Phoenix Racing (NASCAR team)

Phoenix Racing is a motorsports team that currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East fielding the No. 1 Toyota Camry and various Super Late Model events fielding the No. 51 Chevrolet SS for Jake Finch. Owned by Florida businessman James Finch, the team fielded NASCAR entries across the top three series from 1989 through 2013. The team fielded a wide variety of drivers and often changed manufacturers, though it often maintained a relationship with Hendrick Motorsports. In the Cup Series, Phoenix Racing was victorious just once in 251 starts over 24 seasons.

Phoenix Racing
Owner(s)James Finch
BaseLynn Haven, Florida[1]
SeriesARCA Menards Series East
Super Late Models
Race driversARCA Menards Series East:
1. Jake Finch
Super Late Models:
51. Jake Finch
SponsorsARCA Menards Series East:
1. Phoenix Construction
Super Late Models:
51. Phoenix Construction
ManufacturerToyota
Chevrolet
Opened1990
Career
DebutSprint Cup Series:
1990 Peak AntiFreeze 500 (Dover)
Nationwide Series:
1989 All Pro 300 (Charlotte)
Craftsman Truck Series:
2004 Kroger 200 (Richmond)
ARCA Menards Series East:
2022 Pensacola 200 (5 Flags)
Latest raceSprint Cup Series:
2013 Advocare 500 (Atlanta)
Nationwide Series:
2013 Subway Firecracker 250 (Daytona
Races competedTotal: 859
Sprint Cup Series: 251
Nationwide Series: 543
Craftsman Truck Series: 1
ARCA Racing Series: 64
Drivers' Championships0
Race victoriesTotal: 24
Sprint Cup Series: 1
Nationwide Series: 13
Craftsman Truck Series: 0
ARCA Racing Series: 10
Pole positionsTotal: 18
Sprint Cup Series: 0
Nationwide Series: 10
Craftsman Truck Series: 0
ARCA Racing Series: 8

In 2013, Phoenix Racing was sold to Turner Scott Motorsports co-owner Harry Scott Jr., who renamed the team HScott Motorsports in 2014. Three years later, HScott Motorsports shut down. Phoenix Racing would reopen its doors in 2020 to help Finch's son Jake start his racing career in Outlaw Late Models locally in Florida, then moving up to Super Late Models in 2021, and moving up to the ARCA Menards Series East in 2022.[1]

NASCAR Cup Series edit

Car No. 51 history edit

Early days edit

Phoenix Racing began racing in the Cup Series in 1990, when it fielded the No. 51 Plasti-Kote Chevrolet Lumina for Jeff Purvis. In four races, Purvis failed to finish a race, his best finishing being a 31st at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Phoenix attempted to run a full schedule in 1991, but soon cut back to a part-time schedule, completing six races in total. Due to a lack of funding, the team only ran two races in 1992, with Finch's company Phoenix Construction of Panama City, Florida, serving as sponsor. In 1993, the team ran all of the restrictor plate races on the schedule, except for the Daytona 500, for which they failed to qualify. For 1994, they picked up sponsorship from Country Time and had planned to run a limited schedule with Neil Bonnett driving. Bonnett was killed in a practice crash at Daytona before the 1994 Daytona 500, and Purvis was brought back to drive the car. In six races, his best finish was 21st. Phoenix changed its number to 44 in 1995, and ran six more races with Purvis and Jackaroo Sauce, only finishing one race. MCA Records became the new sponsor for 1996, and the team had two top-ten qualification starts, but could not finish higher than twelfth.

2000s: Part-time and Talladega win edit

After staying out of Cup for several years, Finch purchased a number of Ford Tauruses from Bill Elliott Racing, and ran all of the 2001 schedule's restrictor plate races with Purvis driving the No. 51, only finishing one race. In 2002, the team picked up funding from Miccosukee Gaming and switched to the No. 09. Driver Geoffrey Bodine had a third-place finish in the Daytona 500, and later had a 2nd-place qualification at the Pepsi 400. Mike Wallace ran a limited schedule for Phoenix in 2003, and had two top-ten finishes. Scott Pruett and Buckshot Jones also ran one race deals for the team that season, during which they switched to Dodge.

