MWR's Rob Kauffman: Deal with CGR about integration not departure
LONG POND, Pa. — Michael Waltrip Racing co-owner Rob Kauffman characterized his impending transaction with Chip Ganassi Racing as more of a consolidation than a departure from his current team.
Kauffman said this week he would buy a piece of CGR, which sets the table for at least one of MWR's two Toyotas to move to CGR and Chevrolet.
But seeking to provide some clarity, he requested an audience with reporters Saturday afternoon at Pocono Raceway, where he gave a brief statement and took no questions.
"I think it's important to realize Michael and I own Michael Waltrip Racing, we control Michael Waltrip Racing together," he said. "We're business partners. We're great personal friends. So any idea that I'm leaving or taking anything is actually misplaced.
"What we're really doing is integrating the businesses, trying to get the most competitive product on track, do the best for all of our partners and that's really our focus."
Kauffman said he wanted to issue a statement on the news to clear up rumors that were "bubbling around" and then re-focus on the rest of the 2015 season.
He would not give specific plans — for example, whether Clint Bowyer will move to Ganassi and what will happen to MWR's No. 55 car — because they were not set yet, he said.
"Whether we have three cars, four cars, two roofs, one roof — that's all yet to be determined," he said. "How we do in the 2015 season will help determine (what) happens."
Kauffman also spoke about NASCAR's business environment. The head of the Race Team Alliance, Kauffman emphasized the teams are under a great deal of pressure and said it was "very difficult for the teams to maintain a sensible business model."
Because of that, he predicted, more mergers like the CGR/MWR deal are likely in the future.
"You're going to see, like in many industries, a lot of consolidation," he said. "Today I would say there aren't really any one- or two-car teams that aren't affiliated with much larger organizations. The day you can have a lone wolf and be successful in this sport is long past.
"This is just another chapter in the book with this stuff."
Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck
