Hearing that most of Bill Davis Racing’s employees were laid-off earlier this week following the sale of the team to Marty Gaunt and Mike Held. Despite the bad news, all team members are getting a chance to reapply for their position with the team. They will begin bringing back employees after the first of the year. The move appears to be an attempt at restructuring the organization. By doing this, they can cut loose any employees they do not want while removing any seniority and cutting salaries they might see as high. Given the present climate, it is very much an owner’s market. There are a lot of talented people who are looking for work and those with an opportunity to stay where they are at are very likely to take a pay cut in order to avoid job loss.(NASCAR Insiders)(12-28-2008)
UPDATE: Hearing that Triad Racing Technologies has not re-hired many of the people laid off and that the team will only attempt to run the Sprint Cup Series along with chassis, engines and tech support to other teams. And supposedly will not run ANY Truck Series team leaving driver Mike Skinner looking for a ride. [No word on status of Tayler Malsam & Brian Scott teams as well.](1-6-2009)
UPDATE 2: Brian Scott [who had signed with BDR for 2009] will return to the Truck Series as a one-truck team with Xpress Motorsports driving the #16 Albertson’s Toyota. Jeff Hensley returns as crew chief as well as some former BDR crew members have joined the team.(Xpress Motorsports)(1-6-2009)
UPDATE 3: As of yesterday [Monday], TRT has hired 80+ people back and is in full operation.(TRT)(1-6-2009)
UPDATE 4: TRT owners Marty Gaunt and Mike Held said recently that it would take a month for them to determine what the team’s racing plans would be. But it appears the team will sideline much, if not all, of its truck program. Angie Skinner confirmed Tuesday that her husband, Mike, has been told that he will not be in a truck for the team next year.(SceneDaily.com)(1-7-2008)
UPDATE 5: Skinner, who still had a year left on his contract at Bill Davis Racing when Triad Racing Technologies purchased a majority interest in the team on Dec. 22, says he was told by team management the next day that new owners Marty Gaunt and Mike Held would continue to field the team’s Camping World Truck Series program in 2009 with Skinner returning to the #5 Toyota. Then on Jan. 2, Skinner says team management informed him that the entire truck program would be discontinued, leaving three likely drivers – Skinner, Tayler Malsam and Brian Scott – having to alter plans for the coming season. Skinner doesn’t have a ride as of now but says he has been in discussions with two Truck teams and some Sprint Cup teams, none of which he named. “I’m 85 percent sure we’ll land something,” the Susanville, Calif., native said. “If some sponsor comes along it will be 100 percent.” Toyota Tundra, which served as the primary sponsor on Skinner’s truck throughout his time at BDR, had planned to continue the partnership if Skinner remained with the team next season, the driver said.(SceneDaily.com)(1-9-2008)
UPDATE 6: Skinner, who won the inaugural NASCAR Truck Series championship in 1995, said he’s had discussions with several teams, including Randy Moss Motorsports. Skinner said the slumping economy has been a headwind in this unexpected search for employment. “The same people that have wanted to hire me for the last two or three years are backing away,” said Skinner, who has 25 career truck wins. “Everybody is afraid of this economy. “When you got an opportunity to hire a former champion, who comes with a strong endorsement and help from Toyota, something will happen. We’ll put something together.” Meanwhile, Skinner said he’s “99 percent” sure he has a ride for the Daytona 500, just a one-race deal. He’s not interested in returning to Sprint Cup as a full-time driver. “The Sprint Cup is fun, but I’m a racer, and I want to drive trucks,” he said.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-15-2009)
UPDATE 7: Angie Skinner writes on the discussion board — Mike and I are driving up to NC today to meet with a potential team who seems excited to take on the #5 guys and Skinner. Mike is looking to attempt the Daytona 500 in a car which Slugger Labbe is working on….this isn’t a full time teamjust a fun attempt at the great race.(Mike Skinner.com)(1-17-2009)
