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James "Jimmy" Means

Born: May 29, 1950
Home: Huntsville, AL

James "Jimmy" Means is a former Winston Cup owner/driver. Currently, he is an adviser for Front Row Motorsports and owns his own team, Means Racing. He competed in NASCAR for eighteen years in mostly his own equipment, posting seventeen career top-tens. He made three career Busch Series starts in 1989, finishing 10th at Darlington Raceway. Following his retirement, Means worked as a crew chief in NASCAR, working for Bud Moore Engineering and Moy Racing. Means was part the Alabama Gang which included Bobby Allison, Davey Allison, Red Farmer, and Donnie Allison and later Steve Grissom and Mike Alexander. He is the father of Brad Means.

Local track career

Means won dozens of late model races in Alabama and Tennessee in the early 70's, including track championships at Huntsville Speedway and the historic Nashville Speedway USA.

Driving career

Means made his Cup debut in 1976 at the Daytona 500, driving the #5 Chevy for Bill Gray. He led one lap but finished 40th after an engine failure. He ran an additional eighteen races for Gray in the #52 car with sponsorship from WIXC, finishing in eleventh place twice. The following season, Means drove twenty-six races and had a career-best six top-ten finishes, but due to twelve DNFs, he only finished nineteenth in points.

In 1978, Means began running as an independent driver, except for the Winston 500, where he drove for Bill Champion. He had two top-tens but improved three spots to finish sixteenth in points. He received new sponsorship from Mr. Transmission, but only had one top-ten in 1979, forcing him to fall to 23rd in points. After a sponsorship change to Thompson Industries for 1980, Means failed to finish higher than 12th, but he was still able to move up to 17th in the standings. Broadway Motors became his new sponsor in 1981, and after two top-tens, he continued to move up to fourteenth in points. In 1982, he was able to garner an additional pair of ninth-place runs, and finished a career-best 11th in points. It also marked the first time in his career he ran every race on the schedule.

Means had the highest finish of his career in 1983, when he had a seventh-place run at Talladega. Combined with two other top-tens, he dropped seven spots in the standings. During the 1984, Means suffered injuries in a crash at Talladega Superspeedway, forcing him to miss several races. He did not have a top-ten finish over the next two years, and he lost his Broadway sponsorship, picking up funding from Voyles Auto Savage in late 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. He also switched his manufacturer to Pontiac as well. In 1987, Eureka Vacuum Cleaners became Means' new sponsor, and he had the last top-ten of his career at Richmond International Raceway. He dropped to what was at the time the lowest points finish of his career (30th) in 1988, and continued to struggle in 1989, failing to qualify for several races and dropping another spot in the standings despite a new sponsor in Alka-Seltzer. Means had already chosen to skip two races in favor of Bobby Hillin, Jr. in 1991 After being involved with J. D. McDuffie's fatal crash, he continued to relinquish the ride to Mike Wallace at the end of the season.

After losing the Alka-Seltzer sponsorship, Means continued to drive a part-time schedule, posting only one top-ten finish. After getting part-time funding from NAPA and Hurley Limo, Means ran eighteen races before retiring from driving.

Ownership history

A long-time owner in the Cup Series, Means made his debut as an owner in 1978, when he fielded the #52 Chevrolet. He had two top-tens and finished sixteenth in points. He expanded to a multi-car team briefly, fielding the #25 for Charlie Chamblee in the #25 at Nashville, the #53 for Cecil Gordon at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and the #50 for Baxter Price at Texas World Speedway. In 1983, he stepped aside for Lennie Pond at Michigan International Speedway, who finished 22nd. In 1986, he shared the #52 with Dale Jarrett, Sterling Marlin, Morgan Shepherd, Roy Smith, and Bobby Wawak. Means drove the #52 solely and didn't field a second car until in 1989, when he fielded the #67 Alka-Setzer Pontiac Grand Prix at the Daytona 500 for Mickey Gibbs, where he finished 34th after suffering engine faliure. Means gave up the #52 on two different occasions; Bobby Hillin, Jr. drove at Dover and Sears Point (finishing 19th & 21st), and Mike Wallace (finishing 31st and 39th) at Phoenix and Atlanta.

