Michael Waltrip Racing announced last week that two-time Cup Series champion Terry Labonte will again step into the No. 55 Toyota for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“While we’ve planned to bring Terry back for the Watkins Glen road course event, I felt having him in the car next weekend at Indianapolis would be a great opportunity for me to continue to evaluate my entire organization from an owner’s perspective,” Waltrip said.
“The feedback related to road-course racing that Terry was able to provide my team after Infineon Raceway was very valuable. We look forward to more of the same input after Indy,” he said.
Labonte piloted the No. 55 car last month at Infineon Raceway, where he started 25th and finished 35th.
“It felt good to get back in the car in Sonoma and while it wasn’t the finish I had hoped to deliver to the guys at MWR and NAPA, I believe we learned quite a few things in which we can build on,” Labonte said.
Labonte has 11 starts at Indianapolis. His best finish came in 1996 when he finished third.
Waltrip returns to his No. 55 for the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono on Aug. 5.
Schrader will drive No. 49
In another change, BAM Racing announced last week that Ken Schrader will drive the No. 49 Dodge in the Allstate 400.
“We are very grateful to Wood Brothers Racing for allowing Schrader to drive the No. 49 Dodge in Indy,” team owner Beth Ann Morgenthau said. “We had great success and great fun with Schrader in the three years that he drove for BAM Racing. We are thrilled to have him join us for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.”
Schrader joined BAM in 2003. He left after the 2005 season to join the Wood Bothers.
The team also announced the return of Dean Johnson and David Hyder. Johnson assumes the role of crew chief and Hyder will serve as suspension specialist.
Driver Mike Bliss also will return to BAM on a full-time basis, beginning at Pocono.
“We are so excited to have Dean, David and Mike back together again,” Morgenthau said. “No one can deny that there is a unique chemistry between this combination that equates to consistently strong on-track results.
“Although we have faced difficulties this season, everyone involved is committed to turning our program around across the board,” he said.
(Courtesy of NASCAR)
Racing at the Brickyard is always a reason for excitement, and this year will be no exception. Series leader Jeff Gordon is a four-time winner here and should be considered the favorite again. Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick should contend, as will Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson. Underdog Casey Mears, who’s been hot, could surprise. -MR