Monday, January 30, 2012

Patrick Will Race Daytona With Points From TBR

Danica Patrick will be a guaranteed starter in the 2012 Daytona 500, using owner points from Tommy Baldwin Racing. 

Danica is a lock for the Daytona 500
Multiple sources say a deal is nearly complete to make Patrick a guaranteed starter in Stewart Haas Racing’s #10 Chevrolet in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season opener, using owner points accrued last season by driver Dave Blaney in TBR’s #36 Chevrolet. Blaney will now be forced to qualify for the “Great American Race” on time. 

Patrick is scheduled to run approximately 10 Sprint Cup races this season, and TBR driver David Reutimann will run many of the events Patrick does not; also in the #10 machine. While Patrick will drive Stewart Haas cars purchased from Hendrick Motorsports in her 10 races, Reutimann will steer Baldwin’s cars in his outings. 

TBR will reportedly receive technical and pit crew support from SHR as part of the deal. 

76 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:43 PM

    it figures, i hate point swapping.

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    1. Anonymous4:43 PM

      I think there are many more worthy drivers. And I'm female.

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    2. It's all about the money.

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  2. Anonymous3:52 PM

    BOO! TBR has worked to hard to risk missing the 500.

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    1. Anonymous4:57 PM

      I agree. Why we risk others and have to keep Danica happy?

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  3. Anonymous4:04 PM

    Wow! Tommy Baldwin hooking up with Tony. This is interesting.

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  4. Anonymous4:08 PM

    What a crock.

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  5. Actually if I have read this rumor correctly, this could work. Basically the #10 would go from a part-time ride to a full-time ride with Danica Patrick driving the #10 for 10 races and David Reutimann driving the #10 for the remainder 26 races. It keeps the car on track for the entire 36 races and hopefully in the owners points.

    This one could even go further with SHR supplying the cars for Patrick's 10 races only, while TBR would supply the cars for Reutimann's 26 races.

    Normally I hate points swapping, however this is a good idea and perfectly legal in NASCAR.

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    1. Damon5:01 PM

      Yep Brian, I noticed the same thing you did...just too bad others criticizing the move aren't looking at the bigger picture here.

      As Tony has said from the start when they announced her races at Texas last year, her 2012 limited Cup schedule is going to be about seat time in preparation for 2013 and you can't do that by missing races. Smart move.

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  6. Anonymous4:29 PM

    She can't make it on her own ability.

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  7. Anonymous4:31 PM

    you know she would have been in either way to make them ticket sale stronger

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  8. Damon4:32 PM

    As much as everybody hates points swapping, I get the impression this is more about the other 9 Cup races she's running and having a guaranteed spot for those than it is Daytona.

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  9. Anonymous4:33 PM

    then why is it mr baldwin just posted on face book do not believe this why cant you just write facts not lies

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    1. I stand by my story, and I stand on my record. I will be happy to accept your apology when the deal is officially announced in the next day or two

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    2. Tommy Baldwin has now confirmed that our report is 100% accurate.

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  10. From Tommy Baldwin's Facebook page:
    Tommy Baldwin Racing
    Not everything you read is true my friends. I was born at night but not last night.

    ??

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  11. Anonymous4:36 PM

    I like Tony but at some point Danica needs to stand on her own two feet and either make it on her skills and ability or not.

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    1. Stand on her own two feet? The session hasn't even started. Please read Damon's comment and by the way I was at testing and DP was 8th fastest single car

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  12. Anonymous4:44 PM

    That's a bunch of crap.

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  13. Anonymous4:53 PM

    I think there will be some sort of deal with TBR but it wont be exactly like this.Maybe TBR running the #10 that's using the #14 points when Danica isnt racing.

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  14. Anonymous5:00 PM

    tbr ant doing this this is all a lie this website is a joke

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    Replies
    1. Then why are you wasting your time here?

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  15. Anonymous5:04 PM

    I wonder why Tony doesn't just give the 10 the 14s points and then if he qualify's bad use the past champion provisional? Why involve an outside team?

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  16. Anonymous5:10 PM

    NOT FAIR IN THE LEAST SHE HASNT EARNED THEM WHY SHOULD SHE GET THEM THEY OUGHT TO STOP THAT AND SEND HER BACK TO INDY

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  17. Anonymous5:11 PM

    I don't see why she is not using Tony's points. His is that last champion and would be guaranteed into the race.

