Let's keep the RNG train rolling.
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SHAWNA ROBINSONShawna Robinson's first career occurred in the early-to-mid 90s, and after taking time off to raise a family, she has returned to her racing career in the 2000s. She has received two offers mostly out of the blue after a pretty quiet 2003 on her end - Joe Gibbs is offering a paid role in their part-time #80 car, while DEI is asking her to find some cash to run in the #15, as one of their backup options. She doesn't feel particularly ready to step up to full-time Cup series competition, but also realises this is probably going to be the best shot she'll ever get.
1-30 Gibbs #80
31-100 DEI #15
20!Shawna Robinson will cautiously dip her toe into the deep end of Cup competition, and accept the Gibbs part-time deal to run in the #80. She would like to inquire about a Busch series deal to go along with this to help her get fully to grips with NASCAR again.
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RANDY LAJOIEA 2-time Busch series champ back in 96 and 97, Lajoie made an ill-fated attempt at going to Cup full time back in 1995, but thereafter focused on building a Busch series career. He was relased from his ride mid-season, and so is starting to think about calling time on his career - but he's not quite ready to throw in the towel just yet. He has one offer from Ultra Motorsports to run 5 races for them, which sounds fine to Lajoie. He might feel like doing a few more races than that, though.
1-40 Accepts the deal as is
41-60 Wants to run 10 races
61-80 Wants to run all 12 races
81-100 Focuses on rebuilding his Busch career
89!Lajoie considers the offer but decides he's better off sticking to what he knows he can do.
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SHANE HMIELAfter being suspended from NASCAR competition late in 2003 for substance abuse, Shane Hmiel has completed NASCAR's Road to Recovery program, and is looking to pick up his old career. Robert Yates Racing has decided to offer Hmiel a contract to run in the #28, showing a lot of faith in the 23-year-old. Hmiel is ecstatic at the opportunity to run full-time in the Cup series for a team like Yates and accepts without question.
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JACQUES VILLENEUVE1995 Indy 500 winner, 1995 CART champion, and 1997 Formula 1 World Champion, Jacques Villeneuve's career has fallen on some quite hard times since those glory days of the mid 90s. Let go from what was at one point effectively his team at the end of 2003, Villeneuve finds himself with nowhere really to go for 2004. Contemplating his options, Villeneuve has received two offers from NASCAR teams, with a little extra under-the-table assistance from the sanctioning body to convince him to make the switch to NASCAR. Initial interest came from Bill Davis Racing, but that has dried up, but another midfield team has offered a 1-year deal with the potential for renewal. DEI have also offered a 1-year deal with no strings attached. Villeneuve is much more interested in the DEI offer, coming from a more successful team - he's a bit tired of not winning now. However, he's still not certain whether or not a switch to NASCAR is in his best interests.
1-25 MB2 #10
26-60 DEI #1
61-100 Waits
14!Villeneuve decides to go for MB2 instead of DEI - apparently he's a sucker for wanting to build up a team rather than move to an existing successful one. He will drive the #10 car in 2004.
This means that
Christian Fittipaldi will be signed to drive the #1 car for Dale Earnhardt Inc.
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MICHAEL VERGERSASCAR star Michael Vergers attempted a switch to American competition in 2002, and was fairly competitive but lacked the funds to continue running Stateside. So, imagine his surprise when Robert Yates Racing came knocking on his door with the opportunity of a part-time deal in their new #98 car - he even gets a bonus if he gets a top 10 finish! Vergers accepts the deal without hesitation, knowing it's his best shot of building a NASCAR career.
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DAVE BLANEYAfter jumping from struggling team to struggling team in NASCAR Cup competition, Dave Blaney expects more of the same in 2004... right up until he gets a phone call from Chip Ganassi asking him to run in the #41 car in 2004. It's a golden opportunity for Blaney, and likely to be the only such one he'll get, considering his age. He also has an offer on the table from Phoenix Racing, but feels he cannot afford to turn down the Ganassi offer. Dave Blaney will drive the #41 in 2004.
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KYLE PETTYNot much to say here - Kyle wants to continue racing for his family team, has only the one offer from them, and accepts it. He'll keep driving the #45.
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JOHN ANDRETTIA promising career which seems to have petered out... John Andretti has only one contract offer, to run Foyt's part-time car. It's a ride he has to bring money for as well. He throws the offer in the trash without a second thought.
