The Tommy Baldwin Racing Team has a lot to be psyched about heading into Kansas. Thanks to the recent partnership with Wave Energy drink and the recent addition of driver Michael McDowell, Baldwin is in a position to complete the 2009 season and start building for 2010.
McDowell said that a partnership between the new team and a sponsor new to NASCAR plays into Baldwin's "grassroots" approach.
“It’s a unique opportunity where we are starting at the grassroots level in the highest level of motorsports," McDowell said. “Tommy’s program is a brand new team this year, trying to make races and break into this sport. Wave Energy is a new product that is doing the same, that wants to be in motorsports, that wants to go after the other big players in the energy drink game, and Tommy wants to go after the big teams in NASCAR. So it’s a great fit of growing something together and doing it as a team.”
A statement from Jason Wolter, Vice President of Marketing for Wave Energy Drink, echoed Michael’s words. With the aid of Wave Energy, TBR will attempt to qualify for the last eight races of 2009.
“We're all working together right now on getting exposure for the Wave Energy Drink franchise program and the success of those efforts will have a lot to do with what we hope will be a successful future together," Wolter said.
Though plans for next year are not finalized, McDowell said the team has concrete plans for the remainder of the 2009 season -- to make every race and learn something to apply to an all-out 2010 season.
“Right now Tommy needs to make all the races, and needs to have the car out there running,” McDowell said. “Once we get the car locked into the show Friday, we are trying to use Saturday to sort of develop our set-ups, and learn the cars and learn the track. We are trying to make sure when we have a full budget, and when we will be able to run all of the races and run all of the laps that we are ready to do that.”
The choice of McDowell to be the driver of the No. 36 car was one that can be attributed to passion and desire for the sport, according to Wolte, who said McDowell has the face the sponsor is looking for.
“We continue to be very impressed with Michael McDowell in all aspects of our relationship with him so far,” Wolter said. “He's very professional, well-spoken and fits in with our Wave Energy Drink image as a youthful and energetic individual. And he has a strong desire for success.”
But this sponsorship isn't only about McDowell's youthful personality.
His desire for success is one that should not be contested. McDowell said he understands that he must stay hungry and be competitive if he wishes to remain a driver in the top three NASCAR series.
“It goes back to survival, this is the only thing I know how to do, and I have to make a living to survive," McDowell said. "By the time I was 18 and living on my own and racing full time, I had to make money to do it. This was the only way I was able to foot myself.
"It becomes a reality when you start doing this for a living. Obviously I was under a lot more pressure as well. As a racecar driver, I don’t have that college degree to fall back on. I don’t have a trust fund to fall back on. This is what I have, so there is pressure to perform.”
With that drive, McDowell has won at every level he has raced at. From BMX at the age of three, motocross, ATVs and go-karts by age eight through the Rolex Sports Car Series and ARCA.
The only series McDowell hasn't won in is NASCAR -- something he said he has intentions to accomplish.
“I want to be known for winning in every series I have ever participated in,” McDowell said. “Until I got to the NASCAR ranks that has always been the case. There hasn’t been a series that I have driven in that I haven’t won in. I don’t want to stop that here in the NASCAR series. I need to win a truck race, a Nationwide race, and a Cup race before I can call my career complete. I really think it’s possible.”
With Wave Energy Drink, Tommy Baldwin Racing and McDowell, the tools and determination are in place to get a sponsor, team and driver noticed in the ultra-competitive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
With that mindset, TBR is looking to do more than simply log laps in 2010.
