Michael Kranefuss - NASCAR Career

NASCAR Career

Kranefuss's original NASCAR driver was John Andretti, who drove the #37 Ford for the team in 1995 and most of 1996. In late '96 Kranefuss's team and Cale Yarborough's team essentially swapped drivers as Jeremy Mayfield took over driving the #37 and Andretti started driving for Cale's #98 team. For 1998, Kranefuss merged his team with Penske Racing and the team changed their car number to #12 to more closely match Penske's flagship #2 car. Late in the 2001 season, Jeremy Mayfield was fired with 8 rounds remaining in the year. Mike Wallace, Rusty's younger brother, was brought in to finish the season in the #12 car. At the end of the year, Penske bought out Kranefuss's interest in the #12 team and put Ryan Newman in the #12 car full-time for 2002. As an owner, Kranefuss won 3 victories - all under the Penske-Kranefuss banner and with Mayfield driving.