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  18. Anonymous5:12 PM

    I will be REALLY pissed with Danica if she makes it and Dave doesn't!!!

    RISK VS REWARD might be too risky this time!

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    Replies
    1. I'm not sure why you would be pissed at Danica. This deal was not forced on Tommy Baldwin Racing, it was offered and accepted.

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  19. While putting Danika Patrick into a CUP ride is a great marketing move..... I am and always will be a race fan.... NOT a marketing fan..... she is an average driver at best!!!! There are many MORE DESERVING drivers out there who would die for a smidgen of the chances that have been handed to Danika Patrick all in the name of decent looks and marketing..... We are NO LONGER seeing the best that NASCAR has to offer on the track every Sunday!!!!

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    1. David Williams3:26 AM

      It's not all in the name of decent looks and marketing. It's all in the name of boosting the popularity of NASCAR and pumping up the income from television, among other things. And the last time Danica raced at Daytona, she qualified 7th.

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  20. Anonymous5:33 PM

    I like it. I like Danica and Tony and this will be a great way to get her started in Cup. For all of you that say she can't drive, I bet you she can outrun all you na sayers. You don't get a job in Cup on looks alone.

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    Replies
    1. At least she won't start and park.

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  21. Anonymous6:00 PM

    Blaney is a great qualifier, especially at super speedways -- anybody remember kids eating free last year? I'd put my money on him qualifying before Danica, and if the deal results in TBR getting support from SHR, plus sharing a number with such a high profile athlete (like it or not, folks, she is), seems like a pretty good deal to me.

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  22. Matty6:07 PM

    Unless this really improves TBRs engine and chassis program, I don't see why they wouldn't just give the 14 points to the 10. Which makes me believe that Tony is gaining a customer and Tommy is enhancing his competitive edge.

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  23. I think for a team like TBR, the pit crew and technical support is much more important than possibly missing the 500, even if it is the biggest race. I mean, really, the cars need to be running full-time and competitively, and they haven't been competitive.

    Sounds like a good deal to me, over the long haul.

    BTW, I trust Moody over my speculation that this might be untrue. He's right most of the time, and actually knows people who know people. No one is perfect, but I'll take those chances any day.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jason. That means a lot!

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  24. Anonymous6:34 PM

    Tommy Baldwin on Facebook says don't believe what you read.

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    Replies
    1. Well, since Tommy has now confirmed that my story is true, I guess I'll stand by what I wrote.

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  25. Steve6:42 PM

    The only way this makes sense if his Reuiti is using SHR cars, NOT TBR. Otherwise, who gets the points in 2013 if you are operating as two different teams? Does NASCAR even allow that?

    Smoke could probably fund the team out of pocket for the 26 or so unsponsored races, I'm SURE he could get some type of sponsorship on board for David.

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  26. BTW, when I said I think this is untrue, I meant that I think there is a chance it is. I'd give it a 10% chance of being untrue.

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    Replies
    1. Nice backpedal, Jason!

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    2. And for the record, Tommy Baldwin has now confirmed that the story is true.

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  27. I held a Nascar License in the 60's & 70's & have been a fan since then....no more, Nascar allowing this has been the last straw. I thought i would never see the day when marketing someone with little talent would take preference over established drivers.

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    1. Based on that, you should have quit 10 years ago! This is nothing new...

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  28. >>>Blaney will now be forced to qualify for the “Great American Race” on time. <<<< By "on time" do you mean finishing position in one of the "duels"?

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    1. Part of the Daytona 500 qualifying system is based on time. The front row qualifies on time, and after the Gatorade Duels, the balance of the field is also set based on time trial speeds.

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  29. Anonymous7:54 PM

    Well, I'm REALLY happy about the Rudy part of this story. Basically, GoDaddy and Aaron's swapped drivers, with Danica tossed in. Lately, Rudy and MM have been about equal, and with all the hats that Danica will sell, I'll take the GoDaddy side of that trade.

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  30. Anonymous8:06 PM

    If this deal is true, then David Reutimann is getting the shaft. HARD. "Here Danica, drive these impeccably prepared SHR cars, set up by the best in the business. We will let a proven cup driver embarrass himself in a car of the same make and car number, but it will be bottom tier equipment. The fans wont know the difference!" Might as well hire a fat girl to stand next to her at all times. Its the same thing. I guess thats what some modeling shots and 1 fuel mileage win(thats all it was, I watched that race live) will get you. This is insulting to my intelligence as a race fan. God, I hope he outperforms her in his TBR equipment. Im sure the press will have some entertaining, if not infuriating excuses for her though.