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RUSSELL INGALLThe Enforcer is looking forward to yet another season fighting to rid himself of that awful "Bridesmaid" title he's earned for himself over the years. He receives a call out of the blue from some guy called James Finch... asking if he'd be interested in running the NASCAR road course races. It's not a common jump to be making, but hell, it might be worth a laugh, right? He'd only be able to run Sonoma though - Watkins Glen clashes with Oran Park. He'll check with James Finch first to see if that's okay before giving an answer.
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JASON PLATOJason Plato's attempt at switching to ovals hasn't really panned out, and so he's looking to break back into the BTCC with SEAT this year. He receives an offer from James Finch to run the road courses this year in NASCAR. He can't say he's excited at the prospect, but hell, money's always nice. NASCAR gives him the okay to compete in road courses, so sure, he's up for it.
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HIDEO FUKUYAMAHideo Fukuyama's foray into NASCAR competition has ended in failure. At least... that's what he and everyone else though, then DEI asks him to scrape a budget together to run in the #15 car full time. Suddenly Hideo Fukuyama is the happiest man on Earth, and runs everywhere trying to scrape every last sponsorship penny he can to please his new employers.
1-10 $300k
11-25 $400k
26-50 $500k
51-75 $600k
76-90 $700k
91-100 $800k
52!Hideo Fukuyama brings $600k and the biggest smile in the world to Dale Earnhardt Inc.
This means that
Sarah Fisher is no longer under consideration for the #15 seat, leaving her free to sign with SCORE's #02 car - she knows better than to be too picky.
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FRANK KIMMELThe Michael Schumacher of ARCA, Kimmel enters 2004 a 5-time ARCA champ. He's made the odd foray into NASCAR competition but it's never really amounted to much. He now has an offer on the table from BAM Racing - it's a one-year deal with the option of a pay-rise for 2005. Not a bad deal, and if it goes bad, he can always return to ARCA, right?
1-80 BAM #49
81-100 Sticks with ARCA
80!Kimmel hesitates quite a bit but figures nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? He will drive the #49 in 2004.
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BRIAN SIMOBrian Simo has one offer to run the road courses from Andy Petree. He's absolutely not picky about equipment, so is quite happy to fill the part for the #33 team.
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With the first round of driver RNG over, Dodge and Chevy are ready to make their decisions on the remaining Semi-Works bids.
While PPI still hasn't signed a driver, the drivers they're going for are much more agreeable, so Dodge agrees to provide Semi-Works status to PPI, especially as DEI has moved on.
Chevrolet, meanwhile, isn't too impressed with Dale Earnhardt Inc, firstly for attempting to ditch them for Dodge, and secondly for sticking two nobodies (in NASCAR terms) in their other two cars. BAM and Phoenix are also in the mix, but Chevrolet is still not sure about supplying such teams.
1-30 Dale Earnhardt Inc.
31-40 Phoenix Racing
41-50 BAM Racing
51-100 Holds on to their money
100!Chevrolet will be holding on to it's money instead, as they're not impressed by what they've seen.
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The following teams are still open for 2004. Existing bids are listed against them. Please note that minimum bids for drivers have now decreased as they are more willing to compromise, to find their way on to the grid. You can find the updated prices
on the spreadsheet.TEAMSHendrick Motorsports - #48
Roush Racing - #97, #99
Evernham Motorsports - #9
Chip Ganassi Racing - #13 (10 races)
Bill Davis Racing - #23 (34 races) (Michael Waltrip, Ricky Craven)
Haas CNC Racing - #0
PPI Motorsports - #32 (Michael Waltrip, Ricky Craven), #64 (Ben Collins)
Jasper Motorsports - #77
Phoenix Racing - #09 (Russell Ingall, Ricky Craven)
Ultra Motorsports - #7
BACE Motorsports - #74 (Michael Waltrip, Casey Mears, Jason Leffler, Tony Raines)
AJ Foyt Racing - #91 (12 races)
Front Row Motorsports - #34 (2 races)
Andy Petree Racing - #33 (34 races)
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This Could Be You wrote:Option 2 (if Waltrip not signed):
Car: 32
Driver: Ricky Craven
Contract Length: 1 year
Add. Info: Same contract extension terms as offered to Waltrip, plus an (somewhat awkward) apology for not offering an instant renewal.
You'll need to specify how much you're offering Craven.