If there was a throwback Firecracker 400 JR Motorsports would be the instigator.
The team, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., his sister Kelley, Tony Eury Sr. and Rick Hendrick, announced that it has entered Greg Sacks in the No. 88 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide race on July 2nd.
Previously the team announced that Earnhardt would race in a No. 3 Wrangler-liveried Chevrolet honoring his late father Dale Sr.
The 57-year-old Sacks last raced in the Sprint Cup Series in 2005 and last raced in the Nationwide Series in 2004 said “I just couldn't pass on an opportunity to race at Daytona in top equipment on the 25th anniversary of my Pepsi Firecracker 400 victory,” said Sacks.
“On top of that, being the only driver in this event that actually raced with Dale in the Wrangler No. 3 and now being teammates with Dale Jr. in that car is just awesome.”
The team will have a third car the No. 7 for Canadian Steve Arpin.
Sacks’ ride comes about because his company, Grand Touring Vodka, will become a part-time sponsor for the team including ten races this year and 15 races in 2011.
“Over the past four years, we have assembled a team of industry experts seeking to develop the world's best tasting vodka and deliver it at a sensible price," said Sacks, a founding member of the company.
Back in 1985, Sacks made headlines, taking a research-and-development car from DiGard Motorsports, qualifying ninth, and resulting huge upset over Bill Elliott and Darrell Waltrip. Elliott led 103 of 160 laps, but Sacks benefited from a fast race car and savvy pit strategy to lead 33 laps and claim the victory.
“I was there,” said Earnhardt Jr. “It was the summer, so I was out of school. Shoot, I had to have been 10 or 11 years old. We watched the race from turn 1, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was really cool to see Greg win that day.”
The team, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., his sister Kelley, Tony Eury Sr. and Rick Hendrick, announced that it has entered Greg Sacks in the No. 88 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide race on July 2nd.
Previously the team announced that Earnhardt would race in a No. 3 Wrangler-liveried Chevrolet honoring his late father Dale Sr.
The 57-year-old Sacks last raced in the Sprint Cup Series in 2005 and last raced in the Nationwide Series in 2004 said “I just couldn't pass on an opportunity to race at Daytona in top equipment on the 25th anniversary of my Pepsi Firecracker 400 victory,” said Sacks.
“On top of that, being the only driver in this event that actually raced with Dale in the Wrangler No. 3 and now being teammates with Dale Jr. in that car is just awesome.”
The team will have a third car the No. 7 for Canadian Steve Arpin.
Sacks’ ride comes about because his company, Grand Touring Vodka, will become a part-time sponsor for the team including ten races this year and 15 races in 2011.
“Over the past four years, we have assembled a team of industry experts seeking to develop the world's best tasting vodka and deliver it at a sensible price," said Sacks, a founding member of the company.
Back in 1985, Sacks made headlines, taking a research-and-development car from DiGard Motorsports, qualifying ninth, and resulting huge upset over Bill Elliott and Darrell Waltrip. Elliott led 103 of 160 laps, but Sacks benefited from a fast race car and savvy pit strategy to lead 33 laps and claim the victory.
“I was there,” said Earnhardt Jr. “It was the summer, so I was out of school. Shoot, I had to have been 10 or 11 years old. We watched the race from turn 1, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was really cool to see Greg win that day.”