Times are good at Misfit Racing, Inc.
MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 Advance - Dover International Speedway


MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 28, 2003) -- Jim Smith has an idea.  He wants to change his race team's name from Ultra Motorsports to Misfit Racing, Inc.  This is, after all, an organization made up of people nobody wanted.

So call Smith the Daddy Warbucks of NASCAR, because this story has the makings of Cinderella and Little Orphan Annie all wrapped up in one.  After having gone all of last season without a top 10 with driver Casey Atwood, Smith recorded his first top-five and second top-10 of the season last week in the Coca-Cola 600.  Had it not been for a cut tire at Richmond, a loose oil line at Texas, and an ill-timed caution at Bristol, we could easily be talking about much more.

But Jim-Daddy Warbucks doesn't bother playing the "would've, could've, should've" card.  His No. 7 SIRIUS Racing Team is already doing much more than anyone expected, and doing so with half the budget as most of the other teams in the NASCAR Winston Cup garage.  Throw in the fact that "Mongo" has been a marketing dream, and Jimmy Spencer's fan base continues to swell faster than a wet sponge, there could easily be a song and dance at the end of this script.  Of course, that's if you don't mind a group of misfits doing the singing and dancing.

With the MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 (Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT on FX) at Dover International Speedway upon us, one of the key players at Misfit Racing, Inc, Jimmy Spencer, sits down to discuss life with the SIRIUS Dog Pound, and what it's like to drive for the Daddy Warbucks of NASCAR.

Team SIRIUS driver Jimmy Spencer's thoughts:

You said last week it was important to start off this stretch of races on a good note.  I'm guessing a fourth-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 would be acceptable, right?
"I'll tell you what the it (fourth-place finish) did.  It reiterated to us that we're doing things the right way.  It showed us that if we don't make mistakes, and if we get just a little bit of luck, we can be as good as any of those other cars out there.  A lot of people noticed our race team this past week, but let me tell you, we didn't do anything in the Coca-Cola 600 that we haven't been doing all year as far as preparing the race car and driving the race car.  We've been this good a lot this season but just haven't gotten the finishes to show for it.  We could easily have had four top-fives by now.  We've been that good, only to have some freakish happen.  But the boys at the Dog Pound don't make excuses, and neither do I.  We take the good with the bad and keep on racing."

Considering the end of last year and the whole off-season you went through, do you consider yourself fortunate to be with Jimmy Smith and Tommy Baldwin?
"I thank God every day for what he's given me.  He's blessed me with a great wife, great kids, great dogs, a decent cat, and one heck of a race team to drive for.  I've grown up a lot spiritually the past few years, and I enjoy spending time with Max Helton and all those guys at Motor Racing Outreach.  The one thing I've learned is that God blesses those who trust in him and look to him for answers.  I've driven for great car owners in my career, but don't remember being this happy.  I look forward to going to the race track every week to drive that SIRIUS Dodge and talk about Mongo and tell people why they need a SIRIUS radio in their vehicles.  I can't wait to go to Dover this weekend and tell people about the new SIRIUS Plug-and-Play radio that's coming out in a few weeks.  I can't wait to go in there and watch Tommy make a fast car go faster.  This is exciting stuff, and I hope that SIRIUS decides to be a part of it for another year because this team is going places.  It's all about people.  Those big-time teams can keep their technology and their money and everything else they think gives them an advantage, because we feel the most important thing is people.  We've got the right people."

But be honest, Jimmy.  When you came on board in January, you were coming to a team that hadn't finished in the top 10 all last year.  Were you at all skeptical?
"This isn't the same team as last year.  There are some guys on last year's No. 7 team that are still here, and they play a big role in the success of this team.  Nuck (shock specialist Mike McCarville, also known as "Canuck" or just "Nuck") is one of them.  He is an awesome shock guy, and Tommy knew we needed him.  There are other guys who were on this team last year that are still here.  But basically, Tommy came in and rebuilt the whole thing by bringing in a lot of new people.  Jimmy Smith gave him that authority to do that, and that's a credit to him as a car owner, because he recognized Tommy's ability.  So who really knew what to expect with a new crew chief, new driver, new car chief (Trip Bruce), new shop foreman (J.W. Bartok) and new crew members?  We just had to have realistic goals, and that was to be a top-15, top-20 car on a consistent basis.  We're still working on the consistency part, but anyone who's watched us race knows we are a top-15 car virtually every week."

