Coutndown to Daytona: 87
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[/media-credit]While the drivers and teams continuing celebrating in Las Vegas, we continue counting down to the 2012 Daytona 500, which is just 87 days away.
NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Buck Baker was the first driver to use no. 87; using it in NASCAR’s very first race in 1949 at the .750 mile Charlotte Speedway. Baker finished 11th in that race for a payday of $50. Baker used the number in 419 of his 635 starts and accounts for 26 of the 27 wins with the number. The other driver to win using no. 87 is Jim Paschal. Buddy Baker, one of Buck’s sons would use it in 38 starts. Buck would later use the number for son Randy, who made a handful of appearances in the 1980s and 1990s.
Baker would later launch the Buck Baker Racing School in 1980, whose students include Sprint Cup champions Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, along with Ryan Newman.
Beginning in 1993, the number became associated with Joe Nemechek, and has been ever since. Nemechek’s first start came in the initial Sprint Cup race at Loudon; a race he was joined in by fellow Nationwide competitor Jeff Burton. Both would move up to the Cup ranks the following season.
After a one year stint with Larry Hedrick in 1994, Nemechek returned to driving his own cars in 1995 with sponsorship from Burger King. This arrangement lasted for two seasons before he left to drive for Felix Sabates.
Nemechek ran the number a few times in the late-90s for road course ringer Ron Fellows. Fellows rang up an impressive runner-up finish to Jeff Gordon in the 1999 Frontier @ the Glen.
In 2009, Nemechek returned to running his own cars; the majority of the time, unsponsored. On a limited budget, Nemechek was the only team outside the top 35 in points to qualify for every race in the 2011 season.
The number 87 has made a total of 713 starts. In those starts, no. 87 has netted 27 wins, 26 poles, 186 top-five and 285 top-ten finishes.
Joe Denette Hits Lottery Again with New Driver Ron Hornaday and New Home at KHI Shop
Last year, Joe Denette started a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team with his winnings from the Mega Millions Virginia Lottery drawing.
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[/media-credit]But this year, Denette feels like he has hit the lottery all over again by securing veteran and championship Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday, as well as the shop formerly operated by the winners of the 2011 Owner’s Championship, Kevin and DeLana Harvick.
“I think this is one of the best scenarios I could ask for,” Denette said. “I got one of the best drivers out there in my opinion. I lucked out on this one.”
Denette said the deal with Hornaday came about over a simple dinner together.
“Hermie Sadler, my business manager in racing, came to me with a proposal because Hermie and Kevin (Harvick) are pretty good friends,” Denette said. “They started talking back and forth and he started talking to Ron.”
“We sat down for dinner one night and by the time we were done with dinner, we had a deal struck.”
While Denette knew of Hornaday’s championship resume, including 51 victories, 27 poles, and 146 top-five finishes, he was most impressed with the veteran driver’s heart and passion for the sport. He also was taken with his new driver’s desire to keep winning.
“His passion and his desire to keep winning impressed me most,” Denette said. “His goal is to win a fifth championship. When he left the table, he asked me what I expected from hi and I said just to give it your all and compete.”
“I told him, I want you to win your fifth championship with Joe Denette Motorsports.”
Hornaday, a 14-year veteran of the Truck Series, shared Denette’s excitement for his new ride, especially with the closure of his former team, KHI Motorsports.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to work with JDM next season,” Hornaday said. “This is a young team and they have put a lot of the right people in place to win races and compete for a championship in 2012.”
“I’m honored to continue my relationship with Chevrolet and I’m looking forward to a successful 2012 season.”
Another important part of Hornaday’s team that will be come to Joe Denette Motorsports is crew chief Jeff Hensley. And, according to Denette, one of the best holdovers from the KHI days is that the team will actually be running out of the former race team’s shop.
“We hired Jeff a week or two before we hired Ron,” Denette said. “We’re actually going to be running out of Kevin’s old shop.”
“I feel like I’m taking over where Kevin left off.”
While Denette confirmed that he will definitely be running one truck full-time, as he did last season in his rookie year, he also revealed that he may be running a second truck, perhaps even on a full-time basis.
“Right now we are running the No. 9 truck with Ron driving and several races throughout the season, we planned on running a second truck,” Denette said. “But from what my understanding is Hermie (Sadler) is already striking some deals where I feel like we’re going to have two trucks on the track this whole season.”
“I’m not 100% sure but I know for a fact that Elliott Sadler will be driving a few races this year and I also believe that Kevin (Harvick) wants to run a few Truck races for me this year.”
“In essence, he’ll be driving his old stuff, so I figure it’s a win/win situation.”
As with many NASCAR teams currently, Denette continues to be in the hunt for sponsors at all levels for his race trucks.
“We’re still working on sponsors,” Denette said. “Right now, I’m still open for sponsorship.”
“If someone wants to come up with some money and wants their company or logo on the side of my truck or on the hood of the truck, I’d gladly take it,” Denette continued. “I’ll put anybody on the truck that wants out there.”
In addition to sponsorship dollars, however, what Denette is dreaming about most is getting that first ever race win next year with his new team and driver.
“The first win, there will be nothing like it,” Denette said. “That’s what I came into the sport to do.”
“I want to win,” Denette continued. “I want to win a driver’s championship. I want to win an owner’s championship. I want a NASCAR trophy of my own.”
This week, Denette is going to finish up the 2011 season by heading to Las Vegas for NASCAR Championship week, taking the opportunity to check out that NASCAR trophy that he is so hoping to win next year.
And, yes, Denette will not only be heading to the championship banquet but also hoping that he will get lucky at some of the black jack tables in the casinos as well.
“I actually purchased a table at the banquet and have a group of six people coming with me,” Denette said. “We will have Hermie Sadler and his wife and some people who won a contest through the Virginia Lottery.”
“It’s pretty cool. When you meet the drivers in person, it’s cool,” Denette continued. “You can sit down and talk to them. I played black jack last year with Kenny Wallace and Kurt Busch.”
The biggest lesson that Denette has learned in his rookie year is that racing is indeed all about the people in the sport, especially having the right people in the right places to win. And, through it all, Denette’s passion for the sport, especially the Truck Series, has remained strong, if not increasing even further.
“I love the sport even more now,” Denette said. “I have more access to come up to the drivers and talk to the drivers and shoot the breeze. I run across these guys all the time and I’m still amazed at what they do.”
“Just go to a Truck race,” Denette said. “It’s unreal. Any day, any time, anybody can be a winner there.”
“I’ve got a passion for trucks,” Denette continued. “To see them racing, it’s pretty cool.”
“The Truck Series is the grass roots of NASCAR,” Denette said. “It’s how the sport started.”
“And the best part is that anybody can come to the track and win.”