The team began 2004 with Johnny Benson Jr., who had also signed to drive the #1 car full-time for Phoenix in the Busch Series for 2002, scheduled to run at least a minimum of seven races, mostly at the longer speedways where the team was stronger. The team would attempt most of the schedule with Benson sharing the ride with Joe Ruttman, who had not raced full-time in the Cup Series since the early 1990s.

After Benson ran the Daytona 500, Phoenix came to Rockingham with their focus being on their Busch effort for the weekend. This was evident on the entry they filled out for the 09, where the team listed Ruttman as the driver but forgot to include Miccosukee as the sponsor. Finch did not even bring a proper crew to the race, with the intent being that they would run the Cup car for a few laps before pulling off and collecting the last place prize. Due to withdrawals from several teams, the potential field was reduced to 43 cars and this meant that every car that entered was assured of making the field.

For that weekend’s Cup race, the Subway 400 Ruttman ran one qualifying lap and was significantly off the pace, settling for a 40th place starting spot. To further complicate things, the crew Finch had assembled for the weekend was not in their pit box when the race began and once NASCAR discovered this, they ordered Phoenix to park the 09 for the remainder of the race. Ruttman collected $54,196 for a last-place finish.[2] The team later said they would be "legitimate racing" after the incident, although Ruttman pulled out of each race he ran early citing some mechanical issue. Benson was eventually let go from his contract altogether and Ruttman’s involvement was scaled back significantly although he would return toward the end of the season and would eventually make seven starts for the team. Bobby Hamilton Jr. drove six races for the team starting at Charlotte, and Mike Wallace would return and record the team’s first top ten since 2002 at Richmond. Tony Raines would drive one race at Dover before retiring early, while Scott Pruett would make the race at Indianapolis but pulled out due in part to injuries received in a practice crash. Johnny Sauter would join the team for the last few races after losing his ride at Richard Childress Racing, crashing out late in the running at Phoenix.

Sauter drove ten races in the No. 09 in 2005, and had a ninth-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway. Late in the season, Bobby Hamilton and Reed Sorenson drove the 09 at Martinsville and Homestead, respectively.

Beginning in 2006, Phoenix abbreviated the 09's schedule even further, switching back and forth between Dodge and Ford. Mike Wallace ran just three races and failed to finish higher than seventeenth. Mayfield ran the season-ending Ford 400, but did not finish due to an oil leak. Wallace had a fourth-place finish in the 2007 Daytona 500, but the team did not qualify for another race until the final two races of the year, when Sterling Marlin drove. For 2008, Marlin ran 10–12 races for Phoenix.

 
The No. 09 car

Phoenix Racing announced for 2009 that they would be running two different makes of cars for the upcoming Sprint Cup season. The No. 09 was shared by Marlin, Phoenix's Nationwide Series driver Mike Bliss, and Brad Keselowski, who at the time was a developmental driver for Hendrick Motorsports. Ron Fellows also ran as a road course ringer. The team fielded purchased Ganassi Dodges for Marlin and Bliss, and purchased Hendrick Chevrolets for Keselowski and Fellows.

After 19 years in the Cup Series Phoenix Racing finally won its first race, taking the Aaron's 499 with Keselowski behind the wheel. Keselowski turned Carl Edwards when Edwards attempted a second block on Keselowski's passing move, but Keselowski held his ground as Edwards wrecked and drove to the finish to lead his only lap of the day and win the race.

2010s: full-time and sale edit

Former Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver Aric Almirola was hired to drive for the team in 2010. The team's competitiveness was put into question when it lost its longtime sponsor Miccosukee at the beginning of the season. Almirola failed to qualify three of the first seven events, including the Daytona 500, and start and parked in its four starts due to lack of funds. Almirola left the team after the race at Phoenix to focus on his Truck Series efforts,[3] and was replaced by Mike Bliss and a handful of other drivers, including (Xfinity Series driver) Landon Cassill, (Former F1 driver) Jan Magnussen, and (2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion) Bobby Labonte. Phoenix Racing returned in 2011 despite rumors that Finch had been trying to sell the team. Bill Elliott drove the first 4 races before Landon Cassill took over the ride with sponsorship from Security Benefit. In June 2011, prior to the Kansas race, the team changed the car number to No. 51, which Phoenix Racing originally used when it first competed in the then-Winston Cup Series. He would later have a best career finish of 9th at Michigan.

