WSM ALUMNI UPDATE – JANUARY 2009

Michael McDowell joins JTG Daugherty Racing

At the end of last season, Michael McDowell lost his NASCAR Sprint Cup ride at Michael Waltrip Racing when MWR partnered with JTG Daugherty Racing to field an entry for Marcos Ambrose. Now, McDowell has joined JTG Daugherty as the driver of its Nationwide Series car, replacing Kelly Bires.

McDowell will run for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors and plans to enter at least the first 16 races. By mid-summer, McDowell hopes team owner Tad Geschickter will have found funding to allow the team to continue further. Gene Nead, who has Cup experience as a crew chief, will be atop the pit box for McDowell.
More info: http://www.jtgracing.com or http://www.mmcdowell.com

Moraes to drive for KV Racing in '09

Mario Moraes, a true rookie last season in the IndyCar Series, will drive for KV Racing Technology in the 2009 season.

Moraes, a 20-year-old Brazilian, finished seventh in the race in Watkins Glen, N.Y., in his best outing of the year for Dale Coyne Racing. He was one of nine drivers to lead the Indianapolis 500.

The KV team, which is based in Indianapolis, plans to field two cars this season but has not announced its second program. It had Oriol Servia and Will Power as its drivers last year and both are under consideration for this season. Team co-owner Jimmy Vasser said Paul Tracy is also under consideration.

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Moraes

Coleman to Drive for Gibbs in 2009

Joe Gibbs Racing announced today they have signed promising young NASCAR driver Brad Coleman back into their family fold effective immediately. Coleman will be running a partial NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule alongside Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in the No. 20 car in 2009.

“Brad showed us a lot of natural talent when we launched his Nationwide career here in 2007 and has matured a great deal by going through some tough challenges since then,” said J.D. Gibbs. “He is an impressive young man with a bright future ahead of him and our entire organization is happy to have him back on the team.”

More info: http://www.bradcoleman.us

Guy Cosmo Continues relationship with Spirit of Daytona in 2009
As a new year dawns, one racer is charged up to take on what’s next as Guy Cosmo looks ahead to the upcoming Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series season.

“The relationship I have with Troy (Flis, Spirit of Daytona Racing team owner) is great and being loyal to this program is something that’s really important to me,” said Cosmo. “That’s key to me as a person at the track, or away from it. And the chance to develop a completely different package is one that you just don’t get that often in your career so I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish at Daytona and then taking those lessons and continuing to move forward through the season.”