JP Motorsports

JP Motorsports was an American professional stock car racing team that competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and was owned by Jerry and Phyllis Hattaway. The team planned to compete in 2019, but never announced any drivers for the year.[1] JPM was formed in early 2018 from the assets of TriStar Motorsports' Xfinity Series program.

JP Motorsports
Owner(s)Jerry Hattaway
Phyllis Hattaway
BaseEscalon, California
SeriesNASCAR Xfinity Series
Race drivers45. TBA
Sponsors45. TBA
ManufacturerToyota
Opened2018
Career
Debut2018 PowerShares QQQ 300 (Daytona)
Latest race2018 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead Miami Speedway)
Races competed59
Drivers' Championships0
Race victories0
Pole positions0

The Hattaways, before forming their own team, and previously has alliances with Derrike Cope Racing and MBM Motorsports.

Xfinity Series

Team history

The team first became involved in NASCAR when they became partners in Derrike Cope Racing at the beginning of 2016. The partnership dissolved by the end of the season with Cope closing his team. The team then partnered with MBM Motorsports for Iowa's summer race in 2017 with Bobby Dale Earnhardt as the driver, though he failed to qualify.

The team's maiden independent voyage was for a full season in 2018; although the team made it through the year it was not without its low spots. Team owner Jerry Hattaway was knocked out by ex-employee Mike Hayden in a Dover International Speedway garage in spring; Hayden had just quit his job, unhappy about unpaid wages and a chaotic work environment. He also later commented that Hattaway threatened some employees and got in fights with other employees and at times had pending legal consequences because of them, although Hattaway denied the report.[1] Along with unpaid wages, unpaid bills to parts and engine companies added up throughout the season, leading the team's original parts supplier to stop doing business with the team, and disagreements about payment ensued after TriStar Motorsports rented JPM a hauler for 2018. One of the team's drivers, Brandon Hightower, eventually sued the team after his departure, although that case was later dropped.[1] In October, Hattaway admitted that the team struggled, having little funding, 12 employees and very little in terms of planning.[2] After the 2018 season, both of the team's drivers at the end of the year departed. Josh Bilicki went to RSS Racing[3] and Bayley Currey went to Vizion Motorsports.[4]

Car No. 45 history

The #45 in 2018

On February 5, 2018, it was announced that Josh Bilicki would drive a second full time car, the No. 45, for JP with sponsorship coming from previous Bilicki partner Prevagen.[5] The deal with Bilicki came after the team acquired an old Joe Gibbs Racing car to complement its original stable of TriStar Motorsports cars. The team failed to qualify for the PowerShares QQQ 300 and the Rinnai 250, but has run every race since, save for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bayley Currey replaced Bilicki in the No. 45 entry at Texas Motor Speedway, moving over from the 55.

Car No. 45 Results

Year Team 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 NXSC Pts
2018 Josh Bilicki 45 Toyota DAY
DNQ
ATL
DNQ
LVS
28
PHO
32
CAL
32
TEX
24
BRI
32
RCH
33
TAL
28
DOV
29
CLT
25
POC
29
MCH
27
IOW
36
CHI
35
DAY
40
KEN
28
NHA
34
IOW
40
GLN
32
MOH
20
BRI
35
ROA
30
DAR
28
IND
38
LVS
27
RCH
30
CLT
24
DOV
31
KAN
20
PHO
34
HOM
DNQ
35th 245
Bayley Currey TEX
21

Car No. 55 history

French in the #55 at Road America in 2018

In 2018, JP Motorsports announced that Stephen Leicht would drive the No. 55 car for the full 2018 season, with Jason Houghtaling as his crew chief.[6] Jennifer Jo Cobb replaced Leicht in the No. 55 at Talladega.[7] After Leicht returned to run at Dover, the team and driver parted ways. Brandon Hightower stepped in as driver starting at Charlotte Motor Speedway.[8] Hightower later left the team after Kentucky following a dispute about asset ownership; Bayley Currey stepped in as a last-minute replacement at Loudon. Sports car driver Dylan Murcott drove the car at Mid-Ohio but was relegated to last after a first-lap crash.[9] Currey then became the team's oval driver, with Wisconsin native James French taking over the seat at Road America.[10]

Car No. 55 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 NXSC Pts
2018 Stephen Leicht 55 Toyota DAY
15
ATL
32
LVS
30
PHO
31
CAL
31
TEX
37
BRI
28
RCH
37
DOV
33
GLN 38th 171
Jennifer Jo Cobb TAL
29
Brandon Hightower CLT
27
POC
32
MCH
35
IOW
30
CHI
26
DAY
30
KEN
26
Bayley Currey NHA
29
BRI
27
DAR
26
IND
39
LVS
24
RCH
29
CLT
35
DOV
29
KAN
DNQ
TEX
Wth
PHO
30
HOM
DNQ
Peter Shepherd III IOW
31
Dylan Murcott MOH
40
James French ROA
38

References

  1. Albino, Dustin. "JP Motorsports Returning in 2019 Despite Accusations of Missed Payments, Violence". Frontstretch. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  2. Albino, Dustin. "Eyes on Xfinity: JP Motorsports surviving rookie campaign". Frontstretch. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  3. McFadin, Daniel. "Josh bilicki to compete full-time in Xfinity Series for Ryan Sieg Racing". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  4. McFadin, Daniel. "Garrett Smithley, Stephen Leicht to compete with JD Motorsports in Xfinity". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  5. "Josh Bilicki joins JP Motorsports". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  6. "JP Motorsports plans full 2018 XFINITY schedule". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  7. "Jennifer Jo Cobb to drive No. 55 JP Motorsports entry at Talladega Superspeedway". Catchfence. April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  8. "Brandon Hightower joins JP Motorsports; Leicht leaves team". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  9. Beard, Brock. "XFINITY: Dylan Murcott's NASCAR debut ends in China Beach after only four corners". LASTCAR.info. Blogger. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  10. Kallman, Dave. "Katherine Legge, Conor Daly step outside comfort zone into NASCAR". Journal-Sentinel Online. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
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