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MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Former NASCAR Modified competitors Jimmy Spencer and Tommy Baldwin have been reunited in the Winston Cup Series at Ultra Motorsports.
Spencer, a two-time champion in the Featherlite Modified Series, was announced Friday by Ultra owner Jim Smith to team with crew chief Baldwin for the 2003 season. Baldwin joined the No. 7 Sirius Dodge team in November after leaving Bill Davis Racing.
Spencer, who had a handshake deal to drive James Finch's No. 1 cars in the Busch Series but now will not do so, hopes to run up to 15 Winston Cup/Busch combination events in his own No. 34 Spencer Motor Ventures cars, pending sponsorship.
Casey Atwood drove the No. 7 until the final two races of the season, when he was released. Spencer competed in 2002 for Chip Ganassi Racing but was told before the end of the season he would be let go from the final year of his contract.
"We're excited about Jimmy coming on board, because he's one of the finest competitors in our sport," Smith said. "The excitement he brings on and off the track is something our sport thrives on, and having Spencer as the driver and Tommy Baldwin as the crew chief will make for a good combination for Ultra Motorsports and Sirius Satellite Radio."
Baldwin was named crew chief of the No. 7 team on Nov. 19. Baldwin, a Bellport, N.Y., native, has three victories as a Winston Cup crew chief, including the 2002 Daytona 500 with driver Ward Burton.
Spencer captured both of his Winston Cup victories in 1994, at Daytona International Speedway in the Pepsi 400 and Talladega Superspeedway in the DieHard 500. Spencer, from Berwick, Pa., also has 12 NASCAR Busch Series wins to his credit, most recently last year's Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
"I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about being a part of this team," Spencer said. "Jimmy Smith has been a NASCAR supporter for years. His truck teams have been very successful and I expect the No. 7 team to be no different."
Smith, one of the charter owners in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has come close to winning the last two Craftsman Truck Series championships, with former Winston Cup driver Ted Musgrave.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity with Tommy Baldwin as the crew chief, Mike Ege building the engines and Sirius Satellite Radio sponsoring the car," Spencer said. "We've got a chance to do big things this year."
Spencer and Baldwin have some history.
"Tommy and I have been good friends for 20 years," Spencer said. "I think back to the Modified days when I raced against his dad in the late 80s. Tommy was the crew chief for his dad and one of the biggest races they ever won was at Riverhead Raceway on Long Island.
"I came in as the national champion, but they flat beat me. That opened my eyes with Tommy and I gained a lot of respect for him. He's one of the best around."
The 2003 season will be Spencer's 15th in the Winston Cup Series. With his two career wins, he also has four Bud Pole Awards, 27 top-five finishes and 76 top-10s.
Spencer, a two-time champion in the Featherlite Modified Series, was announced Friday by Ultra owner Jim Smith to team with crew chief Baldwin for the 2003 season. Baldwin joined the No. 7 Sirius Dodge team in November after leaving Bill Davis Racing.
Spencer, who had a handshake deal to drive James Finch's No. 1 cars in the Busch Series but now will not do so, hopes to run up to 15 Winston Cup/Busch combination events in his own No. 34 Spencer Motor Ventures cars, pending sponsorship.
Casey Atwood drove the No. 7 until the final two races of the season, when he was released. Spencer competed in 2002 for Chip Ganassi Racing but was told before the end of the season he would be let go from the final year of his contract.
"We're excited about Jimmy coming on board, because he's one of the finest competitors in our sport," Smith said. "The excitement he brings on and off the track is something our sport thrives on, and having Spencer as the driver and Tommy Baldwin as the crew chief will make for a good combination for Ultra Motorsports and Sirius Satellite Radio."
Baldwin was named crew chief of the No. 7 team on Nov. 19. Baldwin, a Bellport, N.Y., native, has three victories as a Winston Cup crew chief, including the 2002 Daytona 500 with driver Ward Burton.
Spencer captured both of his Winston Cup victories in 1994, at Daytona International Speedway in the Pepsi 400 and Talladega Superspeedway in the DieHard 500. Spencer, from Berwick, Pa., also has 12 NASCAR Busch Series wins to his credit, most recently last year's Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
"I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about being a part of this team," Spencer said. "Jimmy Smith has been a NASCAR supporter for years. His truck teams have been very successful and I expect the No. 7 team to be no different."
Smith, one of the charter owners in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has come close to winning the last two Craftsman Truck Series championships, with former Winston Cup driver Ted Musgrave.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity with Tommy Baldwin as the crew chief, Mike Ege building the engines and Sirius Satellite Radio sponsoring the car," Spencer said. "We've got a chance to do big things this year."
Spencer and Baldwin have some history.
"Tommy and I have been good friends for 20 years," Spencer said. "I think back to the Modified days when I raced against his dad in the late 80s. Tommy was the crew chief for his dad and one of the biggest races they ever won was at Riverhead Raceway on Long Island.
"I came in as the national champion, but they flat beat me. That opened my eyes with Tommy and I gained a lot of respect for him. He's one of the best around."
The 2003 season will be Spencer's 15th in the Winston Cup Series. With his two career wins, he also has four Bud Pole Awards, 27 top-five finishes and 76 top-10s.
