# Kirk Shelmerdine

Edward Kirk Shelmerdine V (born March 8, 1958) is an American stock car racing driver and former championship-winning crew chief for Dale Earnhardt.

## Crew chief

After spending his early NASCAR career as an engineer for Hylton Engineering, in 1984 he joined Richard Childress Racing to become the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt had 46 wins, 142 top 5 finishes, and 246 top 10 finishes with Shelmerdine en route to four championships in 1986, 1987, 1990 and 1991. The pit crew won four consecutive Pit Crew Titles over the next eight years. His accomplishments include being the youngest crew chief to win a NASCAR race, and the youngest crew chief to win a Winston Cup championship. In 1992, he announced he was retiring from his crew chief duties, and embarked on a racing career on his own to pursue his dream of being a driver.

## Driving career begins

He started running in the ARCA series in 1993 where he has three career wins. He has since run in all the top levels in NASCAR. Shelmerdine has run a total of two Craftsman Truck Series races with a best finish of 17th at Bristol in 1995. He has also run 12 Busch Series races with a best finish of 17th in 1994 at Daytona for Levin Racing.

## Cup driving career

Shelmerdine's NASCAR Winston Cup Series career actually started in 1981 in a race at College Station (Texas World Speedway, where owner/driver James Hylton brought out a 2nd car (No. 8) for Shelmerdine to drive. After two laps, he quit and finished 33rd of the 34 cars. His next start would come at Talladega Superspeedway in 1994 for Jimmy Means. Shelmerdine finished 26th in the No. 52 Ford. He started his own Cup team in 2002 and ran races at Talladega, Loudon and Pocono, but he was primarily a "field filler" driver.
2004 was a breakout year for Shelmerdine, as he attempted all 36 races as an owner, 32 as a driver. As team owner he had other drivers fill in for him at selected tracks: Tom Hubert at Infineon and Watkins Glen, Brad Teague at the fall Bristol race, and Ted Christopher at the July Loudon race. Shelmerdine's best finish would be a 37th at Michigan while his car's best finish would be a 29th at Watkins Glen, with Hubert behind the wheel.
2005 was a step back. The team qualified for only three races (Infineon with Hubert, Loudon with Christopher, and Pocono with Shelmerdine). Shelmerdine finished 42nd in the Pocono race with heating conditions ending his day 192 laps short of the finish.
He started out 2006 on a better note. He was rolling his car on to his hauler after failing to qualify high enough in his qualifying race for the Daytona 500. A NASCAR official stopped him and informed him that he qualified for his first Daytona 500 by gaining the final spot with his qualifying speed. He finished in 20th place on the lead lap, the best finish of his Cup career. His performance gained media attention as he said if he did not qualify, he'd sell his race team because he was extremely low on money. He was using a motor from Richard Childress (in exchange for a displaying a sponsorship decal). His tires had been donated by a family of Dale Earnhardt fans. He had no full-time pit crew, only his loyal teammates such as Phil Harris, J.V. Daniels and a few others.
Shelmerdine's plans for the rest of 2006 were limited, however, he did race at Talladega. He qualified 22nd and was having a good run when he wrecked early in the race. Shelmerdine finished 40th. Since then, he has attempted to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600 but failed to make the race after a qualifying crash, his next appearance was at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona where he made the show but fell out early and finished 43rd.
On December 22, 2006, the Federal Election Commission sent an "admonishment letter" to Shelmerdine as a response to him for running with a Bush/Cheney decal on his car in 2004.
Shelmerdine drove the Richard Childress Racing No. 33 in the 2008 Daytona testing sessions and was to be entered in the 2008 Daytona 500. He attempted a number of races during the 2009 season after buying Toyotas from Bill Davis Racing. Shelmerdine used Tom Hubert for road courses and New England staple Ted Christopher for Loudon.
It was announced on August 26, 2010, that on September 14, 2010, the assets of Kirk Shelmerdine Racing were to be sold at Public Auction at the team's basis in Welcome, North Carolina. Shelmerdine stated the reason for the closure is lack of sponsorship and technology provided for independent teams.

## Personal life

Shelmerdine resides in Welcome, North Carolina, and is the father of two children.

