On the ‘other side’Â of the garage these first few races of 2010 are three drivers whose teams are in similar situations. All veterans, #26-Boris Said, #46-Terry Cook, and #26-Mike Bliss find themselves in a difficult position where funding wholly determines which races they run the distance in and which ones they park early.
Bliss has had funding on the #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy from Wave Energy drink and is running the distance in those races, but since only half the races are funded by either Wave or other companies, he is realistic that he may have to begin start and parking. He says that he has no idea what Baldwin will choose to do in those races and that he will simply do what he is told. His start to the season has seen his Chevy show some speed, but the finishes have not backed that up after crashing in two of the first three events.
Boris Saids #26 Latitude 43 Motorsports Ford team, which bought the owner points from the now-defunct Roush Fenway #26 entry, is also locked into the first five races. While the team DNFd at both California and Talladega, Said says Sundays race in Atlanta should be different. ‘This weekend, we are planning on running the whole race. Weve got a motor to run the whole race.’Â Said also says that the teams future races depend solely on sponsorship.
Finally, Terry Cook, technically signed up to run for Rookie of the Year honors, has failed to qualify for three races in the #46 Whitney Motorsports Dodge. When asked if he would start and park his unsponsored entry if he made a race this year, he shrugged and said he would only do as he was directed.(Frontstretch)(3-6-2010)
