Team Ireland was a stock car racing team that competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series between 1991 and 1992. Owned by Irishman Martin Birrane, the team posted a best finish of thirteenth with driver Bobby Hillin Jr.
| Owner(s) | Martin Birrane |
|---|---|
| Series | Winston Cup Series |
| Race drivers | John Paul, Jr. Bobby Hillin Jr. |
| Manufacturer | Chevrolet |
| Career | |
| Debut | 1991 Miller Genuine Draft 500 (Pocono) |
| Latest race | 1992 Mello Yello 500 (Charlotte) |
| Races competed | 14 |
| Drivers' Championships | 0 |
| Race victories | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
Winston Cup Series
editCar No. 31 history
editTeam Ireland made its debut in the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, competing in four races with the No. 53 Chevrolet; the team intended to field IndyCar driver John Paul Jr. in its cars, but after Paul proved to have a hard time adjusting to the heavy NASCAR cars, he was replaced after two races by Bobby Hillin Jr., who joined the team for a planned 15-race schedule in 1992.[1] Changing to the No. 31 and using cars and engines supplied by Richard Childress Racing,[1] the team competed in ten races during the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, posting a best finish of 13th in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway,[2] before being forced to close due to a lack of sponsorship;[3] the team was unable to pay a fine levied by NASCAR for the use of illegal cylinder heads in the Mello Yello 500 in October,[4] and team owner Birrane chose to leave the sport.[5]
Car No. 31 results
edit| Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | NWCC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | John Paul Jr. | 53 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | SON | POC | MCH | DAY | POC 32 |
TAL | GLN 16 |
MCH DNQ |
BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | ||||||
| Bobby Hillin Jr. | CLT 18 |
CAR DNQ |
PHO | ATL 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | 31 | DAY 38 |
CAR | RCH | ATL 21 |
DAR DNQ |
BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL 28 |
CLT 13 |
DOV | SON | POC | MCH 17 |
DAY 25 |
POC 25 |
TAL | GLN 23 |
MCH 26 |
BRI | DAR 17 |
RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 40 |
CAR | PHO | ATL | ||||
References
edit- ^ a b Stout, Harold (May 3, 1992). "Aiming High". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, AL. p. C1. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
- ^ "Martin Birrane (owner) - NASCAR Sprint Cup Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
- ^ Fry, Darrell (February 11, 1993). "A speedway phenom gets second chance". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, FL. p. 1C. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
- ^ Howell, Mark D. (1997). From Moonshine to Madison Avenue: A Cultural History of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 26. ISBN 0-87972-739-X.
- ^ Zeller, Bob (October 23, 1993). "Kyle Petty notches fourth straight pole spot at Rockingham". Greensboro News & Record. Greensboro, NC. p. C5. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
External links
edit- Team Ireland owner statistics at Racing-Reference