Dude being a McMurray fan in 03-05 was badass. He would finish damn near every race in the top 10 and it seemed like every team wanted him. And then 2006 happened 😭
@@TheBraydenBunch58 I agree! Obviously, I don’t think Marlin was ever quite the same after his at Kansas in 02, but I would have loved to see him get another chance at a ride with good equipment and he certainly never got that at Ginn. There was another Marlin rumor that I mention in my next video that I think would be a good fit too (even if it wasn’t as good as Roush). I still have to edit that video, but I hope to have it out soon!
@@evanwilliams6406 he did when that race at Martinsville, but I went and peaked at his stats from that year while making the video and honestly, they weren’t great overall (14th in points and only 9 top 10s). I think it would have been interesting if Tide actually did come on board and I would have enjoyed seeing what he could do in the 6 car, but I think there were better options.
I wonder if younger drivers were looked at like denny hamlin, clint bowyer, martin truex jr, reed sorenson, etc. Maybe roush racing would've made someone like that an offer to poach someone from another team's farm system.
You know, I would think that they would have looked at some younger drivers (and perhaps they did and the reports flew under the radar) but all I could ever find were reports of discussions with veteran drivers. Other than Ryan Newman
@@RuffMotorsports93 i wonder if there was talk of switching to another one of pfizer's brands to accomodate a younger driver. it seems like too good of a ride to limit your potential driver pool to older guys, especially during the prime time for young drivers and driver development (everyone looking for the next jeff gordon)
Maybe, but from what I read while researching, it seems like there was an understanding pretty early on in the process that they wouldn’t be sticking around regardless of who the new driver was (they didn’t even stick around when Martin re-upped). So, they were going to have to find a new sponsor no matter what. With that said, I do agree with you, if I were running the show, I’d have a strong interest in putting a young driver with a lot of growth potential in the car (and I actually think Jamie McMurray fit that description at the time, but things got thrown off when Kurt Busch announced he was leaving). Actually one interesting point that I found but didn’t talk about in the video was that the original plan was that Carl Edwards was being developed as Mark Martin’s replacement originally, but he got called up to the Cup Series earlier than expected and really settled in with the 99 car. Even still, there were some discussions that they may slide Edwards over to the 6 car, but they decided that he had built too much of an identity with the 99 car, so it made more sense to keep him there.
The problem with a Rusty-Mark team up was with Rusty's ESPN contract. Rusty's contract had a no driving clause (for Cup only because he ran Busch races that year), so he couldn't even drive part time in the Cup Series.
I think had Craven gotten that ride he'd had a better cup career than he did. Roush should have never changed Mike Beam as Crew Chief from Craven to Kluever his results went down and he struggled after that
Actually, I’m going to sort of touch on this in my next video (which I still need to edit) when I talk about another really interesting Michael Waltrip rumor that came up around this time. My gut tells me probably not, or at least not with Toyota. The deal that Waltrip got with Bill Davis Racing in 2006 was always meant to be a set up deal. Bill Davis was headed to already heading to Toyota for 2007 and it basically gave Michael a year to get his own operation set up. So, if he’s at Roush, I don’t think that sort of set up happens. But with that said, MWR did exist as a Busch Series and part-time Cup Series team for years before it partnered with Toyota in 2007. So, it’s not out of the question that he could’ve tried to swing the deal with Roush into something with Ford. I just don’t think that deal is as likely to get done since Ford had an established stable already and Toyota didn’t
Honestly, even if he could have gotten out of his contract with DEI, I think the Ford factor would have made the idea of going to Roush a non-starter. When he eventually was a free agent, he said he would only sign with a Chevy team. Jr was a Chevy guy through and through
Dude being a McMurray fan in 03-05 was badass. He would finish damn near every race in the top 10 and it seemed like every team wanted him. And then 2006 happened 😭
Jamie may not have won a lot in his first Ganassi stint, but man was he rock solid consistent!
3:22 That catch can man was smooth tho
Right?? Just such a smooth move!
Bro IS the smooth criminal
I wish Sterling Marlin drove for Roush in 2006, Because it would’ve been a decent sendoff for him, But instead he decided to go to Ginn Racing :/
Ricky Rudd could have also done it and it also would have been a great sendoff
True! Although, I think I like the Ricky Rudd send off rumor I’ll be talking about in my next video better! Stay tuned for that!
