# Akins Motorsports

Akins Motorsports, formerly Akins-Sutton Motorsports was a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte. The team was formed in 1992 by Brad Akins, owner of several car dealerships in Georgia and team pit crew member, and Bob Sutton who served as the team's financial manager. At the time the team was sold to Braun Racing in 2006, it was owned by longtime team general manager Doug Stringer. The team was known for its Great Clips-sponsored #38 team in the Busch Series (now the Xfinity Series), which was later fielded by Braun Racing and Turner Scott Motorsports.

## Busch Series
### Car #38 history

Akins Motorsports debuted in 1993, running the #38 Country Time Ford Thunderbird driven by Bobby Hamilton. They ran two Winston Cup races with Hamilton driving, posting a tenth-place finish at Dover International Speedway. They also ran a pair of Busch Races with Elton Sawyer driving, his best finish a 25th at Richmond International Raceway.
Sawyer went full-time with the team in 1994 with sponsorship from Ford Credit. They had six top-tens, as well as winning at Myrtle Beach Speedway, finishing fourteenth in championship points. The following season, they moved to ninth in points and Sawyer won the pole at Indianapolis Raceway Park. At the end of the year, Sawyer was replaced with Dennis Setzer with Lipton Tea sponsorship for 1996. He had two top-tens, before Sawyer came back to the team to finish out the year, posting one top-ten.
In 1997, Barbasol became primary sponsor, and Sawyer finished a then-career-best sixth in points, before moving up to fifth the following season.
Glenn Allen Jr. took over the #38 for the 1999 season, and had a fourth-place finish at The Milwaukee Mile, but was replaced during the season by Hut Stricklin, who ended the season with a pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 38 team was forced to shut down at the end of the season due to sponsor Barbasol departing.
Rookie Christian Elder drove the #38 in 2001 with Great Clips/Deka Batteries sponsorship for sixteen races that year, posting a best finish of 20th twice. Elder drove the 38 for eight races in 2002, sharing the ride with Mark Green before Green took over the ride permanently, posting three top-fifteen finishes.
In 2003, Akins hired Ford development driver Kasey Kahne as the team's driver. Kahne finished seventh in points and won his first career race at the Ford 300. He would take over the 9 Dodge in the Winston Cup Series for Evernham Motorsports' for the 2004 season, but continued to run Akins' Busch team, as they switched to Dodge Intrepids. He went winless in 2004, but had two poles and finished eleventh in points.
In 2005, team manager Doug Stringer assumed full ownership, and Kahne shared the car with Tyler Walker. He had two wins and three poles, while Walker did not finish better than 14th, and was released in August 2005. Mike Wallace and A. J. Foyt IV shared the driving duties with Kahne for the balance of the season.
Foyt IV was to compete for Rookie of the Year in the #38 Akins ride in 2006 but was released from the team when Doug Stringer merged Akins Motorsports with Braun Racing.

