ALIQUIPPA, Pa. – Tim Shaffer and his crew chief Cody Jacobs have parted ways with Demyan-Rudzik Racing, effective immediately.
Demyan-Rudzik Racing made the announcement via the team’s official Twitter account early Friday afternoon.
DR Racing and Tim Shaffer along with Cody Jacobs have mutually decided to split ways. We want to thank them for the last couple years of racing and wish them both the best in their futures.
— Demyan-Rudzik Racing (@DR_Racing) August 16, 2019
Shaffer joined Demyan-Rudzik Racing in 2016 and has scored multiple wins with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions. He also earned a $100,000 payday last year for winning the Sprint Car World Championship at Mansfield (Ohio) Motor Speedway.
The four-time All Star champion and winner of the 50th Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway has earned four wins this year aboard the No. 49x Demyan-Rudzik Racing, most recently at Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania against the World of Outlaws.
Shaffer’s last race with Demyan-Rudzik Racing was the 59th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals, where he finished 21st in the 50-lap main event last Saturday night.
When reached by phone Friday afternoon, Shaffer said he was informed of the team’s decision to part ways Friday morning.
“It was news to me at about 10 o’clock this morning,” Shaffer said. “They put in there where both agreed to part ways. Well, they agreed to part their way. I didn’t know nothing about it 10 o’clock this morning.
“It was a great four years or whatever we had. We worked so hard to build a team to be very competitive. We could go anywhere and race with anybody and go win. I thought that was pretty special. For it to just fall apart like this, I don’t understand.”
The suddenness of his departure from Demyan-Rudzik Racing leaves Shaffer unsure of his next move. With so few quality sprint car rides available, Shaffer said finding a new ride will be easier said than done.
“There are very few out there. That’s the problem nowadays,” Shaffer said. “We don’t have the owners and teams out there like we use to. The teams we do have out there, these younger guys come in with money. I’m just old school. I don’t have that. It is what it is. Not sure what I’m going to do.”