WEST WARDSBORO -- NASCAR is coming to Vermont. Or rather, Vermont is headed to NASCAR. West Wardsboro businessman Bill Jenkins has purchased the car number, owner points, and equipment from the #26 team formerly campaigned by Roush-Fenway Racing and driver Jamie McMurray in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Jenkins plans to contest the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule beginning with next month's Daytona 500 at Daytona Int'l Speedway in Florida.
"I'm a huge race fan and I've always wanted to do this," Jenkins told Vermont Motorsports Magazine on Tuesday. "The opportunity presented itself, and I took it."
Jenkins and his wife, Sandy, are the owners of Latitude 43, an organic soap company.
Originally from New York City, Jenkins moved to New England in 1990 and has homes in Vermont and Maine. He plans to keep strong ties to the northeast with his new adventure, starting with the core of the team; Jenkins has hired North Haverhill, N.H. native Frank Stoddard as crew chief. Stoddard won 17 Sprint Cup Series races with Roush-Fenway Racing and driver Jeff Burton in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
"We have a shop in Concord, N.C. and we could do all of our business down there, but we're staying true to Vermont," said Jenkins. "I consider Vermont my home, and I have for almost 20 years. There are a lot of race fans here in Vermont, and I'd like to think this may be a big deal for them and give them something to cheer for. We will do all of our banking through Vermont and try to focus on the state as much as we can."
McMurray drove the #26 to 22nd place in Sprint Cup Series point standings in 2009, locking the car into the first five events of the 2010 season under NASCAR's owners points system. The team won the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in November. Roush-Fenway was forced to cut the team from its organization in accordance with NASCAR's new policy limiting race teams to four cars. Roush-Fenway Racing will continue to field the #6, #16, #17, and #99 cars for David Ragan, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, and Carl Edwards, respectively.
Jenkins said that he realizes there is a lot of work to do before the season starts on Feb. 14 in the biggest stock car race in the world. "We don't have any sponsors, and I realize that we will be the only blank canvas in the top-35 at Daytona," he said. "We've been contacted by several companies that otherwise couldn't become involved in NASCAR for various reasons, and we think we'll find something soon."
The 61-year old said he drew inspiration from a close friend, Middlebury car dealership mogul and veteran Devil's Bowl Speedway racer Gardner Stone, before he made the transaction with Roush-Fenway: "One of Gardner's favorite sayings is 'Life isn't a dress rehearsal.' I've been around racing since I was a kid. I remember guys driving around with cigarettes in their mouths and their arms hanging out the window. Now, all these years later, I finally have a chance to get involved.
"It's all very exciting. I celebrated for about ten minutes when we signed the deal, but then I put my head down in the ditch and got to work."
Jenkins expects to name his team's driver in the coming days.
32 comments:
I'ld love to see one or both of the Bodine boys in your car!Good cars, Great crewcheif & The most under rated Racers in the sport as the driver for your proud Northeast team, That would be nice to see. One more thing to ponder... Geoff is in the Shootout If HE gets a ride. Long time Bodine fan
I think the best driver with out a solid ride is Todd Bodine always a good driver with out the decent ride his first good ride was the #30 Truck and he won a championship.Todd also has ties to NE and NY
This is fantastic news for VT race fans! Congrats and thank you Bill! What's Ricky Craven doing?! I'm sure he can still wheel a stock car.
- Liam
VT Race Fan
You may be based in VT and Maine, but you'll also have some NH fans rooting for you too! Good luck and do Northern New England proud! I figure Joey Logano is from CT so Southern New England's already covered! :)
One of the best at these first five tracks is an old boy named Kenny Schrader. Kenny has won up in the Northeast in a lot of different series including the Dover Cup race. Also held the spped record at New Hampshire for a while.
I hope you will consider keeping it all Vermont and hire Kevin Lepage, given good equipment Kevin is a top notch driver with past ties to Roush.
Kevin Lepage still has what it takes to drive a race car and he also still calls Vermont home. But it will be great to see a Vermont team in cup
Kevin Lepage should be the driver.
