Red Bull to snatch Penske man

UPDATE #5 This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. Matt Borland, Ryan Newman's longtime crew chief, is staying at Penske Racing South for the 2007 season, team president Don Miller said Monday, although no title or job description has been finalized. Miller said Monday that Borland met with owner Roger Penske following the season finale. "He told Roger that under no circumstances does he want to leave, because Roger gave him the option," Miller said.

11/20/06 Matt Borland is scheduled to meet with Penske Racing South owner Roger Penske today, a day after missing his second consecutive Nextel Cup event. If no decisions are reached regarding Borland's future in that meeting, nothing might be decided until he meets with Don Miller, the team's president, and others the week after Thanksgiving.

And, Matt Borland's run as Ryan Newman's crew chief appears to be over. Borland, who asked for a leave of absence as Ryan Newman's crew chief for the final two races, is expected to become the director of competition at Penske Racing South next season. Team officials said an official announcement should come within the next couple of weeks. NASCAR.com

11/06/06 Penske Racing South president Don Miller said Sunday that he expects to have crew chiefs Matt Borland (#12-Ryan Newman) and Roy McCauley (#2-Kurt Busch) back next year leading their respective cars. Borland had been rumored to move to a Toyota Red Bull Racing team. Miller also said he expects the new nose Dodge teams will get next year should prove to be a big benefit for the team. Speed Channel

10/31/06 Penske Performance president Tim Cindric would not rule out the possibility of crew chief changes during the off-season, but said rumors that Matt Borland would leave Ryan Newman's #12 Dodge program for Team Red Bull's new operation were "just speculation." "When you don't have a season you expect to have … there's always speculation," Cindric said. "I think we're going to look at how we are this season and what's best move going forward to ensure we have better season next year." St Petersburg Times

10/28/06 And on the other side of the Penske shop, Roy McCauley's suspension for an unapproved shock at Concord has led to speculation of a possible shakeup pending there, too. Crew chief Pat Tryson has long been rumored on the list of men Penske would like to hire to run Kurt Busch's team. Winston Salem Journal

10/28/06 A shakeup is looming for the Roger Penske operation, with Toyota's Red Bull team reportedly making a run at crew chief Matt Borland to take the helm of Brian Vickers' team next season. Borland is #12-Ryan Newman's crew chief at Penske's. Winston Salem Journal