Dennis Setzer
Encyclopedia
Dennis Setzer is a NASCAR
driver. He has driven in all three of NASCAR's top series. He currently splits time between the #23, #49, and #70 cars, all for Jay Robinson Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Most of the time he is unsponsored, but on occasion he has support from such companies as All American Sports Tech Pouch which is in relation to MAXelence.com, the leading sponsor of teammate Derrike Cope, #28.
debut in the Busch Series in 1991 in the All Pro 300. He started 5th in his own #4 Ford Thunderbird
, but crashed on lap nine and finished 40th. He ran another race the following year, at Hickory Motor Speedway
in a car owned by Bill Davis. He wrecked in that race as well but still managed to finish 26th. In 1993, he ran four races for Daniel Welch
, and had a top-ten run in the Advance Auto Parts 500
.
for Welch once again. Setzer won in his 23rd career start at South Boston Speedway
, then won again two races later at Indianapolis Raceway Park. By the end of the year, he was 9th in points and was runner-up to Johnny Benson
for Rookie of the Year
. In 1995, the team switched to Fords; Setzer struggled in the adjustment. After he won the pole at the Milwaukee Mile, he was released from the ride, and spent the rest of the season making fill-in starts. At the same time, he began running part-time in the newly-formed Craftsman Truck Series. He finished second in his debut at Milwaukee, along with seven other starts that year.
In 1996, he signed to drive the #38 Lipton Tea
Ford for Akins-Sutton Motorsports. Despite two top-ten finishes, he was released from the ride, and spent he rest of the year driving the Mark III Financial car. He started the 1997 season in that ride, but was released after five races, and spent the rest of the season in the #43 Lance Snacks Chevy owned by David Ridling, posting four top-tens and finishing 19th in points.
in the Trucks, but only for a handful of races. After three DNF's in the Busch Series, Setzer was selected by K Automotive Racing
to replace driver/team owner Bob Keselowski
, who'd been injured in a wreck. Setzer had eighth-place finishes in the truck while filling in. After that, he signed with Bill Elliott Racing
, replacing Jerry Nadeau
for eight races. His best finish in seven starts (he DNQ'd at Dover) was 19th at Talladega Superspeedway
. After a brief hiatus from the trucks, Setzer returned to K Automotive to finish the season, and collected a win at Mesa Marin Raceway
.
In 1999, K Automotive provided Setzer with a full-time ride in the #1 Mopar
Dodge Ram
. Setzer won three races and was in the thick of the championship hunt, but an early wreck at the season finale at California Speedway
took him out of the running. Nevertheless, he was named the series' Most Popular Driver for 1999. His performance slipped in 2000, as he won just one race and dropped to seventh in points. After that season, he left the team.
. In his first year with the team he won two poles, one race, and finished ninth in points. After another quiet year in 2002, things started improving, as Setzer won three race in 2003. After failing to win a race in 2006, he departed Morgan Dollar to join Spears Motorsports
. In 2007, Setzer won the City of Mansfield 250
at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
after running the entire 250 lap race without a pitstop. The Mansfield victory was his first victory in 41 races, his last coming in the Power Stroke Diesel 200
at O'Reilly Raceway Park on August 1, 2005.
Late in the 2007 season, he parted ways with Spears and raced at New Hampshire for Green Light Racing
, and at Las Vegas for Bobby Hamilton Racing
. He drove the #18 Dodge Ram Truck to a vicory in the 2008 Kroger 250 at Martinsville. It was Setzer's 18th career win, and BHR's 1st win since Bobby Hamilton Sr. won in Martinsville in 2005. After BHR shut down at the end of 2008, Setzer found himself out of a job entering the season.
Setzer began the 2009 Truck Series season driving one race apiece for GunBroker Racing and Fast Track Racing Enterprises, before being named the driver for MRD Motorsports
. He had two second-place finishes and was in the top-ten in points before he was forced to miss six races due to sponsorship issues. Setzer also returned to K-Automotive in the Nationwide Series, driving the #96 ConelyAuto.com Dodge on a part-time basis before moving to the other team car, #92.
