Cavalier Attitude: ESPN's Brad Daugherty Buys Into JTG Racing

Daugherty Acquires 33% Stake In JTG Racing

ESPN NASCAR analyst Brad Daugherty has "become a partner in JTG Racing that fields two Nationwide Series cars and said that JTG/Daugherty Racing will have a Sprint Cup Series ride in 2009," according to Keith Jarrett of the Asheville CITIZEN-TIMES. The renamed team will have driver Marcos Ambrose drive a Cup entry sponsored by Little Debbie snack cakes and Kingsford/Clorox. Daugherty, who will have a 33% stake in the team, said, "I’m proud that I’m (one of) the first African-American owners at this level. ... I hope this will open some doors for more minorities to become involved in this great sport” (Asheville CITIZEN-TIMES, 7/16). ESPN.com's Terry Blount reported Ambrose will drive the No. 47 Cup car next season after driving the No. 59 Nationwide Series entry for the team this year (ESPN.com, 7/15).

DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY PAYING OFF: Daugherty said his role with JTG/Daugherty Racing is a "direct impact" of NASCAR's “Drive For Diversity” program: “Being an African-American … and having a significant role in ownership at the Sprint Cup level is a very, very big stake in the ground, and I hope it continues to create opportunities (and) to open doors.” Daugherty added ESPN “has afforded me a great platform to be a part of racing and this gives me another opportunity to get my hands back in the sport.” Daugherty said of his future at ESPN, “I love working for ESPN … and I plan on continuing to do that. The reality of it is that I will not use the TV for a myopic approach as far as trying to promote what I’m doing because I’m just not that type of person” (“NASCAR Now,” ESPN2, 7/15).