JGR's No. 20 Chevrolet will not have Rockwell in 2008

[CHUBAKAH]

www.nascar.com

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- Rockwell Automation will finish its 11-year motorsports tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the 2007 Busch Series season, the team announced Monday. The No. 20 Chevrolet campaigned by JGR since 2003 will see its final race in Rockwell Automation's red and white livery at the season finale Nov. 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"Rockwell Automation has been a great partner to Joe Gibbs Racing," sJGR president J.D. Gibbs said. "We use the term 'partner' because they've been more than just a sponsor. Just as they used NASCAR to increase their business, they helped us develop programs and equipment utilizing their various business units to make our entire organization more efficient. The personnel, tools and services provided to us will live on via the continued success of our race team.

"There are many great memories and stories of our time with Rockwell Automation. One of our favorites is the conversation between now retired president Joe Swann and a young Denny Hamlin back in late 2004. In the meeting, Mr. Swann asked Denny why he should consider him as their driver. Denny's answer, which won him the job, was 'because I can win races for you,' and the rest was history."

After serving as a major associate sponsor since 1997 with a handful of Busch Series teams, Rockwell Automation -- a global leader in industrial automation controls and information solutions -- stepped up as a primary sponsor in 2000 with Richard Childress Racing. Rockwell Automation joined JGR in 2003, and in two seasons with former Craftsman Truck Series champion Mike Bliss at the wheel, the No. 20 team scored a win, three poles, 15 top-five finishes and 28 top-10s.

In 2005, a heralded late model stock car driver from Chesterfield, Va., took over. Hamlin, then a Busch Series rookie, enjoyed a modest season with 11 top-10s before breaking out in 2006 with two wins, seven poles, 12 top-fives and 23 top-10s .

Thus far in 2007, Hamlin has shared the No. 20 car with development driver Aric Almirola. Together, the driving duo has scored three wins -- the most recent of which came Saturday at Michigan -- five poles, eight top-fives and 14 top-10s.

Currently fourth in owner points, 2007 is on track to become the third consecutive in which the No. 20 has finished in the top-three in owner points, and the fourth consecutive year it has finished in the top-10

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Is that Japanese food I smell?

Toyota may be in the future I'm thinking.

Yuck