 
Kurt Busch driving the No. 51 at Texas Motor Speedway in 2012

For 2012, Cassill was replaced by 2004 Cup Champion Kurt Busch, who had been released from the No. 22 car at Penske Racing due to on-track incidents and off-track temperament, including a profanity-laced tirade directed at ESPN reporter Jerry Punch.[4] The team ran most of the season unsponsored, with HendrickCars.com, Monster Energy, and TAG Heuer coming on for single races. At Talladega in May, Busch ran a "ME" scheme from the movie Talladega Nights that Will Ferrell's character (a similarly controversial star driver) ran in a comeback at the track in one of the film's final scene.[5] Busch's best finish with the team was an impressive 3rd-place finish at Sonoma Raceway after racing for the lead with Clint Bowyer with under ten laps to go.[6] Outside of that high point, Busch was involved in many accidents trying to get the most out of his equipment.[7] He was also suspended for the June race at Pocono after expletives aimed at a reporter after a Nationwide Series race at Dover.[4] David Reutimann replaced Busch in that race, and Busch was welcomed back following a vote by team members.[8] Busch would leave the team following the fall Talladega race for Furniture Row Racing, and was supposed to be replaced by Regan Smith (the former driver with Furniture Row) until Dale Earnhardt Jr. suffered a concussion in the aftermath of the Talladega race and Smith was needed as a sub for the Charlotte and Kansas races in the Chase. A. J. Allmendinger, coincidentally also released from Penske, in the No. 22 car, due to a failed substance test, drove the No. 51 for those two races, with Smith returning later in the year.[9]

 
Regan Smith in 2013.

For 2013, the team returned full-time, fielding a number of different drivers. The team signed Guy Roofing, a company from the team's hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina, as the sponsor for the Daytona 500 and two other early season races.[10] Regan Smith drove the car in the 500 to a strong seventh-place finish, and would run five other races that season with a best finish of sixth. Allmendinger ran 9 races, including running the retro Country Time scheme Phoenix had run in the past, with three top 15 finishes all in his first four starts.[7] Austin Dillon ran four races, and Ryan Truex made his series debut at Bristol in the fall. Bobby Labonte, Owen Kelly, Mike Bliss, Jacques Villeneuve, and Brendan Gaughan would all make single starts for the team in 2013.

In spite of early success (the team was ranked 9th in owners points after the fifth race of the season) and a more affordable car model in the Gen 6 Chevy SS, lack of long-term funding continued to plague the team.[7] Citing this recurring lack of stable sponsorship, Finch announced in May 2013 that he would close operations after the 2013 Brickyard 400.[11] In late June, Finch announced that he was selling his team. The team found a buyer July 17 and Finch stopped sponsoring the team after Indianapolis. He would continue to own the team through Labor Day weekend, providing assistance in the transition to new ownership. It was announced on August 28 that Harry Scott Jr. of Turner Scott Motorsports had bought the team.[12][13]

Finch's last race as owner was the Labor Day race at Atlanta, where Mike Bliss drove the No. 51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet to a 33rd-place finish, running six laps down at the checkered flag.[14]

