Team hopes to be back in building before Sonoma
CONCORD, N.C. – Leavine Family Racing officials expect to continue working out of Team Penske‘s headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina, for at least a few more weeks as repairs continue at the team’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series shop.
Earlier this month the LFR shop, located behind Charlotte Motor Speedway, sustained significant fire damage to the rear of the building. Four Sprint Cup Series cars were damaged in the blaze, but team officials said those cars were not primary vehicles the team intended to field for upcoming races.
“It’s a lot of running back and forth,” crew chief Wally Rogers said Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I’ve tried to divide up my guys to do what we need to do up at Team Penske and do what we can at our place.
“Luckily the rear of the building was the only part that was damaged and they’re working to get us back in as soon as possible.”
LFR fields the No. 95 Ford for driver Michael McDowell and is running a limited schedule. McDowell, 30, has made seven starts this year in eight attempts.
The team is not scheduled to compete at the next three Sprint Cup events — at Dover, Pocono and Michigan — and with an off weekend in the mix, will have four weeks to prepare for its next race at Sonoma Raceway.
“We’re hoping by the time we’re headed to Sonoma, we’ll be back in our shop, if not sooner,” Rogers said. “We really appreciate Team Penske for what they’ve allowed us to do… but you know, you want to work out of your own shop if at all possible.”