Shepherd Racing Ventures was an American professional stock car racing team that last competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The team previously fielded the No. 89 Chevrolet Camaro.
Beginnings It began in 2001 in the Craftsman Truck Series as No. 6 with Morgan Shepherd as the owner/driver and Red Line Oil sponsoring, running under the moniker Victory in Jesus Racing.
Sprint Cup Series It moved up to Nextel Cup the next year, fielding the No. 89 Ford Taurus. It debuted at New Hampshire International Speedway and ran four more races that year, each ending in a DNF and Victory in Jesus taking over sponsorship. After 2002, the team ran a part-time schedule for Shepherd.
In 2006, Shepherd teamed up with businessmen Tony and Brian Mullet to rename the team as Victory Motorsports. The team attended seven of the first nine events, and also entered Kertus Davis for the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond, but failed to qualify in all eight attempts. On May 24, it was announced that Shepherd had sold the team to the Mullets, who renamed it as CJM Racing. Shepherd retained the Victory in Jesus Racing moniker and the use of the No. 89, racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Davis Motorsports in the meantime.
On August 1, 2006, Shepherd announced the formation of Faith Motorsports along with businessman Dana Tomes, racing a limited schedule with plans for a full 2007 campaign. Shepherd was entered for seven races, and managed to qualify at Richmond and New Hampshire.
Xfinity Series
In 2007, SRV, still under its original name Faith Motorsports, stopped fielding cars in the Sprint Cup Series and moved back to the Nationwide Series and ran the majority of the races in the second half of the season.
For 2008, the team attempted the full schedule for the first time. The season was highlighted by Shepherd's 13th place finish at Talladega Superspeedway. Other good runs were scattered throughout the year.
In 2009, the team switched to Chevrolet. After a slew of DNQs, the team was forced to start and park several races. It was an up and down year for the team.
In 2010, Faith Motorsports started the year with high hopes and came back to finish 22nd in the season opener in Daytona after an early race issue with the car. A special "Fans For Faith" donation fund was formed, and any fan could donate $100.00 to have their name put on the car. About mid-season, Faith Motorsports allied with Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Shepherd split his time between the 89 car and RCR's 21. Johnny Chapman and Brett Rowe took the reins of the 89, and mostly start and parked while Shepherd was in the 21. The alliance with RCR allowed Shepherd to use the 21 car's owner points to guarantee that the 89 would make the first five races of 2011.
For 2011, the team returned full-time with the 89 driven by Shepherd. A second car was formed, the 55 driven by Brett Rowe. This car is mainly used to start and park, which helps fund the primary 89. After DNQs in Daytona and Texas, the 55 decided to skip Talladega. In 2013 the team ran Dodges at the restrictor plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega). The team also ran as many races as possible, using Chevrolet. In 2014, Shepherd qualified for the Nationwide race at Dover, but failed to qualify for the races at Kentucky Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
2015 saw Shepherd enter Daytona, but withdrew midweek. Shepherd qualified for Atlanta and Las Vegas, but DNQ'd for Phoenix. Shepherd later qualified for Bristol, finishing 38th. Shepherd's team attempted 20 races but didn't run any races to completion. In 2016, SRV partnered with CM2, a company that helps teams find funding so that Shepherd can run races to the finish. Shepherd celebrated his 50th year of racing in 2017. In 2018, Landon Cassill ran the season-ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Cassill ran ten races for Shepherd Racing Ventures in 2019, though he failed to finish all but one. At the Rhino Pro Truck Outfitters 300 in Las Vegas, Cassill qualified ninth for the team's first top-ten starting position since Shepherd qualified tenth at Daytona in 2009. In Homestead, the team acquired sufficient sponsorship to run the full Ford EcoBoost 300. After qualifying 13th, Cassill finished 15th for the team's first completed race since Dover in 2013 and their first top-15 run since Las Vegas in 2009. SVR planned on attempting the majority of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule with Landon Cassill behind the wheel. Following NASCAR's return in May 2020, the 89 returned for only one race, the series return at Darlington. Team owner Morgan Shepherd said that despite the field expansion from 36 cars to 40, lack of qualifying wasn't going to allow the team to show off for potential sponsors, and the purse for positions 37-40 was only $5,000, much less than the team's expenses.
Shepherd hoped to run the team in 2021, despite his Parkinson's diagnosis. Cassill would depart for JD Motorsports, and the lack of a superspeedway car prevented the 89 from attempting Daytona. Shepherd later said that the 89 wouldn't return until the team had sufficient sponsorship and qualifying would return on a regular basis.
