Yesterday, I read that RCR will be fielding a fourth team for 2009, with sponsorship from General Mills. The #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet Impala will be coming to a Cup track near you. Speculation is running rampant as to who will be the driver. Here are a few names that are being tossed around, about, and thrown to the wind:
Driver Clint Bowyer, right, talks with owner Richard Childress during rain delay at Bristol. Childress said he'll be fielding a fourth team in 2009. (AP Photo)
Bobby Labonte: he's currently the driver of the Petty Enterprises' #43 Dodge, currently sponsored by General Mills. General Mills will leave Petty Enterprises for RCR. Being a past champion, the champion's provisional is very attractive to that new team. The #33 would automatically be in the field for the first five races of 2009 should Labonte go to the #33. He runs a semi-full Nationwide schedule for RCR already, driving the #21 Chevrolet. And he has driven for Kevin Harvick Incorporated in the recent past in the Busch Series. The one downside is that he will be 44 years of age at the start of the 2009 Daytona 500.
Tony Stewart: I've been saying for the past year that Smoke would bring Home Depot with him to RCR in the #33. Doesn't appear that Smoke will be in the #33, as he is loyal to Home Depot and Joe Gibbs Racing. Stranger things have happened.
Martin Truex, Jr.: his contract with DEI will expire at the end of the season. He is very talented, and he has the personality that would mesh in the garage with Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Clint Bowyer. He would be in superior equipment (see Dale Earnhardt, Jr.) to what he currently has at DEI. He made the Chase last season and generally qualifies well.
Now here are some drivers that may be outside the box.
Dan Wheldon: he has already stated that he is interested in making the jump from IRL to NASCAR. Currently he is in the final year of his contract with Chip Ganassi. He's been very strong on the IRL ovals where Cup races are also ran, such as Chicago, Indy, and Richmond. Certainly worth talking to.
Helio Castroneves: I don't know his contract status in IRL, but could you picture him in NASCAR? He can flat out drive a car. Plus, he'd bring in even more fans to NASCAR. And the swoon factor would be off the charts.
Ryan Newman: he would bring an analytical and scientific approach to the #33 car with his engineering degree from Purdue University. In years past, he's been rumored to leave Penske Racing for Yates, Roush, DEI, and Gibbs. Will this be the year he finally leaves Penske for greener pastures?
Currently, Bobby Labonte is the favorite to be the driver of the #33. He could be driving that car before the end of the season. If the report from Yahoo Sports is true, Labonte will be the driver of the #33. It would be a HUGE coup for RCR. We will know in the coming days.
Unless Tony Stewart wins alot of races and the championship, he is my pic for the #33. He is a bow tie man. AI can't see him driving for Toyota if he has a chance to get in a winning Chevy...
Silly season starts earlier and earlier every year. It is not just a 'season' anymore, it is all the time, all year long. We're going to have to come up with a new name for all the mayhem! lol
It would be great to see Bobby go to RCR. Petty isn't doing anything for him - so why stay there! At least at RCR he could finish out his career hopefully on a good note.
Jon - Silly Season already...My bet would be Bobby for the car too. I highly doubt Newman would leave Penske but I could be surprised. Truex likes being lead at DEI at the moment and I think he will stay on b/c Teresa wont screw up another contract negotiation.
i guess it just wishful thinking on my part,but i still do not see bobby labounte leaveing richard petty.3 years ago when he went to the pettys he stated his dream had always been to win a race in the #43.i belive bobby is a man of his word.i will be real disiapointed if hedoes.it just bugs me that drivers do not hsve any loyaly in thier hearts anymore.and owners to for that matter.
Bobby Labonte is probably going to be the driver (have an inside source), but an interesting thought on Stewart - AT&T (right now) has to leave the Sprint Cup at the end of the season leaving the 31 car without a sponsor. If a deal with NASCAR and Sprint is not reached and AT&T leaves, RCR could have General Mills move to the 31 team and Burton and put Stewart and Home Depot in the 33. What a lineup they would have then Harvick,Burton,Stewart and Bowyer. WOW!!! Plus this would allow Stewart to run Nationwide races with Kevin Harvick Inc again.
My guess would be Martin Truex or Ryan Newman, but Helio would be a great addition to the Nascar stable. He has the talent for sure.! And he is very well known, that always helps with sponsors. But my guess is either Martin or Ryan. They both deserve to run with a top quality team.
I would love to see Bobby go as he is a pure class act. But the thought someone gave of giving Genreal Mills to Burton to get Tony and Home Depot for the 33? That would be a major coup if you ask me and I for one would love seeing that too. However, if I'm Truex, I've got Richard on speed dial and calling every 5 minutes to get out og DEI.
Childress obviously hold him in pretty high regard to carry on putting him the #29 Nationwide car. Plus he tried a few starts in a 4th RCR car last season.
Or has promoting guys up the ranks gone the way of the Dodo??
Jon - My money is on Bobby, I got a feeling this 4th car is to get ready for a young buck coming up and wants to put a number 3 on the side, maybe 2010 he starts to half time with Bobby and 2011 he takes over full time and Bobby retires.?.
Bobby Labonte is a thought RCR probably already knows who the driver is he really wants. Just can not see Tony leaving JGR but as we all know money talks.
David Stremme, he got the shaft from ganASSi for some open wheeler, who runs mid pack every week, if not worse, at this time last year Stremme was in the top 12, and until he got wrecked by Kasey at Richmond he was probably a dark horse to make the chase last year, but that was last year. I'm just saying Stremme is a good driver, give him a chance and he'll get you a couple wins with time.
