Denny's replacement named

Vickers expected to pick up Martin's races at MWR: Michael Waltrip Racing didn't announce who will drive Martin's #55 Toyota in his absence, but it will most likely be [Brian] Vickers, who was slotted to drive nine of Martin's races this year. The team is believed to be considering Vickers as Martin's potential replacement, and this would give MWR a lengthier preview. Thursday [J.D.] Gibbs said his preference was to use just one driver in the #11 while Hamlin is sidelined. The organization has Elliott Sadler and Vickers running Nationwide Series cars, but neither was totally free of commitments to drive Hamlin's Cup car. Vickers had the Martinsville conflict and Sadler has a deal with sponsorship to run a fourth JGR car at Kansas and Talladega.

from jayski
 
robbybee said:
How many of the next 5 races was Mark Martin scheduled run in the 55? ... Waltrip for Darlington, May 5th.
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Mikey wasn't scheduled for Darlington. He was only listed for the three remaining plate races. (I'm not sure why he doesn't run the first Daytona in his own car. Maybe Mark is still looking for that D500 win?) Mark was on the list for Darlington, so it will probably be Brian now.
 
hawg dawg said:
an how'd mark get outa his supposed mwr contract so easy...ta just slip over ta jgr?
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I'd bet Mark and Mikey had no problem with it at all. Vickers is the rumored replacement for Martin next season, so it would give Brian more seat time in the car and with the team, which is only going to be beneficial to MWR looking ahead to next season.
 
Mark Martin and Darian Grubb...should be very interesting to see what those two can do together :)
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Vickers expected to pick up Martin's races at MWR: Michael Waltrip Racing didn't announce who will drive Martin's #55 Toyota in his absence, but it will most likely be [Brian] Vickers, who was slotted to drive nine of Martin's races this year. The team is believed to be considering Vickers as Martin's potential replacement, and this would give MWR a lengthier preview. Thursday [J.D.] Gibbs said his preference was to use just one driver in the #11 while Hamlin is sidelined. The organization has Elliott Sadler and Vickers running Nationwide Series cars, but neither was totally free of commitments to drive Hamlin's Cup car. Vickers had the Martinsville conflict and Sadler has a deal with sponsorship to run a fourth JGR car at Kansas and Talladega.

from jayski
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I am by no means a Vickers fan but good for him. Put up or shut up.
 
I'll reiterate that I wonder if they think Hamlin might be out longer than what's been previously stated. Doesn't seem to me like you'll make a move for Martin if you only plan to use him 5 weeks. Also, don't think Martin would agree to give up his (nearly) full-time ride for a 5 race deal.
 
#17D500winner said:
I am by no means a Vickers fan but good for him. Put up or shut up.
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I think what sounds like the current deal works out well for all involved. Vickers gets more seat time. That's not a bad thing. Like has already been said that will help for the future of that team. Martin climbs into an established ride with great promise at decent finishes for that sponsor. He also has great potential for taking it into the Chase if need be. He's only missed one race I believe and is more than capable of producing finishes to climb back into the top 20 and grab a win or two.
 
KevinWI said:
Also, don't think Martin would agree to give up his (nearly) full-time ride for a 5 race deal.
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Martin would give up seat time in a heart beat if he thought for a second it would help the team next season when he's gone. That's just the kind of man he is.
 
Boy, some in the NASCAR media really messed up on this one by reporting that Sadler had been named the replacement.
 
MRM said:
Boy, some in the NASCAR media really messed up on this one by reporting that Sadler had been named the replacement.
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They sure did but they'll simply brush it off and move on to their next fabrication.
 
MRM said:
Boy, some in the NASCAR media really messed up on this one by reporting that Sadler had been named the replacement.
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#17D500winner said:
They sure did but they'll simply brush it off and move on to their next fabrication.
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Their report was.....

Elliott Sadler will get an extended audition at the Sprint Cup level, pending approval from sponsor Fed Ex as the substitute for Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 car.

Pending approval. What does that say about Sadler? FedEx may have killed that deal? Who knows?
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Their report was.....

Elliott Sadler will get an extended audition at the Sprint Cup level, pending approval from sponsor Fed Ex as the substitute for Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 car.

Pending approval. What does that say about Sadler? FedEx may have killed that deal? Who knows?
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Sources have told the Frontstretch Elliott Sadler has been chosen as the primary sub for Denny Hamlin.

I guess it was the sources that fabricated the story. My apologies to the media.
 
#17D500winner said:
Sources have told the Frontstretch Elliott Sadler has been chosen as the primary sub for Denny Hamlin.

I guess it was the sources that fabricated the story. My apologies to the media.
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Not sure you're following. It said pending the approval. He may very well have been the driver that JGR chose but the sponsor didn't approve.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I think what sounds like the current deal works out well for all involved. Vickers gets more seat time. That's not a bad thing. Like has already been said that will help for the future of that team. Martin climbs into an established ride with great promise at decent finishes for that sponsor. He also has great potential for taking it into the Chase if need be. He's only missed one race I believe and is more than capable of producing finishes to climb back into the top 20 and grab a win or two.
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Childers used a rather uncomfortable analogy to describe the switch from Mark to Brian. Something about lending his girlfriend to a friend while he tries out a different one. o_O
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Not sure you're following. It said pending the approval. He may very well have been the driver that JGR chose but the sponsor didn't approve.
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Perhaps it had nothing to do with FeDex at all. Maybe JGR never considered Martin, and MWR saw an opportunity to sell Aarons on Vickers. Hell, maybe Arrons called and said squashed Vickers going to JGR, so they switched to Sadler. Who knows? I'm sure we will beat it to death until we uncover the answer to the burning mystery of who was on who's dance card first. :rolleyes:

Compelling stuff. I just may forget about Fontana now. ;)
 
FenderBumper said:
Perhaps it had nothing to do with FeDex at all. Maybe JGR never considered Martin, and MWR saw an opportunity to sell Aarons on Vickers. Hell, maybe Arrons called and said squashed Vickers going to JGR, so they switched to Sadler. Who knows? I'm sure we will beat it to death until we uncover the answer to the burning mystery of who was on who's dance card first. :rolleyes:

Compelling stuff. I just may forget about Fontana now. ;)
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Who's on first, no he's on second.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Not sure you're following. It said pending the approval. He may very well have been the driver that JGR chose but the sponsor didn't approve.
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I think I understand now. Simple stuff, actually. Gibbs chose Sadler, someone - perhaps the sponsors - said no.
 
#17D500winner said:
Sources have told the Frontstretch Elliott Sadler has been chosen as the primary sub for Denny Hamlin.

I guess it was the sources that fabricated the story. My apologies to the media.
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Fabricated? Maybe whoever yapped to the media didn't have the whole story yet. Maybe for a time, Sadler was JGR's #1 choice until Martin was in play.

This is also exactly why things like this are kept secret until everything is finalized.
 
KevinWI said:
Fabricated? Maybe whoever yapped to the media didn't have the whole story yet. Maybe for a time, Sadler was JGR's #1 choice until Martin was in play.

This is also exactly why things like this are kept secret until everything is finalized.
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I guess if there's anything to be learned (for me anyway) from it, it's that when they quote "sources", take it for the load of horse **** that it is.
 
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