Jim Smith says he ought to change his team's name from Ultra Motorsports to Misfit Racing, Inc., because this team is nothing but a bunch of misfits.  Do you agree with that?
"You know what, we take pride in the fact we're a bunch of misfits.  Jim is even a misfit.  All these people overlook him as being a credible car owner, but you look at what he's built in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  He is why that series even exists, and he's got 26 wins and he's in the hunt for the championship every year.  People might not consider him as a top-tier Winston Cup owner, but you've got to remember he bought this team not even two years ago.  In this sport, it takes time and people.  He's got the people.  Now he just needs to the time to let it grow.  Like I said before, we're having fun.  Mongo is having fun.  Mongo just got his first top five last week, and he told me the other day that he had so much fun doing it, he wants another one."

Is Mongo a misfit, too?
"Oh yeah.  He tried for years getting on Earnhardt's car, but Earnhardt didn't want him.  Then he tried getting on Gordon's car, but Mongo didn't look good in a rainbow shirt.  So we took him in and put him on our car, because he looks good with our color scheme.  Now, everybody wants a piece of Mongo.  Mongo merchandise is the hot item out at the SIRIUS souvenir trailer, especially the black hat with Mongo's image on the front.  I see a lot of people wearing those hats.  Before this year is over, everyone will be wearing Mongo."

Dog Pound qualifies 31st, Ultra wins truck race
MBNA Armed Forces Family Qualifying Report - Dover International Speedway


DOVER, Del. (May 30, 2003) - The "Monster Mile" here at Dover International Raceway proved every bit the beast for Team SIRIUS on Friday.

The Dog Pound qualified 31st for Sunday's MBNA Armed Forces Family 400, leaving a hefty challenge for Jimmy Spencer, Tommy Baldwin and the rest of the SIRIUS Racing Team.  Spencer's best lap around the concrete oval was clocked at 23.316 seconds at a speed of 154.540 miles per hour.  It was considerably slower than Spencer's best practice speed of 155.918 mph.

"We tried something, took a gamble, and it didn't work," Spencer said.  "We've got a new car here this week, and it kind of through us a curveball in practice.  We took a gamble by making some changes, and it just didn't work.  That's OK though.  We learned something, and we'll get this thing better before the race."

It will be an all-Penske first row, as Ryan Newman won his fourth Bud Pole Award of the season with a speed of 158.716 mph, and teammate Rusty Wallace followed up with a speed of 157.322 mph.  Jeremy Mayfield, Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson round out the top five.

The MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 is slated for a 12:30 p.m. EDT start, and it will be televised live on FX.

ULTRA WINS AGAIN:  Ultra Motorsports is gaining huge momentum in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  Two weeks ago Ted Musgrave took the No. 1 Mopar Dodge to victory lane in the inaugural Hardee's 250 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.  On Friday, Jason Leffler won the MBNA Armed Forces Family 200 here at Dover International Speedway in the No. 2 ASE/Carquest Dodge.

The win was a career-first for Leffler after 29 starts, although he has finished runner-up six times.  It was Jim Smith's 27th win as owner.

"Jason has been so close so many times," Smith said.  "I'm happy for him, I'm happy for ASE and Carquest, and I'm happy for this team."

Musgrave had the lead halfway through the race, but the engine in the No. 1 Dodge Ram expired, sending the Mopar camp to an early exit.  Leffler, who was in second place at the time, took over the lead and never relinquished it.

SPENCER APPEARANCE:  Jimmy Spencer will appear at the SIRIUS Racing souvenir trailer Sunday morning in at the Dover International Speedway souvenir park.  Spencer will be signing autographs from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m., and will take time to greet his many fans here in the Dover area.

"I think the fans like Mongo more than they like me, but that's OK.  I do, too!"

Dover a downer for the Dogs
MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 Race Report -- Dover International Speedway


DOVER, Del. (June 1, 2003) - A cold, dreary weekend here at Dover International Speedway got worst for the SIRIUS Racing Team on Sunday, and it had nothing to do with the weather.

