HAMPTON, Ga. -- Ford Motor Co. may be scaling back its financial support of teams in the Truck Series next year, but that doesn't mean the blue oval won't be prominently displayed when the season starts at Daytona.

In addition to Jack Roush's operation, Tom Mitchell's Circle Bar Racing team fully expects to remain in the Ford camp in 2009, even though the checks won't be in the mail.

Rick Crawford has been driving Fords for Mitchell since 1997, including five victories -- the last coming in 2006 at O'Reilly Raceway Park. From what he's been told, Crawford said there shouldn't be any major concerns during the offseason.

"Ford's still wanting to work with us," Crawford said Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "We've been a Ford team for 17 years. We're going to stay a Ford truck for the 2009 season.

"We're still going to receive some research and development, we're still going to receive the contingency program from NASCAR. Almost anything we have today, except for the monetary support, will stay the same. The engines will still be coming from Roush-Yates Racing, so everything should be fine."

Teammate Brendan Gaughan, who went through a similar situation in 2006 when Chrysler pulled manufacturer support, echoed Crawford's sentiments. Gaughan's family-owned operation switched to Chevrolet for one season before deciding to close up shop.

"Mr. Mitchell has been a Ford guy for a number of years, and Rick's already said that just because they're pulling their support right now [nothing will change]," Gaughan said. "We understand that times are tough for the automakers. Mr. Mitchell is sticking with Ford. We're not changing, we're not looking, we're not talking. As far as I've been told, we're sticking with Ford. That's it. Period. End of story. I'm not too concerned."

Even though it's a little bit of deja vu for Gaughan, he's not concerned about the future.

"We went through this the first time with Dodge," Gaughan said. "It's just the nature of the sport. Things are cyclical. Right now, things are down for the automakers. ... But Rick told me, just because they're down doesn't mean we jump ship and say, 'Thanks for all the years.' No, we're sticking with them and Circle Bar Racing will be with Fords for many years to come."

Earlier this week, Brian Wolfe, director of Ford Racing Technology, announced an extension of the manufacturer's agreement with Roush-Fenway Racing. At the same time, the automaker admitted it would be ending financial support of the Nationwide Series and Truck Series in 2009.

"Our prime goal was really to protect our performance in Cup racing, and with that, we have cut back our support for the supporting series," Wolfe said. "We have not pulled out of those series.

"The total support next year is reduced from what it was this year. Some of it has been deflected to Cup and some of it is part of our overall reductions to meet our budgets."

Other Fords entered at Atlanta include a No. 21 Wood Brothers truck for third-generation driver Jon Wood and Brent Raymer's family-owned No. 85.