Jacques Villeneuve has apparently completed a buy-in of Bill Davis’ High Point-based Toyota operation, according to sources close to the team, and Villeneuve will have at least a majority interest in the operation, perhaps even full ownership. Last Sunday, when asked about the report of a planned Villeneuve buy-in, Davis said he wasn’t in a position to give a specific answer but did say he was considering a number of options. It is unclear what a purchase price might be. It is also unclear why Villeneuve, who lives in Montreal, would want to buy a NASCAR team, or if Villeneuve might move the team from High Point, where Davis has operated for more than 15 years.
Add Dale Earnhardt Inc. to the teams returning to the Chevrolet banner in 2008. On Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Chevy and DEI announced intentions to continue a partnership with the four-car Nextel Cup operation for the forseeable future. Among those present at the news conference were DEI’s five drivers – Mark Martin, Martin Truex Jr., Paul Menard, Regan Smith and Aric Almirola – along with team owner Teresa Earnhardt. Chevrolet previously announced extended partnerships with Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing. Another long-time Chevy team – Joe Gibbs Racing – announced earlier this season plans to switch to Toyota for 2008.
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced driver Dario Franchitti will make his Busch Series debut Saturday at Memphis. In preparation for the race, Franchitti is scheduled to spend Wednesday testing at Kentucky Speedway.
Jeremy Mayfield will take over a new NASCAR Nextel Cup ride four races early, replacing Jeff Green in the No. 66 Haas CNC Racing entry for the rest of the season. Mayfield is leaving Bill Davis Racing, and the No. 36 BDR ride he is giving up will be shared for now by Craftsman Truck series regulars Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson. Mayfield will replace Green in the 66 Chevrolet, beginning with Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Haas team announced earlier this month that Scott Riggs, currently with Gillette Evernham Motorsports, would replace Green or No. 70 driver Johnny Sauter in 2008. It hasn’t been determined which car Mayfield will drive next year.
Robert I. Kauffman, president and a founding partner of Fortress Investment Group, has bought a 50 percent interest in Michael Waltrip Racing in the latest unusual coupling in NASCAR. Kauffman joined the Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, the Montreal Canadiens owner George N. Gillett Jr., and the Arizona Diamondbacks executives Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel as newcomers to the Nextel Cup stock-car racing series this season. Waltrip will maintain managing control of the race team, which currently includes the drivers Dale Jarrett, David Reutimann and Waltrip.
Michael Waltrip Racing is still talking with sponsors Domino’s and Burger King, but right now it appears the two companies will not return as primary sponsors in 2008. The pair shared the primary sponsorship of David Reutimann’s No. 00 Toyota this season. Next year, Reutimann will drive the No. 00 in five races, then move to the No. 44 for the remainder of the Sprint Cup season. Reutimann will replace Dale Jarrett, who plans to run the Bud Shootout, the opening five races of the season then the all-star race in his final season.
3M has signed a multi-year agreement with Roush Fenway Racing to become the primary sponsor of the No. 16 Ford. 3M will be the primary sponsor for driver Greg Biffle for 23 Sprint Cup races in 2008. Terms were not disclosed. In 2007 3M sponsored Biffle (19 races) and Todd Kluever (14 races) in the Busch Series, and seven races with Biffle in the Nextel Cup Series. In 2006 3M became the primary sponsor of the No. 06 Ford driven by Kluever in the Busch Series. In 2005, Biffle drove the No. 16 3M Post-it Ford in nine Nextel Cup races, winning at California and Texas on his way to finishing second in the Nextel Cup Championship. Since 1995 3M has been a Contingency Decal sponsor of NASCAR in the Nextel Cup, Busch Series and the Whelen All-America Weekly Racing Series and has many products that have been designated Officially Licensed Products of NASCAR.
In addition to Dale Jarrett’s Friday announcement of his retirement and limited schedule for 2008, Michael Waltrip Racing will also introduce David Reutimann as 2008 driver of the UPS Toyota plus MWR will also introduce their new owner/investor.
Former Champ Car star Patrick Carpentier signed with Gillett Evernham Motorsports on Wednesday to drive the No. 10 Dodge. Carpentier is replacing Scott Riggs, who is leaving to drive for Haas CNC Racing next season. He’ll step into a team that was founded by Ray Evernham, who turned over majority ownership to the Gillett family this summer. Carpentier becomes the latest open-wheel driver to jump to NASCAR, and will join a Dodge camp that already has Juan Pablo Montoya and Dario Franchitti in Avengers for next season. Former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve will drive a Toyota next season, and Scott Speed will race a Toyota in the ARCA Series. Carpentier has driven in only one Nextel Cup race and two Busch Series events, all on road courses. He made his Nextel Cup debut in August driving the No. 10 for Riggs at Watkins Glen, where he led seven laps and finished 22nd. He also raced in the Busch Series event in Montreal, where he won the pole, led 14 laps and finished second.
Dale Jarrett appears to be taking his first steps toward retirement. Jarrett, who has been mulling his racing future and a potential television career with ESPN, said Saturday after qualifying he intends to “race some” next year. Jarrett, who said he will remain with Michael Waltrip Racing, said he will reveal his plans on Thursday and a formal announcement is expected Friday.