[Racer Duck]

With all the hoopla over Jr's news conference today, this little item may be overlooked: Former champion to drive for Waltrip on road courses - NASCAR - Yahoo! Sports

Any comments?

[simple simon]

grasping at straws is surely one way to look at it ...... i prefer to think of it as a smart business choice

he seems to be doing what is best for the team ..... cant be easy to put your pride aside and put someone else in your car

[jks812]

Why is it called grasping at straws when Mikey does it, but not when Woods put Bill Elliott in his car for the provisionals? I don't like this provisional rule and they should gt rid of it. But as long as it's there, he might as well use it like some of the others have.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by jks812

Why is it called grasping at straws when Mikey does it, but not when Woods put Bill Elliott in his car for the provisionals? I don't like this provisional rule and they should gt rid of it. But as long as it's there, he might as well use it like some of the others have.

The difference between Mikey and Wood Brothers is intent. Elliott was hired to work with Schrader to improve the team after their slide out of the "chosen". Mikey's never been in the "chosen". Bill has qualified on speed more often than he's used his provisionals, so they're getting additional benefit in their rebuilding from him.

Mikey's struggling to even make races .. in fact, Mikey is usually one of the slowest in qualifying. Add in the fact that road courses aren't his bag, it only makes sense to get a "ringer" (aka T. Labonte) who also happens to have some provisionals available and is probably one of a very few drivers who is willing to drive an MWR car...

"Grasping at Straws" might not be exactly what's going on, but he's desperate to get his car in the field (NAPA pressure????). at least now it appears his brain has overcome his massive ego...

Makes you wonder if his Nit brother, Dim, turned him down, doesn't it?

[jks812]

I imagine he is desperate to get his car in the field, he should be. I wouldn't mind if he took himself out and just put Terry, or at this point anybody, in the car for at least the rest of this year.

[Racer Duck]

I'm beginning to believe there's something wrong in the whole MWR organizaiton. they have 3 drivers and yet they hardly make a race. I feel for Reutimann 'cause he was making races driving for DW. And he's been able to do more than the other 2 out of MWR's stable .. but it isn't enough. the kid needs some help, he can't do it alone...

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I'm beginning to believe there's something wrong in the whole MWR organizaiton. they have 3 drivers and yet they hardly make a race. I feel for Reutimann 'cause he was making races driving for DW. And he's been able to do more than the other 2 out of MWR's stable .. but it isn't enough. the kid needs some help, he can't do it alone...

RD i believe the major part of the problem is the equipment. As for Reutimann makin races for DW... well that would be because racin in the truck series is so different from cup cars. You could beat the hell out of those trucks and still could contend for the win. Much different situation(and better racin) there. DJ had a few(and I stress few) good runs. I think one race he was actually movin up through the field and was wrecked... the next week his tire fell off. Mikey however... it doesn't maytter what equipment he has... he doesn't have the talent to drive it... unless it's a DEI restrictor car. JMHO

[wardfan]

With Labonte they get 6 more past champion provisionals, right? My guess is Labonte will drive more than just the road course

[tkj24]

Originally Posted by wardfan

With Labonte they get 6 more past champion provisionals, right? My guess is Labonte will drive more than just the road course

Could be. Who then after Terry uses his? Richard Petty? David Pearson?

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by wardfan

With Labonte they get 6 more past champion provisionals, right? My guess is Labonte will drive more than just the road course

question is, which car?

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

question is, which car?

nascar.com reports the 55 on the road courses.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Quality88

RD i believe the major part of the problem is the equipment. As for Reutimann makin races for DW... well that would be because racin in the truck series is so different from cup cars. You could beat the hell out of those trucks and still could contend for the win. Much different situation(and better racin) there. DJ had a few(and I stress few) good runs. I think one race he was actually movin up through the field and was wrecked... the next week his tire fell off. Mikey however... it doesn't maytter what equipment he has... he doesn't have the talent to drive it... unless it's a DEI restrictor car. JMHO

if it's the equipment, how do you explain Blaney and Vicker's successes? even Mayfield has had some good runs. I don't buy that arguement. Unless MWR screwed up the platform BDR/TRD gave them, there's nothing other than the people left. the other teams are starting to show promise - MWR still isn't.

[wardfan]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

question is, which car?

The 55 car

[simple simon]

Terry Labonte will drive the No. 55 Toyotas in place of Michael Waltrip for the NASCAR Nextel Cup road course races at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen, the team announced Tuesday morning.


“It’s not an easy decision for me to remove myself from the car, but I know it is for the betterment of our whole program,” said Waltrip, who has failed to qualify for all but two of this season's Cup races. “I know Terry’s experience and road race savvy will breathe a breath of fresh air into my young team.”


Labonte finished third in last year's race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., where the Cup circuit will race on June 24. He also has six career top-10 finishes at Watkins Glen in New York.
By DAVID POOLE - dpoole@charlotteobserver.com

That's Racin' | 06/12/2007 | Labonte replacing Waltrip in No. 55 Toyota

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

if it's the equipment, how do you explain Blaney and Vicker's successes? even Mayfield has had some good runs. I don't buy that arguement. Unless MWR screwed up the platform BDR/TRD gave them, there's nothing other than the people left. the other teams are starting to show promise - MWR still isn't.

I'll point out again, that Jarrett had a couple of races where he was startin to make headway before being wrecked and losin a tire. Yes other teams have showed promise.... some in shorter amount of time. But they haven't all been performing well all the time. I would love to see DJ in a car that was good like a Gibbs, Childress or even (forgive me for sayin this) a Hendrick car... good equipment. That is the problem at RYR right now. They let the sport pass them up and now they are tryin to catch up. I think the situation at MWR is they just screwed the pooch and their equipment just doesn't match up.