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NASCAR BGN: Allison Family Returns to Racing

5 November 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
A legendary NASCAR family has invested in FMS Racing, the fledgeling fan-owned race team in the Busch Grand National Series. Steve Allison, nephew of Bobby Allison, will begin testing in the drivers seat of the FMS Racing Chevrolet for the 2000 season. Steve and his brother Tommy will also help with the everyday decisions and direction of the FMS Racing team.

Plans for next season are to partner with RDS Racing, an established Busch Series team out of Burlington, NC. RDS played a major role in FMS Racing becoming the first fan-owned team to attempt a NASCAR Busch Series event this past weekend at Memphis.

"Rodney Smith, Jr. drove the car and did a fantastic job." Marketing Director Chris Douglas stated. "His practice time was fast enough to get into the field but a slip in qualifying had the team missing the field by a couple tenths of a second. Rodney had never been on this track and put forth an effort that we could all be proud of."

Although the team failed to make the race, Douglas feels the weekend was a success. "We can't say enough good things about this team's effort. They hit the ground running and made all the owners there feel at home. We had 24 different owners that we brought into the pits and garage area and another 80 in the stands. They came from as far away as Florida, Missouri, Michigan and Oklahoma."

FMS Racing and RDS Racing will field Chevrolet entries together next season in the Craftsman Truck Series with driver Rodney Smith Jr., Busch Grand National Series with Steve Allison, and the Hooters Pro Cup Series with Chris Douglas behind the wheel.

Packages are being put together to encourage potential sponsors to invest in this truly unique race team for the 2000 season. Personal appearances have already been scheduled.

Steve Allison and Chris Douglas will be signing autographs at Trackside Treasures in Jackson, TN on Saturday, Nov. 6th from 11 am to 2 pm. FMS Racing will be giving away free t-shirts to everyone that stops by.

With the addition of the Allisons to this race team's growing support, FMS Racing and its investors look to be on their way up for the year 2000.

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.