(WOMR file photo)
Press Conference scheduled at Kansas Speedway
Michael Waltrip, owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, has confirmed that there is a press conference scheduled for this Friday at the Kansas Speedway to discuss the future of MWR. Furthermore, that everything was looking good for Clint Bowyer, a native of Emporia, KS, to become a part of Michael Waltrip Racing.
At the scheduled press conference, Clint Bowyer is expected to be introduced as the newest driver for Michael Waltrip Racing. “I feel good about everything we’re doing,” Waltrip said before Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway.
Bowyer said he’s in the process of finalizing the contract with MWR, and that he was “hopeful” it would be announced at his home track. Speaking of hopes, Waltrip also hopes to keep his relationship with JTG Daugherty Racing, allowing the team to move that operation to it’s, JTG/Daughtery Racing’s, Harrisburg, N.C., shop. Nevertheless, JTG/Daughtery Racing is negotiating with MWR to be able to continue to receive cars and engines, maintaining the current status quo.
Co-owner Brad Daugherty told ESPN.com earlier in the week that they had an offer from MWR, and that the plan was to move from MWR to its own shop. “We’d like to think we will be together in some form or fashion,” Waltrip said.
Bowyer, in the final year of his contract with Richard Childress Racing, will give MWR three full-time Sprint Cup teams in 2012. He joins David Reutimann and Martin Truex Jr., the pole-sitter at Dover. Bowyer has spent all six of his Cup seasons at RCR, winning four races and making the Chase three times. Due to sponsorship issues, Bowyer was unable to renew a deal there, even though both parties said they wanted to stay together. Bowyer will be sponsored for about half the 2012 season by 5-hour Energy drink. Waltrip said all other details will be revealed at Friday’s press conference.
Worst kept secret of 2012?
So it will be official, on Friday that Clint Bowyer will be a part of MWR, thereby, creating a new third race team for that organization. This, like the Danica Patrick/NASCAR story last month, was the two worst kept secrets of the NASCAR garage area in 2011!
Who will fill Bowyer’s seat at RCR?
Now that Bowyer will be officially leaving Richard Childress Racing at the end of the season, who will fill the empty RCR#33 Chevy in 2012?
WOMR is speculating that Childress will put his grandson, Austin Dillon, in that seat for a maximum of 7 races. By doing that, Dillon can keep his rookie status option open for the 2013 season, when Childress may give him the seat in the RCR #33 Chevy full-time!
Could Childress hire Mark Martin for a partial schedule to fill in the races that his grandson may not be available to race? After all Martin is available for a part-time driver position next year.
What are your thoughts?
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
