Braun Racing
Encyclopedia
Braun Racing was a NASCAR
racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina
. The team was sold to Steve Turner in September 2010. The Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams remain active under Turner Motorsports
. Following the announcement of the purchase, Turner Motorsports announced that they had parted ways with Brian Scott
. Next season, Turner Motorsports will run only three Nationwide Series teams (Braun Racing had four) and will field three Camping World Truck Series teams.
when they began fielding the #08 Chevrolet driven by Shane Hmiel
. It debuted its Cup team at Atlanta Motor Speedway
, but finished 43rd after an accident on the first lap. Hmiel raced the car the following week at Bristol Motor Speedway
, and finished 40th due to overheating.
Braun attempted another Cup race in 2006 at the fall Phoenix race with Jason Leffler, but failed to qualify for the event.
The team announced plans to field a Sprint Cup team for at least five races in 2010
. Reed Sorenson
drove those five races with Dollar General
as the sponsor for those five races. The team also attempted a few races with no sponsor as a start and park. When Turner Motorsports announced they bought Braun Racing, the also announced that the Sprint Cup team has been shut down.
, the previous driver of the car, was announced as the driver, but Dave Blaney
raced the car until Montreal
in 2007. British John Graham then took over for the next road races, and Brian Vickers
took over for four races. Blaney returned for several more races before Brent Sherman
was signed for the last four races. Brian Vickers drove a part-time schedule for Braun in 2008, with Blaney and Justin Marks
driving in one race apiece. The Team ran again full time in 2009 with rotating drivers David Reutimann
, Kelly Bires
, Brian Scott, Marc Davis
, Chad Blount, Justin Marks
and Cup drivers Kasey Kahne
, Elliott Sadler
, and Reed Sorenson
under a partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports. For 2010, Jason Leffler
drove 8 races in the #10 when Kasey Kahne
is driving the #38. Drivers for the rest of the schedule were among others Tayler Malsam
and Josh Wise
.
Braun Racing announced on September 28, 2010 that James Buescher
will race the entry in the Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway
on October 2, 2010. The car was sponsored by Great Clips
. Buescher finished 35th, 7 laps down. David Reutimann
also drove a few races with Rexall
sponsorship.
to drive in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
. Blount finished second in points, and won Rookie of the Year honors. Braun moved his operation to the Busch Series in 2003
, fielding the #30 Dodge
for Jimmy Vasser
for two races, and the #19 for Chad Blount, Casey Mears
, David Stremme
, and Jamie McMurray
. Mears ran the most races for Braun, winning a pole at Chicagoland Speedway
and finishing in the top-ten four times in fourteen starts. In 2004
, McMurray won the team's first race at North Carolina Speedway
in the #30. The team ran the #32 full-time with sponorship from TrimSpa
with David Stremme as driver, who won a pole at The Milwaukee Mile and five top-fives before switching to FitzBradshaw Racing
towards the end of the season. He was replaced by Shane Hmiel
.
Shane Hmiel was named the full-time driver in 2005
, and the team switched from Dodge to Chevrolet. He won the pole position at Texas
and three top-fives when he was suspended by NASCAR in violation of its drug policy. Jorge Goeters, Ron Hornaday
, Blount, and Leffler finished out the year for the team.
After struggling to find primary sponsorship for 2006
, they merged with Akins Motorsports and hired Jason Leffler
as driver, running as Braun-Akins Racing. After the release of Akins' driver, A.J. Foyt IV, Leffler moved to the 38. The #32 became a part-time team, running Dave Blaney. Blaney had a few good runs and then pulled off an upset victory in the fall event at Lowe's Motor Speedway
. Racing side by side with Matt Kenseth
on the final laps, before Kenseth spun in turn 4, Blaney raced to the checker flag for the win.
The team was to continue with Blaney full-time in 2007, running Toyotas with support from Hass Avocados
and Fans1st.com, but following Andretti's departure from the 10 car, Blaney began piloting that car full-time. Michael Waltrip
, Bill Elliott
, and Brian Vickers drove the 32 on a limited basis during the season.
In 2008 the #32 was driven by Denny Hamlin
, Kyle Busch
, Brian Vickers and James Buescher
with sponsorship from Dollar General and Hass Avocados
. Michel Jourdain, Jr.
and Jacques Villeneuve
raced on the road courses. The team finished 12th in owner points. Dollar General will sponsor the 32 full-time in 2009, with Burney Lamar
and Brian Vickers driving. Lamar was released midway through the season, and was be replaced by Reed Sorenson
at Gateway, Villeneuve at Montreal, Reutimann at ORP, Bristol, Dover, and Homestad, and West Series driver Brian Ickler
at Iowa
and Memphis
. Vickers returned in 2010 along with Reed Sorenson, however, in May, he suffered blood clots in his leg, ending his participation in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series for 2010.
