Clint Bowyer mum on Michael Waltrip Racing’s restructuring, future with team

Clint Bowyer acknowledges Michael Waltrip Racing is in the midst of restructuring, but isn’t revealing what those changes will entail.

MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman, who owns 50 percent of the team, is buying an undisclosed stake of Chip Ganassi, a deal announced on Thursday. That transaction doesn’t preclude Kauffmann from maintaining a stake in MWR, but in all likelihood will see him dissolve his association with the team beginning next season.

“You need to bear with us,” Bowyer said Friday at Pocono Raceway. “There’s obviously some change on the horizon.

“We’re going to have to work on the future and see what that looks like, but for right now we’re focused on 2015.”

Part of Kauffman’s purchasing an interest in CGR would include Bowyer and his No. 15 team transferring from MWR to CGR, according to a Sports Business Journal report.

Such a move would make CGR a three-car team, with Bowyer joining Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray. That would leave MWR with just its No. 55 team and without a driver, sponsor or manufacturer under contract for 2016.

MWR has fielded Toyotas and enjoyed a close relationship with the carmaker since entering Sprint Cup in 2007, but that contract is up at the end of the season. CGR is a Chevrolet-supported team.

“We’ve spoken with Rob Kauffman and understand he has agreed to buy an interest in Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates,” said Ed Laukes, vice president of marketing, performance and guest experience for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. “Rob has not disclosed the plans for Michael Waltrip Racing past the 2015 racing season. Toyota and TRD remain focused on winning races and championships with our team partners this year.”

The apparent dissolving of MWR comes as Bowyer is trying to earn a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Though winless, he is provisionally in NASCAR’s playoffs 30 points ahead of Aric Almirola with six regular season races remaining.

But once Kyle Busch -- who’s won three straight races and four of the past five -- moves inside the top 30 in points, that will eliminate one less spot for a non-winner, which as it stands would be Bowyer. Busch is 23 points outside the Chase cutline, a deficit he could overcome Sunday.

“We’re close and this can happen and these guys got to stay focused, I’ve got to stay focused,” Bowyer said. “If we do our jobs we can get in this Chase and compete for a championship.”

“We’ve got to finish this year strong. There’s a lot of work to be done in the future and we’re all working on it and when I have something to tell (the media), you all know me, I’ll tell you.”