James Finch
James Finch is a Panama City, Florida-born businessman. He is the owner of Phoenix Construction, a construction company that specializes in airport construction, and the Phoenix Racing team in NASCAR. They field the #1 Chevrolet driven by Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray in the Nationwide Series and the #51 Chevrolet driven by A.J. Allmendinger, Austin Dillon, and Regan Smith in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a graduate of Bay High School[1] and continues to live in Panama City.[2]
Finch began work in construction as a teenager, and later formed Phoenix Construction Services, whose first job was at Tyndall Air Force Base.
Controversies
Finch won a $1.7 million contract in the 1990s to build a pipeline across St. Andrew Bay that would carry away waste from a nearby paper mill. After construction of the pipeline began, the pipe began to be built above ground, which was a violation of requirements set forth by the Department of Environmental Protection. Finch and Phoenix were eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.[1]
In 2009, Finch and Phoenix were fined for allowing stormwater runoff to pollute creeks near an airport site.[1]
NASCAR
Finch began his racing team with driver Jeff Purvis in dirt oval track racing. He moved to NASCAR in 1989 in the Nationwide Series and then Sprint Cup racing. Phoenix Racing team continues to compete in NASCAR.[2] Phoenix Racing has one win in the Cup Series, the 2009 Aaron's 499 won by Brad Keselowski. Finch announced in 2013 that he was getting out of racing after failing to find consistent sponsorship for the past three seasons. He sold the team to Harry Scott, Jr., of Turner Scott Motorsports.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.baylifemagazine.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=213
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Smith, Steven Cole (October 2012). "The Odd Couple". Road & Track 64 (2): 88–95.