(WOMR file photo)
The latest rumors floating around the garage area after Sunday’s race in Martinsville, VA are gaining traction this week!
Musical chairs at Michael Waltrip Racing:
First of all, it appears that David Reutimann is out of the driver’s seat of the Michael Waltrip Racing #00 Aaron’s/Tums Toyota at the end of this season. The talk in the garage is that Mark Martin will slide into to #00 Aaron’s/Tums Toyota on a partial schedule. There has not been an announcement of who will fill in for Martin in the races that he will not be driving the race car. The formal announcement from MWR will be forth coming at Texsas Motor Speedway this weekend.
This from Bob Dillner on Race Hub:
Dilner contacted David Reutimann via text message on Tuesday. Reutimann returned the text stating that he, Reutimann, had “zero” to talk about regarding his place with MWR in 2012! Ty Norris, a VIP with Michael Waltrip Racing, stated to Dillner that there would be an announcement at the Texas Motor Speedway that would answer most everyone’s questions on this subject.
If this comes to fruition at Michael Waltrip Racing, the line up will have Clint Bowyer driving the MWR #15 5-Hour Energy Drick Toyota, Martin Truex, Jr. driving the MWR #56 Napa Toyota, and Mark Marin driving a partial schedule in the MWR #00 Aaron’s Toyota. There is a possibility of Michael Waltrip racing the restrictor plate races, plus a few more to fill out the season in the MWR #00 Aaron’s Toyota. That gives MWR a powerhouse of talent for the 2012 season!
From the Stewart-Haas Racing rumor mill:
There is talk going around that Darien Grubb will be out as the crew chief for Tony Stewart’s #14 Office Depot/Burger King Chevy at the end of the season. It is rumored that Steve Addington, the crew chief for the Penske Racing #22 Shell/Penzoil Dodge driven by Kurt Busch, will be hired to take over the crew chief for 2012!
From Roush-Fenway Racing:
It has been rumored that the Roush-Fenway #6 Ford driven by David Ragan may be parked, if no sponsorship can be secured for the 2012 season. Roush has said that he would be willing to run Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford unsponsored for 2012, if necessay. However, without sponsorship for the #6 team for 2012 would result in folding the team. That leaves David Ragan as the odd man out at Roush-Fenway Racing.
Nevertheless, Ragan has been upbeat about his 2012 possibilities. The assumption is that Roush has given Ragan the freedom to pursue other employment opportunities.
Stay tuned as the puzzle pieces start to be placed in the appropriate places for 2012!
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
