You are correct, however I don't see it as big of an issue AS LONG AS they keep NAPA. Bud and Junior are ajoined at the hips. Truex, Jr. has Bass Pro even full-time for the Cup series next year. In 2007 Paul Menard is supposed to race Cup full-time, and I don't see why Daddy wouldn't continue to back him.
WCG and I were talking last week -- it appears all of Gilmore's recent dance steps are about keeping NAPA. And apparently NAPA has sufficient say in who drives their car. "No NAPA, then no third team next year" is how it is appearing.
BRING BACK MIKEY!!! For just one more year. Then he can jump to Toyota in 2007, when Menard comes up. But of course, one of the rumors was that one of the reasons he could not come to a renewal agreement with DEI was they would not promise him Eury, Jr. for chief next year. That could still be a stubling block. I think it is now set in stone next year it will be "Junior and Junior" in the show.
It will be interesting to see if Mikey lands on his feet. It just seems to me that leaving because he didn't get Cousin Jr as a crew chief was a poor reason. Jimmy Elledge may or may not be 'Elledgeable' since Ganassi is dumping poor Casey Mears out of the 41 Target Dodge into the Home123 car. Ganassi's contracts only favor the owner not the driver, as they have no choice or say in what happens to them. I don't know about Elledge's contract.
On another note, my admiration for Martin Jr went up 1000% after reading that Penske offered him a $7 million dollar bonus to drive for them. But, Martin Jr chose instead to honor his friendship with Jr and that of DEI who gave him the championship Busch ride. Love ya Truex!!!