Team Rensi Motorsports was a NASCAR Nationwide Series team owned by Ronnie Russell, Ed Rensi, Gary Weisbaum, and formerly Sam Rensi. The team has also competed in the Winston Cup Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA racing series.
Ed Rensi, who was president and CEO of McDonald's USA from 1991 to 1997, has been Team Rensi Racing's Chairman and CEO since October 1998.
Car No. 24 history Jason Keller (2005) The No. 24 team debuted in 2005 as the No. 35 being driven by veteran Jason Keller with sponsorship from McDonald's. Despite a ninth-place finish in points, Keller struggled to run up front, and he left for Phoenix Racing at the end of the season.
Regan Smith (2006) Regan Smith took Keller's place in 2006, and had one top-ten finish. At the conclusion of the season, Smith departed from the ride for Ginn Racing.
Bobby Hamilton Jr. (2007) Hamilton Jr. returned to Rensi to drive the No. 35 for the 2007 season, finishing sixth in points. During the 2007–08 offseason, McDonald's ended its sponsorship of the No. 35 and David Gilliland took the FreeCreditReport.com sponsorship of the No. 25 car to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Team Rensi signed Smithfield Foods as prime sponsor of the No. 25 car, allowing Hamilton to move to that team. The 35 returned late in 2008 with Danny O'Quinn driving, but he failed to finish both races he ran.
Eric McClure (2009–2010) The car made a return to full-time racing in 2009, with Eric McClure bringing both Hefty sponsorship and the No. 24 over from Front Row Motorsports.
In 2010, McClure and Hefty remained with the team. After surgery on his foot, McClure was relieved by driver Chris Cook at Road America. D. J. Kennington raced the car at Montreal to an 11th-place finish, as McClure sat out of the race due to a concussion the prior week from Bristol. McClure and Hefty will leave the team for 2011, citing performance issues and a lacking budget from Team Rensi.
Kevin Lepage (2011) For 2011, Kevin Lepage drove the car for the first several races of the season. Lepage ran full races initially, but was forced to withdraw from Bristol after a practice crash and did not arrive at Talladega. They were last seen at Texas.
Car No. 24 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Pts 2003 Elliott Sadler 35 Ford DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX TAL NSH CAL RCH GTY NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL PHO CAR HOM36 106th 55 2004 Johnny Borneman III DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL GTY RCH NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR 48th 980 Shelby Howard IRP24 MCHDNQ BRI RCH25 DOV31 MEM36 ATL18 Wally Dallenbach Jr. CAL KAN CLT PHO DAR HOM 2005 Jason Keller DAY CAL MXC LVS43 ATL NSH BRI TEX PHO TAL DAR RCH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR GTY IRP GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 12th 3866 2006 DAY26 CAL28 MXC25 LVS22 ATL21 BRI38 TEX34 NSH13 PHO27 TAL37 RCH21 DAR19 CLT10 DOV39 NSH35 KEN16 MLW22 DAY15 CHI28 NHA35 MAR14 GTY23 IRP11 GLN23 MCH31 BRI19 CAL28 RCH26 DOV17 KAN19 CLT37 MEM21 TEX20 PHO19 HOM31 29th 3136 2007 Bobby Hamilton Jr. DAY24 CAL29 MXC17 LVS14 ATL24 BRI18 NSH9 TEX14 PHO34 TAL12 RCH22 DAR20 CLT33 DOV10 NSH13 KEN36 MLW13 NHA20 DAY12 CHI29 GTY13 IRP13 CGV24 GLN22 MCH27 BRI12 CAL21 RCH16 DOV12 KAN20 CLT16 MEM38 TEX14 PHO24 HOM8 15th 3149 2008 Danny O'Quinn Jr. DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO MXC TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT40 MEM42 TEX42 PHO43 HOMDNQ 70th 139 2009 Eric McClure 24 DAY26 CAL30 LVS16 BRI26 TEX34 NSH26 PHO22 TAL25 RCH39 DAR28 CLT19 DOV23 NSH22 KEN30 NHA33 DAY28 CHI31 GTY23 IRP23 IOW20 GLN30 MCH28 BRI25 CGV22 ATL26 RCH29 DOV24 KAN25 CAL28 CLT18 MEM30 TEX19 PHO28 HOM28 26th 2962 Chevy MLW32 2010 Ford DAY17 CAL35 LVS21 BRI24 NSH29 PHO27 TEX28 TAL22 RCH31 DAR27 DOV24 CLT29 NSH26 KEN29 ROA27 NHA29 DAY36 CHI29 GTY26 IRP26 IOWDNQ GLN31 MCH30 BRIDNQ ATL30 RCH30 DOV29 KAN33 CALDNQ CLT23 GTYDNQ TEX26 PHODNQ HOM37 33rd 2491 D. J. Kennington CGV11 2011 Kevin Lepage DAY41 PHO37 LVS37 BRIWth CAL28 TEX39 TAL NSH RCH DAR DOV IOW CLT CHI MCH ROA DAY KEN NHA NSH IRP IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH CHI DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 63rd 39
Car No. 25 history Early years (1999–2000) The team, then known as Team Rensi Motorsports first joined the Busch Series in 1999, fielding the No. 25 Dura Lube Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Jeff Finley. They finished 13th at the season opening NAPA Auto Parts 300, but Finley failed to qualify for the next few races, and he and the team drifted apart. Kenny Wallace took over at Nashville, and drove 18 races that season for the team, posting nine finishes of seventh or better. Rick Fuller, David Blankenship and Scott Lagasse drove two races a piece for the team as well, and they finished eighteenth in owner's points that season. Wallace returned again in 2000 with new sponsor Lance Snacks, and posted eight top-ten finishes, his best finish was 4th twice at Bristol races. Blankenship and Andy Santerre drove in the races that Wallace did not run, with Santerre finishing 3rd at Pikes Peak.
