Premium Motorsports

Premium Motorsports
Owner(s) Jay Robinson
Mike Hillman
Base Mooresville, North Carolina
Series Sprint Cup Series
Camping World Truck Series
Car numbers 4, 28, 39, 49, 55, 62, 66, 70, 94, 98
Race drivers Sprint Cup Series:
55. Reed Sorenson (part-time)
98. Cole Whitt
Camping World Truck Series:
49. Timmy Hill
Sponsors Sprint Cup Series:
98. RTIC Coolers, Tweaker Energy Shot
Camping World Truck Series:
49. Hormone Therapeutics, Dirt and Rock
Manufacturer Toyota
Chevrolet
Opened 2000
Career
Debut Nationwide Series:
2000 Myrtle Beach 250
Camping World Truck Series:
2015 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Daytona)
Latest race

Sprint Cup Series:
2016 Go Bowling 400 (Kansas)


Camping World Truck Series:
2016 Toyota Tundra 250 (Kansas)
Races competed 503
Drivers' Championships Total: 0
Sprint Cup Series: 0
Nationwide Series: 0
Camping World Truck Series: 0
Race victories Total: 0
Sprint Cup Series: 0
Nationwide Series: 0
Camping World Truck Series: 0
Pole positions Total: 0
Sprint Cup Series: 0
Nationwide Series: 0
Camping World Truck Series: 0

Premium Motorsports, formerly called Jay Robinson Racing (JRR), is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. The team competed for most of its history in the Nationwide Series (now the Xfinity Series), before moving to the Cup Series in 2012. The team folded in late 2012 and Robinson moved into a partner role at NEMCO Motorsports (renamed NEMCO-JRR Motorsports), and later was a partner in the successor team Identity Ventures Racing. For 2015, Robinson began fielding NASCAR entries again, planning to run both the Sprint Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series.[1][2] Mike Hillman's 40 team was absorbed by Premium in January 2016.

In the Sprint Cup Series, the team currently fields the No. 55 Chevrolet SS part-time for Reed Sorenson, and the No. 98 RTIC Coolers/Tweaker Energy Shot Toyota Camry, and Chevrolet SS full-time for Cole Whitt. In the Camping World Truck Series, the team currently fields the No. 49 Hormone Therapeutics/Dirt and Rock Chevrolet Silverado full-time for Timmy Hill.

Sprint Cup Series

Car No. 55 history

Brendan Gaughan's #62 car going through inspection at Sonoma in 2015.

