File this in the Makes No Sense Department. The co-owner of one of the top teams in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series has hired Paul Tracy to run later this season but the 2003 CART champion still can't get a ride in an Indy car.
A few weeks ago, P.T. tested Todd Bodine's truck at Chicagoland Speedway and impressed Bob Germain enough to get a one-off deal.
"Paul did a nice job so we got a little bit if support and decided it would be fun to run him in his hometown," said Germain, who along with his two brothers owns 19 car dealerships in Ohio and Florida. "He's our style, very aggressive, and he and Todd are a lot alike."
Tracy, who had a few rides in the old Busch series with mixed results, looks at his truck debut as something bigger.
"I figure it's an audition for 2009 with those guys, because I think Todd wants to go to the Nationwide series," said Tracy.
Currently, Germain runs Mike Wallace in the Nationwide series, plus Justin Marks and Bodine in the trucks (along with Chrissie Wallace, Mike's daughter, in selected events), and may be looking to expand.
"We're going to run Chrissie full-time in the trucks next year and we've got another year for sure with Mike (sponsored by Geico)," said Germain. "I know Todd would like to run the Nationwide series and we've got about a dozen different possibilities we'll be looking at. "And running Paul full-time in the trucks is one of those."
I've been surprised that Tracy hasn't made the jump to NASCAR long ago. Of all the open-wheelers of the past 5 to 10 years, he's among the few who I figured to be a natural at piloting the ol' sleds. Good luck Paul, and watch out everyone else ...
Paul would be competitive in a Germain truck. To bad Forsyth won't let him race Indy cars right now. Surely that has to be the catch. Or he would be in someones Indy car wouldn't he?
Last edited by 14Falcons on June 20th at 12:46 PM.
This will be interesting. Paul Tracy in Trucks.I think he has the personality to mix it up with the other truck drivers. Didn't that get him out of the open wheels a while back?
Paul would be another match needing to be struck. I would love to see his fire in Nascar. Trucks would be a way to go. I hope he slows his wanting to learn over night though. He is good. It will take a little time. I think with time he will be real good in a vehicle with fenders...
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