Means continued to run a part-time schedule in 1992, while fielding the #52 full-time. Scott Gaylord, Tommy Kendall, John McFadden, Mike Potter, Scott Sharp, and Brad Teague took over in the interim, with Kendall having the car's best finish was 13th at Sonoma. Graham Taylor drove the #53 at both Dover races. Means competed in 18 races in 1993, his final year, and shared the #52 with Gaylord, Jimmy Hensley, Mike Skinner, Taylor, Wallace, and Clay Young, with Hensley having the best finish, 25th at Rockingham. After Means' retirement as a driver, he kept the #52 team open for 1994, as Teague ran eight races in the car, his best finish a 22nd at Bristol Motor Speedway. Skinner, Bob Keselowski, and Kirk Shelmerdine also ran one race apiece for Means that season. Afterwards, sponsorship problems caused the team to close its doors.

In 2001, Means Racing returned to NASCAR in the Busch Series with a partnership with Moy Racing. They began the season with Teague, who ran five races total for them that season, his best finish a 38th at Watkins Glen International. Gaylord also returned to run two races, both resulting in 42nd place finishes. Kertus Davis, Ricky Sanders, and Andy Kirby also drove for the team that year. In 2002, Teague drove eleven races for the team, his best finish 38th at Nazareth Speedway. Jimmy Kitchens, Phil Bonifield, and Eric Jones drove part-time as well for the team that year. Teague made 11 starts for Means in 2003, with Donnie Neuenberger running an additional two races. In 2004, Bruce Bechtel joined as another driver to the team. He made several attempts, but only made one race, at Pikes Peak. Teague continued to run with the team, his best finish being a 26th at Bristol. The next season, Shane Hall was the team's original driver, but was soon released. Eric McClure began running with the team, with a best finish of 30th at Texas Motor Speedway, but was released in favor of Neuenberger. At the Dover 200, Neuenberger flipped over the Plan B Technologies Ford Taurus on Lap 2. He was uninjured, but as that was the team's only car, it is unlikely Means Racing will ever return.

James "Jimmy" Means also has a nickname of "Smut". Anyone know why??

Earnhardt Says Jimmy Means Meant a Lot To Him

By Rick Minter | Senior Writer     RacinToday.com   12 April 2009

Gladeville, Tn. – NASCAR’s biggest star and the people of Huntsville, Ala., have something in common these days. They both recognize Huntsville resident Jimmy Means as a true American hero.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. for years has been vocal and enthusiastic in his support of Means, a journeyman driver in the series now known as Sprint Cup but who now fields under-funded cars in the Nationwide Series.

The Huntsville folks are making their affection official Monday, inducting Means into the Huntsville/Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame.Veteran Huntsville Times reporter Mark McCarter says Means is the first race driver inducted into the Hall.

On Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway, where his car failed to qualify for the 300-miler, Means seemed proud to be honored by the folks in his hometown. He seemed to be especially happy that he wouldn’t have to speak at the ceremony.But he wasn’t reluctant to talk about his relationship with Earnhardt, who often roamed the pit area with Mean’s son, Brad.

  “I was always his hero when he was a little boy,” Means said of Earnhardt. “He used to pick up old spark plugs and lug nuts and bring them to me. I didn’t use the plugs, but I did use the lug nuts.

“And there are some Victory Lane photos where Dale Jr. is wearing an Alka-Seltzer hat.” Alka-Seltzer was the long-time sponsor of Means’ No. 52 car.

 Earnhardt still stays as close as possible with his old hero.“To this day, if he sees me in the garage, he never walks by without speaking.” Means said.

In a 2006 interview at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. posed for photos with Means and talked about his childhood days when he rooted for Means, who ran 455 Cup races without a victory, while his own father was winning multiple races every year.  

“He was my favorite driver besides my father,” Earnhardt said. “It was amazing to me how he did everything with nothing.”