In 2015, upon the team's return to the Cup Series, Premium began fielding a second car, the #62 Chevrolet for Brian Scott and Brendan Gaughan and Reed Sorenson. 62 was the number Gaughan used for the majority of his racing career. The team used the owner's points and equipment of Tommy Baldwin Racing's former #36 team, sold to Robinson at the beginning of the year.[1][3] The #62 has collaborative agreements with both TBR and Richard Childress Racing (both Scott and Gaughan were RCR drivers). Scott drove an RCR-prepared car at the Daytona 500 with family sponsor Shore Lodge[1][4] but crashed in his Budweiser Duel and failed to qualify. Gaughan planned to take over for the rest of the season, though without direct RCR support.[1][5] Gaughan qualified the next week in Atlanta, finishing 28th. Gaughan would subsequently qualify at Las Vegas, with South Point Hotel and Casino (owned by his father Michael) appearing on the car.[6] Gaughan qualified for the next two races in an unsponsored entry. However, the team then failed to qualify for the next four consecutive races, three of which were supposed to be fully sponsored. Gaughan finally qualified at Talladega with DiaThrive (who originally signed on at Martinsville) sponsoring, but blew a tire and crashed after 90 laps, finishing 40th. Gaughan failed to qualify for the fifth time at Kansas, and again the following race in Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600. Gaughan was able to make the field at Dover, and made it to the end without incident, finishing 34th. Gaughan would also qualify at Pocono, due to the entry list having only 43 cars, but suffered electrical problems throughout the race and finished 40th. Gaughan failed to qualify at Michigan and Sonoma, but qualified at Daytona (due to cancellation of qualifying) with Vydox Plus (first signed on at Bristol) on the hood, and matched his season best 28th-place finish. After only qualifying for 8 of the first 16 races, and feeling like he could not give the effort to the team he wanted to, Gaughan left the team.[1] Reed Sorenson took over the #62 at Kentucky, which qualified for the second week in a row (due to another qualifying rainout) finishing in 36th place. Sorenson failed to qualify at New Hampshire and Indianapolis.[1] Sorenson was reassigned to the No. 98 at Pocono, with Timmy Hill moving over to the No. 62 for this race, which ran as a Ford from the former Phil Parsons Racing stable. The 62 made the show due to the entry list having only 43 cars, and finished 36th. T. J. Bell was entered in the No. 62, once again a Chevy, at Watkins Glen, but failed to qualify.[1] Sorenson returned to the No. 62, once again as a Ford, at Michigan, but failed to qualify again, and also failed to qualify at Bristol. Hill would return to the No. 62 at Darlington, but this time failed to qualify, and failed to qualify the next week at Richmond as well. The No. 62, with Hill, qualified for Chicagoland, snapping a five-race DNQ streak, due to a third rained-out qualifying session. Hill finished 41st. Hill made the next race at New Hampshire as well, finishing 36th, and qualified for the third week in a row at Dover, due to the entry list having only 43 cars; he finished 39th. This three-race start streak was broken when Hill failed to qualify at Charlotte. He missed the race again at Kansas. Hill was able to qualify at Talladega, with Royal Teak Collection on the hood for the first time in 2015 (the company had sponsored several races on the No. 98); this was also just the second time the No. 62 had qualified on speed when all cars ran a lap (the first time was with Gaughan at the spring Talladega race). Unfortunately, the car was plagued by electrical issues and finished 41st. Hill qualified at Martinsville, due to the entry list having only 43 cars. Due to Ryan Preece running the No. 98 at Texas, Sorenson returned to the No. 62, but posted the slowest speed and failed to qualify. Hill would run the car at Phoenix, making the field due to the entry list having only 43 cars, but suffered non-terminal engine problems and finished last. Sorenson ran the car at Homestead, but yet again posted the slowest speed and failed to qualify. The No. 62 missed 20 of 36 races and finished 2015 45th in the owners points, lowest among teams that attempted the full schedule and also behind the part-time No. 21 and No. 95 teams.

Mike Hillman, who was partnered with Joe Falk and his team was named as a partner for 2016, purchasing equipment from Hillman-Circle Sport LLC. The team returned in Martinsville for their 2016 debut. The number was changed from #62 to #55 with driver Sorenson. The team made the race qualifying 40th out of 40 cars. The team would then make the races at both Texas and Bristol due to only 40 cars entered for both races, at Richmond there were 41 cars entered for the race but when qualifying was rained out and the field was set by practice speeds, the 55 team made the race due to being third fastest of the non-charter teams in practice

Car No. 66 history

Further information: Identity Ventures Racing

In 2012, the team announced its intent to compete in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team planned to race the full series schedule, running Toyotas,[7] using the No. 49. J. J. Yeley and Tony Furr served as the driver and crew chief, respectively.[8] The team had sponsorship for the Daytona 500 from America-Israel Racing, in order to "educate people" about Israel. One of the sponsors said that "being brought up Southern Baptist, I was always taught we stand behind Israel. This is a way I felt I could give back to society. It’s something I believe in.”[9] Yeley also stated that JPO Absorbents will sponsor for about 8 - 10 races throughout the season. In its first outing, the team missed the field for the Daytona 500.[10]

On October 22, 2012, the team sold off its Cup Series equipment in an auction to NEMCO Motorsports and Joe Nemechek, with Robinson becoming a partner in the renamed NEMCO-JRR Motorsports.

