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Wikipedia

Morgan–McClure Motorsports

Morgan–McClure Motorsports was an American auto racing team that competed in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time until 2007. It operated for 28 years, starting in 1983 and ending in 2012. The team was most notable for running the No. 4 from 1983 to 2010. The team notably won the Daytona 500 three times during the 1990s. They won with Ernie Irvan in 1991, then won back-to-back in 1994–1995 with Sterling Marlin. Irvan (1992) and Marlin (1996) also each won the Pepsi 400 for a total of five points-paying wins at Daytona for the team over a six-year period.

History edit

Starting out edit

 
Tommy Ellis in 1984

Morgan–McClure Motorsports was owned by business partners Larry McClure and Tim Morgan. It began in 1983 when the two purchased a race car from G. C. Spencer. The car debuted at Talladega Superspeedway and was piloted by Connie Saylor. The car finished 40th after suffering engine failure. After firing Connie because they wanted a younger driver and after obtaining the rights to No. 4 & the car he drove for G. C. Spencer, Mark Martin took over the driving duties later that year, and had one top-10 finish. In 1984, the team signed Folgers as a sponsor and began racing as car No. 4. Tommy Ellis ran twenty races that year for the team, with Lennie Pond and Joe Ruttman running the rest of the schedule. Ruttman drove sixteen races for them next season, notching one top-5 and four top-10 finishes. In 1986, MMM got Eastman Kodak sponsorship and signed Rick Wilson to handle the driving chores. Wilson got the team its first pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1988, its first full season on the circuit. When Wilson announced he was leaving the team in 1989, the team was eighth in points.

The prime years edit

 
1997 car at Pocono

For the 1990 season, the team hired Phil Parsons, but after three races, Parsons was released in favor of Ernie Irvan. In his first race with the team, Irvan started 30th, and finished third. Two races later, Irvan won his first pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway. The team switched from Oldsmobile to Chevrolet in order to get more manufacturer support. Their first race after the switch was at the 1990 Bud at the Glen. Irvan picked up his first career victory, as well as the first victory for MMM the following week at Bristol, in the Busch 500. The next season, Irvan won the Daytona 500 and The Bud at the Glen (The latter was marred by the death of popular veteran J. D. McDuffie). When the checkered flag fell at the end of the season, the team was fifth in points. The next season, Irvan won three races over a two-month stretch, at Sears Point International Raceway, the Pepsi 400 at the Daytona International Speedway, and at Talladega Superspeedway, respectively. In 1993, Irvan won the pole twice, as well as a victory at Talladega. When Davey Allison died in an aircraft accident, Robert Yates asked Irvan to take his place. Irvan wanted out of his contract with MMM, and it ensued into an ugly lawsuit. Irvan was able to get out, but there were hurt feelings on both sides.

For the 1994 season, the team hired Sterling Marlin to drive. In his first race in the team, Marlin won the Daytona 500, beating out, ironically, Irvan. Marlin won the 500 the next year as well, in addition to two more races at Darlington Speedway and Talladega. In 1996, Marlin won two races, at Talladega and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona.

Struggles edit

 
The No. 4 car in 2007

After the team went winless with Marlin in 1997, finishing 25th in points, the team and Marlin decided to part ways. MMM hired two-time race winner Bobby Hamilton. Hamilton led 378 out of 500 laps and won from the pole at Martinsville Speedway and finished 10th in the final points standings. Soon, the team was not able repeat its success, and Hamilton left for Andy Petree Racing in 2001. He was replaced by Robby Gordon, but Gordon struggled in the ride and was released after just five races. Mike Skinner and Kevin Lepage shared the driving duties for two years without much success. In 2003, MMM switched to Pontiac. They lost their Kodak sponsorship in 2004, but MMM remained open, switching back to Chevrolet (almost being required to do so, as Pontiac had withdrawn from the Cup series at the end of 2003). Jimmy Spencer drove the car most of that year, and team co-owner Larry McClure's son Eric drove another team car to finish 26th at Talladega Superspeedway. For 2005, the team signed Lucas Oil as a sponsor, and hired Mike Wallace to drive. Wallace was replaced by John Andretti, P. J. Jones, and Todd Bodine for some of the races in 2005. In 2006, Scott Wimmer was announced as the 2006 driver with new sponsorship from the Utah-based AERO Exhaust. Wimmer had an average start of 35th and average of finish 29th, no wins, top fives, or top tens. On October 3, 2006, Larry McClure announced that the team and Wimmer parted ways. They hired Todd Bodine to drive the next two races, Charlotte and Atlanta, until they could find a permanent replacement. The last three races the team hired veteran Ward Burton, who at the time had not driven in the Cup Series in several years. On December 12, 2006, MMM announced they signed Burton to take full-time seat in 2007 with sponsorship from State Water Heaters. Burton was released before the last race of the 2007 season. Furthermore, Morgan–McClure Motorsports shut down weeks shy of the 2008 Daytona 500 due to financial problems, but had agreed to let Mike Wallace drive in the 2008 Daytona 500 if sponsorship was found. Sponsorship was found, but Larry McClure said that he was tired of just sliding by and would come back when major sponsorship could be secured. When Tony Stewart announced on August 14 that Ryan Newman would drive the No. 4 car in 2009, Morgan–McClure Motorsports protested. Tim Morgan stated, "There's some sweat and history in that number 4. We feel like it ours,[1]" in an article for the Bristol Herald Courier. After discussions with MMM and NASCAR, on August 18 Stewart announced that Newman would drive the No. 39 instead of a No. 4 car in 2009. In 2014 Stewart did acquire the No. 4 to use with driver Kevin Harvick, who replaced Newman and the No. 39 in the 2014 season.

