several touring divisions. Hooper attended his first race when he was just two weeks old, and also came from a long line of racing champions, including his uncle, father, and brother...
started their next event, Kenny Hendrick
Kenny Hendrick
Kenny Hendrick , from Chino, California, is a current NASCAR Nationwide Series driver. He dabbled in the sport part-time for a number of years before fading out of the limelight. He returned to the Truck Series in 2007 for Xpress Motorsports.-Busch Series:Hendrick made his Busch Series debut in...
drove for the rest of the season, providing a best finish of 31st. The team disbanded at the end of the season.
Truck #15 history
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
with Mark Gibson driving the Ford F-150 with sponsorship from Isaac Leasco. In their first race, Ballew Motorsports finished 12th, and followed it up with a ninth place run at their next race at The Milwaukee Mile. After running the next five races with L.C. Smith Sales sponsorship, Gibson stepped out of the ride and was replaced by Bobby Gill
Bobby Gill
Bobby Gill is a former NASCAR driver. He raced for a number of years in the Craftsman Truck Series, earning four top-tens in sixteen starts.Most of the starts came in 1996, when he started off with Spears Motorsports. In his debut with the team, he started 15th and finished 23rd at Homestead-Miami...
. Gill brought Nashville Auto Auction sponsorship, and had two eleventh-place runs before Rick Johnson finished out the season. His best finish was a fifteenth at Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
. In 1997, Mike Cope
Mike Cope
Mike Cope , is a retired NASCAR driver. He became famous during the mid-1990s one of the best drivers in the Slim Jim All-Pro Series. In the late-90s he started a five year tour in the high levels of NASCAR...
was hired to run a limited schedule with Penrose Meat Snacks sponsorship. They ran six races that year, with a best finish of 12th coming at Louisville.
After taking nearly a year off, the team returned at Milwaukee in 1998. Scott Hansen qualified the Oshkosh Trucks/Neihus entry eighth but finished twenty-fourth. Bickle would then drive in two races later that season with Turbine Solutions sponsorship, finishing in the top-five in both races. The team's first start in 1999 came at Martinsville, where Joe Ruttman
Joe Ruttman
Joe Ruttman , is an American former racecar driver. He currently lives in Franklin, Tenn. He actively competed in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series and is a 13 time winner in the Truck Series, the seventh most wins by any driver in the Truck...
finished thirteenth in the Ortho
Ortho
Ortho may refer to:In science* An arene substitution pattern in which two substituents occupy adjacent positions on an aromatic ring...
truck. Their next start came late in the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
when Cope returned and finished thirtieth with sponsorship from Manheim Auctions
Manheim Auctions
Manheim, Inc. is an automobile auction company. It is the largest one in the world by volume of trade. As a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., Manheim provides services including financing, title work, transportation, recovery, auto body repair, dealership management systems, dent repair and...
.
The team gained notoriety in 2000 when their truck, sponsored by Line-X and driven by former Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
winner Geoffrey Bodine was involved in a fiery crash in the tri-oval at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
. Bodine survived, and for the next three weeks, his son Barry
Barry Bodine
Barry Bodine is a former NASCAR driver. He is the son of Geoffrey Bodine, and the nephew of Todd and Brett Bodine.-Busch Series Career:...
drove the truck, and had two top-twenty finishes. Bobby Gill then returned for two races, but he did not finish higher than 32nd. At Chicago Motor Speedway
Chicago Motor Speedway
The Chicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park located in Cicero, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, was built in 1999 by a group including Chip Ganassi, owner of Chip Ganassi Racing. In 2002 the oval shaped track suspended operations due to financial conditions in the motorsports industry. The...
, the briefly switched to the #32 to accommodate Anthony Lazzaro, who finished 22nd in the race. For 2001, the team had originally with African-American driver Preston Tutt, but the deal fell through. Their first race of the year came at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, Jon Wood
Jon Wood
Jon Wood is a NASCAR driver. He is the grandson of Glen Wood, one of the famous Wood Brothers who founded what has become Sprint Cup's longest continuously active team. Wood is currently a free agent....
made his first start in the Mark Warner
Mark Warner
Mark Robert Warner is an American politician and businessman, currently serving in the United States Senate as the junior senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Warner was the 69th governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and is the honorary chairman of...
-sponsored truck, and finished 31st. Derek Gilcrist then drove at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
, and finished seventeenth, followed later by Rick Beebe finishing 30th at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
in the Trailside RV entry.
