MWR Reorganizing for 2014

On the heels of an exciting (not for good reasons) 2013 season and the news that Brian Vickers is out of the car for the rest of this year, Michael Waltrip Racing has announced it is reorganizing and cutting back to two cars.

(I presume, that's if they have the sponsorship for two cars.)

What's interesting is that in the announcement, it's made clear that Martin Truex Jr. and crew chief Chad Johnson have been told they are free to look at other teams for the 2014 season.

The announcement also claims they have strong support from some sponsors.

Again, wondering if anyone is looking to back away from the team that has made questionable tactics a fashion statement of sorts?

press release below:

Michael Waltrip Racing announced today its reorganization for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, highlighted by two full-time championship contending teams, a third entry which will run a limited schedule and a strengthened research and development group.

MWR will field the No. 55 Aaron’s Toyota and the No. 15 5-hour ENERGY/PEAK Toyota in its pursuit of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. To enhance performance for its two full-time teams, MWR has bolstered its R&D effort and will run a third car in select races, including Michael Waltrip in the 2014 Daytona 500.

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota and his crew chief, Chad Johnston, each have been notified they are free to negotiate with other teams. Scott Miller, the team’s executive vice president of competition, will continue his role as crew chief of the No. 55 team into the 2014 season.

“Our goals for the reorganization were twofold, firstly to improve the competitiveness of our race teams and, secondly maintain a stable organizational structure,” said co-owner Rob Kauffman. “The team’s focus has been to find that last one percent needed to move from Chase participant to Cup champion. This realignment will get us closer to that last one percent.”

The reorganization enabled MWR to retain more than 85 percent of its current workforce. Those whose positions were affected by the moves were notified Monday morning.

“Today was about doing what we had to do not what we wanted to do,” Kauffman added. “It was important to let those whose jobs were affected know as early as possible, and a majority of those will remain with MWR through the end of the season.”

“We have very strong support from Toyota, Toyota Racing Development, 5-hour ENERGY, PEAK, Aaron’s, AAA Mid-Atlantic and other partners who enable us to compete at the highest level,” said MWR founder and co-owner Michael Waltrip. “We are confident that with two teams and a very active test team, our competiveness will take a step forward. We will also continue to do a great job for our partners off the track, which has always been a cultural staple for our organization.

“Rob and I deeply appreciate everyone who has helped build MWR into a race winning team and we are dedicated to continuing our pursuit of excellence on and off the track.”

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Brian Vickers out for Rest of 2013 Season

Michael Waltrip Racing announced that Brian Vickers will be missing the rest of the 2013 Sprint Cup racing season due to "health issues."

After an exam, Vickers' doctor put him back on blood thinner meds after a clot was discovered in the calf region of one leg.

It's expected that he'll be back in race shape long before the 2014 race season gets underway.

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That's a shame, considering I think this was a great match up for both the team and Vickers.  (Barring the obvious scandals, the team can still perform)

But this casts a shadow over Vicker's as a driver, doesn't it?  I don't mean his talent, but what of his health?

If you get sponsors based on a driver, or the driver brings sponsors, will sponsors still be willing to back a driver whose underlying health condition can wave a red flag at any time?

For some sponsors, I imagine that makes him more of a gamble than normal when sponsoring a driver or his team.

And MWR is already having sponsor issues from their stunts they pulled at Richmond.

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Regardless, I like Brian Vickers abilities on the track and I hope this little set back gets resolved sooner than later and he gets back in good standing with his blood!

In the meantime, Michael Waltrip will be helming the No. 55 car at Talladega this upcoming weekend and a replacement driver for the remainder of the season will be announced.

[MWR press release]

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Is NASCAR's Cheating SpinGate Scandal An Exlusive Anomaly?

NASCAR has been taking a slight beating these days because of the nasty little event being referred to as spingate, where Michael Waltrip Racing had one car seemingly spin intentionally while another car pitted way out of sequence, to help various factors of the outcome of the driver points standings at the race at Richmond a few weeks back.

