Reutimann Out at MWR!

MWR is expected to announce at Texas that David Reutiman will NOT return to the #00 in 2012, instead the #00 will run a partial schedule with driver Mark Martin. Aaron's is expected to also fill the space of Clint Bowyer's schedule.

From CBS Sports:
Mark Martin in the Michael Waltrip Racing stable for a partial schedule next year. #56-Martin Truex Jr. will return to drive MWR's NAPA Toyota with newcomer Clint Bowyer coming on board in a partner Toyota entry carrying 5-Hour Energy sponsorship for the bulk of the campaign. Sponsorship for the #00 entry driven by David Reutimann will not be in place for the entire 2012 schedule opening the door for Martin to take over and compete on a partial basis. Michael Waltrip Racing has an announcement planned Friday at Texas Motor Speedway where it is expected the team's firm 2012 plans will be unveiled.

From Jim Utter Twitter Account
Hearing David Reutimann will NOT return to Michael Waltrip Racing next season and the No. 00 may run a partial schedule

One more thing...Mark Martin may have a deal done for a partial schedule in 2012.

IMO- This had more to do with upgrading their driver lineup. Getting Clint Bowyer and full funded equipment along with Mark Martin to add veteran experience.

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Permalink Reply by NIKAL on November 3, 2011 at 11:29pm

To the best of my knowledge the only teams getting TRD engines are Cup teams. And the only Cup teams getting them have been Red Bull, JTG, MWR and now Gibbs. Both Germain and Nemco have been running Triad. All NW and Trucks get Triad engines, even Gibbs and MWR NW teams run Triad engines. If there was a Truck team to get TRD power I can guarantee it would be Kyle's truck team before Winfield Motorsports.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on November 3, 2011 at 11:35pm

I guess I didn't sell Winfield's plan well enough, They plan on a limited CUP schedule and think they're getting TRD's (ok their dreams)
from Jayski
Truck Series team announces Sprint Cup program for 2012: Winfield Motorsports announced that they are switching manufacturers. The team, currently fielding Dodge entries will be fielding Toyota's for their 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams. "Our plans are to run full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with a partial NASCAR Sprint Cup Series effort next year" said CEO/principal partner Robert Winfield. "Winfield Motorsports looks forward to working with TRD/Toyota Motorsports who will be supplying technical and engineering support for our programs in an effort to compete at the highest level." Winfield Motorsports LLC was established in 2011 fielding the #27 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The team will be announcing sponsorship and the driver lineup in the coming weeks. (Winfield Motorsports PR)(10-20-2011)
ironically,Winfield M/S is a S&P truck team when they make the field.

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Permalink Reply by Jimmy Wright on November 4, 2011 at 12:11am

Will have the same fate as Keyed-up Motorsports.

Permalink Reply by NIKAL on November 4, 2011 at 12:52pm

FINAL UPDATE!!!!

FORT WORTH, TEX. – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today it has hired Mark Martin to share in driving duties of the No. 00 Toyota and extended its 30-race sponsorship with Aaron’s, Inc. through the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

Martin will drive in 25 Sprint Cup events each of the next two seasons, sharing the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine with Michael Waltrip, who will drive five events with Aaron’s sponsorship. Martin will join Martin Truex Jr. and recently acquired Clint Bowyer in the MWR stable next season.

“Aaron’s has been a part of Michael Waltrip Racing for more than a decade and I’m proud that we will be racing together into the future,” said Waltrip, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing with Rob Kauffman. “This is a big day for our organization, announcing a sponsorship extension and adding a future first-ballot Hall of Famer like Mark Martin.

“It is very rare that a young organization gets an opportunity to hire a driver with Mark’s incredible talent, experience and insight into what it takes to be a winner. Mark will be competitive but also a great teammate to Clint, Martin and me. I’m thrilled he will be in our cars, but just as thrilled he will be in our meetings.”

Martin said he’ll play a role in shaping the future of MWR.

“Aaron’s and MWR have given me a chance to keep doing what I love with a competitive race car and a perfect schedule for the next two years. I have studied their program and, man, are they going in the right direction. I’m so impressed with what they are doing right now and I wanted to be a part of it. I want to help this organization. This is like a rebirth. I just can’t explain how excited I am to get to work.”

Martin will begin his tenure with MWR at the 2012 Daytona 500. Waltrip will run the remaining restrictor plate races plus the race in his home state of Kentucky. MWR plans to run a combination of drivers and sponsor partners to fill the remaining races when Martin and Waltrip are not behind the wheel.

Waltrip and Martin, with nearly 1,600 combined Sprint Cup starts, are the only drivers to have won races in four different decades in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series. Waltrip said both he and Martin will play key roles in evaluating and selecting a full-time driver for the Aaron’s Dream Machine in 2014.

“Pairing a future Hall of Fame driver in Mark Martin and two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip really is a dream come true for Aaron’s,” said Ken Butler, Aaron’s chief operating officer. “We have a lot of plans for Mark that I’m sure Aaron’s customers will enjoy in the coming months. We welcome Mark to the Aaron’s family and can’t wait to see him behind the wheel of the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine.”

http://www.michaelwaltripracing.com/news/press-releases/816/mwr-hir...

So 25 races is part time? Then Micheal runs 5 races. This leaves 6 races plus the All Star event that they will look for other drivers to fill? Sounds like a full time team to me and the rumor that Aarons was going to be on Boyers #15 car half of the season to complete his sponsorship package is not true. By looking at it from the sponsorship side, #55 Truex and Napa are good for the full year, #00 Martin, Waltrip and Aarons are good for the full year and #15 Boyer the new team only has a 20 race deal with 5 Hour. So knowing MWR does not like too and has not run blank cars. What does this do for Boyer and his remaining 16 races without sponsorship?