Chad Chaffin (2001) In 2001, the U.S. Marines signed on as sponsor. Since Wallace had moved onto Innovative Motorsports, Chad Chaffin began the year with the team, but after he couldn't finish higher than 16th at Atlanta, he was released. Rookie David Donohue took over at the Pepsi 300 Presented by Mapco/Williams, but he too, struggled in the ride, and was released after 12 starts. Randy Tolsma finished the season for the team, who finished 29th in points that year.
Bobby Hamilton Jr. (2002–2004) After 2001, Rensi switched to Ford Tauruses and signed Bobby Hamilton Jr. to drive. After a slow start, the two began to gain momentum, and they picked up their first win at the Busch 200, and finished eighth in points. This success carried over into the next season as well, as Hamilton won four races and finished fourth in points. They would not be able to win in 2004, and after the Cabela's 250, Hamilton left to drive for PPI Motorsports at the Nextel Cup level, and Mike McLaughlin took over for the rest of the season, finishing second at the Stacker 200 Presented by YJ Stinger.
Ashton Lewis (2005–2006) In 2005, Rensi signed Ashton Lewis to drive the 25 car. Lewis had five top-ten finishes and a fourteenth-place finish in points. After many poor performances, however, Lewis was released and the Marines left as a sponsor.
David Gilliland and Richard Johns (2007) For 2007, credit report site FreeCreditReport.com signed on as sponsor, with Nextel Cup driver David Gilliland and head engineer Richard Johns originally slated to share the ride. During the RoadLoans.com 200 weekend, Gilliland announced his departure from the No. 25, citing that he needed to focus on his Yates Racing No. 38 Cup ride. Johns drove for the remainder of the season.
Bobby Hamilton Jr. (2008) The team returned Hamilton to the ride for the 2008 season in the newly renamed Nationwide Series, as his No. 35 team had folded. Smithfield Foods served as the sponsor for 30 races, and Hamilton drove to a fifteenth-place points finish with two top-ten finishes. Boris Said drove the 25 for two road course races with No Fear sponsorship.
Part-time (2009–2011) The No. 25 returned for one race in 2009, at IRP with Hamilton Jr. driving.
In 2010, the No. 25 raced at Richmond and Charlotte with Kelly Bires behind the wheel and Raybestos as the sponsor.
For 2011, the No. 25 team, with driver Kelly Bires, qualified for the Daytona race, but lack of funding caused them to start and park, only completing a few laps.
The last time they were seen at a racetrack was at Michigan which was going to be the Nationwide debut for Chad Finley. Unfortunately, Finley crashed the car in practice and the team did not have a backup, so they were forced to withdraw.
