Morgan McClure Motorsports - The Rise & Fall 

Don’t you hate it when you work on a project for a while, only to realize you made a pretty embarrassing mistake? Ernie Irvan actually won them their first Daytona 500, in 1991. Not Sterling Marlin. I guess Marlin’s 500’s are more memorable though.

I always thought Morgan McClure was the full name of just one guy. Never realized it was a partnership.

I’ll never forget the sound that car made at Daytona with Sterling Marlin driving. It sounded like an Indy car, awesome.

I was at that 1998 Martinsville race, the second race I had ever attended. Bobby Hamilton absolutely spanked the field that day. I never realized that was Morgan McClures last win, glad I was there to see it

Danny decpite the mishap with forgetting the 1991 Ernie Irvan, Daytona 500. This was one of my favorite watches in this series. Thank you

It's simple, I see a DannyB Video, I like it.

I remember our first time visiting Bristol in August of 2004 and we visited the Morgan-McClure shop/musuem just off i81 in Abingdon VA (30ish min from Bristol).

The Kodak car is the most beautiful race car ever. And when they rigged it to sound like a F1 car, it was the most awesome NASCAR car ever.

Well I could tell you this, I worked for Morgan McClure in 1991 full-time through 1999 and part-time throughout the 2009 season. Yes they were and I kind of team and I know every one of them personally. We tried in 2008 to qualify for Dover it was a put together team and I was living in Baltimore at the time Jerry McClure called me and want me to drive the transporter to Dover. I packed my bags drove 7 hours to Abingdon Virginia enjoy the holler straight back up to Dover they had a packed and ready. We failed to qualify for Dover due to complications but we made the effort. I want to thank you for recognizing that team cuz nobody else does and we were a good team threw it in the 90s.

I did a randomizer on Racing-Reference on a random day a couple weeks back & the 1998 Goody's 500 Bobby Hamilton Sr. won in the #4 came up. The race was a tad curious with Ted Musgrave finishing 2nd & Randy LaJoie finishing 5th... That was until you dig deeper & realize that Bobby Hamilton Sr.'s closest competition on that dominant day was actually John Andretti. It would have been a close duel between the 2 at the end except Andretti's car ran out of fuel in the closing laps. Sure enough John got the win the following year in the same race. ... That particular randomizer was done just shortly after losing John, & the coincidences between him & Bobby Sr. regarding their fates in the end really got to me. 💔🙏

Please do The Rise & Fall of Evernham Motorsports

Would love to see a video on the very underrated bobby hamilton and his winning legacy as a driver and owner. He is definately underrated.

I was sad to see this team go away. Darrell Waltrip said it best in an interview when he ran his own team that something happened in the late 90s that you could have a 3 million dollar sponsor and run the full season competitively then in 1998 you need a 6to8 million dollar sponsor that was the main reason he shut his team down. I think this is what happened to Morgan McClure Motorsports Kodak wasn't able to increase their sponsorship money like some of the bigger team were getting at the time. Kodak as a company was struggling the following years they just ran poorly and when Kodak left they could not attract any major sponsorships. I like to see a rise and fall on 2004 Arnold Motorsports I always thought that was kind of unique story underdog team

Enjoyed a lot !! Also prayers for you guys out there man with that terrible tornado brother thoughts and prayers your way !!

When I think of the #4 Kodak car, i think of Irvan. When I think of Sterling Marlin, I think of the Coors #40 or the Sunoco #94.

They were a dominant superspeedway team from the early to mid 90's. The butterscotch paint scheme of the #4 car is so iconic to Nascar. In 2015 at Darlington, Kevin Harvick had a throwback paint scheme that looked similar to the iconic Kodak paint scheme.

The new 1995 Monte Carlo bodies sure did help them win at the Super Speedways in 95 and 96 when those cars were the best cars to have with the slick, curved bodies those cars had compared to the Thunderbird and Grand Prix of the time.

This is my home town team. The reason they always ran at Bristol is it’s their hometown track. I drive by their empty race shop every day.

Always loved the number #4 car the Kodak paint scheme and when my driver Kevin Harvick ended up with the number #4 it was like a dream come true for me even though it wasn't Morgan McClure it was still the number #4 don't ask me why I don't even have a clue but I've always been drawn to the number #4. That was a great story thank you so very much and keep up the great work that you're doing. Go #4 Team.

I remember the Runt Pittman motors in Sterling Marlins Daytona 500 winning cars. They sounded like an Indy car.

