Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s
Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that the No. 71 TRG Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team will not return in 2012.
TRG ran 33 of the 36 point-counting races last season, with sponsorship from Super Eco-Fuel Saver and Interstate Moving Services. They claimed Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year honors with driver Andy Lally, despite replacing Lally with veteran Mike Bliss in the season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway. Sources close to the team say TRG will announce later this week that it has shuttered its NASCAR operation and will compete only on the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series in 2012. TRG finished 36th in Sprint Cup owner points last season, and would not have been a guaranteed starter for the season-opening Daytona 500.
TRG Motorsports made a total of 106 starts since joining the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2009, with a pair of Top-10 finishes to its credit. Bobby Labonte claimed a 10th-place finish for the team at Talladega in the fall of 2009, while Mike Bliss finished ninth in the 2010 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.
Team owner Kevin Buckler did not immediately return a call seeking comment today.
Wow. Situation must be pretty dire for them to close the Cup shop. They spent a ton of money moving to Ford midseason.
ReplyDeletepoor david ragan. this was his last option. he may well be rideless next year now.
ReplyDeleteDavid Ragan will likely end up in a Nationwide ride.
ReplyDeleteCosts MUST come down or NASCAR isn't going to be able to fill the field except with start and parkers.
ReplyDeleteDave, btw, why did they get rid of Lally in the first place, was that ever explained fully ? I'm wondering if he was stiffed his 2011 salary and prize monies. That would make sense given the whole team has now been 'shuttered' as you put it, and would explain why he's taken a relatively modest Grand-Am gig for 2012. But what would I know, I'm so hopped up on Blue Mountain moonshine I wouldn't recognize a plate of BBQ if I fell in it.
ReplyDeleteThat part about them not being guaranteed a spot? I'm not sure I agree with that. You have 4 teams in the top 35 not returning - 4, 6, 33, 83. Only one of those teams would have to not run (or points get sold) and they'd be right back in the top 35.
ReplyDeleteI was kind of hoping David Ragan would land this ride to see if TRG would have better results than last season.But this trend of losing the teams who will race is disturbing, Not to mention primary team sponsors reducing their roles in our sport.I would like to see the starting field reduced to about 36 cars for short track races and about 40 on the superspeedways.Instead of paying 6-8 cars who have no intentions to race about $50,000 each, Use that money to keep the midpack teams in operation.
ReplyDeleteYou couldnt find a recent/better picture for this article?
ReplyDeleteI think there was an issue involving pay with Andy. Lally is a helluva driver, would have loved to see what he could have done with a better ride.
ReplyDeleteI worked for trg last year and have worked with alot of guys while working in nascar by the fourth or fith race we had a group of guys that would have made Ragan a top 15 contender every week some may say thats not too impresive but ill tell you right now with what we were allowed to work with $$$$ a top 28th finish was like a win for us I really hope some plans in the making work out with some nice equipment we could be the thorn in the side of your bigger 4 car teams right out the gate with the same guys and chemistry we developed midway thru the season and hopefully it will be in the next couple of weeks if all goes well........and as far as andy lally goes he wasnt replaced he hadnt been paid in a few months or maybe closer to half the season.....But until then looks like ill be doing a little work for Ragan to start the 2012 year off all year I was told I would be working with Ragan and now I am......
ReplyDelete