Akins Motorsports
Encyclopedia
Akins Motorsports was a NASCAR
team based in Mooresville, North Carolina
, which is near Charlotte
. The team was formed in 1993 by at the time owned by Brad Akins and Bob Sutton
. At the time the team was sold to Braun Racing
it was owned by Doug Stringer.
Ford Thunderbird
driven by Bobby Hamilton
. They ran two Winston Cup races with Hamilton driving, posting a tenth-place finish at Dover International Speedway
. They also ran a pair of Busch Races with Elton Sawyer
driving, his best finish a 25th at Richmond International Raceway
.
Sawyer went full-time with the team in 1994
with sponsorship from Ford Credit. They had six top-tens, as well as winning at Myrtle Beach Speedway
, finishing fourteenth in championship points. The following season, they moved to ninth in points and Sawyer won the pole at Indianapolis Raceway Park. At the end of the year, Sawyer was replaced with Dennis Setzer
with Lipton Tea sponsorship for 1996
. He had two top-tens, before Sawyer came back to the team to finish out the year, posting one top-ten.
In 1997
, Barbasol
became primary sponsor, and Sawyer finished a then-career-best sixth in points, before moving up to fifth the following season.
Glenn Allen, Jr.
took over the #38 for the 1999
season, and had a fourth-place finish at The Milwaukee Mile, but was replaced during the season by Hut Stricklin
, who ended the season with a pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway
. The 38 team was forced to shut down at the end of the season due to a lack of sponsorship.
Rookie Christian Elder
drove the #38 in 2001
with Great Clips/Deka Batteries sponsorship for sixteen races that year, posting a best finish of 20th twice. Elder drove the 38 for eight races in 2002
, sharing the ride with Mark Green
before Green took over the ride permanently, posting three top-fifteen finishes.
In 2003
, Akins hired Kasey Kahne
as the team's driver. Kahne finished seventh in points and won his first career race at the Ford 300
. He left for Evernham Motorsports
' Cup ride at the end of the season, but continued to run Akins' Busch team, as they switched to Dodge Intrepid
s. He went winless, but had two poles and finished eleventh in points.
In 2005
, team manager Doug Stringer assumed full ownership, and Kahne shared the car with Tyler Walker
. He had two wins and three poles, while Walker did not finish better than 14th, and was released in August 2005. Mike Wallace
and A. J. Foyt IV
shared the driving duties with Kahne for the balance of the season.
Rookie driver A.J. Foyt IV was to compete for Rookie of the Year
in the #38 Akins ride in 2006
but was released from the team when Doug Stringer merged Akins Motorsports with Braun Racing
.
, Akins formed a second car, the #98 with Lysol
sponsorship with Sawyer driving. He won his second race at New Hampshire International Speedway
and finished fifth in points again.
In 2000
, Sawyer continued to drive the 98, posting fourteen top-tens.
In 2001
, Starter
/Hot Tamales
came on board as sponsor and in April 2001 Akins sold the #98 team to Michael Kranefuss
in order to focus on the #38. Sawyer posted a career-best nineteen top-ten finishes and finished 5th in points. At the end of the year, Starter and Hot Tamales left and unable to find a sponsor, Kranefuss was forced to disband the #98 team.
driving a Serta Mattress
-sponsored Dodge. However, following the sale of the Akins team to Doug Stringer the team consolidated its operations to the #38 and sold the #58 to Glynn Motorsports
.
team with Sammy Swindell
driving with sponsorship from Channellock
, posting four top-tens and finishing twelfth in points.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
team based in Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville is a large suburban town in southern Iredell County, North Carolina, USA. It is in the Metrolina metro area. The population was 32,133 at the 2010 United States Census...
, which is near Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The team was formed in 1993 by at the time owned by Brad Akins and Bob Sutton
Bob Sutton
-External links:*...
. At the time the team was sold to Braun Racing
Braun Racing
Braun Racing was a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team was sold to Steve Turner in September 2010. The Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams remain active under Turner Motorsports. Following the announcement of the purchase, Turner Motorsports announced that they had...
it was owned by Doug Stringer.
Car #38 history
Akins Motorsports debuted in 1993, running the #38 Country TimeCountry Time
Country Time is the name of a brand of lemonade drinks. It is a non-carbonated lemon-flavored drink mix and soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines. The powdered mix is produced by Kraft Foods...
Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
driven by Bobby Hamilton
Bobby Hamilton
Charles Robert Hamilton, Sr. was a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuit and the winner of the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Hamilton owned Bobby Hamilton Racing, which fielded three entries in each NCWTS event...
. They ran two Winston Cup races with Hamilton driving, posting a tenth-place finish at Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
. They also ran a pair of Busch Races with Elton Sawyer
Elton Sawyer
Elton Sawyer , is a long-time NASCAR driver. He is married to former NASCAR driver Patty Moise. Recently, Sawyer has been a driver coach for the Red Bull Racing Team.-Beginnings:...
driving, his best finish a 25th at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
.
