Texaco/Havoline NASCAR History with Ernie Irvan
Driver: Ernie Irvan
Years Driving for Texaco/Havoline: 1993 — 1997
Team: Robert Yates Racing
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Ernie Irvan switched to the Texaco/Havoline team in the middle of the 1993 season following the death of Davey Allison. With only nine events remaining in the season, Irvan continued the winning ways of the Robert Yates Racing team capturing two victories that season. Irvan was dubbed the “Comeback Kid” after a crash at Michigan in 1994 sidelined him for most of the 1995 season. He piloted the Texaco/Havoline car for two more years and retired from the sport in 1999. |
Highlights in Texaco/Havoline Car:
1993
- Took over driving duties of the Texaco/Havoline car for the final nine races of the Cup schedule and recorded two wins, two poles, five top-five and six top-10 finishes.
- Finished sixth in final driver standings.
1994
- Competed in the first 20 races on the schedule before a near-fatal accident during a practice session at Michigan sidelined him for the final events of 1994. Irvan was sitting second in the championship standings at the time of the accident
- Earned three victories, including back-to-back wins at Richmond and Darlington, in those 20 starts. His other victory came at Sears Point
- Capture five pole positions, 13 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes
1995
- Made three starts in the Texaco/Havoline car at the end of the season and captured top-10 finishes in two of them
1996
- Dubbed the “Comeback Kid” and competed in the full NASCAR season and finished 10th in the championship standings
- Captured the checkered flag at New Hampshire and Richmond, and tallied 12 top-five’s and 16 top-10’s
1997
- He completed his comeback by winning at Michigan, the same track where he had his accident three years earlier
- Finished 14th in the championship standings along with one win, two poles, five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes
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