BAM Racing to skip Cup races at Texas and Phoenix

BAM Racing has decided to take a "sabbatical" in order to refocus its efforts on the remainder of the 2008 Sprint Car season, according to co-owner Tony Morgenthau. In a statement released by the team Wednesday, Morgenthau said a combination of factors are responsible for the No. 49 Toyota's withdrawal from the next two races on the schedule.

One week after announcing a sponsorship program with Microsoft Small Business and qualifying seventh at Martinsville, the car was withdrawn from this weekend's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. And according to the release, the team won't tow to Phoenix the following weekend.

Schrader

"Switching manufacturers was a taller order than we initially realized," Morgenthau said of the decision to change from Dodge to Toyota as of Martinsville. "While BAM Racing has a very strong short track program, our intermediate track program needs some work.

"Since we haven't had time to adequately test the cars on shaker rigs and pull-down rigs, since historically we don't run that well at either Texas or Phoenix -- even with a proven, tested racecar -- since we intend to improve our on-track performance and not to take a step backwards, our organization has decided to take the next three weeks to focus on the remainder of the racing season."

Morgenthau said BAM Racing fully expects to return at Talladega Superspeedway at the end of the month.

By not attempting to qualify at either Texas or Phoenix, Morgenthau admitted that the team has given up on the short-term goal of getting a guaranteed starting spot this season. However, the long-term goal -- of surviving as a strong one-car operation -- remains the organization's No. 1 priority.

"We recognize that we will sacrifice our 42nd position in owners points, but that only guarantees our team a spot if qualifying is rained out," Morgenthau said. "Ultimately every car that is 36th or lower must qualify on time in order to race. While skipping the next two races will hurt our points position in the short term, returning to the track at Talladega ready to move forward with fully-tested Toyota Camrys will enhance our program overall.

"This has been a very difficult, 'big-picture' decision. By taking a little time to regroup now, we should be a much stronger team for the rest of the year."

With veteran Ken Schrader behind the wheel, the No. 49 made three of the first six races, including a top-10 starting position at Martinsville. But the car finished 21st at Las Vegas, 41st at Bristol and 37th last weekend, leaving it well short of the owners points needed to secure a guaranteed spot.

Morgenthau and wife Beth Ann have operated a team in NASCAR's premier series since 2002, which was why Tuesday's withdrawal was surprising. But Tony Morgenthau had some parting words for the pundits who may have been waiting to bury BAM.

"For all the naysayers who may predict this to be the death knell for one of the few remaining independent teams in Sprint Cup," Morgenthau said, " ... wait until Talladega, then tell us if we're dead or not!"