Facing tougher competition, Frank Cicci Jr. will count on a restructuring of his team to help compete at a higher level in NASCAR’s Busch Series in 2006. To help reach [the next] level, Cicci hired Dave Fuge Jr., a two-time champion crew chief in the Craftsman Truck Series, as his new crew chief. The team has also switched engine builders, leaving Pro Motors for Carl Wegner of Wisconsin. Cicci will employ a driver-by-committee lineup this year. Champ Car star Paul Tracy, Chemung native Todd Bodine and two or three other drivers will share the #34 Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly Chevrolet in 2006. Cicci said the team, which is still without a primary sponsor, will compete in all 35 Busch events. Cicci said he’s also working on deals to bring in a woman driver and a young male driver but did not want to mention their names.”We’re working sponsors and we’ve presented those drivers,” Cicci said. “They’ll all split the driving in the 34. We plan to make all the races. That’s our focus.”(Elmira [NY] Star-Gazette)(2-9-2006)
UPDATE: It was mentioned on Speed Channel’s Busch Qualifying coverage that Todd Bodine is expected to run 30 races in the 34 for Frank Cicci Racing. He will be in the car for all the races Tracy doesn’t run.(Speed TV Coverage)(2-17-2006)
UPDATE 2:Car owner Frank Cicci says Speed’s reports of Bodine were incorrect. “Todd is concentrating on running for the championship in the Truck Series. Todd is just going to run select races for us starting in California. The number of races he will be running for us throughout the year is yet to be determined.”(BGNRacing.com)(02-19-2006)