That would complete a winning team.
Kevin, Frankie and Bill
Kevin Lepage should be the only logical choice. A Vermont native with a proven track record. What is not to like?
Kevin Lepage is the logical choice. A Vermont native with a proven track record and also has a great spokesman quality about him. There is no better a driver.
Great to see someone from VT becoming involved in Nascar. Your driver choice should be simple...Vermont's own Kevin Lepage.
I'd love to see VT race team have a VT driver behind the wheel. Put Kevin Lepage in the drivers seat and watch the car race to the front. Just a couple of years back he had a top 10 finish in the underfunded, over achieving Patron car. Let's show everyone what the Green Mountain state can do. I don't think you can find anyone who can get more out of a car than Kevin can. Experience is priceless. Kevin has raced his way into the 500 multiple times. Images what the results could be knowing he doesn't race-in to qualify.
Frankie's great crew chief and the 2 would make a stellar team.
- Jim
Running Geoff Bodine in the Shootout can give this team some valuable track time at Daytona. But for the season.....
Lets keep it in Vermont! Kevin Lepage has done a nice job with new/small teams in recent years. Starting the season locked in would've made all the difference in the #37 and #61 Cup rides. C'mon Bill. Stay local and run Kevin Lepage!!
I agree on Todd Bodine with no sponser on his 30 truck how long can they run for in trucks.Todd can still drive but I would put Geoff in for the free shutout money to get the team rolling.
One would hope that Kevin Lepage would get some consideration. He is an experience driver who takes care of his equipment is very good at qualifying and is a native VERMONTER. He has a large fan base in the northeast and given decent equipment is as good as any other EXPERINCED driver.
If you are trying to keep the race team as vermont centered as you can then my vote is for Kevin Lepage to drive the car. He is originally from Vermont and has plenty of experience in the Cup Series.
from a former vermonter living in nc i say kevin lepage,kevin lepage, kevin lepage.
Lepage is the obvoius choice with Vermont ties, gracious to sponsers and fans alike. Go Kevin!!!
To make this a true Northern New England team:
Bill Jenkins - VT
Frank Stoddard - NH
Ricky Craven - ME
Imagine the FUN we'd have at NHMS. :-)
Very excited to see a Vermont Team!
I also would say that Kevin Lepage would be the perfect fit for this team!
Dear Mr Jenkins Please give me a reason to watch cup racing again. Who better to represent you, your company, your sponsers, and the state of VT than Kevin and Donna Lepage. Class people with deep ties to VT. Jim MacDonald Rockingham NC
kevin lepage would be a great driver
I would pick Todd Bodine even though being from Mass I like both Craven and Lepage Todd has won like 4 Daytona races in the trucks also.
Hiring Kevin Lepage would be Career suicide
Keep it in Vermont, hell, how about an all Wardsboro team - the only logical choice is Mr Modified himself - Pearl Dewey.
Heck, with Brian France in charge of things, maybe they would even let him run the number 240.
Todd Bodine would also be my choice not afraid to run with the big boys/teams dosnt back down from anybody and has never had a decent cup ride.
Casey Mears and David Gilliland are the best drivers that were in the drivers points last year that have no full time rides lined up right now. I'd go with Gilliland over Mears though.
Depends on where you want to be AFTER the first five races more than being in the 500. My choice would be Kevin Lepage to get you there and keep you there, but then I didn't buy the number. We'll see just how much this team wants ties to Vermont.
wake up, this was a done deal before it was even started, look at the over all deal ,everything but the kitchen sink came with it. You cant have five teams , so one of them go under the table. we all no who still controls this team. mears will drive this car, and jack will be watching.
I'd also go with Kevin LePage. He can most likely keep you in the top 35 and most importantly for a new team....He does not wreck.
Sorry to pee in ya'lls Cheerios, but this move is an incredible waste of your money! Any chance you can still pull out?
good luck Bill!
Marty Deem
owner
Window World of Vermont
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