Little more than two days after Jimmy Spencer was arrested in his hometown of Cornelius, N.C., for allegedly interfering with local police serving a warrant on his son, the veteran driver was released Wednesday afternoon by Morgan McClure Motorsports.
"Over the past several weeks there has been a steady and gradual improvement in the Morgan McClure racecar and Spencer has been an integral part of this drive for success," team owner Larry McClure said.
"While his part has been greatly appreciated by everyone here at Morgan McClure Motorsports, it has been decided, by mutual agreement, that it would be beneficial to both the team and to Jimmy Spencer to release him so that he may pursue other driving opportunities within the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series."
After returning from Sunday's Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway, where he finished 29th, Spencer was arrested by Cornelius police later that evening and charged with two misdemeanor counts of interfering with a public officer, after police attempted to serve a warrant on James Spencer Jr., 18, on a misdemeanor charge of "injury to personal property."
Spencer began the season in owner Jim Smith's Ultra Motorsports Dodge, but Smith closed down that program due to lack of sponsorship.
Spencer began driving for Morgan McClure in April at the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway after McClure released Kevin Lepage as his driver.
Spencer made 25 consecutive starts for the team, excluding the Infineon Raceway event, which the team skipped.
Spencer's best finish for MMM, which has also struggled to find sponsorship this season until securing Lucas Oil Products in the latter stages of the season, was 17th at Dover in June, one of two top-20 finishes.
He has four top-25 starts, including both Lowe's Motor Speedway events.
McClure said the team would announce Spencer's replacement in time for the start of Friday's practice and Bud Pole Qualifying for Sunday's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Jimmy Spencer... outlaw. Well, make sure you don't pick him this week. I have no idea who is replacement will be yet.
Looks like Mike Wallace will be driving the #4 car this weekend at Atlanta. No word yet if he will be driving for the other three races or what the team's plans are for 2005. I will take Jimmy Spencer off the driver salary list since it looks like he won't get another ride for the final few races of this year.
are you sure? i heard it was Mike Skinner that would take over for the remaining races.
---why do people keep hiring Spencer? i mean, his personality is about the best in the business, but his talent is certainly lacking.......no top tens in over 20 races this year? not even the short tracks?........he would make a great commentator, but behind the wheel, never.
