Leavine Family Racing (LFR) saw the 2013 season bring changes to the No.95 team: new paint schemes, sponsors, as well as a few driver changes. Even amidst all the new elements, Leavine Family Racing did what they have continually done best… performed consistently.
Their 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season kicked off with restrictor plate racing at Daytona International Speedway. The Concord, N.C.-based team ran mid-pack most of the race and even led for two laps, got shuffled back to 23rd when the race ended, and finished on the lead lap without a single scratch on their Ford Fusion.
A season highlight was at Talladega Superspeedway where the team started 36th and finished ninth. The finish was Leavine Family Racing’s first Top-10 in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition; all they had to do was drive through the middle of two “Big One” multi-car crashes, wait through a 3-hour, 36-minute rain delay, lead a lap and drive through a green-white-checkered finish in darkness and light rain.
The previous best finish for the team was a 17th-place finish at Watkins Glen International in 2012.
Leavine Family Racing ran its third season under the direction of crew chief Wally Rogers. With eight races remaining in the team’s limited schedule a driver change was made. Drivers behind the wheel on the red, white, and blue machine included Blake Koch, Scott Riggs, Reed Sorenson and Scott Speed.
Despite not having a top-five finish in 2013, the team worked tirelessly on being consistent week in and week out… a trait that the No. 95 team has established a reputation for. Leavine Family Racing finished out 2013 with one top-10 in 20 scheduled events, while leading three laps. In the final stretch of the season the team was able to gain the momentum they wanted to prepare for the 2014 season.
Additionally, Leavine Family Racing added a new dynamic when the team made its NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in October at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Sorenson.
“We were able to finish strong this season and that gives us confidence for next season,” said team owner Bob Leavine. “We made significant progress throughout the season and with the competition level so high, forward progress of any kind is always encouraging. I think I can speak for the entire family by saying that we are all extremely excited to get to Daytona again in February.”
Michael McDowell, who has worked with the team at this season’s Sprint All-Star race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, signed a single-year deal to drive for Leavine Family Racing in 2014.
“I feel pretty good looking ahead to next season,” McDowell said. “I’m looking forward to getting back to the shop and seeing what we have on tap for the winter in order to continue to get better.”
Leavine Family Racing will also campaign in Fords again in 2014, getting engines from Roush Yates Engines and chassis support from Penske Racing.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will return to action in 2014 with the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway for the 56th annual DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 23, 2014.
LFR PR
