Lance Hooper
Encyclopedia
Lance Allen Hooper is a race car driver in NASCAR
as well as several touring divisions. Hooper attended his first race when he was just two weeks old, and also came from a long line of racing champions, including his uncle, father, and brother. Hooper currently serves as the driver and crew chief of the #44 Key Motorsports
Chevy in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Hooper first began racing in 1990 in the NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series, and was named Rookie of the Year at Saugus Speedway
. He went on to win the track championship there the next two years. Following that stint, Hooper moved up to the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series, and won seven races in his first year on the circuit, then won the championship in 1995. In addition to his success on Raceday, he won the pole award sixteen times, the Most Popular Driver award as well as breaking many track records.
After that, he moved to the NASCAR Winston West Series. In 1996, he won five races, as well as both the championship and the Rookie of the Year points title. That year, he made his Winston Cup debut as well, running the Dura Lube 500 and finishing 33rd in his own Pontiac
. He soon caught the eye of owner Richard Jackson
, owner of Precision Products Racing, and the two ran six races together in 1997 in an undeclared Rookie of the Year
bid in the Winston Cup Series. In 1998, the two made an abbreviated bid at the Busch Series
championship, running 16 races and finishing in the top-20 three times.
Hooper did not run much in 1999. He ran one Busch Series race for Jackson, and made an unsuccessful qualifying attempt for the Brickyard 400 with Fenley-Moore Motorsports. returned to the sport regularly in 2000, running 13 races in the Craftsman Truck Series
for Marty Walsh (his best finish was 15th) and four races for Alumni Motorsports in the Busch Series, including an outside pole qualifying run. Hooper made 18 Truck Series races in 2001, and had a tenth-place finish at Nazareth Speedway
. Hooper also re-united with Jackson competed in a Cup race at Dover
for Dark Horse Motorsports. He ran every truck race in 2002, despite switching to from Ware Racing Enterprises
to Team Racing
mid-season. Hooper ran his most recent Cup race to date that year, finishing 31st at Bristol Motor Speedway
for Junie Donlavey
. In 2003, Hooper began running his own entry in the Truck Series with fan-based sponsorships. He finished 24th in points that year. Hooper ran five races with ThorSport Racing
, and had two top-twenty finishes in the #13 Microtel
/Vassarette
Silverado. He did not race again for five years, choosing to become a crew chief
at the Truck level, working with ThorSport and Key Motorsports
. He returned to the driver's seat in 2009 in the Trucks to drive the #44 entry for his then-employer, Key Motorsports, before finishing the year at Tagsby Racing.
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...
as well as several touring divisions. Hooper attended his first race when he was just two weeks old, and also came from a long line of racing champions, including his uncle, father, and brother. Hooper currently serves as the driver and crew chief of the #44 Key Motorsports
Key Motorsports
Key Motorsports is a NASCAR team owned by Curtis Key. The team currently fields the #40 Chevrolet Impala driven by Charles Lewandoski, the #42 Chevrolet Impala drien by Tim Andrews, the #46 Chevrolet Impala driven by Chase Miller, and the #47 Chevrolet Impala driven by Danny Efland / Scott Wimmer...
Chevy in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Hooper first began racing in 1990 in the NASCAR
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...
Whelen All-American Series, and was named Rookie of the Year at Saugus Speedway
Saugus Speedway
Saugus Speedway is a 1/3 mile racetrack in Saugus, California on a site. The track hosted one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event in 1995, which was won by Ken Schrader...
. He went on to win the track championship there the next two years. Following that stint, Hooper moved up to the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series, and won seven races in his first year on the circuit, then won the championship in 1995. In addition to his success on Raceday, he won the pole award sixteen times, the Most Popular Driver award as well as breaking many track records.