If the Chase would be exist that time Morgan McClure would qualifying to the Chase For The Cup in the years 1994-1996 and 1998-1999

This team used to be a force.it was sad to see this team drift into a back of the pack team

I miss that yellow #4 car really i remember when i was a little kid like 3-5 years old my favorite color was yellow and i started watching Nascar and so i would pick my favorite driver out of the color of their car so first yellow car i saw was that Morgan Mcclure #4 Kodak Chevy and it was Bobby Hamilton who was driving it. When Nascar goes to Darlington with the throwback schemes Kevin Harvick should drive a throwback to that car

Mark Martin has a podcast and he discussed his short stint with Morgan McClure. They were a new team and the crew chief at the time didn't like him and was old school and wouldn't try anything, said the cars were slow pigs however he did say the speedway cars were pretty good. After the season they didn't call him and he didn't call them.

Things I never knew with 1:13 in. BK, Folgers being sponsors for the 4 team.

Found this video through the "suggested" feature. I absolutely loved it. I don't watch NASCAR anymore, but loved it from the mid 90s through mid 2000s and this was right down my alley. I've subscribed, followed you on twitter, and shared this on twitter. VERY excited to see more of your videos!

Thanks for the video... Brings back memories of Sterling Marlin whooping ass at Daytona and Talladega... Robert Yates Racing would be a good one too... Thanks again...

Me and my best friend went to Bristol one year. Ernie Irvan was practicing in the #4 KODAK Lumina, well Ernie blew the engine and he was pissed. We watched the KODAK crew replace that engine in 45 minutes! It was incredible. 🙂

Good Vídeo Video suggestion The Rise & Fall of Evernham Motorsports

Morgan-McClure Motorsports will always have a soft spot in my heart. Here in the Tri Cities TN/VA, they were referred to as "The Home Team" by local media. The roots of the team originated from G.C. Spencer's team in Johnson City, TN, Tony Glover was from nearby Kingsport, TN., they had a few local drivers (Connie Saylor, Johnny Miller), a couple with Tennessee roots (Sterling Marlin, Bobby Hamilton), and local sponsorship (my hometown Oldsmobile dealership, Bewley Olds in Greeneville sponsored them at Bristol in '86. Mr. Bewley now owns the City Garage Car Museum, and has a former Kodak Monte Carlo and Morgan McClure exhibit. For years Eastman Chemicals in Kingsport was Eastman-Kodak). Their shops were off I-81 South, and they had a tall sign towering over the interstate. I remember how sad I felt when Dad and I went to the Bristol race in 2004. Their souvenir trailer was mostly selling Mickey Mouse and cartoon character t-shirts. We got to participate in the track walk, and we stopped by where they were doing pre-race inspections. The MMM team were in T-shirts, a far cry from the Kodak uniforms in the past. They struggled greatly that season and never recovered. There were rumors of them adding a second full-time team in the late-90's/early-2000's. IMHO I don't think this would have saved them, as they never recovered when Kodak pulled the plug. I'll always remember "The Home Team".

Great video. I didn't know the info in the first 1:30. I think the rising cost of nascar caught up with a lot of teams and especially those with long term sponsors not paying more to keep up with those cost. Like bill Elliott , ricky rudd.

You should do a series called the rise and fall of infamous teams

The family car dealership you mentioned is in my town and like you mentioned during your video about 5 drivers you forgot about eric mclure is from chillhowie which is about sn hour or so from where i live pretty cool

I've got a ton of 4 car stuff also. Really liked that team.

As part of the downfall, 2003 was the last year with Kodak on the car. In the middle part of that year, I guess to hopefully have a better chance of getting in the race, they added a second car in the #04. The #04 was Kodak-sponsored and painted identically. They entered it 4 times. it made Watkins Glen then DNQ, withdrawn, and DNQ. (Both DNQs were by a young David Reutimann). The Kodak would move to Penske in 2004 to be on the #77 they had just purchased from Doug Bawel and Jasper Engines. They then, in an 11th hour move signed up something called YokeTV.com to sponsor the team and Kevin Lepage for the year with options for more, according to an article still available on Motorsport.com. From what I can gather, YokeTV was a very early internet-based TV “channel”, about a decade before Netflix, Hulu and Amazon would make original programming a thing. However, it would only be on the car for first three races: Daytona, Rockingham and Vegas. Come race #4 at Atlanta, the car would show up with the YokeTV logos missing. Jayski’s team chart from 2004 says that the logos were removed over “contractual differences”. Though they were able later to piece some partial sponsorship and limp around for a couple more years, the team was never able to recover.

YAY!! Another Rise and Fall video!!!

👍👍GREAT episode! Keep 'em coming!!!

I don't know about McClure as it sounds he has troubles but Morgan is what Nascar is lacking now.He is a cool guy and admits if he did things different like field a second car and lease engines instead of having his own engine program he probably would still be in Nascar.

I met the crew in Michigan 1989 what agreat bunch if guys! one guy gave me his pass I got in the garage.runt pitman boy he was some thing what a great bunch of guys!

