Ray Evernham is expected to be named general manager of the three-team operation and its 250 employees, which will allow him to spend less time on the road. Key to the move would be signing a new crew chief for Jeff Gordon. Evernham wants to hire Tommy Baldwin, and it may be difficult for Baldwin to turn down that opportunity. Evernham is the man who gave Baldwin his first Winston Cup job — with Ricky Craven in 1996. Baldwin expects to make his decision Wednesday, and he appears to be leaning toward leaving the Bill Davis-Ward Burton team to take the job. One of the other men on Evernham’s short list, according to men familiar with the situation, was Frankie Stoddard, who runs Jeff Burton’s team. Car owner Jack Roush said that he doesn’t have any of his crew chiefs under contract ”because I don’t feel they’re at risk. If we pay our crew chiefs well and give them all the technology they need to work with, I don’t know why any of us should want to change.” Car owner Richard Childress has also been interested in Baldwin, according to sources….from PitNow plus articles from That’s Racin’ and SpeedVision/iRace — another one: Evernhams Silly Season Keystone – Racer Magazine — UPDATE: hearing Baldwin will take the Hendrick gig — UPDATE: had heard an announcement would be made Wednesday on Baldwin’s plans, but have heard nothing — UPDATE 2: I hear that Baldwin has decided to STAY with the #22 Bill Davis Racing team and will sign a contract soon — UPDATE 4: from TNN’s Motorsports site – Baldwin Re-Signs With #22
