Hamilton-Means Racing Set for Big Run

With Daytona just a few weeks away, co-owner Jimmy Means says that the newly formed Hamilton Means Racing team will try to attempt as many races in 2012 as possible.

Originally, the idea was to make all 36, but the team announced last week that it would be more likely Phoenix or Bristol before it gets on track.

"Our intentions are to run every [race]," says Means. "But we've got do to [approach] them one at a time and take it from there."

This will be Jimmy Means' second stint as an owner in NASCAR's top division. Once an owner-driver, over half of Means' starts in Sprint Cup came from 1978 to 1993.

As any team at any level in NASCAR has experienced, sponsorship is harder to find in a shaky economy. However, Hamilton-Means Racing plans on their #52 Ford Fusion to show up at the track, with or without financial backing.

"We're not relying on sponsorship to determine where we go or not," says Means. "We're just trying to get all the pieces together and have some different equipment to have a legitimate chance of making the races. Sponsorship is not really an issue at this time, but [we're] looking for it."

The team is also willing to start and park events to keep afloat. "That's probably what we will have to do to start this."

With a long list of free agents available this off-season, HMR has narrowed its list of possible drivers for 2012, but no formal announcement has been made. "[We will announce] probably in a few weeks." Means also told us his Nationwide team plans on keeping the #52 car running full-time with a driver announcement for that ride coming soon.