Rumors indicated that Morgan–McClure Motorsports would prepare a No. 4 Chevy to attempt the 2009 Daytona 500, but this did not happen. On April 11, 2009, the team made public their intentions to attempt the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway with driver Eric McClure in the No. 4 Hefty/Walmart Chevy, however the team failed to qualify for the race. Scott Wimmer attempted to qualify the car at Bristol. Wimmer made the event, Morgan–McClure's first start since 2007. He finished 29th. Wimmer also attempted Dover but they were the only team to not qualify.

Since 2009, legal problems have prevented Morgan–McClure from actively competing. Larry McClure was charged with federal income tax fraud for not reporting $269,000 for cars used in the ARCA series. He was also forced to pay back $60,000 to Eastman-Kodak for falsifying an invoice. McClure spent eighteen months in jail and works at a family car dealership.

MMM returned to the Cup Series at Bristol in August 2010, but Kevin Lepage failed to qualify for the race. The team never attempted another race again, with their No. 4 being used by Red Bull Racing Team for Kasey Kahne in 2011 without any objections from Morgan-McClure. The team closed its doors in 2012.[2]

Driver history edit

Motorsports career results edit

NASCAR Cup Series edit

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Car No. 4 results edit

NASCAR Cup Series results
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
1983 Connie Saylor 4 Olds DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL
40
NSV DOV BRI CLT RSD POC [N 1]
Mark Martin MCH
27
DAY
19
NSV POC MCH
18
BRI DAR
17
RCH DOV MAR NWS
Chevy TAL
10
CLT
33
CAR ATL
DNQ
RSD
1984 Lennie Pond DAY
13
RCH
20
CAR
25
ATL
39
[N 1]
Tommy Ellis BRI
28
NWS
29
DAR
23
MAR
29
TAL
13
NSV
14
DOV CLT
14
RSD POC MCH
38
DAY
14
NSV
11
POC
34
TAL
9
MCH
36
BRI
28
DAR
19
RCH
15
DOV
34
MAR
17
CLT
33
NWS
14
Joe Ruttman CAR
34
ATL
35
RSD
10
1985 DAY
17
RCH CAR
6
ATL
26
BRI
29
DAR
11
NWS MAR TAL
30
DOV CLT
7
RSD POC
35
MCH DAY
35
POC TAL
33
MCH BRI
13
DAR
9
RCH DOV
33
MAR NWS CLT
5
CAR
40
ATL
32
RSD [N 1]
1986 Rick Wilson Olds DAY
7
RCH CAR ATL
39
BRI
12
DAR
15
NWS MAR MCH
8
DAY
21
POC
10
TAL
11
GLN
23
MCH
40
BRI
26
DAR
28
RCH DOV
32
MAR NWS CLT
29
CAR ATL
14
RSD
40
[N 1]
Chevy TAL
8
DOV
Lake Speed Olds CLT
14
RSD POC
1987 Rick Wilson DAY
37
CAR RCH ATL
11
DAR
34
NWS BRI MAR TAL
20
CLT
30
DOV
29
POC RSD
14
MCH
30
DAY
30
POC
40
TAL
16
GLN
21
MCH
12
BRI
7
DAR
28
RCH DOV
27
MAR NWS CLT
30
CAR RSD
18
ATL
27
[N 1]
1988 DAY
15
RCH
DNQ
CAR
36
ATL
10
DAR
27
BRI
25
NWS
28
MAR
25
TAL
35
CLT
18*
DOV
7
RSD
33
POC
25
MCH
41
DAY
2
POC
13
TAL
4
GLN
12
MCH
9
BRI
23
DAR
38
RCH
33
DOV
24
MAR
16
CLT
25
NWS
