Tommy Baldwin, Jr. Starting Cup Team?

[LiquidBread]

Just came across this at CNN/SI. Wow! Huge step if it all comes together, especially this year. Best of luck Tommy.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/84051-crew-chief-baldwin-starting-cup-team?eref=fromSI

[The Bullfather]

Tommy Baldwin Announces New Sprint Cup Team: Tommy Baldwin, a five-time Sprint Cup and former Daytona 500 winning crew chief announced the formation of a new Sprint Cup Series race team under the existing Tommy Baldwin Racing banner. The team, located at 604 Performance Road, in Mooresville, NC, is aggressively preparing its Toyota race cars with plans to compete in the 51st running of The Daytona 500 in February. The team plans to compete full-time in the Sprint Cup series. Baldwin is excited about his new program, "With tough economic times upon us, the timing for starting this team is right. Our overhead is low and we have a great group of talented mechanics and specialists to choose from. We can offer sponsors the chance to get into Sprint Cup racing at a fraction of the costs, without compromising on-track performance, due to our low overhead," Baldwin said. Baldwin is no stranger to team ownership as he formed a successful Nationwide program which was responsible for bringing Unilever into the sport. Baldwin, a 12 year Sprint Cup veteran, later sold the team to what is now known as Gillette-Evernham Motorsports.
It was during his ownership of the Nationwide team that Baldwin began a business relationship with Joey Arrington, of Arrington Manufacturing, Inc., located in Martinsville, Va. Baldwin will secure his Sprint Cup engines in 2009 from Arrington Manufacturing who works closely with Toyota. "We are honored to be working with Tommy again, this time on his Cup efforts. He has always been great to work with and we are looking forward to a successful year," said Arrington.
"We will do everything we can to support NASCAR and its fans," Baldwin said. "We are thankful for the opportunity NASCAR offers as we are able to prepare our own car to compete in one of the nation's top sporting events. That's what makes NASCAR so different from the other major sports. It's still attainable to be an owner, if you are willing to put the work in and I'm no stranger to hard work," Baldwin added.(Everest Marketing PR), no driver, car# or sponsor was mentioned in the PR.(1-6-2009) Com

[stefanikfan]

Daddy would be proud!:)

[Jaws]

It was on Sirrius radio, he had 11 employees plus himself.

Good luck Tommy!

[LiquidBread]

Daddy would be proud!:)

I agree, maybe a few shift kicks from above may make this enterprise successful. Even though it's taxi cab related, you gotta be pulling for this.

[The Bullfather]

Rumor is Dave Blaney to drive.

[W. J.]

Dave Blaney? Is Ward Burton not available??? Or is their former 'interpretor' otherwise occupied?

[Tinkfan]

I'd say Todd Bodine would make a good fit with Tommy Baldwin, Jr. That would be my choice anyway.

[The Bullfather]

Elliott Sadler needs a ride!

[Fast&Legal]

Steve Park would be my pick!!

[catfish]

I would pick Bobby Labonte, guaranteed to start the first five shows

[The Bullfather]

Isn't B.L. headed to DEI

[fastbackss]

Tommy was just on SPEED's Preseason Thunder show. He announced that the car # will be 36, based on his Modified heritage and the history he had with Mike Ewanitsko.

He also said it was already approved by NASCAR. Sweet!

[catfish]

Actually Tommy missed out on Bobby but the word i have heard is his talent will be wasted with Hall of Fame racing in affiliation with Yates Racing not wasted with DEI but wasted non the less

[Teds Race Tours]

36. Thats AWESOME!!!!

[hollywoodmic]

Tommy actually owned one of the red 36's with Michael. He spoke to NASCAR and they gave him his choice of a handful of #'s and he didn't even hesitate.
As for a driver...remember gang it's a business and he's looking for a nice long term sponsor. If you are a driver with a sponsor relationship he is listening. As for Dave Blaney there will be no getting to know you process. Tommy knows what Dave Blaney is comfortable in. I mean if you look through last years races they had 8 DNF's, 6 of them were in other peoples garbage, while running in the top 15 to 20.. The Daytona 500 he was one of the last guys to pit, he was in the top 10 with 10 to go and JPM got them on the back stretch Blaney hit the wall in 3 and 4, with a flat tire. I believe together if they could catch a couple of breaks these 2 could do OK. The cars were purchased from Red Bull Racing they were Brian Vickers cars from last year. It's a very exciting time for Tommy and it should be a lot of fun.

