Posted by Aron on 1/8/2008, 1:14 pm
74.136.96.X
Changes in store at Germain
Moves include Musgrave not returning germain racing team 2007 recap
After winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2006, Bob Germain felt this past season was a "little bit of a letdown."
But he can take solace in that he has established Germain Racing as one of the elite teams after fourth- and seventh-place finishes by Todd Bodine and Ted Musgrave in this year's truck series point standings.
"It definitely does," Germain said. "One of our goals was to be the premiere truck team in the series in every way we could from image to professionalism. We've done a lot of things that have worked and improved us in many ways."
Not one to maintain the status quo, Germain will have changes as he will seek to expand into all areas of NASCAR in 2008.
• Bodine will continue to race trucks, while he'll compete in Nextel Cup events as well.
"I appreciate the effort everyone on the team put in this season," Bodine said on the team's Web site. "We worked hard, we learned a lot and went to victory lane a couple times."
• Mike Wallace will join Germain's team next season in the newly called Nationwide Series. Nationwide Insurance replaces Busch as sponsor.
Wallace came to Germain because he's friends with general manager Mike Hillman, was unhappy with his old team and has the support of Geico sponsorship.
"Busch cars in 2009 will be Cars of Tomorrow," Germain said. "A lot of the money invested in Busch cars will be obsolete in 2009. We wouldn't want to invest our own money."
• Germain didn't renew a contract with Musgrave. He said he liked the driver, who was steady and dependable, but lacked the intensity he wanted.
"There were also a couple of different crew chiefs with Ted," Germain said. "It's real important to have good chemistry between the crew chief and driver."
• Justin Marks, who competed in four truck races for the Germain team and finished eighth in his last race at Homestead, will replace Musgrave.
Germain said Marks will bring solid sponsorship with him, which includes Croc Shoes.
"He's a good kid and got a lot of good experience," Germain said. "I'm not sure he's championship caliber, but he'll be all right."
Germain had hoped to have Brad Keselowski on his team after he replaced Musgrave in a race in Memphis, won the pole and led most of the race before finishing 16th.
However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. hired Keselowski to race for JR Motorsports in Busch races.
"They picked him up pretty quickly," Germain said.
Germain is looking forward to next season, and not just because Toyota is going through changes.
"It's tough to follow up a championship," he said. "But we're looking forward to 2008."
GERMAIN RACING TEAM 2007 RECAP
• Ted Musgrave, who won this year's Craftsman Trucks race at Texas, didn't have his Germain Racing contract renewed.
• Todd Bodine finished fourth in the Craftsman Trucks Series point standings and also raced in five Busch Series races. In 2008, he'll run in some Nextel Cup races as well as all truck races.
• Ted Musgrave, who finished seventh in the point standings, won't return to the team in 2008.
• Justin Marks, who finished eighth in his last Craftsman Trucks Series race, will return to the team in 2008.
• Mike Wallace will join the team in 2008 and run Nationwide (formerly Busch) races full-time.
This will be Awesome! I hope they do quite a few Cup starts
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