20
CAR
22
PHO
29
ATL
17
[N 1]
1989 DAY
8
CAR
17
ATL
6
RCH
17
DAR
11
BRI
21
NWS
30
MAR
4
TAL
15
CLT
35
DOV
14
SON
8
POC
27
MCH
6
DAY
29
POC
25
TAL
5
GLN
8
MCH
32
BRI
27
DAR
11
RCH
22
DOV
19
MAR
18
CLT
41
NWS
29
CAR
13
PHO
40
ATL
18
[N 1]
1990 Phil Parsons DAY
42
RCH
26
CAR
14
[N 1]
Ernie Irvan ATL
3
DAR
32
BRI
16
NWS
16
MAR
15
TAL
4
CLT
5
DOV
7
SON
7
POC
17
MCH
2
DAY
33
POC
26
MAR
11
NWS
6
Chevy TAL
6
GLN
28
MCH
35
BRI
1
DAR
2
RCH
12
DOV
26
CLT
27
CAR
9
PHO
9
ATL
7
1991 DAY
1
RCH
27
CAR
6
ATL
14
DAR
7
BRI
2
NWS
10
MAR
15
TAL
32
CLT
7
DOV
4
SON
4
POC
6
MCH
5
DAY
5*
POC
7*
TAL
33
GLN
1*
MCH
7
BRI
18
DAR
2
RCH
4
DOV
28
MAR
4
NWS
33
CLT
30
CAR
31
PHO
6
ATL
2
[N 1]
1992 DAY
28
CAR
11
RCH
15
ATL
25
DAR
26
BRI
24
NWS
13
MAR
25
TAL
5
CLT
2
DOV
4
SON
1
POC
19
MCH
30
DAY
1*
POC
37
TAL
1
GLN
3*
MCH
4
BRI
28
DAR
25
RCH
11
DOV
11
MAR
27
NWS
6
CLT
6
CAR
2
PHO
34
ATL
29
[N 1]
1993 DAY
37
CAR
3
RCH
11
ATL
2
DAR
22
BRI
23
NWS
11
MAR
32
TAL
1
SON
2
CLT
5
DOV
32
POC
34
MCH
3
DAY
7
NHA
15
POC
31
TAL
2
GLN
15
MCH
32
BRI
26
[N 1]
Jeff Purvis DAR
26
RCH
16
DOV
13
MAR
17
NWS
25
Joe Nemechek CLT
25
CAR
23
Jimmy Hensley PHO
32
ATL
25
1994 Sterling Marlin DAY
1
CAR
2
RCH
19
ATL
25
DAR
34
BRI
8
NWS
17
MAR
27
TAL
8
SON
29
CLT
15
DOV
8
POC
38
MCH
34
DAY
28
NHA
10
POC
12
TAL
5
IND
14
GLN
26
MCH
34
BRI
6
DAR
5
RCH
13
DOV
30
MAR
7
NWS
31
CLT
36
CAR
14
PHO
3
ATL
40
15th 3443
1995 DAY
1*
CAR
12
RCH
5
ATL
7
DAR
1
BRI
9
NWS
7
MAR
13
TAL
39
SON
7
CLT
4
DOV
7
POC
4
MCH
7
DAY
2*
NHA
9
POC
18
TAL
1
IND
7
GLN
21
MCH
4
BRI
7
DAR
10
RCH
33
DOV
6
MAR
23
NWS
15
CLT
6
CAR
6
PHO
12
ATL
2
3rd 4361
1996 DAY
40
CAR
6
RCH
11
ATL
13
DAR
11
BRI
18
NWS
5
MAR
10
TAL
1*
SON
15
CLT
6
DOV
41
POC
11
MCH
3*
DAY
1*
NHA
29
POC
6
TAL
29
IND
39
GLN
11
MCH
33
BRI
18
DAR
8
RCH
21
DOV
17
MAR
31
NWS
11
CLT
4
CAR
13
PHO
27
ATL
15
8th 3682
1997 DAY
5
CAR
20
RCH
19
ATL
23
DAR
32
TEX
8
BRI
20
MAR
21
SON
26
TAL
39
CLT
40
DOV
10
POC
15
MCH
17
CAL
36
DAY
3
NHA
22
POC
20
IND
43
GLN
13
MCH
43
BRI
10
DAR
40
RCH
39
NHA
39
DOV
27
MAR
39
CLT
20
TAL
38
CAR
9
PHO
27
ATL
11
25th 2954
1998 Bobby Hamilton DAY
12
CAR
9
LVS
20
ATL
21
DAR
35
BRI
18
TEX
26
MAR
1*
TAL
30
CAL
27
CLT
20
DOV
17
RCH
16
MCH
38
POC
20
SON
2
NHA
15
POC
20
IND
20
GLN
13
MCH
20
BRI
11
NHA
34
DAR
23
RCH
6
DOV
10
MAR
14
CLT
4
TAL
15
DAY
21
PHO
21
CAR
6
ATL
6
10th 3786
1999 DAY
29
CAR
9
LVS
24
ATL
12
DAR
7
TEX
29
BRI
18
MAR
33
TAL
31
CAL
30
RCH
4
CLT
13
DOV
21
MCH
31
POC
10
SON
11
DAY
8
NHA
16
POC
17
IND
38
GLN
22
MCH
35
BRI
41
DAR
7
RCH
7
NHA
11
DOV
30
MAR
30
CLT
22
TAL
9
CAR
10
PHO
23
HOM
25
ATL
10
13th 3564
2000 DAY
43
CAR
40
LVS
34
ATL
13
DAR
7
BRI
15
TEX
16
MAR
18
TAL
43
CAL
18
RCH
31
CLT
34
DOV
27
MCH
43
POC
40
SON
16
DAY
36
NHA
22
POC
39
IND
40
GLN
16
MCH
14
BRI
34
DAR
22
RCH
38
