Spears Motorsports
Encyclopedia
Spears Motorsports was a NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series
team owned by Wayne and Connie Spears of Agua Dulce, California
. The team is most notable for its longevity in the Truck Series, running all but two races before their closure, their commitment to running with Chevrolet
and for always running their white and blue #75.
with road racer Tommy Kendall
driving the #76 Spears Manufacturing Buick. However, they would last only 26 laps before being hit with oil troubles. Kendall and Spears returned to Riverside in '88, and improved their results to 18th, leading one lap. Kendall would be released in favor of Bill Sedgwick
, debuting at Phoenix
but finishing 36th with ignition troubles. Sedgwick and Spears would only make 8 starts between 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series due to Sedgwick also running in the Winston West (now Camping World West) Series. Ron Hornaday
would make his Cup debut with Spears in 1993, also at Phoenix finishing 22nd. Sedgwick returned to the team the following year without much success. Taking a leap at the newly formed SuperTruck Series, the Spears' sold off their Cup equipment at season's end.
announced the official formation of the NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman. With Hornaday already signed to drive Dale Earnhardt Incorporated's #16 truck, the Spears family turned back to Bill Sedgwick, who would debut their white #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet at PIR for the Copper World Classic. Sedgwick would finish 12th in the first ever truck race. Spears proved its competitiveness by winning the pole at Mesa Marin Speedway. Spears Motorsports's first season in the trucks netted them 1 pole, 6 top 5s, and 13 top 10s for a seventh place points finish. Sedgwick left for Darrell Waltrip Motorsports
in 1996, and Spears brought on driver Bobby Gill
, who was a consistent top 20 finisher but released after Louisville
despite gaining four top tens. Gill was replaced by Busch Series
driver Nathan Buttke, who had 7 top 10 starts, but only 3 top 10 finishes and 7 DNF's. Buttke was released for Dan Press who also struggled and had 4 DNF's. Press was soon replaced by another West Series driver, Kevin Harvick
, who had made two previous starts in the #79 Chevrolet at Tucson
and Louisville, finishing in the top 20. Harvick would struggle with only an average season of mid pack finishes but garnered two 8th place finishes. Harvick ran the full 1998 season except for Nashville
, where Lonnie Rush Jr. drove the #75 truck but crashed. Despite three consecutive DNF's at the beginning of the year, Harvick and team rallied back to finish 17th in points, with 3 top 5s and 5 top 10s. Harvick would leave Spears for Jim Herrick
's team in 1999, and was replaced by Rush, who struggled and was replaced by Marty Houston
, who gave the team a top 10 at Nazareth
. Houston returned in 2000, scoring 1 top 5 and 10 top 10s to finish 12th in points. His success raised the eyebrows of Armando Fitz
, who got him into his Busch Series
car for 2001. Another future USAR
driver, Billy Bigley
, took the reins of the #75, resulting in 1 top 5 and 8 top 10s for a 13th place points finish.
. Despite making only 5 starts in 2001, Starr had 4 top 5 finishes with John Menard's truck team. Given a full time ride, the combination of Starr and Spears would prove to be one of the most famous in the Truck Series. Starr gave the team its first ever win at Vegas
holding off eventual champion Mike Bliss
. Their first season with Starr proved to be their best with 8 top 5s and 16 top tens resulting in a 5th place points finish along with the Most Popular Driver award. In 2003, Starr was tenth in points after finishing 6th at Texas when he was injured, forcing him to miss four races. Starr was replaced by Busch Series driver Hank Parker Jr.
who had two top 10s. Starr returned at Gateway
, but could not find victory lane again and dropped to 13th in points. In 2004, the team would have its most successful seasons, taking the pole at Charlotte
, along with 2 wins, 8 top 5s and 16 top 10s and a 6th place points finish. 2005 gave the team only four top 5s and ten top 10s and a 7th place points finish. Starr announced his departure from Spears and move to Red Horse Racing
in 2006.
contracted Spears to field their Cuban American development driver Aric Almirola
for Rookie of the Year in 2006. Almirola would become the first ROTY contender to drive the famous #75. However, Aric struggled in his transition and mustered only 3 top 10s. Aric would move up to the Busch Series part time. For 2007, Spears would hire "Short Track Slayer" Dennis Setzer
, the so-called bridesmade of the Truck Series for finishing 2nd in points three years in a row with the struggling Morgan-Dollar Motorsports
. Setzer lived up to his name by winning at Mansfield on a no stop strategy. That would be the last top five for Spears as Setzer did not break into the top 10 after that race and was released prior to Vegas. USAR driver Clay Rogers
would step into the #75 but would not crack the top 10. At season's end Wayne and Connie Spears posted a letter on their website's homepage announcing that Spears Motorsports would not return for 2008 due to financial difficulties.
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...
