With Jeff Burton all but assured to remain at Roush Racing next season with a new sponsor [Fed-Ex? Kodak? Nat Guard?] for his #99 Fords, veteran Ken Schrader and Winston Cup rookie Tony Raines have emerged as the front-runners for Richard Childress Racing’s #30 AOL Chevrolets, NASCAR sources confirmed Saturday. Burton is under contract with Roush, but his team had difficulty in securing a primary sponsor for next season. Roush apparently has a sponsor for the team, although the identity remained unclear. Burton’s unavailability has forced team owner Richard Childress to consider other alternatives.( ThatsRacin.com )(11-8-2003) UPDATE: also hearing John Andretti is a stong candidate for the ride.(11-10-2003) UPDATE 2: the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus reports that Kenny Schrader will be the new driver of Richard Childress’ No. 30 AOL Chevrolet in 2004. Steve Park will not return next season, and Childress has delayed an announcement for nearly a month. Early speculation centered around Ward Burton and Jeremy Mayfield, but AOL reportedly vetoed Burton, and Mayfield recently re-signed with Evernham Motorsports. Schrader will leave the BAM Racing team to take his new position with Childress. BAM has struggled to find major sponsorship this season, and has nothing in place for 2004. Team owner Beth Ann Morgenthau has said the team may not race a full schedule next season if a new backer cannot be found, prompting Schrader to look for a new position with more job security. Expect an announcement as soon as this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.( Barre-Montpelier Times Argus )(11-13-2003) UPDATE 3: however, being told that Schrader was with Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau last night and said his plans are to be part of BAM Racing. The team has already built three cars for 2004, and is working on a fourth. Several associate sponsors are already signed for 2004. No announcement with RCR is listed for anything the track has on its schedule.(11-13-2003)
