The Speedwords website has been hearing of discontent and outright anger in the #66 Winston Cup team of Darrell Waltrip, primarily in the last two weeks though some say it goes back farther than that. DW is out of provisionals (as best as anyone understands that “rule”), crew chiefs have come and gone and now there is talk of an impending split of the team itself. Track side reports of tension in the pit and garage area possibly fed by on-track performance that appears to be spiraling downwards all lend credence to the reports. Late yesterday Speedwords was told that at least two prospective crew chiefs have quietly turned down offers from the #66 team. Sources close to the team also said last night that key figures in the Travis Carter owned operation are seeking a way out of what even hopeful supporters are now considering a bad situation. Though publicly displaying his game face, this has to be a tough time for DW and everyone involved with the team( Speedwords ) Yikes! — I hear there was a story on Waltrip echoing the same in Thursday’s USA Today print edition, but I could not find it online and have not seen Thursday paper. UPDATE 2: Also I hear if DW is not up to speed for 1st round qualifying, look for another driver(Jeff Green??) to make an attempt in 2nd round — UPDATE 3: see a story of That’s Racin’ at Waltrip faces prospect of going home by David poole and from SpeedNet’s Notes by Monte Dutton: Rumors circulated late Friday that Travis Carter, Waltrip’s car owner, was considering putting another driver in the car for today’s second-round qualifying session. Waltrip has needed a provisional to make the field in all five events and no longer has that option since the team fell out of the top 25 in car-owner standings last week. Carter was apparently considering Matt Kenseth, Todd Bodine and several other Busch regulars, although Waltrip would almost certainly be the driver on Sunday if someone else can get the #66 Ford in the field. Carter left the track abruptly and was unavailable for comment(SpeedNet) — UPDATE 4: The Travis Carter owned teams both had trouble in the session with Jimmy Spencer qualifying 40th and Darrell Waltrip qualifying 44th. Waltrip’s run must have been a disappointment as he ran a time 4/10ths of a second slower than he practiced earlier in the day. Waltrips #66 car was covered and the team hauler locked as the team left the track early( Speedway Scene ) — UPDATE 5: DW made the race and that’ll quiet things down for at least two weeks. Many articles out there now about the situation including: Waltrip Overcomes Fears, Qualifies for Texas Race from the WRAL Auto Racing page and Waltrip produces hot lap when he needs it from That’s Racin’