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    1. Actually, this move will allow the #10 team to remain in the Top 35 in owner points all season, making both Danica AND Reutimann guaranteed starters in any race they run. That's a good deal for Reuti.

      Reutimann will race the same TBR cars he was scheduled to race all along, with the added boost of technical and pit crew support from Stewart Haas Racing. That's also a good deal for Reuti.

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    2. David Williams3:37 AM

      You obviously don't know a lot about her performance in IndyCar. IndyCar has been dominated for years by the teams of Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi. Of the 40 drivers competing for the 2009 season championship, the champion, number one, was a Ganassi driver, number two was a Ganassi driver, and numbers three and four were Penske drivers. Number five was Danica Patrick.

      In her first Indy 500 (only the 5th race she had ever driven in a car with such horsepower) she beat 29 drivers (out of 33) across the finish line. In the 2009 Indy 500 she beat 30 drivers (out of 33) across the finish line.

      She won the pole three times in her rookie year, tying a record set by Tomas Scheckter that still stands.

      I could go on....

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    3. Anonymous6:03 PM

      More excuses! Are you kidding? Her claim to fame is 5th in points in 2009? 5th! Amazing! So finishing 5th in points(in Andretti/Green equipment might i add) once in your career and finishing in the top 5 at indy as a rookie due to fuel mileage(watch the race)makes you more worthy of a ride than the likes of Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon? Really? My point here is that there are drivers far more deserving of a top flight ride(Regan Smith, for example when it comes to NASCAR)but Danica gets the nod because people who know nothing about racing are more likely to watch her. And what I am trying to say about Reutimann is that he, whether intentional or not(I believe the former) is going to be driving a #10 chevrolet just like Danica Patrick, but in TBR equipment, not Hendrick equipment. She is being made to look good here. (By the way David Williams, Dan Wheldon won a title in Andretti Green equipment and J.R Hildebrand nearly won the indy 500 due to fuel mileage as a rookie. Are we gonna throw a top notch ride at him? Or does he need to put on a swimsuit first?)

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  31. Anonymous8:37 PM

    Whatever happened to qualifying on your own merits. There is no need for this type of thing on a well funded SHR car or for MWR. I guess it shows confidence.
    Bob Miller

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  32. Anonymous10:37 PM

    Just proves that the limits are endless for the chevy teams...

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    Replies
    1. Roger Penske (Dodge) did this last year for Sam Hornish.

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  33. Israel C11:12 PM

    NASCAR is getting worse all the time. You can buy your way into anything anymore. This is totally uncalled for. I think every weekend that the should qualify on speed and NO POINTS INVOLVED. Thinks stinks the whole racing deal up. You should be prepared to run or go home every weekend. If you sponsors can spend all this money on you and dont qualify then thats your problem. You better spend the sponsors wisely. If they done that then alot of these guys wouldnt be racing on daddys name and we could have some real race car driverson the track that want to race.

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    1. Israel, I agree with you that this owner point swapping stinks. However, were you this upset last year, or the year before? The only difference between this situation and any of the other owner point swaps in recent years is that this one involves a high-profile driver, Danica Patrick.

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    2. Israel C7:58 PM

      Dave I have been upset with NASCAR for years, this point thing stinks. I hate it for all drivers. It should be "Run what you brung and hope you brought enough"

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  34. Anonymous11:21 PM

    Join the mothership o ha ha ha lol badream

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  35. With exception of Blaney not being able to make the 500 this is a win win for everyone. If TBR aligns with SHR in all reality it's an alignment with HMS, who has by far the strongest Chevy's out there. Something that TBR and the smaller teams need, which is to be closer to equal with the big organizations. And hell everyone keeps saying Ruti is a great driver all he needs is better equipment. Well the way I see it, he just got the best anyone can provide.
    And yeah, I believe the Godfather over Facebook any day!

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  36. Anonymous11:59 PM

    If Reutimann won a race and somehow got to 20th on his own missing a few races, and 20th with one win got the second wild card, would Reuti make the chase as a driver or would the 10 car make the chase? With three SHR cars and Blaney at TBR does that make 4 and mean Reuti could not drive another TBR car in the 500 even if a sponsor was found?

