#12 team done

ryr8828 · November 27, 2001

http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/article...126/362641.html

Mike Wallace is out of a ride again. And he had been doing so well. With sponsors so hard to get, how can Penske just give one up?

Elwood · November 27, 2001

That really sucks. I was hoping Mike would run that car next year. He did pretty dang good with it the last part of the season. I guess Penske doesn't want to fit the bill for three cars. Can't blame them much, but at the same time you gotta wonder why he would give up that sponsor and a team that is capapble of winning. Oh well. I hope Mike made a good enough impression that he gets a ride with somebody, I just hate to see him back in a second rate ride again. I think if he's with a good team he can win a race or two.

ryr8828 · November 27, 2001

Update-Williams PR said that Exxon/Mobil will move to an associate sponsor on the #2 and #02. So Penske is gonna get their sponsorship money anyway.

General Lee 01 · November 27, 2001

Actually I hear even though the #12 team is technically done, I hear Ryan Newman may switch to 12 instead of 02.

antig24 · November 27, 2001

dang :angry:

Kansas Kid · November 27, 2001

I can't say that I'm completely suprised by this, but after the way the 12 car ran the last part of the year I figured they might go ahead and keep it around. But I guess they figured that they would have enough work making cars for Rusty and Ryan, and decided to axe the 12 car.

quadrunner500 · November 28, 2001

I'm a big Penske fan. He won the Indy (IRL) 500 again, won the Cart championship. But I wasn't a fan of Penske when he fired Mayfield, or for firing Mike Wallace.

But...looks to me like sweet revenge for Mayfield with Evernham. Maybe he gets the #12 back afterall??

Elwood · November 28, 2001

Well, I'm a Penske fan. And I didn't like Mayfield alot, so I was glad when he fired him. I didn't see a problem with it, when I thought he would keep the team going, I saw it as an opportunity to get a jump start on next seaon with a new driver. But if he was gonna axe the team anyway, he should've let Mayfield keep his job for the rest of the season. That would've been the right thing to do I suppose. But I am glad that Mike got a shot in a good car, maybe that showing will give him a chance in a decent car for next year.

General Lee 01 · November 28, 2001

If I were Mike Wallace, I'd be one pissed off pony. To run so good with the (I dare say) best team he's had in his career and hear that the team is shutting down, that has to be hard.

Quadrunner, Jeremy Mayfield will be in the #19 regardless of what happens w/ Penske.

quadrunner500 · November 28, 2001

Quadrunner, Jeremy Mayfield will be in the #19 regardless of what happens w/ Penske.

How 'bout some pie?

ryr8828 · December 11, 2001

The General was right. Penske announced that he was gonna use the #12 on Ryan Newman's car(and the owner points that go with it).

mikeb · December 11, 2001

I used to really like the Penske team, Rick Mears era, but lately you know it's all about money and Penske can get the sponsers. A few years before the IRL and CART split it got kind of boring, cause they always won. Then when they split he went where he thought he could be in control. I've always liked the underdog also. Liked when Michael Waltrip won this year, finally. But racing is all about money and sponsorship not necessarily talent. A lot of taleneted drivers out there the racing leagues just have to keep on top of keeping it competitive and the costs under control.