Elton Sawyer Places Second In University of Miami Car

Nov. 13, 2001

A View From The PitPhoto GalleryThe Hurricane Car in Action

Elton Sawyer’s #98 Ford Taurus, featuring the University of Miami marks, took a second place finish in this Saturday’s GNC Live Well 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, behind the driving of Elton Sawyer. Sawyer led for most of the race, but was then passed by Joe Nemecheck during lap 172, after an exciting battle of wits in their respective pits.

Sawyer appeared to be in good position when his crew gave him the lead under the first caution at lap 111 with a 15.8-second pit stop. He had advanced from his 10th starting spot and was a contender all day. Nemechek beat Sawyer to the line by 1.247 seconds to score his 11th career victory and second of the year.

Sawyer’s Akins Motorsports Fords carried 18 different paint schemes this season, 14 of which featured individual CLC Consortium member universities and Starter. Sawyer and his team competed in 33 races from February 17th through November 10th, with the 14 different universities featured throughout the course of the season. Each university was represented according to the geographic location of the races.

The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), along with Starter, Hot Tamales, Zours, and Mike and Ike candy brands of Just Born, Inc., had announced that they were teaming efforts with Akins Motorsports and driver Elton Sawyer earlier in the 2001 season.