Tommy Baldwin Racing may not field its familiar #36 Sprint Cup Chevrolet on a full-time basis in 2015, focusing instead on the team’s #7 Chevy while forging a new partnership with Jay Robinson Racing to keep the #36 entry on track. Multiple sources tell GodfatherMotorsports.com that negotiations are underway to campaign the #36 under the Jay Robinson Racing banner in 2015, with TBR handling fabrication and preparation for the four restrictor plate races at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. That move, if finalized, will result in the layoff of approximately eight TBR employees, all of whom have been invited to apply for positions at JRR’s facility on Rolling Hill Road in Mooresville, NC. Baldwin reportedly informed team personnel of the move Monday, saying the deal will be finalized later this week. Baldwin stressed today that he has no plans to sell TBR, and is speaking with a number of parties in an effort to improve the performance of the #36 team. Baldwin has made a total of 321 career Sprint Cup Series starts since becoming a team owner in 2009, with a best finish of third at Talladega in 2011 with driver Dave Blaney. Michael Annett ran the full, 36-race schedule in Baldwin’s #7 Pilot/Flying J Chevy last season, finishing 32nd in championship points. He is expected to return in 2015. Reed Sorenson drove the #36 Chevy to 34th in the final standings.(Godfather Motorsports)(1-6-2015)
UPDATE: Catchfence.com reports that Jay Robinson Racing will have a “partnership” with Tommy Baldwin Racing and is expected to inherit the #36 owner points from 2014 to be transferred to the #62 for the season, including the Daytona 500. A spokesperson for Jay Robinson Racing (Premium Motorsports) would not comment on the situation but said the team would make announcements in the “next couple weeks” (also running the #66 Toyota for Mike Wallace at Daytona). Confirmed Thursday night by a Richard Childress Racing spokesperson, Richard “Slugger” Labbe, who stepped down as crew chief for Paul Menard following the Charlotte race last October, to take a leadership role in research and development, will lead Scott during Speedweeks 2015. Scott finishing 25th in the #33 Whitetail Club Chevy SS for Circle Sport Racing in last years Daytona 500. Circle Sport, which carries an affiliation with RCR will field an entry for Ty Dillon for the February 22 race. Shore Lodge, a longtime backer of Scott’s NASCAR career is expected to sponsor him at Daytona. Scott’s pole at Talladega in May 2014 earned him an a spot in the Sprint Unlimited, but sources confirmed that Scott is not scheduled to compete in the non-points event.(Catchfence)(2-6-2015)
UPDATE 2: Premium Motorsports has purchased the assets of the 2014 NSCS #36 team from Tommy Baldwin Racing. The #36 team ran the full schedule in 2014 and finished 35th in the final point standings. For 2015 Premium Motorsports has changed the team’s number from #36 to #62. The team will be fielding Chevrolets for the 2015 Season. Premium Motorsports is led by Veteran Team Owner Jay Robinson. Sponsor and driver announcements for the #62 team will be forth coming.(Premium Motorsports)(2-6-2015)
