Contract Status: Driver: 200?; Sponsor: 200?
- There’s Still Hope At Morgan-McClure: According to Larry McClure, co-owner of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, some folks with big bucks are coming through his Virginia race shop, allowing him to hold out hope that his team will return to Sprint Cup action. In January, the company, announced that it was ceasing operations due to lack of sponsorship. But McClure said Thursday that two Fortune 500 companies and one Latino group are considering sponsoring the #4 Chevy. One of those potential suitors, who McClure said he’s been in contact with on three separate occasions, will be visiting his Abingdon complex next week. Kodak left as the team’s primary sponsor after the 2003 season, and the sponsorship situation has been shaky, at best, since. [The potential sponsors] can afford to do this, and that’s the big thing,” McClure said. “A lot of people want to do it, and then, that’s what’s happened to us the last four or five years. We’ve gotten with people, but they were more wannabes than could-be’s. And then we ended up paying the price for it.” McClure said he has six COTs at the shop raring to go, and that with sponsorship his team can be more competitive than in the past for a couple of reasons. Before funding fell through, he said MMM had an agreement to be a satellite team for one of the “big three” Chevy operations in Cup for 2008 [Hendrick, Childress, DEI]. These kinds of pacts, most recently exhibited when Robby Gordon Motorsports switched to from Ford to Dodge to partner with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports, give a single-car owner some of the benefits of a multiple-car shop. McClure said a return to racing would be contingent on having that kind of alliance and seemed confident that that opportunity would still be there. In addition, McClure said the team had purchased engines from a team that was switching brands. (“You can imagine who that was,” McClure said.) Joe Gibbs Racing switched from Chevy to Toyota for the 2008 season. “We made a large investment to go really fast,” McClure said. The owner added that a realistic goal would be for the team to return at the midway part of the season if things go well.(Long Island Press)(2-29-2008) Comment here
- Morgan-McClure Motorsports closes shop MORE: #4-Morgan-McClure Motorsports closed its doors today [Friday], laying off 28 employees and further damaging any slim hopes the last Virginia-based Sprint Cup team has of competing in its 26th season. Team Manager and co-owner Larry McClure said earlier this afternoon that if the team did not find sponsorship money by the end of today, there would be mass layoffs. The layoffs happened around 3pm. "It's been a good 25 years," McClure said after the announcement. "Circumstances made us take a step back." McClure said he and co-owner and President Tim Morgan would work with their marketing team to continue to search for sponsorship to run the full season. They are working on an agreement to have Mike Wallace drive the #4 Chevy in the Daytona 500, a race Morgan-McClure has won three times. McClure did say if sponsorship came together in the next several weeks, the team would have cars available to race at Daytona.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(1-11-2008)
UPDATE: Morgan-McClure Motorsports President Tim Morgan announced today that operations will be scaled back until a sponsor or investor is found. Many employees were laid off but the organization still remains ready to head to Daytona if a sponsor signs up in time. Tim Morgan, President of Morgan-McClure Motorsports announced today at 3:00pm/et that, "We are basically closing the doors on 25 years of NASCAR racing if we don't find a sponsor. We have been searching for sponsorship for months and decided that if nothing materialized, we would have to cancel testing and release most of our employees." Morgan continues, "We will continue our marketing efforts and still try to put something together but we cannot continue the way we are today."
