Posted on Thu, Dec. 04, 2003
Penske-Jasper deal confirmed; spin-offs eyed
By JIM UTTER
ThatsRacin.com Writer
NEW YORK – The Penske-Jasper Motorsports deal to share ownership of the No. 77 team and bring it under the Penske and Dodge umbrella is all but completed, ThatsRacin.com has learned.
A formal announcement of the merger should be made within two weeks. NASCAR Truck series driver Brendan Gaughan is to join the team, sources said.
“We should know a lot more very soon. Until then, there isn’t much for me to say,” said Penske vice president, Don Miller, in New York for this weekend’s Winston Cup awards ceremony.
Miller and team owner Roger Penske have said they were considering a third Nextel Cup team next season after being approached by Kodak, which could be the team’s sponsor.
Sources said the remaining issues in the Penske-Jasper deal included contracts with the sponsor and a new driver as well as those related to the No. 77 team and its current driver, Dave Blaney.
Blaney would not remain with the team under the new deal. However, he may well join another Cup operation, sources said.
Who would serve as crew chief as the new team remains unclear, but sources said Gaughan’s Truck series crew chief, Shane Wilson, and Bill Wilburn, who recently stepped down as crew chief for Penske Cup driver Rusty Wallace, were both under consideration.
Penske-Jasper deal confirmed; spin-offs eyed
By JIM UTTER
ThatsRacin.com Writer
NEW YORK – The Penske-Jasper Motorsports deal to share ownership of the No. 77 team and bring it under the Penske and Dodge umbrella is all but completed, ThatsRacin.com has learned.
A formal announcement of the merger should be made within two weeks. NASCAR Truck series driver Brendan Gaughan is to join the team, sources said.
“We should know a lot more very soon. Until then, there isn’t much for me to say,” said Penske vice president, Don Miller, in New York for this weekend’s Winston Cup awards ceremony.
Miller and team owner Roger Penske have said they were considering a third Nextel Cup team next season after being approached by Kodak, which could be the team’s sponsor.
Sources said the remaining issues in the Penske-Jasper deal included contracts with the sponsor and a new driver as well as those related to the No. 77 team and its current driver, Dave Blaney.
Blaney would not remain with the team under the new deal. However, he may well join another Cup operation, sources said.
Who would serve as crew chief as the new team remains unclear, but sources said Gaughan’s Truck series crew chief, Shane Wilson, and Bill Wilburn, who recently stepped down as crew chief for Penske Cup driver Rusty Wallace, were both under consideration.