Aaron's sponsorship "will be coveted throughout" the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage if it decides to stay in the sport following the news yesterday that longtime partner Michael Waltrip Racing will shutter its team following the '15 season, according to Nick Bromberg of YAHOO SPORTS. Aaron's is currently sponsoring the MWR No. 55 car driven by David Ragan, but it has previously indicated that it "was evaluating its options when it came to continuing its relationship" with the team (
SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/19). USA TODAY's Jeff Gluck notes Aaron's "passed on sticking with Chase Elliott when the young driver jumped into the Xfinity Series in order to sponsor" Brian Vickers in the No. 55 car. However, health issues forced him to relinquish the role this season. Aaron’s "might have an opportunity to rejoin Elliott at Hendrick Motorsports" (
USA TODAY, 8/20). MWR yesterday also released driver Clint Bowyer from his contract for the '16 season. MOTORSPORT.com's Lee Spencer noted Bowyer, one of the "most affable personalities in NASCAR," has the "support of 5-hour Energy -- a valuable commodity to any team owner, particularly in an era where sponsorship is so difficult to come by." Bowyer has been rumored to be headed to HScott Motorsports, and sources said that the team could offer Bowyer a ride "until a premiere seat opens up." He "has been mentioned as the heir apparent" for the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing car currently driven by Tony Stewart (
MOTORSPORT.com, 8/19).
REFLECTING ON A WILD RIDE: Waltrip yesterday addressed the closing of his team, calling the nine years a "great ride." He said, "I’m really thankful to all the people that made it possible, especially Rob Kauffman. This story wouldn’t have gotten much past 2007 if it wasn’t for Rob, and I’ll always be indebted to him.” He said he was unsure what he would do next year outside of his broadcasting duties for Fox, saying, "I’m definitely not going to own a car. That takes a lot of money and I’ve spent pretty much all of mine on cars so far." However, he did say, "I’ve got a big shop in Cornelius, North Carolina, full of equipment to build race cars. Maybe somebody will want to show up and takeover what I’ve left off." FoxSports.com's Tom Jensen noted Kauffman, who is headed to Chip Ganassi Racing, kept MWR "afloat" for eight years, and he "just reached a point where he feels like his best chance at a championship, which he very badly wants, is to go in another direction" ("NASCAR Race Hub," FS1, 8/19). NBCSN’s Nate Ryan noted there "wasn't much illumination" on the exact reasons MWR is closing, but he said, "When you look at the history of Michael Waltrip Racing, Rob Kauffman is instrumental." Ryan: "When he decided that he was going to go in another direction, that set the course for where MWR could go.” NBCSN’s Steve Letarte said, “Rob Kauffman is a very successful businessman, so the businessman in Rob Kauffman must have seen a better opportunity at Chip Ganassi Racing in the long-term." Letarte added, "He must see something on the horizon he doesn't like, whether that’s financial, whether that’s competition on the race track. It seems clear to me that there’s a specific reason Rob Kauffman wants to change directions" ("NASCAR America," NBCSN, 8/19).