In 2014, Robinson was involved in a partnership with several investors from the Identity Ventures group in a team called Identity Ventures Racing (IVR), which ran the No. 66 full-time with Nemechek as the driver and NEMCO's Sprint Cup equipment.[11][12] At Talladega in October, Robinson resurrected the No. 49 for Mike Wallace independent from Identity, but with the owner points from IVR's No. 87 which attempted two races earlier in the season. Near the end of the season, Robinson took full control of the No. 66 due to legal issues surrounding principal financial partner Nat Hardwick, with Wallace running the majority of the races.[13][14][15]

In 2015, Jay Robinson planned to return to the full-time out of his own shop, this time under the name Premium Motorsports. Robinson brought over the remaining equipment from Identity Ventures Racing, and also brought over the No. 66 and the associated owner points. The team's driver was announced as Mike Wallace. Wallace ran the Daytona 500 with Crazy Vapors and X8 Energy Gum sponsoring.[16] Wallace raced his way into the Daytona 500, and finished 36th in the race.[13] However, Wallace failed to qualify for the next two races.[6][13] Wallace was then released in favor of Tanner Berryhill, who took over at Phoenix and applied to be a Rookie of the Year contender.[13] Berryhill also failed to qualify in his only attempt. Wallace was placed on the entry list for Auto Club Speedway, but the team withdrew midweek, with Robinson announcing no current plans for a return due to the qualifying struggles and lack of sponsorship.[6] The team didn't return again until the non-points-paying Sprint All-Star Race's Sprint Showdown with Berryhill. Berryhill failed to win either Showdown segment in the No. 66.[17] The team was later merged with the #98.[1]

Car No. 98 history

Main article: Phil Parsons Racing

In early May 2015, it was reported that Phil Parsons Racing with Mike Curb would be selling their No. 98 team driven by Josh Wise to Premium owner Jay Robinson.[1][18] Evidence for the change in ownership included the removal of the logos of PPR sponsor Phoenix Construction (owned by former team owner James Finch) from the car prior to the GEICO 500 at Talladega, replaced with Premium sponsor Royal Teak Collections.[19] The ownership change was announced on May 5, the Monday after the race, on the team's Twitter.[20] Premium Motorsports officially took over the No. 98 team at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, with Royal Teak once again sponsoring the car, and Wise remaining as the driver. Dogecoin returned to the 98 car at Sonoma, where the team ran a Chevrolet.[21] Big Red soda signed on as sponsor for four races beginning at Kentucky in July,[22] where Wise was taken out early in a crash, finishing 43rd. Wise announced the following week that he had left Premium Motorsports, due to differences in opinion about the direction the team was going in comparison to Phil Parsons Racing. This was the second driver that left the team in a span of three days after Brendan Gaughan announced his departure Friday, July 10. Robinson later stated the move was due to sponsorship circumstances.[1]

Timmy Hill, part-time driver of Premium's Truck Series entry, drove the No. 98 at New Hampshire and Indianapolis.[1] Hill switched to the No. 62 at Pocono, with Sorenson switching over to the No. 98, which ran as a Chevy at this race. Hill returned to the No. 98 at Watkins Glen, with the car once again running as a Chevy. Hill also ran Michigan and Bristol in the No. 98, before returning to the No. 62 at Darlington, with T. J. Bell running the No. 98. Sorenson returned to the No. 98 at Richmond and ran it again at Chicagoland. Tommy Baldwin Racing leased the No. 98 at New Hampshire in the fall, fielding Ryan Preece. After Sorenson ran the No. 98 for the next several weeks, Premium again leased the owner points, this time to Michael Waltrip Racing at Talladega in the fall, where Waltrip himself drove. Preece then returned to the No. 98, with Premium itself this time, for Martinsville, Texas and Phoenix. TBR again fielded the car for Preece at Homestead-Miami.

