Chance 2 Motorsports
Encyclopedia
Chance 2 Motorsports is a former NASCAR
racing team that was founded by Teresa Earnhardt
and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
in 2003. Although connected with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
, the race team founded by Dale Earnhardt
, Sr. and run by Teresa Earnhardt after his death, the two were separate operations.
The team ran in the NASCAR Busch Series for the three years it was in operation. The team fielded the #8 Bass Pro Shops
/Yum! Brands
Chevrolet for Martin Truex, Jr. and the #81 under various sponsorships and for various drivers including Earnhardt, Jr. and Tony Stewart
.
in the #1 Yellow Transportation Chevrolet, driving several for his father, Marty Truex, and one race for Stanton Barrett
's race team. Truex was expected to wage a spirited battle with Kyle Busch
, who was racing his first full season since the Viceroy Rule had taken away his Truck Series ride at Roush Racing when he was 16, for the points championship; Busch was driving the #5 Lowe's
Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports
, the team that had won the series points championship in 2003 with Brian Vickers
driving.
Truex's car was to carry sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops for a majority of the races, with Yum! Brands sponsoring for 14 races.
Truex's first victory in the #8 came in the Sharpie Professional 250 at Bristol in March. He followed it up with three additional victories in the next seven races. He won the Aaron's 312
at Talladega, the Charter 250 at Gateway, and the Goulds Pumps ITT Industries 200 at Nazareth. Truex's victory at Nazareth was the final race held at the speedway.
Truex claimed the points lead after Nazareth but quickly lost it to Busch. However, Truex put together a string of top 10 finishes that not only regained him the lead but also put distance between him and Busch. Truex won his fifth and sixth races of the season in the second half of the season, winning at Dover and Memphis, and clinched the series points championship with one race to spare.
Truex's 2005 season saw him claim a victory at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
, the first NASCAR race held in Mexico. He won at Talladega for the second consecutive year and also won at Dover in the spring. Truex's summer got off to a strong start as he won three times in six races, winning at Daytona, New Hampshire, and IRP. This duplicated his 2004 season total of six victories, and Truex won his second consecutive points championship by 68 points over Clint Bowyer
.
After the season, Chance 2 folded its operations and Truex joined DEI full time as the driver of the #1 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 that was founded by Teresa Earnhardt
Teresa Earnhardt
Teresa Earnhardt was the third wife and is the widow of Dale Earnhardt. She is the biological mother of Taylor Nicole Earnhardt and she is the stepmother of Kerry Earnhardt, Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Teresa is currently the president and Co. Chief Executive Officer of...
and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
in 2003. Although connected with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is a NASCAR team based in Concord, North Carolina, United States, owned by Dale Earnhardt's widow Teresa Earnhardt, Chip Ganassi, and Felix Sabates. This team was formed when Dale Earnhardt, Inc...
, the race team founded by 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...
, Sr. and run by Teresa Earnhardt after his death, the two were separate operations.
The team ran in the NASCAR Busch Series for the three years it was in operation. The team fielded the #8 Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops is a privately held retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise. Bass Pro Shops is known for a large selection of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor gear.-History:The owner, John L...
/Yum! Brands
Yum! Brands
Yum! Brands, Inc. or Yum! is a United States-based Fortune 500 corporation. Yum! operates or licenses Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and WingStreet restaurants worldwide....
Chevrolet for Martin Truex, Jr. and the #81 under various sponsorships and for various drivers including Earnhardt, Jr. and Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
.
Car #8 history
The 2004 season saw the first full time season for Chance 2 as Martin Truex, Jr. was to run the full season and was considered one of the favorites. Truex had run several races for Chance 2 the year before in the #81 and had made fourteen previous starts in the Busch Series prior to 2004, driving one race for Phoenix RacingPhoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing is a NASCAR team owned by James Finch. It currently fields the #51 Chevrolet Impala in the Sprint Cup Series driven by Landon Cassill and the #1 Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series driven by Landon Cassill and Jamie McMurray....
in the #1 Yellow Transportation Chevrolet, driving several for his father, Marty Truex, and one race for Stanton Barrett
Stanton Barrett
Stanton Thomas Barrett is a NASCAR driver and Hollywood stuntman. He has driven in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series, as well in the IZOD IndyCar Series.-NASCAR:...
's race team. Truex was expected to wage a spirited battle with 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...
, who was racing his first full season since the Viceroy Rule had taken away his Truck Series ride at Roush Racing when he was 16, for the points championship; Busch was driving the #5 Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
, the team that had won the series points championship in 2003 with 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...
driving.
Truex's car was to carry sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops for a majority of the races, with Yum! Brands sponsoring for 14 races.
Truex's first victory in the #8 came in the Sharpie Professional 250 at Bristol in March. He followed it up with three additional victories in the next seven races. He won the Aaron's 312
Aaron's 312
The Aaron's 312 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held at Talladega Superspeedway. The race's sponsor, Aaron's, is a lease-to-own retailer. The twelve extra miles are tacked on to what would normally be a race for targeted advertising purposes....
at Talladega, the Charter 250 at Gateway, and the Goulds Pumps ITT Industries 200 at Nazareth. Truex's victory at Nazareth was the final race held at the speedway.
Truex claimed the points lead after Nazareth but quickly lost it to Busch. However, Truex put together a string of top 10 finishes that not only regained him the lead but also put distance between him and Busch. Truex won his fifth and sixth races of the season in the second half of the season, winning at Dover and Memphis, and clinched the series points championship with one race to spare.
Truex's 2005 season saw him claim a victory at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a race track in Mexico City, Mexico, named for the famous racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez. The circuit got its name shortly after it opened when Ricardo Rodríguez died in practice for the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix...
, the first NASCAR race held in Mexico. He won at Talladega for the second consecutive year and also won at Dover in the spring. Truex's summer got off to a strong start as he won three times in six races, winning at Daytona, New Hampshire, and IRP. This duplicated his 2004 season total of six victories, and Truex won his second consecutive points championship by 68 points over Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #15 5 Hour Energy Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series for Michael Waltrip Racing. Early in his career, he drove for Richard Childress Racing. He won the 2008 Nationwide Series championship....
.
After the season, Chance 2 folded its operations and Truex joined DEI full time as the driver of the #1 car.