It’s Just an Aftershock!
After the “Kurt Busch Earthquake” Tuesday an announcement that Reed Sorenson will run a full [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cup.jpg]Nextel Cup[/avatar] schedule next season is only a minor ripple on the NASCAR richer scale. The 19 year old will strap into a fourth team for Chip Ganassi Racing.
The largest part of the story - if the Associated Press and it’s two anonymous sources can be believed - is Sorenson will be in the #41 driven by Casey Mears. Mears’ contract has been picked up for the ‘06 season and will be slotted into a fourth Dodge and sponsored by Home123. The company has previously coughed up the cash to be named the “Official Mortgage Company of NASCAR” and did a promotion with Jamie McMurray.
This may be a strong signal Ganassi has no intentions of letting Jamie McMurray out of the ‘06 obligation to complete a move to Roush Racing next year. That remains to be seen, [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/money.gif]money[/avatar] still has a loud voice and may be heard from in the form of a check for McMurray’s’ release.
If not the Ganassi lineup will consist of four relatively young drivers, Jamie McMurray, Mears, Sorenson and David Stremme. They are all under 30 years in age and that is, for better or worse, what primary sponsors want. Just ask Sterling Marlin who was let go by Ganassi and replaced by Stremme.
UPDATE:Kathy noted something I hadn’t thought of. Both Stremme and Sorenson will be vying for the NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the Year Award in ‘06.
mcmurray and mears also competed
against each other for ROTY
NOTE: this comment was edited to add a couple lines to prevent breaking the format- ed.
Yep your correct Kevin. McMurray and Mears were both rookies in ‘03. McMurray won the award but it was hardly a “competition,” Jamie finished in 15th place and Mears was 35th in the final standings.