NHA
35
DOV
25
MAR
35
CLT
34
TAL
36
CAR
9
PHO
43
HOM
31
ATL
16
32nd 2715
2001 Robby Gordon DAY
37
CAR
26
LVS
34
ATL
20
DAR
29
37th 2759
Kevin Lepage BRI
15
TEX
11
MAR
18
TAL
42
CAL
DNQ
RCH
27
CLT
35
DOV
24
MCH
31
POC
21
SON
43
DAY
31
CHI
34
NHA
30
POC
42
IND
DNQ
GLN
33
MCH
38
BRI
13
DAR
28
RCH
39
DOV
16
KAN
13
Bobby Hamilton Jr. CLT
33
TAL
14
PHO
38
CAR
17
HOM
35
ATL
15
NHA
37
Rich Bickle MAR
31
2002 Mike Skinner DAY
23
CAR
36
LVS
34
ATL
28
DAR
20
BRI
23
TEX
12
MAR
25
TAL
23
CAL
31
RCH
28
CLT
24
DOV
22
POC
37
MCH
30
SON
12
DAY
37
CHI
23
NHA
38
POC
29
IND
36
GLN
40
MCH
28
BRI
29
DAR
38
RCH
22
NHA
43
DOV
19
KAN
32
TAL
28
CLT
24
MAR
33
ATL
26
CAR
6
PHO
24
HOM
36
35th 2886
2003 Pontiac DAY
37
CAR
17
LVS
39
ATL
30
DAR
11
BRI
41
TEX
40
TAL
31
MAR
35
CAL
20
RCH
35
CLT
20
DOV
36
POC
34
MCH
DNQ
40th 2483
Johnny Miller SON
24
Stacy Compton DAY
33
MCH
DNQ
Johnny Sauter CHI
35
NHA
23
BRI
25
RCH
28
NHA
32
KAN
DNQ
Brett Bodine POC
DNQ
Robert Pressley IND
DNQ
P. J. Jones GLN
24
Kevin Lepage DAR
15
DOV
27
TAL
DNQ
CLT
21
MAR
35
ATL
14
PHO
23
CAR
42
HOM
18
2004 Chevy DAY
32
CAR
22
LVS
36
ATL
36
DAR
28
BRI
30
36th 2509
Jimmy Spencer TEX
29
MAR
38
TAL
20
CAL
38
RCH
41
CLT
29
DOV
17
POC
23
MCH
28
SON DAY
29
CHI
25
NHA
23
POC
23
IND
19
GLN
42
MCH
31
BRI
31
CAL
32
RCH
33
NHA
38
DOV
26
TAL
40
KAN
25
CLT
29
MAR
35
Mike Wallace ATL
DNQ
PHO
29
DAR
38
HOM
33
2005 DAY
41
CAL
25
LVS
24
ATL
40
BRI
34
MAR
23
TEX
25
PHO
27
TAL
28
DAR
24
RCH
29
CLT
16
DOV
28
POC
31
MCH
43
SON
QL
DAY
8
CHI
25
NHA
38
POC
29
IND
DNQ
BRI
17
RCH
14
NHA
22
DOV
22
TAL
19
KAN
35
CLT
43
MAR
35
ATL
DNQ
TEX
36
PHO
DNQ
36th 2640
P. J. Jones SON
32
GLN
42
John Andretti MCH
28
CAL
DNQ
Todd Bodine HOM
20
2006 Scott Wimmer DAY
DNQ
CAL
39
LVS
32
ATL
30
BRI
19
MAR
28
TEX
28
PHO
30
TAL
21
RCH
36
DAR
33
CLT
27
DOV
34
POC
DNQ
MCH
31
DAY
DNQ
CHI
34
NHA
20
POC
38
IND
20
GLN
25
MCH
DNQ
BRI
42
CAL
30
RCH
29
NHA
31
DOV
36
KAN
DNQ
39th 2340
P. J. Jones SON
36
Todd Bodine TAL
DNQ
CLT
19
ATL
42
Ward Burton MAR
26
TEX
25
PHO
28
HOM
DNQ
2007 DAY
DNQ
CAL
DNQ
LVS
43
ATL
DNQ
BRI
18
MAR
DNQ
TEX
DNQ
PHO
36
TAL
36
RCH
35
DAR
DNQ
CLT
DNQ
DOV
41
POC
33
MCH
DNQ
SON
DNQ
NHA
43
DAY
DNQ
CHI
41
IND
14
POC
43
GLN
DNQ
MCH
20
BRI
33
CAL
DNQ
RCH
DNQ
NHA
41
DOV
DNQ
KAN
DNQ
TAL
DNQ
CLT
43
MAR
38
ATL
DNQ
TEX
DNQ
PHO
DNQ
46th 1531
Todd Bodine HOM
DNQ
2009 Eric McClure 4 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL
DNQ
RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH 55th 135
Scott Wimmer BRI
29
ATL RCH NHA DOV
DNQ
KAN CAL CLT MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM
2010 Kevin Lepage DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI
DNQ
ATL RCH NHA DOV KAN CAL CLT MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM 61st 25