Larry McClure, Team Manager said, "We will continue to search for sponsorship and if something becomes available, we have the cars ready to go to Daytona. This is a very hard day for me. I've had a lot of fun racing and it's just hard to believe it might come to this. I would like to say thanks to all our fans who have remained loyal through all these years and to thank everyone who has ever supported us in any way, whether it be through this race team or our dealerships. We are still the best bargain in NASCAR if we could just find the right sponsor." Morgan-McClure Motorsports was a force to be reckoned with in the 90's when they won three coveted Daytona 500's, two of them back-to-back. MMM completes 25 years of history that includes 14 wins, 63 top-5's, 146 top-10's and 13 poles.(Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(1-12-2008)
- Latest on the #4 team: With preseason testing beginning next week in Daytona, Sprint Cup teams are finalizing their plan of attack for the 2008 season. The approach at #4-Morgan-McClure Motorsports is radically different. Over the past few weeks, Southwest Virginia’s NASCAR team has lost its crew chief, primary sponsor and driver. "It feels like a hurricane,’’ MMM general manager Larry McClure said. "The way NASCAR has changed, I don’t know if its been good or not.’’ The Morgan-McClure organization, which featured veteran driver Ward Burton last season, has struggled in recent years with lack of sponsorship and driver turnover. Just days before Christmas, McClure learned that State Water Heaters was leaving. According to media reports, the State Water Heaters sponsorship will move to the #66 Haas CNC Racing team with driver Scott Riggs. "I’ve heard the sponsorship went to the 66 car,’’ McClure said "Right now we don’t have a thing.’’ McClure said the agreement with State Water Heaters last year was for 10 races. He was surprised by the change in direction. "It must have been an instant decision because we had no idea it was going to happen,’’ McClure said. "We found out about this before Christmas, then it became official after the holiday. We’ll see how things work out.’’ Lucas Oil will return as an associate sponsor. As for a driver, it appears Burton is gone from the seat of the #4 MMM Chevy. Burton, a former Daytona 500 winner, joined the team with three races remaining in the 2006 season. "[Burton] probably won’t be back,’’ McClure said. "We’re looking at using either Mike Wallace or P.J. Jones for testing next week, then we will go from there. "It’s not going to be hard to find somebody to drive at Daytona. Right now, I’ve got a couple options.’’ One of those options involves a driver bringing a financial package to the team. That step is common in the open-wheel ranks. "We’ve got capable people here for the crew chief role ... the biggest thing we need are sponsorship dollars,’’ McClure said. "We’ve been working on a deal with one of the bigger multicar teams where we could be a satellite team and share some information. That deal is on the table if we get our sponsorship stuff put together.’’ As for the big question of their 2008 schedule, the always-ambitious McClure said to stay tuned. "We’re just going to see how much money we get in the door,’’ McClure said. "We’re not going to race on our own money anymore.’’ On a related note, Abingdon’s Eric McClure plans to runs the Nationwide Series schedule with the Front Row Motorsports team. The Denver, N.C.-based team also plans to field a Sprint Cup car for McClure in the Daytona 500.(Bristol Courier Herald)(1-5-2008)
- State Water Heaters to #66..with Riggs? UPDATE: hearing that State Water Heaters will sponsor the #66 Haas CNC Racing Chevy and that Scott Riggs will drive the car, supposedly Jeremy Mayfield and the #66 crew will move over to the #70 Team. State Water Heaters sponsored the #4 Morgan McClure team and driver Ward Burton in 2007, no word on MMM or Burton's 2008 plans.(1-2-2008)
UPDATE: Scott Riggs told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway Friday that be will drive the #66 Haas CNC Racing Chevy next season, with the Bootie Barker-led team that worked with Johnny Sauter's #70 car last year. In addition, Riggs confirmed that talks are underway to brng State Water Heaters aboard as sponsor. "We're in negotiations pretty heavy with State Water Heaters, and while the deal is not signed, we're hopeful that we can get it done."(1-4-2008)
- Blaney, Harvick and Bodine to pull triple duty at Homestead: Dave Blaney will attempt to qualify a fourth entry for Bill Davis Racing in the Ford 200 at Homestead Miami Speedway. Blaney will be driving the #22 Toyota and will carry the familiar yellow-and-black colors of Caterpillar this weekend. Caterpillar also sponsors Blaney's #22 Nextel Cup Series Camry. Not only will Blaney attempt to qualify a fourth BDR truck this weekend, he will also continue his quest to stay locked into the top 35 in the Nextel Cup Series owners' points standings and compete in the Busch Series as well [in the #10 Braun Racing Toyota](Bill Davis Racing PR)
AND Kevin Harvick will also run all three races at Homestead, in the #29 Shell Chevy in Cup, #21 Chevy in the Busch Series and the #2 Truck in the Craftsman Truck Series race; and Todd Bodine will run all three races: #4 Chevy in Cup, #03-Toyota in Busch and #30-Toyota in Trucks.(11-13-2007)