MMM in their day were very strong. I volunteered to work with Kerry Teague at the 1995 Daytona 500 qualifiers. Kerry and Co. leased an engine from MMM. It had plenty of power that we could not use because of an ill handling car. BTW, MMM won that Daytona 500 with Sterling Marlin. Much respect to Morgan McClure Racing.

I loved that team. I was totally hyped when Mike Skinner and Pontiac were ready. They were good but just not good enough.

I love your channel thank you have an excellent day thumbs up stay awesome race fans.

Morgan McClure IMO was always a mid-pack team bolstered by great driver choices from Irvan to Marlin to Hamilton. At the turn of the century the sport became overrun by multi car teams and MMM sadly failed to adapt to these changes

Gotta say that the cars then just looked like Race cars for some reason, I remember the 4 car was always competitive especially with Ernie. Sure reminds me that many years have passed, seems like yesterday but maybe I've just been around a while to. Great nostalgic video you put together!

Enjoyed the video. My Wife's family, Used Car Dealers, would always have something with this Team when they came to Darlington. Ironic that I found this video today as we just had the funeral for one of the Cousins that was involved with this. Also, the Company I work for had a short sponsorship with them. Our State Water Heater car was pictured in the video. Again, enjoyed the video.

In the 90s this team was a force especially at Daytona and Talladega.

Great video bud. Subbed and liked! Regards from the UK 🍀

I always wonder what would have happened if Rick Wilson had beat Bill Elliott at the 1988 Firecracker 400. If you haven't seen the finish, check it on RU-vid. I wonder if he had won if that would have led to more wins, and if he would have been their driver longer than he was. I also think they held onto Kodak too long as a sponsor. Kodak was starting to go down as a company in the early 2000s, so you wonder if they didn't look into a different sponsor because of being loyal to them.

The teams first Daytona 500 was with Ernie Irvan in in 1991, Marlin gave then they're second and third Daytona 500 win. Phil Parsons was fired because he didn't tell the team he was blind in one eye and wrecked to many cars.

Morgan McClure still has a dealership in Coeburn Va.

i love all these nascar related "short documentaries" thats come out in the last year or so.. is there a way to find all the channels that do them.

Ward Burton was also with McClure motorsports at one point.

Nice to see one of my ideas finally getting used. Here’s some more ideas Petty Enterprises Darrell Waltrip Motorsports AK Racing Robert Yates Racing

I live in Bristol TN and I see the old Kodak truck running around town.

A interesting video always wondered what happened to this race team I remember driving by their shop one time and seeing a couple of cars sitting outside of the shop along with the truck that hauled the cars This is when their shop was off I-81 there near the Virginia Tennessee line I believe over the next few years we are going to see more race teams go away

I never like yellow cars and paint schemes but the 4 Kodak was the best and only one I liked. The sponsor and logo went well with it

I seem to recall that 4 car was right there in EVERY plate race. Runt Pittman engines, unique sound with custom headers. At Talladega with Irvin driving, he’d come off 2 in 5th and enter 3rd in first

Awesome video

I have a Sterling Marlin 4 diecast somewhere, and an Ernie Irvan one has been long since sold

If you are in NASCAR way you don’t get to stay, I would say that Nascar would love teams like this in the series, Nascar is perfect at messing things up.

My grandpa created that team and that car, in 1 of the first pictures the guy on the right was my uncle larry

They got ate up by the big teams. Consolidation of engine programs and the like kept them from keeping up. Eric McClure didn't help matters as he was not qualified to get the commitment MMM wanted to make to him. It partly drove Kodak away as they planned to put Eric in the car long term I believe and Kodak saw the writing on the wall and bailed. Sad story honestly as they were such a neat small team to follow when I was early in my fanhood.

Can you do Rise and fall of Evernham Motorsports or Darrell Waltrip Motorsports?

what is that video from at 5:28?

i know for a damn fact why they failed, i worked at the dealership in castlewood va. where a lot of crew members also worked. i was told by a leading crew member they were the lowest paying team on the circuit. you get what you pay for,,ask larry

Need a video MB2/Ginn Racing- Rise and Fall! @dannybtalks

Rise and Fall: Turner Scott Motorsports?