Sprint Cup Series Results edit

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
1990 Jeff Purvis 51 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
33
MAR NWS
31
CLT CAR
38
PHO
36
ATL 55th 238
1991 Olds DAY
36
RCH CAR
35
ATL
24
DAR BRI NWS
DNQ
MAR TAL
30
CLT DOV SON POC MCH
DNQ
DAY
30
POC TAL
DNQ
GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
DNQ
MAR NWS 45th 399
Chevy CLT
DNQ
CAR PHO
38
ATL
1992 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH
27
BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO
36
ATL 56th 148
1993 DAY
DNQ
CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
39
SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY
23
NHA POC TAL
21
GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 54th 341
1994 Neil Bonnett DAY
Wth
CAR RCH 46th 484
Jeff Purvis ATL
21
DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
35
SON CLT DOV POC MCH
27
DAY
38
NHA POC TAL
36
IND
34
GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO
DNQ
ATL
1995 44 DAY
38
CAR RCH ATL
37
DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
29
SON CLT
DNQ
DOV POC MCH
39
DAY
39
NHA POC TAL
42
IND
DNQ
GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
DNQ
CAR PHO ATL
DNQ
47th 391
1996 DAY
12
CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
35
SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY
21
NHA POC TAL
40
IND
DNQ
GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 48th 328
2001 Jeff Purvis 51 Ford DAY
43
CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL
34
CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY
42
CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MAR TAL
42
PHO CAR HOM ATL NHA 54th 169
2002 Geoff Bodine 09 DAY
3
CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL
12
CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY
10
CHI NHA POC IND
40
GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH
38
NHA DOV KAN TAL
DNQ
CLT MAR ATL
DNQ
CAR PHO HOM
DNQ
44th 590
2003 Mike Wallace Dodge DAY
9
CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX TAL
30
MAR CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH RCH
12
NHA DOV TAL
10
KAN
32
CLT MAR ATL
DNQ
PHO
26
CAR HOM
DNQ
44th 788
Scott Pruett SON
34
Buckshot Jones DAY
17
CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR
2004 Johnny Benson DAY
27
LVS
31
TEX
40
TAL
29
38th 1647
Joe Ruttman CAR
43
ATL
43
DAR
43
BRI
42
MAR
43
CAL
43
DOV
41
Bobby Hamilton Jr. RCH
17
CLT
42
DAY
42
CHI
41
NHA
19
POC MCH
38
Tony Raines DOV
40
POC MCH SON
Scott Pruett IND
42
GLN
Mike Wallace BRI
28
CAL RCH
7
NHA
34
TAL
18
KAN
Johnny Sauter CLT
24
MAR ATL
DNQ
PHO
39
DAR
29
HOM
DNQ
2005 DAY
DNQ
CAL LVS
DNQ
ATL BRI
DNQ
MAR
41
TEX
41
PHO
9
TAL
16
DAR
DNQ
RCH
41
CLT
40
DOV POC MCH SON DAY
17
CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI
DNQ
CAL RCH
28
NHA DOV TAL
DNQ
KAN CLT
16
ATL
DNQ
TEX
DNQ
PHO
39
42nd 1053
Bobby Hamilton MAR
39
Reed Sorenson HOM
28
2006 Mike Wallace DAY
24
CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO BRI
DNQ
CAL RCH
DNQ
NHA DOV KAN 50th 422
Ford TAL
DNQ
RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY
23
CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH TAL
17
CLT MAR ATL TEX
Jeremy Mayfield Chevy PHO
DNQ
HOM
42
2007 Mike Wallace DAY
4
CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL
DNQ
RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY
DNQ
CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN 52nd 223
Sterling Marlin TAL
DNQ
CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO
25
HOM
33
2008 DAY
DNQ
CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL
22
RCH
25
DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY
41
CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI
43
CAL RCH
DNQ
NHA DOV KAN TAL
42
CLT MAR
DNQ
ATL TEX PHO
32
HOM
29
46th 392
2009 Brad Keselowski DAY
DNQ
TAL
1
NHA
6
DAY
24
RCH
38
TAL
8
38th 1918
Sterling Marlin Dodge CAL
DNQ
LVS
DNQ
BRI
40
MAR
DNQ
PHO
40
DAR
42
POC
39
MCH
41
IND
DNQ
POC
38
CLT
DNQ
MAR
35
Mike Bliss ATL
43
TEX
42
RCH
37
CLT
43
DOV
40
CHI
40
MCH
38
ATL
41
DOV
40
KAN
41
CAL
43
TEX
DNQ
Ron Fellows Chevy SON
27
GLN
29
Aric Almirola Dodge BRI
DNQ
NHA
29
David Gilliland Chevy PHO
30
David Stremme HOM
DNQ
2010 Aric Almirola DAY
DNQ
CAL
43
LVS
43
ATL
DNQ
BRI
39
MAR
41
PHO
DNQ
39th 1889
Mike Bliss TEX
42
TAL
10
RCH
40
DAR
DNQ
DOV
40
CLT
DNQ
NHA
DNQ
Terry Cook POC
DNQ
Landon Cassill MCH
38
POC
41
MCH
38
ATL
DNQ
CLT
42
TEX
40
Jan Magnussen SON
12
Bobby Labonte DAY
16
CHI
29
IND
31
GLN
35
BRI
38
RCH
39
NHA
39
DOV
27
KAN
41
CAL
38
MAR
43
TAL
38
PHO
20
HOM
22
2011 Bill Elliott DAY
12
PHO
23
LVS
30
BRI
29
30th 618
Landon Cassill CAL
24
MAR
26
TEX
28
TAL
31
RCH
31
DAR
29
DOV
30
CLT
35
51 KAN
35
POC
24
MCH
12
DAY
26
KEN
23
NHA
26
IND
20
POC
27
MCH
31
ATL
22
RCH
25
CHI
30
NHA
33
DOV
31
KAN
17
CLT
28
TAL
16
MAR
42
TEX
26
PHO
29
HOM
36
Boris Said SON
28
GLN
22
Mike Bliss BRI
29
2012 Kurt Busch DAY
39
PHO
15
LVS
35
BRI
18
CAL
9
MAR
33
TEX
13
KAN
17
RCH
28
TAL
20
DAR
21
CLT
27
DOV
24
MCH
30
SON
3
KEN
19
DAY
35
NHA
24
IND
36
POC
30
GLN
31
MCH
30
BRI
28
ATL
13
RCH
28
CHI
32
NHA
35
DOV
23
TAL
39
27th 667
David Reutimann POC
21
A. J. Allmendinger CLT
24
KAN
35
MAR
28
TEX
36
Regan Smith PHO
24
HOM
30
2013 DAY
7
MAR
22
KAN
22
TAL
6
DAR
24
CLT
17
30th 633
A. J. Allmendinger PHO
11
BRI
13
CAL
16
POC
33
DAY
35
NHA
22
IND
22
POC
33
Austin Dillon LVS
21
TEX
33
DOV
27
KEN
24
Bobby Labonte MCH
43
Jacques Villeneuve SON
41
Owen Kelly GLN
24
Brendan Gaughan MCH
33
Ryan Truex BRI
42
Mike Bliss ATL
33
RCH CHI NHA DOV KAN CLT TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM

Xfinity Series edit

Car No. 1 history edit

 
2009 No. 1 Nationwide car

Phoenix made its debut in 1989 with the No. 49 Buick driven by Jeff Purvis at Charlotte. They ran four races together the following season in the No. 15 car, but had three engine failures. The next season, Phoenix and Purvis ran four consecutive races in the No. 14/23 Seal-Tech Buick, with a best finish of seventeenth. After a seventh-place finish at Talladega in 1992, the team ran as the No. 28 Havoline Ford for three races, and then changed to the No. 4 Kodak Funsaver Camera Chevrolet in 1993. Purvis won his first pole at Talladega in 1994 as the No. 51 Country Time car, then switched back to the No. 4 Kodak car the next year, where he had three top-ten finishes.

Phoenix Racing made its first full-time season in 1996, despite the No. 4 not having major sponsorship. Purvis won two races and a pole position, finishing seventh in points. Purvis ran the first four races of the 1997, and had a top-ten finish, but was replaced by Tim Steele, who brought sponsorship from HS Die. He had two top-tens, but injuries forced him to exit the ride. He was replaced by multiple drivers, with Dale Shaw running a majority of the races that season, including a 2nd-place finish at South Boston Speedway. Sterling Marlin, Ernie Irvan, and Ron Fellows filled in for Shaw when he could not run. Kevin Lepage then drove two races near the end of the season, before Purvis returned to drive the last race of the year. In 1998, Purvis was again named full-time driver, with Lance Snacks sponsoring. Purvis made 26 starts, missing one race due to injury, during which he was replaced by Dennis Setzer, and an additional four races during which he was suspended for rough driving. Nathan Buttke and Matt Hutter took his place for those races.

Purvis and Lance Snacks departed for Bechtel/Gibbs Racing at the end of the year, taking the No. 4 with him. Phoenix Racing switched to the No. 1 and hired Randy LaJoie to drive. They did not have major sponsorship of start the season, and signed a one-race deal with Jani-King before winning the season-opening NAPA Auto Parts 300. Bob Evans Restaurants then became the sponsor, and LaJoie finished tenth in points. He followed that up with a victory at USA and a seventh-place finish in points in 2000. P. J. Jones was named driver of the No. 1 for 2001, bringing Yellow Freight sponsorship. After four races, he was replaced by Jimmy Spencer who drove in eighteen races for Phoenix, winning three races. Bobby Hamilton, Lepage, and Joe Ruttman filled in for Spencer on occasion.

