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Michael Waltrip Racing, one of the charter Toyota teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, announced Wednesday that it will part ways with driver Clint Bowyer at year’s end and that it plans to cease its full-time racing schedule after the 2015 season.
RELATED: Bowyer free to pursue other opportunities for 2016
MWR said in a statement that it will continue to field cars for Bowyer, who has been with the No. 15 team since 2012, and David Ragan, interim driver for Brian Vickers in the No. 55, through the rest of the season.
The move comes on the heels of MWR principal owner Rob Kauffman’s confirmation Aug. 1 that he had purchased an ownership stake in Chevrolet team Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.
“MWR will race hard and compete for the remainder of the 2015 season,” Kauffman said in a release provided by the team. “This decision was made after weighing several different options and scenarios. I felt it was important to make an announcement as soon as we had clarity, so that is what we are doing today. I want to thank all of our staff, partners, sponsors and fans for all their effort and support over the years.
“Clint Bowyer has done a lot for MWR since joining us in 2012 and we appreciate the energy and effort he has given the organization. After many discussions, Clint and I agreed we would go our separate ways at the end of the season and I wish him well in whatever direction he pursues.”
The decision makes Bowyer, an eight-time winner in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition, a sought-after free agent for 2016. Three of his victories came in 2012, when he finished a career-best second in the final championship standings.
MORE: Toyota thanks MWR, supports Bowyer
“I want to thank Michael, Rob and everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing that made these past four years special,” Bowyer said. “After extensive discussions with Rob and MWR, we came to the point that we mutually agreed our paths in the future just didn’t align, but I think we all agreed on the next steps in a very professional manner. I am looking forward to what future opportunities may come but for now we have a championship to pursue in 2015 and we owe it to every one of our sponsors, partners, employees and fans to deliver on and off the track.”
Michael Waltrip Racing made its full-fledged debut in 2007, bringing the Toyota Camry banner into the sport. The team featured Waltrip as driver/owner, former premier series champion Dale Jarrett and David Reutimann. MWR has seven victories in NASCAR’s top division, the first with Reutimann in the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 in 2009.
“Rob joined MWR in 2007 and has helped give us the resources to build a competitive race team, and in 2012, Clint Bowyer took us to the doorstep of a championship. From where MWR started behind my house in Sherrill’s Ford to winning Sprint Cup races, poles and earning Chase berths, I am proud of what we accomplished,” Michael Waltrip said Wednesday.
“My family has been a part of NASCAR for almost five decades and I plan on being a part of it for years to come. I would not have had the opportunity to start this journey without so many great partners, sponsors and employees and I want to thank each of them for making Michael Waltrip Racing a reality.”
Ragan released a statement Wednesday, as well.
“I am grateful for the opportunity that Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota have provided me this year,” Ragan said. “I have worked hard to be a good teammate and spokesperson for all of our sponsors, and as a team we have collectively improved our performance from the beginning of the season. I look forward to staying focused and trying to win a race this season for Aaron’s and everyone at MWR.
“Going forward I will be working hard to secure a full-time ride in the Sprint Cup Series. At 29 years old, I feel my best years are in front of me.”
The Waltrip-owned team scaled back its operations from three full-time teams to two after the 2013 season, which was marked by a race-manipulation scandal surrounding MWR in the regular-season finale and the ensuing departure of Martin Truex Jr. and longtime sponsor NAPA.
Waltrip talked a bit about the news at the start of FOX Sports 1’s broadcast of final NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice Wednesday at Bristol.
“It’s a sad day for MWR obviously. I love the culture we’ve built there. You know, our sponsors, they’re not sponsors; they’re partners, and our employees are our teammates,” Waltrip said. “We just have the perfect workplace, and unfortunately in 2016, we’re not going to be racing there. My hope is somebody wants to have a really nice shop full of really cool people that work together well and want to have a race team and we can provide that for them.
“But Rob’s going to be a part of Chip Ganassi Racing going forward. Rob and I are best of buddies. He’s done an amazing job of stabilizing MWR in the beginning and then we raced for a championship, finished second in 2012. So my heart goes out to all the employees, all the people that work at MWR, and hopefully somebody wants to have a team and they can have it right there at our place.”
Asked how hard it was to make this transition with MWR after starting the company behind his house, Waltrip revisited some of the history of his company.
“Our first race was here in 1994 with Jeff Green . We towed in here with Ronnie Silver a flatbed trailer, unloaded our car and ran third that day. Won Nationwide, XFINITY races behind our house and competed in the Cup Series. We made the Daytona 500 with Kenny Wallace in a car we built in Sherrill’s Ford behind my house. That grew to Michael Waltrip Racing, and we raced for a championship like I said. Chase berths, race wins. I’m thankful. I’m happy. It’s a great run that we’ve had. We’ll just see what’s next.”