- Ward out, Bodine in #4 at Homestead: Tim Morgan, President of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, Inc. (MMM), and Larry McClure, Team Manager announced that Todd Bodine will drive the #4 State Water Heaters/Lucas Oil Chevy for Morgan McClure Motorsports in the final race of the season this weekend at Miami-Homestead Speedway. Morgan stated, "Ward has worked hard for us this year, he is a good driver and a friend. Todd has been helpful to us in the past and has agreed to step in and help us benchmark our efforts as we get ready for the 2008 season." Both Ward Burton and the MMM team have agreed that his change is the best way to fully evaluate the performance of the team. Morgan continued, "We are proud to have State Water Heaters back as a sponsor for our team next year. We are currently in the process of negotiating additional sponsorship and selecting a driver for the upcoming 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season."(Morgan McClure Motorsports PR/site)(11-12-2007)
- McClure Motorsports considering options for 2008: Team owner Larry McClure says that his team will be back in Cup racing next season, but he has yet to finalize his plans. McClure has two more years of sponsorship from State Water Heaters, but is looking for additional sponsorship for about 15 races. "We just need something else to come with them and we'll be fine," he said. He has not named a driver for next season. Ward Burton has been driving for the team this season. "I guess we're considering our options," he said. "We still don't have firm sponsorship for the complete season. When we do, then we'll be seriously talking to some people. We've talked to some people, including Ward. It's kind of unclear right now."(SceneDaily.com)(10-29-2007)
- Ward Burton Still Unsure of 2008 Plans: Ward Burton made his return to Nextel Cup racing one year ago at Martinsville after almost two years without a ride. With his one-year contract at Morgan-McClure Motorsports set to expire at the end of the season, the South Boston driver said Saturday he remains unsure of his plans for 2008 and has no timetable for an announcement.(Roanoke Times)(10-21-2007)
- Ward hopes to be back in 2008:#4-Ward Burton said he'd like to return to Morgan-McClure Motorsports next season but that will depend on the team acquiring sponsorship.(Roanoke Times)(9-5-2007)
- Food City partners again with the #4 team: Food City officials have announced that they will once again partner with Morgan-McClure Motorsports and driver Ward Burton on the #4 Chevy for the August 25, 2007 Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.(BMS Site)(8-24-2007)
- Marlin to Morgan-McClure? DENIED: Sterling Marlin may not be without a Nextel Cup ride for long. Late Tuesday a team source at Morgan-McClure Racing which currently fields the #4 Chevy with veteran Ward Burton said that officials there are in discussions with Marlin for a possible second team.(Cup Scene Daily)(7-18-2007)
UPDATE: Morgan McClure team owner Larry McClure told Claire B. Lang on XM Satellite Radio that the rumor is absolutely not true.
McClure: "I know nothing about it. I have talked to no one. I have not talked to Sterling in a year and I have not talked to any of his people."
CBL: By no stretch of the imagination would anyone think that Sterling Marlin is going to go work for you.
McClure: "No mam."(XM Radio)(7-19-2007)
- Layoffs at Morgan-McClure? UPDATE: been told by multiple sources that Morgan-McClure Motorsports, who fields the #4 State Water Heaters Chevy for Ward Burton, has temporarily laid off 14 employees this week, including a long time member of the engine shop.(7-5-2007)
UPDATE: Morgan-McClure Motorsports in conjunction with primary sponsor State Water Heaters continue to search for additional
sponsorship for their #4 Chevrolet currently running in the Nextel Cup Series. State Water Heaters (Ashland City, TN) signed up to be primary sponsor for 12 races in the 2007 season with the hope of bringing along a co-sponsor. When that didn't happen, Morgan-McClure and State focused even harder on the continuing search for additional funding. "We've had to look at every aspect of our team and try to find places where we can cut back until additional sponsor money is secured," said Morgan-McClure President Larry McClure at the Abingdon, Va. based race shop Tuesday. "We have temporarily released five employees and have every intention of bringing them back as soon as it is possible. Everyone remaining here is making sacrifices to keep this team going in 2007. We probably have the best team we have had in five years. The outlook for 2008 is much better, but first we have to get thru 2007. These guys are like family to me. Telling them they could no longer work here was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I feel responsible for them and taking their jobs away was tough," McClure continued. I look at the money we have been operating on as compared to some of these other teams who are outside the top 35 in owner points and I can't help but think if we had even half the budget they have, there's no telling what we could do. This top 35 rule is hurting a lot of us. I think if you looked at qualifying as just the top 43 fastest cars, we would have only missed a couple races. But the rules are what they are and we are trying to make the best of it with what we have. We continue to search for primary and associate sponsors for the remainder of 2007 and I believe there are good partners out there somewhere for this team," said McClure as he monitored preparations of the Chicago race cars.(Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(7-11-2007)
