BHR's Truck operation shuts down after 10 years

Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia will cease operations at the end of the week, Lori Shuler Hamilton, chief operating officer for the Truck Series organization, confirmed Monday.

The team, started by the late Bobby Hamilton, moved from its base in Nashville, Tenn., to Martinsville, Va., after the 2007 season when it added partners to the ownership group.

Hamilton, the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series champion and a four-time winner in the Cup Series, died Jan. 7, 2007, after battle with neck cancer.

Though he made his Cup debut in 1989 -- a one-race deal at Phoenix on Nov. 5 -- Hamilton probably is best known for the unusual way he broke into NASCAR's top series. He served as a stunt driver for the 1990 movie Days of Thunder, performing so well that he was soon hired to run the Cup Series full time. He went on become rookie of the year in 1991.

The team's sponsorship from Dodge ended after the 2008 season. The organization started the season with two trucks but cut back to one during the year. Dennis Setzer finished eighth in points and earned a win at Martinsville -- the 20th win for the organization since its inception in 1999.