@@TheBraydenBunch58 I agree! Obviously, I don’t think Marlin was ever quite the same after his at Kansas in 02, but I would have loved to see him get another chance at a ride with good equipment and he certainly never got that at Ginn. There was another Marlin rumor that I mention in my next video that I think would be a good fit too (even if it wasn’t as good as Roush). I still have to edit that video, but I hope to have it out soon!
Wish Ricky Craven could have gotten that seat. He did win a race in that 99 Truck.
@@evanwilliams6406 he did when that race at Martinsville, but I went and peaked at his stats from that year while making the video and honestly, they weren’t great overall (14th in points and only 9 top 10s). I think it would have been interesting if Tide actually did come on board and I would have enjoyed seeing what he could do in the 6 car, but I think there were better options.
I wonder if younger drivers were looked at like denny hamlin, clint bowyer, martin truex jr, reed sorenson, etc. Maybe roush racing would've made someone like that an offer to poach someone from another team's farm system.
You know, I would think that they would have looked at some younger drivers (and perhaps they did and the reports flew under the radar) but all I could ever find were reports of discussions with veteran drivers. Other than Ryan Newman
They were not.
@@BANGITSME87 yeah, from everything I found, it seems that is true. I guess they were trying to play it safe with potential sponsors
@@RuffMotorsports93 i wonder if there was talk of switching to another one of pfizer's brands to accomodate a younger driver. it seems like too good of a ride to limit your potential driver pool to older guys, especially during the prime time for young drivers and driver development (everyone looking for the next jeff gordon)
Maybe, but from what I read while researching, it seems like there was an understanding pretty early on in the process that they wouldn’t be sticking around regardless of who the new driver was (they didn’t even stick around when Martin re-upped). So, they were going to have to find a new sponsor no matter what. With that said, I do agree with you, if I were running the show, I’d have a strong interest in putting a young driver with a lot of growth potential in the car (and I actually think Jamie McMurray fit that description at the time, but things got thrown off when Kurt Busch announced he was leaving). Actually one interesting point that I found but didn’t talk about in the video was that the original plan was that Carl Edwards was being developed as Mark Martin’s replacement originally, but he got called up to the Cup Series earlier than expected and really settled in with the 99 car. Even still, there were some discussions that they may slide Edwards over to the 6 car, but they decided that he had built too much of an identity with the 99 car, so it made more sense to keep him there.
The problem with a Rusty-Mark team up was with Rusty's ESPN contract. Rusty's contract had a no driving clause (for Cup only because he ran Busch races that year), so he couldn't even drive part time in the Cup Series.
True, never would have worked, but man would it have been cool
I think had Craven gotten that ride he'd had a better cup career than he did. Roush should have never changed Mike Beam as Crew Chief from Craven to Kluever his results went down and he struggled after that
Actually, the Mike Beam as crew chief factor is one that I hadn’t really thought of, solid point
Does MWR and Toyota still happen if Mikey goes to Roush?
Actually, I’m going to sort of touch on this in my next video (which I still need to edit) when I talk about another really interesting Michael Waltrip rumor that came up around this time. My gut tells me probably not, or at least not with Toyota. The deal that Waltrip got with Bill Davis Racing in 2006 was always meant to be a set up deal. Bill Davis was headed to already heading to Toyota for 2007 and it basically gave Michael a year to get his own operation set up. So, if he’s at Roush, I don’t think that sort of set up happens. But with that said, MWR did exist as a Busch Series and part-time Cup Series team for years before it partnered with Toyota in 2007. So, it’s not out of the question that he could’ve tried to swing the deal with Roush into something with Ford. I just don’t think that deal is as likely to get done since Ford had an established stable already and Toyota didn’t
If you mean Toyota coming to cup it would happen but probably with BDR.
Dale Jr could’ve chose this ride, if he wasn’t strangleholded by Teresa Earnhardt. He would have had a much better 05 if he was at Roush.
Honestly, even if he could have gotten out of his contract with DEI, I think the Ford factor would have made the idea of going to Roush a non-starter. When he eventually was a free agent, he said he would only sign with a Chevy team. Jr was a Chevy guy through and through