Wells waiting to hear from Tide
DOVER, Del. - Tide officials have yet to inform Cal Wells of their 2007 plans, but the owner of PPI Motorsports is working as if he needs a new primary sponsor for his No. 32 Chevrolet.
"I'm not working as though they're coming back. I'm working as if they're potentially an associate - only because I don't know," Wells said Saturday at Dover International Speedway. "In the past, we've always [re-signed] with them early, but this year they've got a lot of [internal things to deal with]."
Wells sited new executives within the company as well as increased distribution costs as factors that will come into play as the sponsor decides its next step. Wells is working to secure primary sponsorship for Travis Kvapil's team, and needs it in place before making a formal offer to Kvapil.
The driver said that he has a feeling Tide won't be a full-time sponsor with any organization next year. Kvapil said he hasn't heard from Michael Waltrip of late and he doesn't see Michael Waltrip Racing as an option.
Wells said Tide isn't talking with other teams, and that he's given the company numerous proposals to study.
"I think Tide may now have an idea of what their plans are, but they haven't shared them with me yet," Wells said. "We have been talking about [the fact] we have another deal cooking and when would we announce that versus when would they make their plans known. Are they gonna stay with us on this other deal? Are they going to do their own car? What are they going to do?"
