It's official now, Larry Foyt's moving on up. I still think it's a mistake.
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Larry Foyt moving up to Winston Cup in 2003
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive November 10, 2002
7:33 PM EST (0033 GMT)
VONDALE, Ariz. -- A.J. Foyt Racing plans a two-car Winston Cup program in 2003, the team's owner said on Sunday in the garage area at Phoenix International Raceway.
Foyt, who said he planned to spend more time at NASCAR events and more closely monitor his Winston Cup program due to being "so embarrassed on the sorry showing we'd had since I first started (in Winston Cup) the last couple years," said he would move his son, Larry Foyt to Winston Cup next season to drive cars sponsored by the Harrah's casino chain.
Larry Foyt
Driver Page
2002 Stats
"We're talking about moving Larry up to Winston Cup -- getting him out of Busch," Foyt said. "Larry don't have near the experience that a lot of people think. He's done a good job for the experience and he's come along real good."
Foyt said he had a contract with Conseco to continue its sponsorship of his No. 14 program and that he planned to field the cars.
"So far I have a contract with Conseco that runs through next year and we have talked about different things," Foyt said. "Right now we're still negotiating what we want to do and how we want to do it (so) that's still up in the air a little bit, but I definitely have a contract to go racing with them.
"Mike (Wallace) has done a good job for us, but still, I think that's where the sponsors come in as far as which way you want to go and how you want to do it, but like I say, I've been happy with Mike."
On Sunday morning Wallace confirmed he had no definite deal to stay with Foyt -- though the driver said his working relationship with crew chief Mike Hillman and the rest of the crew had been a good one.
Wallace said his Busch Series owner, Fred Biagi, had a number of potential sponsorship deals working and would run a limited schedule of about 12 races, including the first six of the 2003 season, no matter what sponsorship he could procure.
Larry Foyt first raced in karts and Formula 2000 before starting his stock car career in the American Speed Association in 2000. He has 65 career Busch Series starts over two seasons, with two top-10 finishes.
"I'm excited, don't get me wrong, (but) it's a big step for me," Foyt, 25, said. "It's tough because we never had the success I wanted to have in the Busch Series before making that next step.
"Everyone has seen that both of our teams have struggled. We've had some great drivers in our Cup car and it still hasn't run up front like it needs to.
"It's going to be a tough job, being a rookie, and we're going to just have to keep working to make our teams better and for me to get as much experience as I can. It's going to be tough but I'll give it 100 percent and see what happens."
Larry Foyt said the decision was so recent the team had not begun to prepare new cars and had no test program currently scheduled.
"In talking to the other drivers I don't think the difference in the cars (weight or horsepower) will be that big of a change," Foyt said. "But in Winston Cup, all the drivers are so good and the teams are so good that you really have to be on your A game.
"You can't go anywhere and be a little bit off, because if you're a little bit off you can miss the show. I think that's the toughest thing and there'll also be some tracks I haven't been to."