NASCAR has been handing out penalties and making adjustments on the fly, with the 12, now 13 contenders for the Chase for the Cup, due to these events.  And MWR has lost NAPA as a sponsor.

I was asked the other weekend why some of the sponsors are still on the cars of the other participants of the various teams that are getting caught (up) in this scenario, and the blatant answer is they don't care.

But to be honest, it takes certain obligatory events to create an "out" for a sponsor who has signed a contract with a team that's worth around $10-$30 million a year.

And these days, NASCAR is taking it hard on the nose of this cheating environment.

But let's be honest, who doesn't cheat?  Where the term cheat could be creatively implied from various actions.

Most sports have had some kind of issue or situation in the past that has caught the media's attention.  From video taping the opposing team, to jacking up with performance enhancing drugs, to jockeys hauling back hard on the reigns of a horse to keep it from leaping out in front of the pack at the finish line.

We've seen it all and this is not a new event in the world of sports.

At the moment, it's the biggest scandal going on in the sports world and in some cases, getting some (undue) attention.

The problem I'm having, well, having for, MWR, is that they risked two incredibly great sponsors of the sport for this endgame of theirs that included publicly decrying in various methods that their stunt worked.  And that the stunt was as blatant as it was.

NAPA's had enough.  They're bailing in the middle of a lucrative contract with MWR.  (Yes, contracts have clauses that address these kinds of special moments, giving sponsors an out when their client does dumb shit.)

I wish to apologize to NAPA and 5-Hour Energy.  This Waltrip thing is not exemplary behavior of NASCAR.  Sure, teams find themselves in the grey area from time to time, but these flagrant bonehead moves are not the common practice in the sport. (...that I know of.)

Please, don't leave the sport of NASCAR.  Other teams who are in the thick of good, near-honest competition could use your $10-30 million contracts to keep afloat.  Please find other worthy drivers of your funding to stay around.

That would be appreciated and it would let the fans know it's the sport you support and not just a specific driver.  Though I must say, you have a lot of marketing out there that you're being forced to probably pull to minimize your expsoure to this crap Waltrip pulled.

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NAPA Dropping Out Sponsoring Michael Waltrip Racing

Call it what you may, but it seems that what I'm seeing is that NAPA has had enough of the scandals that come with backing Michael Waltrip.  NAPA is ending their relationship with MWR as the 2013 season comes to a close, all within the wake of the Chase manipulation move the teams tried to pull at Richmond.

That, despite their present contract set to expire after 2015.

NAPA statement:

"NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR.  We remain supportive of the millions of NASCAR fans and will evaluate our future position in motorsports."

Which is a shame for MWR, considering how much of a long-term relationship they've had with Waltrip himself.

In reply, Waltrip himself made the following statement

“NAPA has been with me from winning two Daytona 500s, to missing races with a new start-up team, and back to victory lane again. The relationship grew far past that of just a sponsor, but more of a partner and a friend. We will not be racing a NAPA car in 2014, but I have friendships that will last a lifetime.

“To the fans and those who made their voice heard through social media, as the owner, I am responsible for all actions of MWR. I sincerely apologize for the role our team played and for the lines NASCAR has ruled were crossed by our actions at Richmond. NASCAR met with the competitors in Chicago and we all know how we are expected to race forward.”

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To be honest, someone made an interesting statement to me last weekend.  During the long Chicago race, there was one shot with a few of the drivers that were in question with this Richmond scandal in the same TV shot, and someone tweeted me, saying something to the effect:

It's sad to see that all the drivers who were involved in all the Richmond troubles are all still wearing their sponsors' suits.  I guess the sponsors don't care what happened.

And to be honest, that's an interesting perspective to put on the image they were talking about.

But one thing is for sure... 

If you are going to cheat, try not to advertise it or make hugely obvious radio chatter about what it is you're up to.  Let's try being a bit more clandestine next time guys.  And mark my words, I'm betting this won't the last time a Waltrip tries something fishy.  But it will be a while before he or his team gets comfortable enough again to try something.

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The 2013 Chase Seeing Possibly More Scandal Issues?

