JR Motorsports Expands to Truck Series

[WayneD92]

From the JR Motorsports website


JR Motorsports will expand into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) for 10 races in 2015 with driver Cole Custer, general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller announced today. Custer, who turns 17 this month, became the youngest winner in NASCAR national touring series history last year with a truck series victory in only his seventh start. He and the No. 00 Chevrolet Silverado team will receive primary sponsorship from Haas Automation Inc., the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America.

“This is a new and exciting venture for us,” said Earnhardt Miller. “We have come a long way since racing street stocks in 2002, and we are constantly evolving. Expanding into the truck series on a part-time basis is furthering our growth. Bringing in a talent like Cole and a great partner like Haas Automation is a great way to do that. I’m proud of the direction we’re heading.”

Haas Automation has sponsored Custer for four years. The company was founded in 1983 by industrialist Gene Haas, and it manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers and rotary tables and indexers in the company’s one million square-foot manufacturing facility in Oxnard, California. Distributed through a worldwide network of Haas Factory Outlets, Haas Automation provides the industry’s best sales, service and support while offering unparalleled cost-to-performance value.

“I’ve watched Cole develop as a driver and young man for several years,” said Haas. “Last year Cole successfully represented Haas Automation, bringing attention to machine tool buyers following the truck series by winning poles and races. When presented the opportunity to sponsor the championship team of JR Motorsports with Cole as the driver, I simply said yes. I have complete confidence in Dale Jr., Kelley, and Cole’s ability to take Haas Automation to victory lane.”

Custer is a native of Ladera Ranch, California. He surged onto the scene in 2014 with a NCWTS win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in only his seventh start, becoming the youngest driver in NASCAR national touring series history to win a race. Earlier in the year he became the youngest to win a pole, as he took the honor at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois.

“I’m so excited to get this season started,” said Custer. “With all that JR Motorsports has accomplished over the past few years, we know we have everything needed to go win races and compete. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity with a better organization. I really want to thank Haas Automation, along with Kelley and Dale Jr. for putting this deal together.”

Custer’s trucks will be based out of a JR Motorsports satellite shop in Mooresville, North Carolina. Joe Shear, Jr., will serve as the team’s crew chief. Shear Jr. was Custer’s crew chief in 2014 when they competed in nine truck races with one win, two top-five and six top-10 finishes with two poles. Shear Jr. is a nine-time winner in the Camping World Truck Series.

Custer’s 10-race NCWTS schedule includes races at Martinsville Speedway (March 28), Dover International Speedway (May 29), Gateway Motorsports Park (June 13), Iowa Speedway (June 19), Eldora Speedway (July 22), Bristol Motor Speedway (Aug. 19), Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Aug. 30), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 26), Martinsville Speedway (Oct. 31) and Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 13).

In addition to NCWTS competition, JR Motorsports will field cars in select NASCAR K&N Pro Series and ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) events in 2015 as part of Custer’s development. Specifics to Custer’s schedule in those two series will be announced at a later date.

 

[Brandon Miller]

Now how long before Jr gets in a truck just to play?

 

[jordanvile]

Now how long before Jr gets in a truck just to play?

^^^
I wanna know why they are just going for 10 races, and not running it full-time and filling the other 13 with Dale or Kasey or Chase or other prospects.

 

[Thunder98]

Cole only gets 10 races because he's going to be only 17 on January 23rd. By rule you have to be 18 to run the full season, so Cole is running every race at tracks less than 1.25 miles.

 

[canadienhits]

Wondering when the kid was going to get a good shot. Heck of a young driver.

 

[4WideRacing]

Will be interesting to see what comes of this.

 

[jordanvile]

Someone brought this up over at Rubbins' Racing, but you guys think the Austin Theriault thing lines up here? You think this is the "decent team" he'll be running around 10 races for?

 

[RP Motorsports]

^^^
I wanna know why they are just going for 10 races, and not running it full-time and filling the other 13 with Dale or Kasey or Chase or other prospects.

1. Sponsorship. Gene Haas is funding the races Custer is running.

2. Earnhardt Jr. isnt interested in running Trucks, except maybe at the end of his career. As for the other two - again, sponsorship. I'm sure JRM would consider it if some big funding source showed up on the doorstep wanting to run the rest of the truck schedule, but that usually doesn't happen like that. So theres really no benefit for JRM to use resources to actively seek sponsorship to run some more truck races for guys like Kahne or Elliott. This whole deal basically only came together because Haas was looking for someone to run Custer in a truck for the maximum 10 races he can run.

