[Team Yates]

Kenny Wallace in the #00 at Talladega: Michael Waltrip Racing announced that Kenny Wallace will attempt to qualify the #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota at Talladega Superspeedway for the Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 on Sunday. Michael Waltrip Racing made the decision to make a driver change starting this weekend. The team is regrouping after failing to qualify last weekend at Kansas Speedway. The status for the remaining six races this year is being determined. Michael McDowell, who has five top-25 finishes in 20 starts during his rookie season, is still an option. Each event will be determined by who may be able to best help the #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota team reach their goal of finishing the season in the top 35 owner points standings. "We have a singular focus with the #00 team now and that is to get it in the top 35 in owner’s points when the checkered flag falls at Homestead-Miami," Waltrip said. "This is not about an individual, it is about an organization. Kenny has a lot of experience restrictor plate racing and a lot of friends who trust him, which is critical at that race. He has a great record at Talladega and we felt like he was our best shot at scoring maximum points. We’re going to make the same evaluation for the remaining 2008 Sprint Cup races," Waltrip continued. "That could include multiple drivers based on their experiences at particular tracks. Teams have done this at road course events and we have the flexibility to do this with the remaining oval races." Wallace drove the #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine for Waltrip at Talladega Superspeedway in 2004. Now, Wallace returns to the organization looking to top his runner-up finish he scored at the 2.66-mile tri-oval in 2000 where he pushed the late Dale Earnhardt to his final Cup victory. Wallace was driving for Andy Petree in the #55 numbered car. Wallace’s best qualifying effort at Talladega to date is third (October 1999) and in his most recent attempt (April 2007) he started sixth.
"Michael and I have been friends for a long time," said Wallace, who has two top-five and six top-10s in 23 starts at Talladega. "I watched him bring his vision to life and become a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner. I’m proud of everything he has accomplished and I’m proud that I was able to be one of the first Cup drivers to help him. I vividly remember the small garage he worked out of before taking his organization to the top level. I'm looking forward to returning to Michael Waltrip Racing and helping the team get back inside the top 35."(Michael Waltrip Racing PR)(10-1-200

[mccastle]

I have a question. Kenny drives a chevy in the nationwide series correct. But he will drive a Toyota in cup this weekend. Same for Mike isn't he driving a chevy for Childress this weekend yet he drives a toyota in nationwide. Do the manufacturers care?

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by mccastle

I have a question. Kenny drives a chevy in the nationwide series correct. But he will drive a Toyota in cup this weekend. Same for Mike isn't he driving a chevy for Childress this weekend yet he drives a toyota in nationwide. Do the manufacturers care?

I have been wonderin the same thing, though I haven't heard anythin about disgruntled manufacturers. I would have to think they have appproval from sponsors, or they don't have any contractual agreements with manufacturers that prevent them from drivin another make.

[loco4pablo]

Since these two drivers aren't top paid drivers with big factory support, I'm sure they have a clause allowing them to do things like this.
Trust me, if it was someone like Hamlin, Bush, Gordon or even Keslowski tried this there would be some issues.

[loco4pablo]

Also remember this year Stremme drove a Chevy for RWI. BUT he also was a test driver Penske! I think it depends how much the manufacturer has invested in the driver and future plans.

Also Boris Said drove a dodge for GEM

[Racer Duck]

The "pecking order" for Driver "obligations" is a follows:

• Personal Service (like Earnhardt, Jr representing Wranger)
• Full-time Car Owner (including car's sponsors and factory support)
• Part-Time Car Owner (including car's sponsors and factory support, ir any)
• Ad hoc and short term obligations (benefits, Prelude, etc.)

Naturally the higher up the pecking order, the more important that entity's desires are. It doesn't matter what series the driver normally competes in. (But owners are clearly aware of their series pecking order and know, if they're a junior series owner and a senior series owner comes knocking, it's in their best interest to "cooperate".)

Since these guys don't normally have designated rides in Cup, they're free to freelance as long as it doesn't interfere with their "real job".

[bob101]

Pretty much what Racer Duck said.

It's been rumored that Toyota was less than thrilled with Tony Stewart keeping his personal services contract with Chevrolet and even in one commercial he comes out and stares at a Corvette that's very easily identifiable.

You often see guys at the top who own teams in other series that race under a different brand...unless they are the blue chip types like Gordon who also has a personal services contract with GM.