Xpress Motorsports
Encyclopedia
Xpress Motrsports was a NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series team. The team won the Truck Series championship in 2002 and 2003 with Mike Bliss
and Travis Kvapil
, respectively. The team was owned by Steve Coulter
until 2004, when he sold the team to then team manager Dave Fuge, who owned the team until 2007 when the team was sold to J. B. Scott. In late 2009 the team was again sold to Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch
.
, when Coulter founded the team to promote his company, IWX Motor Freight. Randy Tolsma
was hired to drive the #61 Chevrolet Silverado
at Phoenix International Raceway
, and finished 29th after an early crash. Tolsma was named the team's full-time driver in 1997
, but only qualified for one-third of the first nine races of the season. Dave Fuge was hired as Crew Chief to rebuild the team and they rebounded to capture his first career win at Mesa Marin Raceway
. The team continued to run in 1998
with Tolsma driving and had ten top-tens and one pole position when they announced they were closing down their truck team at the end of the season to run the Busch Series
. Tolsma left after 22 races, and they switched to the #61, fielding entries for Rick McCray, Stan Boyd
, Blake Bainridge, and Rick McCray.
They began running the Busch Series with the #61 Pontiac Grand Prix
in 1998, fielding one race apiece for Derrike Cope
and Joe Pezza. Cope qualified for three out of four races and had a best finish of fifteenth in 1999 before he was replaced by rookie driver Tony Roper
. Roper posted three top-tens in sixteen starts but departed the team near the end of the season. Robert Pressley
, Morgan Shepherd
, and Stanton Barrett
drove the car for the rest of the season, with Shepherd posting a tenth-place finish at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Hut Stricklin
was hired as the team's driver for the 2000
season and opened the year with a pole
at the NAPA Auto Parts 300 but was released ten races into the season. After Darrell Lanigan ran a one-race deal at Lowe's Motor Speedway
, they did not run until the Brickyard 400 Winston Cup race, when they failed to qualify with Rich Bickle
driving. They returned to Busch at the end of the season, when Tim Sauter
joined them with sponsorship from Stoops Freightliner. His best finish was fifteenth at Homestead-Miami Speedway
.
and competed for NASCAR Rookie of the Year
honors with Xpress, which was running Pontiacs and Chevrolet
s. After crew chief Dave Fuge was fined for a rules violation following the Outback Steakhouse 300, the team closed its doors immediately and stopped running. Later in the season, Fuge decided to revive the team, and ran a one-race deal with Mike Bliss at South Boston Speedway
, where he finished ninth.
Without the guarantee of funding from Coulter, Xpress decided to make a full-time run with Mike Bliss
in 2002
. They won five races and the Truck Series championship. In addition, they fielded a second entry for the first time in team history at the Ford 200
, with Ron Hornaday
winning in the team's #11 entry. Bliss moved to the Busch Series for 2003 and Travis Kvapil
joined Xpress from Addington Racing
. Kvapil won just one race that season and had already announced he was departing the team for Bang! Racing
in 2004
when he won the championship at the season-finale at Homestead, giving Xpress its second consecutive title.
Three-time champion Jack Sprague
, who had driven the #11 in two races in 2003, joined the team full-time in 2004 with Chevy Trucks coming on as a full-time backer. Sprague won the inaugural UAW/GM Ohio 250 and finished seventh in points. In 2005
, Coulter sold the team to Fuge, and Xpress attempted to field the #19 truck in addition to the #16 with rookie Regan Smith
driving, but the team dissolved after three races. Sprague won at Texas Motor Speedway
, but left the team near the end of the season, and Bliss finished the rest of the year for the team, finishing fourth at Homestead. He ran with Xpress full-time with decreased support from Chevy, picking up a win at Atlanta Motor Speedway
.
