Arnold Motorsports

Arnold Motorsports was an American stock-car racing organization founded in 2003 by Don Arnold, an owner associated with Arnold Development Companies and Arnold & Arnold Real Estate. The team entered NASCAR's premier series during a period when independent organizations often combined limited sponsorship, purchased equipment, and driver partnerships in order to assemble race-by-race or partial-season programs. The organization was created after Arnold acquired the race shop and equipment of Melling Racing. It initially entered the No. 79 Arnold Development Companies Dodge, with Pro Cup Series driver Billy Bigley Jr. scheduled to drive. Although the team originally discussed a 34-race program, its plans were reduced. Bigley attempted three events but failed to qualify for each, after which he was released. Derrike Cope then attempted the season-ending race at Homestead, but the team again did not qualify. For 2004, Arnold Motorsports returned with a fuller schedule and Derrike Cope behind the wheel. Cope also became a co-owner after merging his Quest Motor Racing operation with Arnold's organization. The team used several drivers during the season: Cope began the campaign, while Mike Wallace, P. J. Jones, Jeff Fuller, and Todd Bodine also drove the car at different points. The organization briefly carried Redneckjunk.com sponsorship, but NASCAR required the team to remove the decals after determining that the branding did not project an appropriate image for the sport. The episode illustrated the sanctioning body's control over sponsor presentation and commercial standards. In 2005, Jimmy Spencer drove the team's car in a limited program constrained by sponsorship. Arnold Motorsports subsequently announced Allied Buildings as a sponsor for the remainder of 2005 and the 2006 season. Around the same period, Arnold held an ownership interest in a Craftsman Truck Series operation conducted with Germain Motor Company. That partnership was known as Germain-Arnold Racing in the broader team structure: Germain fielded Toyota Tundras in the Truck Series, while the associated Cup effort used Dodges. Arnold later sold its interest in the truck operation in order to concentrate on the Cup program. The Cup team made only one reported attempt in 2006, entering the Daytona 500 with Larry Foyt. The entry failed to qualify. In May 2006, Arnold Motorsports announced that it was shutting down, bringing its short NASCAR premier-series campaign to an end. The former shop was later used by Spraker Racing for an ARCA RE/MAX Series operation. The team also appeared in NASCAR-licensed video games, including NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup and NASCAR 06: Total Team Control, which gave the organization a degree of exposure beyond its on-track results. Don Arnold died in December 2015.

Arnold Motorsports emerged in 2003 as Don Arnold's entry into NASCAR's top division. Arnold, whose business interests included Arnold Development Companies and Arnold & Arnold Real Estate, acquired the shop and equipment formerly associated with Melling Racing. The new team planned to compete with a Dodge carrying the No. 79 and Arnold Development Companies branding. Billy Bigley Jr., a driver from the Pro Cup Series, was selected for the initial effort. The organization initially considered a 34-race schedule, but financial and operational realities led to a smaller program. Bigley attempted three races without qualifying for any of them and was released. Derrike Cope made the team's next known attempt at the Homestead season finale, but also failed to make the field. The limited debut highlighted the difficulty an independent team faced in converting purchased equipment into a consistent NASCAR Cup-level operation. Arnold Motorsports reorganized for 2004. Cope's Quest Motor Racing operation was merged with Arnold's team, and Cope became both a driver and co-owner. The team then pursued a broader schedule, although it relied on multiple drivers rather than maintaining a single uninterrupted lineup. Cope drove the opening portion of the season before Mike Wallace took over at Dover. P. J. Jones, Jeff Fuller, and Todd Bodine also completed portions of the campaign. The team's sponsorship arrangements generated a regulatory dispute during the 2004 season. Redneckjunk.com briefly appeared as a sponsor, but NASCAR instructed the organization to remove the decals because officials concluded that the presentation did not represent the appropriate image for the sport. The incident did not become a criminal or legal scandal, but it was a notable example of NASCAR's authority over team sponsorship and branding. During 2004 and 2005, Arnold Motorsports was also connected with Germain Motor Company in the Craftsman Truck Series. The combined operation was referred to as Germain-Arnold Racing. Germain fielded Toyota Tundras in the Truck Series, while the Cup effort associated with Arnold used Dodges. Arnold eventually sold its interest in the truck operation so that it could focus resources on its premier-series team. Jimmy Spencer drove for Arnold Motorsports during a limited 2005 schedule. The program was affected by a lack of sponsorship until Allied Buildings was announced as a sponsor for the remainder of 2005 and the 2006 season. Despite that arrangement, the team did not establish a sustained 2006 campaign. Its only reported 2006 attempt was the Daytona 500, where Larry Foyt drove but failed to qualify. In May 2006, Arnold Motorsports announced that it was shutting down. After the team's closure, its former shop was later used by Spraker Racing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Arnold Motorsports also appeared in licensed NASCAR video games, including NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup and NASCAR 06: Total Team Control. Don Arnold died in December 2015. The organization is therefore best understood as a short-lived independent NASCAR team whose history was shaped by asset acquisition, driver and team partnerships, sponsorship constraints, and the difficulty of sustaining a full-time premier-series entry.