#### Car No. 38 results

| 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 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | NBSC | Pts |
| 1993 | Bobby Hamilton | 38 | Ford | DAY | CAR | RCH | DAR | BRI | HCY 23 | ROU | MAR 31 | NZH | CLT | DOV | MYB | GLN | MLW | TAL | IRP 9 | MCH | NHA | BRI | DAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1993 | Elton Sawyer | 38 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RCH 25 | DOV | ROU | CLT 36 | MAR | CAR | HCY | ATL | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1994 | Elton Sawyer | 38 | Ford | DAY 20 | CAR 12 | RCH 4 | ATL DNQ | MAR 22 | DAR 13 | HCY 28 | BRI | ROU 31 | NHA DNQ | NZH 2 | CLT 21 | DOV 13 | MYB 1 | GLN 35 | MLW 8 | SBO 17 | TAL 21 | HCY 14 | IRP 22 | MCH 20 | BRI 15 | DAR 9 | RCH 31 | DOV 13 | CLT 5 | MAR 19 | CAR 39 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1995 | Elton Sawyer | 38 | Ford | DAY 39 | CAR 32 | RCH 15 | ATL 10 | NSV 30 | DAR 38 | BRI 18 | HCY 26 | NHA 2 | NZH 8 | CLT 27 | DOV 12 | MYB 10 | GLN 22 | MLW 14 | TAL 10 | SBO 7 | IRP 2 | MCH 13 | BRI 26 | DAR 8 | RCH 10 | DOV 17 | CLT 20 | CAR 14 | HOM 12 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1996 | Dennis Setzer | 38 | Ford | DAY 27 | CAR 31 | RCH 22 | ATL DNQ | NSV 37 | DAR 36 | BRI DNQ | HCY DNQ | NZH 20 | CLT DNQ | DOV 33 | SBO 11 | MYB 8 | GLN 11 | MLW 24 | NHA 24 | TAL DNQ | IRP 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1996 | Elton Sawyer | 38 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 25 | BRI 12 | DAR 16 | RCH 22 | DOV 8 | CLT 19 | CAR 14 | HOM 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1997 | Elton Sawyer | 38 | Ford | DAY 16 | CAR 12 | RCH 11 | ATL 2 | LVS 31 | DAR 17 | HCY 6 | TEX 11 | BRI 32 | NSV 17 | TAL 42 | NHA 4 | NZH 23 | CLT 43 | DOV 9 | SBO 5 | GLN 19 | MLW 6 | MYB 5 | GTY 4 | IRP 3 | MCH 16 | BRI 34 | DAR 13 | RCH 31 | DOV 16 | CLT 22 | CAL 19 | CAR 12 | HOM 32 | | | | | | 8th | 3419 |
| 1998 | Elton Sawyer | 38 | Ford | DAY 28 | CAR 14 | LVS 30 | NSV 10 | DAR 11 | BRI 4 | TEX 27 | HCY 27 | TAL 10 | NHA 27 | NZH 36 | CLT 8 | DOV 8 | RCH 18 | PPR 4 | GLN 11 | MLW 2 | MYB 11 | CAL 12 | SBO 25 | IRP 8 | MCH 8 | BRI 18 | DAR 12 | RCH 33 | DOV 3 | CLT 13 | GTY 38 | CAR 32 | ATL 13 | HOM 26 | | | | | 5th | 3533 |
| 1999 | Glenn Allen Jr. | 38 | Ford | DAY 16 | CAR DNQ | LVS DNQ | ATL 9 | DAR 30 | TEX 27 | NSV 29 | BRI 26 | | CAL 21 | NHA 28 | RCH 26 | NZH 14 | CLT DNQ | DOV 24 | SBO DNQ | GLN 29 | MLW 4 | MYB DNQ | PPR 37 | GTY 33 | IRP 24 | MCH DNQ | BRI DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 26th | 2358 |
| 1999 | Glenn Allen Jr. | 38 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | TAL 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 26th | 2358 |
| 1999 | Hut Stricklin | 38 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 22 | RCH DNQ | DOV 16 | CLT 21 | CAR DNQ | MEM 42 | PHO 29 | HOM 21 | | | | | | 26th | 2358 |