During the 2010 Aaron's 312
Nationwide Series race in Talladega on the last lap Setzer, drving the #92, was involved in a huge crash which sent him up the wall and into the catch fence. He then hit a fence pole and spun around, and with a fiery explosion, landed on all four wheels. Setzer was okay after the crash.
Most of the time while at K-Automotive in the Nationwide Series between 2009 and 2010, Setzer was primarily a Start and Park driver.
Dennis did not have a full time ride to begin 2011. In March, he was named a substitute driver for Brian Keselowski in the Sprint Cup Series, who was recovering from gallbladder surgery. Setzer successfully qualified for the Bristol race, his first Cup series event since 1998. He went on to finish 38th, the team's best finish to date. Brian Keselowski has since returned to action. After several weeks, Setzer began driving the cars for Jay Robinson Racing in the Nationwide Series. Setzer also attempted a handful of races with ML Motorsports and R3 Motorsports. As of late October, his best finish of the year has been 18th at Road America. Setzer was to attempt the fall cup race at Martinsville, but qualifying was rained out and the field was set by owner's points, and Setzer and his K-Automotive Motorsports team went home.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver. He has driven in all three of NASCAR's top series. He currently splits time between the #23, #49, and #70 cars, all for Jay Robinson Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Most of the time he is unsponsored, but on occasion he has support from such companies as All American Sports Tech Pouch which is in relation to MAXelence.com, the leading sponsor of teammate Derrike Cope, #28.
Beginnings
Setzer made his NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
debut in the Busch Series in 1991 in the All Pro 300. He started 5th in his own #4 Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
, but crashed on lap nine and finished 40th. He ran another race the following year, at Hickory Motor Speedway
Hickory Motor Speedway
Hickory Motor Speedway is a short track located in Hickory, North Carolina. It is one of stock car racing's most storied venues, and is often referred to as "The World's Most Famous Short Track" and the "Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars"....
in a car owned by Bill Davis. He wrecked in that race as well but still managed to finish 26th. In 1993, he ran four races for Daniel Welch
Daniel Welch
Daniel Welch is a pitcher for Brigham Young University's baseball team. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but grew up in Florida, Australia, and Utah. Welch was a three year starter for Danny Schoonover at Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah. He tossed a two-hiiter in his final regular...
, and had a top-ten run in the Advance Auto Parts 500
Advance Auto 500
The Advance Auto 500 was a NASCAR Busch Series stock car race held at Martinsville Speedway, in Martinsville, Virginia. It was first held during the inaugural season for the Busch Series in 1982, and remained a part of the series through 1994. Following the 1994 season, both of Martinsville's race,...
.
Busch Series Years
Setzer made his first full-time run in 1994, driving the #59 Alliance Training Centers ChevroletChevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
for Welch once again. Setzer won in his 23rd career start at South Boston Speedway
South Boston Speedway
South Boston Speedway or "SoBo" is a short track located just outside South Boston, Virginia, U.S.A.. SoBo is located approximately sixty miles east of another area familiar to most NASCAR fans, Martinsville. It is owned by Mattco, Inc, the Mattioli family trust that owns Pocono Raceway, with...
, then won again two races later at Indianapolis Raceway Park. By the end of the year, he was 9th in points and was runner-up to Johnny Benson
Johnny Benson
Jonathan Benson, Jr. is an American NASCAR driver and the son of former Michigan modified driver John Benson, Sr...
for Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
. In 1995, the team switched to Fords; Setzer struggled in the adjustment. After he won the pole at the Milwaukee Mile, he was released from the ride, and spent the rest of the season making fill-in starts. At the same time, he began running part-time in the newly-formed Craftsman Truck Series. He finished second in his debut at Milwaukee, along with seven other starts that year.
In 1996, he signed to drive the #38 Lipton Tea
Lipton
Lipton is a brand of tea currently owned by Unilever.-History of Lipton Tea:Lipton was created at the end of the 19th century by a grocer, Sir Thomas Lipton, in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1893, he established the Thomas J. Lipton Co., a tea packing company with its headquarters and factory in Hobo ken,...
Ford for Akins-Sutton Motorsports. Despite two top-ten finishes, he was released from the ride, and spent he rest of the year driving the Mark III Financial car. He started the 1997 season in that ride, but was released after five races, and spent the rest of the season in the #43 Lance Snacks Chevy owned by David Ridling, posting four top-tens and finishing 19th in points.
Truck Series
After 1997, Setzer did not have a ride for 1998. He started the season doing work for Gloy-Rahal MotorsportsRahal Letterman Racing
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is an auto racing team that currently races in the American Le Mans Series and part–time in the IndyCar Series. Based in Hilliard, Ohio, it is co–owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, television talk show host David Letterman, and businessman Mike...
in the Trucks, but only for a handful of races. After three DNF's in the Busch Series, Setzer was selected by K Automotive Racing
K Automotive Racing
K Automotive Racing is an auto racing team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. K-Automotive previously raced in ARCA and the Nationwide Series. The team is owned and operated by Bob, Brian, and Kay Keselowski. They currently field a full-time entry, the 92 Chevrolet driven by Brian...
to replace driver/team owner Bob Keselowski
Bob Keselowski
Robert "Bob" Keselowski is a former U.S. race car driver. He owns K Automotive Racing and was a competitor in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, now called the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Racing career:In the ARCA series he had 24 wins, 26 poles, and a...
, who'd been injured in a wreck. Setzer had eighth-place finishes in the truck while filling in. After that, he signed with Bill Elliott Racing
Bill Elliott Racing
Bill Elliott Racing is a former NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series team. It was owned and operated by 1988 NASCAR champion Bill Elliott from 1995 until 2000, when it was sold to Evernham Motorsports.- Winston Cup :...
, replacing Jerry Nadeau
Jerry Nadeau
Jerry Nadeau is a retired race car driver from Danbury, Connecticut. Nadeau competed in the 1994 Barber Dodge Pro Series and the 1996 Formula Opel Euroseries.-NASCAR career:Nadeau's NASCAR career began in 1995 in the Busch Series...
for eight races. His best finish in seven starts (he DNQ'd at Dover) was 19th at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. After a brief hiatus from the trucks, Setzer returned to K Automotive to finish the season, and collected a win at Mesa Marin Raceway
Mesa Marin Raceway
Mesa Marin Raceway was a NASCAR affiliated oval racetrack located in Bakersfield, California from 1977 until 2005. It was leveled in the fall of 2005 after being sold to developers....
.
In 1999, K Automotive provided Setzer with a full-time ride in the #1 Mopar
Mopar
Mopar is the automobile parts and service arm of Chrysler Group LLC. The term was first used by Chrysler in the 1920s and has been in continuous use ever since. Mopar parts are original equipment manufactured parts for Chrysler vehicles...
Dodge Ram
Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
. Setzer won three races and was in the thick of the championship hunt, but an early wreck at the season finale at California Speedway
California Speedway
Auto Club Speedway is a two-mile , low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. The track was also used for open wheel racing events until 2005. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and...
took him out of the running. Nevertheless, he was named the series' Most Popular Driver for 1999. His performance slipped in 2000, as he won just one race and dropped to seventh in points. After that season, he left the team.
Recent years
In 2001, Setzer joined Morgan-Dollar MotorsportsMorgan-Dollar Motorsports
Randy Moss Motorsports with HTM is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. It is owned by David Dollar and former NFL wide receiver Randy Moss. Former driver Rob Morgan co-owned the team until 2004...
. In his first year with the team he won two poles, one race, and finished ninth in points. After another quiet year in 2002, things started improving, as Setzer won three race in 2003. After failing to win a race in 2006, he departed Morgan Dollar to join Spears Motorsports
Spears Motorsports
Spears Motorsports was a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team owned by Wayne and Connie Spears of Agua Dulce, California. The team is most notable for its longevity in the Truck Series, running all but two races before their closure, their commitment to running with Chevrolet and for always running...
