3-Way Switch Could Come This Week
This will be the crucial week for a decision, Roush Racing president Geoff Smith says, in the long-running driver-swap negotiations involving Jack Roush's Kurt Busch, Chip Ganassi's Jamie McMurray, and Roger Penske. "If it's going to happen, it will happen this week," Smith said. "And I think the probability is much more now toward the transaction working than falling apart, based on everyone's intentions." If it does happen, McMurray would join Roush, and Busch would join Penske. "In order for it to work, there has to be a driver for Chip," Smith said. "Ten days ago it wasn't working for Chip, but now it can work, so I presume he's got somebody." That could be Ricky Rudd, who isn't saying what his 2006 plans are, but who is reportedly very close to a decision simply to retire at the end of the season.
Or it could be Bobby Labonte. Or Labonte could be headed to Bill Davis, according to sources. If Labonte leaves Chevrolet's Joe Gibbs to join the soon-to-be-Toyota Davis team as Michael Waltrip's teammate, that would be a major pick up by Toyota, expected to join the Nextel Cup tour for the 2007 season. If Davis doesn't get Labonte, he will likely get Dave Blaney, according to sources. Blaney once drove for Davis. Penske officials, saying that Rudd isn't one of their options, agree that this is the week that will tell the tale, and they agree with Smith that the complicated deal will in fact be completed. "There are 12 different pieces to make this three-way transaction," Smith said of the Roush-Ganassi-Penske negotiations. "And we have three-quarters of that buttoned up completely, and everyone is trying to close up the rest. There is momentum to close, and I'd say if it doesn't close this week it will fall apart. "But everyone is working to close. However if all the pieces aren't completed, there is no deal.(Journal Now)
This will be the crucial week for a decision, Roush Racing president Geoff Smith says, in the long-running driver-swap negotiations involving Jack Roush's Kurt Busch, Chip Ganassi's Jamie McMurray, and Roger Penske. "If it's going to happen, it will happen this week," Smith said. "And I think the probability is much more now toward the transaction working than falling apart, based on everyone's intentions." If it does happen, McMurray would join Roush, and Busch would join Penske. "In order for it to work, there has to be a driver for Chip," Smith said. "Ten days ago it wasn't working for Chip, but now it can work, so I presume he's got somebody." That could be Ricky Rudd, who isn't saying what his 2006 plans are, but who is reportedly very close to a decision simply to retire at the end of the season.
Or it could be Bobby Labonte. Or Labonte could be headed to Bill Davis, according to sources. If Labonte leaves Chevrolet's Joe Gibbs to join the soon-to-be-Toyota Davis team as Michael Waltrip's teammate, that would be a major pick up by Toyota, expected to join the Nextel Cup tour for the 2007 season. If Davis doesn't get Labonte, he will likely get Dave Blaney, according to sources. Blaney once drove for Davis. Penske officials, saying that Rudd isn't one of their options, agree that this is the week that will tell the tale, and they agree with Smith that the complicated deal will in fact be completed. "There are 12 different pieces to make this three-way transaction," Smith said of the Roush-Ganassi-Penske negotiations. "And we have three-quarters of that buttoned up completely, and everyone is trying to close up the rest. There is momentum to close, and I'd say if it doesn't close this week it will fall apart. "But everyone is working to close. However if all the pieces aren't completed, there is no deal.(Journal Now)