Xpress switched to the Ford F-150 and began a variety of drivers racing in the 2007 season. Stacy Compton
, Kelly Bires
, Kenny Hendrick
, Scott Lagasse, Jr., Chris Fontaine
, Bliss, and Derrike Cope all raced 16, with Hendrick making the most starts. Travis Kittleson drove the second #19 truck at O'Reilly Raceway Park, but finished last. In September 2007, J.B. and Brian Scott bought a majority interest of the team, with Brian Scott driving the remaining races except for Talladega, as Scott had not been approved by NASCAR to run superspeedways. Cope ran in his place. Scott will run for Rookie of the Year in the Trucks in 2008, as the team returns to Chevrolet with sponsorship from Shark Energy Drink and Albertson's. The team was to be renamed Shark Energy Racing with Xpress Motorsports, before Shark ended its sponsorship program in early 2008. On September 2, it was announced that Xpress would enter a technological allegiance with Bill Davis Racing
and switching manufacturers to Toyota starting at the Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350. Scott scored five top tens in the final seven races of that year and won his first race at Dover
in 2009. In 2009 the team was sold again to become Kyle Busch Motorsports
.
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...
Camping World Truck Series team. The team won the Truck Series championship in 2002 and 2003 with 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...
and 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:...
, respectively. The team was owned by Steve Coulter
Steve Coulter
Steve Coulter is a team owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His team, Xpress Motorsports, won the Truck Series championship in 2002 and 2003, with Mike Bliss and Travis Kvapil, respectively. He has also fielded cars in the Busch Series and part-time in the Winston Cup series part-time. He...
until 2004, when he sold the team to then team manager Dave Fuge, who owned the team until 2007 when the team was sold to J. B. Scott. In late 2009 the team was again sold to Sprint Cup Series driver 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...
.
Beginnings
Xpress was formed in 19961996 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began March 17 and ended November 3. Ron Hornaday of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won the championship.See also: 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1996 NASCAR Busch Series- 1996 Team Chart :...
, when Coulter founded the team to promote his company, IWX Motor Freight. Randy Tolsma
Randy Tolsma
Randy Tolsma is a former race car driver. Tolsma began his racing career in go-karts at the age of nine, before moving into sprint cars, running as high as USAC, where he won four track championships...
was hired to drive the #61 Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
at Phoenix International Raceway
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...
, and finished 29th after an early crash. Tolsma was named the team's full-time driver in 1997
1997 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began on January 19 and ended on November 19. Jack Sprague of Hendrick Motorsports won the title.See also: 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1997 NASCAR Busch Series- 1997 Team Chart :- Chevy Trucks Challenge :...
, but only qualified for one-third of the first nine races of the season. Dave Fuge was hired as Crew Chief to rebuild the team and they rebounded to capture his first career win at Mesa Marin Raceway
Mesa Marin Raceway
Mesa Marin Raceway was a NASCAR affiliated oval racetrack located in Bakersfield, California from 1977 until 2005. It was leveled in the fall of 2005 after being sold to developers....
. The team continued to run in 1998
1998 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began January 18 and ended November 8. Ron Hornaday of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won the championship.See also: 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1998 NASCAR Busch Series- 1998 Team Chart :- Chevy Trucks Challenge :...
with Tolsma driving and had ten top-tens and one pole position when they announced they were closing down their truck team at the end of the season to run the 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...
. Tolsma left after 22 races, and they switched to the #61, fielding entries for Rick McCray, Stan Boyd
Stan Boyd
Stan Boyd is a former NASCAR driver who competed in both the Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.-Truck Series:...
, Blake Bainridge, and Rick McCray.