Akins Motorsports began 2006 with A. J. Foyt IV
in the 38 competing for Rookie of the Year
. Shortly after the season began, Akins Motorspors and Braun Racing merged and the 38 switched from Dodge to Chevrolet
. Foyt was then released from the ride because he had a driver development deal with Dodge, and could not break it. Leffler took over the ride, and had an up-and-down year. Leffler was at often one of the best non-Cup teams on the track. However, engine woes continually ended his bid to make the top-10 in points. Also, Leffler and team barely missed making a Nextel Cup
event late in the season at Phoenix International Raceway
.
Running first year manufacturer Toyota in the Busch Series in 2007, Jason Leffler gave Toyota its first Busch Series win on July 28, 2007 by winning at O'Reilly Raceway Park. The win established the #38 team as the top non-Cup affiliated team in the Busch Series, and they proved this by finishing third in points.
In 2010, Leffler split the car with Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne
and finish out the season in the 10 car.
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...
racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville is a large suburban town in southern Iredell County, North Carolina, USA. It is in the Metrolina metro area. The population was 32,133 at the 2010 United States Census...
. The team was sold to Steve Turner in September 2010. The Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams remain active under Turner Motorsports
Turner Motorsports (NASCAR)
Turner Motorsports, LLC is a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team currently fields cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series...
. Following the announcement of the purchase, Turner Motorsports announced that they had parted ways with Brian Scott
Brian Scott
Brian Joseph Scott is an American race car driver. He currently drives the #11 Shore Lodge Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.-Beginnings:...
. Next season, Turner Motorsports will run only three Nationwide Series teams (Braun Racing had four) and will field three Camping World Truck Series teams.
Sprint Cup
Braun Racing briefly fielded a Sprint Cup team in 20052005 in NASCAR
The 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series began on Saturday, February 12. The ten race Chase for the Nextel Cup started with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 18, and ended on Sunday, November 20, with the Ford 400....
when they began fielding the #08 Chevrolet driven by 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...
. It debuted its Cup team at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
, but finished 43rd after an accident on the first lap. Hmiel raced the car the following week at Bristol Motor Speedway
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...
, and finished 40th due to overheating.
Braun attempted another Cup race in 2006 at the fall Phoenix race with Jason Leffler, but failed to qualify for the event.
The team announced plans to field a Sprint Cup team for at least five races in 2010
2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 62nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States. Beginning at Daytona International Speedway, the season included 36 races and two exhibition races. The season concluded with the 2010 Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway...
. Reed Sorenson
Reed Sorenson
Bradley Reed Sorenson is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #82 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge Charger in the Nationwide Series...
drove those five races with Dollar General
Dollar General
Dollar General Corp. is a U.S. chain of variety stores headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. As of January 2011, Dollar General operated over 9,300 stores in 35 U.S. states....
as the sponsor for those five races. The team also attempted a few races with no sponsor as a start and park. When Turner Motorsports announced they bought Braun Racing, the also announced that the Sprint Cup team has been shut down.
Car #10 history
For the 2007 season, through an alliance with ppc Racing, the #10 team became part of Braun Racing and ran under ppc's 2006 owner points. John AndrettiJohn 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:...
, the previous driver of the car, was announced as the driver, but Dave Blaney
Dave Blaney
David Blaney is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He currently drives the #36 Golden Corral/Big Red Chevrolet Impala for Tommy Baldwin Racing. Blaney was a successful sprint car driver before he started racing in NASCAR...
raced the car until Montreal
NAPA Auto Parts 200
The NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented by Dodge is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that takes place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada since 2007. It takes place in August, replacing the Champ Car World Series and Atlantic Championship Grand Prix of Montreal...
in 2007. British John Graham then took over for the next road races, and Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers
Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...
took over for four races. Blaney returned for several more races before Brent Sherman
Brent Sherman
Brent Sherman , a resident of Wauconda, Illinois, is a former driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series who later competed in the Firestone Indy Lights Series.-Biography:...
was signed for the last four races. Brian Vickers drove a part-time schedule for Braun in 2008, with Blaney and Justin Marks
Justin Marks
Justin Marks is an American race car driver. He currently drives the #66 GoPro Chevrolet Silverado for Turn One Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Early years:...
driving in one race apiece. The Team ran again full time in 2009 with rotating drivers David Reutimann
David Reutimann
Emil David Reutimann is the driver the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine/Tums/Best Western Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
, Kelly Bires
Kelly Bires
Kelly Bires is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #25 Ford Mustang for Team Rensi Motorsports and the #18 International Comfort Products Corporation Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series.-Early career:Bires began karting at Sugar River Raceway in Brodhead,...