| 2001 | Christian Elder | 38 | Ford | DAY DNQ | CAR | LVS 23 | ATL 26 | DAR | BRI 20 | TEX | NSH | TAL 26 | CAL 24 | RCH | NHA | NZH 28 | CLT 37 | DOV 20 | KEN 24 | MLW | GLN | CHI 29 | GTY 30 | PPR | IRP | MCH | BRI 35 | DAR | RCH | DOV | KAN 27 | CLT 40 | MEM | PHO 28 | CAR | HOM 43 | | | 41st | 1259 |
| 2002 | Christian Elder | 38 | Ford | DAY 36 | CAR 37 | LVS 38 | | | TEX 31 | | TAL 43 | CAL 43 | | | | | | | KEN 26 | | DAY 29 | CHI INQ$^†$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 31st | 2351 |
| 2002 | Mark Green | 38 | Ford | | | | DAR 17 | BRI 17 | | | | | RCH 28 | NHA | NZH 33 | CLT 35 | DOV 15 | NSH 12 | | MLW 22 | | CHI 41 | GTY 22 | PPR 19 | IRP | MCH | BRI 37 | DAR | RCH 16 | DOV 20 | KAN 16 | CLT 30 | MEM 38 | ATL 28 | CAR 19 | PHO 14 | HOM 30 | | 31st | 2351 |
| 2003 | Kasey Kahne | 38 | Ford | DAY 8 | CAR 26 | LVS 11 | DAR 8 | BRI 13 | TEX 9 | TAL 37 | NSH 29 | CAL 4 | RCH 18 | GTY 31 | NZH 12 | CLT 6 | DOV 8 | NSH 25 | KEN 11 | MLW 16 | DAY 38 | CHI 28 | NHA 9 | PPR 10 | IRP 14 | MCH 2 | BRI 14 | DAR 6 | RCH 12 | DOV 4 | KAN 30 | CLT 8 | MEM 15 | ATL 7 | PHO 27 | CAR 18 | HOM 1 | | 9th | 4104 |
| 2004 | Kasey Kahne | 38 | Dodge | DAY 43 | CAR 26 | LVS 2 | DAR 11 | BRI 27 | TEX 32 | NSH 3 | TAL 38 | CAL 5 | GTY 13 | RCH 10 | NZH 16 | CLT 25 | DOV 7 | NSH 6 | KEN 17 | | DAY 6 | CHI 4 | NHA 4 | | | MCH 5 | BRI 34 | CAL 4 | RCH 9 | DOV 3 | KAN 13 | CLT 36 | | ATL 4 | PHO 11 | DAR 11 | HOM 18 | | 7th | 4219 |
| 2004 | Shane Hmiel | 38 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MLW 4 | | | | | IRP 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7th | 4219 |
| 2004 | Tyler Walker | 38 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PPR 27 | | | | | | | | | MEM 12 | | | | | | | | | | 7th | 4219 |
| 2005 | Kasey Kahne | 38 | Dodge | DAY 5 | | | LVS 20 | ATL 5 | | | TEX 1 | | | DAR 34 | | | DOV 13 | | | | DAY 25 | CHI 12 | | | | | | MCH 27 | | | | | | CLT 12 | | | | | 23rd | 3213 |
| 2005 | Tyler Walker | 38 | Dodge | | CAL 39 | MXC 24 | | | NSH 17 | BRI 35 | | PHO 42 | | | RCH 28 | CLT 14 | | NSH 19 | KEN 19 | MLW 40 | | | NHA 19 | PPR 23 | GTY 17 | IRP 37 | GLN 36 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | 3213 |
| 2005 | Casey Mears | 38 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | TAL 26 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | 3213 |
| 2005 | Mike Wallace | 38 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | BRI 14 | CAL 29 | RCH 26 | DOV 31 | KAN 21 | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | 3213 |
| 2005 | A. J. Foyt IV | 38 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MEM 32 | TEX 39 | PHO 42 | HOM 24 | 23rd | 3213 |
| 2006 | A. J. Foyt IV | 38 | Dodge | DAY 42 | CAL 38 | MXC 21 | LVS 37 | ATL 33 | BRI 35 | TEX 41 | NSH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 3554 |
| 2006 | Ryan Moore | 38 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | PHO 29 | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN | MLW | DAY | CHI | NHA | MAR | GTY | IRP | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM | TEX | PHO | HOM | 18th | 3554 |

