VilleneuveTracy 2 Sep 2006, 08:54 "Yes, I will be running six to eight races for them," said Tracy.
Tracy is set to make his last Busch series start this year this weekend at California Speedway for Frank Cicci Racing in the No. 34 car.
In addition, Champ Car driver A.J. Allmendinger tested a Toyota Truck this week at Richmond International Speedway. Bill Davis Racing is in discussions with Allmendinger to pilot a ride in the Craftsman Truck Series next season.
Other names in the rumor mill suspected to be coming to NASCAR include Sam Hornish, Jr. and Jacques Villeneuve.
If he makes the switch it will be a huge blow to Champcar....
http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=231237&FS=NASCAR-CUP
volvolean 2 Sep 2006, 11:03 so if everyone is going to nascar, where will the existing nascar stars go? f1?
rustyfan 2 Sep 2006, 13:07 so if everyone is going to nascar, where will the existing nascar stars go? f1?
There's actually a shortage of promising drivers on the rise within NASCAR at the moment, which also is the reason you see so many veterans being re-hired or lured back from retirement. In recent rumours, for example, both Ward Burton and Ricky Rudd have been mentioned, and Roush tried (but failed) to convince Mark Martin to stay yet another year in the #6 Ford.
The older veterans won't be interested in racing forever, however, and thus some teams have started to look outside the "normal" stock car borders more often, and given how successful NASCAR is at the moment, and the amount of money being thrown around, you're also seeing more and more "outsiders" expressing interest in coming to NASCAR (especially after the spectacular hiring of Juan-Pablo Montoya, which in some ways might be what opens the floodgates).
muggle not 2 Sep 2006, 22:06 There are "over" 43 teams/drivers currently in Nascar. With veterans retiring on a constant basis there is room every year for newcomers. As mentioned, there is currently a shortage of qualified drivers ready to make the move from Busch up to Cup.
VilleneuveTracy 5 Sep 2006, 02:18 Good posts, Rustyfan and muggle. :beer: I have nothing to add to them.
rustyfan 5 Sep 2006, 20:14 As mentioned in the Champ Car section, Allmendinger has signed a two-race deal with Bill Davis Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He'll try to qualify for the September 17th race at New Hampshire and the October 7th race at Talladega.
Should be real interesting, and now I really need to arrange for an import of the Talladega race :)
VilleneuveTracy 6 Sep 2006, 01:59 :eek:
Annother interesting twist...
There's actually a shortage of promising drivers on the rise within NASCAR at the moment, which also is the reason you see so many veterans being re-hired or lured back from retirement. In recent rumours, for example, both Ward Burton and Ricky Rudd have been mentioned, and Roush tried (but failed) to convince Mark Martin to stay yet another year in the #6 Ford.
I just read that Martin could be driving the RYR #88 car next year, interesting stuff.
Will also be interesting to see how Almendinger goes in the truck.
kingfloopy 6 Sep 2006, 23:42 I'd like to see what Allmendinger can do in stock cars. He's got a lot of talent for sure. Bill Davis' truck team has turned a corner this year and has become one of the better teams. If he can stay out of trouble I think he will do alright. I wonder what changed his mind? Earlier in the year it was rumoured he would leave for a new Toyota Cup team and he denied that he was looking at stock cars at all.
J.D.
rustyfan 18 Sep 2006, 08:36 A.J. Allmendinger finished a respectable 13th in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut on Saturday.
A.J. Allmendinger finished a respectable 13th in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut on Saturday.
Nice debut for him
kingfloopy 18 Sep 2006, 14:13 Wow that's pretty impressive for someone in there first stock car race ever. The old rumour about him moving to the Red Bull Cup team is popping back up again.
J.D.
VilleneuveTracy 19 Sep 2006, 07:56 A.J. Allmendinger finished a respectable 13th in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut on Saturday.
What made it even more impressive is that he did it in a backup truck. He was 8th fastest in the practice before qualifying so it appeared they had found a solid setup for that truck but unfortunately he wrecked it during qualifying. I would bet he would have finished 7th or 8th in the actual truck. Unfortunately, his next race is at Talladega and we know that is a freak track. I hope he runs some races next year and expect him to do well if he runs NASCAR next year.
rustyfan 19 Sep 2006, 09:17 From Tom Jensen's latest column at FOXsports.com (http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/5977426):
Champ Car phenom A.J. Allmendinger has emerged as the leading candidate to fill the second seat in the Team Red Bull Toyota Camry next season. Allmendinger was an impressive 13th in his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Saturday and among the first people to greet him after the race were Team Red Bull General Manager Marty Gaunt and Competition Director Elton Sawyer.
