Philip Morris (racing driver)

Philip Morris (born May 11, 1965) is a local short track racing racer from Ruckersville, Virginia. Morris is best known placing fifth in his Busch Series debut, the 1998 AC Delco 200. However, he also ran in the Craftsman Truck Series as well and was in the Busch Series until 2001. He is now, as of 2011, a four-time champion of NASCAR's Whelen All-American Series National Championship and the only three time winner of the Virginia Is For Lovers 300. He is known as the best short track driver in NASCAR-sanctioned racing.

Craftsman Truck Series career

Morris made one career start in the Craftsman Truck Series, his major league NASCAR debut, which came in 1997. Starting 24th in the field at Martinsville, Morris had an engine let go early and would finish last (36th).

Busch Series career

Morris made his NASCAR Busch Series debut at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, NC in November 1998, driving the #84 Baldauf Chevy. He started 12th and finished in the 5th position, a major impact in his debut.

In 1999 he made 3 races driving the #01 Blue Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet. At the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March, he started the #01 Llumar Window Film Chevrolet in 8th and finished 35th, 3 laps down. At the South Boston Speedway in June, the #01 was sponsored by Value America. Morris started 26th and finished 7th. In August he made his 3rd and final start of 1999 at Bristol, driving the #01 Power Monitors Inc. Chevrolet, he started 28th and finished 29th.

In 2000, Morris drove 6 races for Innovative Motorsports in the #30 Little Trees Chevrolet. In his 6 starts, he had a best starting position of 8th at South Boston and a best finish of 28th at South Boston, as well.

Morris did not have much success after that, and in 2001 raced his three last NASCAR races. He was 30th and 34th in two races for Jay Robinson Racing, with the better coming at Charlotte and then 40th in a race for Hensley Racing at Rockingham. He is often referred to as one of the greatest late model drivers to have existed, with the general consensus being that his name was what stopped him from breaking into the top levels of stock car racing. At the time, NASCAR's top series was sponsored by Winston, owned by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, a competitor of Philip Morris International, which owns brands such as Marlboro. There was never evidence of any connection between the driver and the company.

External links

• Driver DB Profile