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Playing David, Nemechek Set To Take On NASCAR Goliaths

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By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: February 6, 2009

DAYTONA BEACH - With a skeleton crew, three race cars and a firm belief sponsorship will come through, Lakeland's Joe Nemechek is setting out to run the full Sprint Cup season as an owner/driver.

That ludicrous proposition conjures images of George Clooney steering the Andrea Gail into the giant wave in the climactic scene of the "The Perfect Storm."

The idea of one guy taking on the mammoth corporate teams in today's NASCAR is laughable. And yet, you have to give Nemechek a nod for trying.

His spirit harkens to a time when privateer teams were common in NASCAR, and some of them did well.

"There are no good rides available for unemployed drivers," Nemechek said of why he's risking his life savings to revive NEMCO Motorsports, once a top-flight Busch/Nationwide series team. "There's a surplus of drivers, so what does that make you do? You've got to create something on your own."
Michael Waltrip and Tony Stewart are driving for their own teams, but theirs are well-resourced operations. Nemechek is trying to go against the likes of Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing on a shoestring budget.

He believes he offers good value to a sponsor because, "we're geared up to do a lot more for a corporation for a lot less."

And oddly, he isn't the only one trying. The lousy economy has shrunk the car count, creating room for some very small operations to give it a shot. A handful of other dreamers plan to field cars at Daytona and beyond.
NASCAR chairman Brian France referred to that as an "encouraging" development Thursday, crediting the less expensive Car of Tomorrow for making the Sprint Cup series more accessible.

Nemechek is 45 years old and hasn't had a top-five finish since 2005. But he's an excellent qualifier, which makes him an option for any team outside the top 35 in points needing to qualify on speed. Only, no team called.

So Nemechek bought a few Toyota chassis from Red Bull Racing. He contracted Triad Racing Technologies, formerly Bill Davis Racing, to supply engines, and he hired veteran crew chief Phillipe Lopez to make sure things get done.

Plans to also run the full Nationwide Series schedule are on hold because some expected funding hasn't come through.

Actually, the only funding Nemechek has received has come from his fans.

"I've had fans and friends say, 'Here's a check; go buy a set of tires,'" he said. "There've been a lot of folks from Florida. This is where I grew up. They heard about it through the media, and the phone's been ringing and the e-mails have been flying.

"We've been talking to some local companies. Hopefully we can get their names on the car by Sunday or definitely by next week."

It's David against Goliath. That matchup only turned out well the first time.

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