R3 Motorsports Nationwide team could enter some Sprint Cup races this season
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Friday, January 09, 2009
Robert Richardson Jr. could attempt to make some NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season for R3 Motorsports.
Kevin C. Cox
Getty Images
R3 Motorsports owner Robert Richardson Sr. said his team has entered the Daytona 500 and could compete in a handful of other NASCAR Sprint Cup races in the 2009 season.
R3 plans to compete full time in the Nationwide Series this year with drivers Robert Richardson Jr. and Ken Butler III, with sponsorship from Mahindra Tractors and Aaron’s rentals.
Richardson Sr. said his son has been approved for Cup tracks 2 miles and less in length, and the team has five Cup cars purchased from Dale Earnhardt Inc.
“We’re expecting the Cup fields to be short as well this year, so in addition to our Nationwide car fleet, we’ve got five ... cars sitting there ready to go,” Richardson Sr. said.
The team will watch car counts in Cup races throughout the year, and if the fields are small enough, R3 will enter.
Richardson Sr. said the team is talking to two veteran drivers about competing in the Daytona 500.
“If it looks like it’s going to be [a] weak [car count], then we’ll haul it out there,” Richardson Sr. said. “It pays so much to start that race. There’s no question that we’ve got the horsepower and the car to do it.
“If that doesn’t work out, then I’m going to look at the car count in California to see how many guys are going to haul all the way to the West Coast. If it looks like it’s not going to be that many, then that’ll probably be Rob [Richardson Jr.’s] first attempt to make a Cup race.”
Richardson Jr. has made 31 starts in what is now the Nationwide Series and has 23 starts in what is now the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
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5 responses to "R3 Motorsports Nationwide team could enter some Sprint Cup races this season". Post a Comment.
Andrew Briscoe said:
Jan 9, 2009 at 5:29 PMGood to see some teams are still looking to take advantage of the predicted lower car counts, and will be attempting to get their feet wet in Cup when it really can pay off the most.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSteve Still said:
Jan 9, 2009 at 8:31 PMI'm so happy for Robert to come this far in his brief NASCAR career. I went to high school w/him, he's very talented but very inexperienced and hasn't had good equipment to drive in his career. If he makes Daytona, what better way to get experience than racing against the best in the world? Good luck Robert!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJanice Marler said:
Jan 9, 2009 at 8:55 PMA Cinderella story. Go Robert!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMike Butler said:
Jan 9, 2009 at 9:52 PMThis is going to be happening a lot this season. Look for Morgan Shepherd to be making a few one lap appearances.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBernadette Motherway said:
Jan 9, 2009 at 10:07 PMNice slam, Mike. Make one lap, collect your money (for what it's worth), and go home. Wishing luck to Robert, tho. And nice to hear from classmate of his.
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