BUSCH: Hank Parker, Jr. joins Cicci-Welliver Racing
Concord,NC (December 15,2000) -- Cicci-Welliver Racing announced today that driver Hank Parker, Jr. has been signed to join veteran wheelmen Tim Fedewa and David Green as the third driver for NASCAR's second longest-running Busch ...
Concord,NC (December 15,2000) -- Cicci-Welliver Racing announced today that driver Hank Parker, Jr. has been signed to join veteran wheelmen Tim Fedewa and David Green as the third driver for NASCAR's second longest-running Busch Series operation
"We are really pleased to acquire a young driver like Hank Parker, Jr.," said Cicci-Welliver's Managing Partner Frank Cicci. "Through his first two seasons in the Busch Series, Hank has proven he is a considerable talent behind the wheel and a consummate gentleman and excellent representative off the track."
Driving the No. 53 Rick Rathbun's Team Marines Racing Chevrolet for Hank Parker Racing, his family-owned team, Parker, Jr. finished 14th in the 2000 Busch Series points race. In addition to two top-five and eight top-10 finishes,Parker scored his first Busch Series pole position in March, setting a qualifying record at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
With the move to Cicci-Welliver, Parker's father and former team owner, Hank Parker, Sr., believes his son will have the means to not only garner his first win, but also contend for the 2001 Busch Series title.
"This is a move that was appropriate for where we were as a team and the needs of Hank Jr. as a driver at this point in his career," Parker, Sr. explained. "The team we fielded last season was a classic example of over achievers," he said. "Everyone, from Hank to crew chief Dave McCarty and all the guys at the shop did an incredible job without having the resources a lot of other teams have."
"I truly believe that the move to Cicci-Welliver teams Hank Jr. with an established racing organization that has the foundation and personnel in place to take his career to the next level," the elder Parker said. "As for me, this relationship lets me focus on being a supportive father and also lets me enjoy being at the track a little more. Being both Hank's father and his team owner over the past few years, sometimes it's difficult to wear those two hats at the same time."
For Parker, Jr., the change not only provides new surroundings, but a new concept as well teammates. "On the basis of performance alone, the move over to Cicci-Welliver is exciting," Parker, Jr. said. "Knowing that I'll be driving for one of the most respected and successful organizations in the sport is an incredible feeling. As if that's not enough, I also get two experienced teammates in Tim Fedewa and David Green. The advice they'll be able to share with me will be welcome because they've done the two things I'm focused on achieving. They've won races, and a Busch Series championship (David Green claimed the title in 1994)."
While Parker, Jr., will continue his relationship with the United States Marine Corps, additional marketing and sponsorship opportunities are available.
Cicci-Welliver Racing has scored 18 wins, 134 top-five and 260 top-10 finishes in 16 seasons of NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division (NBS) competition. What began as an unsponsored race team in the 1980s has grown into an organization that operates three NBS teams from a 43,000 square foot facility near Concord, N.C.
In 1997, Cicci-Welliver became the first "multicar" team to run a full schedule in NBS competition, fielding entries for Todd Bodine and Mike McLaughlin. The duo proved to be a potent combination, finishing second and fourth, respectively, in the NBS standings that year. In 2000, with Bodine, David Green and Tim Fedewa piloting the team's entries, the Cicci-Welliver stable scored 2 wins, 3 poles, 19 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments