#1 team coming back…and a DEI Busch team? [gasp] AND:
June 11, 2004 at 12:00 AM
Within the next week, Dale Earnhardt Inc.[DEI] should announce plans to reopen its #1 Chevrolet Nextel Cup team with driver John Andretti and add a Busch Series team, DEI’s director of motorsports, Richie Gilmore, said Friday. “We’re real close to putting together a long-term deal with the #1 car and John Andretti. We’re hoping to put some news out next week about that,” Gilmore said. “This team has been the No. 1 priority this season. We didn’t want to bring it back unless we could do it full time. We felt like that is what John needed and what we needed.” Gilmore said the Cup deal would be for the remainder of this season, 2005 and 2006. Andretti would drive the car at least through 2005. DEI also plans to announce the hiring of Paul Menard, 23, who has been running in the Busch Series with Andy Petree Racing. Menard left that organization earlier this week. “We’re trying to get that worked out. Paul reminds me a lot of Martin, especially his personality. He’s a really good kid ÃÂÃÂ and nothing against Andy (Petree) ÃÂÃÂ but with DEI resources, I think Paul can really excel,” Gilmore said. “We’re looking at a long-term relationship with Paul because of his age and ability, with him and Martin (Truex Jr.) being the future of DEI.”(ThatsRacin.com) AND the crew chief for the #1 car will be the Pete Rondeau, currently the car chief for the #15 DEI team, Tony Gibson will be the crew chief for Paul Menard and the new #11 Busch team.(XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 144 – subscription required)(6-11-2004)
