Member since: Mar-25-06 08:25:49 PST Location: United States 2,132 views | Morgan Shepherd races into Richmond for NASCAR Nationwide racePosted May-02-08 14:34:29 PDT Updated May-02-08 14:52:12 PDT Tony Stewart and Matt Yocum team up to help Shepherd |
04-30-08 |
 RICHMOND,
VA - Morgan Shepherd’s Faith Motorsports Dodge will hopefully be making
a lot more trips around the Richmond International Raceway this
weekend, thanks to the generosity of two of the veteran driver's
modern-day heroes.
Two-time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart and broadcaster Matt Yocum
will provide tire sponsorship to the #89 team this weekend in an effort
to help Shepherd build on last week's 13th place run at Talladega.
Shepherd was a surprise call-in guest to the Tony Stewart Live radio
show on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio on Monday evening, and before the
conversation between Shepherd and the two hosts was over the duo had
come aboard as tire sponsors for Friday night's Lipton Tea 250 at
Richmond.
“You say you need some tires for this weekend,” Yocum said during the
interview. “How about if Smoke and I each buy you a set of tires.”
Stewart and Yocum said they would each set Shepherd up with a set of
tires for this weekend’s 250-lap event at the .75-mile track at the
Virginia State Fairgrounds. Stewart followed up by saying he would
provide as many tires as Shepherd might need this weekend.
Stewart went on to talk about how many modern-day fans of NASCAR don’t
appreciate the personal dedication that Shepherd and many other racers
from his era put into the sport.
“I know how much you put into it personally and I can appreciate it,”
Stewart said. “We’ll make sure you have plenty of tires for this
weekend.”
 The gesture nearly overwhelmed Shepherd.
“You’re my heroes, Shepherd told the duo. "You, Matt, Kevin Harvick and
the Jarretts. We just have so many friends in racing,” Shepherd said,
referring to many of those who have helped him over the years. “That is
what is so great about NASCAR racing is all the good friends we have in
racing. No one owes me anything, but you and so many others just
continue to give.”
But while most of the conversation focused on Shepherd’s upcoming
efforts at Richmond, part of the conversation touched on Stewart’s win
at Talladega last weekend and Shepherd’s best run of the season, a 13th
place finish on which the team hopes to build this weekend.
“You had an awesome run this weekend,” Stewart told Shepherd. “I looked
up the mirror and asked where Morgan was running and they said you were
in ninth and I didn’t know you got up to as high as eighth.”
Shepherd countered by saying “I know you looked in the mirror and saw
that big ole yellow Jesus logo and said ‘Jesus is after me!’ ”
“I did say, ‘You know there is good possibility that before this is
over with we are going to have to deal with him. I know how crafty you
are at being able to stay in the lead group like that. That was all you
needed to do to really to have a shot at it,” Stewart said.
You can find out more about Morgan Shepherd, and see our Sports Retro ad banner on his website at www.MorganShepherd.com. Our 2' x 2' decal went on both sides of the car hauler this week as well.
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