Rumors heating up...MWR & a Dodge team?

During a guest radio appearance, Waltrip was asked about his rumored merger with Ganassi. "I think when you're in a sport like this you have to always look at what can make your team better. It's obvious we're not running like we expected in our second year. Toyota has a team leading the points right now, so Toyota doesn't have a problem. It's obvious we have to look at all options to see what we can do to make us better. We're talking to other teams like ours and seeing what it takes to get results faster, even if that's working together. I've talked to Chip, Robbie (Petty Ent), and Robby Gordon. We all want to be successful." (Notice they were all Dodge teams!)

On sponsorship, "NAPA & Aaron's has always supported MWR. We're working hard on getting other companies to come on board. We have 3 teams to support and we're working hard to keep all 3 of these teams together for next year. But, like Chip told me, you can't let one team bring down the performance of the other 2 teams. The time and effort at the shop, engine room, and practice that goes into trying to get a car into the show is unmeasurable. Those guys at Hendrick & Gibbs are fine tunning setups and combinations to gain an advantage. We have to spend all our time and effort to make the race and make sure we can get the highest finish possible. When you have to run a safe race, it means you're running slower. That's the reason you end up racing the same group of guys at most tracks, we're all running a different race."

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Permalink Reply by NIKAL on August 6, 2008 at 5:44pm

I dont think MWR would be moving to Dodge. I think who ever would team up with him would be doing so knowing that they would leave who their with and go to Toyota. MWR has one more year on his current Toyota contract.

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Permalink Reply by Texas SpeedDiva on August 6, 2008 at 6:18pm

Hey, it's NASCAR and stranger things have happened. But I suspect you are right

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on August 6, 2008 at 7:39pm

Although GM, Dodge & Ford haven't pulled out of Nascar, doesn't mean they haven't scaled back some. If MWR merged with a team, it would appear the support level would about the same between Ganassi, Petty and RGM from Dodge. The most important thing is the people around you, the notes and ability to perform.

It's obvious the #43 team does fairly decent, but the #45 is pulling the organization down. The same for MWR, the #44 is doing okay, but the #00 is struggling. (Like Robby, his car the #55 isn't part of the extend equation). With RGM the #7 is Robby's car, merging his #55 they would only have one team to support (#44 or #00, perhaps both).

I think MWR's biggest problem is all Toyota teams struggled last year, where this year JGR and Red Bull have success. BDR and MWR have done better than last year, but are nowhere near the other two. Kinda how Robby felt last year behind Roush and Yates (big drop off after that).

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Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on August 7, 2008 at 2:33am

If MWR actually merged with TCGR, which is the favorite rumor lately, they would be the #2 Dodge team behind GEM. Penske would be #3. Loosing Newman and having no high level talent to replace him would definately knock them down a notch.

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Permalink Reply by Ms Gibby on August 7, 2008 at 12:48am

Let's face it.....Even with all his struggles Robby's team is more successful than Michael's so if Michael has ANY sense at all, he would ask Robby for advice.

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Permalink Reply by Hank Lee on August 7, 2008 at 12:22pm

If Robby had any sense at all, he'd be trying to get his team together, and I honestly think a deal with Michael would be good. Mostly because you know Napa is coming with Waltrip no matter what he does. They could probably bring Reuitmann along if a sponsor was to show up and support the 3rd car. Or just Waltrip and Robby. 2 good plate racers, Michael's not too bad on intermediates, just the new car has given that bunch a fit for 2 seasons now.

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Permalink Reply by jaeway on August 7, 2008 at 12:46pm

you are crazy to think this

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on August 7, 2008 at 1:05pm

I'm sure Waltrip isn't happy about going from being Toyota's poster team to almost non-existing. All the new Toyota commercials feature all 3 JGR drivers. Most of all their Nascar related ads has a JGR driver.

It's odd that BDR has lots of success in the Truck series with Toyota, but hasn't had much with the Cup series.