Lois Vance (left) and Lori Hamilton address questions from the media. (Steve Keller/TruckSeries.com Photo)

In a press conference at Daytona International Speedway, Bobby Hamilton Racing has announced the management structure that will carry on and operate the team in the absence of owner and 2004 series driving champion Bobby Hamilton.

Andy Dunlap, Jeff White, and Kip McCord will be in charge of the competition side of the organization. Dunlap will continue his role as Operations Manager, White is the Team Engineer and crew chief of the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge, and McCord will serve as an engineering liaison with Dodge and serve as the test team manager. Hamilton's widow Lori will continue her role as Sponsor Relations Manager.

Additionally the organization has brought on Lois Vance, Senior Vice President of First Tennessee Bank to oversee ownership operations of BHR. Vance was a long time friend of Hamilton, was also the executor of his will.

The Bobby Hamilton Racing team from left, Andy Dunlap, Ken Schrader, Lois Vance, Lori Hamilton, Kip McCord and Chase Miller. (Steve Keller/TruckSeries.com Photo)

"Andy Dunlap was the very first employee at BHR," Lori Hamilton said. "He won a late model championship with Bobby and has been involved with the Truck team since the start. He's going to be the shop foreman. Kip McCord has been with BHR since 2000, and he's won numerous races with various drivers including Bobby. Kip will work with DaimlerChrysler and the test team as our head of research and development. Jeff White was the engineer for Bobby when he won the championship and has been one of the most sought after engineers in the garage, and it was Bobby's final decision to name him crew chief of the No. 18 team."

While the team has been saddened by the loss of its leader, Dunlap said that following the announcement, the operation of the team will not change significantly from what it was six months ago.

"It's pretty much what you see right here," Dunlap said. "Bobby had major decisions and input in things we did.  But what you see up here today is who has been in place for the past six to eight months."

Ken Schrader was chosen by Hamilton to take the reins of the No. 18 Dodge, a ride that Schrader says still belongs to the late team owner.

"This is Bobby's ride, and it always will be," Schrader said. "The guys came to me and said they wanted to keep Bobby's name on the roof, and I want to keep Bobby's name on the roof. They brought in a bunch of shirts the other day, brand new shirts. They said, these shirts were going to be for Bobby, do you want them? And I said heck yes. It means a lot to me to be in the seat of Bobby's truck. He originally asked me to come in and run a few races last year, and then it got bumped to a few more races. It makes me very emotional to think about it. But I am very honored to be the one he asked to take over the wheel for him."

Schrader will run the majority of races in the No. 18 Dodge, but due to scheduling conflicts with his NASCAR Nextel Cup Series program will miss several races. The decision on who will fill in has yet to be made.

"The first race Schrader will miss isn't until April so we have some time to figure that out," Lori Hamilton said. "We have a list of drivers that we're looking at, but we will take our time and make sure we make the right decision."

Vance detailed the current ownership structure of BHR.

"The race team is now owned by the family," Vance said. "The family is consisted of his widow Lori, his son Bobby, and his granddaughter Haley. The exact portion of the company each member of the family will own has yet to be determined."

There have been some controversial comments made by the younger Hamilton, but Vance said despite those comments he is still a part of the team.

"We knew last year that he was going to sign with the Rensi team and go to the Busch Series," Vance said. "Bobby wanted his son to be a part of this team and the doors are always open to him."

Bobby Hamilton Racing is entering its eleventh season of competition in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The team has scored 19 wins with drivers Joe Ruttman, Robert Pressley, Bobby Hamilton, and Chad Chaffin. Additionally, it has earned 21 poles, 78 top five finishes, and 155 top ten finishes.