Sports... cheating... they go hand in hand.  The only difference is that if you get caught, it's bad.  If you don't, you go on to all that fame and glory that comes with winning.

We've already had one issue with the race to the chase with the Waltrip Racing debacle, and Truex effectively getting pulled from the chase, Newman getting in.

But now, there's new noise on the horizon that it's possible that Joey Logano's team had made a request of Front Row Motorsports driver David Gilliland to let Logano pass him to help him get into the Chase.

And he did, getting in front of Gilliland to secure his spot in the Chase, while Gilliland's lap times dropped by a whole second after that.

As far as what exactly is being reported, there's communications of a request to let Logano pass.  When Gilliland's team inquires who is making the request, the reply is "We've got the big dog and all his cronies."

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Logano doesn't think it's a big deal, but some folks do. 

I received these two NASCAR statements in my inbox, that they sent to the core of press:

NASCAR is aware of reports about the #22 and #38 radio communications at Richmond International Raceway and is looking into it, but has yet to see anything in full context that requires any action.

NASCAR is continuing to gather all the facts from last Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond International Raceway. NASCAR will have no further comment until all the facts have been examined.

To be honest, this doesn't seem as terrible as the MWR thing, but NASCAR could prove me wrong.

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And this is on the heels of NASCAR having dinged MWR rather heavily for manipulating the outcome of the Richmond race with Clint Bowyer spun himself out to bring out the caution.

Though there were other actions involved, where MWR driver Brian Vickers was asked to pit after a green flag, many are focused on Bowyer.  But the other actions, with Vickers pitting, gave Logano more position, enabling him to knock Jeff Gordon out of the 2013 Chase.

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All the while, Carl Edwards has skated any press pressure from his restart where he blatantly beat the leader to the green flag on the final race restart.  Something that NASCAR chose to ignore enforcing.  This time.  (I wish they'd get consistent.)

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NAPA's Take on Waltrip Team Race Fix - Should They Stay or Go?

OK, is "race fix" too strong a word on when Martin Truex Jr.'s teammate intentionally spun his car?  Maybe. or maybe not.  If you look over Michael Waltrip's statement reaction to accepting the penalties, he called the spin a "split-second decision" to pull that move.

But if you look at what transpired before the spin, things don't add up as some sort of on-the-spot decision.

First, the spotter let's the team know Newman is winning.  Then right after that Brian Pattie (Truex's crew chief) says,

"Is your arm starting to hurt?” and
“I bet it’s getting hot in there. Itch it.”

Now I don't know about you...  but being asked if my arm hurts, and being instructed to itch it does not seem like some catch phrases that would trigger me to spin my car out.  Unless this was all a preconceived plan that was concocted prior to the race.

No, as far as I can tell, this half-brained plan that involved open communications before and after the event seemed ... well, half-cocked.  Period.

With that said, NAPA made a public statement about the incident,

"

The actions taken by Michael Waltrip’s Racing team this past weekend leading to the penalties assessed by NASCAR, are very concerning. We are disappointed that a partner associated with our organization would make such a significant error in judgment. In addition, we have launched our own review to determine the future of our partnership with Michael Waltrip’s Racing team. The NAPA AUTO PARTS organization is proud of its long-standing NASCAR relationship. We share a passion with our customers for high quality racing and seek to determine the best course of action for our customers, NASCAR fans, and the NAPA organization.

"

And this would not be the first time NAPA was on board with Waltrip when something huge came down the pipe in regards to an infraction.  (The "additive" incident a few years back at the Daytona 500.)

They stuck by Waltrip and his team after that and since then, so this would be the second time they condone questionable practices, if they don't pull out from the team.

Sure...  Truex MIGHT be an innocent pawn in this plan.  Because you know, the pawn probably wasn't in the team meetings that talked about this, right?  Or he truly could be.  I don't know.  But it doesn't matter.  his name/face are smack dab in the middle of this.

Michael Waltrip Racing Statement On Richmond Penalty

It's been a crazy day in NASCAR... After the incident with Michael Waltrip Racing on Saturday, NASCAR went to work and after reviewing all the information at their disposal, they handed down penalties.

