Elliott to run limited schedule in Evernham Motorsports Dodge Kahne succeeds Elliott as driver of the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Baldwin joins Evernham as team director for Kahnes #9 Dodge team Evernham Engines to supply engines for Kahnes Busch Series Dodge Evernham Motorsports announced its lineup this morning for the 2004 NASCAR season. The lineup will include NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, who will run a reduced race schedule in an Evernham Motorsports Dodge; NASCAR Busch Series standout Kasey Kahne, who will succeed Elliott as the driver of the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge; Jeremy Mayfield, who will continue as driver of the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge; and Tommy Baldwin, who will join Evernham Motorsports as team director for the #9 Dodge team. Elliott announced his intentions to run a limited schedule for several years and remain with Evernham Motorsports as mentor and coach to the teams drivers. Elliotts role will expand in a business capacity with Evernham Motorsports, lending his talent in a variety of endeavors on and off the track. Details of Elliotts participation as an Evernham Motorsports Dodge driver in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series still are being finalized. Initial plans call for a limited schedule with Ray Evernham and director of competition Sammy Johns overseeing the on-track program for Elliott. Elliott, the 1988 Winston Cup champion, also announced plans to include fan events in his 2004 schedule. In a show of appreciation for their unending support, Elliott is planning several celebrations to thank his loyal following for their devotion during his four decades of NASCAR competition. More details will follow once sponsorship is secured and Elliotts final schedule is determined. Kasey Kahne assumes Elliotts role as driver of the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge. In addition to running a full Nextel Cup schedule in the #9 Dodge, Kahne will compete full time in the NASCAR Busch Series next season. Evernham Engines will supply the #38 Great Clips Dodge with engines for 2004. Tommy Baldwin joins Evernham Motorsports as team director for Kahnes Cup operation. Ray and I have known each other for a while, said Baldwin. The opportunity for us to work together never seemed to present itself like I wished it would have. Im just glad it did this time. Our visions are the same, and I think youll see that translate well on track. As previously announced, Jeremy Mayfield remains in the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge for Evernham Motorsports in 2004, with Kenny Francis returning as team director. Evernham is pleased that Elliott will remain with his organization. Im fortunate that things have fallen into place like they have, said Evernham. Bill and I worked closely to make sure we were taking this company in the right direction, but I also wanted to make sure that he had the space to really make the right decision for himself. In making that decision, I think we as an organization have made some strong personnel moves. Kasey Kahne is a bright, young star in this sport, and he will accomplish a lot with guidance from one of the best in the business. Tommy Baldwin is an asset, and I feel very lucky to have him on board. And, we have a solid base with Jeremy Mayfield and Kenny Francis returning as well. With these moves, we are on track with the vision I have for this company, and these additions only make us stronger as we move into 2004.( Evernham Motorsports site )(12-4-2003) UPDATE 2: Some confusion remains on what number cars Elliott and Kahne will drive in Cup competition. Elliott said he’ll continue to drive the #9 Dodge in events he enters, but Evernham announced Thursday that Kahne will drive the #9 Dodge. Since Kahne will race the full 36-event schedule, it’s likely he’ll either drive cars with two different numbers (he’ll drive in an alternate number car in events that Elliott races in). Potentially, Elliott might have to take a different number. A third option is keeping Elliott in the #9 and giving Kahne a similar number like #09 or #90 or #91 [already used by the team]. The only non-confusing element is that Jeremy Mayfield will remain in the #19 Dodge. Adding to the confusion was Elliott’s take on the whole matter. Early in Thursday’s teleconference, he remarked that “Kasey Kahne will be the driver of the 9 car.” Moments later, Elliott said, “Right now when I run I’ll run the 9; Kasey will run the 9 when I’m not racing. We’ve got a plan, but we’re still trying to put it all together.” For his part in all this, Evernham said: “Since it’s not a retirement tour (for Bill Elliott), we haven’t worked out all the car number stuff yet. We’re still looking for partners to come on board with us, so they would certainly have some input on the number. Bill is going to run 10-15 races. On the day Bill Elliott decides it’s going to be his last race, he will drive the No. 9.” He will likely skip the season-opening Daytona 500 and the second race of the season at Rockingham, and make his first start of the year in the third race at Las Vegas. He also foresees running at places like Michigan, California, Pocono and Indianapolis.( ESPN )(12-5-2003)
