John Andretti's best finish in 2006 was a fifth-place at Watkins Glen. Credit: Autostock

Future of ppc Racing leaves many questions

Busch Series team retains Andretti, but second car unlikely

Despite finishing just outside the top 10 in Busch Series points and one of its drivers nearly claiming the rookie of the year award, ppc Racing is staring a 2007 season with a large number of unknowns attached.

With AutoZone gone as sponsor of the team's No. 22 entry, and Kenny Wallace out of the cockpit -- for now -- there's plenty of fodder for rumors.

	AutoZone is out as the No. 22 sponsor, and Kenny Wallace has turned his eyes toward a full-time Cup ride with Furniture Row Racing. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Kenny Wallace's 2006 stats Wins 0 Top-5s 0 Top-10s 4 Laps Led 18 Avg. Start 20.0 Avg. Finish 20.0 Rank 11 • For more stats, click here John Andretti's 2006 stats Wins 0 Top-5s 1 Top-10s 4 Laps Led 3 Avg. Start 22.5 Avg. Finish 20.7 Rank 12 • For more stats, click here

One such is that the team will abandon Ford in favor of Chevrolet for 2007. That was sparked by the appearance of John Andretti at a commercial shoot in a driver's uniform that had a Chevrolet logo on it.

The team's director of sponsor relations, Andy O'Hara, did not return several phone calls last week, nor did team owner Greg Pollex.

One source close to the sport indicated that ppc was attempting to sell one of its car numbers for 2007, likely the No. 22.

With AutoZone gone and Wallace focusing on a full-time Cup career with Furniture Row Racing, the No. 22 is in a state of limbo. Matt Crafton is rumored to be in the mix as the driver, should a sponsor be found.

Andretti, who finished right behind Wallace in the series points, appears to be set for 2007, with sponsors Freedom Road RVs and Camping World, though that could not be confirmed.

What a difference a couple of years can make.

Pollex founded ppc Racing in 2000, and drivers Jeff Green and Jason Keller made an immediate impact. Green won the title by a then-record margin of 616 points, Keller was the runner-up, and they were the first team to finish 1-2 in both driver and owner points in the history of the Busch Series.

Scott Riggs took over for Green when the latter left for the Cup Series in 2002, and Riggs was the rookie of the year, while Keller notched another runner-up finish in the points.

The addition of a Craftsman Truck Series team for driver Terry Cook came in 2004, and Keller drove the team's Miller-sponsored machine to a fifth consecutive top-10 points finish in the Busch Series.

In 2005, Wallace joined the team and finished in the top 10 in Busch Series points. Michel Jourdain Jr. became the first full-time Hispanic driver to compete in the Busch Series that season.

Team owner Pollex has 32 Busch Series victories, 21 of them coming in the last six years.

Yet, just six years from the most dominating term performance in the history of the series, ppc Racing enters 2007 with possibly one car and a whole lot of question marks.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.