David Blair Motorsports
Encyclopedia
David Blair Motorsports (DBM) is a former NASCAR
Winston Cup team. It was formed in 1995 by attorney David Blair
. It only ran a few years in the circuit, and never could hang on to a regular sponsor.
. Sawyer and the team got off to a disappointing start, failing to qualify for two races and only mustering up a best finish of 19th at the spring Atlanta race. After the Coca-Cola 600
, Sawyer was released due to a lack of funding for the operation. After a failed attempt at the Brickyard 400 with Jason Keller
driving, DBM reappeared at the Mountain Dew Southern 500 with Todd Bodine
driving. Bodine qualified sixteenth and finished 15th. Bodine ran two more races with the team that season, never qualifying outside the top 20.
to run selected events that season. The tandem debuted at the Miller 400 at Michigan, where Wilson started 31st and finished 21st. He had the same finish later in the year at the Brickyard 400 in a car sponsored by the Indianapolis Colts. In September that year, Blair was hired by Robert Yates Racing to field a car for their new driver, Kenny Irwin, Jr.
, to prepare him for his rookie year in 1998. In his first start with the team at Richmond International Raceway
, Irwin qualified on the outside pole. He followed that up with taking the lead at lap 86 and holding it for the next 12 laps before finishing in eighth place. In his next start, at Martinsville Speedway
, he qualified third but had to make an early exit due to a fuel pump problem. He ran two more races that year before moving to RYR full time for 1998.
to drive early on, the team was unable to locate a sponsor for the year, and Kendall left the team. This did not stop the team from looking towards the future, as they built a full shop of Ford Taurus
es to prepare for a full-time run. A successful test at Darlington Speedway with Mike Wallace
yielded optimism for 1999, but by November, it was obvious the situation hadn't gotten any better. As a result, Blair laid off all of his employees and sold the shop and equipment to Travis Carter Motorsports
. In his autobiography, Darrell Waltrip
, who drove the old Blair cars for Carter, described the old shop. "We drove to a warehouse. Not a shop, a warehouse... They had a tarp in to make a paint booth. Junk was piled everywhere. Someone else(Blair) had owned all these own cars. Ernie Irvan
and Todd Bodine
had driven them. Greg Sacks
had driven them. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry had been in one of them. Just hodgepodge cars everywhere. Seven of them, all junk. My stomach sank." Under the TCM banner, the old David Blair team ran for five years with mediocre results, before disappearing in 2004.
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...
Winston Cup team. It was formed in 1995 by attorney David Blair
David Blair
David Blair may refer to:*David Blair , British director*David Blair , British ballet dancer*David Blair , Irish Australian journalist and encyclopaedist...
. It only ran a few years in the circuit, and never could hang on to a regular sponsor.
1996
DBM began racing in 1996 when it bought equipment from the defunct Junior Johnson Motorsports team. It was able to keep the number, 27, and the driver, Elton SawyerElton Sawyer
Elton Sawyer , is a long-time NASCAR driver. He is married to former NASCAR driver Patty Moise. Recently, Sawyer has been a driver coach for the Red Bull Racing Team.-Beginnings:...
. Sawyer and the team got off to a disappointing start, failing to qualify for two races and only mustering up a best finish of 19th at the spring Atlanta race. After the Coca-Cola 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
, Sawyer was released due to a lack of funding for the operation. After a failed attempt at the Brickyard 400 with Jason Keller
Jason Keller
For the American writer, see Jason Keller Jason Keller is a NASCAR racing driver who currently drives the #44 Chevrolet for Tri-Star Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. A mainstay in the Busch/Nationwide Series since his debut in 1991...
driving, DBM reappeared at the Mountain Dew Southern 500 with 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...
driving. Bodine qualified sixteenth and finished 15th. Bodine ran two more races with the team that season, never qualifying outside the top 20.
1997
After starting 1997 off with no driver or sponsor, the team finally hooked up a deal with Rick WilsonRick Wilson (NASCAR)
Rick Wilson is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver. He began racing in 1980, and posted 23 top-ten finishes over his career...
to run selected events that season. The tandem debuted at the Miller 400 at Michigan, where Wilson started 31st and finished 21st. He had the same finish later in the year at the Brickyard 400 in a car sponsored by the Indianapolis Colts. In September that year, Blair was hired by Robert Yates Racing to field a car for their new driver, Kenny Irwin, Jr.
Kenny Irwin, Jr.
Kenneth Dale Irwin, Jr. was a NASCAR stock car driver. He had driven in all three major of forms of NASCAR and had two total victories. Before that, he raced in the United States Auto Club against Tony Stewart, who was one of his fiercest rivals...
, to prepare him for his rookie year in 1998. In his first start with the team at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
, Irwin qualified on the outside pole. He followed that up with taking the lead at lap 86 and holding it for the next 12 laps before finishing in eighth place. In his next start, 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...
, he qualified third but had to make an early exit due to a fuel pump problem. He ran two more races that year before moving to RYR full time for 1998.
1998
DBM began 1998 in a familiar place: no sponsor. Despite signing Tommy KendallTommy Kendall
Tommy Kendall is an American race car driver and television broadcaster. He is best known for his SCCA Trans-Am Series career....
to drive early on, the team was unable to locate a sponsor for the year, and Kendall left the team. This did not stop the team from looking towards the future, as they built a full shop of Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
es to prepare for a full-time run. A successful test at Darlington Speedway with 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...
yielded optimism for 1999, but by November, it was obvious the situation hadn't gotten any better. As a result, Blair laid off all of his employees and sold the shop and equipment to Travis Carter Motorsports
Travis Carter Motorsports
Haas-Carter Motorsports is a former NASCAR and USAR Pro Cup team. It was mostly owned by former crew chief Travis Carter and Carl Haas. The team previously fielded entries in the Winston Cup Series before closing...
. In his autobiography, Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
, who drove the old Blair cars for Carter, described the old shop. "We drove to a warehouse. Not a shop, a warehouse... They had a tarp in to make a paint booth. Junk was piled everywhere. Someone else(Blair) had owned all these own cars. Ernie Irvan
Ernie Irvan
Virgil Earnest Irvan, more commonly known as Ernie Irvan is a former race driver in NASCAR. He is best remembered for his comeback after a serious head injury at Michigan International Speedway which earned him numerous awards and respect from his fellow drivers...
and 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...
had driven them. Greg Sacks
Greg Sacks
Greg Sacks is a NASCAR driver. He is married to his wife Vicky and lives in Ormond Beach, Florida. Together they had three children: Paul, Brian, and Rachel. He and his sons are partners in Grand Touring Vodka.Sacks has spent most of his career as a Research & Development driver for many NASCAR...
had driven them. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry had been in one of them. Just hodgepodge cars everywhere. Seven of them, all junk. My stomach sank." Under the TCM banner, the old David Blair team ran for five years with mediocre results, before disappearing in 2004.