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Need for Speed: Red Bull announces driver-crew chief lineup for 2009
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Monday, December 01, 2008
Scott Speed will drive the No. 82 Red Bull Racing Toyota full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2009.
Geoff Burke
Getty Images for NASCAR
Red Bull Racing made its driver-crew chief lineup official for 2009, announcing Monday that Scott Speed will drive the No. 82 Sprint Cup car with Jimmy Elledge as his crew chief and that former Michael Waltrip Racing crew chief Ryan Pemberton has joined the team to work with driver Brian Vickers.
Speed, a former Formula One driver, will contend for rookie honors in 2009. He ran the entire ARCA schedule, several Truck events (including a win at Dover) and five Cup races last year. That team will switch to the No. 82 and have the points from the No. 84, meaning it will be guaranteed a spot in the first five Cup events.
In addition, Speed will drive a partial schedule in the Nationwide Series for Michael Waltrip Racing in the No. 99 car.
“Scott earned his Sprint Cup ride by exceeding our expectations in ARCA and trucks,” Red Bull general manager Jay Frye said in a statement. “He has a great asset in Jimmy, who has experience working with both rookies and open-wheel drivers.”
Pemberton replaces Kevin Hamlin as crew chief for Vickers. Pemberton was crew chief for David Reutimann last year after spending several years with Frye at MB2 Motorsports and Ginn Racing.
“We’re entering our third Sprint Cup season with driver and crew chief pairings that have what it takes to consistently compete at a high level,” Frye said. “Brian and Ryan are each at a point in their respective careers where they can bring home wins and make a run for the championship.”
Mentioned Drivers: Scott Speed
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Comments
14 responses to "Need for Speed: Red Bull announces driver-crew chief lineup for 2009". Post a Comment.
J C said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 10:31 AMI think Red Bull made a big mistake by replacing AJ with Speed. AJ worked hard and was finally moving up in the standings. I think we are going to see the 82 struggling next year. I guess the good news for them is there probably won't be any extra teams to have to racing into the race each week after he ends up dropping out of the top 35. Sure hope someone picks AJ up.
Pat Draper said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 12:44 PMI'ts a good move to have Speed work with Jimmy Elledge i have always said he as one of the better crew chiefs. To me Scott is like a firecracker waiting to go off. He reminds me a lot of Kyle. I will have to say Scott is not your run of the mill nascar driver. He's in a class all his own. I hope Jimmy has fun working with him I think will make a good match. I know Scott wants to learn and i'm sure he will and also Brian Vickers will be a great help to him if he listens.
Pat Draper said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 12:47 PMJust a word on AJ its to bad that Red Bull can't field a third car for AJ. That 3 man team would be awosome. I sure hope AJ get a ride next year he desveres one and a good one.
chris welch said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 1:17 PMscott speed is the truth and the future!!!!!
Sheldon Miller said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 3:52 PMHas Kevin Hamlin left Red Bull or moved to another role? He seems pretty solid.
Sarah Oxfurth said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 6:59 PMI hate that AJ lost his ride. I think he's a great talent that deserves a ride and have, honestly, been very unimpressed with Scott Speed. He is arrogant and has nothing to back that up, at least not yet. His 5 Cup starts have been exceedingly disappointing. I am apparently not in the majority on this, but I am simply not a Scott Speed fan. I have also seen a couple of interviews with him where he just thinks he's all that. Prove it up, then you can claim it. Kyle Busch? Don't like him that much, either, but at least he can and has backed up his arrogance.
Sarah Oxfurth said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 7:00 PMOn that last comment, I said he was also co cky but the sensors (Can't spell it right or they pick that up too) wouldn't let me post it with the correct spelling. How ridiculous that you can't even say co cky.
chris welch said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 10:07 PMhe doesnt have to accomplish anything in nascar. he has already proved that he has the talent by making it to F1 as an american. but he will do great once he gets these cars figured out. he was fast in the truck series and cup shouldnt take too long
chris welch said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 10:07 PMhe doesnt have to accomplish anything in nascar. he has already proved that he has the talent by making it to F1 as an american. but he will do great once he gets these cars figured out. he was fast in the truck series and cup shouldnt take too long
Sarah Oxfurth said:
Dec 1, 2008 at 11:10 PMI disagree Chris. NASCAR is not F1. Being able to drive F1, or even trucks doesn't mean you get to automatically be a co cky jerk your first day on the job in Cup. Lots of guys make it in truck, even NW, that never make it in Cup. Lots of guys make it in IRL or F1 that don't make it in Cup (Patrick Carpentier anyone? How about Dario Franchitti?). Tony Stewart was an IRL Champion when he made the move to NASCAR and even he acknowledged he didn't know it all when he started and started out slow in NW (well, Busch at the time).
Jozef Colomy said:
Dec 2, 2008 at 12:36 AMWho said he was a jerk Sarah? Scott is a stand-up driver and a good guy, he's a welcome addition to the Cup series, and being from California I'll be rooting him all the way along
Sarah Oxfurth said:
Dec 2, 2008 at 2:03 AMjozef-I have determined he's a jerk from the interviews I've seen from him....however I'm COMPLETELY open to having my mind changed should he choose to do so. :) I started out rooting for him myself...then I watched a few interviews.
Karen Barnes said:
Dec 2, 2008 at 12:42 PMhaven't liked what i've seen from speed yet either (in interviews). i hope he proves me wrong but then maybe we'll have a bit more excitement in the cup series. with an attitude like his, we just might see some veteran let him know he needs an attitude adjustment.
Sarah Oxfurth said:
Dec 2, 2008 at 9:52 PMYeah Karen-where's Jimmy Spencer when you need him? Oh well, maybe Tony will take care of that (assuming the rumors he punched Kurt are true, of course! lol).