They began running the Busch Series with the #61 Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac Grand Prix
Picking up where the Pontiac Ventura model left off, the Grand Prix first appeared in the Pontiac line for 1962. It was essentially a standard Pontiac Catalina coupe with minimal outside chrome trim and a sportier interior...
in 1998, fielding one race apiece for Derrike Cope
Derrike Cope
Derrike Cope is a NASCAR driver. He is best known for his win in the 1990 Daytona 500. He currently drives the #28 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing in the Nationwide Series and the #75 Chevrolet/Dodge for his own team in the Sprint Cup Series.-Early years:Cope was born in San Diego, California...
and Joe Pezza. Cope qualified for three out of four races and had a best finish of fifteenth in 1999 before he was replaced by rookie driver Tony Roper
Tony Roper
Anthony Dean "Tony" Roper was a NASCAR driver. He was born in Springfield, Missouri, to Dean Roper and Shirley Medley. Growing up his family was heavily involved in auto racing. Roper started racing in 1986. For the next six years Tony raced in IMCA Modifieds and late models on Midwest dirt and...
. Roper posted three top-tens in sixteen starts but departed the team near the end of the season. Robert Pressley
Robert Pressley
Robert Pressley is a former NASCAR driver who is now the promoter at Kingsport Speedway.-Beginnings:...
, Morgan Shepherd
Morgan Shepherd
Clay Morgan Shepherd has been a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver since 1977. He has also raced in the Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series. He is a born again Christian who serves as a lay minister to the racing community...
, and 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:...
drove the car for the rest of the season, with Shepherd posting a tenth-place finish at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Hut Stricklin
Hut Stricklin
Waymond Lane "Hut" Stricklin is a former NASCAR race car driver. He was born on June 24, 1961, in Calera, Alabama. He married Pam Allison, the daughter of NASCAR legend Donnie Allison after they were introduced by her cousin Davey. Hut was the last member of the Alabama Gang.In 1986, Stricklin won...
was hired as the team's driver for the 2000
2000 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2000 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 19 and ended on November 11. Jeff Green of ppc Racing was crowned series champion.See also: 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2000 Team chart:...
season and opened the year with a pole
at the NAPA Auto Parts 300 but was released ten races into the season. After Darrell Lanigan ran a one-race deal at Lowe's Motor Speedway
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...
, they did not run until the Brickyard 400 Winston Cup race, when they failed to qualify with Rich Bickle
Rich Bickle
Richard "Rich" Bickle, Jr. is a journeyman NASCAR driver. Bickle, who has never completed a full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has a long history in short track racing.-Early career:...
driving. They returned to Busch at the end of the season, when Tim Sauter
Tim Sauter
Tim Sauter is an American race car driver. He has competed in the American Speed Association, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Busch Series, and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. He is the son of Jim Sauter, and the brother of NASCAR drivers Jay and Johnny Sauter.Sauter made his NASCAR...
joined them with sponsorship from Stoops Freightliner. His best finish was fifteenth at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
.
Rebirth
Sauter was named the team's permanent driver in 20012001 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2001 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 17 and ended November 10.Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing was champion.See also: 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2001 Team chart:...
and competed for NASCAR Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
honors with Xpress, which was running Pontiacs and 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...
s. After crew chief Dave Fuge was fined for a rules violation following the Outback Steakhouse 300, the team closed its doors immediately and stopped running. Later in the season, Fuge decided to revive the team, and ran a one-race deal with Mike Bliss at South Boston Speedway
South Boston Speedway
South Boston Speedway or "SoBo" is a short track located just outside South Boston, Virginia, U.S.A.. SoBo is located approximately sixty miles east of another area familiar to most NASCAR fans, Martinsville. It is owned by Mattco, Inc, the Mattioli family trust that owns Pocono Raceway, with...
, where he finished ninth.
Without the guarantee of funding from Coulter, Xpress decided to make a full-time run with 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...
in 2002
2002 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began February 15 and endedNovember 15. Mike Bliss of Xpress Motorsports was crowned the champion at season's end.See also: 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2002 NASCAR Busch Series- 2002 Team Chart :...
. They won five races and the Truck Series championship. In addition, they fielded a second entry for the first time in team history at the Ford 200
Ford 200
The Ford 200 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The races of 1996-2001 were scheduled 250 miles.It has served as the final event of the season for the Truck Series since 2002.-Past winners:...
