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ARCA: Watson and Bainey team-up for 2000

7 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania--Doc Watson, CEO of Doc Watson Motorsports, has announced the signing of driver Tim Bainey as his official driver for the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series tour in 2000.

The new team is scheduled to make its debut in Daytona for Speedweeks 2000 with hopes of making its way into the 37th running of the Daytona ARCA 200 on February 13th recognized this year as the Pro2Call 200.

Watson, from Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, drove to a 17th place finish in the 1991 Daytona ARCA 200 and has raced sparingly throughout the 90s but its in the capacity of car ownership that is garnering most of his attention these days. "The team is ready and everything is in place," said the former US Army veteran. "We recently purchased some cars from Junie Donlaveys Winston Cup team so weve certainly got high hopes. Well start out with a T-Bird at Daytona and by the end of the year, our plan is to switch to the Taurus body style. Tim and I have been friends for a while, and were both from Pennsylvania, but he really caught my eye the last couple of years in just a few runs in the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series. If we can sneak away from Daytona with a decent finish, I honestly believe that, with Tims talent, we can become true contenders in 2000. If it goes well in Daytona, wed like to run for the ARCA rookie of the year honors, but well have to see how it all shakes out. Everything is always contingent on sponsorship but ARCA is a great series and the available corporate exposure is by far the best buy for their money in motorsports. Everything is nationally televised, and with all the cards in a row, you can run up front here."

Bainey, out of Osceola Mills, is a veteran of Street Stocks, Pro-4 Modifieds and pavement Late Model racing throughout Pennsylvania and first arrived on the ARCA scene in 97 where he got everyones attention with an 11th place finish at Pocono in his first start after qualifying 13th. In just 13 ARCA starts overall, the Pennsylvania pilot has since checked off a career-best finish of 9th at Salem Speedway in 99 as well as a 10th place finish at Kil-Kare Speedway in 98 after qualifying 7th. Bainey was running 5th at Anderson in 99 near the end of the main event before an accident relegated the disappointed driver to 17th in the final running order. "Weve always enjoyed running with ARCA but unfortunately weve just never had the necessary resources to run up front all the time," said Bainey from his Phillipsburg shop. "Weve just completed construction on a brand new 5,500 sq. ft. race shop so we certainly have high expectations. Were no doubt looking forward to our new opportunity with Doc. Its going to be a challenge but if all goes well in Daytona, I know we can put it all together. But Daytona is key because the competition there will be so tough. Its amazing to see how competitive this ARCA series has become in the last two years alone. But well put our nose to the grindstone and go from there. Its all you can do, but we sure wanted to thank Doc for the chance to try." Longtime Bainey crew chief Ken McLaughlin will continue to turn the wrenches for the new team.

According to Watson, the team will utilize the #34 on their Fords in honor of African-American stock car driver Wendell Scott and professional football star Walter Payton. Scott, inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 99, used the same number throughout his NASCAR Winston Cup career and is still the only African-American driver to have ever won a Winston Cup event. Payton is the all-time National Football League rushing leader. Both athletes have since passed on.

Watson is also co-owner of Watson-Green Motorsports along with Dennis Green, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. "Our goals are obviously to move things to the NASCAR level but it all takes time," said Watson. "But I believe, given the players we have to work with, that we have a great start." Outside of racing, the enthusiastic car owner is Director of the National Association of Athletes Against Drugs Philadelphia branch and a former sparring partner for world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier.

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