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...
team owned by Wayne and Connie Spears of Agua Dulce, California
Agua Dulce, California
Agua Dulce is a census-designated place located in Los Angeles County, California. It lies at an elevation of 2,526 feet . Agua Dulce is located just north of Santa Clarita. The town has a population of about 4,000. It is located at and covers a geographic area of about...
. The team is most notable for its longevity in the Truck Series, running all but two races before their closure, their commitment to running with 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...
and for always running their white and blue #75.
Winston (Sprint) Cup
Spears Motorsports debuted in 1987 at RiversideRiverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
with road racer Tommy Kendall
Tommy Kendall
Tommy Kendall is an American race car driver and television broadcaster. He is best known for his SCCA Trans-Am Series career....
driving the #76 Spears Manufacturing Buick. However, they would last only 26 laps before being hit with oil troubles. Kendall and Spears returned to Riverside in '88, and improved their results to 18th, leading one lap. Kendall would be released in favor of Bill Sedgwick
Bill Sedgwick
Born in Acton, California on 19 March 1955, Bill Sedgwick was a successful NASCAR driver particularly prominent in the late 1980s and early 1990s.-External Links:* at Driver Database...
, debuting at Phoenix
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...
but finishing 36th with ignition troubles. Sedgwick and Spears would only make 8 starts between 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series due to Sedgwick also running in the Winston West (now Camping World West) Series. 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...
would make his Cup debut with Spears in 1993, also at Phoenix finishing 22nd. Sedgwick returned to the team the following year without much success. Taking a leap at the newly formed SuperTruck Series, the Spears' sold off their Cup equipment at season's end.
Early Struggles
In 1995, Bill FranceBill France
Bill France may refer to one of two people involved in NASCAR, father and son:*Bill France, Sr. , nicknamed "Big Bill", the founder of NASCAR and its president from 1948–1971...
announced the official formation of the NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman. With Hornaday already signed to drive Dale Earnhardt Incorporated's #16 truck, the Spears family turned back to Bill Sedgwick, who would debut their white #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet at PIR for the Copper World Classic. Sedgwick would finish 12th in the first ever truck race. Spears proved its competitiveness by winning the pole at Mesa Marin Speedway. Spears Motorsports's first season in the trucks netted them 1 pole, 6 top 5s, and 13 top 10s for a seventh place points finish. Sedgwick left for Darrell Waltrip Motorsports
Darrell Waltrip Motorsports
Darrell Waltrip Motorsports was a NASCAR team owned by three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip. It was formed in 1991 when Waltrip resigned from Hendrick Motorsports to start his own team, and was originally named DarWal, Inc....
in 1996, and Spears brought on driver Bobby Gill
Bobby Gill
Bobby Gill is a former NASCAR driver. He raced for a number of years in the Craftsman Truck Series, earning four top-tens in sixteen starts.Most of the starts came in 1996, when he started off with Spears Motorsports. In his debut with the team, he started 15th and finished 23rd at Homestead-Miami...
, who was a consistent top 20 finisher but released after Louisville
Louisville Motor Speedway
Louisville Motor Speedway was a 3/8-mile race track located in Louisville, Kentucky. It was opened in 1988 and hosted NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races from 1996 to 1999...
despite gaining four top tens. Gill was replaced by 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 Nathan Buttke, who had 7 top 10 starts, but only 3 top 10 finishes and 7 DNF's. Buttke was released for Dan Press who also struggled and had 4 DNF's. Press was soon replaced by another West Series driver, Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
, who had made two previous starts in the #79 Chevrolet at Tucson
Tucson Raceway Park
Tucson Raceway Park is a 3/8-mile paved oval racetrack located at the Pima County Fairgrounds, off Interstate 10 just south of Tucson, Arizona. It is one of only three paved ovals in the state of Arizona . The track is currently closed. -History:The track was built in 1968, originally as a clay oval...
and Louisville, finishing in the top 20. Harvick would struggle with only an average season of mid pack finishes but garnered two 8th place finishes. Harvick ran the full 1998 season except for Nashville
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...
, where Lonnie Rush Jr. drove the #75 truck but crashed. Despite three consecutive DNF's at the beginning of the year, Harvick and team rallied back to finish 17th in points, with 3 top 5s and 5 top 10s. Harvick would leave Spears for Jim Herrick
Jim Herrick
Jim Herrick is a British Humanist and secularist. He studied history and English literature at Trinity College, Cambridge University, and then worked as a school teacher for seven years...
's team in 1999, and was replaced by Rush, who struggled and was replaced by Marty Houston
Marty Houston
Marty Houston, is a former driver in NASCAR. His younger brother, Andy and father Tommy Houston have driven in NASCAR as well.-Craftsman Truck Series Career:...
, who gave the team a top 10 at Nazareth
Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing track in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004. The track is often associated with local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti. It was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history....
