RAM Racing

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Revision as of 16:04, 18 May 2009

RAM Racing is an American stock car racing racing team that currently races in NASCAR Nationwide Series. RAM Racing fields the #68 RAM Ford Lincoln/Lyon Engine Technologies/KeyStone 71 Ford Fusion driven by James Young and the #35 Lynx Tractors/Varaway Ford Fusion driven by Scott Davis. The team is owned by Randy and Don MacAuley and Ricky Bobby.

RAM Ford Lincoln

In the 1950s, Robert A. MacAuley opened MacAuley Ford Mercury in North Carolina.

In the late 1960s, Robert moved and renamed the dealership to Robert A. MacAuley Ford Mercury.

In the mid 1970s, Robert A. MacAuley Ford Mercury became known as R.A. MacAuley Ford Mercury.

By the mid 1980s, the dealership was known as RAM Ford Lincoln and Robert's son Randy MacAuley became assistant manager.

In 1992, Robert MacAuley retired and gave his dealership to his son, Randy MacAuley. In 1993, Randy MacAuley sold a minority share or the dealership to his race car driver, Ricky Bobby.

Racing

Randy MacAuley started his race team in the late 1970s. Randy MacAuley Racing raced on tracks around North Carolina with sponsorship from his father's car dealership.

By the mid 1980s, Randy MacAuley decided that he wanted to start racing in NASCAR. MacAuley formed RAM Racing with Robert MacAuley as part owner and sponsorship from RAM Ford Lincoln.

#35 History (Nationwide)

What is now the #35 car began as the #18 car in 1987. Randy MacAuley's RAM Racing started racing in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series (now Nationwide Series) part-time in 1987 and 1988. RAM Racing hired Joe Alexander to drive the #18 RAM Ford Lincoln Ford Thunderbird.

RAM Racing attempted full time in 1989. Due to lack of sponsorship, RAM Racing went back to part time. Joe Alexander left after the 1989 season.

RAM Racing found new sponsorship and a new driver for 1990. Jake Rogers drove the #18 Randy Mason Windows and Doors/RAM Ford Thunderbird.

In 1991, the 18 car was sponsored by varX and KeyStone 31. Partway through the season, Rogers was suffering from the flu and stayed out the next few races. RAM hired three different drivers and performed a test. Tire changer, Jerry Bakers drove the first race finishing 28th. Jackman, Ricky Bobby drove the second race and finished 12th. Paul Avery drove the third race and finished 17th.

In 1992, KeyStone 71 sponsored the car full time and the number was changed from 18 to 71. Jake Rogers won RAM Racing's first race at Bristol in 1992. In 1993, Jake Rogers won twice in the #71 car. In 1994, Rogers one once and at the end of the season, Rogers left RAM Racing for JRE Racing. KeyStone 71 and the number 71 left with Rogers. RAM Racing went back to a single car team with the #81.

In 1995, the #81 was switched to the former #71 team and Paul Avery was hired to drive the #81 verX car. Avery got his first win in 1996 in the Valley3/verX car. Paul Avery won once more in 1997 and left at the end of 1997 and RAM Racing went back to a single car team with Mike Raymond in the the #84.

In 1999, RAM Racing started a new time team with Craig James in the #74 Cottonwell Ford. Craig James left RAM Racing at the end of 2000.

In 2001, Mike Raymond was moved to the #74 Cottonwell Ford. Raymond left at the end of 2001.

In 2009, Scott Davis began driving the #35 Lynx Tractors/Varway Ford Fusion.

The car has become known as the "70 Series Car" due to the car usually being a number in the 70s.

#68 History (Nationwide)

What is now the #68 car began in 1992 as a second entry for RAM Racing. In 1992, KeyStone 71 added more sponsorship to the #71. That allowed RAM Racing to hire Ricky Bobby to drive the #81 RAM Ford/Randy Mason Windows and Doors part-time in the Busch Grand National Series. Bobby earned four top fives including one 2nd pace finish.

For 1993, additional sponsorship was found for the 81 car. RAM Racing was able to run the #81 verX full time with Ricky Bobby in the Busch Grand National Series. Bobby managed to win one race and ten top 10s.

In 1994, Ricky Bobby left for Darrell Vick Racing and RAM Racing went back to a single car team.

For 1996, RAM Racing hired Mike Raymond to drive the #84 Lynx Tractors/HiFli1 Ford. HiFli1 left at the end of 1998. Mike Raymond won his first race in 1999 and won again in 2000.

In 2001, rookie James Young was hired to drive the #84 Crown Way Ford and Mike Raymond was moved to the #74 Cottonwell/Lynx Tractors Ford. Raymond left at the end of 2001.

RAM Racing returned in 2002 with James Young in the #84 Cottonwell/Crown Way Ford.

James Young won his first race in 2003. Crown Way left at the end of the year and Lyon Engines Technologies became a part time sponsor. In 2004, Young won two more races. At the end of the year, it was announced that James Young would be leaving RAM Racing for Ricky Bobby Racing in the Cup Series. Lyon Engines Technologies also left at the end of the year.

In 2005, RAM Racing hired rookie Ron MacAuley to drive the #84 Cottonwell/LGYonline.com Ford. After a disappointing season, LGYonline.com left RAM Racing.

RAM Racing returned in 2006 with Ron MacAuley. However, the team shut down early in the season due to sponsor issues.

In 2007, RAM Racing returned part-time to the series with some changes. Ron MacAuley and David Avery drove the #68 (formerly 84) Lyon Engine Technologies/Varaway Ford. The best finish was Avery's 15th place finish at Charlotte.

For 2008, David Avery started full time. However, due to poor finishes, Avery was replaced in August with a series of drivers including Ricky Bobby, James Young, and Scott Davis.

At the end of 2008, it was announced that Scott Davis would be driving the #68 Lynx Tractors/Varway Ford. However, in early 2009, James Young was left without a ride after the merger of Ricky Bobby Racing and Kyle Andrews Motorsports. Young was quickly hired by RAM Racing. Additional sponsorship was found so Scott Davis was switched to the new #35 Lynx Tractors/Varaway Ford and James Young began driving the #68 RAM Ford/Highland/KeyStone 74 Ford Fusion. RAM Racing has brought Don MacAuley on as crew chief for the 68 and the pair is showing success.

Truck Series

RAM Racing's truck series team started in 1997. The team started as a development team for Craig James in the #58 Cottonwell Ford. In 1999, Craig James was moved to the #74 Cottonwell Ford in the Nationwide Series.

RAM Racing hired James Young to drive the #54 Crown Way Ford. Young was moved to the Nationwide Series in 2001.

Part way through 2003, RAM Racing hired Ron MacAuley to drive the #54 truck part-time. MacAuley left at the end of 2004.

In 2005, Scott Davis was hired to drive the #54 truck part-time. In 2006, the team ran full time and the new #56 with David Avery was run part-time. Avery left at the end of the year for the Nationwide Series. Scott Davis and RAM Racing won their only Truck Series win in 2007. The team closed at the end of 2008 after Scott Davis was moved to RAM Racing's #35 Nationwide car.

Sprint Cup

RAM Racing attempted its first cup race at Charlotte in 1997 with Paul Avery and failed to qualify.

RAM Racing made its second attempt at the Martinsvillle race in 1999 and failed to qualify again.

In 2003, RAM Racing made two attempts at the Cup Series with James Young. Young qualified for both the Darlington and spring race at Charlotte. Young finished 38th and 21st respectively.