Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

[nyisles16]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/5064740..


i happened to actually be a Rudd fan for sometime.. maybe it also burned him out a little being his own "owner/driver" for the longest time too..

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

The article is right when it says that those years as an owner/driver cost him wins... The sport was just getting to a point where technology and equipment really mattered, and I don't think he had the really good stuff in that regard... I did think, though, that he was gonna do better when he signed on with Robert Yates... I wonder who will replace him in the Wood Bros. ride.

[Ephexx]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

I wonder who will replace him in the Wood Bros. ride.

The speculation as of now is that Ken Schrader might be moving to the #21. We'll have to wait and see though.

[pk500]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

The speculation as of now is that Ken Schrader might be moving to the #21. We'll have to wait and see though.

Another driver who needs to hang it up soon or race Trucks. Schrader is in total cash-and-carry mode.

Take care,
PK

[Ephexx]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

Speaking of speculation, where do you think Bobby Labonte is gonna go next year? I hope goes to Petty Enterprises, as they need skillful drivers like Labonte. I think if he climbs in the 43 car then they can be competitve, as their equipment seems to be getting better.

[dust247]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

Rudd is(was) my favorite driver, now I don't know who to root for.

[jcollins28]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

Schrader is comfrimed for the #21 car. Labonte looks to be headed to Petty in the 43 car. I have to say that Petty is looking pretty good for next year. They will have Evernham engines,Robby Loomis and Bobby LaBonte. They may not be a chase team but they will not be nearly as bad as they have been.

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

Let me get this straight.... Robbie Loomis left Hendrick Motorsports to be a crew chief at Petty Enterprises? That doesn't compute, at least to me... Anyone know the story behind this? pk?

[mercalnd]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

Let me get this straight.... Robbie Loomis left Hendrick Motorsports to be a crew chief at Petty Enterprises? That doesn't compute, at least to me... Anyone know the story behind this? pk?

I think he left Hendrick because things were clearly not working out for them this year and they thought a change was needed. And if I'm not mistaken, Loomis has been a crew chief for Petty Enterprises before so maybe he has emotional ties there or something. Just speculation. Someone can probably give more precise and accurate info.

[pk500]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

Let me get this straight.... Robbie Loomis left Hendrick Motorsports to be a crew chief at Petty Enterprises? That doesn't compute, at least to me... Anyone know the story behind this? pk?

First things first: B. Labonte will be named driver of the #43 Petty Enterprises car at a press conference Friday at Phoenix, and J.J. Yeley will be named as the driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries car that Labonte vacated, at a separate press conference Friday.

Now for Robbie Loomis. He was a crew chief for the No. 43 at Petty during the early to mid-90s, before he left to work at Hendrick. He left Petty for a few reasons.

One, what crew chief would pass the chance to work with Jeff Gordon? Like him or loathe him, he's a great driver. Two, I'm sure Hendrick pays a hell of a lot more than Petty. Money does matter in a job that consumes your entire life like working in Cup racing. Three, Loomis wanted the challenge of working for an organization where championships are expected, not dreamed about.

But in the last couple of years, Loomis has suffered from burnout. I believe his mother isn't in great health, and he mentioned in an interview earlier this year that he had put racing, his family and God in that order for many, many years. He stated a desire to change that order to his family, God and racing, and I'm sure this Petty gig will allow him to do that. I don't think he's working as a crew chief; it's more of a "director of racing operations" front-office gig, sort like what Steve Hmiel had at DEI before the crew chief dramas earlier this season forced him back on to Dale Jr.'s pit cart at the races.

Loomis has nothing left to prove in the sport. And you won't find an organization in Cup racing with more class than Petty Enterprises, and Bobby Labonte is one of the true first-class guys in the Cup garage. A very nice fit for Loomis.

Take care,
PK

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

Thanks, pk... I appreciate how you always come through with the solid info... I've been kinda vague on this, I'd heard rumored for a little while that Bobby Labonte was looking to leave JGR, but I couldn't gather why... Do you have any idea why? Is there a rift or something over at JGR?

[pk500]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

The 18 team has struggled mightily the last two years, and there's a general feeling that JGR has put its most talented people and focus on the 20 team since it has been the most competitive the last three or four seasons. Stewart and Zippy are peas in a pod, while JGR has shuffled crew chiefs in and out of the 18.

I think Bobby got tired of his team playing second fiddle to Stewart's -- both drivers have one Cup championship, remember -- even though both drivers get along OK. Bobby just wants to go somewhere where he's the No. 1 driver, and his low-key, high-class demeanor fits in well at Petty Enterprises.

Hopefully Petty's commitment to improving its equipment and personnel will flatter Bobby's obvious and considerable talent.

Take care,
PK

[jcollins28]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

Thanks, pk... I appreciate how you always come through with the solid info... I've been kinda vague on this, I'd heard rumored for a little while that Bobby Labonte was looking to leave JGR, but I couldn't gather why... Do you have any idea why? Is there a rift or something over at JGR?

Huh? Man I get no respect..... I feel bad for the crew on the 18 car. They will be putting in lots of overtime with Yeley driving. I thought Gibbs had enough repair bills from Lefler.

[dust247]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

So officially we now know this -

#14 Sterlin Marlin
#22/23 Michael Waltrip
#43 Bobby Labonte
#18 JJ Yeley
#2 Kurt Busch
#97 Jamie McMurray
#07 Clint Bowyer

Any others?

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Another NASCAR driver calling it quits...

Huh? Man I get no respect..... I feel bad for the crew on the 18 car. They will be putting in lots of overtime with Yeley driving. I thought Gibbs had enough repair bills from Lefler.

LOL!!!! Don't worry, JC, I didn't mean to slight you... You drop some good info, too....

So what's gonna happen with the FedEx sponsorship? I saw that some dude named Denny Hamlin had qualified that ride on the pole... I haven't been paying attention too much in recent weeks, so I was like "Who the heck is that?"