, Brian Scott, Marc Davis
Marc Davis (racer)
Marc Davis , is a former NASCAR developmental driver for Joe Gibbs Racing . Davis graduated from Mooresville Christian Academy in May 2008.-Racing career:...
, Chad Blount, Justin Marks
Justin Marks
Justin Marks is an American race car driver. He currently drives the #66 GoPro Chevrolet Silverado for Turn One Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Early years:...
and Cup drivers Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
, Elliott Sadler
Elliott Sadler
Elliott William Barnes Sadler is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Impala for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is one of only 23 drivers to have won in each of NASCAR's top three series...
, and Reed Sorenson
Reed Sorenson
Bradley Reed Sorenson is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #82 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge Charger in the Nationwide Series...
under a partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports. For 2010, Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks before moving to NASCAR's three major series...
drove 8 races in the #10 when Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
is driving the #38. Drivers for the rest of the schedule were among others Tayler Malsam
Tayler Malsam
Tayler Malsam is an American race car driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Early career:...
and Josh Wise
Josh Wise
Josh Wise is a NASCAR driver who currently runs in its Nationwide Series. He drives the #7 Chevrolet Impala for JR Motorsports and the #39 Ford Mustang for Go Green Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He is a former member of the driver development program for Michael Waltrip Racing...
.
Car #11 history
This team debuted in 2010 with rookie Brian Scott running the full season with Accudoc Solutions sponsoring for a number of races.Braun Racing announced on September 28, 2010 that 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...
will race the entry in the Nationwide Series race 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...
on October 2, 2010. The car was sponsored by Great Clips
Great Clips
Great Clips is a hair salon franchise in the United States and Canada with over 5,000 locations across the United States and Canada. It is headquartered in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota...
. Buescher finished 35th, 7 laps down. David Reutimann
David Reutimann
Emil David Reutimann is the driver the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine/Tums/Best Western Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
also drove a few races with Rexall
Rexall
Rexall was a chain of North American drugstores, and the name of their store-branded products. The stores, having roots in the federation of United Drug Stores starting in 1902, licensed the Rexall brand name to as many as 12,000 drug stores across the United States from 1920 to 1977...
sponsorship.
Car #32 history
Braun Racing was formed in 2002 when team owner Todd Braun hired rookie Chad BlountChad Blount
Chad Blount is an American race car driver. He has raced in all three of NASCAR's major series and is currently a free agent.-Nextel Cup Series:...
to drive in the 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...
. Blount finished second in points, and won Rookie of the Year honors. Braun moved his operation to the Busch Series in 2003
2003 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2003 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 15 and ended November 15. Brian Vickers of Hendrick Motorsports won the championship.See Also: 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2003 Team chart:...
, fielding the #30 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 Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
for two races, and the #19 for Chad Blount, Casey Mears
Casey Mears
Casey James Mears is the driver of the #13 GEICO Toyota for Germain Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a former winner of the Coca-Cola 600....
, 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...
, and Jamie McMurray
Jamie McMurray
James Christopher "Jamie" McMurray is a professional American race car driver. McMurray is best known for winning the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 as a substitute driver in his second Winston Cup start, and is one of three drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year...
. Mears ran the most races for Braun, winning a pole at Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording...
and finishing in the top-ten four times in fourteen starts. In 2004
2004 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2004 NASCAR Busch Series Season began on February 14 and ended on November 20. Martin Truex, Jr. of Chance 2 Motorsports won the championship.See Also: 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2004 Team chart:...
, McMurray won the team's first race at North Carolina Speedway
North Carolina Speedway
Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...
in the #30. The team ran the #32 full-time with sponorship from TrimSpa
TrimSpa
TrimSpa is a dietary supplement designed for weight loss, marketed by the company Goen Technologies, headed by Alexander Szynalski, a.k.a. Alex Goen. Celebrity Anna Nicole Smith was its spokesperson. Various products marketed by TrimSpa are claimed to help "stave off hunger". TrimSpa formerly...
with David Stremme as driver, who won a pole at The Milwaukee Mile and five top-fives before switching to FitzBradshaw Racing
FitzBradshaw Racing
Trail Motorsports was a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte. The team is owned by Armando Fitz and Art Shelton, and was previously co-owned by Fitz's former wife Mimi...
towards the end of the season. He was replaced by 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...
.
