Setzer says he'll drive for Spears Motorsports
Veteran Dennis Setzer will drive Spears Motorsports' No. 75 Chevrolet in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2007.
The team had considered switching to Toyotas for next season, but is remaining with Chevrolet.
Setzer, who has spent the last six years with Morgan/Dollar Motorsports, was looking for a ride because sponsorship issues may see Morgan/Dollar fielding just one truck next year. Development drivers from Ginn Racing, formerly MB2 Motorsports, are committed to Morgan/Dollar's No. 47 entry.
Aric Almirola drove for Spears this year as part of Joe Gibbs Racing's development program, but he'll focus more on the Busch Series next year.
"It created a great opportunity for me," Setzer said Wednesday afternoon. "I'm very, very [excited]. It's nice to be in a great program. I've been in great programs, and it's nice to be able to continue on in a great program."
Spears won three races between 2002-05 with David Starr behind the wheel. That the team has won before excites Setzer.
"They know it's available, so they're hungry again," Setzer said. "And I went a whole year without winning, so I'm really hungry right now. It's exciting to have a lot of hungry people.
"Sometimes it's just nice to stir the pot up a little bit. And I'm still fortunate enough to be in a Chevrolet."
Crew chief Dave McCarty is looking forward to working with a veteran who struggled to a 13th-place finish in the point standings this past season. Prior to that, Setzer had been the series' runnerup for three consecutive years.
Setzer has 16 victories in 217 starts in the series to go along with 71 top-five and 134 top-10 finishes.
"We've been struggling off and on the last few years, and Dennis brings a lot of experience to us," McCarty said. "We went the rookie route [this year], and that wasn't the way to go. I think you plug Dennis in there and get everything right and we should be able to go and run and race [well]."