. In 2007, Setzer won the City of Mansfield 250
City of Mansfield 250
The Ohio 250 was a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race that took place at Mansfield Motorsports Park on Memorial Day weekend.The 2006 race saw 18 caution flags flown during the race, setting a series record....
at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
Mansfield Motorsports Park is a half-mile oval racetrack located in Mansfield, Ohio, United States. Featuring moderately high banks and a wide racing surface, it is suitable for close racing and passing. The track hosts an ARCA RE/MAX Series race in 2009...
after running the entire 250 lap race without a pitstop. The Mansfield victory was his first victory in 41 races, his last coming in the Power Stroke Diesel 200
Power Stroke Diesel 200
The AAA Insurance 200 was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that took place at Lucas Oil Raceway in the suburb of Clermont, Indiana, located west of Indianapolis...
at O'Reilly Raceway Park on August 1, 2005.
Late in the 2007 season, he parted ways with Spears and raced at New Hampshire for Green Light Racing
Green Light Racing
SS-Green Light Racing is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. Owned and operated by businessmen Ken Smith and Steve Urvan and former driver Bobby Dotter, the team fields the #07 Toyota Tundra for several drivers and the #81 Zachry Industrial, Inc. Toyota for David Starr...
, and at Las Vegas for Bobby Hamilton Racing
Bobby Hamilton Racing
Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia was a former NASCAR racing team. It was owned by four-time NEXTEL Cup winner and 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton until his death on January 7, 2007. Bobby Hamilton, Jr. was given ownership after the death of his father, but the younger...
. He drove the #18 Dodge Ram Truck to a vicory in the 2008 Kroger 250 at Martinsville. It was Setzer's 18th career win, and BHR's 1st win since Bobby Hamilton Sr. won in Martinsville in 2005. After BHR shut down at the end of 2008, Setzer found himself out of a job entering the season.
Setzer began the 2009 Truck Series season driving one race apiece for GunBroker Racing and Fast Track Racing Enterprises, before being named the driver for MRD Motorsports
MRD Motorsports
MRD Motorsports is an American NASCAR team. The team is owned by Dave Malcolmson but has been inactive as of 2009.Malcolmson originally started the team in the Allison Legacy Series as a driver before retiring as an owner. Malcolmson would debut his team in the Goody's Dash Series before moving up...
. He had two second-place finishes and was in the top-ten in points before he was forced to miss six races due to sponsorship issues. Setzer also returned to K-Automotive in the Nationwide Series, driving the #96 ConelyAuto.com Dodge on a part-time basis before moving to the other team car, #92.
During the 2010 Aaron's 312
Aaron's 312
The Aaron's 312 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held at Talladega Superspeedway. The race's sponsor, Aaron's, is a lease-to-own retailer. The twelve extra miles are tacked on to what would normally be a race for targeted advertising purposes....
Nationwide Series race in Talladega on the last lap Setzer, drving the #92, was involved in a huge crash which sent him up the wall and into the catch fence. He then hit a fence pole and spun around, and with a fiery explosion, landed on all four wheels. Setzer was okay after the crash.
Most of the time while at K-Automotive in the Nationwide Series between 2009 and 2010, Setzer was primarily a Start and Park driver.
Dennis did not have a full time ride to begin 2011. In March, he was named a substitute driver for Brian Keselowski in the Sprint Cup Series, who was recovering from gallbladder surgery. Setzer successfully qualified for the Bristol race, his first Cup series event since 1998. He went on to finish 38th, the team's best finish to date. Brian Keselowski has since returned to action. After several weeks, Setzer began driving the cars for Jay Robinson Racing in the Nationwide Series. Setzer also attempted a handful of races with ML Motorsports and R3 Motorsports. As of late October, his best finish of the year has been 18th at Road America. Setzer was to attempt the fall cup race at Martinsville, but qualifying was rained out and the field was set by owner's points, and Setzer and his K-Automotive Motorsports team went home.