• 2015

  Don Arnold dies

  [1]Arnold Motorsportsen.wikipedia.org

  Team founder Don Arnold died in December 2015.

• 2006

  Team closes

  [1]Arnold Motorsportsen.wikipedia.org

  After a failed Daytona 500 qualifying attempt, Arnold Motorsports announced in May that it was shutting down.

• 2005

  Allied Buildings sponsorship announced

  [1]Arnold Motorsportsen.wikipedia.org

  Allied Buildings was announced as sponsor for the remainder of 2005 and the 2006 season.

• 2004

  Quest Motor Racing merger

  [1]Arnold Motorsportsen.wikipedia.org

  Derrike Cope merged his Quest Motor Racing operation with Arnold Motorsports and became a co-owner and driver.

• 2004

  Germain-Arnold Racing partnership

  [1]Arnold Motorsportsen.wikipedia.org

  Arnold participated in a partnership with Germain Motor Company in the Craftsman Truck Series while the associated Cup effort continued to use Dodges.

• 2003

  Team founded after Melling Racing assets were acquired

  [1]Arnold Motorsportsen.wikipedia.org

  Don Arnold formed Arnold Motorsports after purchasing the race shop and equipment of Melling Racing.

• 2003

  First Cup-series entry

  [1]Arnold Motorsportsen.wikipedia.org

  The team entered the No. 79 Arnold Development Companies Dodge with Billy Bigley Jr. planned as driver.

An independent, sponsorship-dependent NASCAR organization built around purchased racing assets, driver partnerships, and occasional alliances with other teams.

• Motorsports competition program · 2003

  NASCAR Cup Series Dodge entries

  Arnold Motorsports operated Dodge stock cars in NASCAR's premier division. The team used several numbered entries, including the No. 79 during its initial 2003 effort and the No. 50 in later competition. Drivers included Billy Bigley Jr., Derrike Cope, Mike Wallace, P. J. Jones, Jeff Fuller, Todd Bodine, Jimmy Spencer, and Larry Foyt.

• Motorsports team partnership · 2004

  Germain-Arnold Racing Truck Series participation

  Arnold held an interest in a Craftsman Truck Series operation partnered with Germain Motor Company. The truck program competed with Toyota Tundras and was associated with the No. 30 entry before Arnold sold its interest to concentrate on the Cup organization.

• 2006

  Shutdown of the racing organizationStrategy

  Background

  The team had struggled with qualifying and sponsorship continuity, and its only reported 2006 attempt, the Daytona 500, did not make the race.

  Action taken

  Arnold Motorsports announced in May 2006 that it was shutting down.

  Aftermath

  The former shop was later used by Spraker Racing for an ARCA RE/MAX Series operation.

  Source

• 2005

  Sale of interest in the Germain truck operationM&A

  Background

  Arnold Motorsports held a share of the Craftsman Truck Series team operated with Germain Motor Company.

  Action taken

  Arnold sold its interest in the truck operation in order to focus on its NASCAR Cup Series program.

  Aftermath

  The organization concentrated its remaining resources on the Cup team, although the program ultimately remained limited and closed in 2006.

  Source

• 2004

  Removal of Redneckjunk.com sponsorship decalsOther

  Background

  Arnold Motorsports briefly used Redneckjunk.com sponsorship during its 2004 campaign. NASCAR concluded that the branding did not project an appropriate image for the sport.

  Action taken

  The team removed the sponsor's decals at NASCAR's direction.

  Aftermath

  The episode ended the visible sponsorship arrangement and demonstrated NASCAR's ability to regulate sponsor presentation on competition vehicles.

  Source

1. 1Arnold Motorsportsen.wikipedia.org