Matt Carter (racer)
Encyclopedia
Matt Carter is an American race car driver and the son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner Travis Carter
. He is currently drives the #68 Ford Mustang
for Fleur-de-lis Motorsports.
, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 2004.
in the #46 Stine Seed Ford
for Larry Clement and made a run for the championship. He won his first career race at Toledo Speedway
after starting 13th. Carted ended the year 3rd in points, earning one win and fourteen top 10s. He also earned Rookie of the Year honors. In 2009, Carter only ran his two races as the #46 team cut back its schedule. His best finish was 16th at Iowa Speedway
.
. Driving the #40 Dodge
for Specialty Racing
, he started 31st and finished 39th after a crash midway through the race.
He returned to the Nationwide Series and the team in 2009, replacing Brandon Whitt
in the #61 Ford
at New Hampshire
. In 15 starts, Carter earned three top 20 finishes, including a career-best of 12th at Bristol Motor Speedway
. After the Dollar General 300
, he left the team, citing increased frustration with the direction of the team. He was replaced by Kenny Hendrick
and Jason Bowles
. Carter returned to the Nationwide Series in 2011, driving primarily for start and park
operation Fleur-de-lis Motorsports.
. Driving the #96 heavytruckdealers.com Dodge
for Carl Long
, he finished 17th after starting 14th.
Travis Carter
Travis Carter is a former car owner and crew chief in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. He served as crew chief for two decades, winning championships with Benny Parsons and Cale Yarborough in 1973 and 1978, respectively. Carter was the winning crew chief when Parsons won the 1975 Daytona 500. He...
. He is currently drives the #68 Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
for Fleur-de-lis Motorsports.
Early career
Before moving on to ARCA and NASCAR, Carter ran in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup SeriesUSAR Hooters Pro Cup Series
CARS Pro Cup Series is a stock car auto racing series in the United States. It is sanctioned by the Championship Auto Racing Series. The series races throughout the United States primarily on short tracks.-History:The sanctioning body was formed by Hooters owner Robert Brooks...
, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 2004.
ARCA REMAX series
Carter made his debut in the series in 2008. He replaced Frank KimmelFrank Kimmel
Franklin James Kimmel is an American stock car driver/owner. He drives the #44 Ansell Gloves/Menards Ford in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Kimmel has won the ARCA championship nine times, including eight consecutive...
in the #46 Stine Seed Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
for Larry Clement and made a run for the championship. He won his first career race at Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway is a racetrack located in Toledo, Ohio. It is owned jointly by Roy Mott and ARCA President Ron Drager. It is operated by ARCA and run as the sister track to Flat Rock Speedway in Flat Rock, Michigan.-Weekly program:...
after starting 13th. Carted ended the year 3rd in points, earning one win and fourteen top 10s. He also earned Rookie of the Year honors. In 2009, Carter only ran his two races as the #46 team cut back its schedule. His best finish was 16th at Iowa Speedway
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...
.
Nationwide Series
Carter made his then-NASCAR Busch Series debut in 2007 at Memphis Motorsports ParkMemphis 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...
. Driving the #40 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 Specialty Racing
Specialty Racing
Specialty Racing, LLC is an auto racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Based in Statesville, North Carolina, it is owned by Doug Taylor and Charles Shoffner. In 2011, Specialty Racing will field the #61 Ford Mustang...
, he started 31st and finished 39th after a crash midway through the race.
He returned to the Nationwide Series and the team in 2009, replacing Brandon Whitt
Brandon Whitt
Brandon Whitt is a third-generation race car driver. He has run in all three of NASCAR's top divisions...
in the #61 Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
at New Hampshire
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
. In 15 starts, Carter earned three top 20 finishes, including a career-best of 12th 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...
. After the Dollar General 300
Dollar General 300
The Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage is a NASCAR Nationwide Series stock car race that takes place at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina...
, he left the team, citing increased frustration with the direction of the team. He was replaced by 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...
and Jason Bowles
Jason Bowles
Jason Bowles , is an American race car driver and 2009 K&N Pro Series West champion. He currently drives for Gaunt Brothers Racing in the #75 Fuel Doctor Toyota in the K&N Pro Series East and West.-Early Career:...
. Carter returned to the Nationwide Series in 2011, driving primarily for start and park
Start and park
Start and park is a term used in NASCAR-sanctioned and other auto racing sanctioning bodies to describe the practice of racing teams starting races but pulling the car off the track after just a few laps in order to collect prize money while avoiding expenses such as replacement tires, engine wear...
operation Fleur-de-lis Motorsports.
Craftsman Truck Series
Carter's only career Camping World Truck Series start came in 2003 at Martinsville SpeedwayMartinsville 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...
. Driving the #96 heavytruckdealers.com 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 Carl Long
Carl Long
James Carlyle Long is a former NASCAR Sprint Cup race car driver and mechanic who is currently returning from suspension after a violation on his car during the 2009 Sprint All-Star Race weekend. Prior to his suspension, he was a crew member on the #34 Front Row Motorsports Cup team...
, he finished 17th after starting 14th.