I believe this award should go out to Jack Smith and Ultra Motorsports for waiting till the last minute to pull the plug and shut its doors, leaving Ted Musgrave out in the cold to hunt for a new ride for 2006. No doubt Musgrave should not have a problem doing so. Although this decision could of been made right at seasons end. I'm sure Ted will handle this matter like a true sportsman, but if I were him I would give Jack a call and tell him to sleep with his eyes open!
Germain Racing is pleased to announce the signing of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, Ted Musgrave. Musgrave, will be driving the Germain Motor Company Toyota Tundra for the 2006 season. The seasoned veteran was told last Friday that Ultra Motorsports owner, Jim Smith had decided to close the doors after 11 seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion was left without a ride for the 2006 season. After a number of offers, Musgrave felt Germain Racing was the perfect fit. "It has been nuts this past week, finding out that Ultra was shutting its doors" said Ted Musgrave. "My phone was ringing off the hook this week. I called Mike Hillman, Sr. to see what was going on and all of the pieces just fit together. There was no delay and here I am. I am very excited to be part of the Germain Racing team." Germain Racings' GM, Mike Hillman, Sr. along with owners Rick, Bob and Steve Germain made the decision to go with Musgrave as their second full-time Tundra driver. "A lot of thought went into our decision, and we felt that Ted could bring a lot to our organization," said Mike Hillman, Sr. "To have the reining NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion as a teammate to Todd, we felt would make our organization even stronger." Todd Bodine is excited to have Musgrave on board for the season. "You could not pick a better driver to be my teammate", said Todd Bodine. "Ted is a winner and a fierce competitor who wants to win as much as I do. He will fit right in with our race team." Tom Ackerman will be Musgrave's new crew chief for the upcoming season. Musgrave will join his new team at this weekends NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series test session at Daytona International Speedway. With the addition of Ted Musgrave to the Germain Racing Team, Toyota Motorsports will have an exceptionally strong stable of drivers to beat for 2006. "We are excited to have the defending series champion driving Tundra this year with Germain Racing," said Pat Wall Vic President of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Program Manger for TRD. "Ted Musgrave and Todd Bodine will form an outstanding team. Adding Ted, a series champion and experienced veteran to the Tundra roster makes the Toyota line-up even stronger for 2006.
Not bad... Todd Bodine had a great season once he joined this team. To have Ted Musgrave come on board as his teammate, this will be a team to watch.
That is outstanding news to me and the combination of Bodine/Musgrave could be a force to be reckoned with this season. It wasnt so much that they closed their doors, teams do it all the time. Its just the way it was done and the timing. Its like a boxer who wins the champoinship belt and then retires and doesn't want to fight anymore.Smith was pretty much a pioneer and put the Craftsman Truck series on the Nascar map. I thought he was a little more professional than that.
