Terry Labonte to Replace Michael at the Road Courses
Well this is depressing, but I could see it coming and it didn’t surprise me. MWR’s plan is to put Terry Labonte in the #55 at Sonoma and Watkin’s Glen, utilizing Labonte’s Past Champion’s Provisional to get the NAPA Camry into at least two more races.
To me, this screams bad news. It screams desperation and the loss of hope by Michael, MWR and NAPA. I don’t care how much Michael preaches this move will “breathe a breath of fresh air into my young NAPA team” because two races isn’t going to solve everyone’s problems. MWR is struggling and Terry Labonte isn’t going to patch their wounds.
I’m interested in the choice of the road courses because Michael is actually a very savvy road racer, although Terry is as well. I suspect that Michael anticipates a large number of road course ringers attempting to qualify and does not have enough confidence in himself or his team to make the field. Michael is very proud and stepping out of his car says a lot regarding his self-esteem right now.
Taking advantage of the PCP is not one of my favorite things; I don’t like to see it abused. My feelings were the same when Terry drove the 96 for the first five races last season and when Ken Schrader was discarded from the 21 in favor of Bill Elliott. I’m not approving of what Michael’s doing, but he’s fighting fire with fire. Elliott’s PCP was what kicked him out of the Pocono 500.
What some fans might not realize is this could make Michael look very bad (besides appearing to be a quitter). What if Terry qualifies in on time and runs well?
At this point I’m so numb when it comes to Michael that I don’t really care what happens. It wouldn’t surprise me if Terry ended up in the 55 for more than two races (remember that the early reports in the Wood Brothers deal was that Elliott would only be in the car for the Coke 600). It wouldn’t surprise me if this was the beginning of the end for Michael the driver. And my worst fear is that this may be the beginning of the end for MWR. Rumors are flying that Dale Jarrett and UPS are incredibly dissatisfied. And David looks so ghostly lately, like he is wondering if he has made the poorest choice of his life, which for him could be an untimely and undeserved career ender.
This season has been such a disaster for everyone at MWR. I just hope they can hold on.
To me, this screams bad news. It screams desperation and the loss of hope by Michael, MWR and NAPA. I don’t care how much Michael preaches this move will “breathe a breath of fresh air into my young NAPA team” because two races isn’t going to solve everyone’s problems. MWR is struggling and Terry Labonte isn’t going to patch their wounds.
I’m interested in the choice of the road courses because Michael is actually a very savvy road racer, although Terry is as well. I suspect that Michael anticipates a large number of road course ringers attempting to qualify and does not have enough confidence in himself or his team to make the field. Michael is very proud and stepping out of his car says a lot regarding his self-esteem right now.
Taking advantage of the PCP is not one of my favorite things; I don’t like to see it abused. My feelings were the same when Terry drove the 96 for the first five races last season and when Ken Schrader was discarded from the 21 in favor of Bill Elliott. I’m not approving of what Michael’s doing, but he’s fighting fire with fire. Elliott’s PCP was what kicked him out of the Pocono 500.
What some fans might not realize is this could make Michael look very bad (besides appearing to be a quitter). What if Terry qualifies in on time and runs well?
At this point I’m so numb when it comes to Michael that I don’t really care what happens. It wouldn’t surprise me if Terry ended up in the 55 for more than two races (remember that the early reports in the Wood Brothers deal was that Elliott would only be in the car for the Coke 600). It wouldn’t surprise me if this was the beginning of the end for Michael the driver. And my worst fear is that this may be the beginning of the end for MWR. Rumors are flying that Dale Jarrett and UPS are incredibly dissatisfied. And David looks so ghostly lately, like he is wondering if he has made the poorest choice of his life, which for him could be an untimely and undeserved career ender.
This season has been such a disaster for everyone at MWR. I just hope they can hold on.
