Jimmy Means Racing

Jimmy Means Racing was an American professional stock car racing team that last competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, having last fielded the No. 52 Chevrolet Camaro part-time for Harrison Rhodes, Gar Robinson, and Brennan Poole. It was owned by former driver Jimmy Means, who was the team's primary driver upon the team's founding in 1978 as a Winston Cup team known as Means Racing.

History Cup Series After 44 starts driving for Bill Gray (and one for Rod Osterlund), Means made his debut as an owner in 1978 when he fielded the No. 52 Chevrolet. He had two top-tens and finished sixteenth in points. He expanded to a multi-car team briefly, fielding the No. 25 for Charlie Chamblee at Nashville, the No. 53 for Cecil Gordon at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and the No. 50 for Baxter Price at Texas World Speedway. His best years driving his car were from 1980 to 1983, when he finished no worse than 18th in the standings and had an average finish of 20th or better in all 4 seasons.

While remaining the primary driver of his car, in 1983, he stepped aside for Lennie Pond at Michigan International Speedway, who finished 22nd. In 1984, Means was injured and was replaced by Dale Jarrett, Sterling Marlin, Morgan Shepherd, Roy Smith and Bobby Wawak, and Means drove the No. 52 solely for the next six years. In 1991, Means gave up the No. 52 on two occasions; Bobby Hillin Jr. drove at Dover and Sears Point (finishing 19th and 21st), and Mike Wallace (finishing 31st and 39th) at Phoenix and Atlanta. In the early 1990s he frequently handed the wheel over to other drivers, including Hillin Jr, road racing ace Tommy Kendall; future IRL champion Scott Sharp; and future Craftsman Truck Series champ Mike Skinner. He also fielded occasional second entries for other drivers, including John McFadden, Mike Potter, and Brad Teague.

Means secured new sponsorship from NAPA for the 1993 season, but he was injured at Daytona. His temporary replacement was new NASCAR Rookie of the Year Jimmy Hensley. Means returned to finish 22nd at Atlanta. In what proved to be his final year as a driver, he was later 16th in the spring race at Bristol, 18th in Bristol's fall race, and 17th at Dover in September before his final race at Rockingham that fall. Besides Means' performances, the team's best result was 25th at Rockingham in February by Hensley. In 1994, the team's primary driver was Brad Teague, whose best finish in 8 starts was 22nd at Bristol in the summer. 4 other drivers competed once each in the No. 52 NAPA Ford in 1994. Mike Skinner finished 31st at Rockingham in February, Kirk Shelmerdine (former crew chief for Dale Earnhardt) was 26th at Talladega in May, Bob Keselowski was 41st at Pocono in June, and Gary Bradberry came home 30th in the season-ending Hooters 500 at Atlanta. In 1996, NAPA moved to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to sponsor Ron Hornaday Jr. and therefore did not return to sponsor Means Racing. The team picked up some sponsorship from Advance Communications/Race Page, but failed to qualify in all of their attempts with Bradberry, Teague, and Randy MacDonald sharing the car. The team attempted every race to start the year but then scaled back to part-time after the numerous DNQs, only running at the fall Darlington race with Teague, but again failing to make the field. The team closed down in 1995.