Has this occured to anyone? What if Casey Mears
doesn't do well at Hendrick this year? Since Truex Jr's contract is up at the end of this season, I wouldn't put it past Hendrick to kick Mears out
of the 5 and put Truex Jr. in the 5 car,, so that
Dale Jr and Truex Jr. would be team mates again.
I bet that is what Dale Jr. is secretly hoping.
LAbonte is a good pick but I do recall he was fair while with Gibbs racing. Don't think it would be a good move to put Labonte in a top quality car. I am thinking a young gun fresh from the NW or truck series might give RCR more in return than Labonte..
Noahspop, at this point, ANYTHING'S possible! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Hiya Lori, it seems like Silly Season never stops! I had heard a couple of years ago that Newman was in line for the #1 car at DEI before Martin Truex Jr. Thanks for the visit and the line!
Bobbygirl43, I'm sure Richard Childress is waiting for all the I's to be dotted and the T's to be crossed before he announces the driver of the #33.
NyJr8fan, I had heard there was someone from F1 that wanted to go into NASCAR, I wasn't aware it was Ralf Schumaker.
SmokenHot, Labonte would be a great addition to the RCR stable. I wasn't aware that j.i.g. was a bad word! Thanks for the read and the props!
Kristen, as I shared earlier, seems like Silly Season never ends! At this point, nothing will surprise me! Thanks for coming by and dropping a line!
Papawjoe65, while I think Labonte will do his best to remain loyal to the Pettys, he is considered the favorite to be in the #33. Thanks for the read and comment!
Bubbahead22, great insight! I hadn't thought of that! Thanks for putting 2 and 2 together to equal 4! If your insight is correct, RCR would be VERY potent!
Caya, any one of those three would probably be considered for the #33. IMO, I think they've been mentioned in passing behind closed doors. Thanks for reading and commenting!
jpowell11, that would be a HUGE coup!! That potential lineup would rival HMS in talent!
bilbo, NOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Smoken, it appears that AT&T could possibly be leaving. We shall see.
jbroomy, it's possible. He's done well in the Nationwide ser
nascarlovergirly, I think Rick Hendrick will be more than fair to Casey Mears. It's his first year in the 5 car and I think he'd be given one more year. Truex is more likely to go to RCR than HMS. Thanks for reading and commenting.
photogr, it's possible Labonte could stay with Petty Enterprises out of loyalty. Someone mentioned Stephen Leicht, a young up and coming driver. He won a Busch Series race with an underfunded team a year or two ago. You have a valid point about a young driver going into that seat. Thanks for the read and the comments.
If i was a betting man, i'd say that Bobby Labonte will be in RCR's 4th car next year. Unless he wins a race for Petty Enterprise, that's the only way they'll keep him in the 43 car. A couple options not mentioned for this ride in this blog was Greg Biffle and Reed Sorenson, i think they could be options and both of their contracts are up after this year. I do believe Casey Mears will be out of a ride and I do see Truex in the 5 car next year. As much talent that's out there, he'd be crazy to leave Mears in the 5 car, he suxs! I also have heard that UPS is looking around for another team next year, i wouldnt be suprised if they are talking to RCR about replacing AT&T on the 31 car.
ctc245, I thought about mentioning Biffle, but since he is having a great season (so far) with Roush Fenway, I put his chances of leaving at less than 50%. Plus, he and Harvick don't get along very well. I didn't consider Reed Sorenson, my bad. IF UPS does leave MWR for RCR and goes to the 31, Jeff Burton would be a great candidate to succeed Dale Jarrett. It's possible that Mears could be out of the 5, but I haven't heard anything about it. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Ion- Robbie Loomis said that they are just about done with the final touches to Keep Bobby on for the rest of his career. Im thinking that its gonna be Scott Wimmer. He is young and full of talent. Why would RCR pick up another old driver? They already have Jeff Burton. Scott is also rumored to run a few races for RCR later in the year in the 4th car.
frevr3fan, Wimmer would seem to be the most realistic option for the #33. He has run Cup races in the #33 before (I think he even had a top 5 finish in a fourth RCR car once). I've also heard he may be running a few Cup races in the #33. Thanks for the read and the comments.
Great article man....I think booby will stay will petty b/c of lumis. I cant see truex leaving just yet he is king of the hill at dei now and atleast he will get the best car and the lead driver attention. Hendrick wont give up on mears just yet(even though i personally do not think he is that good) Just my own 2 cent what do you guys think about Jamie Mcmurry going into the 33 car? I think he is washed up but he could be an option b/c he is done at roush unless he goes on a sick run. I would have to say childress is leaning towards wimmer or an outsider maybe a sleeper like one of these motor cross guys
I'd love to see Labonte move to RCR! I'm always pulling for the Texas guy and perhaps the change of scenery would present him with the opportunity to be more competitive. At least I'm sure a change won't hurt him. He's relegated to mediocrity as an "also ran" as it is. Just outside the chase pack.
Foreshadowing?????????????? Here is something for you to chew on ...
text quoted from jayski.com:
Wimmer to run 4th RCR car ar Richmond: Scott Wimmer will attempt to qualify for his first Cup Series race of the season this weekend at RIR driving the #33 Camping World Impala SS, giving RCR four entries in the Crown Royal 400. Wimmer was behind the wheel of the #33 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2006 (St. 24 Fn. 12) and most recently at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (St. 21, Fn. 31) in July 2007
Hiya Lori, I was reading that Wimmer will be in the #33 this weekend. If he does well, it could possibly be a sign of things to come. A lot of factors come into play. It wouldn't surprise me if he qualifies and finishes well. I'll definitely chew on it!
And over the weekend I also heard or read that Caterpillar will be moving to the #31 car starting in 2009. I've also been hearing there will be one more major sponsor going to RCR. But I'll believe it when I see it. Perhaps Cat was the major sponsor going to RCR.
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