The big surprise in the Busch Series of late was the move Bobby Hamilton Jr. made from the Rensi Motorsports Busch Series team to the PPI Motorsports Cup Series team. Hamilton had been offered positions in the Cup Series over the past couple of seasons, but passed them up. He, and/or the public relations department at Rensi Motorsports had always stated that they had a plan to bring him up to the Cup Series gradually within the next couple of seasons. It was portrayed that Hamilton was happy where he was at, driving for Rensi in the Bush Series until they were ready to bring him up.
Apparently they didn't move Hamilton up quick enough to suit his needs, he decided to leave Rensi Motorsports at the end of the 2004 season, signing with PPI Motorsports to drive the #32 tide Ford in the Cup Series full time in 2005. When the announcement was made, it was clear that his crew chief, Harold Holly, would be making the move with him.
Last week, Rensi Motorsports decided that if Hamilton was going to leave at the end of the season to go Cup racing with PPI Motorsports, he may as well hit the road now. Ousting Hamilton now would give the team time to bring in a new driver to get used to the team for the 2005 season while crew chief Harold Holly was still with them to help guide the transition. Hamilton was eighth in driver's points at the time, but what did Rensi Motorsports care? He was leaving anyway, so he may as well hit the road now. Actually, for the past three seasons, a driver in the top ten in driver's points in the Busch Series has lost his job. Kevin Grubb in 2002, Todd Bodine in 2003, and now Hamilton's out in 2004.
Rensi Motorsports replaced Hamilton with Jeff Green, but before he could enter a race in the #25 Rensi Motorsports Ford, he was found to have contractual problems and couldn't take the job. As a result, Rensi Motorsports got veteran Busch Series driver Mike McLaughlin to handle the driving duties last week at Bristol. McLaughlin lost his Busch Series ride a couple of years ago with Joe Gibbs Racing in lieu of high hopes for a younger driver. McLaughlin was contracted to race in the Cup Series for a new team called Angela's Motorsports beginning with the 2003 season. The new team folded before the beginning of the season when the principals made off with what capital they could get their paws on before paying the bills the team had incurred while setting up for the season. McLaughlin was left holding the bag, again. McLaughlin started tenth at Bristol last weekend and finished a very respectable 12th. Not a bad showing for someone who had been out of the driver's seat for a couple of years and then go into a short track demolition derby like Bristol and come out 12th. It's my personal opinion that Rensi Motorsports would be a lot better off with McLaughlin than Jeff Green, any day of the week!
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