Driver Profile

Journeyman Hut Stricklin has seen many sides of racing in the last several years. After starting 21 races in 2001 for Junie Donlavey Racing, Stricklin -- and his sponsor Hills Bros. Coffee -- will be with the Bill Davis Racing No. 23 Dodge in 2002.

Stricklin, who won a career high $1,006,021 last year despite his short campaign, finished 11th in his first start for BDR in the Atlanta season finale.

After a stint in the NASCAR Busch Series, he teamed up with Donlavey and ran seven races late in the 2000 season. His best race finish with Donlavey was a sixth-place effort in the Kmart 400 at Michigan International Speedway in June 2001.

Stricklin has had some good flashes in his career, including two second-place finishes and a Bud Pole in 1995 at Rockingham, but he has struggled to get into a stable environment. While driving for fellow Alabama resident Bobby Allison in 1991, Stricklin finished the year 16th in the standings, his best showing to date.

One of the high points in his career was a second-place finish to Jeff Gordon in the 1996 Southern 500 at Darlington, where an overheating race car cost him a chance to challenge for the win. He calls his own best moment his other runner-up run, to his good friend the late Davey Allison at Michigan in 1991 when he drove for Allison's father.

Stricklin was Alabama Limited Sportsman champion in 1978-79 and won championships in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series in 1982 and 1984. He won the 1986 Goody's Dash Series championship, winning nine of 17 races and 10 poles.