- Chevy unveils paint schemes to commemorate 50 Years of the '57 Chevy: One of the most recognizable cars in American motoring history reaches a notable milestone this year, a milestone which NASCAR, Chevy and Motorsports Authentics proudly celebrate. The 1957 Chevrolet, a car which turns 50 years old this year, will be commemorated at August 19’s 3M Performance 400 Nextel Cup race at Michigan International Speedway by at least 11 Team Chevy drivers. Unveiled by Jimmie Johnson at MIS today, a Monte Carlo SS race car featuring decals with cues from the iconic 1957 design is similar to the ones Johnson and other Team Chevy drivers will race during the August event. On August 18, ’57 Chevys along with many other historic vehicles will hit the streets during Metro Detroit’s Woodward Dream Cruise. That same weekend, Team Chevy Nextel Cup Series drivers #4-Ward Burton, #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #14-Sterling Marlin, #01-Mark Martin, #15-Paul Menard, #96-Tony Raines, #1-Martin Truex, Jr., #78-Kenny Wallace and #18-J.J. Yeley will take to the track at MIS with their cars wearing special ’57 Chevy paint schemes. To commemorate this special event, Motorsports Authentics will replicate their cars with die-cast models and offer apparel and novelty items related to the event.(GM Racing PR), see an image of the #48 Scheme on my #48 Team Schemes page.(6-16-2007)
- Morgan-McClure sues 360 OTC: #4-Morgan-McClure Motorsports has sued 360 OTC parent company Rockford-Montgomery Labs in federal court in Atlanta. The team claims that it signed a $10.1 million deal for the company to sponsor Morgan-McClure's #4 car in 2007. Because of the sponsorship, McClure planned on running two cars next season and had outlined a tentative agreement with driver Johnny Sauter, according to the lawsuit and the accompanying documents. The sponsorship deal was signed June 14, 2006, but 360 OTC announced on Aug. 25, 2006 that it would sponsor Bill Davis Racing's #36 team and driver Jeremy Mayfield. In its complaint, Morgan-McClure claims the team was assured that Rockford-Montgomery Labs would still continue with its Morgan-McClure obligations in addition to the BDR commitments. With that knowledge, according to the suit, Morgan-McClure pursued a deal with Sauter, who was driving in the Busch Series for Haas CNC Racing last year. The deal was worth $450,000 in base salary plus 35% of all winnings and 33% of merchandise sales. Rockford-Montgomery Labs then told Morgan-McClure it would terminate the sponsorship agreement Nov. 1 citing poor 2006 performance, the lack of a driver and the lack of time to prepare promotional materials. The company has not paid Morgan-McClure any money, according to the complaint. Because the sponsorship did not come through, Morgan-McClure could not commit to Sauter, who wound up staying at Haas CNC Racing and driving a second Nextel Cup car for the team this year. In its response, Rockford-Montgomery Labs denies most of the allegations. It also states that McClure sent an e-mail to the company in late October saying it had not been able to finalize a deal for Sauter. The sponsorship deal was for one year with three one-year options at the same $10.1 million per year. Team owner Larry McClure and Sauter declined comment. Representatives of Rockford-Montgomery Labs could not be reached for comment.(SceneDaily.com)(5-11-2007)
- NASCAR donates $160,000 to Virginia Tech memorial fund: For the last three weeks, NASCAR's Nextel Cup cars have all displayed a Virginia Tech logo with a black background in a show of support for the victims and families of the massacre that left 33 dead in Blacksburg on April 16. On Saturday night the decals were just a symbol, and the support was something more tangible: money. In prerace introductions, Virginia drivers Jeff and Ward Burton, Elliott Sadler and Denny Hamlin presented Hokies football coach Frank Beamer with a check for $120,000 for the Hokies Spirit Memorial Fund. And Richmond International Raceway president Doug Fritz presented him with a check for $40,000, also for the memorial fund, that he said was given by RIR and some sister tracks also owned by International Speedway Corp.(Associated Press/ESPN)(5-6-2007)
- ITT Night Vision Joins Morgan-McClure Motorsports in Tribute to Virginia Tech: Morgan-McClure Motorsports President Larry
McClure announced today that ITT Night Vision, a Roanoke, Va. based company, is joining State Water Heaters on the #4 Chevy Impala driven by Ward Burton. A special scheme will be run this weekend at Richmond International Raceway that will include a large VT hood decal in tribute to nearby Virginia Tech. (Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(5-2-2007)
