JTG/Daugherty cuts back, where will Cup deal land?
Saturday, Jun. 27, 2009
AP
Joey Logano (20) passes Michael McDowell (47) during the NASCAR Nationwide Series 300 auto race in Gladeville, Tenn., Saturday, April 11, 2009. Logano won the race. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Getty Images for NASCAR
NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 06: Michael McDowell, driver of the #47 Constructionjobs.com Toyota stands by his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Federated Auto Parts 300 at the Nashville Superspeedway on June 6, 2009 in Lebanon,Tennessee. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR)
LOUDON, N.H. - Unless additional sponsorship is found, JTG/Daugherty Racing will be not field a full-time entry in the Nationwide Series beyond next weekend’s race at Daytona, team owner Tad Geschickter said Saturday.
"We had money to run half the races and we had to make a choice whether to spread those races out or front-load them and hope to get enough money to run the second half," he said.
So far, the money needed to keep driver Michael McDowell running full time effort has not been found. McDowell is currently 11th in the series standings.
Geschickter said he the Nationwide team will compete occasionally in the second half of the season, in events with Cup driver Marcos Ambrose at Watkins Glen and Montreal.
In September, JTG/Daugherty Racing will have to finalize its Cup plans for next season. Right now, the No. 47 Toyota is run out of Michael Waltrip Racing. Ambrose 18th in points with that program.
However, that was a one-year arrangement. JTG/Daugherty will either have to re-up with MWR or make a new deal for the 2010 season and beyond.
"I think the Michael Waltrip Racing scenario for a single-car owner starting its first year in Cup is absolutely the right solution," Geschickter said.
Multiple sources told The Observer and ThatsRacin.com on Saturday that Stewart-Hass Racing is among the possibilities for an alliance with JTG/Daugherty, should it move from MWR.
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