Car No. 47 history Innovative debuted on the Busch Circuit at the 1998
NAPA Auto Parts 300.
Andy Santerre was the driver of the car, the No. 47
Monro Muffler and Brake Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and finished 25th. Santerre was the driver for the whole season, grabbing two top-tens, a pole at
Richmond, and
NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year honors. The next season, Santerre suffered a broken leg in a crash at Daytona, and missed half of the year.
Elliott Sadler filled in for him, posting two top-ten finishes. Santerre returned and won his first career race at
Pikes Peak International Raceway. Santerre struggled making the field, and was released.
Hermie Sadler finished the year, his best finish a 22nd at
Phoenix. Sadler took over the car full-time in
2000, as it was renumbered the No. 30 and receiving sponsorship from
Little Trees. Sadler struggled making races as well, and would soon be released.
Chad Little replaced him, but when his performance didn't improve over Sadler's, Sadler came back to finish the year, and posted a seventh-place run at Pikes Peak. After the team did not run in
2001, it returned in
2002 as the No. 47 with rookie
Shane Hmiel driving with sponsorship from
Mike's Hard Lemonade. Hmiel had two poles, eight top-tens and a sixteenth-place points finish, finishing behind
Scott Riggs and
Johnny Sauter for Rookie of the Year. The team closed after that.
Car No. 47 results Car No. 48 history The second Innovative car made its debut in 2000 at Daytona with
Mike McLaughlin, sponsored by
Goulds Pumps. He wrecked and finished 26th. McLaughlin struggled through the course of the season, and had six top-tens en route to a 24th-place points finish. Just before the 2001 season, McLaughlin quit the team for
Joe Gibbs Racing, and was replaced by
Kenny Wallace. Wallace had two poles as well as a victory in
North Carolina Speedway, finishing 10th in points. After Stacker 2 came on as a sponsor, Wallace improved to seventh in points in 2002 and had thirteen top-tens, but did not win. After the No. 47 team closed its doors, Hmiel moved to the 48 and had ten top-tens and was in eighth in points, when he was suspended by NASCAR for violating its drug policy.
Jeff Green,
Todd Bodine,
Carlos Contreras,
Randy LaJoie, and
Kerry Earnhardt finished out the year for the team.
Car No. 48 results == Craftsman Truck Series ==