Baldwin appoints three drivers to finish out Cup season

Mike Skinner, Patrick Carpentier and Brian Simo will share the driving duties of the Tommy Baldwin Racing Toyota for the remainder of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Skinner will drive 17 of the remaining 25 races on the 2009 schedule. Carpentier will be behind the wheel for both Pocono events, the June 28 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the Sept. 12 race at Richmond International Raceway and wrap up with the Sept. 27 race at Dover International Speedway. Simo will navigate the No. 36 machine during the two road-course weekends. Driver Scott Riggs announced he is parting ways with the team following Monday's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The team is currently outside the top 35 in owners points and must make each race based on qualifying speed.

Skinner, a regular in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, has 256 Cup starts in 19 years. The Ontario, Calif., native has earned 10 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes in the series. Additionally, he won the 2005 NCWS championship on the heels of eight wins, nine poles, 17 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes.

“Tommy and I go back a long ways and I know that he is the type of person that NASCAR needs in the Cup Series," said Skinner of team owner Tommy Baldwin. “Even though my main focus is the truck, if we can help Tommy along until he finds that permanent driver that he needs to put his team to the next level, then it is an honor for me to get a chance to participate and to try and help him out."