TEAM HISTORY (2001-2007) PART I:
No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, NASCAR Xfinity Series
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We are all very familiar with the #98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang in the Xfinity Series; driven by Riley Herbst…but how and when did this team come into being?
The year is 2001, and then Cup Series driver Mike Wallace attempts to qualify for the Busch Series race at California, in a No. 4 Chevrolet. Wallace would qualify 41st out of 43 cars, and finish the race 31st, five laps down…a successful outing at the time for a brand new, unsponsored team. In these days of 43 car fields and provisional starting spots, it was a success to make the field on such a tight budget, having to qualify on time alone. The team would go on to make 8 of 9 starts that season, only failing to make the October race at Charlotte.
The 2002 season is now underway, and Biagi Bros. Racing has returned for another part-time run with Mike Wallace. This season would prove to be the start of change for the organization, as they would again run the #4 Chevrolet, as well as Pontiacs at Daytona, Talladega, and Las Vegas (the Pontiacs were believed to have an advantage aero-wise at these tracks). Unfortunately, the team would fail to qualify for Daytona. The #4 returned at Las Vegas with that same Pontiac, making the race and finishing in the Top 25. This would yield 17 more starts that season. GEICO Direct, would come on board in July at Daytona, sponsoring the team for the remainder of the season. The biggest surprise for 2002 however, would come in April at Talladega, where a newly released Tim Fedewa would jump in a second blank #07 Pontiac, qualifying 32nd and finishing third.
2003 would be the season that Biagi Bros. Racing team officially starts to break through, with Wallace returning for a full-time season, driving the No. 4 GEICO Chevrolet. The only big change for the team that season would come at Pikes Peak, where Wallace had to miss the race. Rick Carelli would take over for Wallace in race 21, finishing a respectable 19th. Wallace and the team would close 2003 with (1) Top 5, and (3) Top 10’s, finishing 13th in the final standings in their first full-time effort.
The following season would mark continued improvement for the team. For 2004, the Biagi Bros. team switched to Ford, while brining on Sport Clips, in addition to GEICO. Driving the popular red and white Fords, Wallace would get the team their first win, in late-July at Daytona. The team would close 2004 with the Daytona win, (1) Top 5, and (4) Top 10 finishes, yielding a 17th place points finish.
The influx of development drivers would not skip over the Biagi Bros. team for 2005. With Wallace leaving the team to drive for Morgan-McClure Motorsports in Cup, they would be forced to evolve yet again.
Signing a development deal with Chip Ganassi Racing, the #4 would switch to Dodge and Ganassi development driver Ryan Hemphill start the season. Hemphill did not perform as expected, and after missing two consecutive races, past champion Jeff Green would be brought into right the team’s ship. Green would only manage one Top 10 in 7 starts. Hemphill was then brought back into the car…but was released officially not long after. Fellow Dodge development driver Kevin Hamlin was then put in the car to finish the season, scoring a best of 14th at Memphis Motorsports Park.
After the struggles of the previous season, Mark Green was brought in as the driver of the No. 4 Dodge for 2006. The team was running well, even scoring a Top-10 at Richmond. Green though, was eventually let go in favor of Auggie Vidovich…with Boris Said, Kevin Hamlin, and Paul Tracy (yes, you read that right), seeing seat time. The 4 car would close 2006 with the lone Top 10 that Green scored at Richmond.
For 2007, the team would hit their low point. After announcing they would again switch manufacturers to Toyota, and had signed a replacement for GEICO, Biagi Bros. Racing would ultimately shut down in January that year, due to lack of funding. The assets and points were acquired by Todd Braun, and the No. 4 would go to Ginn Racing, with driver Regan Smith.
Stay tuned…the team would re-emerge in 2012, getting closer to the team you know and love today
