Morgan Shepherd needs your help.

[nascar1912]

Morgan Shepherd needs everyone help to raise money so he can race the whole 2012 NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES. Morgan is an 70 year old driver but he so healthy, fit, and drives like an 20 year old that is trapped in an 70 year old body. He can run in the top 15 easily but CAN'T due to lack of sponsership that can fund him the money for tires, parts, etc.... Morgan finished in 22nd place in Las Vegas this year with only 1 set of new stickers tires. Morgan Shepherd will be pleased if you help him out to get his goal of $40,000 by May 21st. If you help him out the Shepherd's will reward you by how much money you can donate. To a free T-shirt to pit passes to a race of your choice to treat you out to dinner. Help Morgan Shepherd stay in the NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES by going to either Morgan Shepherd - Home OR go to Shepherd Racing Ventures- Help Us Stay In NASCAR! -- Indiegogo

Here is a yourtube video by Morgan and Cindy Shepherd about the program go to [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr6B1UWosMs]Morgan Shepherd Fundraiser - YouTube[/ame] for more details.

Thank you for your time by reading this also catch Morgan Shepherd every Tuesday night at 7:00pm through out the whole 2012 season on a radio show called WOOP on WHEELS at Welcome to the World Wide Woop! - Streaming Radio, Video, Bluegrass, Talk Radio. Also on his facebook page too at https://www.facebook.com/brian.wertman#!/m89shepherd OR https://www.facebook.com/pages/Morgan-Shepherd/207047592697652?ref=ts

Have a great night all.

 

[Dr. Kstar]

I'm glad that people are so active in trying to keep teams going, things like this, those accounts on Twitter that are trying to keep Trevor Bayne and Kenny Wallace in a car. If it helps keep more drivers funded, I am happy.

 

[K.Chuck]

Morgan hasnt been competitive in a long, long time. He hasnt won a Nationwide race sense 1988 ether. Hes a great guy but I dont see him being able to "run in the top 15 easily", I hate to see him run in a series he dosnt belong in anymore. At-least in a driver role. To me its starting to tarnish my memory of his talent on the track.

 

[SKiNDATA]

I've always liked Morgan Shepherd. Just sucks for him having no sponsors most of the time to help with the funding. I'll gladly donate 25 dollars in a couple days when I get my cheque for the week. Glad you made this thread nascar1912, or else I wouldn't of ever known about it.

 

[Fisha695]

Morgan has turned down multiple sponsorship offers over the past handful of years because they wanted to be on the hood but he refused to take off his religious thing so I don't feel bad for him at all.

A few years back on the message board that his site had I suggested that if he is "Racing to spread the word" why not stop running NASCAR and start touring around the country running a Latemodel & doing inspirational speeches at a local church the day or two after the race. Somebody from the team replied that he had suggested that same thing to Morgan before but Morgan told him he doesn't really care about spreading the word he just cares about having that NASCAR logo attached to his name and he uses the "Spread the word of God" aspect to try and get pity from people.

And as crazy as that sounds I truly believe it.

 

[tipptruck]

I am 26 and I don't ever recall him being any thing other the a field filler. There has to be a time in every ones life were they have to stop doing what they love. If you can not afford to what you love its time to quite.

 

[BillyJack79]

Here's the line on Shepherd - 4 Cup wins in 514 races, 168 top tens, most came while driving for Bud Moore and the Wood Bros. in the late '80's/ early '90's. Best points finish was 5th. He has 15 Busch series wins in 325 starts, 67 top 10's, but only one top ten since 1996. No top tens in 55 truck races.

I'm not saying he should give up, but it's obvious his career has been on a downslide for years.

 

[MattSRD28]

Morgan hasnt been competitive in a long, long time. He hasnt won a Nationwide race sense 1988 ether. Hes a great guy but I dont see him being able to "run in the top 15 easily", I hate to see him run in a series he dosnt belong in anymore. At-least in a driver role. To me its starting to tarnish my memory of his talent on the track.

Name me another driver who can finish 22nd at Vegas on one set of tires for the entire race.

He's only asking for $40,000 while most teams/sponsors ask for 25x that or more.

Morgan's a great driver with a great message who's living the dream at age 70. Nascar needs more guys like Morgan, not less. Morgan's a great example of faith, courage, and ingenuity who should never be made to feel unwelcome no matter what reason.

 

[B.McKeever]

It's not hard to finish in the Top 20 in Nationwide series. Look at the cars that show up. "Key Motorsports" has 3 cars that make every race that park. The forth car, isn't very competitive. Jay Robinson's car takes up a spot. Nemecheck does, too. Harmon. I mean, the list goes on and on. If you watch the races, at lap 25 or 30 look at the running order. I bet there are only 30 cars running after 25 laps. Of those that ARE running, probably another 8-10 get involved in wrecks or just aren't competitive. There is why Shepherd makes Top 20s. I really don't see how he can make it on $40,000 anyway. Do the math his wife was talking about. $40,000 would pay for 2 engine rebuilds, and she says they do it every couple of weeks. So, $40,000 will last him 5 or 6 races?

Kenny Wallace says the CHEAPEST you can put together a competitive car is $100,000 per race. I think the $40,000 is bogus. Also, she says the license is $2,500 or whatever. Kenny Wallace says in his "Chasing Dream" show that they raised it to $8,000 for this season. They have also cut the purses to about $60,000 for a win! $10,000 for last place. The Nationwide series going to become 10 good teams and 33 "finance" cars that start & park.

 

[MattSRD28]

The Nationwide series going to become 10 good teams and 33 "finance" cars that start & park.