Shane Hmiel was named the full-time driver in 2005
2005 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2005 season of the NASCAR Busch Series began with the Hershey's Take 5 300 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin Truex Jr...
, and the team switched from Dodge to Chevrolet. He won the pole position at Texas
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
and three top-fives when he was suspended by NASCAR in violation of its drug policy. Jorge Goeters, Ron Hornaday
Ron Hornaday
Ronald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent...
, Blount, and Leffler finished out the year for the team.
After struggling to find primary sponsorship for 2006
2006 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 25th season of the NASCAR Busch Series opened February 18, 2006, at Daytona International Speedway and concluded November 18, 2006, at Homestead-Miami Speedway...
, they merged with Akins Motorsports and hired Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks before moving to NASCAR's three major series...
as driver, running as Braun-Akins Racing. After the release of Akins' driver, A.J. Foyt IV, Leffler moved to the 38. The #32 became a part-time team, running Dave Blaney. Blaney had a few good runs and then pulled off an upset victory in the fall event at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe'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...
. Racing side by side with Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
on the final laps, before Kenseth spun in turn 4, Blaney raced to the checker flag for the win.
The team was to continue with Blaney full-time in 2007, running Toyotas with support from Hass Avocados
Hass (avocado)
The Hass avocado , sometimes marketed as the Haas avocado , is a cultivar of avocado with dark green-colored, bumpy skin. It was first grown and sold by Southern California mail carrier and amateur horticulturist Rudolph Hass, who also gave it his name....
and Fans1st.com, but following Andretti's departure from the 10 car, Blaney began piloting that car full-time. 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...
, Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
, and Brian Vickers drove the 32 on a limited basis during the season.
In 2008 the #32 was driven by 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...
, 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...
, Brian Vickers and 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...
with sponsorship from Dollar General and Hass Avocados
Hass (avocado)
The Hass avocado , sometimes marketed as the Haas avocado , is a cultivar of avocado with dark green-colored, bumpy skin. It was first grown and sold by Southern California mail carrier and amateur horticulturist Rudolph Hass, who also gave it his name....
. Michel Jourdain, Jr.
Michel Jourdain, Jr.
Michel Jourdain Jr. is an IndyCar driver. Jourdain Jr. started racing cars in the Mexican Formula Junior series at the age of 12. He then moved to the Mexican Formula K and Formula 2 series.-Champ Car:...
and Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve, , is a Canadian musician and automobile racing driver. He is the son of the late Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, and is the namesake of his uncle...
raced on the road courses. The team finished 12th in owner points. Dollar General will sponsor the 32 full-time in 2009, with Burney Lamar
Burney Lamar
Burney Lamar is an American race car driver. He has driven in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series and is currently a free agent.-Racing career:...
and Brian Vickers driving. Lamar was released midway through the season, and was be replaced by Reed Sorenson
Reed Sorenson
Bradley Reed Sorenson is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #82 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge Charger in the Nationwide Series...
at Gateway, Villeneuve at Montreal, Reutimann at ORP, Bristol, Dover, and Homestad, and West Series driver Brian Ickler
Brian Ickler
Brian Ickler is an American race car driver. He drives the #18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He is also the owner of Ickler Motorsports, an ARCA Remax Series team.-Early life:Ickler started in off-road racing when he was 14 years old...
at Iowa
Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, United States, approximately east of Des Moines. The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond International Raceway, a short track where Wallace was very successful...
and Memphis
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
. Vickers returned in 2010 along with Reed Sorenson, however, in May, he suffered blood clots in his leg, ending his participation in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series for 2010.
Car #38 history
Akins Motorsports began 2006 with A. J. Foyt IV
A. J. Foyt IV
Anthony Joseph "A.J." Foyt IV is an American race car driver. He competed in the IndyCar Series and briefly in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, then called the Busch Series. He is the grandson of A. J. Foyt....
in the 38 competing for Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
. Shortly after the season began, Akins Motorspors and Braun Racing merged and the 38 switched from Dodge to Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
. Foyt was then released from the ride because he had a driver development deal with Dodge, and could not break it. Leffler took over the ride, and had an up-and-down year. Leffler was at often one of the best non-Cup teams on the track. However, engine woes continually ended his bid to make the top-10 in points. Also, Leffler and team barely missed making a Nextel Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
event late in the season 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...
.
Running first year manufacturer Toyota in the Busch Series in 2007, Jason Leffler gave Toyota its first Busch Series win on July 28, 2007 by winning at O'Reilly Raceway Park. The win established the #38 team as the top non-Cup affiliated team in the Busch Series, and they proved this by finishing third in points.
In 2010, Leffler split the car with Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
and finish out the season in the 10 car.