McDowell could join list of drivers in the Silly Season mix
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Add another name to the Silly Season speculation.
Michael McDowell, the Michael Waltrip Racing rookie, said Friday that he may be on the market for a new team, depending on MWR’s sponsorship search.
He’s already spoken to several teams about his driving future, including Petty Enterprises. Petty official Robbie Loomis said Friday that McDowell is among a small group of three or four drivers being considered for the team’s No. 45 car next season.
McDowell said MWR has an option on him, but if it does not secure a sponsor for him in the next few weeks, he may have to look elsewhere for a ride.
“The way the situation is right now, we’re looking really hard to lock down funding for next year, and we have a tough time doing that with today’s economy and how we’ve been running,” McDowell said. “I’m committed to Michael Waltrip Racing. They have an option to take up on me in the next couple weeks. But in the meantime, I have had some conversations with Petty and a few other teams to kind of put my name in the hat to make sure that if we aren’t able to secure the funding at Michael Waltrip Racing for the third car that I’ll have a place to run next year and build upon my rookie season.”
Team owner Michael Waltrip said he hopes McDowell returns to the organization's No. 00 car next season but that no decisions have been made.
“I would just say we have to run better, we have to get sponsors," said Waltrip, who drives the team's No. 55 car. "That will define how it goes forward. Michael knows that. We love Michael. We want him to drive that car but you’ve got to have sponsors and you’ve got to perform.”
Added MWR Vice President and General Manager Ty Norris: “We’re probably in no position to speculate on anything really.”
Both Waltrip and Norris said that an announcement about Aaron's, which sponsors the team's Nationwide program, is forthcoming and will likely be made at Bristol in two weeks.
"They’re going to expand their involvement," Waltrip said.
Casey Mears and Chad McCumbee have also been mentioned as candidates for Petty’s No. 45 car along with McDowell.
Other options that potentially could be available to McDowell include Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 41 car and Gillett Evernham Motorsports’ No. 10 car. There are also openings at Penske Racing and Richard Childress Racing.
“I want to give Michael Waltrip Racing and everybody as much time as they can,” McDowell said. “That’s my home right now, and that’s where I want to be. My guys do a great job. They took me on, a rookie and an unknown, and have given me a great chance. So I’m extremely grateful and loyal to that, but hopefully in the next two or three weeks, we’ll be able to lock down our plan for ’09.
“We’re waiting for the big dominoes to fall, and the big dominoes are [Martin] Truex – and they made an announcement today – and Casey Mears. Everybody knows who’s available, and they know what cars are available.
“Hopefully there’s a place for me in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and it’s something I want to do for a long time.”
Loomis said the situation at Petty left him “as confused as the Packers and Brett Favre were.”
“We’re trying to look at all aspects of it,” Loomis said. “We’re talking to a lot of drivers, doing a lot of things, but at the same time, we really have Kyle [Petty] with us, too.
“There’s not been anything decided definitively on what we’re doing. If we felt like the right opportunity came along for someone to help build this organization and move it toward the future, then we definitely would be open for doing that. It’s just a matter of we don’t want to stay status quo.”
Loomis hinted that the team could look toward a younger driver such as McDowell or McCumbee.
“You obviously try to start at the top, and there’s been some good drivers available, but our program hasn’t been at a place that warrants getting them,” he said. “I’d just as soon take a young guy and hopefully show those guys they maybe should have came to our place.
"For me, it’s almost like do we get more of a known [name], even if we’re not liking what we think we know, or do we take a chance rolling the dice and hitting on something like Jeff Gordon did at Hendrick Motorsports?”
