Stremme To Drive #12 Dodge For Penske Next Season
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Loading ...This does not really pertain to Ryan Newman but Penske Racing hired David Stremme on Wednesday to replace Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman.
I think everyone already new that this was probably what was going to happen.
Brad Keselowski had been offered the job but turned it down.
“We’re pleased to have David join Penske Racing as the driver of the No. 12,” Roger Penske said. “His past accomplishments and current experience as our NASCAR test driver, as well as his character and desire for success, make him a good fit into our culture.”
Penske hired him in April as a test driver, helping Newman, Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. accelerate their car development.
“To be a part of Penske Racing’s 40-plus-year legacy has been a longtime dream of mine,” Stremme said. “I cannot wait to join my new teammates and work to get the No. 12 into the 2009 Chase.”
It is being reported that Alltel will remain the sponsor for the #12. While that may be true for now, their sponsorship in 2009 is really up in the air due to Alltel being bought out by Verizon.
That deal is expected to be complete by the end of this year. If that is the case then Verizon could elect to keep the Alltel car in the Sprint Cup Series due to it being grandfathered in when Nextel took over the series.
But NASCAR will not (or should not - look at AT&T) allow Verizon to sponsor the car.
I don’t agree with that and I have been very outspoken that I think NASCAR (with a heavy hand on their backs from Sprint) is making a big mistake forcing a great sponsor like AT&T. Sponsor are getting harder and harder to come by and forcing them to leave when they are already here sounds ridiculous to me.
Anyway, we will see what happens with that next year.
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Good luck to ya son! It appears that Roger isn’t going for what his organization needs. My hope is that Alltel will not be on the car in 2009.
I think David is a great asset. Personally I dont want any driver at Penske Racing. He’s such an absentee owner as far as the cup teams are considered. I cannot wait until Kurt gets out of there and now David too(rumor is they only want him for 09 till they can find a ‘bigger’ name…talk about a slam.) All I ask is that he show some more attention to the cup guys. Attention..time…money..it all adds up. But like I said the sooner they get out of there the better. The past 2-3 seasons have been pretty lackluster to say the least.
I don’t think Roger can get a “Big” name at this time. In fact….. with Ryan leaving, Kurt will be on his heels as well. It has been very disappointing for him as well!
Exactly!! They dont have the results nor the equipment to pull in a ‘big’ name.
I know that there were others that turned Penske down, isn’t that sad? I know that it was a very tough decision for Ryan, but I know that leaving is the right thing. And it sounds like SHR is getting all of their ducks in a row!!!
Stremme may or may not be what Penske needs. I wish him well and hope that he does well.
I am sorry that he is stuck at Penske though. If he can or has the ability to shine, it will not be at Penske.
In fact, unfortunately it will probably only hurt his efforts to get a job after Penske is done with him.
The problem at Penske starts with Roger Penske. I don’t know all the in’s and out’s, but that is my opinion. I think it starts there with him being an “absentee” owner and it possibly trickles down as well.
I think There are people in that orginaztion that are probably doing a great job, but with out leadership and resources….you can only go so far.
I wonder why Penske is even in the Cup Series. Seems to me that it is more of a bother to him than anything.
Good luck to Stremme and I really hope that he ends up shinning so that he can continue his career after Penske.