Tony Raines is expected to be back behind the wheel of the Hall of Fame Motorsports #96 Chevy next season.(Speed Channel)(8-5-2006)
UPDATE: Tony Raines will return to Hall of Fame Racing and the #96 DLP HDTV Chevrolet for the 2007 season, Hall of Fame Racing officials announced Aug. 23. Raines will compete in every event on the 2007 Nextel Cup Series schedule. Raines has shared driving duties with Labonte this season, posting a best finish of 11th on August 6 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Labonte drove the first five races of the season and the two road course events at Sonoma [finished 3rd] and Watkins Glen. Raines has competed in 16 races and will drive the remaining events on the 2006 schedule. “I’m happy to be coming back,” Raines said. “I think we’ve made progress and we’re learning, but we are a long way from being as good as I know we will be. I’m looking forward to finishing 2006 in a strong way and having a great season in 2007 in the DLP HDTV Chevy.” In 16 starts in 2006, Raines has scored 10 top-25 finishes and helped the team to 27th in Nextel Cup owner points.(Hall of Fame/True Speed Communications PR)(8-23-2006)