The plot thickens...
kingfloopy 19 Sep 2006, 14:12 Does anyone know if he signed to run in Champ car next year yet?
J.D.
rustyfan 25 Sep 2006, 11:06 I'm guessing there will be a lot more "outside" pressure on him to continue in Champ Car, seeing as Champ Car finally has an American winning on regular basis again.
If he's interested in making money and reaching out to a much larger fanbase, then stock cars should carry more weight, however.
kingfloopy 25 Sep 2006, 17:08 I'm thinking unless he's signed on to Forsythe for next year he is going to be leaving for NASCAR. Like it's been said before the money and exposure's better. He'll be able to advance straight to the top probably also. Whereas in open wheel he is unlikely to reach Formula 1 and be successful. He's got talent, it'd be neat to see him driving a stock car fulltime.
J.D.
rustyfan 24 Oct 2006, 12:06 As discussed in the Champ Car forum, it's now all-but-official, as Forsythe has mentioned that Allmendinger and Red Bull has told him the move to NASCAR is finalized.
Apparently there will be a press conference later today to make it official.
Also, as has been known for several days, Allmendinger will make his NEXTEL Cup debut this coming weekend at Atlanta (if he manages to qualify for the race, that is), driving for Team Red Bull.
kingfloopy 24 Oct 2006, 15:49 Can't say I'm too surprised. It is a huge swing from Allmendinger claiming earlier that he wanted to stay in Champ Car.
J.D.
kingfloopy 24 Oct 2006, 21:53 Official news.
http://www.jayski.com/teams/84.htm
J.D.
muggle not 25 Oct 2006, 03:05 I wish him luck however he will be in with the big boys at Atlanta. Tough way to start.
I hope he does well, he has a great attitude, I'm a fan, it's a massive loss for Champcar though.
BootsOntheSide 26 Oct 2006, 22:43 I don't see him doing too well in his first year, but in the long term he could be a championship contender. His first 2 Truck races have shown some promise, although JPM might be the better bet.
kingfloopy 27 Oct 2006, 02:53 He's been dropped from Forsythe for the final Champ Car race. Buddy Rice will be replacing him for the race. Not a huge surprise, kind of similar to what happened to Montoya in Formula 1 after he announced his move to Cup.
J.D.
mountainstar 27 Oct 2006, 04:35 He's been dropped from Forsythe for the final Champ Car race. Buddy Rice will be replacing him for the race. Not a huge surprise, kind of similar to what happened to Montoya in Formula 1 after he announced his move to Cup.
J.D.
Once they have decided to take another path there is no reason to hold them back. Once that decision is made it's best to let both parties look to the future.
kingfloopy 27 Oct 2006, 15:03 Yeah its probably best so each respective party can adjust and focus on their new positions. I wonder if Rice will get the ride next year. He drove in the Atlantic series a few years back right? So despite running mostly ovals he might adapt back to the road courses easily. Hopefully he will be back so that there will be at least one American driver in the series next year.
J.D.
kingfloopy 27 Oct 2006, 17:47 Doesn't Allmendinger have to go through the same process as Montoya in order to race in the Daytona 500? There's been no talk of this, but I can't see why he wouldn't have to also. If he misses Atlanta what other races is he going to run this year? I think this could be a problem and if he does have to have NASCAR approval he might not start in Cup until Bristol or Martinsville.
J.D.
Doesn't Allmendinger have to go through the same process as Montoya in order to race in the Daytona 500? There's been no talk of this, but I can't see why he wouldn't have to also. If he misses Atlanta what other races is he going to run this year? I think this could be a problem and if he does have to have NASCAR approval he might not start in Cup until Bristol or Martinsville.
J.D.
Allmendinger got his permission to race at Talladega basically straight away. :rolleyes:
kingfloopy 27 Oct 2006, 18:27 Shoot I forgot he ran a couple truck races (I don't know how I forgot that, been working too hard I guess). I suppose that works for him getting the permision to run Daytona.
J.D.
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