- McDowell replaces Blaney: the updated entry list for the Aarons 499 at Talladega Superspeedway shows Michael McDowell now driving the #66 Prism Motorsports Toyota for owner Phil Parsons and not Dave Blaney, who has ran six races for the team in 2009. No word if this is a permanent move or just for Talladega. See my Talladega Entry page. McDowell ran in 20 Sprint Cup races in the #00 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2008 with a best finish of 18th at Darlington.(4-21-2009) Comment here
- Terry Labonte looks to compete in 10 to 12 Cup races: Terry Labonte retired from driving full time in 2004, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to throw away his helmet. Labonte has competed in 44 races in the four years since he retired, and he will attempt to make this year’s Daytona 500 in Prism Motorsports’ #66 Toyota. So far, that’s Labonte’s only scheduled race this year, but things could change. “I wouldn’t mind running eight or 10 or 12 races, something like that,” Labonte said. “It would depend who it was. I’ve got to know them. I had a blast last year. It was actually fun.” Labonte insists he’s still retired from full-time competition, saying he doesn’t understand “why anybody would want to run every week.”(SceneDaily)(2-4-2009) Comment here
- Terry Labonte to attempt Daytona 500 UPDATE full-time Blaney: Add two-time NASCAR Cup champ [1984, 1996]] Terry Labonte to the list of Daytona hopefuls. Labonte is expected to pilot the Phil Parsons' Toyota [MSRP Motorsports] for the Daytona 500 field.(FoxSports), Labonte would become 2nd in line for the past champions provisonal, 43rd spot, if needed. #14-Tony Stewart [past champ 2005] would get first dibs on the spot if he fails to have a fast time or race in thru the Gatorade Duels and #21-Bill Elliott would be 3rd in line to get the spot, if needed.(1-23-2009)
UPDATE: Two-time Sprint Cup Series Champion Terry Labonte inked a deal that puts him behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry fielded by newly-formed Prism Motorsports for the 2009 "Daytona 500". In making the announcement, team co-owners Phil Parsons and Randy Humphrey also indicated that they expect to compete in the full 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule. Window World, based in motorsports tradition-steeped North Wilkesboro, NC, will provide sponsorship for Labonte's Daytona effort. Parsons, a former Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series competitor, and now analyst for SPEED Channel's Camping World Truck Series telecasts, is pleased how quickly and smoothly things have fallen into place for his operation. "Randy and I have both long dreamed of owning a Cup team, and now that day has arrived," said Parsons. "And to secure Terry Labonte and Window World for Daytona is more than we could have possibly hoped for our first race out of the box." According to Humphrey, veteran Dave Blaney will take over for Labonte after Daytona. "Like Terry, Dave is not only a talented, competitive race driver, he is also a first-class guy off the track. He's someone that we believe we can build a great team around."
Window World CEO Todd Whitworth is enthused about the opportunity with Prism and is looking at additional race sponsorships. "Window World has grown to be the nation's largest window remodeling company," said Whitworth. "We started Window World just a little over 13 years ago, and today have more than 200 offices in 46 states", said Whitworth. "We see the same level of energy and excitement at Prism Motorsports that has helped make our Window World team so successful. It's a thrill for us to be able to help Prism get off to a fast start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona."
Prism has also formed a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing, and the team's Toyotas will get their horsepower from Joey Arrington, one of NASCAR's most successful and respected engine builders. Bill Henderson, who served as car chief for Hall of Fame Racing's Toyotas in 2008, has come aboard as Crew Chief for the new organization. Parsons, who finished 9th in Sprint Cup points in a 1988 season that included a win at Talladega, summed up his new venture with more than a hint of emotion. "Randy and I are committed to building an organization founded on integrity and driven to succeed; one that every team member and every sponsor can be proud of," he said. Humphrey agreed, "Phil and I are incredibly blessed to be able to call ourselves 'Cup team owners'.
And we plan to make the most of this opportunity we have been provided and the good fortune to have Window World as our key sponsor at Daytona."(Prism Motorsports PR)(1-26-2009) Comment here
- MSRP Motorsports plans Daytona 500 attempt: Phil Parsons was on Tradin' Paint on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio with Rick Benjamin and Chocolate Myers Friday and said he intends to put a car in the Daytona 500:
Rick Benjamin: "Chocolate and I had speculated a little - and you were one of the guys I had in mind - you might see some ARCA teams, some truck teams, some Nationwide teams go out - and we know there are ways you can acquire a Cup car. You can lease one, borrow one, buy one, whatever is takes and go put a car on the grid there. You do that with Randy Humphrey in the Nationwide Series. You had two cars last year. Are you thinking about doing that in the Cup Series in '09?"
Phil Parsons: "We are. We are strongly considering that. We're going to kind of let the chips fall where they may and see how many cars are going to be there but our intention is, right now, is to race the Daytona 500. Not park and start in park but race the Daytona 500."(Sirius PR)
AND hearing that the car will be a Toyota and truck series regular Terry Cook will be the driver. MSRP, owned by Phil Parsons, Randy Humphrey, and their wives, competed full time in the Nationwide Series in 2008 with two cars, #90 & #91. The #90 was primarily driven by Johnny Chapman and competed in 31 races with a best finish of 35th. The #91 had a variety of drivers, mostly Larry Gunselman and Justin Hobgood, was in 30 races, and had a best finish of 38th.(1-11-2009) Comment here
