We all know how "Silly Season" works, or do we? It seems that every year it tends to change some with the times. What remains the same though is the shifting of drivers from team to team. Sure, lots of crew chiefs and team members make changes too. The crew chiefs get mentioned in the media, but it's really the driver's who tend to make the news.
For the most part, a lot of the changes are self explanatory, but then there are some that tend to boggle the mind. One of these recent changes involves last season's Busch Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year, David Stremme.
Stremme is leaving, or I should say, "has left" Braun Racing to take over the driving duties for Fitz/Bradshaw Racing's #14 Dodge which is sponsored by the U. S. Navy. He was doing great this season with Braun Racing in the #332 TrimSpa Dodge. He's done a great job regardless of who he's driven for, including a stint for Joe Nemechek, and some rides in the #1 Yellow Freight Dodge. I guess it must have been a money thing, maybe Fitz/Bradshaw offered him more cash to drive for them? Of course, with the U. S. Navy spending the taxpayer's money to race, there's no telling how much money may be involved here!
In 30 starts this season for Braun Racing, Stremme has amassed 12 top ten finishes, 4 four top five finishes, and one Bud Pole Award at Milwaukee. As honorable mention, two of his other finishes were in the 11th position with two others within the top 20. That's not bad for a Busch Series driver in his second year.
Stremme's defection from Braun racing clears the way for deposed Busch Series racer Shane Hmiel to make his full time return to the driver's seat. Braun Racing has signed Hmiel to drive for the 2005 season, and sponsor TrimSpa has reportedly renewed with them for three years. Hmiel was booted from the Busch Series by NASCAR around this time last season for substance abuse. After going through the recommended programs set up by NASCAR, Hmiel was cleared to race last spring. He's been driving the #15 Chevy Silverado sponsored by TrimSpa in the Craftsman Truck Series, and has one win to his credit so far this season.
Hmiel will assume the driving duties in the TrimSpa Dodge this weekend at Atlanta, and will also continue to drive the Truck Series entry for Braun Racing. Next season the Braun Racing team is reported to be changing its Busch Series entries to Chevys that will be powered by Dale Earnhardt Inc. engines.
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