BAM Racing may not return to Cup Series until the fall

After missing the past two races while completing a transition to Toyota, BAM Racing's one-car operation has suffered another setback -- this one on the financial front.

Team owner Beth Ann Morgenthau said Tuesday the No. 49 team may not return to Sprint Cup until the fall, as a proposed primary sponsorship deal has been severely curtailed.

Morgenthau

"A primary sponsorship deal once planned for the majority of the 2008 season had been reduced to a fraction of a season and that fraction will likely be in the fall," Morgenthau said in a statement released by the team. "The private company has been in the process of raising funds in the equity market for working capital, which included a portion going to a product launch using the No. 49 car. Due to the uncertainty of the stock market raising the capital is taking longer than expected.

"With no other primary sponsor currently in place to fill the void, the harsh reality of this most recent news is that we are forced to reduce our 2008 participation to a partial season."

Morgenthau said marketing efforts are continuing to try to land a sponsor that would allow the team to return earlier, but she understands the reality of the situation.

"It is of little consolation that we are not alone in this plight," Morgenthau said. "The uncertain economic times affecting our sponsor are affecting sponsorships throughout NASCAR and are having a winnowing affect on the number of teams showing up each week to compete.

"We're confident that with the decreasing numbers of teams, with the competitive cars we produce and with the horsepower Toyota engines provide, we will be able to step back into competition effectively and successfully on short notice, and we are making every effort to make our sabbatical as short as possible."

One week after announcing a sponsorship program with Microsoft Small Business and qualifying seventh at Martinsville, the car was withdrawn for Texas and Phoenix in order to complete the switch from Dodge to Toyota. At that time, the plan was to return at Talladega on April 27.

That obviously is no longer the case, and a specific return date was not mentioned in the team release.

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 at Martinsville, leaving it well short of the owner points needed to secure a guaranteed spot.

Morgenthau and husband Tony have operated a team in NASCAR's premier series since 2002.