- Ward Burton and Eric McClure to Wear Virginia Tech Helmets at Richmond: Two NASCAR drivers are honoring Virginia Tech this weekend by sporting helmets especially designed to pay tribute to the school. Virginia natives #4-Ward Burton and Eric McClure (#0 in the Busch Series) will don the customized headgear during this weekend's races at Richmond. McClure is racing in the Busch Series Circuit City 250 on Friday, while Burton is racing Saturday in the Crown Royal 400 Nextel Cup Series race. Both helmets are being designed and hand painted by David Arrigo, an acclaimed artist from Ontario. As for the actual design of the helmets, both will feature the American flag, along with images of Virginia Tech set against the backdrop of a rising sun. Burton's helmet will also have a rose in bloom. McClure's will portray a Virginia Tech student reading. The American flag on the helmets will feature 32 stars, in honor of the number of victims.(Richmond.com)(5-1-2007)
- Miccosukee Indian Gaming Joins State Water Heaters on the #4 at Talladega: A joint venture by James Finch and Morgan-McClure Motorsports has allowed the #4 team to represent Miccosukee Indian Gaming along with State Water Heaters and Virginia Tech in today's Aaron's 499. "We are proud to represent Miccosukee this weekend on our State Water Heaters Chevy. We had a really good qualifying run yesterday and now we are just going to try to make it through the day today and stay clear of the 'big one',"
said driver Ward Burton. Burton qualified 15th yesterday in qualifying for the Aaron's 499.(Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(4-29-2007)
- Ward visits Virginia Tech: #4-Ward Burton spent five hours Monday at Virginia Tech where he ate with mechanical engineering faculty members, mingled with students and visited memorials dedicated to the victims of last week’s shootings.
Burton came to campus from his Halifax home Monday morning with wife, Tabitha, and 14-year-old son, Jeb, who has aspirations of becoming a Tech student. “We just wanted to come show our support,” said Burton, who was invited by a friend in the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. Burton said the tragedy has had a significant impact on the NASCAR community because of the number of Tech engineering alumni who work on Cup teams. “I’m a Virginian and I know that Virginia Tech has had influence from urban to rural all over the state of Virginia,” said Burton, who donates annually to the university. “It’s just a far-reaching institution that does so many great things for the state of Virginia.” Burton is in talks with car owner Larry McClure about displaying the Tech colors at races later this season. “It’s just sad that there are people that are discontented in the world and there are people that are that angry in the world that they take it out at innocent people,” Burton said. “Everybody is going to rally around this institution and it’s going to rise way above this tragedy and even be more powerful and make more of a difference than it ever did before.”(Roanoke Times)(4-24-2007)
- Ward Burton to Visit Virginia Tech: There are many things close to Ward Burton's heart -- family, conservation efforts, racing. But this weekend it's Virginia Tech. News of the more than 30 students and employees killed on the Virginia Tech campus prompted the Virginia-based team to swap its traditional paint scheme for the VT logo on the hood of Burton's #4 Chevy this weekend at the Phoenix International Raceway. Burton's Morgan-McClure Motorsports team is the only one at the Nextel Cup level that is based out of Virginia, and owner Larry McClure had an vital role in getting permission to use the logo. To further demonstrate his Virginia pride, Burton will visit the campus on Monday offering his condolences and support to the students and staff at the university.(NASCAR.com)(4-21-2007)
- Morgan-McClure Shows Support for Virginia Tech at Phoenix: The #4 State Water Heaters Chevy Impala SS will undergo a slight transformation this weekend in Phoenix. Morgan-McClure Motorsports and Ward Burton will be sporting a large Virginia Tech logo on the hood and smaller decals on each side of their entry in this weekend's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, VA is only a little more than an hour's drive from the Morgan-McClure Motorsports facility in Abingdon, VA. Morgan-McClure President, Larry McClure said today, "The tragic loss of life at Virginia Tech this week is heavy on all our hearts. We decided immediately to utilize our #4 State Water Heaters Chevy Impala to recognize and honor the students, faculty and families of Virginia Tech this weekend at Phoenix. Virginia Tech is near and dear to our hearts. My family follows their athletic programs and we feel a closeness to the campus which is practically in our back yard. We currently have a VT student, Blake Ray, who is working as an Engineering Intern for Morgan-McClure. Even though he was away on a project in Florida when this tragedy happened, he still is affected by the loss of fellow students and faculty members. Being the only Virginia based Nextel Cup team and having Ward Burton, a Virginia native driver, we felt it important to show our support for VT as they try to recover from this horrible tragedy."
