BAM merging..with someone? been hearing rumors, but no confirms, that the #49 BAM Racing team may be merging with another team, the rumors include either the Petty Enterprises Dodge teams [#43 and #45] or the #22 Bill Davis Racing Team. The Petty deal sounds like a better match as BAM already uses Dodges. BDR just recently suspended operations of its 2nd team [#27] and parted ways with the crew chief of that team, Slugger Labbe. BDR is currently out of the top 35 in owners points and not guaranteed a spot in the next race at Martinsville. Either is BAM Racing's #49 with Ken Schrader or one of the Petty cars, #45-Kyle Petty. Supposedly CAT is only signed with the #22 thru 2008 and could be headed to Joe Gibbs Racing in some capacity for 2009.(3-21-2008)
Tis a rumor, but not one that is too surprising. If this is indeed true, the Petty deal is more likely, especially considering that Gillett himself said they do share information with the #49 (GEM, Petty, RGM and BAM are close-knit, apparently). I highly doubt that they would want any potential GEM secrets to go to BDR...
Interesting. I sent Jayski an e-mail yesterday asking if he knew anything about those rumours and he said he didn't.
As for GEM, all they do is lease engines to BAM and provide an engineer. (According to Ray Evernham) It is nowhere close to the techincal/information arrangement between GEM and Robby Gordon or the Pettys. Not to mention BAM has always been the red-haired stepchild among the Dodge teams.
If hooking up with BDR gets them factory support from Toyota and more ponies under the hood then all I can say is Shiawase da.
BAM merging..with someone? been hearing rumors, but no confirms, that the #49 BAM Racing team may be merging with another team, the rumors include either the Petty Enterprises Dodge teams [#43 and #45] or the #22 Bill Davis Racing Team. The Petty deal sounds like a better match as BAM already uses Dodges. BDR just recently suspended operations of its 2nd team [#27] and parted ways with the crew chief of that team, Slugger Labbe. BDR is currently out of the top 35 in owners points and not guaranteed a spot in the next race at Martinsville. Either is BAM Racing's #49 with Ken Schrader or one of the Petty cars, #45-Kyle Petty. Supposedly CAT is only signed with the #22 thru 2008 and could be headed to Joe Gibbs Racing in some capacity for 2009.(3-21-2008)
Tis a rumor, but not one that is too surprising. If this is indeed true, the Petty deal is more likely, especially considering that Gillett himself said they do share information with the #49 (GEM, Petty, RGM and BAM are close-knit, apparently). I highly doubt that they would want any potential GEM secrets to go to BDR...
Given that Dodge sued Bill Davis Racing and won a $6.5 million judgement against him in February '06, I think it's highly doubtful that BAM would merge with BDR unless they're switching to Toyota.
A BAM - Petty deal makes more sense since both are Dodge and also share/receive technical support, engines, etc. from GEM.
Given that Dodge sued Bill Davis Racing and won a $6.5 million judgement against him in February '06, I think it's highly doubtful that BAM would merge with BDR unless they're switching to Toyota.
A BAM - Petty deal makes more sense since both are Dodge and also share/receive technical support, engines, etc. from GEM.
All BAM was getting from GEM was engines. According to Ray Evernham himself, the pecking order was RGM, Petty and then BAM.
As for GEM, all they do is lease engines to BAM and provide an engineer. (According to Ray Evernham) It is nowhere close to the techincal/information arrangement between GEM and Robby Gordon or the Pettys. Not to mention BAM has always been the red-haired stepchild among the Dodge teams.
I would pay more heed to what Ray said then, but still...this is a quote from Gillett himself.
ROBBY'S TALKED ABOUT ONCE HE WAS UP AND GOING, HE WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP GEM AS WELL? "We certainly hope that's the case. We've already seen that happen. Just as all of the various folks – the direct Hendrick's teams – and indirect Hendrick's teams communicate – we see a lot of communication going on amongst the crew chiefs and the drivers. And that's very helpful both ways. With armchair resources, he's been fully competitive in the sport for years. He's input is very helpful to us and hopefully our input to him is helpful. "We've got the same relationship there with the 49 car – or at least access of that information of the 49 car - as well as the Petty organization. The Dodge teams are cooperating very well together and were seeing that with Dodge's help, we're really doing a better job of communicating this year then I think the Dodge teams have done in the past."
Considering how well the #49 ran on some weekends, I would be surpirsed if there was no sharing of info between GEM and BAM. As I said, however, I would take Ray's word over George's.
All I can tell you is that I emailed Dave Moody a question to ask Evernham on his weekly segment on Sirius Speedway and Ray's answer was "we lease engines to BAM and provide a little bit of engineering help." That's not the exact quote but pretty close to what I recall him saying.
It's been confirmed by someone with direct access to Beth Ann. BAM Racing will be driving Toyotas and have a working association with BDR.
Was it posted on the actual website? Or was it on another message board?
Anything on the BAM site or boards?
So far it is offically hearsay coming from several different sources, including someone who saw a Camry at the BAM Racing shop.
Photos will proabably leak out this weekend.
What surprises me here is not BAM, but Schrader. Given Schrader's "friendship" with Mikey, and the fact that BDR is swirling the bowl (in cup), you would have thought the alliance would be between BAM and MWR, not BDR. Not sure if Mikey needs and R&D;team, but this could benefit both.
What surprises me here is not BAM, but Schrader. Given Schrader's "friendship" with Mikey, and the fact that BDR is swirling the bowl (in cup), you would have thought the alliance would be between BAM and MWR, not BDR. Not sure if Mikey needs and R&D;team, but this could benefit both.
Who knows? I know Mikey gets his engines from TRD and I've heard Toyota had to approve the deal between BAM and BDR which is not a merger but more along the lines of what GEM and RGM have or Gibbs and HoFR. Or going way back in the day to the old R-A-D alliance.