Ballew's #15 changed its name to Countryman-Ballew Motorsports, the team improved its standings from 23rd to 14th would run full time in 2002 with driver Trent Owens
Trent Owens
Trent Owens, is a NASCAR crew chief for Turner Motorsports' #32 team in the Trent Owens, is a [[NASCAR]] crew chief for [[Turner Motorsports |Turner Motorsports']] #32 team in the Trent Owens, is a [[NASCAR]] crew chief for [[Turner Motorsports...
and jeans manufacturer Dickies
Dickies
Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company, more commonly referred to as the brand Dickies, is an American company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas that manufactures and sells work-related clothing and other accessories, including back packs, steel-toe boots, and belts. Its major competitors are...
sponsoring the truck. After Owens attempted seven races, he was replaced by Rich Bickle, who had a sixth place run in his first race. Before the Power Stroke Diesel 200
Power Stroke Diesel 200
The AAA Insurance 200 was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that took place at Lucas Oil Raceway in the suburb of Clermont, Indiana, located west of Indianapolis...
, Dickies had signed a deal to sponsor Bobby Hamilton Racing
Bobby Hamilton Racing
Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia was a former NASCAR racing team. It was owned by four-time NEXTEL Cup winner and 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton until his death on January 7, 2007. Bobby Hamilton, Jr. was given ownership after the death of his father, but the younger...
's #18 truck and driver Robert Pressley
Robert Pressley
Robert Pressley is a former NASCAR driver who is now the promoter at Kingsport Speedway.-Beginnings:...
for the remainder of 2002 and all of 2003, causing the team to go without major sponsorship. Mark Gibson returned for two races, followed by Brian Rose before Andy Houston
Andy Houston
Andy Houston is a veteran of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, scoring three wins. Houston is the son of legendary Busch Driver Tommy Houston and the youngest of three brothers, one of them being part-time NASCAR driver Marty Houston and the other being the oldest of the three, Scott Houston...
finished out the year.
Houston was signed for 2003 with Vokal Clothing sponsoring. Houston had a top-five finish at Daytona, but was released after five races, and Bickle returned with a top-ten finish.Mike Skinner
Mike Skinner (NASCAR)
Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
then drove for four races as the team switched to Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
for various races. After separate three-race runs by Ryan Hemphill
Ryan Hemphill
Ryan Hemphill is a NASCAR driver from Apollo, Pennsylvania.Ryan, a second generation racer, started his racing career at the age of 12, when his father put him behind the wheel of a go-kart. He went on to race in go-carts both locally and nationally for a period of 3 years...
and Robby Benton, Bickle returned to run Fords and had two twelfth-place runs. In 2004, Ballew switched to Chevrolet and hired Shane Hmiel
Shane Hmiel
Shane Hmiel is a former American racecar driver. He was paralyzed in a near fatal racing accident on October 9, 2010...
to drive the truck full time, with sponsorship from Small's Harley-Davison, Whittaker Farms, and later Trim Spa. Hmiel would bring Ballew his first Truck Series win at the Las Vegas 350
Las Vegas 350
The Smith's 350 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The races of 1996-1997 were long and 1998-1999 were long. LVMS did not host a truck race in 2000.-Past winners:...
, passing Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine is a NASCAR driver. Todd is the younger brother of former racers Geoff Bodine and Brett Bodine. Bodine is known for his bald head, which has given him the nickname The Onion...
late in the race. Hmiel moved to the Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
in 2005, and Kerry Earnhardt was originally hired to drive the 15, and won the pole for the season-opening race in the Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
truck, but was replaced after two races for Hmiel. Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
and ditech
Ditech
Ditech, based in Costa Mesa, California, was a lender, offering mortgages and lines of credit as a member of Ally Financial, specifically GMAC ResCap which purchased Ditech from its private owner in 1999...
then took the truck, and won his first two races in the ride. Blake Feese
Blake Feese
Blake Feese , is a second generation American racecar driver. Previously he had won races in ARCA and USAC, before running the NASCAR Busch Series on a part-time schedule with Hendrick Motorsports in 2005 as part of their driver development program, before he was released.Feese began racing at the...
, Martin Truex, Jr., Kenny Wallace
Kenny Wallace
Kenneth Wallace is an American stock car driver who currently drives the #09 Family Farmers/University of Northwestern Ohio/Federated Auto Parts/American Ethanol/Iowa Corn/G-Oil/Marquis Energy Toyota Camry for RAB Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
, Johnny Sauter
Johnny Sauter
Johnathan Joseph Sauter is a NASCAR driver from Wisconsin. Sauter is the son of former NASCAR driver Jim Sauter, and the brother of NASCAR drivers Tim Sauter and Jay Sauter...
, and David Gilliland
David Gilliland
David Gilliland is a NASCAR driver and he currently drives the #34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports. He is the son of former Cup and West Coast driver Butch Gilliland. He was born in Riverside, California....
ran one-race deals for the team, and John Andretti
John Andretti
John Andretti is an American race car driver. He has won in CART, IMSA GTP, Rolex Sports Car Series and NASCAR. He was the last NASCAR driver to win a Cup race for the famous Petty Enterprises team.-Andretti family:...
had two top-tens in four races. Busch finished out the season, and added another win at Atlanta.