Ward Burton expressed his sadness over the events at Virginia Tech, "I have lived in Virginia all my life and Virginia Tech has always been a big part of this state. I am surrounded by people who are either graduates of Virginia Tech, or they have kids who attend. This is not just a community or state tragedy, it's a national one. I am saddened by this negative publicity for Virginia Tech, but Virginia Tech, its students, their colleagues and employees and the whole state of Virginia is going to rally around this institution." Burton continues, "Personally, my Wildlife Foundation [WBWF] has a partnership with Virginia Tech and we value that partnership very dearly. We are working together very hard to do a lot of positive conservation outreach projects with the state of Virginia. We've been talking with our friends at VT all week trying to offer them support. I'm really proud that Larry [McClure] and Tim [Morgan] have allowed this race team to show their support by putting them [VT] on the race car. Virginia Tech will rise above this and this is our way, for the time being, to help them and show our support."(Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(4-18-2007)
- NOTE on #4/#09 Owners Points: have confirmed thru the team and NASCAR that the #109 team of James Finch/Phoenix Racing and the #4 team of Larry McClure/Morgan McClure Motorsports have 'switched' car numbers with Finch now listed as the #4 owner, combing the #109's Daytona points [160] with the #4 points at Las Vegas [34] for a total of 194 and moving up to 38th on the Owners Points list. The switch was made AFTER California, so the #09 team had one attempt. Been told NASCAR has approved this move. Why would the #4 team do this? Race attempts do not matter if a team is in the top 35 of the owners points, so if the #4 can get in the next two races and get in the top-35 they will be guaranteed a starting spot if the team can stay in the top 35.
My 'understanding' of the rules, is that since the #4 is now listed with only 2 race attempts, the team would not get in the race in the case qualifying is cancelled [rain etc] as there are many teams already with three who would get in first. That is how the rule is written, and confirmed with NASCAR.(3-14-2007)
- New site for MMM: #4 Morgan McClure Motorsports sponsor, State Water Heaters, has a new website for the team: State Racing: stateracing.com.(3-13-2007)
- NOTE AFTER LAS VEGAS: from what I am told the #109 team of James Finch/Phoenix Racing and the #4 team of Larry McClure/Morgan McClure Motorsports have 'switched' car numbers with Finch now listed as the #4 owner, combing the #109's Daytona points [160] with the #4 points at Las Vegas [34] for a total of 194 and moving up to 38th on the Owners Points list. Been told NASCAR has approved this move. The question is, now both teams are listed with 2 race attempts. If qualifying is rained out it goes by race attempts THEN Owners points position as the tie breaker, so this would [?] knock the #4 team out. Working on clarifying that rule.(3-12-2007)
- Ward Burton to run special scheme in Coke 600: #4-Ward Burton and the Morgan-McClure Motorsports team will run a special State Water Heaters U.S. Air Force car with a special paint scheme in the Coca-Cola 600 Lowe's Motor Speedway in May that includes the U.S. Air Force 60th Anniversary seal on the hood, see an image of the scheme on my #4 Team Schemes page.(3-5-2007)
- Ward Burton to Drive for Brewco in Busch Series: Brewco Motorsports Inc. announced that Ward Burton will drive the #27 Kleenex Ford in the Busch Series in 2007. Burton will drive 20 races for Brewco and Kleenex Racing, beginning with the Daytona 300. The driver of the remaining 2007 races in the #27 Kleenex Ford will be named in the coming weeks.(Brewco PR), David Green started the 2006 season in the #27 and Casey Atwood finished the season, no word on Atwood's 2007 plans.(1-2-2007)
- Ward signs with Morgan-McClure; has a sponsor: UPDATE Official Announcement: per the Morgan-McClure Motorsports website [see images of the car there], Ward Burton has signed to driver the #4 Morgan McClure Motorsports Chevy in 2007 to be sponsored by State Water Heaters.(MMM Site)(12-13-2006)
UPDATE: State Water Heaters and Morgan-McClure Motorsports announced a deal to sponsor the #4 Chevy. The announcement was made complete with the signing today also of Ward Burton as driver for the #4 State Water Heaters Chevy for the Nextel Cup 2007 season.(Morgan-McClure PR)(12-14-2006), also see images of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.
