A ringer in the 55 car?

May be...

Did anyone hear why Waltrip decided not to race this weekend?

Also, is Mikey giving us a sign of things to come?

So Carpentier could run well.
Yes.

I don't think you can really call his replacement a ringer.
He might retire, unlike Dale Jr he knows he hasn't got it anymore

Probably because with all the shifting and turning of the road course of Sonoma he will be unable to keep his beer from spilling :))

Mikey has Reuitmann running for him now.
Hopefully Mikey can do some business, and enjoy what he has going for him. If he does get Truex next year, he's going to have a whole bunch of new MWR fans. But as far as a ringer @ Sonoma, he's gonna be in the #14 car

He said in TWIN that after so many years, he had to admit that he just doesn't perform well there and that it was a decision he made for the sake of the team. He's right.

That may very well be a sign of things to come. Mikey is a funny guy and he's a great spokesman for NAPA, but he can do more for them by getting a good driver for the 55 and putting all his effort into managing his team and doing the PR work.

he wanted that car to have a chance to win. i actually think it is a sign i think after this season or the next he'll step away from the car. he hasn't had the results as a driver/owner so i think he'll put another driver in the 55 soon. the 00 is running well and he sees that and he think why can't i do that.vodafone email setup