Morgan's Corner

Morgan Shepherd

Updates on Car No. 89's 2009 Nationwide Series Events

Morgan's 2009 Schedule

Faith Misses Field at Richmond; Cuts Staff Further

The Sept. 11 failure to make the starting field at Richmond International Raceway drove the Faith Motorsports Nationwide Series program to never-before-seen levels. After missing his fifth straight race, Morgan Shepherd was forced to lay off his final track crew member and will rely on family to help field the car at Dover in two weeks.

Just Not fast Enough to Clinch Atlanta Race Field

The four-week qualifying nightmare continued for Morgan Shepherd and his abbreviated crew at Atlanta Motor Speedway over the Labor Day weekend. Failing to make the starting field for the fourth consecutive race has forced the team to cut its staff to the bare minimum and rely on help from those willing to turn wrenches for free.

Rearend Locker Results in DNQ at Montreal Road Course

A faulty lockup ratchet in the rear end of Morgan Shepherd's #89 Chevrolet caused major problems for the team during Aug. 30 qualifying in the rain for the NAPA 200 road course event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

Missed Setup Costs Team Chance to Race at Bristol

Being outside the Top 30 in the owner's points championship battle makes you do some things you otherwise wouldn't do - and sometimes it costs you dearly. Morgan Shepherd and his Faith Motorsports crew found that out the hard way on Aug. 21 as the team failed to make the starting field in the Food City 250, the second consecutive week the Faith team has missed the starting grid.

Qualifying Woes Return at Michigan for Faith Team

Morgan Shepherd's Faith Motorsports team knew going into Aug. 15th's qualifying effort for the Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway that they needed to pick up some speed to make the race. What they didn't know was just how much it would take.

Shepherd Powers to 21st Place Run at The Glen

It looked early on like Saturday, Aug. 8 was going to be a long day for Morgan Shepherd and his Faith Motorsports crew. Just a handful of laps into the Zipp 200 at Watkins Glen International, Shepherd reported the bad news to his crew. The alternator wasn't charging!

Top 20 Run at Iowa is Second in Row for Shepherd

For the second time in as many weeks, Morgan Shepherd and his Faith Motorsports crew went home from the track with a Top 20 finish on Aug. 1. The good thing is that with a few breaks along the way, Top 10 runs at ORP and Iowa were not out of the question.

Top 20 at Indy Helps Boost Crew Confidence

A top 20 finish has a way of making a struggling race team and driver feel a little better and July 26th's 17th place run at O'Reilly Raceway Park did just that. Struggling mightily coming into the short track race, driver Morgan Shepherd and his team were facing their toughest tasks yet. If the team missed the starting grid at Indy, could it go on another week without a paycheck?

Three Consecutive Top 25's Encouraging

Morgan Shepherd will be the first to admit that he wasn't happy about June 13th's 25th place finish at Kentucky Speedway. But he wouldn't trade it for a 35th place run either.  "It is encouraging on one hand to see that we are capable of running in the Top 20 or Top 25 every week, but it also is discouraging because we know we could have been so much better," Shepherd said.

Faith Powers to Top 20 Finish at Nashville

Morgan Shepherd and his Faith Motorsports crew enjoyed its first Top 20 finish in nearly two months after posting a 17th place run in the Federated Auto Parts 300 June 6 at Nashville.

Team Makes Gains on Car at Monster Mile

It wasn't the Top 20 finish that Faith Motorsports was looking for at Dover Speedway on Saturday, May 30, but it was a major improvement over the horrible luck the team has experienced during the past month. Fielding a new Robert Yates Racing chassis that had not been to the track until a week earlier at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Morgan Shepherd ran mid-pack during Friday's practice sessions.

New Car Needed After Darlington Crash

While most NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will breath a sigh of relief with an open date this week, the Faith Motorsports crew is feeling the pressures of big time racing. Coming off a last lap crash at Darlington last Friday night that totaled the team’s primary intermediate car for the second time this season, Crew Chief Morris VanVleet and staff will be celebrating the off week with extra days and nights in the race shop.

Team Still Looking for Break Nine Weeks into '09

With high hopes heading to the short track at Richmond on May 1, Morgan Shepherd and his crew had done their homework, tested, prepared and hoped it would result in a Top 20 run. But as has been the case far too often in the first nine races, Shepherd's luck turned sour on Lap 200 as the oil pump pulley on the #89 Racing With Jesus Chevrolet sheared off.

Solid Day at Talladega Helps 2009 Points Race

Saturday, April 25th's finish in the Aaron's 312 at Talladega Superspeedway didn't exceed the team's expectations by any stretch, but it was did help boost Morgan Shepherd and the team a slot higher in the season's points race.

Congratulations to Morgan Shepherd

and the #89 Faith Motor sports team
Morgan Shepherd and his No. 89 car was the Wix Filters lap leader of the race at Talladega on April 25. Good job Morgan! Morgan will be presented a check and a hat from Wix filters before the May 1 race at Richmond.

Alternator Failure Digs Faith a Hole in Phoenix

Hoping to make a comeback in the Nationwide Series points race after a three week stuggle was Morgan Shepherd's goal heading to Phoenix. Unfortunately, his struggle to pull ahead of much of the competition suffered its fourth straight week of disappointment as the team spent much of the early stages of the April 17th Bashas Supermarkets 200 in the garage.

New Car, New Woes for Faith team at Nashville

Fresh off a rebuild, including a new front and rear clip and a new body, Morgan Shepherd's Chevrolet Impala SS performed just as expected during its first outing at Nashville Superspeedway.

Stewart, Harvick lending a hand

to veteran Shepherd in Nationwide Series

Oakland (Mich.) Press article focuses on racing stars' support for Morgan Shepherd's comeback career.

Veteran Shepherd Still Racing With a Purpose

Dallas Morning News article features Morgan Shepherd's return to the racetrack.

Team Exits Texas with 28th-place Run in Backup

Call what you want, but finishing in 28th place on a 180-mph speedway while driving a road course car is one major accomplishment. Morgan Shepherd did just that on April 4, coming home 28th in the O’Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway while driving the team’s road course car due to tearing up his primary piece last weekend at Bristol.

Tough times for Faith in Scott's Turf Builder 300

Despite posting good practice run speeds, things didn't turn out so well on race day for the Faith Motorsports Car. No. 89 at Bristol, Tenn., in the Scotts' Turf Builder 300 on March 21.

Good fortune vaults Faith to 13th at Las Vegas

Morgan Shepherd will be the first to tell you that Feb. 28's performance in the Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway wasn't one of his best showings. But as wreck after wreck unfolded in front him, he will be quick to point out how thankful he is for the 13th place result. Click here to see No. 89 on the track at Las Vegas.

Solid performance in Feb. 21 race in Fontana, Calif.

Morgan Shepherd and his Faith Motorsports crew turned in a solid performance from start to finish in the Stater Brothers 300 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, resulting in a 19th place showing in the season's second contest of the season.

Morgan Shepherd's car No. 89 prepped and ready for racing at the Camping World 300 in Daytona.

Mishap holds Faith to 39th place run at Daytona

It wasn't the Daytona finish Morgan Shepherd and his faithful followers had hoped for after a long winter off-season, but there were many bright spots in the Feb. 14 Camping World 300 at the Daytona International Speedway.

Lagina Plumbing of Milwaukee is sponsoring Morgan Shepherd's car No. 89 for the full 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series. The Lagina banner is shown at the Camping World 300 race at the Daytona International Speedway Feb. 14.