That may well be true, but I don't see why that has to be a reason to denounce Morgan's racing or his fundraising efforts.

 

[Hyperacti]

Are we seriously talking about Morgan Shepherd like we care how well he performs? Everyone should love him and want him around regardless of his results on the track.
200th post.

 

[DEIfanatic]

Instead of trying to prop up and financially support drivers who were also-rans at their career peak, I think more people should be more active in looking at developing drivers to have legitimate talent and potential to be competitive in the top series in the sport.

Check out this kid, Jesse Smith. He's had very limited opportunities throughout his young career. Unlike most drivers in recent years, he hasn't had old family money to pay his way into top rides, he's earned it. He won the ASA Late Model championship in 2006 when the series pulled 35+ cars every week and ran up front and led laps for Venturini Motorsports in ARCA.

Looks like a great driver, check out his site.
Jesse Smith Racing

 

[B.McKeever]

That may well be true, but I don't see why that has to be a reason to denounce Morgan's racing or his fundraising efforts.

I'm not denouncing his racing or his fund raising. Simply pointing out the facts and what doesn't make sense. For 70 years old, he can still wheel a race car. Nothing can be taken away from him in the regard.

 

[Relly]

I respect Morgan for what he's doing and quite frankly how many other 70 year olds are there that are in major professional sports right now? I personally hope he can raise the funds to race as long as he wants, it would be cool to see him go until he's 75+ IMO.

I would have to agree w/ B.Mckeever though, it's not that hard to get a top 25 in the NWS. You typically have between 5-8 S&P cars and about 12 cars (the 7, 51, 41, 39, 40, 87, 14, 52, 23, 01, 24 and the 70) that typically fight it out between like 17 and 27, so with a little luck and keeping it out of the wall it's not all that hard to finish top 25. Now granted could I go out and get a top 25 in the NWS hell no, but Morgan is a professional racer in a mid level stock car series, w/ a lot of S&P's and underfunded cars its not that challenging a task.

Still I respect Morgan for the fact that he's still going, and when I'm 70 I hope I can be in that good a shape, I wish him luck and hope he can raise some funds.

 

[K.Chuck]

Matt, I think Morgans a great person i just dont like to see someone trying to compete long after their prime. Its not like hes in his 50's, hes 70. Come on, I hate that hes become this kind of driver. He needs to be coaching new talent and crafting future drivers with his equipment. You gotta know when to step out of the ring for the sake of your own legacy.

 

[S. Yogurt]

I like the guy, and I applaud his fundraising efforts. However, he should really get serious about finding an actual sponsor, Jesus doesn't exactly pay for racing fuel and tires every week. What I think he really should do is set out to find a sponsor and not just ask for donations. I like Morgan, don't get me wrong, it's just the poor guy needs a sponsor like so many others out there.

 

[BillyJack79]

I think more people should be more active in looking at developing drivers to have legitimate talent and potential to be competitive in the top series in the sport.

Well put. If you've got money to invest in a race team, why wouldn't you invest in some young driver's future, rather than one who's clinging to the past?

 

[coltsfan93]

It's not hard to finish in the Top 20 in Nationwide series. Look at the cars that show up. "Key Motorsports" has 3 cars that make every race that park. The forth car, isn't very competitive. Jay Robinson's car takes up a spot. Nemecheck does, too.

While you may be right about the Key car and Jay Robinson's car, Nemechek's car is not just "taking up a spot". He usually runs very solidly for a guy who never has a sponsor on his car. This year he's had bad luck with radiator problems at Vegas I believe and then crashing at Daytona after leading several laps. If Nemechek can find a sponsor, he'd be running top 10-15 every week I guarantee it.

 

[B.McKeever]

While you may be right about the Key car and Jay Robinson's car, Nemechek's car is not just "taking up a spot". He usually runs very solidly for a guy who never has a sponsor on his car. This year he's had bad luck with radiator problems at Vegas I believe and then crashing at Daytona after leading several laps. If Nemechek can find a sponsor, he'd be running top 10-15 every week I guarantee it.

You are right, Coltsfan. I realized this after I read back through it. Nemecheck S&Ps his Sprint Cup car to help fund his Nationwide car. My mistake.

 

[MattSRD28]

Matt, I think Morgans a great person i just dont like to see someone trying to compete long after their prime. Its not like hes in his 50's, hes 70. Come on, I hate that hes become this kind of driver. He needs to be coaching new talent and crafting future drivers with his equipment. You gotta know when to step out of the ring for the sake of your own legacy.

Why? If he wants to keep racing, who are any of us to say he shouldn't? Besides, Morgan races as a ministry. It's about more than just results, though results are always nice to have.

I like the guy, and I applaud his fundraising efforts. However, he should really get serious about finding an actual sponsor, Jesus doesn't exactly pay for racing fuel and tires every week. What I think he really should do is set out to find a sponsor and not just ask for donations. I like Morgan, don't get me wrong, it's just the poor guy needs a sponsor like so many others out there.

Morgan sees himself as a missionary, and like any other missionary, he's asking for donations. Morgan wants to get to know people on a personal level. That's why the top prize is a sit-down dinner with him and his wife. It actually crossed my mind to plunk down the $2,000 for it, but then I remembered thanks to Ms. Gillian Zucker, the Nationwide Series won't be in the state of CA for the better part of another year.

Missionaries are concerned with their mission. Corporations are concerned with their likeness. Unless Joel Osteen sponsors Morgan, the two probably won't ever coincide. Morgan obviously sees his ministry message as more important than obtaining said sponsor, and will until lack of sponsorship means the end of his ministry. Morgan doesn't want that to happen, but he'll ask for donations from people before he'll subvert his message for a company's.