After that, he moved to the NASCAR Winston West Series. In 1996, he won five races, as well as both the championship and the Rookie of the Year points title. That year, he made his Winston Cup debut as well, running the Dura Lube 500 and finishing 33rd in his own Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
. He soon caught the eye of owner Richard Jackson
Richard Jackson
Richard Jackson is an English professional footballer.-Scarborough:Jackson was born in Whitby and began his career at the then Natiowide Division Three club, Scarborough, as a trainee in August 1997. He made his first appearance for the club in a league game in November 1997 against Doncaster...
, owner of Precision Products Racing, and the two ran six races together in 1997 in an undeclared 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....
bid in the Winston Cup Series. In 1998, the two made an abbreviated bid at the Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
championship, running 16 races and finishing in the top-20 three times.
Hooper did not run much in 1999. He ran one Busch Series race for Jackson, and made an unsuccessful qualifying attempt for the Brickyard 400 with Fenley-Moore Motorsports. returned to the sport regularly in 2000, running 13 races in the Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
for Marty Walsh (his best finish was 15th) and four races for Alumni Motorsports in the Busch Series, including an outside pole qualifying run. Hooper made 18 Truck Series races in 2001, and had a tenth-place finish at Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing track in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004. The track is often associated with local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti. It was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history....
. Hooper also re-united with Jackson competed in a Cup race at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
for Dark Horse Motorsports. He ran every truck race in 2002, despite switching to from Ware Racing Enterprises
Ware Racing Enterprises
Rick Ware Racing the self-proclaimed "Biggest Little Team in Motorsports" has competed in every NASCAR sanctioned series, ARCA Series, the WMA Motocross Series, AMA Arenacross, Motocross and Supercross Series, Summer X-Games and Rolex Grand-Am Series since 2008 and is owned by former driver Rick...
to Team Racing
Team Racing
Team Racing is a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. It is owned by driver Phil Bonifield. The team has fielded multiple trucks, usually with sponsorship from Red Line Oil and the Coverall Carports.- Truck #23 history :...
mid-season. Hooper ran his most recent Cup race to date that year, finishing 31st at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
for Junie Donlavey
Junie Donlavey
W.C. "Junie" Donlavey , is a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner with a team based in Richmond. Rarely fielding a car without his familiar #90, he began fielding his team in 1950. He drove for his team at first, but soon gave way to other drivers...
. In 2003, Hooper began running his own entry in the Truck Series with fan-based sponsorships. He finished 24th in points that year. Hooper ran five races with ThorSport Racing
ThorSport Racing
ThorSport Racing is a Sandusky, Ohio based NASCAR racing team that competes in the Camping World Truck Series. Owned by Duke Thorson and his wife Rhonda, the team currently fields the #13 Safe Auto Insurance Company/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny Sauter through an alliance with Mike...
, and had two top-twenty finishes in the #13 Microtel
Microtel
The Microtel Inns & Suites brand is a chain of franchise hotels with locations in Argentina, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and the United States. Hotels feature free local and long-distance phone calls within the continental United States, high-speed wired and wireless Internet access, expanded...
/Vassarette
Vassarette
Vassarette is a brand of women's underwear owned by Vanity Fair Brands. Their lines include bras, stockings and lingerie, and they were previously a major manufacturer of girdles. Originally advertised discreetly in ladies' magazines, they have more recently advertised on prominent and sometimes...
Silverado. He did not race again for five years, choosing to become a crew chief
Crew chief
Crew chief may refer to:*Crew chief , the head person on a race team who directs both the driver and pit crew*Crew chief , Part of the Ford Work Solutions Package see Ford Sync...
at the Truck level, working with ThorSport and Key Motorsports
Key Motorsports
Key Motorsports is a NASCAR team owned by Curtis Key. The team currently fields the #40 Chevrolet Impala driven by Charles Lewandoski, the #42 Chevrolet Impala drien by Tim Andrews, the #46 Chevrolet Impala driven by Chase Miller, and the #47 Chevrolet Impala driven by Danny Efland / Scott Wimmer...
. He returned to the driver's seat in 2009 in the Trucks to drive the #44 entry for his then-employer, Key Motorsports, before finishing the year at Tagsby Racing.