RAM Racing

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Revision as of 02:16, 30 May 2009

RAM Racing is an American stock car racing racing team that currently races in NASCAR. RAM Racing fields cars in the Nationwide Series and a truck in the truck series. The team is owned by Randy and Don Macaulay and Ricky David.

RAM Ford Lincoln

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

In the late 1960s, Robert moved and renamed the dealership to Robert A. Macaulay Ford Mercury. In the mid 1970s, Robert A. Macaulay Ford Mercury became known as R.A. Macaulay Ford Mercury. By the mid 1980s, the dealership was known as RAM Ford Lincoln and Robert's son Randy Macaulay became assistant manager.

In 1992, Robert Macaulay retired and gave his dealership to his son, Randy Macaulay. In 1993, Randy Macaulay sold a minority share or the dealership to his race car driver, Ricky David. In 2006, Randy Macaulay sold the dealership to Jerry Clark. Randy Macaulay and Ricky David still share a part of the dealership.

Racing

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

By the mid 1980s, Randy Macaulay decided that he wanted to start racing in NASCAR. Macaulay purchased Jerry Brown Motorsports in 1985. In 1990, the team changed from Chevrolet to Ford and the name was changed to RAM Racing. RAM Racing has won 12 times in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

NASCAR Nationwide Series

#35 History

In early 1985 Randy Macaulay purchased Jerry Brown Motorsports. JB Motorsports raced in the Busch Grand National Series (now Nationwide) with Darrell Brown driving the #18 Valley View Chevrolet Nova. At the end of 1985, the team was renamed Macaulay-Brown Motorsports. In late 1986, Randy Macaulay gained control of Macaulay-Brown Motorsports. In 1987, Randy Macaulay hired Joseph Alexander to drive the #18 Valley View Chevrolet.

For 1988, the team switched manufactures from Chevrolet to Ford and RAM Ford Lincoln replaced Valley View as the primary sponsor. Due to switching manufactures, the team only ran a part-time schedule. The team attempted full time in 1989 however, due to lack of sponsorship, RAM Racing went back to part time. Joe Alexander left after the 1989 season.

In 1990, the team became officially known as RAM Racing. RAM Racing found new sponsorship and a new driver for 1990. Greg 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 David drove the second race and finished 12th. Richard Allen 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. Greg Rogers won RAM Racing's first race at Bristol in 1992. In 1993, Greg 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 Richard Allen was hired to drive the #81 verX car. Allen got his first win in 1996 in the Valley3/verX car. Richard Allen 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. Mike Raymond left at the end of 2002.

In 2009, Erik Davis began driving the #35 Lyon Engine Technologies/Lynx Tractors Ford Fusion. Tony Page became the crew chief. After the second race, Don Macaulay became the new crew chief for the #35 team.

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

#68 History

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 David to drive the #81 RAM Ford/Randy Mason Windows and Doors part-time in the Busch Grand National Series. David 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 David in the Busch Grand National Series. David managed to win one race and ten top 10s.

In 1994, Ricky David 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. 2000 was Raymond's best year with two wins and finishing fourth in the standings..

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. Tony Page was hired as the crew chief. RAM Racing returned in 2002 with James Young in the #84 Crown Way Ford. James Young won his first race in 2003. 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 David Racing in the Cup Series. Lyon Engines Technologies also left at the end of the year.

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

RAM Racing returned in 2006 full time with Ron Macaulay. 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 Macaulay and Richard Allen drove the #68 (formerly 84) Lyon Engine Technologies/Varaway Ford. Josh Kirby replaced Tony Page as the crew chief. The best finish was Allen's 15th place finish at Charlotte.

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

At the end of 2008, it was announced that Erik Davis would be driving the #68 Lyon Engine Technologies/Lynx Tractors Ford. However, in early 2009, James Young was left without a ride after the merger of Ricky David Racing and Kyle Andrews Motorsports. Young was quickly hired by RAM Racing. Additional sponsorship was found so Erik Davis was switched to the new #35 Lyon Engine Technologies/Lynx Tractors Ford and James Young began driving the #68 RAM Ford/Highland/Varaway Ford Fusion.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

RAM Racing's truck series team started in 1997. The team was unsponsored so only a limited schedule was run. The team started as a development team for Craig James in the #58 Cottonwell Ford. Sponsorship was found in 1998 which allowed the team to run more races. 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 #84 Crown Way Ford in the Nationwide Series in 2001.

Part way through 2003, RAM Racing hired Ron Macaulay to drive the #54 truck part-time. Ron Macaulay ran part-time again in 2004 and left at the end of the year.

In 2005, Erik Davis was hired to drive the #54 truck part-time. In 2006, Lyon Engine Technologies signed for six races which let the team run the full schedule. In 2007, Lyon Engine Technologies was signed on as the primary sponsor. Erik Davis and RAM Racing got their only Truck Series win in 2007. In September 2008, Erik Davis switched rides with Richard Allen in the Nationwide Series.

For 2009, Erik Davis was moved to RAM Racing's #35 Nationwide car full time and Richard Allen started driving the #54 PRG R+D/Lyon Engine Technologies truck full time.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

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

RAM Racing made its second attempt at the Martinsvillle race in 1999 with Mike Raymond in the #86 RAM Racing Ford. Raymond failed to qualify.

In 2003, RAM Racing made two attempts at the Cup Series with James Young in the #86 Cottonwell Ford. Young attempted the Darlington and Charlotte race. Young failed to qualify at Darlington but finished 38th at Charlotte.

Macaulay Lyon Motorsports

In May 2009, a partnership was announced between RAM Racing and L.E.T. Motorsports. The partnership formed Macaulay Lyon Motorsports. MLM will attempt to race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series later in 2009. RAM Racing will supply the cars and the driver(s) and Lyon Engine Technologies will supply the race engines. The partnership will help Lyon Engine Technologies test their new LE9 engine. Originally, the team was going to run in the Sprint Cup however, the team decided to switch to part-time in the Nationwide Series.

Sprint Cup

The team debuted at the Sprint All-Star Showdown with the #68 Lyon Engine Technologies Chevrolet Impala SS. Erik Davis drove the car and finished 21st. The car was prepared by AD Motorsports.

Nationwide

The team debuted at the Carquest 300 with Richard Allen in the #86 PRG R+D/Lyon Engine Technologies Ford. The team qualified 25th and finished 38th due to engine failure. The next week, the team announced that Zocax and PRG R+D will sponsor the car. The team also annunced that Richard Allen will be the driver until a full-time driver is announced and Tony Page will be the crew chief. The team plans on running at Dover, Milwakee, Daytona, Chicago, ORP, Michigan, Bristol, Kansas, Charlotte, Texas, and Homestead.

See Also

• Lyon Engine Technologies
• Ricky David