When the field pulled away from Michael Waltrip Racing, he found a way to catch up.

Another week and I have yet another merger/buyout/copout to report. Yes, I realize those terms are technically not the same and one doesn’t belong with the others, but that’s about what it’s amounting to in the not-so-brave world of NASCAR.

Michael Waltrip announced that he has partnered with Robert Kauffman, a wealthy investment group founder and manager. Now, make no mistake, Mr. Kauffman’s company isn’t tying the knot with Michael Waltrip Racing, but rather Kauffman’s personal funds.

Michael Waltrip Racing will cease to exist soon and the new entity will be called Michael Waltrip Racing Holdings, LLC. This is a new trend, isn’t it? Now we have Roush-Fenway and Gillett Evernham, where the new owner has been quick to tack his name onto the organization, but that won’t be the case with Michael’s team. I have to admit that I do like that.

Regardless, MWRH will come into the 2008 season with…well, something less than guns ablazin’ but perhaps more oomph than they have now. A lot of changes are taking place in Mikey’s house, and here are some updates.

Dale Jarrett will return next season and start the first five races, using his past champion’s provisionals if necessary to get the #44 UPS Toyota Camry into the top 35 in owner’s points. David Reutimann will then take over the helm. Reutimann revealed in a press conference last Friday that he had once donned the brown uniform as a runner for UPS, and that he thought it fitting that he would be working for them again. Jarrett is also scheduled to run the Bud Shootout and the All-Star race in May at Charlotte.

If the car should fall out of the top 35 and Jarrett did not have to use all his provisionals to start the year, he has agreed to return to the car to help bring it back into the all-important 35th position. Jarrett has been firm about his retirement and it sounds like that beyond what he is contractually obligated to do, he isn’t putting himself out there for more races. With the exception of the two non-points races, it sounds like he will be relaxing somewhere on a golf course.

A side note about that, though. If you listened to last night’s podcast, you probably heard me talk about Jarrett’s ability in the broadcast booth. He has done some Busch races and also been asked into the ESPN booth to comment when he has not made races. Compared to the other “hosts” in that fake tower, Jarrett is head and shoulders above the rest.

Jarrett’s father Ned made a natural progression into television broadcast and built a reputation as a fair reporter who didn’t show bias, unless you count when his son won the Daytona 500. I think a little bit of bias is okay there, don’t you? Dale has the same qualities as his father. He’s respected, he has a calm but commanding presence, and people want to listen to him.

I’ve alluded to my dislike of ESPN and as late as last night there was a rumor floating that ESPN was dumping Rusty Wallace and bringing on Jarrett. Until ESPN made an official comment denying this, I was very glad that someone competent and easy to listen to was going to be calling the races. If I have to deal with Kolber, Daughtery, Punch, Petree and Brewer, at least give me Jarrett. Okay? Please?

But I’ve digressed.

While MWR/MWRH doesn’t exactly know what is happening with its other two full-time Cup teams it plans to run, another part-driver has already decided to take another stab at 2008.

Mark Martin has agreed to share the #8 car with Aric Almirola. Martin will enter both non-points races and 24 points paying races. Hmm. That’s 26 races out of a 38 race schedule. Doesn’t sound like semi-retirement to me. It didn’t this year and it doesn’t for next year. Almirola deserves more than twelve Cup races, in my opinion. He has done a good job in the Busch series, better than some of the regulars, and he can wheel a car.

I do think this will be a good learning experience for Almirola, because many drivers cite Martin as a font of information, experience and advice. I also think that Aric’s short-term career is suffering because Mark wants to keep holding on. While I can’t imagine the range of emotions a racer feels when he finally starts to pack it in, I can only hope that Mark will continue to race fewer and fewer dates so that new drivers can get into a quality ride. (Okay, yes, I know, DEI isn’t exactly a quality ride right now, but it could be.)

This weekend we return to the Martinsville, Virginia paperclip. The grandfather clock is up for grabs again this weekend, and there are a lot of hungry guys. The top three in the chase will be slamming it out, but don’t forget about the guys in 13th place and back. The more points they get, more money, and more assurance of their position next season. Don’t forget about the competition to stay in the top 35. That in and of itself is as grueling as racing. Listen to David Reutimann talk about qualifying when he’s out of the top 35. He’s admitted that it makes him want to vomit due to nerves.

Would you want to be in that position? Nah, didn’t think so.

Martinsville is almost always entertaining and I think we’ll see a great race this weekend.

Until next week, remember that rubbin’ is racin’!