PPI Motorsports
Encyclopedia
PPI Motorsports was a race team which competed in CART
, NASCAR
, and various off-road racing
circuits. The team had one of the few remaining single car operations in NASCAR.
teams. Over time, PPI eventually began its own off-road team, with help with Toyota Motorsports. PPI fielded off-road trucks for Mickey Thompson
's SCORE series and then later fielded trucks which competed in outdoor events such as the Baja 1000
. Notable drivers for PPI include Ivan "Ironman" Stewart
and a young Robby Gordon
(who also drove in CART for the team in 1998).
PPI's relationship with Toyota expanded into the open-wheel ranks in 1995, when Wells formed a CART
team with good friend Frank Arciero. Their initial driver was Hiro Matsushita
. Known as Arciero-Wells, the CART team lasted for 5 years but only a managed a best finish of 4th in 1999 with rookie Cristiano da Matta
. In 1996, they began the CART season with Jeff Krosnoff
driving, but he died in a tragic accident during the Toronto
street race. All PPI cars carry a decal commemorating Krosnoff's memory. After Arciero left in 2000, the team was rebranded as PPI Motorsports, and da Matta gave the team its first (and only) career victory in CART. During this time, the team also ran a program in the Toyota Atlantic series, and had success in 2000 with rookie of the year Dan Wheldon
. Following the 2000 season, however, PPI shut down its open-wheel and off-road programs, ended its relationship with Toyota, and shifted its focus exclusively on NASCAR.
PPI also competed in Toyota Atlantic from 1998-2000, winning races with Anthony Lazzaro, Andrew Bordin, and Dan Wheldon
. Lazzaro won the championship for the team in 1999.
standout Scott Pruett
behind the wheel of the #32 Tide Ford. The team was hardly a success in its first year, finishing in 37th place and failing to qualify for a number of races. Pruett was released at the end of the season and returned to Trans-Am.
With the team focusing exclusively on NASCAR in 2001, PPI fielded a two car Winston Cup effort, with Ricky Craven
taking over in the "Tide ride
" and former Craftsman Truck Series
star Andy Houston
taking over in a second car, the #96 McDonald's
Ford. Houston's team was shut down before season's end due to a lack of good results and the loss of its sponsor. Craven, however, had a number of strong races, which was capped by Craven giving the team its first career victory at Martinsville
in October. He finished 21st in the championship that year.
Craven ran strong in 2002
and, although he failed to win a race for the team, he managed to improve his championship standing and finishing 15th overall. This was the team's last season in a Ford, as they switched to Pontiac the next season.
Craven started 2003
in the same way, with a strong top-5 at Rockingham
and a famous victory at Darlington
, which saw Craven beat Kurt Busch
to the finish by a matter of inches, which still stands today as the smallest margin of victory in NASCAR Cup Series history. It also turned out to be Pontiac's last win in Winston Cup. However, a rash of DNF's dropped Craven to 27th in the final standings.
PPI showed clear signs of struggling in 2004
as Craven was unable to give the team a single top-10 finish through the first 24 races. Wells and Craven parted ways due to lack of results and Busch Series
driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. took his place. Hamilton drove the car for the entire 2005 season
. However, he failed to score a top-ten during the year, and eventually finished 36th. Wells did have some success after replacing Hamilton with road course ringer
Ron Fellows
at Sonoma
, with Ron giving the team an eighth place finish. Hamilton was replaced by Travis Kvapil
, who drove the car for the 2006 season
, but had 5 DNQs (did not qualify).
The inability to find a sponsor for the 2007 season
as Tide
had already announced that it is leaving the sport, along with the fact that much of the team had already either been laid off or having been hired by Michael Waltrip Racing led to closure of their shop and forming a partnership with MWR's #00 Toyota Camry
. PPI Motorsports has been liquidated to various buyers.
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
, NASCAR
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...
, and various off-road racing
Off-road racing
Off-road racing is a format of racing where various classes of specially modified vehicles compete in races through off-road environments.-North America:...
circuits. The team had one of the few remaining single car operations in NASCAR.
