Jarrett will announce his plans for next year at Lowe's on Friday.
DRIVER EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Who's in the #44 at Michael Waltrip Racing?
Speculation over Jeremy Mayfield vs. David Reutimann
Racegear.com Staff Report
Who's going to share the ride with Dale Jarrett over at Michael Waltrip Racing, now that the former NASCAR Cup champion will run a limited schedule in the '08 season?
Speculation inlcudes Jeremy Mayfield, who was scuttled from Ray Evernham in '06 and then Bill Davis Racing, where he will be repelaced next season by Jacques Villeneuve.
Tim Tuttle of SI.com writes that Mayfield has agreed to a deal to share the No. 44 with Jarrett, who has those six champion's provisionals to guarantee positions on the grid. The plan would have Jarrett start the season and try to get the No. 44 into the top-35 in the points and then retire.
According to SI's sources, if Jarrett can save some of the provisionals by qualifying on time, he would agree to return to use them to get into races if the No. 44 fell out of the top 35.
Or Jarrett could share the UPS sponsorship with David Reutimann, according to reports on Jayski.com. This was the 36-year-old rookie's first year in the Cup series, where he drives the No. 00 sponsored by Burger King and Domino's.
Jarrett will announce his plans for next year at Lowe's on Friday. MWR also will introduce its new owner/investor at Friday's press conference.
David Poole of The Charlotte Observer and ThatsRacin.com reports that Waltrip’s team will follow the trend of partnering with an outside investor. His sources name New York-based asset management firm Fortress Investment Group, which earlier this year broke the mold in its industry by becoming the first hedge fund to go public.
Posted October 11, 2007 , 3:15 pm EST Last Updated October 11, 2007 , 3:36 pm EST
