LaJoie to Drive for Nemechek in 2001

AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 3, 2000) Randy LaJoie and Joe Nemechek hope the combined experience of three NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division titles plus sponsorship from Kimberly-Clark Corp. will help produce a fourth crown in 2001. LaJoie, the circuit's 1996 and 1997 champion, said Friday he will drive next year for a team co-owned by Nemechek, the 1992 winner, and businessman Ed Evans. The No. 7 Chevrolets will be sponsored by Kimberly-Clark Corp.'s Kleenex and Scott brand products.

"I just know we're going to get along," LaJoie said in a news conference at Phoenix International Raceway, site of the Outback Steakhouse 200 on Saturday. "Hopefully we can bring me my third championship, bring Joe his second and bring Ed his first."

The new team will be known as Evans Motorsports and will operate as a joint venture with Nemechek's Mooresville, N.C.-based NEMCO Motorsports. The NEMCO complex will become the new home for the No. 7 team.

Nemechek, a regular in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, plans to continue to compete in a limited number of NASCAR Busch Series events in 2001. He said his tentative plans are to compete in 14-18 races next year in addition to fielding a full-time operation for the No. 7 cars driven by LaJoie.

"We've added quite a few people and have reorganized our operation to try to be more efficient," Nemechek said. "We're here to win races."

LaJoie, who is in his second and final season driving for Phoenix Racing, is seventh in the 2000 driver standings with one victory, four top-5s and nine top-10s.

"Joe always has great equipment and runs competitively," said LaJoie, a 13-time winner in his NASCAR Busch Series career. "I have a goal to bring the most wins back to a Busch Series guy, so we're going to have to get after it here at Evans Motorsports."