Stavola Brothers Racing

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1997 Circuit City Ford Thunderbird

Stavola Brothers Racing was owned by Bill and Mickey Stavola, and operated NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series teams from 1984 through 1998. The team won the 1988 Daytona 500 with Bobby Allison behind the wheel. Other victories include the 1987 Pepsi 400 with Allison, and the 1986 Talladega 500 with Bobby Hillin, Jr.. In 1989 Dick Trickle was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year while driving for the team. Rick Wilson drove for the team in 1991 with sponsorship from Snickers, and the team switched to a Ford Thunderbird after Buick pulled out of NASCAR. Wilson was released after the 1992 Daytona 500 and Dick Trickle returned to drive for the remainder of the season. Sterling Marlin drove for the team in 1993 with sponsorship from Raybestos Brakes, finishing second at the Pepsi 400 in July. Jeff Burton won Rookie Of The Year in 1994 with one top-five finish; he drove the car again in 1995 before departing for Roush Racing. In 1996 Hut Stricklin was hired to drive with Circuit City replacing Raybestos, which became an associate sponsor for Robert Yates Racing. Stricklin finished second at the Mountain Dew Southern 500 in September. In 1998 the team switched to a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Stricklin was released at mid season, and Circuit City left to become an associate sponsor for Joe Gibbs Racing and driver Bobby Labonte. In a five race partnership with Buckshot Racing, Buckshot Jones finished eighth during the MBNA Platinum 400. Morgan Shepherd drove the team's final race on November 8th, 1998 at Atlanta Motor Speedway during the NAPA 500 in a Nokia/Kendall sponsored car.