Car No. 04 results edit

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
2003 David Reutimann 04 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX TAL MAR CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA
DNQ
POC IND
DNQ
62nd 93
Johnny Miller GLN
36
MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO CAR HOM
2004 Eric McClure Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL
26
CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY
DNQ
CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO DAR HOM 66th 112
2006 Eric McClure 04 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL
31
CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 64th 70
2007 DAY
DNQ
CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY
DNQ
CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 68th 8
Footnotes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k unknown

References edit

  1. ^ http://www.tricities.com/tri/sports/motor_sports/nextel/article/morgan_mcclure_owners_not_happy_over_losing_their_number_in_nascar_sprint_c/12805/l[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Former Morgan-McClure shop still full of 'gear heads'".

External links edit

  • Official website

morgan, mcclure, motorsports, larry, mcclure, redirects, here, baseball, player, larry, mcclure, baseball, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article. Larry McClure redirects here For the baseball player see Larry McClure baseball This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Morgan McClure Motorsports news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2021 This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Morgan McClure Motorsports news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Morgan McClure Motorsports was an American auto racing team that competed in the NASCAR Cup Series full time until 2007 It operated for 28 years starting in 1983 and ending in 2012 The team was most notable for running the No 4 from 1983 to 2010 The team notably won the Daytona 500 three times during the 1990s They won with Ernie Irvan in 1991 then won back to back in 1994 1995 with Sterling Marlin Irvan 1992 and Marlin 1996 also each won the Pepsi 400 for a total of five points paying wins at Daytona for the team over a six year period Morgan McClure MotorsportsOwner s Tim MorganLarry McClureJerry McClureBaseAbingdon Virginia United StatesSeriesNASCAR Cup SeriesRace driversMark MartinRick WilsonErnie IrvanSterling MarlinBobby HamiltonMike SkinnerJimmy SpencerMike WallaceEric McClureScott WimmerWard BurtonSponsorsEastman KodakLucas OilAERO ExhaustState Water HeatersManufacturerPontiacChevroletOldsmobileOpened1983Closed2012CareerDebut1983 Winston 500 Talladega Superspeedway Latest race2009 Sharpie 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Races competed703Drivers Championships0Race victories14Pole positions13 Contents 1 History 1 1 Starting out 1 2 The prime years 1 3 Struggles 2 Driver history 3 Motorsports career results 3 1 NASCAR Cup Series 3 1 1 Car No 4 results 3 1 2 Car No 04 results 4 References 5 External linksHistory editStarting out edit nbsp Tommy Ellis in 1984 Morgan McClure Motorsports was owned by business partners Larry McClure and Tim Morgan It began in 1983 when the two purchased a race car from G C Spencer The car debuted at Talladega Superspeedway and was piloted by Connie Saylor The car finished 40th after suffering engine failure After firing Connie because they wanted a younger driver and after obtaining the rights to No 4 amp the car he drove for G C Spencer Mark Martin took over the driving duties later that year and had one top 10 finish In 1984 the team signed Folgers as a sponsor and began racing as car No 4 Tommy Ellis ran twenty races that year for the team with Lennie Pond and Joe Ruttman running the rest of the schedule Ruttman drove sixteen races for them next season notching one top 5 and four top 10 finishes In 1986 MMM got Eastman Kodak sponsorship and signed Rick Wilson to handle the driving chores Wilson got the team its first pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1988 its first full season on the circuit When Wilson announced he was leaving the team in 1989 the team was eighth in points The prime years edit nbsp 1997 car at Pocono For the 1990 season the team hired Phil Parsons but after three races Parsons was released in favor of Ernie Irvan In his first race with the team Irvan started 30th and finished third Two races later Irvan won his first pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway