CONCORD, N.C. -- Toyota announced its tentative plans for 2007 and beyond, and Michael Waltrip was doing most of the talking.
Speaking at the NASCAR Media Tour on Tuesday, Waltrip officially announced the formation of Michael Waltrip Racing, which will field two Nextel Cup cars in '07.
Toyota will have six cars total on the Cup circuit in its first season, two by Bill Davis Racing and two more with a team yet-to-be-named but associated with Red Bull.
Toyota reiterated it will not have factory-based teams, like Ray Evernham has with the UAW Dodge Dealers. NAPA will continue as the primary sponsor for Waltrip's entry and Caterpillar, which sponsored Davis' No. 22 last season, will continue its association with BDR.
Waltrip announced the hiring of Larry Carter, Rusty Wallace's former crew chief who is expected to serve in the same role. Carter will stay in his current role this season as a consultant for BDR.
Waltrip also announced the hiring of former Dale Earnhardt Inc. vice president Ty Norris as vice president and GM of Michael Waltrip Racing. In addition, he said a 125,000-square-foot shop is being readied for the team's operation in Cornelius, N.C.
Waltrip said he and Toyota had been in negotiations since August. Late last season DEI and Waltrip announced their partnership would end after 2005.
No other drivers were formally announced but Dave Blaney, who along with Waltrip will drive a Dodge for BDR this season, was on hand and it is anticipated he'll make the move to Toyota next year.
After the fiasco centering around the Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray signings of midseason a year ago, Toyota said it wouldn't announce any other driver signings until after the season.
It was speculated that Robby Gordon would make the move to Toyota. But Gordon said he had no announcement to make and he planned on driving Chevrolets with DEI motors in '06.
