Single car outfit BAM Racing may have had their worst season on the Nextel Cup tour in 2006 since they graduated to NASCAR's premier series in 2002 but even though they plummeted out of the top 35 in team standings they have confirmed they will be back in 2007.
Although the Beth-Ann Morgenthau owned operation haven't confirmed their driver for the #49 whatsonline.com Dodge for 2007, team manager Eddie Jones and current crew chief David Hyder, as well as the primary sponsor, have all been confirmed for the new season.
Largely thanks to the veteran guile of Ken Schrader the #49 squad stayed among NASCAR's elite 35 throughout the 2005 season, the first under NASCAR's new qualifying system. However when rookie Brent Sherman failed to capitalise on that position during the first five races of 2006 the team quickly fell out of the top 35 and began a season-long struggle.
With veteran trio Mike Wallace, Kevin Lepage and Mike Bliss all spending time behind the wheel of the #49 Dodge during the course of the year following Sherman's not-unexpected departure, consistency was a major problem for the team in 2006 and it was no surprise to see the team finish 40th in the final team standings having failed to qualify for eleven of the 36 races.
However unlike the likely fate that has befallen fellow single car outfit PPI Motorsport, BAM will be back in 2007 to restart their fight to get back amongst the Nextel Cup elite.