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    1. If David Reutimann finishes in the Top 20 in driver points and wins enough races, he could make the Chase. However, the odds of him being in the Top 20 without running all the races is slim, at best.

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    2. Just thought of this.

      The rules for the owner's championship are the same as the driver's. If the car is in the top 20 and the car has enough wins, the car could make the chase.
      That would mean that the driver that gets the last position in the chase would be going for the championship, while the owner is not and Tommy Baldwin would be going for the owner's championship, while his drivers are not.
      Interesting scenario.

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  37. In response to Jason and Dave,

    I read the Jayski updates from this website frequently. Most Daily posts are followed up with an announcement or social network post that confirms it within the week. I agree with Jason. Moody is a great source for this kind of news.

    In response to the article on Jayski.....

    I have never been to this site, I always read along over there. I will be checking this page out often. Very nice stuff.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks very much, Aaron! And welcome to the site!

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  38. The real winner in this situation is David Reutimann - let's not lose sight of this!!

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  39. Doug M9:55 AM

    Interesting. 90% of the complaints are from Anonymous. Figures.

    Some of you complaining about this must be new to racing, or just not very observant. Drivers have been buying rides for years @ all levels of all series.

    If the deal occurs like Dave has laid it out, it won't bother me much. TBR will get a big leg up on knowledge, and Reuti will keep the car in the top 35 so they both get to race. I think that is much better than a cash only transaction for the points.

    Danica has talent. She also has as many wins as a bunch of the guys currently driving Cup, and deserves to be here just as much as they do.

    They Danica bashing sounds a lot like the Toyota bashing to me.

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  40. Bill Romba10:49 AM

    I agree that points swapping stinks and that if Danica is such a great driver, she should be forced to qualify on her own for the biggest race of the year. But, as a Reutimann fan, the more I hear about this deal, the more I see it as a positive for him. If he could win driving for MWR, imagine what he could do with SHR/HMS technical support!!

    Even after what TBR posted on Facebook, I'm inclined to believe Moody on this one. He's been in the industry long enough to know what sources are credible and which ones aren't.

    I hate that Danica got into Cup on her looks, is getting everything handed to her and that she won't have to work for her top 35 spot, but Beak will be doing most of the work and most of the driving anyway. So when he outperforms her in his 26 races, he should get most of the spotlight.

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    1. Tommy Baldwin has now confirmed the deal.

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    2. Anonymous4:34 PM

      I just wish David could race in the Daytona 500! :(

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  41. Reutimann is pretty much where he was at to start with. The #10 he is going to be running is still going to be TBR equipment. He is just going to use the #10 to keep it up in the owner points.

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  42. From FoxSports.com -- “We’re very proud of what we’ve established at Tommy Baldwin Racing,” Baldwin said. “The opportunity to partner with Stewart-Haas Racing and aid in the development of Danica Patrick is a testament to all the hard work we’ve put in over the years."

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  43. So this makes Danica a "swapper"
    (yes tongue deeply imbedded in the cheek of double entendre) to get her starting spot int he 500 :)
    Will he sponsor for this race be Ashley Madison.com :)

    But on the real side.. Good for Tommy Baldwin.
    He started in 2009 as a start n park.. and now 4 yrs later He is helping out one of the 'Big teams' to develop a driver.
    Hate the system.. don't mind the results.

    alan

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  44. I like this better than a swap between the 14 and the 10. Danica would have started any of the first 5 races on the pole in the event of qualifying rain outs.

    Reutimann still gets the 26 starts he would have, with a little better support.

    Based on the way Blaney has qualified, I expect him to be in a position to qualify on time at Daytona.

    I just wish they would throw out last years points for the Daytona 500 and make everyone race their way in.

    Ray

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  45. Tom Wilkinson12:45 PM

    Good reporting Dave, I believe you know what you are talking about or you wouldn't report these kind of things. As a long time supporter of DR we here in Zephyrhills are happy to see him get his dues. He certainly deserves better than what happened to him at MWR although Michael and Darrell gave him the breaks that he needed to show that he belongs in the Cup series.

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  46. So here's a question for ya Moody! Might we see a "Stewart Haas Racing with Tommy Baldwin" in '13?

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  47. Dave - please tell me what this means: "TBR has sponsorship inventory available for those 26 races." Does this mean they have sponsorship locked in -or- they still need sponsorship? Confusing language to me...

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