Stremme looking forward to driving No. 12 Penske Racing car in 2009
David Stremme says this past season has been a tough one for him, sitting at home Sundays watching Cup races. But he felt like that was the best decision for him, and it looks as if he is right.
Stremme will drive the Penske Racing No. 12 Sprint Cup car next year, the team announced Wednesday. He will replace Ryan Newman, who is headed to Stewart-Haas Racing.
Stremme was hired in April as a test driver for the team owned by Roger Penske.
“What probably excites me the most is Roger’s enthusiasm and how he is dedicated to racing and his passion for motorsports in general,” Stremme said in a phone interview Thursday. “Knowing the lead guy has the passion of wanting to win more than anybody else excites me. I know when I go in there, it’s not like this is just a business or anything else.
“They are there to win races.”
Having spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons as a Cup driver at Chip Ganassi Racing, Stremme has competed in nearly all of the Nationwide Series events for Rusty Walalce Racing this year. He was 33rd in Cup points in 2006 (having skipped the road-course events) and 24th in 2007.
Stremme said he believes he can make the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup next year. He said he felt like his team at Ganassi was in Chase contention in 2007 until NASCAR’s new car was being introduced and Ganassi fell behind.
“[Sitting out of Cup] was hard for me because I believe I belong at the Cup level and I can compete there and win races,” Stremme said. “Through the changes of the cars, the teams and the drivers coming in, I got shuffled out. It’s a business deal. The offers that were there I wasn’t interest in because I felt like long term for my career, that wouldn’t be in my best interest.”
When he took the Penske testing job, Stremme didn’t think he would end up replacing Newman.
“I would never thought in all my mind that Newman would have left Penske Racing,” said Stremme, who would not comment on the length of the deal except to say that it’s a multiyear agreement. “When they said Ryan was leaving, I was surprised. I was like, 'Heck man, I want to try to drive that car.’
“It’s worked out. I believe a whole lot in their organization, the leadership and I fit in.”
The 31-year-old Stremme said he hopes to take advantage of the championship experiences of teammates Kurt Busch and former IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to go out and show why Roger hired me and try to win races and obviously be competitive each week,” Stremme said. “I can say that because of the Penske organization and their history.
“People say they haven’t performed this year and haven’t made the Chase. They’ve still won two races. A lot of teams can’t even say that. If you win two races in your bad year, that’s pretty good.”
Stremme said he did not know of any plans to have him compete in any Cup races this year. He said he would still like to drive in the Nationwide Series next year for Wallace.
