# Obaika Racing

Obaika Racing was an African professional stock car racing team. The team was owned by African entrepreneur Victor Obaika. The team competed in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The team formed in early 2015 and competed full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2015 and 2016. The team purchased some assets of BK Racing, a Monster Energy Cup Series team, in August 2018.
The team was based in Mooresville, North Carolina, thirty minutes away from Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was the first African-owned team in NASCAR.

## NASCAR Cup Series

In July 2018, Obaika obtained some equipment from the bankrupt NASCAR Cup Series team BK Racing for nearly $300,000. Around September 3, 2018, Obaika Racing owner Victor Obaika announced plans to race at some point in the remainder of the 2018 season.

### Car No. 97 history

On October 5, 2018, Obaika announced that they would attempt their first ever Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, fielding the No. 97 Vroombrands Toyota Camry for the 2018 1000Bulbs.com 500 with David Starr. He ultimately failed to qualify for the race. Obaika Racing later announced that they would attempt the last three races of the Cup Series season. The team made its official Cup Series debut at the 2018 AAA Texas 500, with Starr finishing at 39th place. Tanner Berryhill drove the No. 97 car at the 2018 Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway and finished 31st. Berryhill drove the No. 97 again at Homestead-Miami Speedway and finished 38th.
Obaika Racing planned to run a full-time Cup car in 2019 with Berryhill. On February 8, 2019, Obaika Racing withdrew from the 2019 Daytona 500 qualifying due to various circumstances. They were briefly on the entry list for the spring race in Texas, before withdrawing once again. The team ultimately didn't compete in a Cup race in 2019, and eventually folded in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

#### Car No. 97 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 | 36 | MENCC | Pts |
| 2018 | David Starr | 97 | Toyota | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | MAR | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | DOV | KAN | CLT | POC | MCH | SON | CHI | DAY | KEN | NHA | POC | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | IND | LVS | RCH | CLT | DOV | TAL DNQ | KAN | MAR | TEX 39 | | | 46th | 8 |
| 2018 | Tanner Berryhill | 97 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO 31 | HOM 38 | 46th | 8 |

## Xfinity Series
### Car No. 77 history

On July 16, 2016, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Obaika Racing introduced a second Chevrolet, the No. 77, also sponsored by VroomBrands. At Iowa Speedway, Claire Decker attempted to make her Xfinity Series debut driving this second Obaika car while her sister Paige ran the No. 97, but Claire failed to qualify on time and did not have owner points to fall back on. The No. 77 ran for much of the season's remainder, piloted by Ryan Ellis, Josh Bilicki, Austin Theriault, Matt Waltz, Jordan Anderson, TJ Bell, and Spencer Boyd.
The No. 77 team was announced to be a full-time team along with the No. 97 team, having Stephen Leicht as the driver. However, the No. 77 team withdrew before the Daytona race as Leicht moved over the No. 97 team. The team entered in the next three races, but withdraw before the qualifying in all but one (Las Vegas), where Josh Bilicki failed to qualify. The team returned to the entry list after a four-month hiatus at Mid-Ohio with Ohio native Gregory Vandersluis as a late entry. The team withdrew two days later. They were on the entry list for the Road America Xfinity Race but withdrew again. The team was on the entry list for the Charlotte October race, once again withdrawing.

#### Car No. 77 results

NASCAR Xfinity Series 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 | Owners | Pts |
| 2016 | Claire Decker | 77 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | DOV | CLT | POC | MCH | IOW DNQ | DAY | KEN | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 46th | 62 |
| 2016 | T. J. Bell | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NHA 27 | IND DNQ | IOW 38 | GLN 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 46th | 62 |
| 2016 | Jordan Anderson | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MOH 31 | BRI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 46th | 62 |
| 2016 | Josh Bilicki | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ROA 38 | DAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 46th | 62 |
| 2016 | Austin Theriault | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RCH DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | 46th | 62 |
| 2016 | Spencer Boyd | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CHI 35 | | | | | | | | | | | 46th | 62 |
| 2016 | Matt Waltz | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | KEN 36 | DOV 35 | | | TEX 34 | | | | 46th | 62 |
| 2016 | Ryan Ellis | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT DNQ | KAN 36 | | PHO DNQ | HOM DNQ | 46th | 62 |
| 2017 | Josh Bilicki | 77 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS DNQ | PHO | CAL | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | IOW | DAY | KEN | NHA | IND | IOW | GLN | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 57th | 0 |
| 2017 | Gregory Vandersluis | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MOH Wth | BRI | ROA Wth | DAR | RCH | CHI | KEN | DOV | CLT | KAN | TEX | PHO | HOM | 57th | 0 |

