Did you really think the NASCAR world could keep quiet during this offseason?First, we had Elliott Sadler being canned from his then Gillett-Evernham Motorsports ride just months after signing a multi-year contract extension. A.J. Allmendinger, they said, was taking over the ride.
Then, Richard Petty and the oh-so-struggling Petty Enterprises worked out a merger with GEM, a fellow Dodge team to create a still unnamed four-car team that includes the famed No. 43. Somehow, such a merger was a positive move for Sadler, as he was reinstated to the ride he had originally been taken out of.
Perhaps the newly-formed team didn't want to deal with a near-certain lawsuit Sadler was going to throw their way?
With Sadler back in, the Petty merger complete, Allmendinger signed up to run a handful of races based on sponsorship for the team, the NASCAR world appeared to slow.
Slow, at least, until the former Petty Enterprises driver (effective December, that is) Bobby Labonte was seen popping up in and around Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing -- propelling rumors that he'd be taking over the No. 8 car based on bringing a solid sponsorship package with him.
(Note: Been under a rock the last few months? Here's some info about that whole DEI not being DEI anymore deal.)
So, it seemed, Labonte was to be in at the No. 8, according to the Coke website, Super 8 hotels was on-board.
Aric Almirola, slated originally to drive No. 8, was now thrown to the backburner without sponsorship for a fourth car at EGR.
But, as they say, not so fast.
Tuesday, rumors bubbled up that Labonte had signed a contract with Yates Racing after the team merged with Hall of Fame Racing. Wednesday, such rumors were confirmed with a press release indicating Labonte will now drive the No. 96 Ford sponsored by Ask.com
Over at ThatsRacin, indications were that Labonte had a lunch meeting scheduled with EGR, but called just before to say that he had signed with Yates/Hall of Fame -- meaning Almirola was back in the No. 8.
Looking back at all of this, can you imagine how crazy preseason Daytona testing (it would have finished Wednesday) would have been with this driver carousel?
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I find it funny that two top names, Sadler and Bobby, were released late on the market that EGR could've picked up, and they wont get either, and both would've been a huge improvement than Aric in the 8 car, I dont care much for EGR, but it would've been a better option for Sadler than the 19 GEM ride and a hellva lot better than the 96 ride that Bobby just took over. Im really suprised that EGR hasnt put a call in to Scott Riggs, because even though he's not a top name out there, from what i heard State Water Heaters and Hunt's Brothers Pizza, both his sponsors from Haas that along with him tossed out of Haas by Stewart, and if he has sponsor, i figured they'd consider him, but with the EGR ride still available, i think that's good news for AJ if he wants a full time ride.