Leavine Family Racing who has had a presence in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2011 announced Tuesday that the team has sold and will be run under new ownership beginning with the 2021 season.
In a statement, team founder Bob Leavine said, “It’s with great sadness today that I announce the sale of the Leavine Family Racing team, assets and charter. Since 2011, Sharon and our entire family have enjoyed being a part of the NASCAR community with Matt DiLiberto joining the family as a co-owner in 2016. We will say goodbye at the conclusion of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.
“This decision has not been made lightly. Family has always been a part of the team’s name and this is how we view every member of our race team — as our family. There is no good time to make this announcement, but doing it earlier allows our people to explore employment opportunities, for next season, to provide for their families. There will be opportunities with the new owners which was important to our decision.”
Leavine a successful entrepreneur from Texas said the current economic situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to his decision.
“This year has been challenging for not only our race team but our industry, our country and the entire world,” he added. “The pandemic has impacted our economy and unfortunately that’s just not something we are able to overcome in order to continue racing beyond this season.
Leavine Family Racing will continue to compete through the end of 2020, and we want to leave on a positive note – contending for top-finishes with Christopher Bell, Toyota, TRD, and all of our partners.
“Thank you to everyone for your support through this journey. Thank you to our partners and fans and most of all, thank you to everyone who has been part of the Leavine Family Racing family over the last decade.”
After running Ford and Chevrolet for much of their career in Cup, LFR switched to Toyota at the beginning of the 2019 season when they formed an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing.
“We want to thank Bob and Sharon Leavine, Matt DiLiberto, Jeremy Lange and everyone at Leavine Family Racing (LFR) for a successful partnership,” said Paul Doleshal, Group Manager for Motorsports, Toyota Motor North America.
“We entered this 2020 racing season with high hopes for LFR and the team has not disappointed. While the season may not have started out as everyone wanted, after returning from the shutdown due to COVID-19, LFR rebounded with some very strong on-track performances.
“Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world and more closely, the entire NASCAR family in so many ways and for LFR, that has forced the sale of the race team. We’re certainly disappointed and saddened by the news, but most importantly, we want to wish Bob, Sharon, Matt, Jeremy and everyone impacted the best of luck in their future endeavors.”
Since their Cup debut in 2011 with David Starr at Texas Motor Speedway, the team has amassed 240 Cup Series starts entering Michigan International Speedway this weekend with six top-five and 19 top-10 finishes spanning 10 seasons.
Matt DiBenedetto scored the team’s best effort with a runner-up finish last August at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Other drivers who have raced for the Concord, N.C.-based team include Scott Speed, Blake Koch, Scott Riggs, Reed Sorenson, Michael McDowell, Ty Dillon, Kasey Kahne and Regan Smith.
The team also made a single start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Sorenson in 2013, while making 10 starts in the ARCA Menards Series with Michael Leavine between 2011 and 2012.
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