| Owner(s) | Francis Dixon Thee Dixon |
|---|---|
| Base | Durham, North Carolina |
| Series | Winston Cup Series Craftsman Truck Series ARCA Re/Max Series |
| Race drivers | Ken Bouchard Carl Long Randy MacDonald Jim Sauter Bob Schacht Mike Skinner Darrell Waltrip |
| Manufacturer | Buick, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford |
| Opened | 1990 |
| Closed | 2002 |
| Career | |
| Debut | Winston Cup Series: 1990 AC Delco 500 (Rockingham) Craftsman Truck Series: 1995 Ford Credit 200 (Louisville) ARCA Re/Max Series: 1990 Daytona ARCA 200 (Daytona) |
| Latest race | Winston Cup Series: 2002 Pocono 500 (Pocono) Craftsman Truck Series: 2002 MBNA America 200 (Dover ARCA Re/Max Series: 2002 Big Daddy's Liberty 200 (South Boston) |
| Races competed | Total: 43 Winston Cup Series: 18 Craftsman Truck Series: 14 ARCA Re/Max Series: 13 |
Mansion Motorsports was a former American professional stock car racing team that competed in NASCAR from 1990 to 2002. The team was owned and operated by Thee and Francis Dixon and was based in Durham, North Carolina. Thee Dixon, a former United States Army veteran and owner of Mansion Decorating, was known to be the first African-American team owner in NASCAR since Wendell Scott in the 1960s & 70's. [1]
The team's first attempt came at the 1990 Daytona 500 in a failed effort with driver Mike Potter. Over the next few years, they would have on and off success making races with Mike Skinner behind the wheel, although he would secure the teams best ever finish of 23rd at Rockingham in early 1992. Trans-Am star Dorsey Schroeder would attempt to run the Daytona 500 for the team in 1993, however they were unsuccessful. They would return later in the season at Talladega with 1988 Rookie of the Year Ken Bouchard, this time making the race, however they would finish 40th, out with engine issues after 24 laps. During the season the would team pick up a little bit of sponsorship from Safety-Kleen and Burger King, but not enough to run a full season. [1] IndyCar driver Scott Brayton was to attempt the 1994 Daytona 500 for the team, but sometime before qualifying, the team withdrew the entry from the race and never made an official attempt.[ citation needed ]
For the next few years, they would move their efforts to the Craftsman Truck Series, again with limited success. Their best results would be a pair of 19th-place finishes with drivers Frank Davis at Flemington in 1995 and Randy MacDonald at Disney in 1997. Carl Long would join the team starting in 1998, he was originally going to attempt his first Cup race for the them at the Bristol night race, however Long wasn't approved by NASCAR to run the race, so the team tabbed Ken Bouchard to drive. [2] Long would become the teams mainstay driver for over the next few years, but with limited funding available, came little success and they would end up failing to qualify for the majority of their attempts. At the 2000 Coca-Cola 600, Long surprisingly placed the car 35th on the grid after qualifying, but without a decent motor to run the full race with, the team made a deal with Haas-Carter Motorsports and driver Darrell Waltrip to buy the ride for the race, allowing Waltrip a chance to run in his final Coca-Cola 600. [3] As part of the deal, Big K/Route 66 sponsorship logos from Waltrip's car would be placed on Dixon's car. This would also mark as Long's unofficial Cup debut, as he would replace Waltrip during a mid-race rain delay and would bring the car home in 36th place.[ citation needed ]
In 2001, the team would make a switch to Dodge and secure a deal to get their engines provided by Petty Enterprises. Unfortunately, without proper funding, the teams final race would come at Pocono in 2002. With just one other crew member, Long himself would make the twelve hour drive up to Pocono. Due to a low car count they had a guaranteed starting spot in the race. They would start and finish in 42nd place, out with brake problems after just 18 laps. [4]