Waltrip says alliance with Prism Motorsports helpful

Michael Waltrip Racing's alliance with Prism Motorsports is a win-win situation, Michael Waltrip said Tuesday at a news conference promoting Terry Labonte's entry in the Daytona 500 in Prism's No. 66 Toyota.

Owners Phil Parsons and Randy Humphrey buy their cars from Michael Waltrip Racing and receive technical support from MWR.

For Waltrip, the alliance is a way to work with a friend and augment MWR's bottom line.

"Times are tough, obviously, and race teams are just trying to figure out what they can do in order to help keep guys employed," Waltrip said. "To keep the head count as it was last year is our goal, so that we can continue to funnel engineering support, fabrication support -- all the parts of a team that it takes to operate -- we want to keep that strong.

"This association with Prism Motorsports and Phil and Randy, with Terry Labonte driving their car, is an avenue for us to put some money on the bottom line, sell some cars, furnish these guys with support so they can have a chance to go out and make races and accomplish their goals."

The Daytona 500 is a one-race deal for Labonte. Dave Blaney is slated to drive the No. 66 in subsequent races, with Prism planning a full schedule of Cup competition.

As 1996 Cup champion, Labonte can take advantage of a past champion's provisional if he fails to make the field for the Feb. 15 race through time trials or through one of the two Gatorade Duel qualifying races on Feb. 12 -- only if 2002 and 2005 champ Tony Stewart doesn't need the provisional.

Stewart's No. 14 Chevy, a new entry for the owner/driver of Stewart-Haas Racing, is outside the top 35 in owner points from 2008 and has no guaranteed starting spot in the 500. Only the most recent past champion not otherwise in the field may use the champion's provisional. Parsons hopes this isn't the year Stewart needs it.

"Terry being a past champion may be an avenue that could be open to us, but Tony would get first dibs at that," Parsons said. "But we know that Tony's going to be very good."