Car number 89 has started 262 races and has 4 win, 3 poles, 60 top 5s, 135 top 10s, and 138 DNFs in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Morgan Shepherd has the most starts in car #89 with 32 from 2002-2006. In 2002, at the age of 62, the longtime NASCAR driver decided to found his own raceteam. Morgan Shepherd Motorsports fielded the #89 car in select races during these years, attempting to qualify for 32 races in 2004. The team frequently failed to qualify for races, and lack of sponsorship money caused the team to start and park frequently. In 2004, Shepherd ran the entire races at Martinsville and Daytona, finishing 32nd and 33rd respectively.
After the 2006 season Shepherd shut down his Cup team to focus on the XFINITY series, where he drove his #89. Shepherd became the oldest driver to lead a Nationwide Series race at the age of 70 when he led 3 laps in the 2012 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Shepherd extended this record when he led one lap in the 2016 Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. Shepherd was 74 during this race, he again extended the record when he led during the 2016 Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona. The record was extended once more during the 2017 VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at the Darlington Raceway at age 75.
2017 marked Shepherd’s 50th year behind the wheel of a race car, and his 40th year competing in NASCAR. In 2018 he drove in the XFINITY Series and qualified for 20 races with a best finish of 32nd at Indy. After failing to qualify for several events, Morgan opted to act as an owner instead of a driver, fielding Landon Cassill behind the wheel of the number 89. The COVID19 pandemic and the subsequent adjustments to race purses parked the #89 team. In November of 2020, Morgan revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, and the team has not fielded an entry since.
Neil “Soapy” Castles started the #89 car 27 times, running the full 1965 season and 1 race in 1966.
Buck Baker started #87 a total of 25 times between 1952, 1955, 1959 & 1962. He earned 2 wins in the number, in 1952 & 1955.
Buck’s son Buddy Baker would also make 10 career start in #89- 9 starts in 1959 & 1 start in 1964.
Jim Sauter drove the #89 car in 23 sporadic starts from 1985-1993, never starting more than 6 races per year.
Joe Lee Johnson drove the #89 in 14 career races- 8 in 1960 and 6 in 1961. Joe Lee won the inaugural World 600 (now Coca Cola 600) at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960.
Other notable name in #89
Rodney Combs, 10 starts
Buddy Shuman, 8 starts, 1 win
Wendell Scott, 6 starts
Tiny Lund, 5 starts
Ned Jarrett, 3 starts
Tim Flock, 2 starts
Dennis Setzer, 1 start
Michael Waltrip, 1 start
Patty Moise, 1 start