Tommy Baldwin Jr.'s New Team Gives Hope That NASCAR Might Just Survive

It's been a very tough offseason for NASCAR teams in all three of its Elite Series.

We've seen no helping hand from NASCAR, teams have laid off employees, mergers, full-time teams cutting back to part-time, and struggling finding sponsorship.

So it's exciting when you see a story like Tommy Baldwin's. As a fan, you can't help but root for Baldwin and his racing team to be successful.

Baldwin announced on Tuesday that he was starting Tommy Baldwin Racing, a one-car team that will run full-time; there is no number yet and it will run with Toyota Camrys.

He'll get his cars from a longtime friend and business associate Joey Arrington and Arrington Manufacturing.

The big hurdle for him will be the tough economic crisis that has affected NASCAR, but it may also be to his benefit and advantage. We may only see 36 to 37 cars, rather than the normal 43-plus cars depending on the track.

The good news is that Baldwin is negotiating with two drivers; depending on whom of the two gets selected, it's possible that it could come with sponsorship, and I have added five possibilities at the end, three of which could come with sponsors.

Baldwin has been a crew chief at Evernham Motorsports, Robert Yates Racing, Bill Davis Racing, and Ultra Motorsports.

Most recently he was employed at the recently sold Bill Davis Racing as Competition Director.

He recorded five wins as a crewchief; in Cup, his biggest victory came in 2002 with Ward Burton, when they won the Daytona 500.

Baldwin has released the following statement, "With tough economic times upon us, the timing for starting this team is right. Our overhead is low and we have a great group of talented mechanics and specialists to choose from. We can offer sponsors the chance to get into NASCAR Sprint Cup racing at a fraction of the costs, without compromising on track performance, due to our low overhead." (speedtv.com)

Now here's a few drivers that could end-up driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing. I'm thinking Toyota will be fully backing the team with support.

1. Bobby Labonte

He guarantees them with the past champions provisional, a starting position in the first five races. He's also rumored to have a sponsor in hand that has caused the delay with EGR and put that deal on hold for now. But it's a perfect fit for both, and they'd benefit from his veteran experience. Plus with Labonte owning, Bobby Labonte Racing he's really a asset for TBR.

2. Elliot Sadler

They have worked together at Robert Yates Racing, still friends and would fit well with the team. We could see Best Buy or more sponsors from the No. 19 end up as sponsors on the car and qualifying shouldn't be that big of a issue if Toyota is behind them with support.

3. Scott Riggs

He's a decent driver, really think he could blossom being around Baldwin and he brings sponsorship with him in State Water Heaters. He would fit in with the team, qualify well and with 36 to 37 cars only helps.

4. Dave Blaney

They worked together at BDR, sure several other members from that team are now at TBR, so they have a bond already established, only thing I could see is sponsorship in finding one to support the team, but I'm not ruling out seeing Toyota Camry on the hood either.

5. Mike Skinner

Another driver from the BDR family, he's been released and the new owner of BDR won't offer him a truck. So he has worked with Baldwin, he'd benefit the team since he was the go to guy in 2008 for several struggling and that's a benefit for this new team. Like with Blaney, could see Toyota backing since they did sponsor Skinner in the NCWTS.

We'll just have to wait and see just who will be driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing and, sure, I could have come up with several more possibilities, but I probably have the driver already on my above list.

Now I'll be cheering for Tommy Baldwin Racing to be successful; I really like its low-budget approach and that the owner will be working hard turning wrenches with his employees.

Source: Speedtv.com