Frank Kerr, the team’s current crew chief, will move to the role of shop forman, while Todd Berrier will become the team’s crew chief and general manager in 2012.

Berrier said:

I’m looking forward to this new opportunity with JTG Daugherty Racing and working with Bobby.

Larte Zatta, of TRD, will join the team as director of engineering.

JTG also announced that Kingsford Charcoal, Busch’s Baked Beans, the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Hidden Valley, KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauces & Marinades, and Glad will return as sponsors for the team.

It was initially reported that Michael Waltrip Racing would end its technical alliance with JTG, to make room for the addition of Clint Bowyer. It was later reported, however, that JTG and MWR are likely to maintain their alliance.  

While the two teams are still reportedly still allies, JTG will move from MWR’s shop to its own shop. As part of the original alliance, MWR provided cars and crew to JTG, and housed the cars in its shop. It appears that JTG will now support their own cars in their own shop.

Labonte said:

JTG Daugherty Racing is a solid race team that has come close to winning races with Marcos Ambrose and I’m looking forward to developing our new partnership in 2011. The team is thriving and their technical alliance with MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) is intact. It’s great to have next year already set in stone so when this season ends we can begin focusing on next year right away. Everything is in place and we have all the right ingredients to win races together.

Brad Daugherty, one of the team’s owners, said:

We are really happy Bobby has decided to join our team because I have known him for a long time and I have always admired him as a professional driver and as an individual. He will do an outstanding job representing our products and team. He has gotten to a point in his career that he still has some things to accomplish. He is highly experienced with a championship on his resume’ and we know he is capable of winning.

Owner Jodi Geschickter added:

We know he is an amazing fit for our sponsors and racing organization. The Labonte name has a history of excellence. Bobby is a proven winner, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and his character is solid.

Labonte began the season driving for TRG Motorsports in their No. 71 Sprint Cup Chevy. He left the team in June, seeking a more competitive ride. Following his departure from TRG, he drove for Robby Gordon Motorsports and Phoenix Racing before agreeing to drive the No. 71 for four more races this season.

The team will be housed under the same roof as MWR, and will receive chassis, engines, and tech information-sharing from Toyota Racing Development.

Team owner and ESPN analyst Brad Daugherty said that the team will not be a fourth MWR team.

Marcos Ambrose will drive JTG’s No. 47 Camry next season. The car will be sponsored by Little Debbie Snack Cakes and Clorox.

It is also being reported that Robert “Bootie” Barker will be the crew chief of MWR’s No. 55 Toyota driven by Michael Waltrip next season.

Australian Marcos Abrose will drive the No. 47 Little Debbie Snack Cakes car for the new team, which will be known as JTG Daugherty Racing. Ambrose currently drives the No. 59 JTG entry in the Nationwide Series. He currently sits 13th in points with three top-tens.

Daugherty said:

I have a tremendous passion for racing. This gives me another avenue to be involved in the sport. It’s a big stake to do this at the Cup level, and I hope it opens doors in the sport for other minorities and women.