In 2016, after the merger with the former No. 40 team, Cole Whitt was announced as the new driver of the No. 98, running the full season. The team inherited a charter from the No. 62 (formerly Baldwin's 36) but leased it to HScott Motorsports for 2016, leaving them without a guaranteed starting spot in races under NASCAR's new qualifying system. Whitt missed the Daytona 500 after spinning and breaking his transmission in his Can-Am Duel race. However, due to a shortage of entries for the next 3 races with only 39 cars at Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Fontana, Whitt and the 98 team made all of the races. The team would later miss the race at richmond due to the field having 41 cars entered and after qualifying was rained out, the field was set by practice speeds where the 98 team was the slowest of the non-charter teams in practice

Nationwide Series

Car No. 28 history

The 28 at Darlingon in 2006.

The No. 28 car made its debut at the 2004 Charter 250. It was sponsored by Yahoo! and driven by Mark Green, who finished 35th in the car. Green piloted the car in six more races that season, before departing for Keith Coleman Racing. Shane Hall drove the car on a limited basis for the rest of the year. Derrike Cope was named the driver for 2005, with sponsorship from Radioshack and Motorola. Cope struggled and was replaced by Shane Hall. Hall only ran on a part-time basis, and did not finish a race. The No. 28 was driven part-time by Hall in 2006. He ran six races and had a best finish of 36th.

For 2007, the team acquired the assets of the former Haas CNC Racing Busch team and ran the No. 28 Chevy full-time with Robert Richardson and Blake Bjorklund. Jeff Green and Johnny Sauter originally drove as well, before leaving to concentrate on their Cup rides. Sponsorship came from Checkers/Rally's Drive-In, U.S. Border Patrol, and Affordable Band Instruments during the 2007 racing season. Their best finish came at Montreal where Swedish road ringer Niclas Jonsson started 8th, led 5 laps and finished 12th after briefly contending to win the race.

In 2008, Kirk Shelmerdine drove the No. 28 at Daytona with sponsorship from Lilly Trucking of Virginia in a one race deal for Daytona. Brian Keselowski was named the driver of the No. 28 after Daytona, however he was released after Bristol. Kenny Wallace was named the driver of the No. 28 for the rest of the year starting at Nashville with the United States Border Patrol providing sponsorship. He provided the team with its career-best third-place finish at Memphis Motorsports Park and finished sixteenth in points. In 2009, he had two top ten finishes and placed eleventh in points, the team's highest finish. The Border Patrol left at the end of the season, and the team was forced to rotate sponsors for 2010. Wallace left the team for RAB Racing, and Robinson hired Derrike Cope to drive full-time in 2011 with sponsorship from Maxelence. Cope ran all the races except for Iowa, in which Dennis Setzer drove. Cope would finish 20th in points with a best finish of 17th at Road America. J.J. Yeley drove the No. 28 in the 2012 season opener at Daytona. David Green and Cope ran one race each with sponsorship from JPO Absorbents. Kevin Lepage took over the No. 28 car with manufacturer support from Chevrolet.[23] However, the team began to focus on its Cup program with Yeley, and returned at Charlotte with Tony Raines.

Car #49 history

Derrike Cope racing the #49.

JRR made its debut in 2000 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Rodney Childers was the driver of the #49 Southern Marine Chevy, but wrecked after 69 laps. JRR returned to the Busch Series at the 2001 NAPA Auto Parts 300. Fielding a Chevrolet, driver Andy Kirby failed to make the field. Their first start came at the Suncom 200, with A.J. Frank driving. He finished 39th after suffering equipment failure. The team made the next race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with Carl Long finishing 42nd, followed by Bristol Motor Speedway, where they finished 43rd with Jerry McCart driving, as well finishing 42nd at Texas with Robbie Faggert. Frank returned at Nashville, where he finished 38th after wrecking during the race. At the next race at the NASCAR Subway 300, Kirby finished in 16th, the best finish for the team that year. Other drivers who raced for JRR that year were Joe Bush, Dick Trickle, Phil Bonifield, Brian Tyler, Philip Morris, Brian Weber, and Ken Alexander. The team finished 33rd in owner's points that year.