### Car No. 97 history

Obaika Racing entered competition in 2015. The team signed driver Josh Reaume, who met team owner Victor Obaika while on humanitarian missions in Africa as a child. The 97 team debuted at the Daytona International Speedway in the Xfinity Series season-opening Alert Today Florida 300, with Reaume finishing 23rd. After three races, with one DNQ, Peyton Sellers replaced Reaume. In April 2015, the team secured their first sponsor vacation provider VroomBrands, which is owned by Obaika. VroomBrands wrapped the No. 97 in designs such as a Zebra representing their African safari package (debuted at Richmond International Raceway) and the Cheetah print representing their tours in Asia (debuted at Talladega Superspeedway). At the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega, Sellers scored the team's first top-20 finish, finishing 18th despite being involved in a ten-car wreck that sent cars spinning down pit road. Johanna Long replaced Sellers for the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway. After one more start for Sellers at Watkins Glen, the team introduced various drivers for the rest of the season. Dylan Kwasniewski debuted with the team in the Nationwide Children's Hospital at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, finishing 34th due to mechanical problems after running in the top 10. Kwasniewski would run the next two races for the team. Parker Kligerman drove the car in the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway, Mason Mingus in the Furious 7 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, and Ryan Ellis in the Hisense 200 at the Dover International Speedway.
Magic Creeper appeared as the primary sponsor for the DAV 200 at the Phoenix International Raceway, with Kwasniewski as the driver. Obaika Racing completed the season in the top 30 in owner points.
On January 29, 2016, it was announced that Harrison Rhodes had been signed to drive the No. 97. Ryan Ellis, Alex Guenette, TJ Bell, Paige Decker, Matt Waltz, Josh Berry, Alli Owens, Jordan Anderson and Josh Bilicki all also raced for the team. The team also planned to expand to two cars.
In 2017, the team returned with Stephen Leicht driving in the early portion of the season but did not attempt a race after Bristol Motor Speedway in spring. Despite that, they were still shown in the game NASCAR Heat 2.
On September 21, 2018, it was announced that Obaika would attempt the Charlotte Roval race, with Tanner Berryhill driving the 97 car. The team, however, failed to make the race.
Obaika had planned to run a full-time Xfinity car in 2019, but nothing ever materialized.

#### Car No. 97 results

NASCAR Xfinity Series 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 | Owners | Pts |
| 2015 | Josh Reaume | 97 | Chevy | DAY 23 | ATL 38 | LVS DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30th | 511 |
| 2015 | Peyton Sellers | 97 | Chevy | | | | PHO 36 | CAL 29 | TEX 30 | BRI 32 | RCH 32 | TAL 18 | IOW 28 | CLT 28 | DOV 25 | MCH 24 | CHI 27 | DAY 16 | KEN 31 | NHA 26 | IND 35 | | GLN 34 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30th | 511 |
| 2015 | Johanna Long | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | IOW 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30th | 511 |
| 2015 | Dylan Kwasniewski | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MOH 34 | BRI 32 | ROA 33 | | RCH 25 | | KEN 17 | | | | | PHO 34 | | 30th | 511 |
| 2015 | Parker Kligerman | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30th | 511 |
| 2015 | Mason Mingus | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CHI 24 | | | | KAN 24 | TEX 24 | | HOM 26 | 30th | 511 |
| 2015 | Ryan Ellis | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 26 | CLT 23 | | | | | | | | 30th | 511 |
| 2016 | Harrison Rhodes | 97 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | ATL 35 | LVS 32 | PHO 30 | CAL 35 | | | | | | CLT 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34th | 318 |
| 2016 | Ryan Ellis | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | TEX 30 | BRI 35 | RCH 29 | TAL 35 | | | | | | | | | IND 30 | | GLN 30 | | | | | | | KEN 22 | | | | TEX 33 | | | | 34th | 318 |
| 2016 | Alex Guenette | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | DOV 27 | | POC 24 | | | DAY 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34th | 318 |
| 2016 | T. J. Bell | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 28 | | | KEN 28 | | | | | MOH 32 | BRI 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34th | 318 |
| 2016 | Paige Decker | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | IOW 31 | | | | | | | | | ROA 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34th | 318 |
| 2016 | Matt Waltz | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NHA 28 | | IOW 35 | | | | | | | | | | | KAN 37 | | | | | | 34th | 318 |
| 2016 | Josh Berry | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34th | 318 |
| 2016 | Alli Owens | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RCH 36 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34th | 318 |
| 2016 | Jordan Anderson | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CHI 29 | | DOV 37 | CLT 33 | | | | | | | | 34th | 318 |
| 2016 | Josh Bilicki | 97 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO 28 | HOM 34 | 34th | 318 |
| 2017 | Stephen Leicht | 97 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | ATL 38 | LVS 39 | PHO 37 | CAL 39 | TEX DNQ | BRI Wth | RCH | TAL | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | IOW | DAY | KEN | NHA | IND | IOW | GLN | MOH | BRI | ROA | DAR | RCH | CHI | KEN | DOV | CLT | KAN | TEX | PHO | HOM | 53rd | 4 |
| 2018 | Tanner Berryhill | 97 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | DOV | CLT | POC | MCH | IOW | CHI | DAY | KEN | NHA | IOW | GLN | MOH | BRI | ROA | DAR | IND | LVS | RCH | CLT DNQ | DOV | KAN | TEX | PHO | HOM | 58th | 0 |

## K&N Pro Series West

Obaika entered the 2018 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track with South African driver Arnout Kok, marking the first K&N Pro Series West foray for both driver and team. However, the team withdrew from the race. Obaika paid another team to prepare a car for the race, but the car that was provided failed to pass inspection.