(WOMR file photo)
Now that JTG Daugherty has signed a new driver for the 2014 season, A.J. Allmendinger, the race organization can concentrate on trying to solve another dilemma facing them. For the last five years this race team has been affiliated with Toyota through an alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing. However, their race results have been luke warm, at best. The first two years with this alliance, and with Marcos Ambrose driving the car, JTG Daugherty finished 18 and 26th in 2009 and 2010, respectively. With Bobby Labonte behind the wheel, JGT Daugherty finished the season in 29th place and 23rd place for 2011 and 2012. Currently, the race team is slotted in 30th place, which shows a continual downward spiral.
As a single-car operation, JTGD has struggled to be a top-20 competitor. Co-owner Brad Daugherty said that, for now, the organization is “working to get the most that we can out of our Toyota relationship” but has not decided whether to stay the course with that brand and the Triad engines or become a technical partner of Richard Childress Racing and Chevy.
Brad Daugherty has openly stated that his organization is entertaining the idea of possibly changing manufacturers, if that would aid in improving the overall performance of his race team. One possible alliance has been rumored that JTG Daugherty could align themselves up with Richard Childress Racing and Chevy for the 2014 season, a la Furniture Row Racing.
Furniture Row Racing, owned by Big Sur Waterbed innovator Barney Visser, another single-car operation that also shares a similar association with RCR, is enjoying its best season since the team began running full time in 2008. The logic extends that a manufacturer change coupled with a new technical alliance could greatly enhance the performance and results for JTGD in the future!
I am sure that there will be more news on this possible change for JTGD forth coming.
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