I'll keep you guys updated when I can if I hear anything about a driver.

[Tooner]

I wish Tommy all the best, we kind of grew up together around the tracks, although did not run in the same circles all the time. Great to see him gain this success.

[Jaws]

36 , I hope they are all red!

THis is one unusual example of the bad economy allowing a smaller team a chance to get into maost if not all of the races without a huge budget.

I beleive there are all former Red Bull cars Tom will be running.

[Howie]

The short track and midsize track cars are Red Bull cars and I understand they just got the #22 Cat car that they ran Talladega with for a speedway car. Among those helping get things rolling are Jerry Marquis and Phil Moran. Sounds like they are off to a good start.

[LiquidBread]

Tommy actually owned one of the red 36's with Michael. He spoke to NASCAR and they gave him his choice of a handful of #'s and he didn't even hesitate.
As for a driver...remember gang it's a business and he's looking for a nice long term sponsor. If you are a driver with a sponsor relationship he is listening. As for Dave Blaney there will be no getting to know you process. Tommy knows what Dave Blaney is comfortable in. I mean if you look through last years races they had 8 DNF's, 6 of them were in other peoples garbage, while running in the top 15 to 20.. The Daytona 500 he was one of the last guys to pit, he was in the top 10 with 10 to go and JPM got them on the back stretch Blaney hit the wall in 3 and 4, with a flat tire. I believe together if they could catch a couple of breaks these 2 could do OK. The cars were purchased from Red Bull Racing they were Brian Vickers cars from last year. It's a very exciting time for Tommy and it should be a lot of fun.

I'll keep you guys updated when I can if I hear anything about a driver.

Man, Blaney would be a great choice. He's had a history of finishing well in some real junk. I believe that he still has some loyal Tier II sponsor relationships from the Midwest open wheel days. I also agree with Jaws, gotta be red. Another thought ... how about Donny Lia?

[catfish]

Donny would be an interesting choice, but they HAVE to qualify, and since they were flirting with the top 35 the last few years both Tommy and Dave Blaney have been under that sort of go or go home pressure and I do believe the experience is of utmost importance for a new team. Donny while a good choice would still need a lot of seat time to qualify and a new team really does not have the luxury of training someone while using go or go home qualifying.

[hollywoodmic]

They were also able to pick up the #22 short track car they used at Darlington, Dover, Richmond all goo runs for them last year. I just hope the best for all of these guys. A lot of modified guys on this team.

[SIModified]

I am quietly working behind the scenes trying to help Tommy with sponsorship, as well.

Like all of you, I want to see Tommy succeed with this venture.

[Sicklajoie]

Scott Riggs was announced as the driver today.
What's the sound of one hand clapping??

[Jaws]

Scott Riggs was announced as the driver today.
What's the sound of one hand clapping??

Probably brought sponsorship.

[hollywoodmic]

Scott Riggs is a good young driver. He had a great top 20 points season going until Booty was suspended and they lost all of those points and their Crew Chief for 6 races. I remember when he was running the Nesquik #10 in the Busch Series at Nazareth. His father came to our pit area and said to me "now this is a real racecar" he was checking out TB's yellow 7ny. I've been a fan of Scott Riggs ever since. Best part, had no idea it was his Dad until he was walking away and asked us to root for his son that day. I think it's a great fit for both guys. Hey a little sponsorship can help as well.

[mikel 3]

Its good to see that hes got mod people working with him Moran and Marquis.Jerry is as nice a person as you will ever meet ,they say Moran is the same.Tommy gets my vote for not forgetting where he came from when on national tv back in 2001 he was wearing an Ole Blue t shirt.All other crews were wearing their proper atire and when asked why he was wearing ithestated that it was in memory of Lenny Boehler who had passed away the day before.My great grand father always said never forget where you came from and you will go a long way in life.I wish him luck and hope he does well.

[mikel 3]

Scott Riggs drove the Tommy Baldwin owned 36 to a seventh place finish in his qualifying race to give him a guaranted starting spot in the daytona 500.I was never a Riggs fan but he drove a great race.Congrat to Riggs ,Tommy and the whole gang.

[worm]

look for red bank on car for race

[kja819]

Congrats to Tommy and the whole 36 team. That was a great run. I am still not a fan of Riggs but for the rest of them may they miss the big one and have a strong finish. The car looked strong all race long.

Running 2nd on the last lap of the 500. Riggs sling shots to the win. You heard it hear first.