Sawyer went full-time with the team in 1994
1994 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 1994 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 19 and ended October 22. David Green of Labonte Motorsports won the championship.See also: 1994 in NASCAR-1994 Team chart:List of full-time teams at the start of 1994.- Goody's 300 :...
with sponsorship from Ford Credit. They had six top-tens, as well as winning at Myrtle Beach Speedway
Myrtle Beach Speedway
The Myrtle Beach Speedway, originally named Rambi Raceway, was built in 1958 and is located on U.S. Route 501 near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.The speedway is a semi-banked asphaltic oval track that spans...
, finishing fourteenth in championship points. The following season, they moved to ninth in points and Sawyer won the pole at Indianapolis Raceway Park. At the end of the year, Sawyer was replaced with Dennis Setzer
Dennis Setzer
Dennis Setzer is a NASCAR driver. He has driven in all three of NASCAR's top series. He currently splits time between the #23, #49, and #70 cars, all for Jay Robinson Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
with Lipton Tea sponsorship for 1996
1996 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 1996 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 17 and ended November 3. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports was crowned the series champion.See also: 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-1996 Team chart:...
. He had two top-tens, before Sawyer came back to the team to finish out the year, posting one top-ten.
In 1997
1997 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 1997 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 15 and ended November 9. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports won the championship.See also: 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-1997 Team chart:...
, Barbasol
Barbasol
Barbasol is an American brand of shaving cream, body wash, and aftershave, founded in 1921 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is currently owned by Perio, Inc.-The Invention of Barbasol:...
became primary sponsor, and Sawyer finished a then-career-best sixth in points, before moving up to fifth the following season.
Glenn Allen, Jr.
Glenn Allen, Jr.
Glenn Allen, Jr. is the co-owner of Allen-Hock Motorsports, an American Speed Association team. He is a former auto racer, participating in both the ASA and the NASCAR Busch Series during his career, and earning the 1996 NBS Rookie of the Year award.-Busch Series:Allen participated in two Busch...
took over the #38 for the 1999
1999 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 1999 NASCAR Busch Series season began on February 13 and ended on November 13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won the season points championship.See also: 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-1999 Team chart:...
season, and had a fourth-place finish at The Milwaukee Mile, but was replaced during the season by Hut Stricklin
Hut Stricklin
Waymond Lane "Hut" Stricklin is a former NASCAR race car driver. He was born on June 24, 1961, in Calera, Alabama. He married Pam Allison, the daughter of NASCAR legend Donnie Allison after they were introduced by her cousin Davey. Hut was the last member of the Alabama Gang.In 1986, Stricklin won...
, who ended the season with a pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
. The 38 team was forced to shut down at the end of the season due to a lack of sponsorship.
Rookie Christian Elder
Christian Elder
Christian Stuart Elder was a NASCAR driver. He raced in the Busch Series for Akins Motorsports for two years....
drove the #38 in 2001
2001 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2001 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 17 and ended November 10.Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing was champion.See also: 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2001 Team chart:...
with Great Clips/Deka Batteries sponsorship for sixteen races that year, posting a best finish of 20th twice. Elder drove the 38 for eight races in 2002
2002 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2002 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 16 and ended November 16. Greg Biffle of Roush Racing was crowned champion.See Also: 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2002 Team chart:...
, sharing the ride with Mark Green
Mark Green (NASCAR)
Mark Green is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #49 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing in the Nationwide Series on a part time basis. He is the brother of drivers, Jeff Green and David Green.- Beginnings :...
before Green took over the ride permanently, posting three top-fifteen finishes.
In 2003
2003 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2003 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 15 and ended November 15. Brian Vickers of Hendrick Motorsports won the championship.See Also: 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2003 Team chart:...
, Akins hired Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
as the team's driver. Kahne finished seventh in points and won his first career race at the Ford 300
Ford 300
The Ford 300 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that takes place at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race is part of the NASCAR Ford Championship Weekend, and is the final race of the season for the Nationwide Series....
. He left for Evernham Motorsports
Evernham Motorsports
Richard Petty Motorsports is a two-car NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race team owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty, Douglas G. Bergeron and financial company Medallion Financial. The team was founded as Evernham Motorsports in 2000, was renamed Gillett Evernham Motorsports in 2007 after...
' Cup ride at the end of the season, but continued to run Akins' Busch team, as they switched to Dodge Intrepid
Dodge Intrepid
The Dodge Intrepid is a large four-door, full-size, front-wheel drive sedan car model that was produced for model years 1993 to 2004. It was mechanically related to the Chrysler Concorde, Chrysler LHS, Chrysler New Yorker, Eagle Vision, and also the 300M sedans...
s. He went winless, but had two poles and finished eleventh in points.
In 2005
2005 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2005 season of the NASCAR Busch Series began with the Hershey's Take 5 300 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin Truex Jr...
