Michael Waltrip Racing majority owner Rob Kauffman told FOXSports.com on Sunday he hopes to unveil the companys reorganizational plan ‘relatively soon.” The moves will come following MWRs penalties for attempts to manipulate the outcome of the Richmond International Raceway race on Sept. 7 and the subsequent announcement from NAPA to pull its sponsorship from the #56 Toyota team. ‘Were working on an announcement’ Kauffman said. ‘I think its been a week since we last spoke, so were trying to get it all together. But we have a couple of good options. I think rather than use the word ‘release, Id prefer to say allow guys to explore all their options just as were exploring all of our options. Is that exactly negative? I think its the right thing to allow people to investigate all their options. A lot of these contracts have provisions that say ‘you cant speak to anyone. So, technically, its a release, but its really more correct saying, ‘Look, theres a challenge here. We want you to investigate all your options. Of course, were one and lets stay in close communication. I dont think theres anything negative around it at all. Its just letting people figure it out.”( FoxSports )(10-8-2013) UPDATE: The Associated Press has learned that Michael Waltrip Racing will run only two full-time cars next season because of the loss of sponsor NAPA. Team owners Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman on Monday began telling employees of their decision. Those affected were told they are free to begin looking for a new job immediately. Two employees spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because MWR had not publicly announced its decision. The car that #56-Martin Truex Jr. currently drives will run a partial schedule in 2014. NAPA decided to leave MWR at the end of the year fallout from the teams attempt to manipulate the finish at Richmond to get Truex into the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.( Associated Press )(10-14-2013) UPDATE2: Michael Waltrip Racing announced today its reorganization for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, highlighted by two full-time championship contending teams, a third entry which will run a limited schedule and a strengthened research and development group. MWR will field the #55 Aarons Toyota and the #15 5-hour ENERGY/PEAK Toyota in its pursuit of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. To enhance performance for its two full-time teams, MWR has bolstered its R&D effort and will run a third car in select races, including Michael Waltrip in the 2014 Daytona 500. Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota and his crew chief, Chad Johnston, each have been notified they are free to negotiate with other teams. Scott Miller, the teams executive vice president of competition, will continue his role as crew chief of the #55 team into the 2014 season. ‘Our goals for the reorganization were twofold, firstly to improve the competitiveness of our race teams and, secondly maintain a stable organizational structure’ said co-owner Rob Kauffman. ‘The teams focus has been to find that last one percent needed to move from Chase participant to Cup champion. This realignment will get us closer to that last one percent.” The reorganization enabled MWR to retain more than 85% of its current workforce. Those whose positions were affected by the moves were notified Monday morning. ‘Today was about doing what we had to do not what we wanted to do’ Kauffman added. ‘It was important to let those whose jobs were affected know as early as possible, and a majority of those will remain with MWR through the end of the season.” ‘We have very strong support from Toyota, Toyota Racing Development, 5-hour ENERGY, PEAK, Aarons, AAA Mid-Atlantic and other partners who enable us to compete at the highest level’ said MWR founder and co-owner Michael Waltrip. ‘We are confident that with two teams and a very active test team, our competiveness will take a step forward. We will also continue to do a great job for our partners off the track, which has always been a cultural staple for our organization. Rob and I deeply appreciate everyone who has helped build MWR into a race winning team and we are dedicated to continuing our pursuit of excellence on and off the track.”( MWR )
