Hamilton Jr. to drive No. 4 Chevy for seven races
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
October 2, 2001
10:54 AM EDT (1454 GMT)
ABINGDON, Va. -- Bobby Hamilton Jr. will drive Morgan-McClure Motorsports’ No. 4 Chevrolet in no less than seven of the final eight Winston Cup events of the season, including this weekend’s UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, NASCAR.com has learned.
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Bobby Hamilton Jr.
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Hamilton Jr., who has five career Winston Cup starts, replaces veteran Kevin Lepage, whose contract option for the 2002 season was recently declined by team owner Larry McClure.
On Monday, Morgan-McClure and Lepage announced a mutual decision to part company.
“We just came to a decision that we both needed to do something else,” McClure said. “Kevin’s not going to be in the car any more this season. Bobby Jr. is going to run one race at Charlotte and then I think we’re gonna try to put someone who has run Martinsville before in the car there.”
After that, Hamilton Jr., 23, whose full-time ride is with Dave Carroll Racing in the Busch Series, will drive the final six races of the season.
"I really do not know what happened between Larry and the other driver,” Hamilton Jr. said. “It is an opportunity for me to get into the No. 4 car. I can get seat time in Winston Cup.
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Kevin Lepage
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"Larry and Morgan-McClure have helped me so much in ARCA. They let me borrow parts and loaned out engines to me. I am glad to step in and help Larry and the guys out.
"This will turn out to be a win-win situation for everyone involved. Not only will I gain experience in Winston Cup, I will accumulate more time on the tracks I race the No. 26 car on. Last year I practiced at Homestead in a Cup car, got out of it and went and sat on the pole in the Busch car.
“It really helps to be able gain knowledge from both divisions.
Earlier this season, Lepage had signed a contract for the balance of 2001 after the team split with driver Robby Gordon after five races. In the 21 races he has run since then, Lepage has a best finish of 11th at Texas and six finishes between 11th and 20th.
In Sunday’s inaugural Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway Lepage started 31st and finished 13th.
The son of Winston Cup veteran driver and Craftsman Truck Series team owner Bobby Hamilton is currently 16th in Busch Series points. His best Winston Cup finish is 24th last June at Michigan International Speedway while standing-in for an injured Joe Nemechek.
He made his Winston Cup debut last fall at Homestead-Miami Speedway, qualifying an unsponsored Chevrolet from his father’s shop in 30th position on the same weekend he won his first Busch Series Bud Pole Award.
Bobby Hamilton drove for Morgan-McClure from 1998-2000 and scored the team’s last victory, in 1998.
"We are hoping to put together a few good runs for the Kodak team,” Hamilton Jr. said. “It is a great opportunity and we want to make the most of it."
At this time McClure has not announced his driver for the 2002 season in the No. 4 car.
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