Morgan–McClure Motorsports

American auto racing organization

Morgan–McClure Motorsports was an American auto racing team that competed in the NASCAR Cup Series full time until 2007. It operated for 28 years, starting in 1983 and ending in 2012. The team was most notable for running the No. 4 from 1983 to 2010. The team notably won the Daytona 500 three times during the 1990s. They won with Ernie Irvan in 1991, then won back to back in 1994–1995 with Sterling Marlin. Irvan (1992) and Marlin (1996) also each won the Pepsi 400 for a total of five points paying wins at Daytona for the team over a six year period.

Morgan–McClure Motorsports was owned by business partners Larry McClure and Tim Morgan. It began in 1983 when the two purchased a race car from G. C. Spencer. The car debuted at Talladega Superspeedway and was piloted by Connie Saylor. The car finished 40th after suffering engine failure. After firing Connie because they wanted a younger driver and after obtaining the rights to No. 4 & the car he drove for G. C. Spencer, Mark Martin took over the driving duties later that year, and had one top 10 finish. In 1984, the team signed Folgers as a sponsor and began racing as car No. 4. Tommy Ellis ran twenty races that year for the team, with Lennie Pond and Joe Ruttman running the rest of the schedule. Ruttman drove sixteen races for them next season, notching one top 5 and four top 10 finishes. In 1986, MMM got Eastman Kodak sponsorship and signed Rick Wilson to handle the driving chores. Wilson got the team its first pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1988, its first full season on the circuit. When Wilson announced he was leaving the team in 1989, the team was eighth in points.

For the 1990 season, the team hired Phil Parsons, but after three races, Parsons was released in favor of Ernie Irvan. In his first race with the team, Irvan started 30th, and finished third. Two races later, Irvan won his first pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway. The team switched from Oldsmobile to Chevrolet in order to get more manufacturer support. Their first race after the switch was at the 1990 Bud at the Glen. Irvan picked up his first career victory, as well as the first victory for MMM the following week at Bristol, in the Busch 500. The next season, Irvan won the Daytona 500 and The Bud at the Glen (The latter was marred by the death of popular veteran J. D. McDuffie). When the checkered flag fell at the end of the season, the team was fifth in points. The next season, Irvan won three races over a two month stretch, at Sears Point International Raceway, the Pepsi 400 at the Daytona International Speedway, and at Talladega Superspeedway, respectively. In 1993, Irvan won the pole twice, as well as a victory at Talladega. When Davey Allison died in an aircraft accident, Robert Yates asked Irvan to take his place. Irvan wanted out of his contract with MMM, and it ensued into an ugly lawsuit. Irvan was able to get out, but there were hurt feelings on both sides. For the 1994 season, the team hired Sterling Marlin to drive. In his first race in the team, Marlin won the Daytona 500, beating out, ironically, Irvan. Marlin won the 500 the next year as well, in addition to two more races at Darlington Speedway and Talladega. In 1996, Marlin won two races, at Talladega and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona.