The team switched from Oldsmobile to Chevrolet in order to get more manufacturer support Their first race after the switch was at the 1990 Bud at the Glen Irvan picked up his first career victory as well as the first victory for MMM the following week at Bristol in the Busch 500 The next season Irvan won the Daytona 500 and The Bud at the Glen The latter was marred by the death of popular veteran J D McDuffie When the checkered flag fell at the end of the season the team was fifth in points The next season Irvan won three races over a two month stretch at Sears Point International Raceway the Pepsi 400 at the Daytona International Speedway and at Talladega Superspeedway respectively In 1993 Irvan won the pole twice as well as a victory at Talladega When Davey Allison died in an aircraft accident Robert Yates asked Irvan to take his place Irvan wanted out of his contract with MMM and it ensued into an ugly lawsuit Irvan was able to get out but there were hurt feelings on both sides For the 1994 season the team hired Sterling Marlin to drive In his first race in the team Marlin won the Daytona 500 beating out ironically Irvan Marlin won the 500 the next year as well in addition to two more races at Darlington Speedway and Talladega In 1996 Marlin won two races at Talladega and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona Struggles edit nbsp The No 4 car in 2007 After the team went winless with Marlin in 1997 finishing 25th in points the team and Marlin decided to part ways MMM hired two time race winner Bobby Hamilton Hamilton led 378 out of 500 laps and won from the pole at Martinsville Speedway and finished 10th in the final points standings Soon the team was not able repeat its success and Hamilton left for Andy Petree Racing in 2001 He was replaced by Robby Gordon but Gordon struggled in the ride and was released after just five races Mike Skinner and Kevin Lepage shared the driving duties for two years without much success In 2003 MMM switched to Pontiac They lost their Kodak sponsorship in 2004 but MMM remained open switching back to Chevrolet almost being required to do so as Pontiac had withdrawn from the Cup series at the end of 2003 Jimmy Spencer drove the car most of that year and team co owner Larry McClure s son Eric drove another team car to finish 26th at Talladega Superspeedway For 2005 the team signed Lucas Oil as a sponsor and hired Mike Wallace to drive Wallace was replaced by John Andretti P J Jones and Todd Bodine for some of the races in 2005 In 2006 Scott Wimmer was announced as the 2006 driver with new sponsorship from the Utah based AERO Exhaust Wimmer had an average start of 35th and average of finish 29th no wins top fives or top tens On October 3 2006 Larry McClure announced that the team and Wimmer parted ways They hired Todd Bodine to drive the next two races Charlotte and Atlanta until they could find a permanent replacement The last three races the team hired veteran Ward Burton who at the time had not driven in the Cup Series in several years On December 12 2006 MMM announced they signed Burton to take full time seat in 2007 with sponsorship from State Water Heaters Burton was released before the last race of the 2007 season Furthermore Morgan McClure Motorsports shut down weeks shy of the 2008 Daytona 500 due to financial problems but had agreed to let Mike Wallace drive in the 2008 Daytona 500 if sponsorship was found Sponsorship was found but Larry McClure said that he was tired of just sliding by and would come back when major sponsorship could be secured When Tony Stewart announced on August 14 that Ryan Newman would drive the No 4 car in 2009 Morgan McClure Motorsports protested Tim Morgan stated There s some sweat and history in that number 4 We feel like it ours 1 in an article for the Bristol Herald Courier After discussions with MMM and NASCAR on August 18 Stewart announced that Newman would drive the No 39 instead of a No 4 car in 2009 In 2014 Stewart did acquire the No 4 to use with driver Kevin Harvick who replaced Newman and the No 39 in the 2014 season Rumors indicated that Morgan McClure Motorsports would prepare a No 4 Chevy to attempt the 2009 Daytona 500 but this did not happen On April 11 2009 the team made public their intentions to attempt the Aaron s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway with driver Eric McClure in the No 4 Hefty Walmart Chevy however the team failed to qualify for the race Scott Wimmer attempted to qualify the car at Bristol Wimmer made the event Morgan McClure s first