T.J. Beverley Buys Waltrip's Team (Beverley Profile Attached)
27 March 1998
In an unprecedented move, Beverley also announced he has "loaned" Waltrip to Dale Earnhardt Inc. for the next several races on the 1998 Winston Cup schedule, beginning with this weekend's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway."Darrell will substitute for the injured Steve Park in Earnhardt's Pennzoil car for the next few months," Beverley explained. "We need some time to reorganize our race team, build several new cars and secure sponsorship. Even though the No. 17 car won't be at the race track, we'll be working real hard behind the scenes doing research and development.
"Working with Dale and his people is a win-win situation for everyone. It allows us the time we need to get this team headed in the right direction, while allowing Darrell to continue competing in every race. It also gives Dale Earnhardt Inc. and its sponsors a champion driver to fill in while Park recovers from his injuries."
"T.J. didn't get where he is today by making bad business decisions," Waltrip added. "He's not worried about the next race, he's standing back and looking at the big picture. He understands what it is going to take to get this race team back to victory lane and taking some time to regroup is an excellent decision.
"The opportunity to work with Earnhardt and his people and for me to drive the No. 1 car while T.J. fine tunes his operation is playing out as the perfect scenario."
The purchase also includes the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team that finished second in the 1997 series point standings. The truck team has been inactive during 1998 and Beverley indicated no decision has been made concerning the future of that portion of the operation.
Waltrip founded the Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Winston Cup operation in 1990 and the team debuted in 1991. Waltrip won two races in '91 and three in '92, his most recent victory coming in the 1992 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The team is housed in a 39,000-square-foot facility located in the shadows of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
T.J. Beverley - Team Owner
Residence: Tyler, Texas
Birthdate: June 22, 1956
Children: Austin age 22
Brent 10
Christin 10
Alaina 10
Business Background:
T.J. Beverley's career in aviation began as a line boy, pumping gas at an airport near Chicago. He eventually moved into aircraft sales and parlayed that sales experience into a business that has become one of the world's leading dealers of corporate aircraft. Beverley founded Tyler Jet Aircraft in March of 1986. The company initially had two employees, Beverley and a secretary, and was housed in a one-room office at the airport in Tyler, Texas.
Today, Tyler Jet Aircraft includes both sales and interior refurbishment divisions in addition to an FBO operation. The company, of which Beverley is the president and sole proprietor, specializes in the sale of mid-size and large corporate jet aircraft and has nearly 150 employees.
Beverley is also active in commercial and residential property development.
Racing Background:
An avid automotive enthusiast, Beverley was involved in motorsports as a sports car owner and driver for nearly 10 years. His driving career started in open-wheeled Formula Fords and included two seasons in the Shelby Can-Am Series. His driving resume also includes an appearance in the 1989 24 Hours of Daytona, this country's premier sports car race. He has held competition licenses in both the Sports Car Club of America and the International Motor Sports Association. Beverley has also attended stock car driving schools at four different race tracks.
Hobbies:
When time away from his businesses allows, Beverley enjoys boating, water skiing and snow skiing.