After the team went winless with Marlin in 1997, finishing 25th in points, the team and Marlin decided to part ways. MMM hired two time race winner Bobby Hamilton. Hamilton led 378 out of 500 laps and won from the pole at Martinsville Speedway and finished 10th in the final points standings. Soon, the team was not able repeat its success, and Hamilton left for Andy Petree Racing in 2001. He was replaced by Robby Gordon, but Gordon struggled in the ride and was released after just five races. Mike Skinner and Kevin Lepage shared the driving duties for two years without much success. In 2003, MMM switched to Pontiac. They lost their Kodak sponsorship in 2004, but MMM remained open, switching back to Chevrolet (almost being required to do so, as Pontiac had withdrawn from the Cup series at the end of 2003). Jimmy Spencer drove the car most of that year, and team co owner Larry McClure's son Eric drove another team car to finish 26th at Talladega Superspeedway. For 2005, the team signed Lucas Oil as a sponsor, and hired Mike Wallace to drive. Wallace was replaced by John Andretti, P. J. Jones, and Todd Bodine for some of the races in 2005. In 2006, Scott Wimmer was announced as the 2006 driver with new sponsorship from the Utah based AERO Exhaust. Wimmer had an average start of 35th and average of finish 29th, no wins, top fives, or top tens. On October 3, 2006, Larry McClure announced that the team and Wimmer parted ways. They hired Todd Bodine to drive the next two races, Charlotte and Atlanta, until they could find a permanent replacement. The last three races the team hired veteran Ward Burton, who at the time had not driven in the Cup Series in several years. On December 12, 2006, MMM announced they signed Burton to take full time seat in 2007 with sponsorship from State Water Heaters. Burton was released before the last race of the 2007 season. Furthermore, Morgan–McClure Motorsports shut down weeks shy of the 2008 Daytona 500 due to financial problems, but had agreed to let Mike Wallace drive in the 2008 Daytona 500 if sponsorship was found. Sponsorship was found, but Larry McClure said that he was tired of just sliding by and would come back when major sponsorship could be secured. When Tony Stewart announced on August 14 that Ryan Newman would drive the No. 4 car in 2009, Morgan–McClure Motorsports protested. Tim Morgan stated, "There's some sweat and history in that number 4. We feel like it ours," in an article for the Bristol Herald Courier. After discussions with MMM and NASCAR, on August 18 Stewart announced that Newman would drive the No. 39 instead of a No. 4 car in 2009. In 2014 Stewart did acquire the No. 4 to use with driver Kevin Harvick, who replaced Newman and the No. 39 in the 2014 season. Rumors indicated that Morgan–McClure Motorsports would prepare a No. 4 Chevy to attempt the 2009 Daytona 500, but this did not happen. On April 11, 2009, the team made public their intentions to attempt the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway with driver Eric McClure in the No. 4 Hefty/Walmart Chevy, however the team failed to qualify for the race. Scott Wimmer attempted to qualify the car at Bristol. Wimmer made the event, Morgan–McClure's first start since 2007. He finished 29th. Wimmer also attempted Dover but they were the only team to not qualify. Since 2009, legal problems have prevented Morgan–McClure from actively competing. Larry McClure was charged with federal income tax fraud for not reporting $269,000 for cars used in the ARCA series. He was also forced to pay back $60,000 to Eastman Kodak for falsifying an invoice. McClure spent eighteen months in jail and works at a family car dealership. MMM returned to the Cup Series at Bristol in August 2010, but Kevin Lepage failed to qualify for the race. The team never attempted another race again, with their No. 4 being used by Red Bull Racing Team for Kasey Kahne in 2011 without any objections from Morgan McClure. The team closed its doors in 2012.