start since 2007 He finished 29th Wimmer also attempted Dover but they were the only team to not qualify Since 2009 legal problems have prevented Morgan McClure from actively competing Larry McClure was charged with federal income tax fraud for not reporting 269 000 for cars used in the ARCA series He was also forced to pay back 60 000 to Eastman Kodak for falsifying an invoice McClure spent eighteen months in jail and works at a family car dealership MMM returned to the Cup Series at Bristol in August 2010 but Kevin Lepage failed to qualify for the race The team never attempted another race again with their No 4 being used by Red Bull Racing Team for Kasey Kahne in 2011 without any objections from Morgan McClure The team closed its doors in 2012 2 Driver history editConnie Saylor 1983 Mark Martin 1983 Lennie Pond 1984 Tommy Ellis 1984 Joe Ruttman 1984 85 Rick Wilson 1986 89 Lake Speed 1986 A J Foyt 1987 Phil Parsons 1990 Ernie Irvan 1990 93 Jeff Purvis 1993 Joe Nemechek 1993 Jimmy Hensley 1993 Sterling Marlin 1994 97 Bobby Hamilton 1998 2000 Robby Gordon 2001 Kevin Lepage 2001 2003 2004 2010 Bristol August but DNQ Bobby Hamilton Jr 2001 Mike Skinner 2002 03 Johnny Miller 2003 road races only Stacy Compton 2003 Johnny Sauter 2003 Brett Bodine 2003 DNQ at Pocono amp Indianapolis P J Jones 2003 Watkins Glen 2005 road races 2006 Sonoma Jimmy Spencer 2004 Eric McClure 2004 2006 2009 Talladega April but DNQ Mike Wallace 2004 05 John Andretti 2005 Michigan in August Todd Bodine 2005 07 Scott Wimmer 2006 2009 Bristol August Dover September but DNQ Ward Burton 2006 07 Motorsports career results editNASCAR Cup Series edit key Bold Pole position awarded by qualifying time Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time Most laps led Car No 4 results edit NASCAR Cup Series results Year Driver No Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts 1983 Connie Saylor 4 Olds DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL40 NSV DOV BRI CLT RSD POC N 1 Mark Martin MCH27 DAY19 NSV POC MCH18 BRI DAR17 RCH DOV MAR NWS Chevy TAL10 CLT33 CAR ATLDNQ RSD 1984 Lennie Pond DAY13 RCH20 CAR25 ATL39 N 1 Tommy Ellis BRI28 NWS29 DAR23 MAR29 TAL13 NSV14 DOV CLT14 RSD POC MCH38 DAY14 NSV11 POC34 TAL9 MCH36 BRI28 DAR19 RCH15 DOV34 MAR17 CLT33 NWS14 Joe Ruttman CAR34 ATL35 RSD10 1985 DAY17 RCH CAR6 ATL26 BRI29 DAR11 NWS MAR TAL30 DOV CLT7 RSD POC35 MCH DAY35 POC TAL33 MCH BRI13 DAR9 RCH DOV33 MAR NWS CLT5 CAR40 ATL32 RSD N 1 1986 Rick Wilson Olds DAY7 RCH CAR ATL39 BRI12 DAR15 NWS MAR MCH8 DAY21 POC10 TAL11 GLN23 MCH40 BRI26 DAR28 RCH DOV32 MAR NWS CLT29 CAR ATL14 RSD40 N 1 Chevy TAL8 DOV Lake Speed Olds CLT14 RSD POC 1987 Rick Wilson DAY37 CAR RCH ATL11 DAR34 NWS BRI MAR TAL20 CLT30 DOV29 POC RSD14 MCH30 DAY30 POC40 TAL16 GLN21 MCH12 BRI7 DAR28 RCH DOV27 MAR NWS CLT30 CAR RSD18 ATL27 N 1 1988 DAY15 RCHDNQ CAR36 ATL10 DAR27 BRI25 NWS28 MAR25 TAL35 CLT18 DOV7 RSD33 POC25 MCH41 DAY2 POC13 TAL4 GLN12 MCH9 BRI23 DAR38 RCH33 DOV24 MAR16 CLT25 NWS20 CAR22 PHO29 ATL17 N 1 1989 DAY8 CAR17 ATL6 RCH17 DAR11 BRI21 NWS30 MAR4 TAL15 CLT35 DOV14 SON8 POC27 MCH6 DAY29 POC25 TAL5 GLN8 MCH32 BRI27 DAR11 RCH22 DOV19 MAR18 CLT41 NWS29 CAR13 PHO40 ATL18 N 1 1990 Phil Parsons DAY42 RCH26 CAR14 N 1 Ernie Irvan ATL3 DAR32 BRI16 NWS16 MAR15 TAL4 CLT5 DOV7 SON7 POC17 MCH2 DAY33 POC26 MAR11 NWS6 Chevy TAL6 GLN28 MCH35 BRI1 DAR2 RCH12 DOV26 CLT27 CAR9 PHO9 ATL7 1991 DAY1 RCH27 CAR6 ATL14 DAR7 BRI2 NWS10 MAR15 TAL32 CLT7 DOV4 SON4 POC6 MCH5 DAY5 POC7 TAL33 GLN1 MCH7 BRI18 DAR2 RCH4 DOV28 MAR4 NWS33 CLT30 CAR31 PHO6 ATL2 N 1 1992 DAY28 CAR11 RCH15 ATL25 DAR26 BRI24 NWS13 MAR25 TAL5 CLT2 DOV4 SON1 POC19 MCH30 DAY1 POC37 TAL1 GLN3 MCH4 BRI28 DAR25 RCH11 DOV11 MAR27 NWS6 CLT6 CAR2 PHO34 ATL29 N 1 1993 DAY37 CAR3 RCH11 ATL2 DAR22 BRI23 NWS11 MAR32 TAL1 SON2 CLT5 DOV32 POC34 MCH3 DAY7 NHA15 POC31 TAL2 GLN15 MCH32 BRI26 N 1 Jeff Purvis DAR26 RCH16 DOV13 MAR17 NWS25 Joe Nemechek CLT25 CAR23 Jimmy Hensley PHO32 ATL25 1994 Sterling Marlin DAY1 CAR2 RCH19 ATL25 DAR34 BRI8 NWS17 MAR27 TAL8 SON29 CLT15 DOV8 POC38 MCH34 DAY28 NHA10 POC12 TAL5 IND14 GLN26 MCH34 BRI6 DAR5 RCH13 DOV30 MAR7 NWS31 CLT36 CAR14 PHO3 ATL40 15th 3443 1995 DAY1 CAR12 RCH5 ATL7 DAR1 BRI9 NWS7 MAR13 TAL39 SON7 CLT4 DOV7 POC4 MCH7 DAY2 NHA9 POC18 TAL1 IND7 GLN21 MCH4 BRI7 DAR10 RCH33 DOV6 MAR23 NWS15 CLT6 CAR6 PHO12 ATL2 3rd 4361 1996 DAY40 CAR6 RCH11 ATL13 DAR11 BRI18 NWS5 MAR10 TAL1 SON15 CLT6 DOV41 POC11 MCH3 DAY1 NHA29 POC6 TAL29 IND39 GLN11 MCH33 BRI18 DAR8 RCH21 DOV17 MAR31 NWS11 CLT4 CAR13 PHO27 ATL15 8th 3682 1997 DAY5 CAR20 RCH19 ATL23 DAR32 TEX8 BRI20 