Like others in the sport, Earnhardt was heartened in October of 1987, when Earnhardt’s current car owner, Rick Hendrick, offered Means one of his best cars for the 500 miler at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Means had caught Hendrick’s eye at Richmond the month before, when he drove his underfunded Pontiac into the lead on three occasions before running out of new tires and finishing eighth.

Means didn’t disappoint in qualifying. He was fifth fastest in the Chevy that had been driven earlier that season by Tim Richmond. Earnhardt, 13 at the time, watched the race from his family’s condo overlooking the track. “They started the race and Jimmy was driving like he was in his own equipment,” he said. “He was taking it easy, fell back a couple of spots, just riding there.”

Then came the wreck that ended any hope Means had of parlaying the one-shot deal into a career break. “There were probably 15 cars in the wreck,” Earnhardt said. “Daddy was in it. A bunch of cars wadded up.” Earnhardt didn’t mind seeing his dad’s car knocked out. Seeing Means wreck was altogether different.  “I cried and cried and cried,” he said. “I just couldn’t believe it. A man dug so hard for so long to have a chance like that. How could this world be like that? It hurt me for a long time.”

 

Means said it hurt him too. “It’s a shame something else didn’t come out of it,” he said. “But that’s life.” Earnhardt said watching Means’ race on a shoe-string budget had a lasting effect on him. Maybe Means is the reason Earnhardt, despite his popularity in the sport, remains relatively grounded in many ways.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him, and maybe some way, somehow, just by knowing Jimmy and having spent some time close to him has helped me appreciate things a little more,” he said. “Maybe I wouldn’t have turned out on the good side that I did.”


I wish I had the rest of this story. If you do, please scan it and send it to me HERE. Or is you know the published date let me know.


Family ...

 


 


The tragic Watkins Glen, NY track wreck where JD McDuffie lost his life. JD went up and over Jimmy's car.

 

Jimmy Means Winston Cup DRIVER Statistics
 

Year Age Races Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led Earnings Rank AvSt AvFn
1976 26 19 of 30 0 0 0 0 4336 1 20,945 24 24.1 23.7
1977 27 26 of 30 0 0 6 0 6010 0 52,505 19 24.0 20.7
1978 28 27 of 30 0 0 2 0 7083 0 61,724 16 25.1 20.3
1979 29 27 of 31 0 0 1 0 5431 0 55,560 23 23.9 22.6
1980 30 28 of 31 0 0 0 0 7684 0 105,628 17 27.1 19.2
1981 31 30 of 31 0 0 2 0 8647 0 105,628 14 28.7 19.4
1982 32 30 of 30 0 0 2 0 8837 2 154,460 11 26.9 16.4
1983 33 28 of 30 0 0 3 0 8269 2 132,914 18 29.6 19.0
1984 34 22 of 30 0 0 0 0 7044 0 105,105 25 29.8 20.7
1985 35 28 of 28 0 0 0 0 6774 0 132,130 23 27.9 24.0
1986 36 26 of 29 0 0 0 0 6472 5 157,940 22 32.8 22.2
1987 37 28 of 29 0 0 1 0 6339 21 154,055 23 30.8 24.9
1988 38 27 of 29 0 0 0 0 5172 12 139,290 30 32.1 29.3
1989 39 22 of 29 0 0 0 0 4868 4 65,005 31 30.7 28.7
1990 40 27 of 29 0 0 0 0 7419 0 135,165 29 30.5 26.3
1991 41 20 of 29 0 0 0 0 4425 3 111,210 33 35.1 28.6
1992 42 22 of 29 0 0 0 0 4370 0 133,160 32 34.2 31.1
1993 43 18 of 30 0 0 0 0 4765 2 148,205 36 33.6 27.3
18 years 455 0 0 17 0 113,945 52 1,970,629 29.1 23.2

Jimmy Means Busch Series DRIVER Statistics

Year Age Races Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led Earnings Rank AvSt AvFn
1989 39 3 of 29 0 0 1 0 336 0 4,810 65 21.0 23.3
1 year 3 0 0 1 0 336 0 4,810   21.0 23.3

There is a long list of drivers who have driven for Jimmy Means Racing, Jimmy has made much as an owner than the 18 years he was a driver, though he often drove for himself.

