the sport continues to await some word from Rob Kauffman (part owner of MWR) about the Michael Waltrip Racing Richmond controversy. Kauffman, 49, is Waltrips business partner, joining in late 2007. Kauffmans primary business is as a private equity investment manager, with his Fortress Investment Group, with some $17 billion under management. Kauffman himself is listed by Forbes as one of the worlds top billionaires. Now comes word from people close to the situation that Kauffman may be planning to separate himself officially from Waltrips racing operations and establish his own NASCAR team. Kauffmans pick for his driver, again, according to people familiar with it all, is Jeff Burton. Burton says hes got a driving deal for 2014 but says he cant say anything more than that right now. Burton currently drives for Richard Childress Chevy team; if Kauffman does do his own team, it would most like be with Toyota. A spokesman for Waltrip and Kauffman says he is unfamiliar with such a Kauffman-Burton scenario.( MikeMulhern.net )
