By 2001 Brett Bodine was the only remaining owner/driver competing full  time in the NASCAR Cup Series. While common just a few years earlier, single car owner/driver teams had generally become uncompetitive in NASCAR as the sport became increasingly dependent on engineering, testing data, and sponsorship dollars.  Darrel Waltrip's #17 team had fallen from top 10 placings in the 1991, 1992, and 1994 standings to 29th place in 1996; Waltrip would sell his team partway into the 1998 season after his struggles continued in 1997 and 1998. Ricky Rudd's #10 team had fallen from 6th place in the 1996 standings to 31st place in 1999 even with consistent sponsorship from Tide; Rudd sold his team following the 1999 season.  Bill Elliott's #94 team had fallen from 8th place in the 1995 and 1997 standings to 21st place in 1999 even with consistent sponsorship from McDonald's; Elliott would sell his team following another disappointing performance in 2000. Geoff Bodine's #7 team had fallen from 16th place in the 1995 standings to 27th place in 1998; Geoff sold his team following the 1998 season.