I didn't expect that.

And after the penalties were handed out, I was quietly expecting some kind of appeal from MWR.

But instead, the team got in front of this debacle they created, and said they accept the penalties and will move forward.

Leave it to Waltrip to hit it big in the penalties department again.  Remember the "not jet fuel" issue from 2007?  Well, this one seems just as insidious.

The thing is, had they not been so blatant about this stunt, from the obvious radio chatter to the lame duck explanations, and Michael telling Martin he has the best teammates ever... it all just added up to the layman watching it.  Who knows what NASCAR had access to.

I remember hearing the rumored (alleged) stories about his older brother, Darrel, and though that kind of stuff can't happen in this era.  But Mikey keeps trying... that's for sure.

Check out the press release MWR released this evening"

"Michael Waltrip Racing accepts the penalties issued by NASCAR this evening and plans to move forward in the 2013 season.

Michael Waltrip, founder and co-owner of MWR: “What occurred on the No. 55 radio at the end of Saturday night’s race in Richmond was a split-second decision made by team spotter Ty Norris to bring the No. 55 to pit lane and help a teammate earn a place in the Chase. We regret the decision and its impact. We apologize to NASCAR, our fellow competitors, partners and fans who were disappointed in our actions. We will learn from this and move on. As general manager, Ty Norris has been an integral part of Michael Waltrip Racing since its founding and has my and (co-owner) Rob Kauffman’s full support.”"

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Michael Waltrip Racing PENALIZED Following Richmond Race, Newman Benefits

I'm surprised, but it looks like justice is being served by NASCAR after the questionable tactics that Michael Waltrip Racing appeared to pull off.

NASCAR came down with a hammer on MWR....  And Ryan Newman sees the light of day!!!

See the press release below

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NASCAR Penalizes Michael Waltrip Racing

Following Event At Richmond International Raceway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2013) – NASCAR has issued penalties to Michael Waltrip Racing following the sanctioning body’s review of Saturday’s race at Richmond International Raceway.

MWR was found to have violated Section 12-4 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing). As a result, MWR’s three teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (No. 15, 55, 56) have been penalized with the loss of 50 championship driver and 50 championship owner points, respectively.

These point penalties are assessed following the season’s 26th regular season race and not after the seeding for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Therefore, the point total for the No. 56 car driven by Martin Truex Jr. is reduced to 691, putting him in 17th position and eliminating him from the second Wild Card berth for the Chase field. Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 car, now moves up into the Chase as the second Wild Card participant.

NASCAR has also fined the MWR organization $300,000 and indefinitely suspended Ty Norris, MWR Executive Vice President/General Manager and spotter for the No. 55 car, for violating Section 12-4. The three crew chiefs – Brian Pattie (No. 15), Scott Miller (No. 55) and Chad Johnston (No. 56) – have all been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

“Based upon our review of Saturday night’s race at Richmond, it is our determination that the MWR organization attempted to manipulate the outcome of the race,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “As the sport’s sanctioning body, it is our responsibility to ensure there is a fair and level playing field for all of our competitors and this action today reflects our commitment to that.”

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Is Edwards in Deep? Did Bowyer Really Do That?

NASCAR Released the following statement today (9-8-13):

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 8, 2013) – “NASCAR is reviewing Saturday night’s race at Richmond International Raceway per protocol and has no plans for further statement until that process is complete.”

I'm wondering who they're talking about?  LOL.

OK, more than likely, it's that questionable last restart where Carl Edwards blew off the race leader, Paul Menard and got to the restart line before Menard.  It was so blatant a blind man could see it!

And Edwards was not black flagged for the deed.

That is where I think NASCAR is focused.

But then there's Michael Waltrip Racing.

That restart that allowed Carl Edwards to jump the start with three laps to go was brought about by a single-car spin by Clint Bowyer.

It was called a suspect spin by many last night and today.

If Bowyer had not spun, it looked like Ryan Newman, with a surmountable lead, would have won.  And that win would have eliminated Martin Truex Jr. from the season closing Chase for the Championship.