Car No. 25 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Pts 1999 Jeff Finley 25 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR 18th 2766 Kenny Wallace TEXDNQ NSV26 BRI6 NHA22 RCH7 CLT15 DOV13 MLW17 MYB21 GTY27 MCH38 BRI6 DAR6 RCH4 DOV6 CLT27 CAR7 MEMDNQ PHO5 HOM19 Stevie Reeves TAL CAL Rick Fuller NZH David Blankenship SBO PPR Scott Lagasse GLN Ron Hornaday Jr. IRP 2000 Kenny Wallace DAY6 CAR6 ATL41 DAR31 BRI4 TAL11 RCHDNQ CLT41 GTY8 BRI4 DAR11 RCH6 CLT11 CAR9 PHO7 9th 3516 Andy Santerre LVS TEX20 NSV15 CAL21 NHA6 DOV39 SBO10 MYB19 GLN27 MLW14 NZH23 PPR3 IRP10 MEM32 Ricky Craven MCH Randy Tolsma DOV Chad Chaffin HOM 2001 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX 29th 2603 David Donohue NSH TAL CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV KEN MLW GLN CHI Andy Houston GTY Randy Tolsma PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM PHO CAR Jay Sauter HOM 2002 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Ford DAY30 CAR16 LVS11 DAR12 BRI13 TEX8 NSH3 TAL22 CAL37 RCH25* NHA1* NZH6 CLT7 DOV3 NSH2 KEN36 MLW7 DAY33 CHI9 GTY17 PPR12 IRP31 MCH5 BRI32 DAR6 RCH14 DOV30 KAN8 CLT9 MEM37 ATL8 CAR29 PHO24 HOM5 9th 4058 2003 DAY7 CAR13 LVS34 DAR12 BRI6 TEX40 TAL35 NSH10* CAL18 RCH10 GTY5 NZH9 CLT13 DOV6 NSH5 KEN1* MLW10 DAY22 CHI1* NHA6 PPR25 IRP35 MCH3 BRI34 DAR4 RCH3 DOV2 KAN19 CLT7 MEM1 ATL3 PHO1* CAR3 HOM3 5th 4588 2004 DAY13 CAR8 LVS5 DAR19 BRI24 TEX5 NSH27 TAL24 CAL10 GTY4 RCH4 NZH2* CLT13 DOV4 NSH23 KEN28* MLW5 DAY12 CHI43 NHA9 PPR10 IRP6 MCH29 11th 4036 Mike McLaughlin BRI12 CAL11 RCH24 DOV2 KAN11 CLT12 MEM18 ATL41 PHO36 DAR39 HOM16 2005 Ashton Lewis DAY13 CAL11 MXC9 LVS22 ATL14 NSH19 BRI8 TEX32 PHO17 TAL4 DAR14 RCH16 CLT10 DOV14 NSH25 KEN25 MLW18 DAY26 CHI11 NHA28 PPR15 GTY36 IRP15 GLN31 MCH26 BRI31 CAL31 RCH30 DOV14 KAN28 CLT8 MEM31 TEX21 PHO21 HOM43 18th 3587 2006 DAY12 CAL29 MXC13 LVS13 ATL17 BRI30 TEX38 NSH11 PHO20 TAL33 RCH26 DAR20 CLT28 DOV42 NSH9 KEN5 MLW16 DAY17 CHI35 NHA24 MAR27 GTY16 IRP22 GLN33 MCH39 BRI18 CAL5 RCH31 DOV25 KAN14 CLT11 MEM37 TEX25 PHO24 HOM20 22nd 3376 2007 David Gilliland DAY20 MXC36 LVS32 ATL31 BRI35 TEX26 PHO16 TAL37 RCH20 DAR33 CLT27 DOV29 NHA19 DAY10 CHI27 GLN16 MCH29 BRI41 CAL18 30th 2502 Kenny Wallace CAL26 Richard Johns NSH34 NSH34 KEN28 MLW19 GTY31 IRP15 CGV25 RCH30 DOV28 KAN26 CLT27 MEM23 TEX34 PHO31 HOM35 2008 Bobby Hamilton Jr. DAY22 CAL20 LVS12 ATL23 BRI17 NSH10 TEX23 PHO13 TAL3 RCH17 DAR30 CLT18 DOV14 NSH30 KEN21 MLW15 NHA16 DAY15 CHI19 GTY20 IRP14 GLN16 MCH18 BRI18 CAL19 RCH14 DOV15 KAN25 CLT37 MEM21 TEX16 PHO18 HOM21 18th 3779 Boris Said MXC CGV 2009 Bobby Hamilton Jr. DAY CAL LVS BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP22 IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 73rd 97 2010 Kelly Bires DAY CAL LVS BRI NSH PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT NSH KEN ROA NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT GTY TEX PHO HOM 63rd 179 2011 DAY43 PHO37 LVS35 BRI43 CAL TEX TAL NSH RCH DAR DOV IOW CLT CHI 68th 17 Chad Finley MCHWth ROA DAY KEN NHA NSH IRP IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH CHI DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM
Craftsman Trucks Team Rensi began fielding a Craftsman Truck team in 2000, after purchasing equipment from Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Driver Jimmy Hensley drove the mostly unsponsored No. 16 Chevrolet Silverado to a 13th-place finish in points. In 2001, Donohue began running the No. 16, but after three races, the team shut down due to sponsorship issues. Randy Tolsma drove the No. 61 that year and was tenth in points when his team closed as well due to financial problems. He ran one final Truck race for Rensi in 2002 (driven by Butch Miller), finishing 18th in a Marine-sponsored truck at Martinsville Speedway, the last race for Rensi's truck program.
Truck No. 16 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Owners Pts 2000 Jimmy Hensley 16 Chevy DAY29 HOM12 PHO15 MMR14 MAR10 PIR6 GTY2 MEM10 PPR11 EVG12 TEX12 KEN13 GLN14 MLW12 NHA27 NZH7 MCH12 IRP9 NSV29 CIC25 RCH13 DOV32 TEX4 CAL10 13th 2933 2001 David Donohue DAY28 HOM35 MMR21 MAR GTY DAR PPR DOV TEX MEM MLW KAN KEN NHA IRP NSH CIC NZH RCH SBO TEX LVS PHO CAL 53rd 375