More NASCAR Team “Divorces”
Earlier this week Ray Evernham announced a team reorganization that included veteran crew chief Tommy Baldwin leaving to form his own team. At the time I speculated he may be part of Toyota’s 3 team, 6 car entry into NASCAR’s NEXTEL Sprint Cup for the 2007 season.
Jim Utter notes another divorce and a quicky marriage.
Veteran Nextel Cup engine builder Doug Yates and veteran crew chief Tommy Baldwin are expected to partner together to own a Nextel Cup team that could hit the track full-time in 2007, ThatsRacin.com has learned.
A formal announcement of the Yates/Baldwin partnership is scheduled for Saturday morning at Homestead-Miami Speedway.The Yates/Baldwin team is not expected to field a full-time effort next season and is not expected to be a third entry for Robert Yates Racing, sources said. Yates currently fields Fords for drivers Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler in Cup.
I love counting chickens before they’re (Thanks Laura) hatched!
In this “egg” we have Baldwin who spent a year under the wing of legendary Junie Donlavey. From ‘98 through ‘02 Baldwin held various positions with Bill Davis Racing. He also had one season with the No. 7 Ultra Motorsports team then moved to Evernham Motorsports for the 2004 season. So the count here is mostly Ford experience with two years on Evernham’s Dodge team with Kasey Kahne.
In the Doug Yates “egg” we have someone, along with father Robert, that probably have the Blue Oval tattooed on matching ass-cheeks. That “blue-blood” led Ford to name Doug to lead Team Ford Racing’s Cup engine program, making him responsible for supplying engines to not only the Yates teams, but also to all five teams at Roush Racing.
With the counting in, indications are a new Yates/Baldwin partnership may be headed Ford’s way. And I doubt if Ford will prevent it. Chevy’s out number Fords nearly two to one in NEXTEL Cup at present and Jimmie Johnson’s Charlotte win gave Chevy it’s 24th manufacturers’ title in the last 33 years. A record that is continuely aided by having more Chevy’s on track.
According to Utter’s sources the Yates/Baldwin partnership will be announced at Homestead Saturday morning. That would also indicate they would field a current nameplate and not one that isn’t on track as yet. I doubt if Toyota is ready to reveal their plans this far in advance of ‘07.
Mama always told me if you’re going to be wrong, be wrong at the top of your voice. So that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
The Yates/Baldwin partnership will be “turning Japanese” come 2007. (Unless you hear otherwise.)
NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Auto Racing, Sports
“I love counting chickens before their hatched!”
That should read “I love counting chickens before they’re hatched.” The “their” that you are using is the possesive, which is incorrect in that sentence. You want to use the contraction of “they are”, which would be “they’re”. So, there you go.
Yep you’re correct as always Laura.
Thanks for the catch, I’ve corrected the text.