Motorsports career results
NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Nextel Cup Series NASCAR Nextel 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 Pts 1985 Morgan Shepherd 38 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSDunknown 1988 Morgan Shepherd 47 Buick DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH 57 BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL 1998 Morgan Shepherd 05 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL CLT DOV RCH MCH POC SON NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI NHA DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT TAL DAY PHO CAR ATL 63rd 38 1999 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR TEX BRI MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV MAR CLT TAL CAR PHO HOM ATL 60th 67 2001 Morgan Shepherd 89 Ford DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MAR TAL PHO CAR HOM ATL NHA NA - 2002 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL CAR PHO HOM 51st 271 2003 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX TAL MAR CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO CAR HOM 54th 177 2004 Dodge DAY CARWth LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHIWth NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO DAR HOM 41st 1181 2005 DAY CALWth LVS ATL MARWth TEX PHO TAL DAR RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAYWth CHI NHA POC IND GLNWth MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 50th 501 Jason Jarrett BRI 2006 Morgan Shepherd DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOMWth 53rd 355 Kertus Davis RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI
Xfinity Series (primary entry) NASCAR Xfinity Series results Year Team 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 Pts 1986 Morgan Shepherd 17 Buick DAY CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR SBO LGY JFC DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO RAL OXF SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR ROU CLT CAR MARunknown 1987 Ron Bouchard 97 DAY HCY MARunknown Morgan Shepherd DAR BRI LGY SBO CLT DOV IRP ROU JFC OXF SBO HCY RAL LGY ROU BRI JFC DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR 1988 DAY HCY CAR MAR DAR BRI LNG NZH SBO NSV CLT DOV ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLTunknown Chevy CAR MAR 1989 DAY CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI NZH SBO LAN NSV CLT DOV ROU LVL VOL MYB SBO HCY DUB IRP ROU BRIunknown Pontiac DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR 1990 Ford DAY RCH CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI LAN SBO NZH HCY CLT DOV ROU VOL MYB OXF NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NHA CAR MARunknown 1991 DAY RCH CAR MAR VOL HCY DAR BRI LAN SBO NZH CLT DOV ROU HCY MYB GLN OXF NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT NHA CAR MARunknown 1992 DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR BRI HCY LAN DUB NZHunknown 21 CLT DOV ROU MYB GLN VOL NHA TAL IRP ROU MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CAR HCY 1993 Dennis Setzer DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRPunknown Morgan Shepherd MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR CAR HCY ATL 1994 DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR HCY BRI ROU NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW SBO TAL HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CARunknown 1995 DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOMunknown 1997 07 Pontiac DAY CAR RCH ATL LVS DAR HCY TEX BRI NSV TAL NHA NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOVunknown Chevy CLT CAL CAR HOM 1998 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS NSV DAR BRI TEX HCY TAL NHA NZH CLT DOV RCH PPR GLN MLW MYB CAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT GTY CAR ATL HOMunknown 2004 89 Ford DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL GTY RCH NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR IRP MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KANunknown Dodge CLT MEM ATL PHO DAR HOM 2007 89 Dodge DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 47th 833 Brad Teague Ford MLW 2008 Morgan Shepherd Dodge DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO MXC TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 35th 2017 Chevy CGV GLN 2009 DAY CAL LVS BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 34th 2068 2010 DAY CAL LVS BRI NSH PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT NSH KEN ROA NHA DAY BRI RCH CLT TEX 38th 1521 Johnny Chapman CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH ATL DOV KAN CAL GTY Brett Rowe CGV PHO HOM 2011 Morgan Shepherd DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX TAL NSH RCH DAR DOV IOW CLT CHI MCH ROA DAY KEN NHA NSH IRP IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH CHI DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 30th 504 2012 DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX RCH TAL DAR IOW CLT DOV MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 37th 239 2013 Dodge DAY PHO LVS TAL DAR CLT DAY 50th 64 Chevy BRI CAL TEX RCH DOV IOW MCH ROA KEN NHA CHI IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 2014 DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX DAR RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 49th 54 2015 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV MCH CHI DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 41st 128 2016 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 45th 94 2017 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL CLT DOV POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 46th 26 2018 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW CHI DAY KEN NHA IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR IND LVS RCH CLT DOV KAN TEX PHO 47th 25 Landon Cassill HOM 2019 Morgan Shepherd DAY ATL35 LVS33 PHO34 CAL31 TEXDNQ BRI35 RCHWth TAL DOV35 POC35 IOW35 CHIDNQ DAY KEN34 IOW36 GLN MOH BRIDNQ ROA DAR37 IND36 41st 73 Landon Cassill CLT34 MCH32 NHA37 LVS36 RCH36 CLT DOV29 KAN36 TEX36 PHO38 HOM152020 DAY LVS36 CAL36 PHO35 DAR38 CLT BRI ATL HOM HOM TAL TEX DOV MOH MCH CHI POC IND KEN NHA ROA GLN DOV DAY DAR RCH BRI LVS CLT KAN TEX MAR PHO 43rd 5
Xfinity Series (secondary entry)