Phoenix dropped to a part-time schedule in 2002, with Spencer winning twice in 23 races, with Martin Truex Jr. running one race. Ruttman also ran Talladega in a second car, the No. 51, which was involved in a massive pileup on lap 15 which took out most of the field, including Spencer. In 2003, they formed a partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing and fielded the No. 1 full-time for two Ganassi drivers: Cup series driver Jamie McMurray and developmental driver David Stremme. McMurray had two wins, both at Rockingham, while Stremme made sixteen starts with two top-fives, earning him Rookie of the Year honors.

Johnny Benson was named full-time driver in 2004, with Miccosukee Resorts being named the new sponsor. He won one pole and had four top-tens when he was released after ten starts. McMurray ran three of the next four races, and Purvis returned for one race at Nazareth Speedway. Buckshot Jones drove the next two races with the return of Yellow Transportation to the team, followed by Tony Raines, Casey Mears, Bobby Hamilton, Sterling Marlin, Reed Sorenson, and Regan Smith.

Johnny Sauter was named the permanent driver of the No. 1 in 2005, winning at Milwaukee and finishing twelfth in points after Boris Said took his place at the Mexico race. Sauter left for Haas CNC Racing and took the sponsorship with him, and Jason Keller was hired to drive. After eight races, Keller was released and replaced by Mike Wallace, who garnered two top-five finishes, with Scott Pruett and development driver Cale Gale filling in. For 2007, J. J. Yeley was named the new driver of the No. 1, but struggled and only had one top-ten finish and missed six races, with Benson, Marlin and Max Papis filling for most of those races.

In 2008, Sauter returned to the team, but was released after five races. After Sterling Marlin drove one race, Mike Bliss was named the permanent driver of the No. 1 car. Marc Reno, who was born in California and currently resides in Concord, NC, serves as the crew chief and manages the team. He returned to the car after a solid season in 2008 for a full 2009 campaign. On May 23, 2009, Mike Bliss scored his second career Nationwide win and eleventh win for the team at Lowe's Motor Speedway by taking advantage of fuel mileage and a race-ending caution near the end of the race because of rain. In August 2009, Bliss was released due to conflicts with Reno. Ryan Newman, Reed Sorenson, Max Papis, Martin Truex Jr., David Gilliland, and Landon Cassill also took turns sharing the ride following Bliss' release. Rookie James Buescher was to drive the car full-time in 2010, but Finch put his entire operation up for sale on April 24. On May 12, 2010, Newman drove the car at Dover after Buescher parted ways with the team.

On July 6, 2012, Phoenix recorded its first Nationwide Series win in three years when Kurt Busch, who would make occasional starts for the team that season, won the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona for his fifth win in the series and his first for another team owner besides Roger Penske and Kyle Busch.

The No. 1 has 13 victories.

