Post by dalejrfan on Nov 10, 2005 0:38:45 GMT -5
MIAMI - After months of speculation and negotiation, all the pieces came together Monday for a three-driver lineup switch among three of the biggest teams in NASCAR.
Defending Cup champion Kurt Busch will leave Roush Racing to drive the No. 2 Dodge for Penske South Racing, replacing retiring Rusty Wallace.
Team owner Jack Roush allowed Busch to get out of his contract a year early because Jamie McMurray also got permission to end his contract early to pilot the No. 97 Ford that Busch now drives.
Team owner Chip Ganassi allowed McMurray's departure because he has decided to nix expanding to four teams. That allows Casey Mears, who now drives the No. 41 Dodge for Ganassi, to move to McMurray's No. 42 Dodge with Ganassi's premier sponsor Texaco/Havoline.
And in another major announcement, 2000 Cup champion Bobby Labonte will end his 11-year relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing. He did not announce his 2006 plans, but reportedly has been talking with several teams, including Petty Enterprises. It's expected J.J. Yeley will take Labonte's place.
The holdup for the three-team deal appeared to be Ganassi, who wouldn't let McMurray go without a suitable replacement. Labonte's name was bantered as a candidate.
But when Ganassi and Home123, a mortgage company, mutually terminated the sponsorship of the fourth car to be driven by Mears, Ganassi could put Mears in the No. 42.
``We've been working hard to find a driver solution for sponsor Texaco/Havoline, and we are fortunate that we could offer them Casey,'' Ganassi said in a statement.
It already was announced that Busch Series driver Reed Sorenson will move up to Cup next year to replace Mears in the No. 41 Dodge, and Busch Series driver David Stremme will replace Sterling Marlin in the No. 40 Dodge.
The future of veteran Ricky Rudd is still in limbo. Rudd was leaning toward retirement until posed with the prospect of driving Penske's No. 2 Dodge. With that door closed, Rudd has not announced his 2006 plans.
If he does not return to drive the Wood Brothers' No. 21 Ford, the ride likely will go to Ken Schrader, who now drives for BAM Racing that is owned by Coral Gables couple Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau.
All the shuffling began when Roush needed to find a replacement for retiring Mark Martin.
Roush made a unique deal and signed McMurray despite McMurray being under contract to Ganassi through the 2006 season.
Roush said that while there were a ``dozen drivers that we could get over in Martin's 6 car,'' he decided to sign a driver already under contract because: ``There's a shortage of drivers at Mark Martin's level. There's a shortage of drivers at Kurt Busch's level. There's a shortage of drivers at Jamie McMurray's level.''
Penske did the same thing to Roush, signing Busch to a deal although Busch also was under contract through next season.
Unlike in other sports, all NASCAR drivers are free agents called ``independent contractors.'' There are no tampering rules.
Before the announcements were made, NASCAR CEO Brian France said he was not pleased with the new trend of signing drivers while they were under contract.
``I don't like to see that, drivers trying to switch mid contract,'' France said Monday morning. ``I prefer for that not to happen, but the situation is between team owners.''
With Roush not expecting Busch's defection, it has led to Martin postponing his retirement for one season.
Defending Cup champion Kurt Busch will leave Roush Racing to drive the No. 2 Dodge for Penske South Racing, replacing retiring Rusty Wallace.
Team owner Jack Roush allowed Busch to get out of his contract a year early because Jamie McMurray also got permission to end his contract early to pilot the No. 97 Ford that Busch now drives.
Team owner Chip Ganassi allowed McMurray's departure because he has decided to nix expanding to four teams. That allows Casey Mears, who now drives the No. 41 Dodge for Ganassi, to move to McMurray's No. 42 Dodge with Ganassi's premier sponsor Texaco/Havoline.
And in another major announcement, 2000 Cup champion Bobby Labonte will end his 11-year relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing. He did not announce his 2006 plans, but reportedly has been talking with several teams, including Petty Enterprises. It's expected J.J. Yeley will take Labonte's place.
The holdup for the three-team deal appeared to be Ganassi, who wouldn't let McMurray go without a suitable replacement. Labonte's name was bantered as a candidate.
But when Ganassi and Home123, a mortgage company, mutually terminated the sponsorship of the fourth car to be driven by Mears, Ganassi could put Mears in the No. 42.
``We've been working hard to find a driver solution for sponsor Texaco/Havoline, and we are fortunate that we could offer them Casey,'' Ganassi said in a statement.
It already was announced that Busch Series driver Reed Sorenson will move up to Cup next year to replace Mears in the No. 41 Dodge, and Busch Series driver David Stremme will replace Sterling Marlin in the No. 40 Dodge.
The future of veteran Ricky Rudd is still in limbo. Rudd was leaning toward retirement until posed with the prospect of driving Penske's No. 2 Dodge. With that door closed, Rudd has not announced his 2006 plans.
If he does not return to drive the Wood Brothers' No. 21 Ford, the ride likely will go to Ken Schrader, who now drives for BAM Racing that is owned by Coral Gables couple Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau.
All the shuffling began when Roush needed to find a replacement for retiring Mark Martin.
Roush made a unique deal and signed McMurray despite McMurray being under contract to Ganassi through the 2006 season.
Roush said that while there were a ``dozen drivers that we could get over in Martin's 6 car,'' he decided to sign a driver already under contract because: ``There's a shortage of drivers at Mark Martin's level. There's a shortage of drivers at Kurt Busch's level. There's a shortage of drivers at Jamie McMurray's level.''
Penske did the same thing to Roush, signing Busch to a deal although Busch also was under contract through next season.
Unlike in other sports, all NASCAR drivers are free agents called ``independent contractors.'' There are no tampering rules.
Before the announcements were made, NASCAR CEO Brian France said he was not pleased with the new trend of signing drivers while they were under contract.
``I don't like to see that, drivers trying to switch mid contract,'' France said Monday morning. ``I prefer for that not to happen, but the situation is between team owners.''
With Roush not expecting Busch's defection, it has led to Martin postponing his retirement for one season.