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

NASCAR 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 1983 Connie Saylor 4 Olds DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL40 NSV DOV BRI CLT RSD POC Mark Martin MCH27 DAY19 NSV POC MCH18 BRI DAR17 RCH DOV MAR NWS Chevy TAL10 CLT33 CAR ATLDNQ RSD 1984 Lennie Pond DAY RCH CAR ATL Tommy Ellis BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS Joe Ruttman CAR34 ATL35 RSD10 1985 DAY17 RCH CAR6 ATL26 BRI29 DAR11 NWS MAR TAL30 DOV CLT7 RSD POC35 MCH DAY35 POC TAL33 MCH BRI13 DAR9 RCH DOV33 MAR NWS CLT5 CAR40 ATL32 RSD 1986 Rick Wilson Olds DAY7 RCH CAR ATL39 BRI12 DAR15 NWS MAR MCH8 DAY21 POC10 TAL11 GLN23 MCH40 BRI26 DAR28 RCH DOV32 MAR NWS CLT29 CAR ATL14 RSD40 Chevy TAL8 DOV Lake Speed Olds CLT14 RSD POC 1987 Rick Wilson DAY37 CAR RCH ATL11 DAR34 NWS BRI MAR TAL20 CLT30 DOV29 POC RSD14 MCH30 DAY30 POC40 TAL16 GLN21 MCH12 BRI7 DAR28 RCH DOV27 MAR NWS CLT30 CAR RSD18 ATL27 1988 DAY15 RCHDNQ CAR36 ATL10 DAR27 BRI25 NWS28 MAR25 TAL35 CLT18* DOV7 RSD33 POC25 MCH41 DAY2 POC13 TAL4 GLN12 MCH9 BRI23 DAR38 RCH33 DOV24 MAR16 CLT25 NWS20 CAR22 PHO29 ATL17 1989 DAY8 CAR17 ATL6 RCH17 DAR11 BRI21 NWS30 MAR4 TAL15 CLT35 DOV14 SON8 POC27 MCH6 DAY29 POC25 TAL5 GLN8 MCH32 BRI27 DAR11 RCH22 DOV19 MAR18 CLT41 NWS29 CAR13 PHO40 ATL18 1990 Phil Parsons DAY42 RCH26 CAR14 Ernie Irvan ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC MAR NWS Chevy TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR PHO ATL 1991 DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY5* POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 1992 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 1993 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI Jeff Purvis DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS Joe Nemechek CLT25 CAR23 Jimmy Hensley PHO32 ATL25 1994 Sterling Marlin DAY1 CAR2 RCH19 ATL25 DAR34 BRI8 NWS17 MAR27 TAL8 SON29 CLT15 DOV8 POC38 MCH34 DAY28 NHA10 POC12 TAL5 IND14 GLN26 MCH34 BRI6 DAR5 RCH13 DOV30 MAR7 NWS31 CLT36 CAR14 PHO3 ATL40 15th 3443 1995 DAY1* CAR12 RCH5 ATL7 DAR1 BRI9 NWS7 MAR13 TAL39 SON7 CLT4 DOV7 POC4 MCH7 DAY2* NHA9 POC18 TAL1 IND7 GLN21 MCH4 BRI7 DAR10 RCH33 DOV6 MAR23 NWS15 CLT6 CAR6 PHO12 ATL2 3rd 4361 1996 DAY40 CAR6 RCH11 ATL13 DAR11 BRI18 NWS5 MAR10 TAL1* SON15 CLT6 DOV41 POC11 MCH3* DAY1* NHA29 POC6 TAL29 IND39 GLN11 MCH33 BRI18 DAR8 RCH21 DOV17 MAR31 NWS11 CLT4 CAR13 PHO27 ATL15 8th 3682 1997 DAY5 CAR20 RCH19 ATL23 DAR32 TEX8 BRI20 MAR21 SON26 TAL39 CLT40 DOV10 POC15 MCH17 CAL36 DAY3 NHA22 POC20 IND43 GLN13 MCH43 BRI10 DAR40 RCH39 NHA39 DOV27 MAR39 CLT20 TAL38 CAR9 PHO27 ATL11 25th 2954 1998 Bobby Hamilton DAY12 CAR9 LVS20 ATL21 DAR35 BRI18 TEX26 MAR1* TAL30 CAL27 CLT20 DOV17 RCH16 MCH38 POC20 SON2 NHA15 POC20 IND20 GLN13 MCH20 BRI11 