Jan
31
Previewing the 2007 NEXTEL Cup Teams: McGlynn Racing
January 31, 2007 | Posted by VroomDude
McGlynn Racing’s first full year in Cup racing was in 2005, fielding two teams at different points (the #00 and #08) with Ryan McGlynn, Carl Long, and Derrike Cope driving for the team at various races.
The team switched to the #74 during the 2006 season, with Derrike Cope driving a limited schedule for McGlynn, only able to limp to a best finish of 34th in his nine starts. The bright spot for the team was an inadvertent one, with Michael Waltrip buying a ride in the car for one race at the Coca-Cola 600 in order to keep his consectutive start streak alive after failing to qualify in his own car.
As far as the team’s 2007 chances, well, it’s hard to be too positive. Cope will be back, as well as the bulk of the team’s sponsors from 2006, so they do at least have continuity on their side.
Other than that, though, it’s hard to find any positive signs from last year that might carry over. Five of the team’s 9 races last less than 10 laps, so they weren’t even close to being competitive even when they managed to qualify. It’s hard to imagine that changing much, so 2007 could very well be much of the same, with the team limping along, running a handful of laps here and there, and collecting the occasional check for showing up and qualifying.