After first-year Sprint Cup team owner Tommy Baldwin and veteran driver Scott Riggs agreed to part ways after Monday's Coca-Cola 600, Baldwin announced a trio of racing veterans -- Mike Skinner, Patrick Carpentier and Brian Simo -- will replace Riggs in the No. 36 Toyota.

Baldwin, a long-time Cup crew chief who formerly owned a Busch Series team, organized Tommy Baldwin Racing to compete in the Cup Series this season and began by qualifying for the Daytona 500. But a slow start that included qualifying for just eight of the first 12 races and being 41st in the owners' standings led to the decision.

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Even though my main focus is the truck, if we can help Tommy along until he finds that permanent driver that he needs to put his team to the next level, then it's an honor for me to get a chance to participate and to try and help him out.

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-- MIKE SKINNER

Skinner, who has a win and four top-10 finishes in the season's first six Truck Series races and is second in that series' drivers' standings, will run 17 of the remaining 24 Cup races for Baldwin, including the upcoming Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway.

Carpentier, who was a Cup rookie of the year candidate in 2008, when he made 24 starts and won a pole, will be behind the wheel during both Pocono events, the June race at New Hampshire, the September race at Richmond and the September race at Dover.

Simo, the 2000 SCCA Trans-Am champion who's made limited Cup Series starts on road courses the past decade and who has a long involvement in racing through his No Fear apparel company, will drive at Infineon and Watkins Glen.

"I want to thank Scott for helping me get my race team up and running," said Baldwin, who's also the team's crew chief. "He's helped us get our fleet of cars where they are. I just felt like it was time to make a change to see where the race team stacked up against other teams. I wish Scott the best of luck in all his future plans."

The No. 36 team's top finish is 25th in the Daytona 500. The team is currently 343 points outside the top 35 that guarantees a weekly starting position.

"I enjoyed my time working with Tommy," Riggs said. "I just think it was time for both of us to make a change. We mutually agreed it was time for someone else to jump behind the wheel of the race car. I wish Tommy the best of luck."

Skinner, who has 26 career Truck Series victories, has 256 Cup starts in 19 years. The Ontario, Calif., native has earned 10 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes. Skinner won the inaugural 1995 Truck Series championship with eight wins, 10 poles, 17 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes.

"Tommy and I go back a long ways and I know that he's the type of person that NASCAR needs in the Cup Series," Skinner said. "Even though my main focus is the truck, if we can help Tommy along until he finds that permanent driver that he needs to put his team to the next level, then it's an honor for me to get a chance to participate and to try and help him out."

Carpentier, 37, is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. He made his NASCAR national series debut at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 4, 2007, where he took the pole and finished second in that track's inaugural Busch Series race. Since then, Carpentier has made 27 Cup starts with his best finish of 14th coming during the 2008 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

"I'm extremely honored for the opportunity to drive for Tommy in five races this season," Carpentier said. "I hope I can help Tommy bring his team to the next level while I continue to improve my skills in a stock car."

"I'm looking forward to having Mike, Patrick and Brian behind the wheel of the No. 36 Toyota," Baldwin said. "I think they'll be able to help us evaluate where our program is and help make improvements to bring it to the next level."