Stremme to replace Newman in the No 12 in 2009
Quote selected text Published September 3rd, 2008 in NASCAR News
Penske Racing didn’t have to go far to find a replacement for Ryan Newman in the No. 12 car next season.
The team officially announced on Wednesday that 31-year-old David Stremme will be elevated from test team driver to a full-time Sprint Cup ride.
“His past accomplishments and current experience as our NASCAR test driver, as well as his character and desire for success, makes him a good fit into our culture,” team owner Roger Penske said in a prepared statement.
Stremme was released by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates last season. In two-plus seasons he had no wins, three top-10s and finished no higher than 24th in points.
He joined Penske as a test driver this season and drove a Nationwide Series car for former Penske driver Rusty Wallace. He ranks 12th in the Nationwide standings with five top-5 finishes and 13 top-10s.
The No. 12 car that won the Daytona 500 became available when Newman announced that he will drive for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009.
The organization talked to several other candidates, including Martin Truex, Jr. and Casey Mears. After Truex re-signed with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Mears signed with Richard Childress Racing the focus returned to Stremme.
“To be a part of Penske Racing’s 40-plus-year legacy has been a longtime dream of mine,” Stremme said. “I cannot wait to join my new teammates [Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr.] and work to get the No. 12 into the 2009 Chase.”
Bookmark to:
- Truex and Stremme under consideration to replace Newman
- Newman has three serious options for 2009
- Newman not going to the No 20 car
- Ryan Newman looking elsewhere in 2008?
- Franchitti returns to IndyCar in 2009, will replace Wheldon at Ganassi
He’s certainly not going to do anything to improve the #12, but he’s about the best choice that’s left out there. He’s probably the right guy for the job since I’m assuming he knows the team pretty well being a test driver and all.
Not a bad pick but not an exciting one either.
Who else was there to choose from? Riggs? Schrader? Sauter?