Episode 4 - Phoenix Racing

Phoenix Racing, one of the most notorious “start-and-parks” of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Season, was ironically one of the strongest underdogs in the field. With Jeff Purvis, the team quickly found victory lane in ARCA and the Busch Series, and with backing from the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, veterans like Geoffrey Bodine and Mike Wallace were turning heads on the superspeedways. Featuring an interview with James Finch, this is the story of one of the most successful independent teams – and one of its most unusual seasons.

#RiseOfTheFieldFillers

SPECIAL THANKS
*James Finch, for his interview
*Gabe Wood, for his additional info on the team’s 2004 campaign
*Bryan Hallman, for his photos from Phoenix Racing’s history

VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZQnMo0uMCGEmQdp4r9v146GsO0q5kC2

ARTICLES
*“Background on Seminoles,” https://sites.rootsweb.com/~fltttp/seminoles/seminolebackground.htm
*FOX Sports, “Big Sponsor Ditches Phoenix Racing,” FOX Sports, February 4, 2010.
*Fryer, Jenna. “NASCAR calls Ruttman run ‘a sham.’” ESPN.com, February 24, 2004.
*Gillis, Chad. “Voices of the Everglades,” News-Press, April 28, 2014; https://www.news-press.com/story/life/outdoors/2014/04/28/voices-of-the-everglades-florida-indians-pay-price-for-prosperity/8403947/
*Indianz.com / NASCAR.com, “Miccosukee Tribe cuts sponsorship for NASCAR driver,” Indianz.com, February 8, 2010
*@StartAndParkCar. “2004 Subway 400 (Joe Ruttman, Jams Finch S&P Debacle), April 19,
2020; https://docs.google.com/document/d/10qWoZO7SQlgABwqKy0p9bK3Ap1cJAQHSO3fDme2TSk8/edit?usp=drivesdk
*Washington Post, “Subway 400 Sandwiched by Field-Fillers,” February 22, 2004; https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2004/02/22/subway-400-sandwiched-by-field-fillers/5e809905-c983-408c-8a72-e5395478627a/

PHOTOS
*Alchetron.com
*Bryan Hallman, BRH Racing Archives
*CIA Stock Photo
*Getty Images
*Jayski’s Silly Season Site
*Joel Bray
*John Harrelson
*Motorsport.com
*@PhoenixRacing51
*@Phoenix51Racing

WEBSITES
*Jayski’s Silly Season Site
*Miccosukee.com
*Racing-reference.info
*Wikipedia