In an effort to continue the development of the #84 team, Red Bull athlete Mike Skinner will drive the #84 Red Bull Toyota during this week’s Lowe’s Motor Speedway open test. Skinner has been called upon by RBRT on multiple occasions since the team’s 2006 NSCS entrance, including a five-race stint in the #84 earlier in the 2008 season, as well as mentor duties for both Allmendinger and Red Bull development driver Scott Speed. Skinner will round off a three-car test for Red Bull Racing Team alongside Red Bull development driver Scott Speed in the #82, and Brian Vickers in the #83. (Red Bull Racing PR)(9-23-2008)
UPDATE: Mike Skinner says he may make a couple more starts in the #84 Toyota of Red Bull Racing before the end of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The team, which Skinner drove for in six races earlier this year while serving as mentor for AJ Allmendinger, announced on Tuesday that it would part ways with Allmendinger at end of the season. Allmendinger will be in the car for this weekends race at Kansas Speedway, but his status for the rest of the season is uncertain. If we run a race or two, then thats fine, said Skinner, who was testing the car during Tuesdays test at Lowes. I think that their vision is I really dont know. But I think that Scott Speed is somebody theyre really wanting to develop and get going, and Scotts done a phenomenal job this year, so well just have to see what happens.(SceneDaily.com)(9-23-2008)