But instead, after a snag of a pit stop, Newman did not win the race and Martin Truex Jr. got into the Chase.

It's here that things start to look interesting, from the outside, looking in.

First up:

Statements from Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was behind Boyer when he spun, who said,

"

He just spun right out.  That’s the craziest thing I ever saw. He just came right around.

He was hemming around on the brakes and jerking the car around, and then the thing just spun out. It was crazy. I don’t know what was going on.

"
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Then there were statements made by Bowyer himself about the spin:

Brian Vickers Goes Full-Time in the No. 55 Car

Brian Vickers fans are going to be very happy, being that Aaron's just signed a multi-year agreement with Michael Waltrip Racing to sponsor the No. 55 car with Brian Vickers behind the wheel!

I think this is great news for Vickers, being able to get back behind a wheel full-time.

Having driven for the team before, and done well doing it, I expect some pretty big things for Brian next year and then some!

via press release:

Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) announced today it has reached a multi-year agreement to sponsor Brian Vickers in Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 55 Toyota Camry in every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

 “Aaron’s is a championship organization – and Brian Vickers and the No. 55 team are a championship caliber team," said Ronald W. Allen, Aaron's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our customers are enthusiastic and loyal NASCAR fans and we are proud to support a sport they are passionate about. We are looking forward to continued success with Brian Vickers both on and off the track.”

 Vickers has raced the No. 55 on a part-time basis the last two seasons for MWR posting several impressive performances including his third career victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14.Beginning in 2014, he'll pilot the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine with a fresh new paint scheme, unveiled today at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, in every race.“I can’t put into words how this makes me feel,” said the 29 year-old Vickers. “I’ve really found my home at MWR over the past few years have, and I've enjoyed getting know the Aaron's associates and customers. I am honored Aaron’s is welcoming me into their family full-time. Knowing that I have a top-notch team and a dedicated sponsor for a full season is a really great feeling every driver dreams about, and like everyone else, I want to win races and win a championship. Michael and co-owner Rob Kauffman are really building something special at MWR and are giving me the tools to accomplish those goals.”

 “Aaron’s is a cornerstone to MWR's success.  This is a big announcement today because it shows a tremendous vote of confidence in the sport of NASCAR and the entire Michael Waltrip Racing organization,” said Michael Waltrip founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. “The relationship with Aaron’s is very personal to me because they helped place Michael Waltrip Racing on the map in 2000 when I was running a half dozen Nationwide Series races from a small garage in my backyard. Now they are enabling MWR to continue its growth as we will have three drivers racing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in 2014 and beyond. So much of this confidence comes from the NASCAR fans who continue to support the sponsors of our teams. I want to sincerely thank the NASCAR fans who are Aaron’s customers because you make this all happen,” said Waltrip.

Aaron’s support of NASCAR goes beyond its support of MWR. In 2002, the company became a title sponsor of Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, with the Aaron’s 312 Nationwide Series race and the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup race. 

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Mark Martin, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick: News and Perspectives

Mark Martin is looking to help the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing machine to perform to the best of their ability... and he has no plans or confirming any plans for anything in 2014.  At least for now.

In 2013 he'll be behind the wheel in 24 races.

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Kurt Busch had a quiet off-season.  We didn't hear about him cussing out any press or getting arrested for anything.

So that means he can focus on his newish ride with Furniture Row Racing.  I almost forgot he started with the team in the last 6 races last year with the team.

There's also a good chance that Kurt can be looking at a long-term contract with FRR.  ANd I presume, that's contingent on his not blowing up any time soon at anyone or anything.

And team general manager Joe Garone said they want Kurt to focus more on the car than anything else, and to relax about any image issues.

And that may very well be the key to helping him mellow out, to not keep him focused on the very thing that has riled him up.

He should make a good showing this year with FRR.  We'll see.

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I almost forgot that amongst all the news of the upcoming season, that Kevin Harvick is leaving RCR for Stewart-Haas Racing.  And Richard Childress himself confirmed where Harvick is going.

