Jones, Labonte join Waltrip stable this weekend
SCENEDAILY - 1:14PM ET THURSDAY AUGUST 9, 2007 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT
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Terry Labonte returns to the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 this weekend. TRAVIS LINDQUIST / GETTY IMAGESMichael Waltrip Racing's entries will have a slightly different look this weekend at Watkins Glen International.
P.J. Jones will his second appearance with the team, filling in for rookie David Reutimann in the No. 00 Toyota. Jones also raced the car at Infineon Raceway earlier this season, finishing 43rd.
Terry Labonte also returns to the team for the third time, driving the No. 55 for owner/driver Michael Waltrip. Labonte also drove for the team on the California road course at Infineon and again at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Waltrip says that it would be tough to watch someone else drive his car if not for the fact that he was helping the entire organization by stepping back and overseeing things.
"If I didn't think it was helping the team to get better by me sitting out for a couple races, then I would be bored stiff," he said. "I know the result of me not driving is an investment in the future of my team. Running Terry at Infineon, Indy and Watkins Glen are things that I feel will help us become a better race team.
"We believe that the No. 55 team and the No. 00 team have progressed to the point where they won't miss another race. Now we have to work on the same thing with the No. 44 [of teammate Dale Jarrett] because they are not quite at that point yet where I can make that same statement. Those are the goals for the teams for the rest of the year, and we'll continue working on the progress of the No. 44 team."
SCENEDAILY - 1:14PM ET THURSDAY AUGUST 9, 2007 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT
Print This Article RSS Feed
Terry Labonte returns to the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 this weekend. TRAVIS LINDQUIST / GETTY IMAGESMichael Waltrip Racing's entries will have a slightly different look this weekend at Watkins Glen International.
P.J. Jones will his second appearance with the team, filling in for rookie David Reutimann in the No. 00 Toyota. Jones also raced the car at Infineon Raceway earlier this season, finishing 43rd.
Terry Labonte also returns to the team for the third time, driving the No. 55 for owner/driver Michael Waltrip. Labonte also drove for the team on the California road course at Infineon and again at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Waltrip says that it would be tough to watch someone else drive his car if not for the fact that he was helping the entire organization by stepping back and overseeing things.
"If I didn't think it was helping the team to get better by me sitting out for a couple races, then I would be bored stiff," he said. "I know the result of me not driving is an investment in the future of my team. Running Terry at Infineon, Indy and Watkins Glen are things that I feel will help us become a better race team.
"We believe that the No. 55 team and the No. 00 team have progressed to the point where they won't miss another race. Now we have to work on the same thing with the No. 44 [of teammate Dale Jarrett] because they are not quite at that point yet where I can make that same statement. Those are the goals for the teams for the rest of the year, and we'll continue working on the progress of the No. 44 team."