. Houston returned in 2000, scoring 1 top 5 and 10 top 10s to finish 12th in points. His success raised the eyebrows of Armando Fitz
Armando Fitz
Armando Fitz is an owner of Fitz Racing, a NASCAR Nationwide Series team.A native of Nashville, TN., Fitz graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1987 with a degree in Business and Human Development. While attending Vanderbilt, he played linebacker for the Commodore football squad for four years...
, who got him into his 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...
car for 2001. Another future USAR
USAR 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...
driver, Billy Bigley
Billy Bigley
Billy Bigley, Jr. is an American racing driver from Naples, Florida who competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.Bigley competed in the entire 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule for Spears Motorsports. He finished 13th in points with a best finish of fifth at Kansas Speedway...
, took the reins of the #75, resulting in 1 top 5 and 8 top 10s for a 13th place points finish.
Starr-dom
Despite Bigley's points finish, he would be replaced for 2002 by David StarrDavid Starr
David Starr is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #95 WRL General Contractors/TWD Drywall/B&D Electrical/Fenton Motor Group Ford Fusion for Leavine Fenton Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series part-time and the #81 Zachry Holdings, Inc. Toyota Tundra for SS-Green Light Racing...
. Despite making only 5 starts in 2001, Starr had 4 top 5 finishes with John Menard's truck team. Given a full time ride, the combination of Starr and Spears would prove to be one of the most famous in the Truck Series. Starr gave the team its first ever win at Vegas
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
holding off eventual champion Mike Bliss
Mike Bliss
Michael Bliss is a NASCAR driver who has run in all three major series. He currently drives the #19 Chevrolet Impala for TriStar Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He began racing at age 10...
. Their first season with Starr proved to be their best with 8 top 5s and 16 top tens resulting in a 5th place points finish along with the Most Popular Driver award. In 2003, Starr was tenth in points after finishing 6th at Texas when he was injured, forcing him to miss four races. Starr was replaced by Busch Series driver Hank Parker Jr.
Hank Parker Jr.
Hank Parker Jr. is a former NASCAR driver. Parker has run a total of 137 NASCAR Busch Series races, scoring 2 wins and 31 top tens in four full seasons, and finishing a best of 14th in the championship. He currently works as a fill-in driver for Carl Edwards on his Busch team...
who had two top 10s. Starr returned at Gateway
Gateway International Raceway
Gateway Motorsports Park is a race track in Madison, Illinois, USA, just east of St. Louis, Missouri. After being shuttered by former owner Dover Motorsports Inc., on Nov. 3, 2010, it was announced Sept. 8, 2011, that the facility would re-open and host an NHRA Full Throttle Series event Oct. 5-7,...
, but could not find victory lane again and dropped to 13th in points. In 2004, the team would have its most successful seasons, taking the pole at Charlotte
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...
, along with 2 wins, 8 top 5s and 16 top 10s and a 6th place points finish. 2005 gave the team only four top 5s and ten top 10s and a 7th place points finish. Starr announced his departure from Spears and move to Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing is an American racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. It is co-owned by business executive Tom DeLoach and NASCAR on Fox broadcaster Jeff Hammond...
in 2006.
Success and Demise
NASCAR Sprint Cup owner Joe GibbsJoe Gibbs
Joe Jackson Gibbs is a former American football coach, NASCAR Championship team owner, and two time NHRA Pro Stock team owner. He was the 20th and 26th head coach in the history of the Washington Redskins...
contracted Spears to field their Cuban American development driver Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola
Aric A. Almirola is a Cuban-American stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives the #88 Unilever/Grand Touring Vodka Chevrolet Impala for JR Motorsports. Almirola attended the University of Central Florida working on a degree in mechanical engineering before leaving to...
for Rookie of the Year in 2006. Almirola would become the first ROTY contender to drive the famous #75. However, Aric struggled in his transition and mustered only 3 top 10s. Aric would move up to the Busch Series part time. For 2007, Spears would hire "Short Track Slayer" Dennis Setzer
Dennis Setzer
Dennis Setzer is a NASCAR driver. He has driven in all three of NASCAR's top series. He currently splits time between the #23, #49, and #70 cars, all for Jay Robinson Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
, the so-called bridesmade of the Truck Series for finishing 2nd in points three years in a row with the struggling Morgan-Dollar Motorsports
Morgan-Dollar Motorsports
Randy Moss Motorsports with HTM is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. It is owned by David Dollar and former NFL wide receiver Randy Moss. Former driver Rob Morgan co-owned the team until 2004...
. Setzer lived up to his name by winning at Mansfield on a no stop strategy. That would be the last top five for Spears as Setzer did not break into the top 10 after that race and was released prior to Vegas. USAR driver Clay Rogers
Clay Rogers
Clayton Rogers is an American stock car driver. He has competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series, and is the 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2010 champion in the USARacing Pro Cup Series series...
would step into the #75 but would not crack the top 10. At season's end Wayne and Connie Spears posted a letter on their website's homepage announcing that Spears Motorsports would not return for 2008 due to financial difficulties.