former crew chief James Ince is back on the NASCAR Nextel Cup tour. #32 car owner Cal Wells has hired Ince to become team manager for driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. along with Eddie Dickerson, a veteran car builder and shop foreman. How driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. might fit into all this is unclear. Hamilton hasn’t said much about his plans for 2006, and has been dodging questions on the issue for the past month.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-11-2005)
UPDATE: Bobby Hamilton Jr. Saturday denied reports that his Nextel Cup [#32 PPI Racing] team is about to fold. “I know that’s been going around but there’s nothing to it,” Hamilton, a Nashville native and fourth-generation racer, joined Cal Wells’ PPI Motorsports team around mid-season last year, replacing Ricky Craven. He signed a three-year contract. Hamilton said of reports that began circulating during last week’s race at California and continued in the days leading up to last night’s race at Richmond International Raceway. “We’ve been hiring some new people and making plans and I expect to be back next year.” Hamilton posted his best finish (11th) in the season’s third race at Las Vegas Speedway. Since then the team has struggled, with an average finish of 30th. The Hickory, N.C.-based team fields only one car, and Wells said that puts it at a disadvantage to multi-car teams in terms of testing and technology. Wells said he would like to give Hamilton a teammate if he can find sponsorship for a second car. Hamilton was a winner in the Busch Series, and Wells continues to express confidence in his ability to compete in NASCAR’s top division. Hamilton, while frustrated, likewise said he has faith in the team’s potential. “It has won before (with Craven) and if we can get all the pieces to fit together it can win again,” he said.(Tennessean)
AND PPI Motorsports recently added Eddie Dickerson and James Ince to its roster. Dickerson will be instrumental in chassis development; Ince will oversee the assembly shop. Team owner Cal Wells says, “I want to keep changing things up until I find the right combination.” Wells says that Tide will return as sponsor in 2006.(Sporting News)(9-12-2005)