- Ward close to being named #4 driver in 2007: After a long hiatus, Ward Burton is slated to be the full-time driver of the #4 next year. "We haven't completely signed the deal, but we've agreed on one," team owner Larry McClure said. "So it looks like he'll have a good shot at being back in the car next year." Burton's last gig as a full-time driver ended here at Phoenix back in 2004 when he broke a rear end about two-thirds of the way through the event and finished a disappointing 40th in Gene Haas' #0 [now #66] Chevy. To the consternation of his fans, Burton fell off the NASCAR landscape for a time after that. Offers came Burton's way for rides that would have been less than competitive, and he has admitted in the past that perhaps he was a little too picky when he turned them down. When McClure and driver Scott Wimmer agreed to part ways this fall, an outcry from Burton's fans was answered. McClure put the Virginia native behind the wheel of the #4 Chevy for a one-off race at Burton's hometown track in Martinsville in October. Burton started 35th in the Subway 500 and ran respectably all afternoon. Simply staying on the lead lap is an accomplishment on the half-mile Virginia bullring, and Burton kept the Chevy on the same circuit as the leaders to go the full 500-lap distance and finish 26th. Todd Bodine already was slated to start in the #4 car at Atlanta the following week, so Burton's rabid fans had to wait a little while longer to see if he would return. He did just that at Texas Motor Speedway, qualifying in the back of the pack in 37th and finishing one lap off the pace in 25th. Burton's fan base is a big part of the reason why the team is about to put him behind the wheel for the 2007 season.(Yahoo Sports)(11-11-2006)
- Bodine back in the #4 at Atlanta; Ward at Texas UPDATE: SPEED's Bob Dilner reported on the SPEED Report that Todd Bodine is scheduled to be back in the #4 Morgan McClure Sports Chevy at next weeks Atlanta race and Ward Burton could be back in the car at Texas on the first weekend in November.(10-23-2006)
UPDATE: Ward Burton will return to drive the #4 Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 5. Morgan-mcclure.com will provide performance & media updates throughout the weekend. Ward Burton #4 t-shirts will be available for sale through www.morgan-mcclure.com in the coming days. Any individual or company who would like to support Ward Burton and Morgan-McClure, see www.morgan-mcclure.com.(Morgan McClure Motorsports)(10-27-2006)
- Ward NOT signed to run more races with #4, but could be; #4 has sponsor for 2007: Ward Burton hasn't been offered a deal for next season to drive the #4 Chevrolet that he will drive in Sunday's race, but he is the front-runner. "We're looking awfully hard at him,'' said car owner Larry McClure. "From the looks of the tremendous popularity of Ward here, it's hard to discount what he's worth.'' McClure said he's agreed to a sponsorship deal for the #4 next season and is trying to get a deal to start a second team.(NASCAR.com)(10-22-2006)
- Ward's plans UPDATE: Ward Burton told Sirius Speedway (MRN/Sirius Satellite Radio) Monday that there is still an outside chance that he might team-up with Robert Yates Racing in the future, but he now believes the team is looking elsewhere for a driver. "Teams need economic support to race," he said. "If Robert Yates Racing aligned itself with someone like me -- an older driver -- they could lose an opportunity elsewhere that they don't know about yet. It takes a concerted effort by the driver, the team and its marketing department to make a sponsorship deal happen, and I guess I don't feel like that concerted effort has been made. Nothing against Robert and Doug Yates. They're in a situation that they haven't been in before, and it's foreign to them." Burton said there is a possibility that this weekend's one-off ride with Morgan-McClure Racing could turn into something more long-term, but stressed that talks are still at a very early stage.(Sirius Speedway)(10-17-2006)
UPDATE: Ward Burton, a five-time Nextel Cup winner who hasn't raced since the fall of 2004 at Phoenix, will return this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Burton will drive the #4 Chevy for Morgan-McClure Motorsports through the end of the season and is a candidate to drive the car full-time next year.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(10-20-2006)
- Ward to run the #4 at Martinsville: Ward Burton will return to the Nextel Cup Series for the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway, attempting to make his first series start in almost two years. He will be driving the #4 Lucas Oil Chevy for Morgan
