Tearing Apart the Trucks: Randy Moss Motorsports Set to Debut

Last week at Daytona International Speedway, Randy Moss announced he had purchased 50% of Morgan-Dollar Motorsports from team owner David Dollar rather than starting his team from the ground up. MDM has now become Randy Moss Motorsports, and the No. 46 truck is now the No. 81, the number Moss wears on the football field. Though the announcement earlier this season of his interest in the series seemed to come out of nowhere, Randy Moss has had thoughts of running a NASCAR team for a while.

“For the last five or six years I’ve been very interested in joining NASCAR, but I really didn’t know what steps to take,” Moss said. “I’m ready to take this all the way. My door is open for any sponsors who want to team up with Randy Moss Motorsports. At the same time, I’m ready to keep this going myself.”

RMM is set to make their debut next weekend at Kentucky Speedway with 2007 Rookie of the Year Willie Allen behind the wheel of the currently unsponsored No. 81 Chevrolet. Allen was dropped from the No. 13 after edging Tim Sauter for Rookie of the Year honors in favor of Shelby Howard, who brought substantial financial backing with him. Allen ran in the No. 46 at Memphis Motorsports Park and finished 19th. Allen is only confirmed for Kentucky Speedway, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll end up in the ride long-term if he can prove himself next Saturday.

In the past, NFL owners haven’t found much luck in NASCAR. During the 2006 season, Tim Brown, a wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders planned to start a team, but sponsorship fell through and the team never even debuted. Randy Moss says his endeavor into the series is so much more than that.

“If y’all are all sitting here doubting me or this team, that’s up to you,” said Moss. “I’ve been doubted most of my whole life and I’ve proven a lot of people wrong. To be able to come back and smile, and shaking hands and holding hands… whatever you want to call it, I’m up for that challenge and I think he (Dollar) is, too, and our team is also.”

But was buying into MDM a good idea? In my book, Moss is a genius. By purchasing half of a team that has been in the series for several years, he has eliminated a lot of work for himself. Most importantly, Dollar has worked hard to make a name for his team in the sport, even if they’ve only won a handful of races. Moss doesn’t have to come up with trucks, parts, or a shop because those things are already in place, and they can get down to solidifying a sponsorship and racing.

The only possible negative I could see is a difference of opinions on the way the team is run. So far, both Dollar and Moss seem to be on the same page about how the team should be run, but it’s only a matter of time before they disagree on a big decision that needs to be made. I would hope they’ve already discussed how to handle that should the need arise.

All in all, I see big things happening for the newly formed RMM. Whether you love or hate the guy on the football field, he seems to be a smart businessman. I have no doubt in my mind he’ll be able to pull in sponsors just based upon who he is on the football field, and that sponsorship money could turn into real success on the track. And I’m sure he’d be happy to prove his doubters wrong.

Brad Daugherty to Try His Hand at Ownership

ESPN analyst Brad Daugherty announced back in May that he too would try his hand at ownership in the Craftsman Truck Series. Last week, Daugherty announced he would be partnering with Tad and Jodi Geschickter, who ceased operations on the Truck Series side of JTG Racing following the race at Dover. The team plans to run a full-time truck, and JTG Racing development driver Coleman Pressley, 19-year old son of Robert Pressley, is set to drive the truck in 2009. From the mid-1990s to 2000, Daugherty owned Liberty Racing; the team won three races – two with the late Kenny Irwin.

Did You Know?

• Kyle Busch will return to the series next weekend at Kentucky Speedway – After taking a few weeks off, Busch will be back behind the wheel of the No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts Toyota for Billy Ballew Motorsports.
• Ron Hornaday Jr. and Johnny Benson are keeping busy during their time off from the Truck Series – Benson ran the ISMA Super Modified race at Stafford Motor Speedway on Tuesday; he finished 21st in the feature. Benson is also scheduled to race in the late model division at Berlin Raceway this Saturday, July 12. Hornaday Jr. is set to run the super late model & Super Clean Modified races at Orange Show Speedway the same day.
• Kobalt Tools is rumored as the new Truck Series sponsor – Ray Dunlap reported on the SPEED Report that Kobalt Tools will be taking over for Craftsman at the end of the season, but the rumor has not been confirmed by NASCAR.