Michael Waltrip took out a racing insurance policy on Friday, ensuring starting spots in the first five Nextel Cup races of the upcoming season for his No. 55 Dodges by forming Waltrip-Jasper Racing.The new company is a partnership is between Waltrip and Doug Bawel, who was the owner of the No. 77 Dodges driven last season by rookie Travis Kvapil.
Bawel will serve on the new company's board of directors.
What the association with Bawel really means is that Waltrip-Jasper Racing will, if NASCAR approves the arrangement, get the car owner points amassed by the No. 77 Dodges last year. Since that car was in the top 35 in those standings, that would assure Waltrip of a starting spot in the Daytona 500 and the four races following it this season.
The arrangement would, in turn, be bad news for Morgan McClure Motorsports, which finished 36th in last year's owner standings. If the No. 77's points are not transferred, that would give Morgan McClure's No. 4 Chevrolets, to be driven this year by Scott Wimmer, the final guaranteed starting spot.
Sources at Penske Racing South said last week that at least six car owners had expressed an interest in deals that would attach the No. 77 team's points from last year to their cars this year.
Waltrip left Dale Earnhardt Inc. following last season and arranged to drive for a team affiliated with Bill Davis Racing. Waltrip will be listed as the team's car owner.
Ty Norris, another former DEI employee, will be the team's general manager.
Bobby Kennedy will be competition director. Larry Carter, who was Rusty Wallace's crew chief last year, has been contracted to be part of the new team, as well.
