The original plan was always jr in the 8, waltrip in the 15, and Truex in the 1 part time in 05 and full time in 06.
Waltrip was told at the start of the year that if he did not make the chase, he would be out of a job. That was probably just motivational talk and DEI can't really be serious about that because: 1- If Waltrip goes, NAPA goes with him and 2- The only other driver on a development contract with DEI is Shane Hmiel, who would eventually replace Waltrip in '07 or '08. Putting Shane into an unsponsored 15 car was not very likely for '06, even before his drug suspension.
Now with Shane gone, Waltrip is almost assured the 15 for at least one more year. Now the 'question' is whether jr will remain at DEI.
Where would he go? There's no way Chevy will let him out of their grasp, so he'll have to end up with a Chevy team. Hendrick has a full stable with several drivers in development.
Gibbs has 3 cars, don't see Bobby or Tony leaving, but renumbering the 11 to an 8 is a possibility, the only catch is Bud will come with jr, and Gibbs would have to break a multi-year deal with FedEx and it's not likely a so-sponsorship (like on the 18 car) could be brokered, too many jokes about the FedEx driver drinking Bud. It would be a
PR nightmare.
RCR could replace Harvick and renumber the car 3 from 29. But RCR is on the decline, plus this would displace long time sponsor Goodwrench. It's doubtful he would replace Blaney and the 07 (sponsor conflict with Jack Daniels) or Burton and the 31 (The Nextel deal has Cingular unfairly locked onto the 31 as the only car they can sponsor).
That leaves the "satellite" teams, the 01/10 MBV2 whatevermacallit, which is actually just minor league Hendrick teams, and Cal Wells #32 Tide Chevy (satellite of RCR). Very doubtful he'll end up at any of these teams..... unless he just wants out of DEI so bad that he's willing to take that risk.
This could be interesting.
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