colinspooky
16th September 2009, 17:00
http://www2.tricities.com/tri/sports/motor_sports/article/morgan-mcclure_motorsports_complex_listed_for_sale_while_ sponsor_search_con/32518/
For nearly 25 years, there was a steady hum of activity inside the sprawling Morgan-McClure Motorsports complex. The daily routine included roaring engines, busy mechanics and urgent phone calls. The scene inside the raceshop Monday was far different. It was mostly echoes and memories of faster days.
Due to a lack of sponsorship, the once familiar No. 4 MMM Chevrolet has been absent from the NASCAR game since the end of the 2007 season. And the latest news involving Southwest Virginia’s team is reflective of the grim economic climate in the sponsor-driven sport.
The entire 18-acre MMM complex, located just off Interstate 81, has been listed for sale with Barnett Commercial Realty of Martinsville, Va. The listed price is $8.5 million.
According to team co-owner Tim Morgan, MMM fans still have reason for hope. In fact, Morgan continues to search out potential sponsors for a return to the track to the Sprint Cup Series.
“We’re working on a couple things in terms of sponsorship and we’re looking into different avenues,” said Morgan, in a phone interview. “We want to race, but we don’t have unlimited funds to where we can wait forever.”
Thanks to the financial backing of Abingdon-based Alpha Natural Resources, the Morgan-McClure team reunited for the Aug. 22 Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Alpha is the third-largest coal producer in the United States.
Relying on a mix of former and current crewmen, veteran driver Scott Wimmer beat long odds by earning the No. 26 starting position in the No. 4 Chevrolet. With many longtime MMM fans cheering the team on, Wimmer adapted to the track and finished 29th in his Sprint Cup race event 2007.
Team officials expressed delight with Wimmer’s performance, especially considering that four drivers failed to qualify for the race. Unlike most of the top NASCAR teams, Morgan-McClure has no alliance with the multicar titans who rule the Sprint Cup world.
“A couple of those teams that went home after qualifying at Bristol were very well financed, so we were real pleased with our weekend,” Morgan said. “There’s do doubt that we can still compete in this sport.
We’ve always managed to do more with less here, and we know we can operate with a lean budget if that’s what it takes.”
Morgan said the foundation remains in place at Morgan-McClure. In addition to four full-time employees, MMM has six updated race cars and 20 race-ready engines.
“We would have no misgivings about trying to make another race,” Morgan said. “We just have to make those business connections.”
According to a listing on the Barnett Commercial Realty Web site, the MMM Motorsports complex is comprised of three buildings totaling nearly 94,000 square feet. The main building includes first and second floor offices, a second floor fitness facility, and auto shop with multiple diagnostic rooms. The grounds also include a 4,500 square foot body shop, and a 14,400 square foot museum building that includes a showroom, gift shop area and storage space.
Real estate agent Jim Barnett was not available for comment Tuesday.
“It’s a very valuable piece of property in a prime location, and we’ve got a lot of assets tied up in there,” said Morgan, adding that the race cars and engines are not part of the proposed sale. “If we get a reasonable offer, we will make a decision at that time.”
Morgan-McClure is among many teams in the top three levels of NASCAR who have been forced to cease operations over the past two years due to a lack of money. Morgan, along with a loyal contingent of MMM fans, is holding out hope that a financial backer will emerge.
“NASCAR is a great marketing avenue and investment for sponsors,” Morgan said. “We should be able to attract a sponsor. This is a frustrating situation, because I have no doubt that we can get the job done.”
The Morgan-McClure Motorsports team was formed in 1983. With drivers such as Sterling Marlin, Ernie Irvan and Bobby Hamilton, the team won 14 Sprint Cup races. That run included three victories in the famed Daytona 500.
For nearly 25 years, there was a steady hum of activity inside the sprawling Morgan-McClure Motorsports complex. The daily routine included roaring engines, busy mechanics and urgent phone calls. The scene inside the raceshop Monday was far different. It was mostly echoes and memories of faster days.
Due to a lack of sponsorship, the once familiar No. 4 MMM Chevrolet has been absent from the NASCAR game since the end of the 2007 season. And the latest news involving Southwest Virginia’s team is reflective of the grim economic climate in the sponsor-driven sport.
The entire 18-acre MMM complex, located just off Interstate 81, has been listed for sale with Barnett Commercial Realty of Martinsville, Va. The listed price is $8.5 million.
According to team co-owner Tim Morgan, MMM fans still have reason for hope. In fact, Morgan continues to search out potential sponsors for a return to the track to the Sprint Cup Series.
“We’re working on a couple things in terms of sponsorship and we’re looking into different avenues,” said Morgan, in a phone interview. “We want to race, but we don’t have unlimited funds to where we can wait forever.”
Thanks to the financial backing of Abingdon-based Alpha Natural Resources, the Morgan-McClure team reunited for the Aug. 22 Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Alpha is the third-largest coal producer in the United States.
Relying on a mix of former and current crewmen, veteran driver Scott Wimmer beat long odds by earning the No. 26 starting position in the No. 4 Chevrolet. With many longtime MMM fans cheering the team on, Wimmer adapted to the track and finished 29th in his Sprint Cup race event 2007.
Team officials expressed delight with Wimmer’s performance, especially considering that four drivers failed to qualify for the race. Unlike most of the top NASCAR teams, Morgan-McClure has no alliance with the multicar titans who rule the Sprint Cup world.
“A couple of those teams that went home after qualifying at Bristol were very well financed, so we were real pleased with our weekend,” Morgan said. “There’s do doubt that we can still compete in this sport.
We’ve always managed to do more with less here, and we know we can operate with a lean budget if that’s what it takes.”
Morgan said the foundation remains in place at Morgan-McClure. In addition to four full-time employees, MMM has six updated race cars and 20 race-ready engines.
“We would have no misgivings about trying to make another race,” Morgan said. “We just have to make those business connections.”
According to a listing on the Barnett Commercial Realty Web site, the MMM Motorsports complex is comprised of three buildings totaling nearly 94,000 square feet. The main building includes first and second floor offices, a second floor fitness facility, and auto shop with multiple diagnostic rooms. The grounds also include a 4,500 square foot body shop, and a 14,400 square foot museum building that includes a showroom, gift shop area and storage space.
Real estate agent Jim Barnett was not available for comment Tuesday.
“It’s a very valuable piece of property in a prime location, and we’ve got a lot of assets tied up in there,” said Morgan, adding that the race cars and engines are not part of the proposed sale. “If we get a reasonable offer, we will make a decision at that time.”
Morgan-McClure is among many teams in the top three levels of NASCAR who have been forced to cease operations over the past two years due to a lack of money. Morgan, along with a loyal contingent of MMM fans, is holding out hope that a financial backer will emerge.
“NASCAR is a great marketing avenue and investment for sponsors,” Morgan said. “We should be able to attract a sponsor. This is a frustrating situation, because I have no doubt that we can get the job done.”
The Morgan-McClure Motorsports team was formed in 1983. With drivers such as Sterling Marlin, Ernie Irvan and Bobby Hamilton, the team won 14 Sprint Cup races. That run included three victories in the famed Daytona 500.