Early years
PPI stood for Precision Preparation, Inc., a company founded by team owner Cal Wells in 1979. The company originally provided parts for off-road racingOff-road racing
Off-road racing is a format of racing where various classes of specially modified vehicles compete in races through off-road environments.-North America:...
teams. Over time, PPI eventually began its own off-road team, with help with Toyota Motorsports. PPI fielded off-road trucks for Mickey Thompson
Mickey Thompson
Marion Lee "Mickey" Thompson was an American off-road racing legend. He won many championships as a racer, and later formed sanctioning bodies SCORE International and Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group . He also raced in dragsters and land speed record automobiles.Thompson was born in Alhambra,...
's SCORE series and then later fielded trucks which competed in outdoor events such as the Baja 1000
Baja 1000
SCORE Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in November. The Baja 1000 is part of the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series that include the Baja 500, San Felipe 250 and the new San Felipe Challenge of Champions in place of the Primm 300 which had...
. Notable drivers for PPI include Ivan "Ironman" Stewart
Ivan Stewart
Ivan "Ironman" Stewart is an off road racing driver.-Racing career:In 1973, Ivan was scheduled to co-drive in the Ensenada 300 in a Class 1-2 buggy. His co-driver broke his leg, so Stewart drove the car, and won the race. After some wins under his belt, he joined Toyota factory team in 1983 for...
and a young Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon
Robert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
(who also drove in CART for the team in 1998).
PPI's relationship with Toyota expanded into the open-wheel ranks in 1995, when Wells formed a CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
team with good friend Frank Arciero. Their initial driver was Hiro Matsushita
Hiro Matsushita
, is a former driver in the Champ Car series. He is the grandson of Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.. The family relationship has allowed him to receive financial backing from Panasonic throughout his racing career.-Early career:...
. Known as Arciero-Wells, the CART team lasted for 5 years but only a managed a best finish of 4th in 1999 with rookie Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano Monteiro da Matta is an auto racing driver, winner of the American CART Championship in 2002, and former Formula One driver with the Toyota team.-Origins and early career:...
. In 1996, they began the CART season with Jeff Krosnoff
Jeff Krosnoff
Jeffrey John Krosnoff was an American race car driver. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but grew up in La Cañada, California. Krosnoff attended Flintridge Prep, a private high school, and enrolled at University of California, San Diego in September 1982. After one year, he transferred to UCLA,...
driving, but he died in a tragic accident during the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
street race. All PPI cars carry a decal commemorating Krosnoff's memory. After Arciero left in 2000, the team was rebranded as PPI Motorsports, and da Matta gave the team its first (and only) career victory in CART. During this time, the team also ran a program in the Toyota Atlantic series, and had success in 2000 with rookie of the year Dan Wheldon
Dan Wheldon
Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon was a British racing driver from England. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011...
. Following the 2000 season, however, PPI shut down its open-wheel and off-road programs, ended its relationship with Toyota, and shifted its focus exclusively on NASCAR.
PPI also competed in Toyota Atlantic from 1998-2000, winning races with Anthony Lazzaro, Andrew Bordin, and Dan Wheldon
Dan Wheldon
Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon was a British racing driver from England. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011...
. Lazzaro won the championship for the team in 1999.
NASCAR Years
PPI started its first Cup team during the 2000 season with open-wheel and Trans AmTrans-Am Series
The Trans-Am Series is an automobile racing series which was created in 1966 by Sports Car Club of America President John Bishop. Originally known as the Trans-American Sedan Championship it has evolved over time from its original format as a manufacturers championship for modified racing sedans...
standout Scott Pruett
Scott Pruett
Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....
behind the wheel of the #32 Tide Ford. The team was hardly a success in its first year, finishing in 37th place and failing to qualify for a number of races. Pruett was released at the end of the season and returned to Trans-Am.