This is just my opinion. MM did not give Phil Parsons a fair shake. Released after 3 races??? How could Tony Glover screw him like that?? In 1988, Phil drove for Leo and Richard Jackson in the #55 Crown/Skoal Classic Olds. In 1988, Leo and Andy Petree prepared the cars for Phil while Richard and another Crew Chief prepared cars for Harry Gant. In 1988, Phil finished THIRD in the Daytona 500 to Bobby and Davey Allison. In May, at the Winston 500, he ran out if fuel early, went 2 laps down and then beat Geoff Bodine and Earnhart to win his only Winston Cup race. In July, at Daytona, he finished THIRD behind Bill Elliot and Rick Wilson. At the end of 88, Phil had 1 win and finished 8th in points and made the head table in December at the Waldorf Astoria banquet. The next year, the Jackson brothers basically switched teams. Leo and Petree went to prepare cars for Harry and Richard and his crew took over Phil's team. Go look at Phil and Harry's stats for 1988, then, look at their stats for 1989 and beyond. Completely reversed!! Harry went on to have great success while Phil fell to back of the pack. THAT AIN'T ON THE DRIVER!!! I was soooo happy when Phil finally signed with MM because I thought he would have a resurgence in his career. Again, after 3 races, even if he crashed in all 3 is NOT a measuring level for a driver. MM clearly did Phil wrong, then others spread vicious UNTRUE rumors about his eyesight. At least Phil is still contributing to the sport and hopefully his son will find success as well

was big fan of MMM. Loved that film. Rutt Pittman made that new sound from headers or something.

I have a diecast of Bobby Hamilton’s 2000 Car

How about Junie Donlavey Racing?

Sometimes teams just fade away. It seemed that the Morgan McClure team started to fade as the multi car teams started to explode.

I still have my kodak film racing jacket and I still wear it got it at Darlington.

MMM's slide started at the exact time Sterling fathered an illegitimate child with a coworker at MMM and left the team and the area for good because if it 1997-1998. The results on the track in those years of decline were directly attributed to it. And it was not the headers that gave the #4 car its unique sound and power on plate tracks. It was the exhaust system after the hedders that made the magic happen. They were the 1st team to utilize the system of its style that kept the right and left bank exhaust gases equalized as traveled from the exhaust ports all the way out the pipes. Look it up!

Please make a rise and fall of Bill Elliott Racing!!!

Weird to think that Newman could have been in the 4

Many called out Bobby Hamilton and MMM for usuing traction control during the 98 Martinsville spring race and after watching that race I dont blame them either, he was unstoppable that day

The fall started when Irvan left. Outside of the superspeedways, they were not really in the discussion much after that. When Tony Glover left, the performance really dropped off and it was obvious. By that time, they weren’t even competitive on the superspeedways anymore.

If Gary DeHart weren't in charge of that team in 99 (and I assume 98) they would've been doneski sooner. No clue why Larry and Tim didn't do enough to keep him around

O one oh ur best DannyB have u done a Robert Yates or Yates racing?

Turner Scott Motorsports

There's just something about that nearly bus yellow number 4 - iconic! I've been living outside of Rochester, NY for the past six years. Rochester is the home to Kodak. So many people here that know nothing of NASCAR do know that number Morgan McClure number 4. There's an interesting correlation with Kodak too, they declined at about the same time. Kodak used to employ around 75,000 people. It's down to about 3,500 hundred now. I wonder if Kodak paid less in the last years of the partnership.

Came here for Ernie info... He got completely forgotten... shame smh...

When's the last time anyone bought film

Hope they will come back to use 4 again (if Harvick switches new number) or 04 or 40 and or 44 again.

Can you do this for Junior Johnson’s team

I could be wrong but wasn't their first Daytona 500 win with Ernie Irvan in 1991 or 1992 over Davey Alison?

Roush Racing Inc: sure has fallen off the map big time, I remember in the 90’s & early to mid 2000’s they were very dominant with 4 cars, Mark Martin,Matt Kenseth,Kurt Busch & Greg Biffle & then the Hendrick team with 4 cars as well that dominated, it was either Roush or Hendrick winning races, now it’s Joe Gibbs & Roger Penske dominating.

Id love to see one about the cant get right of American motorsports. Robby gordon

thought it was lame how enie wanted to bail in 93, at least finish the season and be a man of your word.

That car dealership happens to be one of the largest volume chevy truck dealers in virginia. They're doing fine

Super iconic

I think they also field a 2nd car the 04 for pj Jones at some point

I believe you state in your video that Marlin won the team's first Daytona 500 in 1994, but Irvan actually won the 500 for the team in 1991.

Sad 😢😥😓😰😭

Oh yeah boys I’m a good 2nd

The Rise and Fall of the hendrick busch team or the robby gordon team

Grew up 10 miles from their race shops. Shure miss seing them garage doors open an a shop full of race cars.came by their last week the shop is full of old muscle cars.dont no exactly what they are doing their now but it's so sad they are not in nascar no more.thats what's wrong with nascar they shouldn't let 4 teams run the sport. Go back to the one or two teams an ever team has it's own engine builder. Let the best team win

I honestly think that when Sterling Marlin left it was the nail in the coffin for this team

Lack of getting a second team. The Jordan Grand Prix of Nascar. The likable small team.