by Mark Odor  |  About The Author   |  Discuss

Normally, finishing 28^th in a race isn’t an accomplishment.  But for Morgan Shepherd and the Faith Motorsports team, finishing 28^th last weekend at Richmond was almost as good as a win.  Faith Motorsports has no major sponsorship backing.

Racing in the Nationwide Series is expensive.  Fans don’t realize all the costs that go into running a team.  While some expenses such are well-known, other costs are hidden, such as lodging for the team and the fuel to get to the racetrack.   A major expense is tires.  Each set of tires costs as much as $1,800; a weekend’s worth of tires can cost up to $15,000. A motor at a track such as Daytona (even on lease) can cost over $200,000.

On the heels of a 13^th place finish at Talladega, broadcaster Matt Yocum and Tony Stewart agreed to foot the tire bill for Morgan at Richmond.  Kevin Harvick also assisted by sending crew members to help fuel Morgan’s car.  The outpouring of support from the NASCAR community towards one of the circuit’s older drivers is certainly an anomaly in racing, where competition is often fierce.

Said Morgan: “I couldn’t believe it. It was just incredible. For Tony and Matt Yocum to buy tires for me at Richmond, I couldn’t believe that. I couldn’t believe these guys are doing these.  Then Tony said ‘I reckon I’ll have a big tire bill at [Darlington], I’m going to buy you tires down there too.’ Its God’s work being done, its because of the Jesus logo on the car that people are taking interest.”

Morgan is running a special car this weekend, dedicated to the mothers of those who have recently helped him.

Shepherd also gave credit to his Ernie Elliott engines and Tim Weaver of Heavenly Bodies.

Wily “Old” Veteran

Newer fans may not realize the history Morgan’s history in NASCAR.  These fans think he is one of the field fillers, one of the cars that get in the way.  These same fans don’t realize Morgan’s storied history in the sport.

Shepherd made his first start in 1970 at the ripe age of 28 at Hickory, driving a 1969 Chevrolet. In comparison, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson weren’t even born, Michael Waltrip was seven, and Kenny Schrader was a very young 15.

Morgan finished 19^th in that race. Morgan made two other starts that year; not racing in NASCAR’s top level again until 1977.

For most of his career, Morgan has driven in subpar equipment and made the best of it.  He won in his rookie season at Martinsville, but perhaps even more monumental was his victory in the 1986 Motorcraft 500 at Atlanta.  Morgan described this as the highlight of his career: “It was 1986 at Atlanta, and I thought I was on my way out. I was 47 years old. Jack Beebe was in his last year of ownership. The car was the no. 47 Race Hill Farm Buick. We qualified third and at the end, all the top drivers, Earnhardt [and] Elliott were still in it.  In the last three laps, it was hard to see because of the tears in my eyes.”  

Shepherd also gave credit to veteran crew chief Jake Elder in getting the car set up properly.  Shepherd requested people pray for Elder, as he is in poor health.

That win in 1986 was the last time an unsponsored team has scored a victory in the Sprint Cup Series.   After that, Morgan’s career went off, or as he will tell you “his stock went up”. Morgan went on to drive for Valvoline [in a Rahmoc Car] in 1989, then Bud Moore and the Wood Brothers…all in his late 40s and early 50s.  Such a move is unheard of in today’s NASCAR, as owners vie for the latest “young gun”.

Racing With Jesus

In its original incarnation, the team was known as Shepherd Racing.  The team was built on the promise of a $25,000,000 sponsorship that never materialized.  In recent years, the team ran in the Craftsman Truck Series and the then-Nextel Cup Series before landing in the Nationwide Series.  Now, the team serves a much more important purpose, leading other to Jesus Christ. 

Morgan shared part of his testimony: “…at the time, I didn’t care about [anyone].  I’d go to the liquor store and get drunk…didn’t have any respect for anyone else.”  Shepherd goes on to give some life-changing advice, advice that changed him back in 1975. “You can’t do it without Jesus Christ.  When He comes to live in your heart, there will definitely be a big change. God made me dislike what alcohol does to people. I wasted money and didn’t know where money went.  I’m sure people such as Kevin and Delana; Tony Stewart wouldn’t have helped the Morgan of pre 1975.

A low point in team history came last year after wrecking out of the Meijer 300 at Kentucky, destroying the team’s only car.  Along came Kevin Harvick.  With his assistance, the team now has four cars—a superspeedway car, two intermediate track cars, and a car that is currently being converted to a road course car.

As the team looks to the future, they have two goals.  The first is to find a corporate sponsor that isn’t ashamed to spread the message of Christ.  The second is to find a young driver that fits the team image. 

Meanwhile, Shepherd makes note of the fact that he has never gone hungry; never crippled.  Shepherd stated that “as long as he has his health, as long as the Lord allows it, he will be doing something to serve Him.”

Another Mission

The other side of Morgan that rarely goes mentioned is his charity fund.  Often overshadowed in the mainstream media by other charities; Morgan’s charity began with a simple conversation with a friend named Ken Lanter, asking what they could do to help someone out for Christmas.

Lanter mentioned a gentlemen he met at the annual Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, Virginia named Billy Shough. Lanter repeatedly asked him what he would do with $1,000.  Finally, Shough responded that he would “fix the roof”.  Morgan contacted some roofing friends as well as painters and fixed up Shough’s house.  They also purchased a year’s worth of grocery for him.  This led to what is now the Morgan Shepherd Charitable Fund.

Each December, Morgan, along with fellow drivers and family members make the trek to Virginia to spread some cheer.  One of the places they visit is the PARC workshop, a non-profit organization in Stuart, Virginia that assists mentally and physically handicapped adults obtain real-life job skills.

Another special friend of the charity was Betty Archer.  Betty, bedridden since the mid-50s from polio was the recipient of an 1800 square foot mobile home from the charity.  Sadly, she lost her battle in 2006.  Her mobile home now is with the PARC workshop, renamed the Shepherd Center.  The home serves as a training people, teaching those at PARC how to clean and keep an orderly home.

Fans that wish to help the charity need only visit Morgan’s official website, www.morganshepherd.com.

At 66, Morgan is living proof that you don’t have to be a “young gun” to get it done on the track.  Given the proper financial support, Morgan has the full ability to win again and race for championships.  I pray that it happens.

You can contact Mark at modor@speedwaymedia.com

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