1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series - 1995 Changes

1995 Changes

• Robert Yates Racing: After a practice crash at Michigan International Speedway in August 1994, Ernie Irvan was forced to miss the rest of the 1994 season. While Irvan was making great process in his recovery, it was becoming clear that he would have to sit out the 1995 season. Thus, RYR began to search for a new driver to take over the #28 Texaco/Havoline Ford. After securing a buyout from his contract at Joe Gibbs Racing, it was announced that Dale Jarrett would be the driver for 1995.
• Joe Gibbs Racing: After the departure of Dale Jarrett, Joe Gibbs Racing was forced to find a new driver for the #18 Interstate Batteries Chevy. With encouragement from General Motors, JGR signed Bobby Labonte, who left Bill Davis Racing after sponsor Maxwell House left the team.
• Elliott-Hardy Racing: After struggling the last two years driving for Junior Johnson, Bill Elliott formed his own team for 1995, sharing ownership with Georgia businessman Charles Hardy. Elliott would reunite with brothers Ernie and Dan, with whom he had great success during his time at Melling Racing. He brought McDonald's, who had sponsored Johnson's second car in 1994, to sponsor his car. Elliott selected 94 as the number for his Ford. This number had been used by Bill's nephew Casey Elliott, before Casey was diagnosed with cancer (Casey would ultimately lose his battle with the disease in 1996).
• Junior Johnson: For 1995, Johnson was forced to look for new drivers and sponsors for both of his cars. For the #11 team, Johnson replaced driver Elliott and sponsor Budweiser (who had gone to Hendrick Motorsports to sponsor Ken Schrader) with Brett Bodine and Lowe's, respectively. For the #27 car, sophomore Loy Allen Jr. took over for Jimmy Spencer, and Hooters replaced McDonald's as primary sponsor. Before the April Bristol race, Allen left the team. Various drivers drove the #27 for the rest of 1995; the majority of starts went to veteran Busch Series driver Elton Sawyer.
• King Racing: Bodine would be replaced by sprint car legend Steve Kinser. Kinser, who had won 14 World of Outlaws championships, had limited experience in a stock car; his only experience had been in the IROC series. After failing to qualify for races at Bristol and North Wilkesboro, Kinser and the team mutually split. Kinser returned to the WoO series, while Hut Stricklin was hired to replace him in the 26 car.
• Larry Hedrick Motorsports: LHM was left without a driver and sponsor for 1995. Former Busch Grand National Series Champion Joe Nemechek left to start his own team, while sponsor Meineke Mufflers joined Diamond Ridge Motorsports and driver Steve Grissom. Rookie Ricky Craven would drive the #41 Chevy, which would carry the colors of Kodiak. Craven won the RotY award in 1995.
• Diamond Ridge Motorsports: After having no primary sponsorship for the majority of the 1994 season, Meineke was picked up as the sponsor of the #29 Chevy.
• NEMCO Motorsports: As he had done en route to the 1992 Busch Grand National Series Championship, Joe Nemechek formed his own team in 1995. Burger King would be on board as his primary sponsor.
• Leo Jackson Motorsports: Harry Gant called it a career after the 1994 season. BGN series regular Robert Pressley would replace Gant in the Skoal Bandit, and would also compete for Rookie of the Year for 1995.
• Bill Davis Racing: BDR found itself in a similar position to many teams, needing to replace both a driver (Bobby Labonte) and a sponsor (Maxwell House). With MBNA on the hood, BDR hoped to find success with driver Randy Lajoie. However, the combo experienced lackluster results, and Lajoie was fired in July. After going through several drivers, Davis settled on Ward Burton, who had been let go from the Alan Dillard Jr. owned team earlier in the year. Burton shocked the stock car world by winning his first career Cup Series race at the North Carolina Motor Spedway in October. Lajoie would also find success, winning the Busch Grand National Title in 1996 and 1997.
• Melling Racing: After running part-time for the last three seasons, Melling returned to full-time competition in 1995. Mississippian Lake Speed was hired to be driver and general manager of the team, and SPAM provided sponsorship.
• Bud Moore: After Lake Speed left the team at the end of 1994, Bud Moore hired short track legend (and Sportscenter favorite) Dick Trickle to drive the #15 Quality Care Ford.
• Travis Carter Motorsports: After struggling during the 1994 season, the team parted ways with driver Hut Stricklin. He would be replaced by Jimmy Spencer, who had won two races driving for Junior Johnson in 1994.
• Petty Enterprises: John Andretti, who had replaced Wally Dallenbach Jr. midway through 1994, did not return in 1995. Replacing Andretti would be Tennessee driver Bobby Hamilton.
• SABCO Racing: After Hamilton left for Petty Enterprises, owner Felix Sabates hired Greg Sacks to drive the #40 Kendall Oil Pontiac. After a dismal 14-race stint, Sacks was let go. Several drivers took the reins of the #40, with most of the duties going to Rich Bickle. Sabates' other car, the #42 driven by Kyle Petty, had new colors for 1995. Coors Light replaced Mello Yello as primary sponsor.
• Jasper Motorsports: Owner D. K. Ulrich hired veteran open wheel driver Davy Jones to pilot the #77 US Air Ford. Bobby Hillin Jr. replaced Jones beginning at the June Dover race.
• Kranefuss-Haas Racing: After racing part-time in 1994, the team co-owned by Michael Kranefuss and Carl Haas went full-time in 1995. Former CART driver John Andretti was selected to driver the #37 KMart–Little Caesars Ford.
• Hendrick Motorsports: The only change among the three Hendrick teams was the arrival of Budweiser as primary sponsor of Ken Schrader's #25 Chevy, replacing Kodiak.