Full Throttle

It won’t be such a Merry Christmas around the Bobby Hamilton Jr’s household this season. The Grinch owner of #32 PPI Motorsports Chevrolet, Cal Wells, “announced today that Bobby Hamilton Jr. will no longer be the driver of the Tide/Downy Chevrolet” in NASCAR’s NEXTEL Cup Series.

Travis Kvapil is replacing Bobby Hamilton Jr. who was recently released from the #77 Penske Racing Dodge after a joint decision was made by Penske and sponsor Kodak not to field the #77 car in 2006.

John Newsom has called Hamilton Jr “the worst full-time driver in the Cup series this year.” I’m not sure I’d go that far, but with only one top ten finish all year, with a replacement driver on the road course at Sonoma, it’s an argument hard to dispute.

In the Stick & Ball sports it’s always the manager/coach that usually gets the pink slip. In NASCAR the driver takes the first hit. Whether warranted or not Hamilton is out, three days before Christmas, but Wells better make a New Years resolution to have a deeper look than just his driver. PPI had a starting/finishing performance of 16.7/19.2 respectivly in 2002 and hasn’t come within shouting distance of that record since.

Kvapil in thanking Wells for the opportuniy said, “I want to thank Cal for giving me the chance to drive one of the most recognizable race cars in NASCAR.”

Aside from driver/crew chief changes that Tide logo adds additional presure on the team. Tide has been in NASCAR since 1987 when they formed “The Super Team,” that included 3 time [then] Winston Cup Champion driver Darrell Waltrip, auto mega dealer Rick Hendrick and the most revered engine builder, Waddell Wilson.

Under the direction of 3 different team owners, 4 drivers the Tide car has always been a contender, until 2003, but the wheels have come off since.

In the end it’s a Merry Christmas for Travis Kvapil who gets a second full season on the top rung of NASCAR’s ladder. For Bobby Hamilton Jr it’s a lump of coal from Grinch Cal Wells.

Putting on my “Nostradamus Hat” I’d be willing to bet Hamilton Sr. will have a self owned car in the works shortly and Hamilton Jr. will be installed as driver before May ‘06.

NASCAR, Auto Racing