MAR21 SON26 TAL39 CLT40 DOV10 POC15 MCH17 CAL36 DAY3 NHA22 POC20 IND43 GLN13 MCH43 BRI10 DAR40 RCH39 NHA39 DOV27 MAR39 CLT20 TAL38 CAR9 PHO27 ATL11 25th 2954 1998 Bobby Hamilton DAY12 CAR9 LVS20 ATL21 DAR35 BRI18 TEX26 MAR1 TAL30 CAL27 CLT20 DOV17 RCH16 MCH38 POC20 SON2 NHA15 POC20 IND20 GLN13 MCH20 BRI11 NHA34 DAR23 RCH6 DOV10 MAR14 CLT4 TAL15 DAY21 PHO21 CAR6 ATL6 10th 3786 1999 DAY29 CAR9 LVS24 ATL12 DAR7 TEX29 BRI18 MAR33 TAL31 CAL30 RCH4 CLT13 DOV21 MCH31 POC10 SON11 DAY8 NHA16 POC17 IND38 GLN22 MCH35 BRI41 DAR7 RCH7 NHA11 DOV30 MAR30 CLT22 TAL9 CAR10 PHO23 HOM25 ATL10 13th 3564 2000 DAY43 CAR40 LVS34 ATL13 DAR7 BRI15 TEX16 MAR18 TAL43 CAL18 RCH31 CLT34 DOV27 MCH43 POC40 SON16 DAY36 NHA22 POC39 IND40 GLN16 MCH14 BRI34 DAR22 RCH38 NHA35 DOV25 MAR35 CLT34 TAL36 CAR9 PHO43 HOM31 ATL16 32nd 2715 2001 Robby Gordon DAY37 CAR26 LVS34 ATL20 DAR29 37th 2759 Kevin Lepage BRI15 TEX11 MAR18 TAL42 CALDNQ RCH27 CLT35 DOV24 MCH31 POC21 SON43 DAY31 CHI34 NHA30 POC42 INDDNQ GLN33 MCH38 BRI13 DAR28 RCH39 DOV16 KAN13 Bobby Hamilton Jr CLT33 TAL14 PHO38 CAR17 HOM35 ATL15 NHA37 Rich Bickle MAR31 2002 Mike Skinner DAY23 CAR36 LVS34 ATL28 DAR20 BRI23 TEX12 MAR25 TAL23 CAL31 RCH28 CLT24 DOV22 POC37 MCH30 SON12 DAY37 CHI23 NHA38 POC29 IND36 GLN40 MCH28 BRI29 DAR38 RCH22 NHA43 DOV19 KAN32 TAL28 CLT24 MAR33 ATL26 CAR6 PHO24 HOM36 35th 2886 2003 Pontiac DAY37 CAR17 LVS39 ATL30 DAR11 BRI41 TEX40 TAL31 MAR35 CAL20 RCH35 CLT20 DOV36 POC34 MCHDNQ 40th 2483 Johnny Miller SON24 Stacy Compton DAY33 MCHDNQ Johnny Sauter CHI35 NHA23 BRI25 RCH28 NHA32 KANDNQ Brett Bodine POCDNQ Robert Pressley INDDNQ P J Jones GLN24 Kevin Lepage DAR15 DOV27 TALDNQ CLT21 MAR35 ATL14 PHO23 CAR42 HOM18 2004 Chevy DAY32 CAR22 LVS36 ATL36 DAR28 BRI30 36th 2509 Jimmy Spencer TEX29 MAR38 TAL20 CAL38 RCH41 CLT29 DOV17 POC23 MCH28 SON DAY29 CHI25 NHA23 POC23 IND19 GLN42 MCH31 BRI31 CAL32 RCH33 NHA38 DOV26 TAL40 KAN25 CLT29 MAR35 Mike Wallace ATLDNQ PHO29 DAR38 HOM33 2005 DAY41 CAL25 LVS24 ATL40 BRI34 MAR23 TEX25 PHO27 TAL28 DAR24 RCH29 CLT16 DOV28 POC31 MCH43 SONQL DAY8 CHI25 NHA38 POC29 INDDNQ BRI17 RCH14 NHA22 DOV22 TAL19 KAN35 CLT43 MAR35 ATLDNQ TEX36 PHODNQ 36th 2640 P J Jones SON32 GLN42 John Andretti MCH28 CALDNQ Todd Bodine HOM20 2006 Scott Wimmer DAYDNQ CAL39 LVS32 ATL30 BRI19 MAR28 TEX28 PHO30 TAL21 RCH36 DAR33 CLT27 DOV34 POCDNQ MCH31 DAYDNQ CHI34 NHA20 POC38 IND20 GLN25 MCHDNQ BRI42 CAL30 RCH29 NHA31 DOV36 KANDNQ 39th 2340 P J Jones SON36 Todd Bodine TALDNQ CLT19 ATL42 Ward Burton MAR26 TEX25 PHO28 HOMDNQ 2007 DAYDNQ CALDNQ LVS43 ATLDNQ BRI18 MARDNQ TEXDNQ PHO36 TAL36 RCH35 DARDNQ CLTDNQ DOV41 POC33 MCHDNQ SONDNQ NHA43 DAYDNQ CHI41 IND14 POC43 GLNDNQ MCH20 BRI33 CALDNQ RCHDNQ NHA41 DOVDNQ KANDNQ TALDNQ CLT43 MAR38 ATLDNQ TEXDNQ PHODNQ 46th 1531 Todd Bodine HOMDNQ 2009 Eric McClure 4 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TALDNQ RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH 55th 135 Scott Wimmer BRI29 ATL RCH NHA DOVDNQ KAN CAL CLT MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM 2010 Kevin Lepage DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRIDNQ ATL RCH NHA DOV KAN CAL CLT MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM 61st 25 Car No 04 results edit NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results Year Driver No Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts 2003 David Reutimann 04 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX TAL MAR CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHADNQ POC INDDNQ 62nd 93 Johnny Miller GLN36 MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO CAR HOM 2004 Eric McClure Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL26 CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAYDNQ CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO DAR HOM 66th 112 2006 Eric McClure 04 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL31 CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 64th 70 2007 DAYDNQ CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAYDNQ CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 68th 8 Footnotes a b c d e f g h i j k unknownReferences edit http www tricities com tri sports motor sports nextel article morgan mcclure owners not happy over losing their number in nascar sprint c 12805 l permanent dead link Former Morgan McClure shop still full of gear heads External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Morgan McClure Motorsports amp oldid 1215456674, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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