JRR started 2002 by switching to Ford and Kirk Shelmerdine finishing 31st at Daytona. Faggart returned the next week with sponsorship from Rent-A-Wreck, where he finished 35th, and Craig Raudman at Las Vegas, who finished 32nd. Joe Buford took over the next two races, before David Starr took over at Texas. After that, Kirby returned to the team, and ran until the Kroger 300, when he was killed in a motorcycle accident two days after. They made one race with Nick Woodward, then with Dan Pardus. Buford, Troy Cline, and Derrike Cope finished out the year for the team. In 2003, the team hired Bingham to and Cope to share the driving duties 49. Bingham struggled finishing races and soon moved over to the #39 team, while Cope would eventually be released. Shane Hall took over for two races, along with Carlos Contreras. At New Hampshire, Tammy Jo Kirk and sponsor Advil signed on. She ran 15 races that season with a best finish of 21st at Pikes Peak. Cope returned to the 49 in 2004, running 30 out of 34 races, and finishing 27th in points. Vahsholtz made one start at Kentucky, where he finished 36th.

In 2005, JRR hired Steve Grissom to pilot the #49 full-time. His best finish was 16th at Talladega. Mara Reyes filled in for him at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City. Steve Grissom ran the season-opening race at Daytona in 2006 until Jorge Goeters (competing for NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year) drove for a few races. Derrike Cope then took over driving duties, sharing the ride with Shane Hall, Steve Grissom, and Jennifer Jo Cobb. Derrike Cope ran three 3 races in the #49 in 2007. The #49 switched to #4 in 2008, after purchasing owners points from Phoenix Racing. Robert Richardson ran eleven races with funding from JVC and Phantom EFX, before Cope took his place for most of the season. In the final races, Patrick Sheltra leased the number and owner's points for his own entry. At the road course events, Phoenix fielded the #4 for Landon Cassill, while Cope drove the 49.

For the 2009 season, Kertus Davis began the season as the driver of the #49 again in 2009 with GetMoreVacations.com as sponsor. After several races, Mark Green returned to the team as driver. During the season, this team ran as a start and park team.

In 2010, Green ran both the #49 and #70 cars for JRR under an agreement with ML Motorsports. This same deal was formed for 2010. Brad Teague ran the #49 at Bristol in March.

In 2011, this team was entered on occasion, and mostly used to Start and Park which helps fund the primary #28 car, with Derrike Cope.

Other teams

The 39 cars were purchased from Robert Yates Racing in 2003, who had repossessed the equipment from Angela's Motorsports. The team's first race was at the Koolerz 300, with Mike McLaughlin driving a fan-supported ride. He qualified fourth, but was involved in a crash late in the race, and finished 29th. Joe Buford and Clint Vahsholtz ran the next two races. Jason White began running the 39 eventually with Three Stooges Beer as the sponsor. Eventually, road racer Chris Bingham was moved to the 39 car after struggling in the 49 car. Following his release, Jamie Mosley and Dana White finished out the year. For the 2004 season Andy Ponstein began the year in the 39 with sponsorship from Yahoo!, but wrecked several times during his tenure and was released. Tina Gordon came on after that, and had a best finish of 26th at Pikes Peak, before she was released. The 39 has not run since.

JRR revived its third team in 2008 as the #49. Derrike Cope first attempted a race with the car at Mexico City, but failed to qualify. The car next ran at Nashville Superspeedway, when Shane Hall finished last after an early vibration problem. Kertus Davis joined the team at Kentucky and ran the rest of season in #49 after leaving his family owned JD Motorsports team, his best finish being 35th. JRR has not run a third car since then.

