Evernham Motorsports to start Busch team

STATESVILLE, N.C. -- As the next piece in his ever-growing motorsports empire, NASCAR team owner Ray Evernham announced the formation of the first NASCAR Busch Series team for Evernham Motorsports on Friday at Michigan International Speedway.

Ray Evernham will start a Busch Series program in 2005. Credit: Autostock

The partnership between Evernham Motorsports and five Unilever Foods Division brands -- Ragu pasta sauce, Shedd's Spread Country Crock spread, Lipton tea, Hellmann's mayonnaise and Lawry's spice blends and marinades -- will feature a driver development program under the banner of the Hungry Drivers program.

The team will field the No. 6 Hungry Drivers Dodge in a 34-race schedule for the 2005 Busch Series. The selection of the drivers for the No. 6 car will be made at a later date.

The new Evernham Motorsports Busch team originated as the Hungry Drivers program with Tommy Baldwin Racing and four Busch Series drivers. Baldwin is currently crew chief for Evernham's No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

"It is critical that our first entry in the Busch Series be both timely and impactful," Evernham said. "The important part of this program is that it will develop drivers for our NASCAR Nextel Cup program.

"Every successful sports franchise has a farm team network to develop and evaluate talent and we plan on using the Hungry Drivers team in just that manner."

"Evernham Motorsports is one of the most respected organizations in NASCAR, and we are proud and excited about our new partnership with them," said Nancy Davis, Customer Marketing Manager, Unilever Foods Division.

"This agreement provides Unilever Foods -- more -- Evernham Motorsports Division with additional opportunities to drive our brands deeper into the NASCAR fan base, generate incremental sales and increase customer loyalty through our focused "food, family and fun" Hungry Drivers sponsorship program."