To date in the Busch/Nationwide Series, no driver for Means has had a pole or even finished in the Top 10, but his earnings to date have been $6.85 million dollars.

In the Cup series, no driver for Means Racing has had a pole, win or Top 5, but there has been 11 Top 10's by Jimmy himself and earnings until 1994 were $3.08 million dollars. 

 As a Driver his "earnings" were $1.975 million dollars.
As an Owner his "earnings" are $9.93 million dollars (as of 1/11)

Drivers who have driven for
Jimmy Means Racing
in the Cup Series

Drivers who have driven for
Jimmy Means Racing
in the Busch/Nationwide Series to Jan. 2011
      Driver      Driver
Gary Bradberry Tony Ave
Charlie Chamblee Trevor Bayne
Scott Gaylord Bruce Bechtel
Mickey Gibbs Phil Bonifield
Cecil Gordon Derrike Cope
Jimmy Hensley Kertus Davis
Bobby Hillin, Jr. Scott Gaylord
Dale Jarrett Kevin Hamlin
Tommy Kendall Ian Henderson
Bob Keselowski D.J. Hoelzle
Sterling Marlin Eric Jones
John McFadden Andy Kirby
Lennie Pond Jimmy Kitchens
Mike Potter Chris Lawson
Baxter Price Kevin Lepage
Scott Sharp Eric McClure
Kirk Shelmerdine Jimmy Morales
Morgan Shepherd Jamie Mosley
Mike Skinner Donnie Neuenberger
Roy Smith Mike Potter
Graham Taylor Tony Raines
Brad Teague Jason Rudd
Mike Wallace Boris Said
Bobby Wawak Ricky Sanders
Clay Young Joey Scarallo
  Tim Schendel
  Brad Teague
  Mike Wallace

