Waltrip & Toyota

[madfinnhockey]

Well, how long do you think it will be before NAPA pulls its sponsorship?
I was reading today they (NAPA) are aren't very happy, and even NASCAR has sent some of their people to Waltrips shop to try to figure out whats going on (apparently they can't even get some of their cars to pass pre-race inspection, they won't fit the templates). And Toyota engineers have been sent in to help too.

I really though that with the size and money behind Toyota, and their success in the truck series they would have done a lot better by now.

What do you think...

[Nascarcamping]

I have said since day 1 that this is the strangest thing ever, I just dont see MW having the leadership skills that are needed to pull this off.

Not to mention driving skills....

I dont see a good outcome to this

[rcushenberry1]

Mikey needs to let Buffy run the Race Shop and hire a replacement driver for himself. That's what Richard Childress did in the 70's and look at him now.

[Nascarcamping]

That would be a great idea and good place to start

[hipower]

Buffy is a lot easier on the eyes than Mikey too.

[racemommy]

I dont see a good outcome to this


I'm afraid I have to agree...I definately think it will get uglier before it gets any prettier.

[Fundytrail]

According to a report in today's Winston Salem Journal, rumours are swirling that Michael Waltrip Racing is on the verge of sponsorship problems - and that in order to appease NAPA (whose brand has failed to appear in the last six Nextel Cup races because Waltrip's No. 55 failed to qualify) - Waltrip is refunding the company $300,000 per race missed. There is also speculation that Waltrip may put former series champion Bill Elliott in the car for a limited schedule. Elliott would have six former champion provisionals that would help get the car in the shows..

[bigolepig]

Strategically that would be the thing to do. Would atleast get the car in the show and a chance for things to get sorted out...I naturally root for the underdog and I hate for him or his teams not to make it in any race.

[skipdjfan]

I am a little surprised Toyota didn’t buy into an established team instead of going with MW. They had to realize this wasn’t going to be easy. Either that or Mickey is the BEST used car salesman there is.

[Fundytrail]

Even Toyota is surprised by the manufacturer's dismal showing thus far in the NASCAR Nextel Cup season...A report by the Associated Press quotes a Toyota official as saying: “We certainly didn’t expect all seven cars to make every race, but we didn’t really think it would be this bad,” said Jim Aust, president of Toyota Racing Development. “Here at Phoenix, we figured we wouldn’t get seven in, but we thought it would be five, not three.” Aust says Toyota and Michael Waltrip Racing are starting from scratch to build a new car which they will test and then share the info with the other Toyota teams. Aust expects an improvement by the Charlotte races in May...

[racemommy]

I think most of, if not all, of the established teams have contracts with their car manufacturers. Toyota had to go with a new team that didn't have a contract yet, or find one that wasn't renewing their contract with their current manufacturer, which from my understanding doesn't happen all that often. There is way to much time and money involved to just switch manufacturers.

[Fundytrail]

NASCAR is rumoured to be considering a change to current qualifying policies, specifically the top 35 guarantee scenario. With an average 50 cars competing for 43 spots this year, many good teams are going home - including Michael Waltrip, whose No. 55 Napa entry missed its eight consecutive show at Talladeaga last weekend - even though he was the 20th-fastest car in time trials. Waltrip spent much of the weekend lobbying NASCAR to make changes to the system; many top series stars have spoken out during recent interviews TV shows to support a fastest 43 scenario.

[Nascarcamping]

I heard them on Inside Nextel Cup talking about this, where and when did this talk all begin?

Was it initiated by Waltrip?

[Fundytrail]

I heard them on Inside Nextel Cup talking about this, where and when did this talk all begin?

Was it initiated by Waltrip?

I'm not sure who started these talks but you can be sure both Toyota & Waltrip would like to see it happen. I first say the info on a link to NASCAR news not sure which site in particular :oops:

[Fundytrail]

The latest;
Michael Waltrip Racing has signed former NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Terry Labonte to drive the No. 55 at Infineon Speedway June 24 and Watkins Glen August 12. Labonte will replace team owner Michael Waltrip in the driver's seat of the 55 car for those races.

[DaleJr]

i love the Waltrips but i'm not convinced Michael can cut it anymore. Even when he was with DEI he ran at the back of the back every single race except for restrictor plates. Now try to be competitive with inferior equipment and it is really tough. I DO hope he can turn things around but im not too sure anymore. I look every week to see if he qualified for the race and always see him as the first guy not to qualify. :?

[DaleJr]

although i just checked Michigan's qualifying and he got in at 18th :shock:

[Nascarcamping]

I agree, I have watched him very closely in the last year, I actually picked him to win 4 years back when he won his 1st Daytona 500, and the second one really was a fluke, with the rain shortening the race.

What is more worrying, is his driving.

Several times I have noticed " questionable" moves by him, almost Kyle Busch like :shock:

[DaleJr]

i should question him more often, what a run at Michigan!!!

[MrBuddy]

I think getting Terry into the car for road courses is a good idea
Toyota should just work with what they got for this year put their focus and money into the COT for next year

[JimmieJohnson]

Terry Labonte, will drive the #55 NAPA Toyota in the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis instead of owner and regular driver Michael Waltrip. Labonte drove the #55 at Infineon Raceway and is scheduled to run it at Watkins Glen. Labonte brings the past champions provisional to use and since he last won the championship in 1996, he would get the first shot to use it, if needed, over Bill Elliott in the #21 Wood Brothers Ford. Elliott last won the championship in 1988. #44-Dale Jarrett has used his allotment [6] of champions provisional's this year and cannot use any more [this doesn't count when qualifying is cancelled]. The #55 and #21 teams are both out of the Top-35 in owners pts and the guaranteed spot and have to qualify their way in the race.

Indy is to big a race for NAPA to sit on the sidelines I'm guessing.

[RocklandRVers]

I personally think that everyone should qualify week to week based on time trials UNLESS time trials are rained out. This would further equalize things in NASCAR. Mikey could have been in more shows had this rule been in place.

Also 35 :!: :?: What fairness is that? If a guy is barely able to get on the track for a lap but is 35th in points is it fair to let him on.

Past champions? Maybe Mikey SHOULD let Darrell drive. Seriously though what the heck is that? Just to get the car on the track do you let poor old Bobby Allison drive because he was Champ in 1983?

Just a newbie sounding off. :wink:

[JimmieJohnson]

One thing is for sure, no matter what NASCAR does on this whole issue, someone is going to be upset :!: Owners, drivers, sponsors, fans.... :roll:

[madfinnhockey]

I 2nd qualifying on time, and time alone, that ensures that you have the 43 fastest cars in the race.....
Drive fast & turn left!

[MrBuddy]

I'd like to bring up the idea of ponits for qualifying again
and while I'm at it how about a point for every lap you lead might get these guys racing more on those big flat tracks
which we now have too many of

[JimmieJohnson]

I think it would be good if they had bonus laps that were worth a point like every quarter of a race is worth 10 bonus points, so if the race was 200 laps then lap 50, 100, and 150 would have a bonus. it would maybe make them race hard throughout the entire race a little more.

[MrBuddy]

Hey that sounds good to me anything to get these guys racing more than the last 20 laps