Mike Wallace to replace Sherman at Richmond

By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
May 4, 2006
03:45 PM EDT (19:45 GMT)

RICHMOND, Va. -- For the second time in the 2006 Nextel Cup Series season, rookie Brent Sherman will have a weekend off as a replacement driver steps into BAM Racing's No. 49 Dodge for Saturday night's Crown Royal 400 (7 p.m. ET, FX).

Veteran Mike Wallace, who is already serving a replacement stint in owner James Finch's No. 1 Busch Series Dodge, will attempt to make his 12th Cup start at the .750-mile banked oval while giving BAM some insight into its program.

"We are making every effort to improve our short-track program," team co-owner Beth Ann Morgenthau said. "Our goals for this weekend are to begin regaining positions in the owner points standings and to assess our equipment.

"Mike came highly recommended due to his experience and success at Richmond. We hope to make great strides this weekend."

Sherman made his Nextel Cup debut as a guaranteed starter in the Daytona 500, but after five races BAM fell beneath the top-35 cutoff mark for owners. Jimmy Spencer replaced Sherman for the Martinsville short-track race, but failed to qualify.

Since then, Sherman has failed to make races at Texas and Talladega. He qualified at Phoenix and finished 32nd, his second-best finish in six starts.

BAM comes to Richmond 41st in owner points.

"I'm excited to work with Mike this weekend," BAM crew chief Ron Otto said. "I hope his experience and insight will help us with our cars and give us a better direction in our short-track program.

"The challenge, of course, is working with a different driver this weekend. However, I think his experience and feedback will help me in my communications with both driver and team."

The team said it anticipates having Sherman back in the car for next week's race at Darlington Raceway.

The driver swap is no less than the seventh in Cup and Busch despite being only a quarter of the way through the schedules.