Jimmy Means Cup OWNER Statistics

Year Driver Races Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led Earnings Rank AvSt AvFn
1978 Jimmy Means 26 0 0 2 0 6932 0 61,724 16 24.8 20.1
1979 Jimmy Means 26 0 0 1 0 5430 0 55,560 23 24.1 21.9
1980 Jimmy Means 27 0 0 0 0 7649 0 105,628 17 27.1 18.9
1981 Charlie Chamblee 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 830   17.0 26.0
1981 Cecil Gordon 1 0 0 0 0 8 0 55,980 23 27.0 31.0
1981 Jimmy Means 29 0 0 2 0 8320 0 105,628 14 28.4 19.7
1981 Baxter Price 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1,400 96 33.0 34.0
1982 Jimmy Means 30 0 0 2 0 8837 2 154,460 11 26.9 16.4
1983 Jimmy Means 28 0 0 3 0 8269 2 132,914 18 29.6 19.0
1983 Lennie Pond 1 0 0 0 0 193 0 41,530 34 28.0 22.0
1984 Dale Jarrett 1 0 0 0 0 155 0 7,305 72 39.0 23.0
1984 Sterling Marlin 1 0 0 0 0 116 0 54,355 37 19.0 30.0
1984 Jimmy Means 22 0 0 0 0 7044 0 105,105 25 29.8 20.7
1984 Morgan Shepherd 1 0 0 0 0 105 0 59,670 29 36.0 30.0
1984 Roy Smith 1 0 0 0 0 70 0 2,475   16.0 26.0
1984 Bobby Wawak 1 0 0 0 0 180 0 8,575 47 36.0 28.0
1985 Jimmy Means 28 0 0 0 0 6774 0 132,130 23 27.9 24.0
1986 Jimmy Means 26 0 0 0 0 6472 5 157,940 22 32.8 22.2
1987 Jimmy Means 28 0 0 1 0 6339 21 154,055 23 30.8 24.9
1988 Jimmy Means 26 0 0 0 0 4778 12 139,290 30 32.1 29.5
1989 Mickey Gibbs 1 0 0 0 0 76 0 27,040 41 42.0 34.0
1989 Jimmy Means 22 0 0 0 0 4868 4 65,005 31 30.7 28.7
1990 Jimmy Means 27 0 0 0 0 7419 0 135,165 29 30.5 26.3
1991 Bobby Hillin, Jr. 2 0 0 0 0 564 0 251,645 30 31.5 20.0
1991 Jimmy Means 20 0 0 0 0 4425 3 111,210 33 35.1 28.6
1991 Mike Wallace 2 0 0 0 0 315 0 7,000 62 37.0 35.0
1991 Scott Gaylord 1 0 0 0 0 124 0 4,265 87 34.0 37.0
1991 Tommy Kendall 1 0 0 0 0 74 0 6,755 66 14.0 13.0
1991 John McFadden 5 0 0 0 0 37 0 21,810 52 38.0 39.0
1991 Jimmy Means 22 0 0 0 0 4370 0 133,160 32 34.2 31.1
1991 Mike Potter 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 74,710 36 39.0 39.0
1991 Scott Sharp 1 0 0 0 0 51 0 7,155 69 22.0 19.0
1991 Graham Taylor 2 0 0 0 0 17 0 8,595 71 36.5 38.0
1991 Brad Teague 1 0 0 0 0 456 0 12,280 58 26.0 21.0
1993 Scott Gaylord 1 0 0 0 0 75 0 5,935 74 38.0 29.0
1993 Jimmy Hensley 3 0 0 0 0 680 0 368,150 32 36.0 33.0
1993 Jimmy Means 18 0 0 0 0 4765 2 148,205 36 33.6 27.3
1993 Mike Potter 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 11,915 66 38.0 38.0
1993 Mike Skinner 1 0 0 0 0 145 0 5,180 80 36.0 35.0
1993 Graham Taylor 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 6,210 89 40.0 40.0
1993 Mike Wallace 1 0 0 0 0 323 0 30,125 46 35.0 30.0
1993 Clay Young 1 0 0 0 0 14 0 14,370 70 38.0 40.0
1994 Gary Bradberry 1 0 0 0 0 276 0 6,600 70 12.0 30.0
1994 Bob Keselowski 1 0 0 0 0 17 0 7,150 81 42.0 41.0
1994 Kirk Shelmerdine 1 0 0 0 0 179 0 11,265 66 42.0 26.0
1994 Mike Skinner 1 0 0 0 0 469 0 9,550 72 38.0 31.0
1994 Brad Teague 8 0 0 0 0 1959 0 59,990 45 35.9 31.5
17 years 452 0 0 11 0 109,394 51 3,086,994   30.1 24.2

