From the article yesterday (In the Pits) about Cup team owners taking on financial partners to absorb costs:

I wonder if the part-time car will be Erin's car, or if there is another driver that will be hired (I can't think of anybody, though). I thought Ray said recently they weren't doing a fourth car next year and would do it in 2008, but maybe he decided they could do one part time.

It better not be Erin. She's a wreck waiting to happen. They need someone who can drive. Even if that means they bring Bill back, they need someone, anyone who can actually drive a Cup car.

Bill is driving for Toyota next year isn't he? I think it would be interesting if Erin does get into a part time cup car just to see how she does. You never know she might wow everyone

I'm sorry to anyone that likes Erin... but it better not be her. She can't even finish a truck race let alone be in a cup car next season already.

Yeah, I'll echo the sentiments of a couple other posters...keep her out of a cup car.

I also agree with you guys.

If Bill wants to come back full-time in 2007, he'll probably be driving Team Red Bull's second car. Rumors also indicate that he could race for Michael Waltrip Racing or Robert Yates Racing (if the 88 car is still around). If he wants to race another part-time schedule, then I think this will be the top option because Team Red Bull and Michael Waltrip Racing probably want full-time drivers. Bill helped build Evernham Motorsports into the team it is today, and Ray has stated that as long as Bill wants to keep racing, Evernham Motorsports will provide a car for him.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's the 98 car because that's Erin's number, and Erin probably will race this car in a few years if she improves. That's the plan, for now, at least.

It will be interesting to see what Bill Elliott does. That may give more of an indication of who'll be with the fourth team.

If Ray is thinking about putting her in Cup within a year or so, he should take a look at what Gibbs is doing with Aric Almirola, a (Drive for Diversity) rookie who currently ranks 17th in the Truck series. (Erin is currently 23rd.)

I don't think Erin is ready for Cup.

Ok don't take this the wrong way but... since day one I've had this vibe about Erin... and it wasn't a good vibe... I don't think she's ready for cup... heck I don't really think she's ready for any other series at this point... like I've said she needs to go back and develop a little more... even if it's just in the arca series. I don't know I've just had this strange vibe about her... and I don't know what it is or why.

It will be interesting to see what actually ends up happening

I don't want it to be Erin, just cause I don't think she's ready....I do like her but she's no where near ready for Cup

I concur.

I don't think shes anywhere near ready for full time... but one or two races it would be interesting to see if she's any better in the cars.

Ray said when he first hired Kasey that he took a chance on him despite him not being all the spectacular in the busch series because open wheelers tend to do better in cup than Busch or any other series. It would be interesting to see if she can do any better. If she doesn't well he knows.

But there are also plenty of Busch series drivers that need a ride so he could bring them up

I wouldn't mind seeing someone from Busch getting the call up to Cup. Too many drivers this year have been shunned from showing their potential because of all the Cup regulars taking their seats. There's something seriously wrong when a Cup regular wins the Busch series title.

I agree with Nicole and Christy, about Erin not being ready and needing more experience before climbing in a cup car. She is too green still. I have nothing against her, but at this point, I even question her being in the truck series...that change might have been too much too soon. I am not saying to take her truck ride away from her or anything, though. I just didn't think she was ready for the truck series when she was given the ride, she isn't anymore ready now, IMO and is certainly not ready for the cup series. I think keeping her where she is would be a better option for her. It will be one constant for her until she develops more as a driver. But then again, she may surprise us all in a cup car, like Sara said...

I'll express the same sentiment everyone else has.

She's not ready.

She can't run competitively in Busch or trucks, if I remember correctly. So what makes Ray think she's ready for Cup?

I am just puzzled by the rush to move Erin up so fast. Ray may sincerely believe she will really blossom in the Cup series, OR they are worried she won't be the first woman in Cup (in recent years) if they don't move her up soon. Being the first has a lot of monetary benefits, I would think.

I know Danica isn't coming to NASCAR (for at least a couple more years, anyway), but apparently Sarah Fisher hopes to run Busch East and ARCA while doing the IRL next season. And Katherine Legge (I saw a documentary about her, I love her English accent!) has been getting a ton of publicity after that ChampCar crash she had the other day.

I don't know that Katherine has been mentioned in connection with NASCAR, but it's probably only a matter of time, especially if Erin doesn't produce good results (in whatever series she ends up in) or can't get sponsors. Here's video/short interview of her crash from the Early Show:Early Show Video

You know that is probably a big thing in the decision if they do put her in the car.

But nowhere in the article did they say its was Erin to be in the 4th car, so we can't really assume yet that it will be Erin

Very true! The fourth car may not even end up happening, anyway. It is just speculation for now...but I guess even the thought that a Cup car might be Erin's next year is a little weird. :)

I agree with most here that Erin isn't ready for Cup yet. But as it's been pointed out, there hasn't been any word if the 4th team is actually going to happen or who's driving it.

It could be that it's eventually going to be Erin's car (if/when she's ready) or just be the 4th team Ray has mentioned and they'll run it part time with other drivers in 2007 to get the team set up and going to get a jump on the 2008 season

I love Katherine. She's a real talent and a good driver. I'd love to see her get a shot at a Busch series ride. She's one of the most talented female drivers I've ever seen.