With the team focusing exclusively on NASCAR in 2001, PPI fielded a two car Winston Cup effort, with Ricky Craven
Ricky Craven
Richard Allen Craven is an ESPN broadcaster who works ESPN2's NASCAR Now and a race analyst for the network. Prior to his ESPN duties, he was a NASCAR driver who won in four different series—the K&N Pro Series, and the three national series. He occasionally served as a pit reporter when NASCAR...
taking over in the "Tide ride
Tide Ride
The Tide Ride is a nickname given to any NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car that has carried the sponsorship of the detergent brand Tide, a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble over the years...
" and former Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
star 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...
taking over in a second car, the #96 McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
Ford. Houston's team was shut down before season's end due to a lack of good results and the loss of its sponsor. Craven, however, had a number of strong races, which was capped by Craven giving the team its first career victory at Martinsville
Martinsville
Martinsville is the name of several places:in Australia:*Martinsville, New South Walesin Canada:*Martinsville, Saskatchewanin the United States of America:*Martinsville, Illinois*Martinsville, Indiana*Martinsville, Missouri*Martinsville, New Jersey...
in October. He finished 21st in the championship that year.
Craven ran strong in 2002
2002 in NASCAR
The 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday, February 10, and ended on Sunday, November 17. Tony Stewart with Joe Gibbs Racing was crowned the Winston Cup champion. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was captured by Ford after winning 14 events, and gaining 245 points over second place...
and, although he failed to win a race for the team, he managed to improve his championship standing and finishing 15th overall. This was the team's last season in a Ford, as they switched to Pontiac the next season.
Craven started 2003
2003 in NASCAR
The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday February 8 and ended on Sunday November 16. Matt Kenseth with Roush Racing driving a Ford was crowned the Winston Cup champion, despite winning only one race all year. Chevrolet took home the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship after capturing 19 wins...
in the same way, with a strong top-5 at Rockingham
North Carolina Speedway
Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...
and a famous victory at Darlington
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"...
, which saw Craven beat Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
to the finish by a matter of inches, which still stands today as the smallest margin of victory in NASCAR Cup Series history. It also turned out to be Pontiac's last win in Winston Cup. However, a rash of DNF's dropped Craven to 27th in the final standings.
PPI showed clear signs of struggling in 2004
2004 in NASCAR
The 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season began on Saturday, February 7 and ended on Sunday, November 21. Kurt Busch with Roush Racing driving a Ford was the Nextel Cup champion....
as Craven was unable to give the team a single top-10 finish through the first 24 races. Wells and Craven parted ways due to lack of results and 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...
driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. took his place. Hamilton drove the car for the entire 2005 season
2005 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....
. However, he failed to score a top-ten during the year, and eventually finished 36th. Wells did have some success after replacing Hamilton with road course ringer
Road course ringer
Road course ringer, also known as Road course specialist, Road course expert, or Road runner, is a term used to describe a non-NASCAR driver who is hired by a NASCAR team to race, specifically, on road courses...
Ron Fellows
Ron Fellows
Ron Fellows is an accomplished Canadian SCCA Trans-Am, IMSA, and American Le Mans Series driver, and a NASCAR Road course ringer.-Early career:...
at Sonoma
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
, with Ron giving the team an eighth place finish. Hamilton was replaced by Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil is an American race car driver. He currently drives for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
, who drove the car for the 2006 season
2006 in NASCAR
The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season started at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 12 with the Bud Shootout and ended on Sunday, November 19 with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 17 at New Hampshire...
, but had 5 DNQs (did not qualify).
The inability to find a sponsor for the 2007 season
2007 in NASCAR
The 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season began on February 10, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout and ended on November 18 of that same year at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 400. The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began with the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire...
as Tide
Tide (detergent)
Tide is the brand-name of a popular laundry detergent manufactured by Procter & Gamble and first introduced to the United States consumer in 1946. It is also marketed in Canada, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, India and several other countries...
had already announced that it is leaving the sport, along with the fact that much of the team had already either been laid off or having been hired by Michael Waltrip Racing led to closure of their shop and forming a partnership with MWR's #00 Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
. PPI Motorsports has been liquidated to various buyers.