Jimmy Means Busch/Nationwide OWNER Statistics

Year Driver Races Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led Earnings Rank AvSt AvFn
2001 Kertus Davis 3 0 0 0 0 46 0 39,265 80 36.0 39.0
2001 Scott Gaylord 2 0 0 0 0 21 0 28,360 119 42.0 42.0
2001 Eric Jones 1 0 0 0 0 13 0 15,570 138 37.0 39.0
2001 Andy Kirby 1 0 0 0 0 48 0 79,845 59 34.0 41.0
2001 Mike Potter 1 0 0 0 0 22 0 8,210 144 37.0 41.0
2001 Jason Rudd 2 0 0 0 0 268 0 54,275 64 37.5 35.5
2001 Ricky Sanders 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 8,215 145 39.0 41.0
2001 Brad Teague 5 0 0 0 0 37 0 157,869 47 40.2 40.8
2002 Phil Bonifield 3 0 0 0 0 33 0 66,052 73 40.7 42.7
2002 Scott Gaylord 1 0 0 0 0 12 0 16,085 119 38.0 40.0
2002 Eric Jones 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 32,431 93 42.0 43.0
2002 Jimmy Kitchens 2 0 0 0 0 19 0 171,100 43 42.0 42.0
2002 Brad Teague 11 0 0 0 0 163 0 229,887 42 38.2 41.6
2003 Bruce Bechtel 1 0 0 0 0 20 0 76,740 84 36.0 42.0
2003 Donnie Neuenberger 2 0 0 0 0 41 0 116,330 74 38.5 38.5
2003 Mike Potter 10 0 0 0 0 143 0 139,330 68 37.9 40.8
2003 Ryck Sanders 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 33,845 111 39.0 39.0
2003 Brad Teague 7 0 0 0 0 125 1 392,210 32 33.1 39.0
2004 Bruce Bechtel 1 0 0 0 0 22 0 36,890 108 38.0 34.0
2004 Jason Rudd 1 0 0 0 0 8 0 10,540 150 40.0 42.0
2004 Brad Teague 8 0 0 0 0 395 0 207,731 47 33.5 38.6
2005 D.J. Hoelzle 1 0 0 0 0 199 0 11,805 126 36.0 31.0
2005 Eric McClure 7 0 0 0 0 971 0 127,625 72 35.7 36.6
2005 Jimmy Morales 1 0 0 0 0 80 0 39,125 108 25.0 20.0
2005 Donnie Neuenberger 2 0 0 0 0 70 0 68,598 101 40.5 41.0
2007 Scott Gaylord 2 0 0 0 0 14 0 48,530 132 39.0 39.5
2007 Ian Henderson 1 0 0 0 0 29 0 13,920 142 39.0 37.0
2007 Kevin Lepage 3 0 0 0 0 66 0 110,045 86 42.0 41.0
2007 Jamie Mosley 1 0 0 0 0 30 0 17,560 150 43.0 40.0
2007 Donnie Neuenberger 4 0 0 0 0 283 1 73,570 99 40.0 35.8
2007 Brad Teague 6 0 0 0 0 151 0 137,005 91 41.0 40.5
2008 Derrike Cope 8 0 0 0 0 609 0 679,500 31 37.4 35.8
2008 Scott Gaylord 5 0 0 0 0 316 0 168,233 77 40.2 35.8
2008 Kevin Lepage 1 0 0 0 0 109 0 628,470 28 40.0 34.0
2008 Donnie Neuenberger 6 0 0 0 0 424 0 140,874 70 40.0 32.3
2008 Tony Raines 1 0 0 0 0 190 0 22,118 120 37.0 26.0
2008 Boris Said 1 0 0 0 0 81 0 124,828 78 22.0 27.0
2008 Brad Teague 13 0 0 0 0 2226 0 300,530 48 39.4 30.4
2009 Tony Ave 1 0 0 0 0 14 0 32,070 145 43.0 39.0
2009 Trevor Bayne 1 0 0 0 0 296 0 443,181 32 26.0 23.0
2009 Scott Gaylord 2 0 0 0 0 208 0 57,891 121 39.0 34.0
2009 Kevin Hamlin 1 0 0 0 0 21 0 272,626 70 37.0 41.0
2009 Chris Lawson 1 0 0 0 0 63 0 13,060 141 43.0 36.0
2009 Kevin Lepage 5 0 0 0 0 388 0 258,580 61 35.0 35.2
2009 Donnie Neuenberger 3 0 0 0 0 238 0 101,964 103 30.7 35.3
2009 Brad Teague 2 0 0 0 0 130 0 35,785 117 32.0 33.0
2009 Mike Wallace 1 0 0 0 0 44 0 450,604 35 43.0 34.0
2010 Kevin Hamlin 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 72,363 95 43.0 41.0
2010 Chris Lawson 2 0 0 0 0 29 0 24,515 122 37.0 40.5
2010 Kevin Lepage 4 0 0 0 0 37 0 393,935 40 36.5 40.0
2010 Donnie Neuenberger 1 0 0 0 0 42 0 18,260 139 24.0 38.0
2010 Joey Scarallo 1 0 0 0 0 9 0 26,180 140 39.0 38.0
2010 Tim Schendel 1 0 0 0 0 18 0 15,580 143 37.0 40.0
9 years 155 0 0 0 0 8848 2 6,849,710   37.6 37.4

 

 


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