Philip Morris joins R&S Race Cars for 2020 LMSC effort

The King of the Late Model Stocks will team up with one of the most successful car builders in the discipline for the 2020 season.

Philip Morris will drive the R&S Race Cars No. 19 Toyota Camry house car in pursuit of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly championship with company co-founder Marcus Richmond serving as crew chief.

Richmond revealed the launch of R&S in December alongside business partner Steve Stallings following a stint with Kyle Busch Motorsports in both the NASCAR Truck Series and short track racing across Kyle Busch Motorsports and Nelson Motorsports.

Morris is a five-time NASCAR weekly division national champion who has earned 294 Late Model victories – 229 on pavement and 65 on dirt.

“I am honored and grateful to be able to work with Steve Stallings and Marcus Richmond for the 2020 season,” Morris said. “They bring the highest level of experience and ingenuity to motorsports and business. Success, professionalism and achievement are synonymous with the names Stallings and Richmond.

“My goal for 2020 is to put forth my best effort, focus and dedication to victory that Steve and Marcus are accustomed to and exemplify in their respective fields. I am renewed with confidence and anticipation for the drop of the green flag on the 2020 season piloting the R&S-prepared Camry.”

R&S Race Cars has locations in both Concord, North Carolina and Cluster Springs, Virginia and will showcase its turnkey capabilities with Morris behind the wheel.

“We’re honored to have Philip Morris drive our R&S Race Cars Toyota this season,” Richmond said. “We’re looking forward to having Philip’s knowledge, experience and ability to win races in our in-house car. His input can not only help us win races, but also help us improve our product for our customers.

“The number 19 is sentimental to me,” Richmond continued. “My dad ran that number when he raced, and I also ran it when I raced a little bit in my early years.”

“I’m very excited that we have secured one of the best Late Model Stock Car drivers, Philip Morris, to drive our very first in-house R&S Race Car chassis,” Stallings. “It’s a super competitive class and having Philip as a driver will give us the edge we need to win right out of the gate. With Marcus (Richmond) as crew chief and Philip driving, I could not have asked for a better scenario starting this new venture.”

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