McClure Racing out of Abingdon, VA. "He's expressed a lot of interest in driving," said Chris Carrier, crew chief for the Morgan-McClure team. "He's a Virginia driver and we're a Virginia team. That makes for a great combination at Martinsville." One of Burton's seven NEXTEL Cup poles came at Martinsville (1997) as did one of his four Busch Series victories (1993). Burton and the team hope to test at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford this week to help prepare for the SUBWAY 500. Ticket prices for the SUBWAY 500 range from $42 to $77. Tickets for the Kroger 200 are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the event. Kroger 200 tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are $5.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-15-2006)
UPDATE: Virginia is the name of the game at Morgan-McClure Motorsports as the announcement of Ward Burton as the driver for Martinsville this weekend was made official at noon today. Burton last competed at the Nextel Cup level at Phoenix in 2004 in the NetZero car fielded by Gene Haas. In his 356 race Cup career, Burton has accumulated five wins, 24 top fives, 82 top tens and seven poles with an average start of 20th and average finish of 21.8. Morgan-McClure President and Team Manager Larry McClure is excited to have the Virginia native in the car at one of the three tracks the Virginia-based team calls "home". "We have been talking with Ward (Burton) about driving for us and it just so happened that we got everything worked out for him to drive at Martinsville. We are searching for options for the 2007 season and Ward is certainly a consideration. We plan to test with him this week and then head to Martinsville. His seat was completed this weekend and we have been installing it today with his help. I've known Ward for a long time and we are happy to have him in our car for some of the remaining races."
Burton too is excited about returning to the sport, "I've been gone long enough and now I'm ready to get back behind the wheel and race. I know there have been some changes since I last drove with the tires used and different set-ups but that just means I have to step up and get used to those changes faster and be ready to race this weekend. I'm anxious to get back in the car and be on track again and get back out there with our fans. I appreciate the opportunity from Larry and Morgan-McClure to get back in the car and I'm looking forward to having a good time with them at Martinsville. " Morgan-McClure Motorsports sits 39th in Nextel Cup owner's points so Burton will be required to qualify on time at Martinsville.(Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(10-17-2006)
- Wimmer and Morgan-McClure part ways, Todd Bodine in #4 at Talladega: #4-Morgan-McClure President, Larry McClure announced today the mutually agreed upon release of Scott Wimmer as their full-time driver for the remainder of the 2006 season. Wimmer and McClure have agreed to part ways now, allowing the team to possibly utilize some veteran experience to diagnose the existing cars as well as try some potential drivers for 2007. Wimmer remains available to assist the team at any of the remaining events for 2006. "We are sorry to lose Scott, but at the same time we all have to do what is best for each of us. He is one of the nicest young men I've had the opportunity to work with and we enjoyed having him with us this year and getting to know him and his family. I knew he was going to have to make a decision soon about his future in the sport and we wish him nothing but the best in his next endeavor," said McClure early Tuesday morning from his Abingdon, VA based facility. "We just decided to go different ways in '07. We were working real hard to put sponsorship together and get things going in the right direction and it just never seemed to materialize. I think we had a successful season, we ran real well at times, especially with losing our sponsor so early and having to go through all that. Unfortunately, we just couldn't find the consistency we needed and missed a few races. But I think we ran real good at other ones and definitely were building something. We just never could get decent funding or the sponsorship we needed, so we decided to go different ways in '07," said Wimmer of his departure. Wimmer continued, "I really enjoyed the time that I was there. I think that they are great car owners and great people and definitely deserve to have success in this sport like they used to. I wish them the best and hope they can find what they had back in the 90's and be successful like they were there."
There were several options McClure considered before naming Todd Bodine as the driver for the next two races. "Todd got in our car last year at Homestead and really went out and showed us what we were capable of, so he was a good choice for us. We are looking forward to getting to Talladega and working with Todd again."(Morgan-McClure PR)(10-3-2006)
