Red Bull Benches Allmendinger, Skinner In

A.J. Allmendinger hasn't made a Sprint Cup series race yet in 2008 and announcement Monday by the team will make that impossible to change in the time being.

Mike Skinner, a Toyota driver from the Craftsman Truck Series, will instead take over temporary duties in the No. 84 Toyota.

From the team's blog, the "Stock Car Ticker":

"We're at a crossroads where we need to make a change that will elevate the No. 84 team to success," said VP and General Manager Jay Frye.

"AJ's our guy and he's a talented driver, but there's a lot being asked of him. In order for him to be successful, we have to get this team pointed in the right direction. We hope we can do that with the help of a veteran driver."

Skinner got a start last weekend at Las Vegas in another Sprint Cup Toyota, Bill Davis Racing's No. 27. Hew qualified the car 5th and wound up 30th, 2 laps down.

Skinner's role in the car will be to help the team make some races to battle for an owner points position inside the Top-35 to help guarantee the Toyota makes race. Additionally, he'll try to help the team evaluate their program from a veteran's prospective.

Allmendinger's teammate Brian Vickers has qualified for each race this season, and after a miserable campaign in 2007, the team simply cannot afford to miss races in a regular fashion.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-04-2008 @ 12:41AM

Dale Dodge Jr said...

You people are missing the boat...well, I mean...possibly the next best thing in racing to hit the track since...Here he is...Dale Dodge Jr look here http://www.freewebs.com/dadracing

3-04-2008 @ 10:49AM

Kim said...

Well I guess Red Bull doesn't "Help you get your wings" afterall.

Sorry, that was corny, but I couldn't resist. Mike Skinner is talented in the Truck Series so it will be interesting to see how he does in Sprint Cup.

Kim

3-04-2008 @ 12:05PM

racerrob said...

personally, i would have tried to put kenny wallace in the car befor i put skinner in it.

3-05-2008 @ 12:33AM

Don Emerson said...

Cute remark Kim, I call that taking the bull by the horns. Can't figure out the move though. Skinner had his shot at the big time and came up a big fat zero. That's how he ended up back in trucks. I can't believe there is such a shortage of good drivers that the teams have to keep using the same ol' wsahed untalented drivers again and again. But then again, that's the price you have to pay when your sport is controlled by big money interests and sponsors. Surely some out there has the money and the ability to start up a rival to Nascar. If they don't, then Nascar's days are numbered. Nascar was built on the backs of the average everyday fan. They don't deserve to be rewarded for their support by being used as toilet paper to wipe corporate butts. Works for me....

3-06-2008 @ 3:39AM

Brad said...

This is actually a good move in that even though Skinner didn't do all that great with RCR......the guy has always been a good qualifier. This team hasn't made a race this year and they need POINTS to get headed in the right direction....Skinner can get the car in the race but where he finishes is another matter.

Aloha, Brad

3-06-2008 @ 2:01PM

connor said...

i think its a great move! skinner knows how to drive. this was a great pickup since team redbull doesnt have as great of equipment and the money the bigger teams do. plus mike skinner loves to win. he can really drive the wheels off of a car.

3-06-2008 @ 7:17PM

Hey Don!

Thanks! I couldn't resist. Their (Red Bull) ads absolutely annoy the hell out of me so I had to zing that one in there. :-)

As for Skinner, I didn't know all that much about him since I am personally not a fan of the truck series. I have just heard the names, Hornaday, Skinner, and some others as always being "top dogs" in that series, so assumed Skinner might have some talent. But you are right, if he has tried Stock Car racing before and not been a success, then why bother? I wonder, too. Like you, I am sure there are many young new talents just drooling at the mouth to get into Cup racing. Why not try someone fresh and new? Interesting, indeed.

Brad says (Hi Brad!) that Skinner can qualify well enough to at least make it into the race so perhaps that's all they are looking for. Who knows? :-)

Kim

3-25-2008 @ 9:11PM

tooslick said...

Let Skinner have a go at it and he's gonna see how damn cheap those nipponese are...I mean really are; didn't here about any big butt bonus money for Kyle Busch, when he screamed to thee first win for the toy's did ya? Thats the trouble they still believe in slavery and just give you enough to keep poking along as opposed to enough to get really "smokin" in other words they name streets after people like that: One Way