, with 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...
winning in the team's #11 entry. Bliss moved to the Busch Series for 2003 and 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:...
joined Xpress from Addington Racing
Addington Racing
Addington Racing is a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. It was owned by Mike Addington and fielded Chevrolet Silverados from 1997 to 2002....
. Kvapil won just one race that season and had already announced he was departing the team for Bang! Racing
Bang! Racing
Bang! Racing is a former NASCAR team. It was owned by entrepreneur Alex Meshkin, as well as Larry McReynolds and fielded entries in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It only ran one season, in 2004....
in 2004
2004 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season began on February 13 and ended on November 19. Bobby Hamilton of Bobby Hamilton Racing won the championship.See also: 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, 2004 NASCAR Busch Series- Full-time 2004 teams :...
when he won the championship at the season-finale at Homestead, giving Xpress its second consecutive title.
Three-time champion Jack Sprague
Jack Sprague
Jack Sprague is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is currently a free agent. Sprague has finished in the top-ten in the points standings almost every year he has raced in the trucks, and won three championships in 1997, 1999, and 2001 while driving for Hendrick Motorsports.-...
, who had driven the #11 in two races in 2003, joined the team full-time in 2004 with Chevy Trucks coming on as a full-time backer. Sprague won the inaugural UAW/GM Ohio 250 and finished seventh in points. In 2005
2005 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season began February 18 and ended November 18. Ted Musgrave of Ultra Motorsports was crowned the season's champion.A rule change affected the qualification process in 2005...
, Coulter sold the team to Fuge, and Xpress attempted to field the #19 truck in addition to the #16 with rookie Regan Smith
Regan Smith
Regan Smith is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet Impala for Furniture Row Racing.-Beginnings:...
driving, but the team dissolved after three races. Sprague won at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
, but left the team near the end of the season, and Bliss finished the rest of the year for the team, finishing fourth at Homestead. He ran with Xpress full-time with decreased support from Chevy, picking up a win at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
.
Xpress switched to the Ford F-150 and began a variety of drivers racing in the 2007 season. Stacy Compton
Stacy Compton
Stacy Compton is a NASCAR team owner and former driver. He currently owns Turn One Racing. He is a former co-owner of Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia in the Craftsman Truck Series, and is a former racing analyst for ESPN full-time...
, Kelly Bires
Kelly Bires
Kelly Bires is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #25 Ford Mustang for Team Rensi Motorsports and the #18 International Comfort Products Corporation Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series.-Early career:Bires began karting at Sugar River Raceway in Brodhead,...
, 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...
, Scott Lagasse, Jr., Chris Fontaine
Chris Fontaine
Chris Fontaine is an American race car driver. He currently drives the #84 Glenden Enterprises Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Beginnings:...
, Bliss, and Derrike Cope all raced 16, with Hendrick making the most starts. Travis Kittleson drove the second #19 truck at O'Reilly Raceway Park, but finished last. In September 2007, J.B. and Brian Scott bought a majority interest of the team, with Brian Scott driving the remaining races except for Talladega, as Scott had not been approved by NASCAR to run superspeedways. Cope ran in his place. Scott will run for Rookie of the Year in the Trucks in 2008, as the team returns to Chevrolet with sponsorship from Shark Energy Drink and Albertson's. The team was to be renamed Shark Energy Racing with Xpress Motorsports, before Shark ended its sponsorship program in early 2008. On September 2, it was announced that Xpress would enter a technological allegiance with Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing was a racing team that participated in all three of NASCAR's top divisions until 2009.The team had run Toyota-branded stock cars and trucks in both the Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series since 2007. Dodge, Ford, and Pontiac previously backed the team...
and switching manufacturers to Toyota starting at the Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350. Scott scored five top tens in the final seven races of that year and won his first race at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
in 2009. In 2009 the team was sold again to become Kyle Busch Motorsports
Kyle Busch Motorsports
Kyle Busch Motorsports is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and late model team that is owned and operated by Kyle Busch, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Truck Series driver...
.