hearing that Bill Davis Racing [#22,23], Michael Waltrip Racing [#55] and Team Red Bull will run the Toyota Camry in 2007 when Toyota enters the series. In addition to Red Bull, other sponsors that will be associated with the Toyota teams are Caterpillar (Bill Davis Racing) and NAPA (Michael Waltrip Racing). Team Red Bull will be based in Mooresville, NC, and stock car veteran Marty Gaunt [Penske] will serve as the team’s general manager. Who will drive for Red Bull? how many teams/cars? not sure, Robby Gordon, who owns his own team has been sponsored by Red Bull. And have heard that Kevin Harvick, who drivers the #29 RCR Chevy, could be one of the drivers for Red Bull team. Expect these teams, but doubt the Red Bull drivers, in part to be announced at Toyota’s Press Conference at Lowe’s Motor Speedway tonight.(1-24-2006)
UPDATE: One veteran race team with close to 20 years of stock car experience, another with an owner who has been driving race cars for more than 20 years, and a third totally new team will all be running the Toyota Camry in the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Bill Davis Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull will all utilize the “Most Popular Car in America” when the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season kicks-off next February with the Daytona 500, Toyota and teams announced.
Bill Davis Racing has been a regular competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series since 1993, while Michael Waltrip Racing has primarily been involved in the Busch Series. Team Red Bull is new to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, although the company has been heavily involved in worldwide motorsports. In addition to Red Bull, other primary sponsors that will be associated with the Toyota teams are Caterpillar (Bill Davis Racing) and NAPA (Michael Waltrip Racing). Caterpillar has been associated with Bill Davis Racing for nine years and NAPA has had a relationship with Michael Waltrip for five years. Team Red Bull will be based in Mooresville, N.C., and stock car veteran Marty Gaunt will serve as the team’s general manager. Although Red Bull is new to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition, the world’s leading energy drink company has been increasingly involved in global motorsports over the last decade. Red Bull owns and operates two Formula One teams — Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso — plus is an active supporter of action and adventure sports, music and culture, along with motorsports.(Toyota Motorsports Site), see full PR on my Toyota News page.(1-25-2006)
UPDATE 2 more on Harvick: Unless car owner Richard Childress can sign him to a long-term extension, Kevin Harvick will be one of the top free agents for the 2007 season — just in time for Toyota to make its NASCAR debut. “They are going to make a run at a lot of drivers, and everyone is aware that Kevin’s contract is up,” Childress said Thursday. “I am sure they are going to make a run at him.” Harvick has been reluctant to negotiate with Childress, unsure of where the program is headed. Until he’s sure that Childress can give him a team capable of winning a championship, Harvick doesn’t want to commit to anything. “We’ve kind of agreed to sit down in April and just kind of evaluate where things are,” Harvick said. “I’m not going to rush into things and do things I don’t want to do. I think right now we are in the same frame of mind about our goals, and our goals are to go out and get the season going out good and make the Chase. All the rest of it, the paper stuff, is something that’s not high on the list right now.”
But contracts are high on the list to Toyota, which announced Monday it will field Nextel Cup teams in 2007. The Japanese automaker will have at least three teams and anywhere from four to seven drivers, depending on sponsorship. Bill Davis Racing is expected to field two drivers, and Michael Waltrip, who will drive for his own team, wants to field two cars. Team Red Bull, a startup, was Toyota’s announced third team and has revealed very few details about its operation. It’s led to speculation that Toyota will recruit top drivers and hand-deliver them to Red Bull. Harvick should be on the top of Toyota’s list, and he apparently knows it. “Our position right now is favorable,” he smiled.
But Childress knows it will take more than a blank check to lure Harvick away. “I don’t know that it’s all about money with Kevin Harvick — if we can get our teams back to where he’s competitive that’s going to mean a lot to him,” Childress said. Aside from his unquestionable driving talent, Harvick’s growing business could also be an interest to Toyota. In just three years, Kevin Harvick Inc. has grown to an established operation with 65 employees, two Busch Series and a Truck Series team. It could be just the operation Toyota would like to support. “I think there are a lot scenarios, but we just have to concentrate on what we are doing,” Harvick said. “Right now, I don’t have a whole lot of comment on that.”(ESPN.com/AP)(1-27-006)
