Schrader to Wood Brothers
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Pete Pistone
Managing Editor
Schrader is expected to run one more NEXTEL Cup season.
Hamlin has delivered for JGR in his tryout.
IROC won't roll into Richmond in 2006.
HAMPTON, Ga. - Hang on to your musical chairs. Things are about to get interesting.
Sources report that Ken Schrader will leave BAM Racing to take over the Wood Brothers No. 21 Motorcraft Ford next season.
Schrader would replace Ricky Rudd, who many expect to move over to Chip Ganassi Racing and drive the team's No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge replacing Jamie McMurray.
McMurray would then be free to move to Roush Racing's No. 97 Ford, which in turn gives Kurt Busch the chance to leave Roush early for the Penske South Miller Lite Dodge.
Schrader's move to the Wood Brothers is expected to be a one year deal. Jon Wood would become the team's full-time driver in 2007, leaving Schrader to pursue a full-time Craftsman Truck Series program.
TEXAS TERRY IN DEMAND
Terry Labonte's 2006 NEXTEL Cup schedule looks like it will be a little bigger than originally planned.
The former Cup champion will drive ten races for Hendrick Motorsports in the final year of his contract with team owner Rick Hendrick.
But the Texas native may also be helping out a couple of other Lone Star State stars as driver of the new Hall of Fame Racing Team for the first five races of the season.
The new operation, owned by former Dallas Cowboys Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, is expected to announce that Labonte will drive its No. 96 cars in the first five races of the 2006 season. Since the team has now owner points to fall back on from 2005, Labonte's former champion's provisional would guarantee HOF a start in the initial five events.
Tony Raines is presumed to be the team's regular driver, who will take over from Labonte in March. HOF may also try and field two cars at the start of the year and have Raines try to make the field on qualifying speed.
A HOME FOR HAMLIN
It should come as no surprise that Denny Hamlin is on the verge of being named the full-time driver of Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet in 2006. The young driver has been very impressive in his late season tryout and sources report an official announcement of Hamlin running for rookie-of-the-year with JGR next season will come in a matter of days.
NO IROC FOR RICHMOND
The International Race of Champions series winds up its 2005 season Saturday here at Atlanta. And although the 2006 schedule hasn't been officially announced, IROC will not return to Richmond International Raceway.
With the track dropping its fall Craftsman Truck Series race, which was held on a Thursday night, the condensed schedule of the Busch and NEXTEL Cup circuits of Friday and Saturday night leaves no room for an IROC event. In past years, IROC and the trucks teamed-up for a doubleheader on Thursday. Daytona, Texas, Michigan and Fontana are the leading contenders for next year's four race schedule.
TV THREE WAY
TNT will remain part of the NASCAR television package in 2007. The network will air as many as seven NEXTEL Cup events during the summer stretch of the season, taking three from FOX's current first half load and four from the second half schedule.
ABC would come on board beginning with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in August and then carry the balance of the schedule through the end of the "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" championship.
GOING TO BAT FOR SLUGGER
SPEED Channel is reporting that "Slugger" Labbe will be named crew chief for the Robert Yates Racing M&M's Ford driven by Elliott Sadler. Labbe was let go Thursday from Evernham Motorsports.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feel free to email RacingOne with any questions, comments or suggestions at: [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pete Pistone
Managing Editor
Schrader is expected to run one more NEXTEL Cup season.
Hamlin has delivered for JGR in his tryout.
IROC won't roll into Richmond in 2006.
HAMPTON, Ga. - Hang on to your musical chairs. Things are about to get interesting.
Sources report that Ken Schrader will leave BAM Racing to take over the Wood Brothers No. 21 Motorcraft Ford next season.
Schrader would replace Ricky Rudd, who many expect to move over to Chip Ganassi Racing and drive the team's No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge replacing Jamie McMurray.
McMurray would then be free to move to Roush Racing's No. 97 Ford, which in turn gives Kurt Busch the chance to leave Roush early for the Penske South Miller Lite Dodge.
Schrader's move to the Wood Brothers is expected to be a one year deal. Jon Wood would become the team's full-time driver in 2007, leaving Schrader to pursue a full-time Craftsman Truck Series program.
TEXAS TERRY IN DEMAND
Terry Labonte's 2006 NEXTEL Cup schedule looks like it will be a little bigger than originally planned.
The former Cup champion will drive ten races for Hendrick Motorsports in the final year of his contract with team owner Rick Hendrick.
But the Texas native may also be helping out a couple of other Lone Star State stars as driver of the new Hall of Fame Racing Team for the first five races of the season.
The new operation, owned by former Dallas Cowboys Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, is expected to announce that Labonte will drive its No. 96 cars in the first five races of the 2006 season. Since the team has now owner points to fall back on from 2005, Labonte's former champion's provisional would guarantee HOF a start in the initial five events.
Tony Raines is presumed to be the team's regular driver, who will take over from Labonte in March. HOF may also try and field two cars at the start of the year and have Raines try to make the field on qualifying speed.
A HOME FOR HAMLIN
It should come as no surprise that Denny Hamlin is on the verge of being named the full-time driver of Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet in 2006. The young driver has been very impressive in his late season tryout and sources report an official announcement of Hamlin running for rookie-of-the-year with JGR next season will come in a matter of days.
NO IROC FOR RICHMOND
The International Race of Champions series winds up its 2005 season Saturday here at Atlanta. And although the 2006 schedule hasn't been officially announced, IROC will not return to Richmond International Raceway.
With the track dropping its fall Craftsman Truck Series race, which was held on a Thursday night, the condensed schedule of the Busch and NEXTEL Cup circuits of Friday and Saturday night leaves no room for an IROC event. In past years, IROC and the trucks teamed-up for a doubleheader on Thursday. Daytona, Texas, Michigan and Fontana are the leading contenders for next year's four race schedule.
TV THREE WAY
TNT will remain part of the NASCAR television package in 2007. The network will air as many as seven NEXTEL Cup events during the summer stretch of the season, taking three from FOX's current first half load and four from the second half schedule.
ABC would come on board beginning with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in August and then carry the balance of the schedule through the end of the "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" championship.
GOING TO BAT FOR SLUGGER
SPEED Channel is reporting that "Slugger" Labbe will be named crew chief for the Robert Yates Racing M&M's Ford driven by Elliott Sadler. Labbe was let go Thursday from Evernham Motorsports.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feel free to email RacingOne with any questions, comments or suggestions at: [email protected]