Harvick and SHR have not confirmed or deny the move.  Contractual obligations are just plucky annoying.

It will be a good year for Harvick to show just what he can do.  He's been subtle and quiet in a consistent fashion.  Nothing that stood out with winning lots of races, but he's always been in the hunt.

There's just one magical piece of "go" that's been missing and if they hit that mark, he could be a force to contend with.

And once he leaves RCR, no news is floating around as to whether Budweiser will be going with Harvick or staying with RCR.

If (really?  If?) Austin Dillon steps into the car in 2014, one has to wonder if Budweiser will take a chance with this young, proven performer.

--Bruce

Michael Waltrip Racing Makes It's First Chase in 2012

I'm not sure about you, but I think it's pretty neat to see the relatively new race team of Michael Waltrip Racing achieve a milestone by making it into the 2012 Chase for the Cup.  Actually, they nabbed two spots!

That means two teams in the top-12, when, in 2009, their best points finish was 16th (David Reutimann).

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Michael Waltrip Racing "went live" and full time in 2007 and hasn't looked back.  Sure, it was a bit bumpy, but all new race teams have some hurdles to get through.  With MWR, that hurdle was getting their first win, which came in 2009.  This year, Martin Truex Jr. (fifth) and Clint Bowyer (eighth) are the drivers setting this precedent for MWR.

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For Truex, despite no wins this year, he is having his best season to date.  He's tied his single-season record for top-10 finishes (14).  He's one top-5 finish away from matching is personal best (7).

I'd watch for him to have some more success before the year is out.

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This is Clint Bowyer's 3rd time being in the Chase.  He previously was in it in 2008 and 2010. (What's up withe the even-numbered years?)

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I had an impromptu conversation with Michael Waltrip back at Sonoma on pit road while we were hanging out waiting for the start of the race.  He looked proud of what his team was accomplishing this year.  He made mention how he really enjoyed that his teams were further up front in the line-up and that he could get used to it.

It looks like he is doing just that.

Martin Truex Jr. is Close To Signing

Word on the street is that Martin Truex Jr. is close to signing a contract extension with Michael Waltrip Racing.

Expectations are looking at an announcement as early as Atlanta, Word is that there wasn't a real worry about Martin leaving, but just getting some details worked out between the entities of Truex Jr. and MWR.

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It's been fun to watch Martin Truex Jr. come up through the ranks.  I was lucky enough to catch some televised local regional events he was in some years ago and when he first came on the scene in NASCAR, the talent was evident.  Then the fun for his fans has ensued ever since.

Never mind his driving for the relatively new race team of Michael Waltrip Racing.

If you are a fan of both, it's quite the fan experience indeed!

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Martin Truex Jr. is 5th in the Sprint Cup driver standings.

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[thatsracing]

Michael Waltrip Gets Owners Points To Git Into the Daytona 500

I'm wondering how confused the casual NASCAR fans are getting with all this "owners points" swapping taking place, going into the Daytona 500.

Michael Waltrip Racing snagged themselves a deal that nets them owners points from FasLane Racing for Michaels No. 55 Toyota team, which will be driven by Mark Martin.

Thus. now Mark Martin has a guaranteed spot in the Daytona 500 this year while Faslane will be using a Past Champion Provisional for their driver, Terry Labonte.

But... check out the musical points game

After the D500, FasLane will get the No. 6 points from Roush Fenway Racing.

News and Notes for the Upcoming Atlanta Race

Let's take a look at a few things that might be eye catchers at the track!

Georgia natives at the track this weekend: David Ragan (Unadilla) – No. 6 driver
Reed Sorenson (Peachtree City) – No. 43 driver
Brian Taylor (Cuthbert) – No. 14 mechanic
Shannon Keys (Byron) – No. 8 front tire carrier
Adam North (Sonoraville) – No. 31 jack man
Dion Williams (Atlanta) – No. 5 rear tire carrier
Dwayne Moore (Griffin) – No. 55 rear tire carrier
Jason Jones (Rhine) – No. 5 pit support
Matt Skeen (Stone Mountain) – No. 88 pit support

Atlanta Motor Speedway is in its 50th season of hosting NASCAR events and Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 will be the 100th race in the series.