Camping World Truck Series

Truck No. 49 history

In 2015, the team fielded a full-time Truck Series entry, using the No. 94 (inverse of the 49). Wendell Chavous was signed to drive the full season, except the season opener at Daytona where he was not approved to run. Former Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil was hired to drive at Daytona. Kvapil started on the outside pole, but finished 15th after sustaining damage in a wreck. Chavous made his Truck Series debut at Atlanta. The team suffers their first DNQ at Martinsville. Chavous was replaced by Timmy Hill beginning at Dover, though he returned to the team to drive at Eldora, and drove the next three races before being released again. T. J. Bell drove at Mosport, then Hill returned once again, although Wayne Edwards drove a single race at Las Vegas (due to Hill's Cup Series commitments to the team).

In 2016, Hill was announced as the full-time driver of the Truck, which switched numbers to Robinson's traditional No. 49.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Wolkin, Joseph (August 6, 2015). "PREMIUM MOTORSPORTS OFFICIALLY COMPLETES PURCHASE OF PHIL PARSONS RACING". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "The Drivers - Premium Motorsports Racing Team". Premium Motorsports Racing Team. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Estrada, Chris (February 6, 2015). "NASCAR: Jay Robinson buys Tommy Baldwin Racing’s No. 36 team, re-numbers to No. 62". MotorSportsTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Knight, Chris (February 6, 2015). "Brian Scott To Drive No. 62 Chevrolet In Richard Childress Racing Prepared Car For Daytona 500". Catchfence. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Brendan Gaughan to drive full time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Premium Motorsports". Catchfence. February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Spencer, Lee (March 18, 2015). "Jay Robinson suspends operation of No. 66 team.". motorsport.com. motorsport.com. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Robinson-Blakeney Racing to field Cup car in '12". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports. January 16, 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  8. ↑ "Yeley to drive for new Cup team". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports. January 25, 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  9. ↑ "NASCAR team races for Israel". WCNC. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Pockrass, Bob (February 23, 2012). "Blaney, R. Gordon, Nemechek, McDowell race into Daytona 500". SceneDaily.com. The Sporting News. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  11. ↑ "MWR Announces 2014 Sponsor Lineup". MichaelWaltrip.com. Charlotte, North Carolina: Michael Waltrip Racing. January 30, 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  12. ↑ Michael Waltrip Racing (February 14, 2014). "Michael Waltrip begins his quest for a third Daytona 500 victory". motorsport.com. Cornelius, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Staff Report (March 8, 2015). "WALLACE OUT, BERRYHILL IN NO. 66 AT PHOENIX". nascar.com. NASCAR. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  14. ↑ Lane, Ben (September 3, 2014). "What’s the latest with Nat Hardwick and LandCastle Title?". housingwire.com. Housing Wire. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  15. ↑ Trubey, J. Scott (August 27, 2014). "UPDATED: Firm says Atlanta law partner embezzled $30 million". ajc.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "Crazy Vapors Teams up with Mike Wallace & The #66 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team for The Daytona 500". Premium Motorsports. February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  17. ↑ "SPRINT SHOWDOWN RACE RESULTS". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  18. ↑ Spencer, Lee (May 2, 2015). "What's the future for Phil Parsons Racing?". motorsport.com. Talladega, Alabama: motorsport.com. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  19. ↑ Lawdermilk, Brian (May 3, 2015). "Geico 500". gettyimages.com. Talladega, Alabama: Getty Images. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  20. ↑ Shelton, Joseph (May 5, 2015). "Why Josh Wise's Move to Premium Motorsports is a Step Backward". beyondtheflag.com. Fansided. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  21. ↑ Perez, Jeff (June 28, 2015). "Wow: Jos Wise and Dogecar Return to NASCAR Grid at Sonoma". boldride.com. Bold Ride. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  22. ↑ "Big Red, Inc. Inks NASCAR Sprint Cup Sponsorship with Josh Wise and No. 98 Team". winningwithintegrity.com. Austin, Texas: Integrity Sports Marketing. July 2, 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  23. ↑ Rodman, Dave (February 11, 2012). "Yeley to give Robinson last Nationwide hurrah?". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports. Retrieved 2012-02-11.

External links

See also

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