## Motorsports career results
### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Sprint Cup Series

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results :
| Year | Team | 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 | 36 | NSCC | Pts |
| 1981 | Richard Childress Racing | 8 | Pontiac | RSD | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | TWS 33 | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | | | | | | NA | 0 |
| 1994 | Jimmy Means Racing | 52 | Ford | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL 26 | SON | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | DAY | NHA | POC | TAL | IND | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | | | | | | | | | | 66th | 85 |
| 1994 | Jimmy Means Racing | 96 | Chevrolet | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT DNQ | CAR | PHO | ATL | | | | | | | | 66th | 85 |
| 2002 | Hover Motorsports | 80 | Ford | DAY DNQ | CAR | LVS | ATL | DAR | BRI | TEX | MAR | TAL | CAL | RCH | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | SON | DAY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 73rd | 77 |
| 2002 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | 72 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CHI DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT DNQ | | | | | | | | 73rd | 77 |
| 2002 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | 27 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NHA 42 | POC 41 | IND | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | NHA | DOV | KAN DNQ | TAL | | MAR DNQ | ATL | CAR | PHO | HOM | 73rd | 77 |
| 2003 | Donlavey Racing | 90 | Ford | DAY DNQ | CAR | LVS | ATL | DAR | BRI | TEX | TAL | MAR | CAL | RCH | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | SON | DAY | CHI | NHA | POC | IND | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | NHA | DOV | TAL | KAN | CLT | MAR | ATL | PHO | CAR | HOM | NA | - |
| 2004 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | 72 | Ford | DAY DNQ | CAR 42 | LVS 43 | ATL 40 | DAR 39 | BRI 41 | TEX 42 | MAR DNQ | TAL DNQ | CAL 42 | RCH DNQ | CLT DNQ | DOV 39 | POC 40 | MCH 43 | SON | DAY DNQ | CHI DNQ | NHA | POC 41 | IND DNQ | GLN | MCH 37 | BRI | CAL DNQ | RCH 41 | NHA 42 | DOV 40 | TAL DNQ | KAN 43 | CLT DNQ | MAR 40 | ATL DNQ | PHO DNQ | DAR 42 | HOM DNQ | 47th | 723 |
| 2005 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | 27 | Ford | DAY DNQ | CAL DNQ | LVS DNQ | ATL DNQ | BRI | MAR DNQ | TEX | PHO | TAL | DAR | RCH DNQ | CLT DNQ | DOV DNQ | POC DNQ | MCH | SON | DAY | CHI | NHA | POC 42 | IND | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH DNQ | NHA DNQ | DOV | TAL | KAN | CLT | MAR | ATL | TEX | PHO | HOM | 84th | 37 |
| 2006 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | 27 | Chevy | DAY 20 | CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | MAR | TEX | PHO | TAL 41 | RCH | DAR | CLT DNQ | DOV | POC | MCH | SON | DAY 43 | CHI | NHA | POC | IND | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | NHA | DOV | KAN | TAL DNQ | CLT DNQ | MAR | ATL DNQ | TEX | PHO | HOM | 58th | 177 |
| 2007 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | 27 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | MAR | TEX | PHO | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | SON | NHA | DAY DNQ | CHI | IND | POC | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | NHA | DOV | KAN | TAL | CLT DNQ | MAR | ATL | TEX | PHO | HOM | 73rd | 0 |
| 2009 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | 27 | Toyota | DAY DNQ | CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | MAR | TEX | PHO | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | SON | NHA | DAY | CHI | IND | POC | GLN | MCH | BRI | ATL | RCH | NHA | DOV | KAN | CAL | CLT | MAR | TAL | TEX | PHO | HOM | 82nd | 0 |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 2002 | Hover Motorsports | Ford | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2003 | Donlavey Racing | Ford | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2004 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2005 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2006 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Chevy | 42 | 20 |
| 2007 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Chevy | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2009 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Toyota | DNQ | DNQ |

#### Nationwide Series

NASCAR Nationwide Series results :
| Year | Team | 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 | NNSC | Pts |
| 1994 | Levin Racing | 19 | Chevy | DAY 17 | CAR 42 | RCH 18 | ATL 20 | MAR | DAR | HCY | BRI | ROU | NHA | NZH | CLT | DOV | MYB | GLN | MLW | SBO | TAL | HCY | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | CLT | MAR | CAR | | | | | | | | 59th | 361 |
| 1995 | Beverley Racing | 25 | Chevy | DAY 41 | CAR 24 | RCH 24 | ATL 19 | NSV 32 | DAR 24 | BRI 29 | HCY | NHA | NZH | CLT | DOV | MYB | GLN | MLW | TAL | SBO | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | CLT | CAR | HOM | | | | | | | | | | 49th | 562 |
| 2002 | Jay Robinson Racing | 49 | Ford | DAY 31 | CAR | LVS | DAR | BRI | TEX | NSH | TAL | CAL | RCH | NHA | NZH | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN | MLW | DAY | CHI | GTY | PPR | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM | ATL | CAR | PHO | HOM | | 110th | 70 |
| 2008 | Jay Robinson Racing | 28 | Chevy | DAY 30 | CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | NSH | TEX | PHO | MXC | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN | MLW | NHA | DAY | CHI | GTY | IRP | CGV | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM | TEX | PHO | HOM | 122nd | 78 |

#### Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results :
| Year | Team | 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 | NCTC | Pts |
| 1995 | AAG Racing | 65 | Chevy | PHO | TUS | SGS | MMR | POR | EVG | I70 | LVL | BRI 17 | MLW | CNS | HPT | IRP | FLM | RCH | MAR | NWS | SON | MMR | PHO | | | | | | | | 79th | 112 |
| 1997 | Kenneth Appling Racing | 03 | Chevy | WDW | TUS | HOM | PHO | POR | EVG | I70 | NHA | TEX | BRI | NZH | MLW | LVL | CNS | HPT | IRP | FLM | NSV | GLN | RCH 32 | MAR DNQ | SON | MMR | CAL | PHO | LVS | | 124th | 71 |
| 1998 | Kenneth Appling Racing | 03 | Chevy | WDW DNQ | HOM | PHO | POR | EVG | I70 | GLN | TEX | BRI | MLW | NZH | CAL | PPR | IRP | NHA | FLM | NSV | HPT | LVL | RCH | MEM | GTY | MAR | SON | MMR | PHO | LVS | 126th | 25 |

### ARCA Re/Max Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Re/Max Series results :
| Year | Team | 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 | ARMC | Pts |
| 1993 | Kenneth Appling Racing | 98 | Olds | DAY 3 | FIF | TWS | TAL 8 | KIL | CMS | FRS | TOL | POC | MCH 26 | FRS | POC | KIL | ISF | DSF | TOL | SLM | WIN | ATL 5 | | | | | | | 50th | - |
| 1994 | Kenneth Appling Racing | 98 | Olds | DAY 5 | TAL | FIF | LVL | KIL | TOL | FRS | MCH 29 | DMS | POC | POC | KIL | FRS | INF | I70 | ISF | DSF | TOL | SLM | WIN | ATL 16 | | | | | 75th | 690 |
| 1996 | Kenneth Appling Racing | 98 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | SLM | TAL | FIF | LVL | CLT 4 | CLT 6 | KIL | FRS | POC | MCH | FRS | TOL | POC | MCH | INF | SBS | ISF | DSF | KIL | SLM | WIN | CLT | ATL | 119th | - |
| 1997 | Kenneth Appling Racing | 3 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | SLM | CLT 37 | CLT 7 | POC | MCH 30 | SBS | TOL | KIL | FRS | MIN | POC | MCH | DSF | GTW | SLM | WIN | CLT 3 | TAL | ISF | ATL 7 | | | | 50th | - |
| 1998 | Kenneth Appling Racing | 3 | Chevy | DAY 15 | ATL 1 | SLM | CLT 2* | MEM | MCH 7* | POC 3 | SBS | TOL | PPR | POC 13 | KIL | FRS | ISF | ATL 26 | DSF | SLM | TEX 25 | WIN | CLT 15 | TAL 27 | ATL 9 | | | | 15th | 2175 |
| 1999 | Kenneth Appling Racing | 3 | Chevy | DAY 10 | ATL 32 | SLM | AND | CLT 3 | MCH 30 | POC 16 | TOL | SBS | BLN | POC 7 | KIL | FRS | FLM | ISF | WIN | DSF | SLM | CLT 1* | TAL 26 | ATL 41 | | | | | 28th | 1260 |
| 2000 | Kenneth Appling Racing | 3 | Chevy | DAY 5* | SLM 10 | AND 23 | CLT 36 | KIL 19 | FRS 6 | MCH 17 | POC 34 | TOL 13 | KEN DNQ | BLN | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2340 |
| 2000 | Team CLR | 57 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | POC 16 | WIN | ISF | KEN | DSF | SLM | CLT 8 | TAL 3 | ATL 13 | | | | | | | | 15th | 2340 |
| 2001 | Team CLR | 57 | Ford | DAY 4 | NSH | WIN | SLM | GTY | KEN | CLT | KAN | MCH | POC | MEM | GLN | KEN | MCH | POC | NSH | ISF | CHI | DSF | SLM | TOL | BLN | CLT | TAL | ATL | 105th | 240 |
| 2003 | Hylton Motorsports | 48 | Ford | DAY | ATL | NSH | SLM | TOL | KEN | CLT | BLN | KAN | MCH | LER | POC | POC | NSH | ISF | WIN | DSF | CHI | SLM | TAL | CLT 1* | SBO DNQ | | | | 60th | 510 |
| 2008 | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | 27 | Chevy | DAY 34 | SLM | IOW | KAN | CAR | KEN | TOL | POC | MCH | CAY | KEN | BLN | POC | NSH | ISF | DSF | CHI | SLM | NJE | TAL | TOL | | | | | 149th | 60 |