 

[AMLNet49]

Haas basically didn't want to field it himself anymore so he handed the team, with all personnel in tact, to Dale Jr. and the Hendrick people to run instead of himself like they did last year

 

[RP Motorsports]

Haas basically didn't want to field it himself anymore so he handed the team, with all personnel in tact, to Dale Jr. and the Hendrick people to run instead of himself like they did last year

Haas didn't have a truck team to begin with. Turner-Scott fielded the team last year. Haas just funded it. Same thing is happening this year - JRM will field it, funded by Haas. JRM is putting together the team, comprised of some current and new employees (some from TSM), and will run it out of an auxiliary shop (from what I've heard, its Tom DeLoach's old shop right down the street).

 

[jordanvile]

Haas didn't have a truck team to begin with. Turner-Scott fielded the team last year. Haas just funded it. Same thing is happening this year - JRM will field it, funded by Haas. JRM is putting together the team, comprised of some current and new employees (some from TSM), and will run it out of an auxiliary shop (from what I've heard, its Tom DeLoach's old shop right down the street).

Just to clarify, last season, the #00 Truck was fielded out of the TSM shop, and was an actual TSM truck, although the car did run under the name "Haas Racing Development" and the listed owner was in fact Gene Haas. From what I understand this time, it's different. Yes, it's Gene's money funding the ride, but it will be closer to the listed team than last season. The JRM logo will be on the firesuit, and (I believe) JRM associates will also make appearances on the Firesuit and (possibly) the truck. Now about them running it out of DeLoach's old shop, this is new to me. Are you talking about the shop across from what was the TSM shop, on the same street as UTI?

EDIT: Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Dale's gonna be the listed owner this time.

 

[RP Motorsports]

Just to clarify, last season, the #00 Truck was fielded out of the TSM shop, and was an actual TSM truck, although the car did run under the name "Haas Racing Development" and the listed owner was in fact Gene Haas. From what I understand this time, it's different. Yes, it's Gene's money funding the ride, but it will be closer to the listed team than last season. The JRM logo will be on the firesuit, and (I believe) JRM associates will also make appearances on the Firesuit and (possibly) the truck. Now about them running it out of DeLoach's old shop, this is new to me. Are you talking about the shop across from what was the TSM shop, on the same street as UTI?

EDIT: Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Dale's gonna be the listed owner this time.

That is correct. Last year, it was fielded by TSM (TSM team, TSM equipment, TSM prepared, and TSM fielded), with Haas being the listed owner and providing the funding. This year, it will be fielded and licensed by JRM (not sure if Earnhardt Jr. or Kelley will be the listed owner), and funded by Haas.

The shop you're talking about (I believe its Byers Creek Rd) is the current Red Horse shop. TSM was across the street in the corner lot, but now its RPM's shop, and TSM is right next to Red Horse on the same side of the street. DeLoach's old shop was in the same park, but on the street that runs parallel to Byers Creek (don't remember the name). That being said, I don't know for certain thats where the JRM satellite shop will be. Thats just what I was told by someone in the loop.

 

[jordanvile]

The shop you're talking about (I believe its Byers Creek Rd) is the current Red Horse shop. TSM was across the street in the corner lot, but now its RPM's shop, and TSM is right next to Red Horse on the same side of the street. DeLoach's old shop was in the same park, but on the street that runs parallel to Byers Creek (don't remember the name). That being said, I don't know for certain thats where the JRM satellite shop will be. Thats just what I was told by someone in the loop.

I know Cayuga Road, which runs semi-parallel to Byers Creek, is where the actual JRM shop is. I know there's also Overhill Drive, but I can't remember anything ever being there.

 

[RP Motorsports]

I know Cayuga Road, which runs semi-parallel to Byers Creek, is where the actual JRM shop is. I know there's also Overhill Drive, but I can't remember anything ever being there.

Not Cayuga. Thats where JRM, TBR, and Kahne's shop is at. I'll have to look it up.

EDIT: It is Overhill Dr.

 

[AMLNet49]

Joe Shear and the crew were being payed by Stewart Haas Racing last year, and worked for Gene Haas, whereas this year they are full JRM employees payed by JRM and work for Dale Jr. and Rick Hendrick. TSM prepared the trucks last year but had no role in the management of the #00 team

 

[RP Motorsports]

Joe Shear and the crew were being payed by Stewart Haas Racing last year, and worked for Gene Haas, whereas this year they are full JRM employees payed by JRM and work for Dale Jr. and Rick Hendrick. TSM prepared the trucks last year but had no role in the management of the #00 team

I have no idea how their payroll was structured, but one would assume the money came from Haas, as he was funding the operation. But for all intents and purposes, it was a TSM team. Everything was handled and done by TSM, with TSM employees. I know someone that worked on their truck program until late 2014 (basically when the s*** hit the fan). Haas put his name on the license and wrote the checks, and that was more-or-less the extent of it.

 

[AMLNet49]

Yeah thank you for clarifying it was definitely a weird situation, but the most important part was that Haas got credit for Custer's win at Loudon, which made him one of like 4 or 5 owners to win in all three series (I don't remember the exact number), whereas this year he wouldn't get credit for it.