In 2006, Ballew signed on ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
driver Kyle Krisiloff
Kyle Krisiloff
Kyle Krisiloff is an American race car driver. He is the son of former Champ Car racer, Steve Krisiloff, the nephew of Tony George, and the grandson of Mari Hulman George. He became the youngest BMX rider in the United States, when he began racing BMX bicycles at just three years old...
, with sponsorship from ditech
Ditech
Ditech, based in Costa Mesa, California, was a lender, offering mortgages and lines of credit as a member of Ally Financial, specifically GMAC ResCap which purchased Ditech from its private owner in 1999...
. However, after conflicts with Kyle's father Steve
Steve Krisiloff
Steve Krisiloff , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1969–1979, 1981 and 1983 seasons, with 111 combined career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 all but 1969–1970...
, a famous USAC driver, Ballew would release Krisiloff and again field multiple drivers. The rotation included recently reinstated driver Kevin Grubb
Kevin Grubb
Kevin Grubb was an American race car driver from Mechanicsville, Virginia. He was the younger brother of former race car driver Wayne Grubb...
, Andretti, Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (NASCAR)
Mike Wallace is a NASCAR race car driver born in Fenton, Missouri. He currently drives the #01 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. He is a younger brother to Rusty Wallace, older brother to Kenny Wallace, and uncle to Steve Wallace...
, and Busch returned to the team. The best finish came for Busch, who finished second at Texas. For 2007, African-American driver Bill Lester
Bill Lester
William Alexander Lester III is a racing driver who competes in the Grand Touring category in the Rolex Sports Car Series for Autohaus Motorsports. In 1984, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in EECS from the University of California, Berkeley...
was tapped to drive the #15 truck. However, with ongoing sponsorship difficulties midway through the season, Lester stepped out of the truck, handing it over to drivers Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin
James Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract...
, Andrew Myers, J.R. Norris and Shane Sieg
Shane Sieg
Shane Sieg is a suspended NASCAR driver. He last drove the #93 S&W Services Chevrolet for RSS Racing. He is the older brother of fellow Truck Series driver Ryan Sieg.-Camping World Truck Series:...
. Rookie Marc Mitchell was signed to compete for Rookie of the Year in the 15 with Hyprene Ergon sponsoring for 21 races in 2008. He drove thirteen before being replaced by a variety of drivers, including Hamlin, David Stremme
David Stremme
David Andrew Stremme is an American stock car driver. He is most notable as the 2003 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, winning the award while running a part time for several different teams. He currently drives the #30 Chevrolet Impala for Inception Motorsports.-Early life:Stremme was...
, Ryan Lawler, Kenny Wallace
Kenny Wallace
Kenneth Wallace is an American stock car driver who currently drives the #09 Family Farmers/University of Northwestern Ohio/Federated Auto Parts/American Ethanol/Iowa Corn/G-Oil/Marquis Energy Toyota Camry for RAB Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
, John Andretti
John Andretti
John Andretti is an American race car driver. He has won in CART, IMSA GTP, Rolex Sports Car Series and NASCAR. He was the last NASCAR driver to win a Cup race for the famous Petty Enterprises team.-Andretti family:...
, James Buescher
James Buescher
James Buescher is a NASCAR driver currently running full-time in its Camping World Truck Series. He drives the No. 31 Wolf Pack Rentals/Exide Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Motorsports in the Truck Series. He also runs part-time for Turner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, driving the No...
, and Jason White
Jason White (NASCAR)
Jason White is the driver for the #23 GunBroker.com Chevy Silverado for Joe Denette Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He has been racing in NASCAR since 1999.-Beginnings:...
. For 2009, Sieg, Ickler, Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola
Aric A. Almirola is a Cuban-American stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives the #88 Unilever/Grand Touring Vodka Chevrolet Impala for JR Motorsports. Almirola attended the University of Central Florida working on a degree in mechanical engineering before leaving to...
, and Blake Feese
Blake Feese
Blake Feese , is a second generation American racecar driver. Previously he had won races in ARCA and USAC, before running the NASCAR Busch Series on a part-time schedule with Hendrick Motorsports in 2005 as part of their driver development program, before he was released.Feese began racing at the...
shared the #15. Ted Musgrave, Steve Wallace, Johnny Benson, Nelson Piquet Jr, and Johanna Long shared the 15 in 2010.