NHA34 DAR23 RCH6 DOV10 MAR14 CLT4 TAL15 DAY21 PHO21 CAR6 ATL6 10th 3786 1999 DAY29 CAR9 LVS24 ATL12 DAR7 TEX29 BRI18 MAR33 TAL31 CAL30 RCH4 CLT13 DOV21 MCH31 POC10 SON11 DAY8 NHA16 POC17 IND38 GLN22 MCH35 BRI41 DAR7 RCH7 NHA11 DOV30 MAR30 CLT22 TAL9 CAR10 PHO23 HOM25 ATL10 13th 3564 2000 DAY43 CAR40 LVS34 ATL13 DAR7 BRI15 TEX16 MAR18 TAL43 CAL18 RCH31 CLT34 DOV27 MCH43 POC40 SON16 DAY36 NHA22 POC39 IND40 GLN16 MCH14 BRI34 DAR22 RCH38 NHA35 DOV25 MAR35 CLT34 TAL36 CAR9 PHO43 HOM31 ATL16 32nd 2715 2001 Robby Gordon DAY37 CAR26 LVS34 ATL20 DAR29 37th 2759 Kevin Lepage BRI15 TEX11 MAR18 TAL42 CALDNQ RCH27 CLT35 DOV24 MCH31 POC21 SON43 DAY31 CHI34 NHA30 POC42 INDDNQ GLN33 MCH38 BRI13 DAR28 RCH39 DOV16 KAN13 Bobby Hamilton Jr. CLT33 TAL14 PHO38 CAR17 HOM35 ATL15 NHA37 Rich Bickle MAR31 2002 Mike Skinner DAY23 CAR36 LVS34 ATL28 DAR20 BRI23 TEX12 MAR25 TAL23 CAL31 RCH28 CLT24 DOV22 POC37 MCH30 SON12 DAY37 CHI23 NHA38 POC29 IND36 GLN40 MCH28 BRI29 DAR38 RCH22 NHA43 DOV19 KAN32 TAL28 CLT24 MAR33 ATL26 CAR6 PHO24 HOM36 35th 2886 2003 Pontiac DAY37 CAR17 LVS39 ATL30 DAR11 BRI41 TEX40 TAL31 MAR35 CAL20 RCH35 CLT20 DOV36 POC34 MCHDNQ 40th 2483 Johnny Miller SON Stacy Compton DAY33 MCHDNQ Johnny Sauter CHI35 NHA23 BRI25 RCH28 NHA32 KANDNQ Brett Bodine POCDNQ Robert Pressley INDDNQ P. J. Jones GLN24 Kevin Lepage DAR15 DOV27 TALDNQ CLT21 MAR35 ATL14 PHO23 CAR42 HOM18 2004 Chevy DAY32 CAR22 LVS36 ATL36 DAR28 BRI30 36th 2509 Jimmy Spencer TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR Mike Wallace ATLDNQ PHO29 DAR38 HOM33 2005 DAY41 CAL25 LVS24 ATL40 BRI34 MAR23 TEX25 PHO27 TAL28 DAR24 RCH29 CLT16 DOV28 POC31 MCH43 SONQL† DAY8 CHI25 NHA38 POC29 INDDNQ BRI17 RCH14 NHA22 DOV22 TAL19 KAN35 CLT43 MAR35 ATLDNQ TEX36 PHODNQ 36th 2640 P. J. Jones SON32 GLN42 John Andretti MCH28 CALDNQ Todd Bodine HOM20 2006 Scott Wimmer DAYDNQ CAL39 LVS32 ATL30 BRI19 MAR28 TEX28 PHO30 TAL21 RCH36 DAR33 CLT27 DOV34 POCDNQ MCH31 DAYDNQ CHI34 NHA20 POC38 IND20 GLN25 MCHDNQ BRI42 CAL30 RCH29 NHA31 DOV36 KANDNQ 39th 2340 P. J. Jones SON36 Todd Bodine TALDNQ CLT19 ATL42 Ward Burton MAR26 TEX25 PHO28 HOMDNQ 2007 DAYDNQ CALDNQ LVS43 ATLDNQ BRI18 MARDNQ TEXDNQ PHO36 TAL36 RCH35 DARDNQ CLTDNQ DOV41 POC33 MCHDNQ SONDNQ NHA43 DAYDNQ CHI41 IND14 POC43 GLNDNQ MCH20 BRI33 CALDNQ RCHDNQ NHA41 DOVDNQ KANDNQ TALDNQ CLT43 MAR38 ATLDNQ TEXDNQ PHODNQ 46th 1531 Todd Bodine HOMDNQ 2009 Eric McClure 4 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TALDNQ RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH 55th 135 Scott Wimmer BRI29 ATL RCH NHA DOVDNQ KAN CAL CLT MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM 2010 Kevin Lepage DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRIDNQ ATL RCH NHA DOV KAN CAL CLT MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM 61st 25