Michael Waltrip Racing Is In Our Face!
The biggest surprise of the season, though it's only been a couple of races, is that both Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota teams are in the top 12.

David Reutimann comes to Atlanta 5th in the standings while Michael Waltrip is 12th.

Michael has also made a promise to all of us out here in the land of fans: He said that if his results do not improve this year, he would retire at season's end!

Do You Think You'd Ever See the No 20 Toyota 32nd in Points?
There are only two races to go before the weekly 35 guaranteed starting spots will be based on this season's car owner points and for some, there are a few surprises sitting out there.

The No. 20 Toyota driven by Joey Logano is 32nd.
The No. 39 Chevrolet driven by Ryan Newman is 33rd.
The No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Mark Martin is 34th.

I'm not sure which one I'm surprised more by! Probably the Mark Martin bit.

Source: NASCAR Media, (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images)

Allmendinger Has a Ride at Charlotte

Michael McDowell was pulled from the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 00 Toyota after failing to qualify in Kansas to try and get the car back up into the top 35 in points before the end of the year.

Kenny Wallace finished the No. 00 Toyota in 12th at Talladega last Sunday and with the top 35 in mind, Michael Waltrip is turning to A.J. Allmendinger to get the job done at Charlotte this upcoming weekend.

I can't imagine how it feels for McDowell, but this is a great, albeit temporary good thing for 'Dinger.

source

Reutimann and Aaron's Together for 2009

In one of the longest running associations between a driver/owner and sponsor in NASCAR racing, it was announced on August 22 that Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership will be the 2009 sponsor of the No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine for 18 races. The No. 00 is driven by David Reutimann.

Aaron's will also be sponsoring the No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine in the Nationwide series for 10 races. The No. 99 will have it's driving duties split between Reutimann and Michael Waltrip.

2009 season will be the 10th year that Michael Waltrip represents Aaron's.

source

Aaron's: The nation’s leader in the rental, sales and lease ownership, and specialty retailing of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics and home appliances and accessories.

Waltrip and NAPA Just Keep On Going

On Friday, NAPA and Michael Waltrip Racing announced their ongoing relationship and is headed into the record books (If there is one for this) as one of the longest sponsor/driver relationships in NASCAR history.

Waltrip's relationship with NAPA is going on 9 years starting next year.

We as fans should try to recognize this achievement in the era of fickle dollars and tough economy and take our wallets to this rare and unique show of solidarity for a driver / team who does more than maybe win for their sponsor, but puts on a good commercial too!

Source: NASCAR

JGR, MWR, Penske Racing, Petty Racing News

The following link has a statement from J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) since October 1997, about the return of his father, Joe Gibbs, to JGR after spending the past four years as head coach of the NFL’s Washington Redskins. JGR
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Paul Andrews, the crew chief for the 55 car in Michael Waltrip Racing, has 30 years of racing experience working for teams such as Petty Enterprises, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), Roush Racing, Penske-Kranefuss (Penske) Racing, and Alan Kulwicki Racing. During his tenure at DEI, Paul Andrews got to know Michael Waltrip while serving as crew chief to Steve Park. As Waltrip recorded four NASCAR Cup wins from 2001 READ MORE over at MWR
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Veteran Crew Chief Carrier To Lead Sam Hornish's #77 Sprint Cup Team for 2008. See Penske Racing for more details.
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As you all may be aware, Petty Racing has completed it's move to Mooresville and is prepared for the 2008 season and the third day of Daytona Speed Tests put the car 28th fastest of the bunch for the third day. pettyracing.com

McDowell to Succeed Ruetimann

It is expected that Dale Jarrett will be retiring later this (mid) season.

This will open up the opportunity for David Reutimann to slide over to the No. 44 car and bring ARCA runner-up champ, Michael McDowell into the No. 00. The changes are expected to occur at the Martinsville race in March.

Check out the details over at doyounascar