### Car #58 history

Akins added a second car to its stable in 2005, with Brent Sherman driving a Serta Mattress and Hickory Farms-sponsored Dodge. However, following the sale of team to Doug Stringer the team consolidated its operations to the #38 and sold the #58 to Glynn Motorsports.

#### Car No. 58 results

| 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 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | NBSC | Pts |
| 2004 | Brent Sherman | 58 | Dodge | DAY | CAR | LVS | DAR | BRI | TEX | NSH | TAL | CAL | GTY | RCH | NZH | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN | MLW | DAY | CHI | NHA | PPR | IRP | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | DOV | KAN 37 | CLT | MEM 37 | ATL | PHO | DAR | HOM 30 | | 75th | 177 |
| 2005 | Brent Sherman | 58 | Dodge | DAY DNQ | CAL 32 | MXC 23 | LVS 32 | ATL 31 | NSH 23 | BRI 36 | TEX 34 | PHO 24 | TAL 9 | DAR 32 | RCH DNQ | CLT 34 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 31st | 2738 |
| 2005 | Regan Smith | 58 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 20 | NSH 15 | KEN 41 | MLW 29 | DAY 19 | CHI | NHA | PPR | GTY | IRP | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM | TEX | PHO | HOM | 31st | 2738 |

### Car #98 history

In 1999, Akins formed a second car, the #98 with Lysol sponsorship with Elton Sawyer driving. He won his second race at New Hampshire International Speedway and finished fifth in points again.
In 2000, Sawyer continued to drive the 98, posting fourteen top-tens.
In 2001, clothing brand Starter and Hot Tamales came on board as sponsor and in April 2001 Akins sold the #98 team to Michael Kranefuss in order to focus on the #38. Sawyer posted a career-best nineteen top-ten finishes and finished 5th in points. At the end of the year, Starter and Hot Tamales left and unable to find a sponsor, Kranefuss was forced to disband the #98 team.

#### Car No. 98 results

| 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 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | NBSC | Pts |
| 1999 | Elton Sawyer | 98 | Chevy | DAY 21 | | | | DAR 2 | | NSV 8 | | TAL 41 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 3891 |
| 1999 | Elton Sawyer | 98 | Ford | | CAR 7 | LVS 26 | ATL 8 | | TEX 12 | | BRI 3 | | CAL 7 | NHA 1 | RCH 34 | NZH 32 | CLT 8 | DOV 9 | SBO 23 | GLN 11 | MLW 34 | MYB 7 | PPR 8 | GTY 13 | IRP 8 | MCH 26 | BRI 7 | DAR 14 | RCH 16 | DOV 26 | CLT 19 | CAR 14 | MEM 3 | PHO 15 | HOM 13 | | | | | 5th | 3891 |
| 2000 | Elton Sawyer | 98 | Ford | DAY 30 | CAR 12 | LVS 25 | ATL 18 | DAR 9 | BRI 12 | TEX 28 | NSV 13 | TAL 18 | CAL 9 | RCH 34 | NHA 9 | CLT 9 | DOV 9 | SBO 3 | MYB 3 | GLN 7 | MLW 6 | NZH 2 | PPR 25 | GTY 10 | IRP 6 | MCH 31 | BRI 29 | DAR 3 | RCH 19 | DOV 33 | CLT 29 | CAR 19 | MEM 2 | PHO 11 | HOM 40 | | | 7th | 3776 |
| 2001 | Elton Sawyer | 98 | Ford | DAY 43 | CAR 29 | LVS 8 | ATL 35 | DAR 9 | BRI 17 | TEX 21 | NSH 5 | TAL 6 | CAL 12 | RCH 40 | NHA 9 | NZH 11 | CLT 19 | DOV 6 | KEN 4 | MLW 6 | GLN 6 | CHI 8 | GTY 8 | PPR 30 | IRP 4 | MCH 7 | BRI 5 | DAR 2 | RCH 8 | DOV 11 | KAN 16 | CLT 9 | MEM 26 | PHO 38 | CAR 10 | HOM 2 | | 5th | 4100 |
| 2003 | Mark Green | 98 | Ford | DAY | CAR | LVS | DAR | BRI | TEX | TAL | NSH | CAL | RCH | GTY | NZH 16 | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN | MLW | DAY | CHI | NHA | PPR | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM | ATL | PHO | CAR | HOM | 95th | 115 |

## Craftsman Truck Series
### Truck #38 history

During the 1995 season, Akins/Sutton also fielded a Craftsman Truck Series team with Sammy Swindell full-time driving with sponsorship from Channellock, posting five top-tens and a 4th place run at Bristol, finishing twelfth in points. The team racked up an astounding 7 DNFs during the 20-race season. Akins/Sutton never fielded a truck again.

#### Truck No. 38 results

| Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | NSTSC | Pts |
| 1995 | Sammy Swindell | 38 | Ford | PHO 17 | TUS 7 | SGS 24 | MMR 10 | POR 13 | EVG 17 | I70 24 | LVL 13 | BRI 4$^*$ | MLW 12 | CNS 26 | HPT 21 | IRP 33 | FLM 10 | RCH 17 | MAR 36 | NWS 24 | SON 10 | MMR 32 | PHO 39 | | |