2006 Disappointments, Changes for 2007
Wednesday, November 22nd, 2006 12:31pm CST
By Tim Spencer, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:348:l]With the exception of the 2006 Banquet that is scheduled for December 1st the season has come to a close with many disappointments and many changes in store for next year already taking place.
Dale Jarrett announced long ago that he would leave Robert Yates Racing at the end of the year to join Michael Waltrip Racing in 2007 as they are one of the new factory teams for Toyota. Jarrett will not only be leaving, but UPS has decided to follow and signed a two year deal with MWR to sponsor Jarrett there.
Jarrett’s time at RYR was one of the longer stays of NASCAR drivers. Jarrett stayed with RYR through the highs and lows of 12 years. Jarrett’s high for the team was when he captured the title for RYR in 1999. In that 12 year tenure the team managed 29 wins and 16 poles.
Jarrett wanted to leave the team on a good note, but it just wasn’t meant to be. His bad luck started in the last practice session when he crashed his primary car and was forced to a back up car which would not run fast enough to make the field and forced him to use a provisional to start the race 41st. Jarrett then found himself a lap down after lap 15 when the team made major adjustments to the car because it was lacking grip. On lap 44 Jarrett receive the “Lucky Dog Award†and was back on the lead lap. With the adjustments not helping Jarrett’s cause on lap 88 he found himself falling into the leaders grip again and went a lap down and finished the race in the 31st spot.
RYR not only will be losing Jarrett, but they also lost Elliot Sadler who has moved over to Dodge to drive for Ray Evernham, a move that happened in the middle of the silly season when Evernham released Jeremy Mayfield. Rookie David Gilliland will be piloting the #38 next in 2007.
Also joining Jarrett at MWR next year will be David Reutiman and of course Michael Waltrip for a total of three teams.
Mayfield, who was put out at Evernham Motorsports will be moving to Bill Davis Racing. Mayfield will be teammates with Dave Blaney.
Mark Martin had a year that many would be proud of. Martin made the Chase, but was not productive in pursuing the Chase as the title eluded him once again. Martin also be ended his ride with Jack Roush Racing at the checkered flag at Homestead. Martin and the Roush Racing spent nearly 20 years together chasing the championship. Martin finished in the top five in points over half of the years that he spent at Roush.
The shock about Martin’s career change has taken the racing industry by surprise. There was rumor that Martin was not going to run in the Cup Series in 2007 that Roush was putting together a truck ride for him. However, Martin has decided to stay in Cup Series. The surprise is that he will not be driving a Ford next year as he will be taking Joe Nemechek’s ride in the MB2 #01 Chevrolet.
Roush had already filled his rides for 2007 when Martin decided to stay in Cup. Roush’s hands were tied as NASCAR has put a limit on the number of cars a team can provide and Martin was forced to look else where for a deal.
Nemecheck will not be replaced as he will just be changing car numbers, #13, as he will continue his stay at MB2.
The 2002 Daytona 500 winner, Ward Burton, also made his come back after nearly two years out of NASCAR. Burton was found driving the later part of the season with Morgan-McClure Motorsports. Burton managed a 25th place finish at Texas, 28th place finish at Phoenix and a 26th place finish at Martinsville. While it may not be a finish a lot of teams would be proud of, it is was of the best finishes that MMM saw all season.
Brian Vickers after posting 23 top ten’s, ten top five’s and one win will be leaving Hendrick Motorsports. Vickers ran for Hendrick for three plus years after being moved into the seat after Ricky Hendrick stepped out of the driver seat. Vickers up and down again year in 2006 even got him eliminated from team meetings after deciding leave Hendrick stables.
Vickers is another one who not only will be changing teams for 2007, but will be changing manufactures. Vickers has signed to drive the #83 Team Red Bull Toyota Camry in 2007 along with AJ Allmendinger who will pilot the #84 for the same team.
As the new season settles upon us in 80 days I’m sure it will prove interest. As these are not the only changes to come, but some that will have major impact on the 2007 season as another Silly Season will commence.
Filed Under: Guest Authors, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Teams, Tim Spencer
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