, team manager Doug Stringer assumed full ownership, and Kahne shared the car with Tyler Walker
Tyler Walker (NASCAR)
Tyler Walker , is a NASCAR driver. Walker began racing bicycles at the age of six and motorcycles at age eight. He then began racing go-karts, and won four California state karting championships and had a total of 200 wins. At the age of sixteen Walker started racing in the All Star Circuit of...
. He had two wins and three poles, while Walker did not finish better than 14th, and was released in August 2005. Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (NASCAR)
Mike Wallace is a NASCAR race car driver born in Fenton, Missouri. He currently drives the #01 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. He is a younger brother to Rusty Wallace, older brother to Kenny Wallace, and uncle to Steve Wallace...
and A. J. Foyt IV
A. J. Foyt IV
Anthony Joseph "A.J." Foyt IV is an American race car driver. He competed in the IndyCar Series and briefly in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, then called the Busch Series. He is the grandson of A. J. Foyt....
shared the driving duties with Kahne for the balance of the season.
Rookie driver A.J. Foyt IV was to compete for Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
in the #38 Akins ride in 2006
2006 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 25th season of the NASCAR Busch Series opened February 18, 2006, at Daytona International Speedway and concluded November 18, 2006, at Homestead-Miami Speedway...
but was released from the team when Doug Stringer merged Akins Motorsports with Braun Racing
Braun Racing
Braun Racing was a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team was sold to Steve Turner in September 2010. The Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams remain active under Turner Motorsports. Following the announcement of the purchase, Turner Motorsports announced that they had...
.
Car #98 history
In 19991999 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 1999 NASCAR Busch Series season began on February 13 and ended on November 13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won the season points championship.See also: 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-1999 Team chart:...
, Akins formed a second car, the #98 with Lysol
Lysol
Lysol is a trade name for common household cleanersLysol may also refer to:* Lysol , a 1992 album by The Melvins* Lysol , Actor muMs da Schemer played Lysol in The Mad Real World skit on Chappelle's Show....
sponsorship with Sawyer driving. He won his second race at New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
and finished fifth in points again.
In 2000
2000 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2000 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 19 and ended on November 11. Jeff Green of ppc Racing was crowned series champion.See also: 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2000 Team chart:...
, Sawyer continued to drive the 98, posting fourteen top-tens.
In 2001
2001 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2001 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 17 and ended November 10.Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing was champion.See also: 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2001 Team chart:...
, Starter
Starter
- Science and technology :* Starter motors, used to start internal-combustion engines* Motor starters, used to start large electric motors* Fluorescent lamp starters, used to initiate operation of fluorescent lights- Food and meals :...
/Hot Tamales
Hot Tamales
Hot Tamales are a cinnamon candy manufactured by the Just Born.They are shaped like Mike and Ike candies and were introduced in 1950.In addition to the hot and spicy flavor, there is also Hot Tamales Fire which is more intense than the original, a darker red in color, and less opaque.A spearmint...
came on board as sponsor and in April 2001 Akins sold the #98 team to Michael Kranefuss
Michael Kranefuss
Michael Kranefuss is a German former head Ford Motor Company's International Motorsports division for 12 years. After leaving Ford, he became a NASCAR team owner.-Ford Motor Company:...
in order to focus on the #38. Sawyer posted a career-best nineteen top-ten finishes and finished 5th in points. At the end of the year, Starter and Hot Tamales left and unable to find a sponsor, Kranefuss was forced to disband the #98 team.
Car #58 history
Akins added a second car to its stable in 2005, with Brent ShermanBrent Sherman
Brent Sherman , a resident of Wauconda, Illinois, is a former driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series who later competed in the Firestone Indy Lights Series.-Biography:...
driving a Serta Mattress
Serta (company)
Serta is a company based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois that specializes in making mattresses. It was founded in 1931 by 13 mattress manufacturers who licensed the Serta name, and now eight independent licensees acting like a cooperative own the company...
-sponsored Dodge. However, following the sale of the Akins team to Doug Stringer the team consolidated its operations to the #38 and sold the #58 to Glynn Motorsports
Glynn Motorsports
Glynn Motorsports is a former NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series team. The team was owned by businessman Scott Glynn before it filed for bankruptcy in January 2006....
.
Truck #38 history
During the 1995 season, Akins/Sutton also fielded a Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
team with Sammy Swindell
Sammy Swindell
Samuel Alan "Sammy" Swindell is a three-time World of Outlaws champion, winning the title in 1981, 1982, and 1997, with hundreds of A-main victories to his credit. He also competed in the CART series in 1985 and 1986 and failed to qualify for the 1987 Indianapolis 500 in a March-Pontiac...
driving with sponsorship from Channellock
Channellock
Channellock is an American company that produces hand tools. It is best known for its pliers—the company manufactures more than 120 types of pliers—particularly its eponymous style of tongue-and-groove, slip-joint pliers...
, posting four top-tens and finishing twelfth in points.