Even though 2011 has been the most successful for the #89 since it’s inception in 2001, starting all 26 events and solidly locked in the Top 30 in owner points, the second half of the season has been a brutal reminder that sponsorship funding, or lack of, takes its toll on any race team. To 69 year old driver Morgan Shepherd, it’s not about his age or ability. The ageless wonder continues to amaze many by quietly doing what no man has ever done before in any professional sports highest level. Compete full time against the best in the world and not only survive, but whip a few tales along the way. But as the 2011 season winds down with eight races remaining, lack of sponsorship funding has wore down Morgan more so than the physical grind of racing in steaming hot race cars at speeds up to 200mph.
“I feel great physically”. said Shepherd after finishing 25th in The Great Clips 300 Nationwide Series event at Atlanta. A track that he used to dominate in his heyday in the 80’s and 90’s. “But it’s tough emotionally. I know for a fact that if I had fresh tires, engines, and a few more people to help take the load off of me, it would be alot more fun and we’d be competing for top 10’s.” A Top 10 finish is a goal set by Shepherd. “I want to be the oldest driver to finish a NASCAR Nationwide or Cup event in the Top 10.” says Shepherd. The current record is 58 years of age set by Dick Trickle at Richmond in 2000.
Starting the 2011 season locked-in with a guaranteed starting position for the first five events, Shepherd showed that even without primary sponsorship funding, he could still wheel a stock-car against the big money teams finishing 18th at Las Vegas the day after assisting security and local police by chasing down a shoplifter in a Las Vegas Wal-Mart parking lot. After finishing 23rd at California, Shepherd was still solidly locked into the top 30 after five events. By the end of the 14th race at Chicago, Shepherd had finished in the top 30 eleven times with 6 top 25’s and 2 top 20’s, completing 2,403 out of a possible 2776 laps, or an 86% clip, showing he had the desire and stamina. Not alarming numbers by standards set by the bigger teams, media and most fans, but we tend to forget tht this is a 69 year old man in an underfunded independently owned race car. And he’s not doing it one race a year, or even three or four times racing for someone else.
“It’s my business.” says Shepherd. “I’m the driver, owner, manager , crew guy, and decision maker. Thankfully, we’ve had alot of help from other teams, owners, and fans who support who we are and what we do in our charitable efforts outside of the racing business.” The Shepherd team partnered with The Salvation Army HQ in Alexandria,Virginia to assist their charitable organization by donating the hood and carrying their “Red Shield” logo and “Doing The Most Good” motto at Daytona and on the teams website( www.racewithfaith.com ) throughout the year. Shepherd also started the “Race with Kids” program with The Salvation Army by allowing kids from Salvation Army youth ministries to be guests of the team at race events in the pit area. This past Bristol event in August, Shepherd teamed up with ABLE EMS, a medical transportation company in Ohio to bring a 23 year old young man with cystic fibrosis an in need of a double lung transplant to the race to meet his favorite driver, Dale Earnardt Jr. in person, and be a personal guest of the team on raceday. “People come first.” says Shepherd. “I’d certainly like to do more for others. It’s what we’re all about. But the business aspect gets in the way alot and restricts my time to do what I’d like to do.”
The business aspect certainly has gotten in the way in the second half of the season for the Shepherd team. After fourteen races and being 19th in the driver points standings, the wear and tear on Shepherd’s engines and the cost of rebuilding them started to mount up. “Running mostly out of pocket from race winnings, we’ve been forced to start and park a few times and we had an uneccessary wreck at Kentucky that destroyed one of my good cars when I was running 21st.” says Shepherd. “The mistakes and expenses has just started to mount up.” The last twelve races has been the complete opposite of the first fourteen. Shepherd’s #89 team has completed just two race events, completing only 56% of a possible 1,971 total laps, with a 21st place finish at New Hampshire and 25th at Atlanta as their two best and only finishes.
“I’m not sure what our future holds.” says Shepherd. “I know I want to race! I’m not ready to retire yet. The good Lord has blessed me with amazing health and strength. Being locked in to each race, I’ve had offers to sell the team. I really don’t want to do that. But if I have to, I will. The economy coupled with the racing expense makes it tough right now. It costs us about $15,000 just to go to a race. We’re offering marketing deals and sponsorships right now that we never would’ve considered in the past. But every little bit helps. Companies are cutting back and not spending as much. As an owner, I understand budgets and cutting costs. You can’t spend what you don’t have, but you can’t grow either. I have faith that we’ll find a company or two that is a good “fit” for us and appreciates who we are, that wants to market their “brand” in NASCAR that fits their budget. “Racing is like gambling.” says Shepherd. ” You can’t quit when you’re winning, and you can’t quit when you’re losing. You just gotta keep plugging along. I have faith. And faith is something you believe in when common sense tells you not to.”
Morgan: A man to model your life after.
Sounds like the “mustard see” concept. Thanks Morgan.