Car No. 52 results NASCAR Winston 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 Owners Pts 1978 Jimmy Means 52 Chevy RSD DAY35 RCH12 CAR10 ATL32 BRI23 DAR12 NWS14 MAR10 TAL DOV17 CLT37 NSV30 RSD MCH15 DAY13 NSV24 POC13 TAL32 MCH15 BRI19 DAR11 RCH13 DOV32 MAR23 NWS23 CLT CAR13 ATL23 ONT22 1979 RSD DAYDNQ CAR24 RCH27 ATL33 NWS30 BRI28 DAR30 MAR28 TAL12 NSV11 DOV31 CLT TWS23 RSD31 MCH16 DAY22 NSV10 POC16 TAL13 MCH22 BRI19 DAR16 RCH20 DOV16 MAR17 CLT NWS24 CAR31 ATL19 ONT 1980 RSD21 RCH30 CAR20 ATL12 BRI24 DAR28 NWS14 MAR12 TAL NSV12 DOV27 CLT14 TWS19 RSD MCH22 NSV16 POC14 MCH14 BRI22 DAR16 RCH13 DOV27 NWS12 CAR13 ATL20 ONT31 Buick DAY15 DAY26 TAL15 1981 Chevy RSD18 BRI14 NWS14 NSV14 DOV9 NWS9 CLT Pontiac DAY21 RCH14 CAR29 ATL21 DAR23 MAR12 TAL27 CLT23 TWS19 RSD28 MCH28 DAY18 POC19 TAL16 MCH25 BRI12 DAR38 RCH16 DOV19 MAR15 CAR20 ATL35 RSD Buick NSV15 1982 DAY17 ATL16 DAR11 NWS18 MAR13 TAL9 CLT14 POC24 RSD18 MCH20 DAY21 TAL17 MCH11 CLT11 Chevy RCH18 BRI16 NSV14 BRI14 RCH19 MAR9 CAR15 ATL13 Pontiac CAR17 NSV23 DOV31 POC17 DAR23 DOV17 NWS14 RSD12 1983 Buick DAY14 ATL32 TAL7 CLT38 MCH21 DAY36 Chevy RCH16 NWS14 MAR10 NSV12 BRI14 RSD18 POC20 NSV12 BRI26 DAR20 RCH24 DOV21 MAR15 NWS22 CLT23 CAR9 ATL18 RSD16 Pontiac CAR14 DAR12 DOV12 POC35 TAL Lennie Pond Chevy MCH22 1984 Jimmy Means DAY17 RCH28 NWS25 TAL40 NSV22 MCH26 RCH18 DOV15 Pontiac CAR13 ATL BRI17 DAR14 MAR DOV16 CLT27 POC25 BRI30 DAR18 MAR15 CLT19 NWS16 CAR18 ATL16 RSD21 Roy Smith RSD26 Bobby Wawak POC28 Slick Johnson MCHDNQ Dale Jarrett DAY23 Sterling Marlin NSV30 Morgan Shepherd Chevy TAL30 1985 Jimmy Means DAY14 RCH21 ATL28 BRI12 TAL12 RSD37 DAY32 DAR27 Pontiac CAR30 DAR15 NWS17 MAR14 DOV30 CLT32 POC22 MCH35 POC23 TAL42 MCH15 BRI27 RCH23 DOV13 MAR13 NWS21 CLT38 CAR18 ATL41 RSD20 1986 DAY39 RCH11 CAR19 ATL41 BRIDNQ DAR25 NWS20 MAR12 DOV24 CLTDNQ RSD22 POC22 MCHDNQ DAY24 POC13 TAL15 GLN21 MCH25 BRI27 DAR15 RCH26 DOV24 MAR22 NWS27 CLT18 CAR22 ATL29 RSD17 Chevy TAL16 1987 Pontiac DAY24 CAR22 RCH14 ATL32 DAR36 NWS30 BRI29 MAR14 TAL33 CLT15 DOV13 POC19 RSD23 MCHDNQ GLN19 BRI13 RCH9 DOV22 MAR30 NWS21 CLT CAR20 RSD27 ATL29 Chevy DAY29 POC38 TAL36 MCH37 DAR22 1988 DAY25 RCH24 Pontiac CAR40 ATL42 DAR35 BRI32 NWS30 MARDNQ TAL23 CLT12 DOV27 RSD43 POC20 MCH36 DAY27 POC39 TAL23 GLN14 MCH38 BRIDNQ DAR24 RCH29 DOV19 MAR23 CLT42 NWSDNQ CAR39 PHO24 ATL38 1989 DAYDNQ CAR33 ATL18 RCHDNQ DAR38 BRIDNQ NWS32 MARDNQ TAL41 CLT41 DOV24 SONDNQ POC29 MCH28 DAY12 POC24 TAL39 GLN33 MCH27 BRIDNQ DAR26 RCH19 DOV21 MAR31 CLT37 NWS22 CAR31 PHO25 ATLDNQ 1990 DAY29 RCH18 CAR21 ATL31 DAR31 BRI29 NWS28 MAR19 TAL21 CLTDNQ DOV22 SONDNQ POC27 MCH39 DAY12 POC21 TAL30 GLN39 MCH27 BRI22 DAR36 RCH18 DOV24 MAR16 NWS30 CLT39 CAR28 PHO25 ATL28 1991 DAY39 RCH31 CAR27 ATL31 DAR23 BRIDNQ NWSDNQ MARDNQ TAL20 CLT38 POC26 MCH27 DAY26 POC21 TAL23 GLN39 MCH27 BRIDNQ DAR28 RCH35 DOV23 MARDNQ CAR35 Olds NWS28 CLT24 Bobby Hillin Jr. Pontiac DOV19 SON21 Mike Wallace PHO31 ATL39 1992 Jimmy Means DAYDNQ CAR33 RCH35 ATL38 DAR20 NWS32 MAR30 TAL34 CLT42 DOV31 POC35 MCH23 DAY39 POC39 TAL32 MCH39 BRI24 DAR22 RCH29 DOV23 MARDNQ NWSDNQ CLT38 CAR26 Ford ATL21 Brad Teague Pontiac BRI21 Tommy Kendall SON13 Scott Sharp Chevy GLN19 Scott Gaylord Pontiac PHO37 1993 Jimmy Hensley Ford DAY40 CAR25 RCH34 Jimmy Means ATL22 DAR31 BRI16 NWS27 MARDNQ TAL32 CLT38 DOV26 POC22 MCH28 DAY36 NHA34 POCDNQ TAL25 MCH25 BRI18 RCH26 DOV17 MARDNQ NWSDNQ CAR29 ATLDNQ Scott Gaylord Pontiac SONDNQ Olds GLN29 Ford PHODNQ Mike Skinner DAR35 Mike Wallace CLT30 1994 Brad Teague DAYDNQ DAR24 BRIDNQ CLT41 DOV40 MCHDNQ DAYDNQ NHA POC TAL28 INDDNQ GLN MCHDNQ BRI22 DAR30 RCHDNQ DOV40 MAR27 NWSDNQ CLTDNQ CARDNQ PHO Mike Skinner CAR31 RCH ATL NWSDNQ MARDNQ Kirk Shelmerdine TAL26 Scott Gaylord SONDNQ Bob Keselowski POC41 Gary Bradberry ATL30 1995 DAYDNQ CARDNQ RCHDNQ ATLDNQ Brad Teague DARDNQ BRIDNQ DARDNQ RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL Randy MacDonald NWSDNQ MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI

In 2012, the team announced that they would be returning to the Cup Series for the first time since 1995, fielding the No. 52 Toyota part-time for Scott Speed and Mike Skinner in a partnership with Dell Hamilton, running as Hamilton Means Racing. After many problems acquiring equipment and preparing cars, Speed attempted Martinsville but didn't qualify. The team made their debut at Darlington. The team picked up some sponsorship from Crusader Staffing. Skinner start and parked the car in their first race after 20 laps. Skinner attempted again at Kentucky but did not qualify. In 2013, Means sold his owner points to Brian Keselowski Motorsports.

Car No. 53 results NASCAR Winston 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 Owners Pts 1981 Cecil Gordon 53 Buick RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD 1992 John McFadden Pontiac DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DAR RCH CAR PHO ATL Graham Taylor DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DOV MAR NWS CLT 1993 Mike Potter Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV Graham Taylor POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI Jimmy Means DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL

Xfinity Series Car No. 52 history In 2001, Means Racing returned to NASCAR in the Busch Series with a partnership with Moy Racing. They began the season with Jason Rudd, who ran the first race for the team, and Brad Teague, who ran five races total for them that season, his best finish a 38th at Watkins Glen International. Gaylord also returned to run two races, both resulting in 42nd-place finishes. Kertus Davis, Ricky Sanders and Andy Kirby also drove for the team that year. In 2002, Teague drove eleven races for the team, his best finish 38th at Nazareth Speedway. Jimmy Kitchens, Phil Bonifield and Eric Jones drove part-time as well for the team that year. Teague made 11 starts for Means in 2003, with Donnie Neuenberger running an additional two races.

In 2004, Bruce Bechtel joined as another driver to the team. He made several attempts but only made one race, at Pikes Peak. Teague continued to run with the team, his best finish being a 26th at Bristol. The next season, Shane Hall was the team's original driver but was soon released. Eric McClure began running with the team, with a best finish of 30th at Texas Motor Speedway, but was released in favor of Neuenberger. At the Dover 200, Neuenberger flipped over the Plan B Technologies Ford Taurus on Lap 2. He was uninjured, but as that was the team's only car, the team did not run again for a year.

The No. 52 returned for the 2007 Orbitz 300 at Daytona but failed to qualify with Brad Teague at the wheel. Teague, Neuenberger, Kevin Lepage, Jamie Mosley and Ian Henderson had driven throughout the season, with Scott Gaylord driving at Montreal, Phoenix, and Watkins Glen. Chris Lawson attempted but did not qualify at Memphis. Neuenberger drove four races with Royal Farms' sponsorship.

Derrike Cope was the team's driver for the first part of 2008 season. At the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington, Cope was replaced by Brad Teague. Teague finished 22nd, 4 laps down. Teague mostly drove the car in 2008, but Neuenberger sometimes raced with Lepage, Scott Gaylord, Tony Raines and Boris Said occasionally drove. The 2009 season in the nationwide series was up and down for Means racing, with very many drivers. They were a "start and park" operation and missed several races.

For 2011, they returned to the Nationwide Series full-time in the No. 52 Chevy. Target Your Market Promotions and My 3 Sons Vending sponsored the team numerous times and continued to do so, off and on throughout the year. After Bobby Santos III took a hard hit during practice for the season opener in Daytona, Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave the team the No. 88 backup car, on the condition that Means Racing would run the whole race with the car, and not Start and Park. Means Racing did run the whole race, they would end up finishing 17th. Since Daytona, the team has run with several other drivers, including Daryl Harr, Tim Schendel, and Tony Raines.

For 2012, the team ran Daytona with driver former Cup driver Reed Sorenson, and then switched between drivers Tim Schendel, Kevin Lepage, Joey Gase, Justin Jennings and Ryan Ellis for one race. The team achieved a spot in the top-30, locking them into the first five races. The team's best finish was a 19th at Kansas with Gase.