For 2011, Ballew merged his organization with K&N West Series team Vision Aviation Racing. Their drivers Dusty Davis and Justin Johnson will run for Rookie of the Year. However, since neither driver is approved to run at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, two-time Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
winner Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
drove the #15 at Daytona with sponsorship from the Wounded Warriors Project and NASCAR.com RaceView. Waltrip would later win the race, ironically on the 10th anniversary of his first Cup Series win as well as the 10th anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
. The team fielded West Series driver Dusty Davis for only two races before shutting down temporarily. VAR fielded Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen
Kimi Räikkönen
Kimi Matias Räikkönen , nicknamed Iceman, is a Finnish racing driver, who will drive in Formula One for Lotus in . After nine seasons racing in Formula One, in which he took the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, he competed in the World Rally Championship from 2009-2011.Räikkönen entered...
in his NASCAR debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
. The team then shut down and laid off many of it's employees.
Truck #51 history
The 51 truck made its debut at Lowe's Motor SpeedwayLowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
in 2006 with Kyle Busch driving. With sponsorship from National Land Liquidations, Busch won his first race in the truck, and finished eighth in his next race in the truck at Dover. Sauter and Truex also ran one race apiece in the 51. In 2007, Busch ran a majority of the races with the Flanders Beef Patties truck, and winning twice. Kenny Wallace
Kenny Wallace
Kenneth Wallace is an American stock car driver who currently drives the #09 Family Farmers/University of Northwestern Ohio/Federated Auto Parts/American Ethanol/Iowa Corn/G-Oil/Marquis Energy Toyota Camry for RAB Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
, Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola
Aric A. Almirola is a Cuban-American stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives the #88 Unilever/Grand Touring Vodka Chevrolet Impala for JR Motorsports. Almirola attended the University of Central Florida working on a degree in mechanical engineering before leaving to...
, and Paul Menard
Paul Menard
Paul Menard is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #27 Menards Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing and runs part-time for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is the son of Menards founder John Menard, Jr., whose company is his sponsor...
each ran one race in the truck, with Kelly Sutton
Kelly Sutton
Kelly Renae "Girl" Sutton is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, who is currently a free agent. She has run the most races by a female in Craftsman Truck series history and drove the #02 Chevrolet Silverado owned by her father, Ed Sutton...
driving in four races with Copaxone sponsorship.
In 2008, Busch and Shane Sieg shared driving duties in the 51 in 2008, running Toyota Tundra
Toyota Tundra
The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup truck introduced by Toyota in the year 2000. It was widely considered to be the first full-size import-brand truck built with an American look and feel and a refined V8 engine. The Tundra was eventually nominated for the North American Truck of the Year...
s with NOS Energy Drink
NOS (drink)
NOS Energy Drink is an energy drink sometimes distributed in a bottle designed to look like a NOS cartridge. It is produced by the High Performance Beverage Company, and licensed by Holley Performance, which owns the trademark...
, Miccosukee Indian Resort & Gaming
Miccosukee
The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida are a federally recognized Native American tribe in the U.S. state of Florida. They were part of the Seminole nation until the mid-20th century, when they organized as an independent tribe, receiving federal recognition in 1962...
, and San Bernardino County as sponsors. Busch drove the #51 part-time in 2009 with NOS and Miccosukee returning as sponsors, and Brian Ickler drove the races Busch didn't. After 2009, Busch formed his own team, Kyle Busch Motorsports
Kyle Busch Motorsports
Kyle Busch Motorsports is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and late model team that is owned and operated by Kyle Busch, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Truck Series driver...
, and signed Ickler as a driver. Aric Almirola ran the full 2010 season
2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
The 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season was the fifteenth season of the third highest stock car racing series in the United States. Beginning at Daytona International Speedway, the season included twenty-five races, which ended with the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway...
with Graceway Pharmecuticals sponsoring. Almirola took two wins and scored 21 top-tens en route to finishing 2nd in points to Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine is a NASCAR driver. Todd is the younger brother of former racers Geoff Bodine and Brett Bodine. Bodine is known for his bald head, which has given him the nickname The Onion...
. Almirola left the team to drive JR Motorsports
JR Motorsports
JR Motorsports is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, cousin and former crew chief Tony Eury, Jr., and the owner of his Cup ride Rick Hendrick. It currently fields the No...
' #88 Chevrolet. Almirola drove for VAR at Daytona, though the #51 was intended to be driven by VAR development driver Justin Johnson. Financial problems forced Vision Aviation owners to shut down the Truck team. Chris Fontaine
Chris Fontaine
Chris Fontaine is an American race car driver. He currently drives the #84 Glenden Enterprises Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Beginnings:...
drove the truck at Dover. The team was bought out by Ballew once more and is fielding a Ford for Colin Braun
Colin Braun
Colin Braun is an American racing driver. He currently drives the #51 Ford F-150 Truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Early career:...
.