PPI to switch to Pontiac in 2003

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- PPI Motorsports will use the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix for its NASCAR Winston Cup program for driver Ricky Craven next season, team owner Cal Wells III announced Saturday morning at Michigan International Speedway.

	Team owner Cal Wells (right) made the announcement Saturday. Credit: Autostock

Wells currently fields the No. 32 Ford Taurus.

"Certainly a lot of thought went into the decision to switch to Pontiac for 2003," Wells said. "I really wrestled with this opportunity and ultimately determined that Pontiac was going to provide the best opportunity for the Tide 32 team to compete among the best in Winston Cup."

The Pontiac Division of General Motors Corporation wooed several teams to replace owner Joe Gibbs' two-car operation that will switch next year from the Grand Prix to the Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Gibbs' has been the most successful of five full-time operations running Pontiacs, scoring all four of the manufacturers' wins: Three by Tony Stewart in the No. 20 Grand Prix and another by Bobby Labonte in the No. 18 .

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"We are very excited to have Cal Wells and the Tide racing team join Pontiac as we look forward to the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series," Lynn Myers, Pontiac-GMC general manager, said. "Their energy and excitement about the new Grand Prix race car has been tremendous."

Gibbs' team spent a lot of time developing the 2003 Grand Prix but despite that felt the new Chevrolet would be a more competitive car. Wells did not share that belief.

"I'm very excited for Ricky, this PPI Motorsports team and Tide as we look to our future together," Wells said.