NASCAR BGN: Lepage will fill in for Spencer at New Hampshire

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 9, 2001

CHARLOTTE, N.C., (May 9, 2001) – Phoenix Racing announced today that driver Kevin Lepage will fill in for #1 Yellow Racing driver Jimmy Spencer in Saturday’s CVS Pharmacy 200 Busch Grand National Series event at New Hampshire International Speedway. Spencer is taking the weekend off to attend his son Jimmy's birthday.

It is a one-race deal for Lepage. The New Hampshire International Speedway is located near his hometown of Shelburne, Vt., where he built his racing career on the short tracks of New England.

"I drove in a couple of Busch races a few years ago (1996) for James Finch (Phoenix Racing owner)," said Lepage. "He’s a great guy. When he approached me about running the #1 Yellow Chevrolet at my home track, I didn’t have to think twice."

"Any chance I get to travel back to the New Hampshire or Vermont area is a treat for me. Growing up in Vermont holds special memories for me. There isn’t a more appropriate weekend to compete for a win at the "Magic Mile" than Mother's Day weekend. We hope to give an encore performance to Spencer's win at Richmond."

Returning to his home state isn’t the only good news for Lepage. He also joins a race team whose future is as bright as its Swamp Holly Orange paint scheme. The #1 Yellow Racing Team has posted three consecutive top-10 finishes, including last Friday night’s win at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

Spencer dominated last week’s race at the .75-mile track, leading 192 of the 250 laps. It was the first win this season for the #1 race car.

In the last three weeks, Team Yellow Racing has made a huge move in the Busch owner points standings. Before its second-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 21, the team stood in the 25th position. After Richmond, the team captured the 13th spot in the standings.

But with Spencer taking the weekend off, #1 Yellow Racing crew chief Marc Reno wanted a seasoned veteran driver to continue the standards set by the Yellow Racing Team.

"We wanted a Winston Cup driver with a lot of experience," said Reno. "Now that we have Jimmy Spencer as our full time driver, we’re not eligible for the Busch owner points championship. Our focus is on winning each and every race for Yellow. An experienced driver gives us the best chance to accomplish that goal."

Text provided by Chris Hunt

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