The SIRIUS Dog Pound finished 29th in the MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 after an early wreck put the No. 7 Dodge several laps down.  The incident started when Jack Sprague's No. 0 Chevrolet ran into the left rear quarterpanel of the Mongo Machine, sending it spinning into the wall.  The accident not only sparked a moderate amount of tension, but it forced Spencer to make numerous pit stops to fix the damaged car.

The incident sent Spencer back to 38th, but he managed to keep the No. 7 car clean the rest of the day while others weren't so fortunate.  The attrition rate grew as the race prolonged, and Team SIRIUS was able to climb to 29th by race's end.

All the while, Ryan Newman gave Dodge another win.  He held off Jeff Gordon in the closing laps despite not having power steering.  Bobby Labonte finished third followed by Tony Stewart and Johnny Benson.  Stewart perhaps had the best car in the field, but a penalty in the pits put him a lap down, and he had to fight his way back into contention.

THE BALDWIN FACTOR:  Spencer finished 29th with a car that gave the Dog Pound fits all weekend.  After qualifying 31st Friday afternoon, Team SIRIUS struggled in Saturday's practice.  Crew chief Tommy Baldwin spent Saturday night crunching numbers, trying to figure out how to make the SIRIUS Dodge go faster.  When the garage opened at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning, he threw a whole list full of changes at the No. 7 Intrepid. 

It's hard to tell how well those changes worked.  On the very first lap, the No. 7 was nearly turned sideways by a car behind him when the field scrambled to avoid the wrecked car of Casey Mears.  Spencer was able to regain control without spinning, prompting applause from his crew.

"Awesome job, Jimmy," radioed Baldwin.  "Heck of a job saving that car."

Spencer wasn't able to save the next one.  On lap 39, Sprague ran into the back of Spencer, perhaps rekindling a rivalry that started last year in the NASCAR Busch Series.

"I have no idea why he did that," Spencer said.  "We've got 350 laps left in that race, at least, and he's racing like it's the last one.  I was just trying to be patient, get in a groove, figure out how we needed to make our car better, and the next thing I know I'm in the wall."

The Dog Pound repaired most of the damage, but the aerodynamics to the car was hurt for good.  Even after repeated pit stops under caution to hammer out sheet metal, the front fender was still knocked in one foot.  It left Spencer fighting a tight condition for the rest of the day.

CREW TALK:  Spencer was not too pleased about being the contact with Sprague, but he quickly regained composure to concentrate on the long race ahead.  Perhaps he found a bit of redemption when Sprague himself got loose, hit the wall and eliminated himself from contention.
Spotter Donnie "Fat Boy" Eppling:  "You ain't gonna believe who caused that wreck, Jimmy."
Spencer:  "The 54 (Todd Bodine) or the 97 (Kurt Busch)?
Eppling:  "No, man, the zero (Sprague)."
Spencer:  "Why you gotta pick on him like that?  You must not like him." (laughing).
Eppling: "I just don't like what he did to you."
Spencer:  "Funny thing is I'm sure he thought I was gonna get him back when he went by me a few laps ago.  I'm not going to stoop to that level.  Besides, I pretty much figured he would wreck himself."
Eppling:  "That boy couldn't drive a camel to water."

During the eighth caution of the afternoon, Spencer was up to 32nd and saying the car was tight.  After a pit stop, he was pacing the No. 7 awaiting the restart:
Eppling:  "You want a cup of coffee Spencer while you're relaxing out there?"
Spencer:  "Yeah, that would be nice-a hot cup of coffee on this cool, overcast day."
Baldwin:  "How's the car feeling, bud?"
Spencer:  "Still a little tight, Tommy, and I know it's the aero so I don't really know what you want to do to fix it.  It's just tight getting into the turns.  Oh well, it makes it fun."
Baldwin:  "Yeah, I'm starting to think we really wouldn't have been that far off (on the set-up).  Oh well, we'll know for next time."

POST-RACE QUOTES:  Jimmy Spencer - "We struggled this weekend, and it's tough to say how good we would've been in the race.  That's really unfortunate, because Tommy thought long and hard overnight on what to do to this car, and we just didn't get a chance to see how those changes really worked.  We almost got taken out on the first lap, we were under caution for the next 20 laps (because of rain), and when we finally got going, the Zero car hits us and turns us into the wall.  I'm not happy about that, but that's OK.  It's a long season, and Mongo doesn't forget.  It was so early in the race that there was no reason for it.  You've got to give and take out there."