Toyota unveils Busch lineup
FORT WORTH, Texas - Toyota unveiled its Busch Series lineup Saturday, and there weren't many surprises: Michael Waltrip Racing with driver David Reutimann, Braun Racing with drivers Jason Leffler and Dave Blaney and Biagi DenBeste Racing with Auggie Vidovich.
Already in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the automaker will be backing teams in both Nextel Cup and Busch as well for 2007.
Reutimann and Blaney will do double duty for the entire season, with Reutimann driving for Waltrip on the Cup side as well while Blaney will remain in his Bill Davis Racing ride.
"It will be tough, but I'm looking forward to doing it," Blaney said. "You don't want to take away from either team, and I hope that's not the case too much, but I don't have many years [left] racing, I am going to do every race I can."
All three organizations were already in the Busch Series, with Braun expanding from one full-time and one part-time team to two full-time teams. Vidovich joined the Biagi DenBeste team in June.
Officials say no additional teams are expected for next season. Startup team Riley-D'Hondt Motorsports had been rumored as another Busch team to go Toyota.
"Right now we're not looking for any more teams," said Rick Lantz, Toyota's Busch Series program manager. "The four teams that we have are going to be great for us, and we're happy to move on with them.
"We looked at startup teams, and we looked at existing teams."
Braun Racing also announced that it will have sponsorship for its No. 32 car and Blaney from Fan1st.com, Hass Avocados, ABF U-Pack Moving, Fraternal Order of Eagles and Fort McDowell Resort Destination. Great Clips returns with Leffler.
"As an independent team, we needed this to be competitive going forward," team owner Todd Braun said. "I don't think long-term, we could sustain without having [Toyota's] multiple resources."