Xfinity Series Car No. 1 Results (partial) edit

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NXSC Pts Ref
1998 Jeff Purvis 4 Chevy DAY
2
CAR
20
LVS
28
NSV
18
DAR
32
BRI
27
TEX
36
TAL
15
NHA
4
NZH
2
CLT
31
DOV
22
RCH
12
PPR
5
GLN
32
MLW
3
MYB
29
CAL
6
SBO
28
RCH
6
DOV
7
CLT
9
GTY
3*
CAR
19
ATL
35
HOM
12
Dennis Setzer HCY
31
Matt Hutter IRP
36
Nathan Buttke MCH
22
BRI
9
DAR
17
1999 Randy LaJoie 1 DAY
1*
CAR
4
LVS
15
ATL
26
DAR
43
TEX
17
NSV
38
BRI
36
TAL
9*
CAL
34
NHA
4
RCH
42
NZH
20
CLT
13
DOV
27
SBO
24
GLN
17
MLW
14
MYB
2*
PPR
13
GTY
2
IRP
13
MCH
40
BRI
11
DAR
16
RCH
33
DOV
2
CLT
38
CAR
26
MEM
26
PHO
17
HOM
29
3379 [15]
2000 DAY
7
CAR
11
LVS
9
ATL
9
DAR
18
BRI
5
TEX
8
NSV
1
TAL
36
CAL
16
RCH
21
NHA
39
CLT
22
DOV
25
SBO
23
MYB
14
GLN
15
MLW
3
NZH
8
PPR
41
GTY
11
IRP
13
MCH
26
BRI
31
DAR
14
RCH
13
DOV
31
CLT
15
CAR
18
MEM
4
PHO
13
3625
P.J. Jones HOM
37
2001 DAY
27
CAR
37
LVS
27
ATL
17
Jimmy Spencer DAR
13
BRI
26
TEX
30
CAL
7
RCH
1*
NZH CLT
8
DOV
1
GLN CHI
18
GTY IRP MCH
31
BRI
7
DAR
8
RCH
1*
DOV
3
KAN
18
CLT
6
MEM PHO
35
CAR HOM
36
Pontiac TAL
2*
Bobby Hamilton Chevy NSH
20
Kevin Lepage NHA
35
Joe Ruttman KEN
33
MLW
38
PPR
21
2002 Jimmy Spencer Pontiac DAY
28
TAL
37
DAY
8
2530
Chevy CAR
7
LVS
16
DAR
24
BRI
4
TEX
28
NSH CAL
35
RCH
32
NZH CLT
38
DOV
37
NSH KEN MLW CHI
6
GTY PPR IRP MCH
9
BRI
1*
DAR
22
RCH
32
DOV
6
KAN
6
CLT
34
MEM ATL
38
CAR PHO
6
HOM
8
Martin Truex, Jr. Chevy NHA
29
2003 Jamie McMurray Dodge DAY
5
CAR
1
DAR
2
BRI
17
TEX
14
TAL
6
CAL
6
CLT
23
DAY
3
CHI
9
NHA
23
MCH
14
BRI
12
DAR
41
KAN
10
CAR
1
HOM
20
8th 4396
Chevy LVS
33
David Stremme Dodge NSH
7
RCH
14
GTY
14
NZH
6
DOV
31
NSH
3
KEN
10
MLW
3
PPR
11
IRP
17
RCH
13
DOV
21
CLT
14
MEM
9
ATL
12
PHO
13
2004 Johnny Benson DAY
41
CAR
9
LVS
34
DAR
6
BRI
13
TEX
4
NSH
7
TAL
36
CAL
21
GTY
29
Jamie McMurray RCH
41
CLT
2
DOV
8
CHI
27
Jeff Purvis NZH
17
Buckshot Jones NSH
29
KEN
38
Tony Raines MLW
34
Casey Mears DAY
7
NHA
20
MCH
4
BRI
35
RCH
31
DOV
19
KAN
8
ATL
42
PHO
20
DAR
6
HOM
26
Regan Smith PPR
15
Bobby Hamilton IRP
16
Sterling Marlin CAL
37
CLT
21
Reed Sorenson MEM
10
2005 Johnny Sauter DAY
41
CAL
24
LVS
28
ATL
20
NSH
16
BRI
18
TEX
43
PHO
26
TAL
41
DAR
17
RCH
3
CLT
18
DOV
35
NSH
9
KEN
38
MLW
1*
DAY
16
CHI
27
NHA
18
PPR
32
GTY
7
IRP
9
GLN
43
MCH
10
BRI
5
CAL
4
RCH
12
DOV
39
KAN
3
CLT
42
MEM
9
TEX
10
PHO
11
HOM
11
3720
Boris Said MXC
5
2006 Jason Keller DAY
11
CAL
15
MXC
22
LVS
16
ATL
23
BRI
15
TEX
28
NSH
16
Mike Wallace PHO
18
TAL
12
RCH
13
DAR
41
CLT
34
DOV
14
KEN
4
MLW
5
DAY
7
NHA
12
MAR
11
GTY
29
IRP
13
BRI
15
CAL
34
RCH
19
DOV
22
KAN
28
CLT
29
MEM
18
TEX
13
PHO
19
Chevy HOM
25
Cale Gale Dodge NSH
20
CHI
37
MCH
34
Scott Pruett GLN
10
2007 J.J. Yeley Chevy DAY
DNQ
CAL
23
MXC
37
LVS
19
ATL
22
BRI
22
NSH
12
TEX
18
PHO
24
TAL
17
RCH
12
DAR
16
CLT
26
DOV
25
NSH
18
KEN
12
NHA
36
DAY
22
CHI
11
GTY
9
IRP
16
MCH
17
BRI
39
CAL
34
RCH
19
KAN
33
CLT
37
TEX
33
PHO
11
HOM
40
Johnny Benson MLW
9
Max Papis CGV
20
GLN
11
Sterling Marlin DOV
15
MEM
26

Car No. 4 history edit

Phoenix Racing began running two cars in 2000, when Matt Hutter drove the No. 51 at Daytona and Talladega, with TracFone sponsoring; his best finish was 19th. LaJoie drove late in the season at Homestead, when P. J. Jones drove the No. 1. In 2005, they began fielding the No. 09 for three races, with Boris Said, Wallace, and Eric McClure driving. They began fielding the second car full-time in 2007, when Wallace drove the No. 7 GEICO Chevrolet. Despite failing to finish in the top-ten, he finished 11th in points. In 2008, the team switched to the No. 4, and leased its owners points to Jay Robinson Racing. Robinson ran the No. 4 car on a full-time basis, although Phoenix did field the No. 4 for Landon Cassill at Mexico City.

Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series edit

Truck No. 5 history edit

On March 3, 2020, it was announced that Phoenix Racing and both former Truck Series teams Billy Ballew Motorsports and Wauters Motorsports would jointly be restarted and returning to the series with Erik Jones running at Homestead as he sought the Kyle Busch US$100,000 bounty.[16] However, Ballew stated the team had no plans to return besides the one race.[17] Following the postponement of the Homestead race due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jones was announced to compete at Charlotte. Due to the cancellation of qualifying runs, he was unable to make the starting field.[18]

ARCA Menards Series East edit

In 2022, the team made their debut in the ARCA Menards Series East. Jake Finch, the son of James Finch, made his debut in the No. 1 car at Pensacola.[19] Finch would return to his family team and the No. 1 car for the East Series race at Nashville. He would start on the pole, lead 44 laps and finish second in the race. In both of his East Series races for Phoenix Racing, Finch drove an unbadged Toyota.[20][21]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Phoenix Racing Rises From the Ashes". Speed Sport. December 31, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Fryer, Jenna (February 24, 2004). "NASCAR calls Ruttman run 'a sham'". ESPN. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  3. ^ Fan, Horn (April 14, 2010). "Aric Almirola's Sole Focus Is Now Camping World Truck Series". Bleacher Report. Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Leistikow, Chad (June 5, 2012). "Kurt Busch suspended for Pocono race after tirade". USA Today. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  5. ^ Gluck, Jeff (May 4, 2012). "NASCAR At Talladega: How Kurt Busch Got Ricky Bobby's Paint Scheme On His Car". SB Nation. SB Nation. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  6. ^ Bianchi, Jordan (June 24, 2012). "NASCAR Sonoma Results: Kurt Busch Finishes Third After Gutsy Effort". SB Nation. SB Nation. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c Ryan, Nate (April 4, 2013). "James Finch's Phoenix Racing just hanging on in NASCAR". USA Today. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  8. ^ Smith, Marty (June 17, 2012). "Phoenix team voted to keep Busch". Brooklyn, Michigan: ESPN. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  9. ^ Bianchi, Jordan (October 11, 2012). "AJ Allmendinger to return this weekend in Phoenix Racing's No. 51 car". SB Nation. SB Nation. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  10. ^ Cushnan, David (January 9, 2013). "Nascar's Phoenix Racing nails Daytona 500 sponsorship". SportsPro. SportsPro. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  11. ^ Shoot, Jason (May 6, 2013). "Finch's Phoenix Racing to wrap up NASCAR operations July 28". News Herald. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  12. ^ Gluck, Jeff (August 28, 2013). "Justin Allgaier gets Cup ride after Harry Scott buys team". USA Today. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  13. ^ Pockrass, Bob (August 29, 2013). "New Phoenix Racing owner Harry Scott now ready for Sprint Cup racing". Sporting News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  14. ^ "2013 Federated Auto Parts 400 results". Racing Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  15. ^ "Randy LaJoie – 1999 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  16. ^ Christie, Toby (March 3, 2020). "Billy Ballew, James Finch Teaming with Wauters Motorsports to Field Truck for Erik Jones for Bounty". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  17. ^ Cheek, Adam (March 3, 2020). "Erik Jones Joining Kyle Busch Bounty Hunt at Homestead-Miami Speedway". Frontstretch.
  18. ^ "Erik Jones to run Charlotte truck race". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. May 22, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  19. ^ "Jake Finch Making ARCA East Debut at Five Flags". Racing America. March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  20. ^ "Race Highlights: Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway". ARCARacing.com. March 19, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  21. ^ "Race Highlights: Music City 200 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway". ARCARacing.com. May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.

External links edit