Jeremy Dunn's Blog

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Following practice on Saturday, Danica Patrick confronted Milka Duno, the other female driver in the IRL, as she felt that Duno should have allowed the faster cars to pass. Patrick, who has been known to have a short fuse, had some choice words for Milka Duno, who did not take to well to the tongue lashing. Duno quickly reacted and even threw a towel in Patrick's face.

"Unfortunately, things involving me tend to evolve," Danica Patrick said. "I'm on the hot seat when I do something and when others do something (connected to me). It's kind of the line that I walk because I'm popular."

Patrick claimed that she just wanted to know if Duno saw her.

Milka Duno later stated that Patrick may be allowed to push the guys around, but not her.

Watch it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LXDEPrIr9I

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Now that it is official that Ryan Newman will not return to Penske Racing in 2009, a replacement must be found. Casey Mears and David Stremme are two leading candidates for that ride. Both drivers are linked to Penske in some form. Casey's uncle Rick Mears spent years driving for Roger Penske in the open wheel ranks.

Stremme is a test driver for Penske . Additionally, he drives for Rusty Wallace in the Nationwide Series. Wallace and Penske remained friends after they parted ways in 2005.

Michael McDowell, Reed Sorenson, and Martin Truex Jr are rumored drivers as well. However, no one has mentioned Steve Wallace as a candidate for the 12 ride. Rusty's son struggled mightily in his first full season in the Nationwide Series, but he is improving. He has two top five finishes and three top ten finishes in twenty starts, which is by no means striking, but it would make sense for Roger to hire young Wallace.

It seems inevitable that Wallace will end up at Penske one day. No offense to Mears or Stremme, but they have been there done that in Sprint Cup . Neither driver enjoyed much success. Of course, everyone deserves a second chance, which is why Stremme or Sorenson could end up in the ride. But Mears has had several chances. Wallace would be a fresh face.

Some new blood could do that organization some good. Obviously, Wallace would wreck a few cars before he becomes a contender.

Stremme is the logical choice based on the fact that he has tested extensively with Penske's COT program and has outperformed Wallace in the same equipment. He is the best candidate unless Penske can lure Truex Jr away from DEI and other opportunities. But would it surprise anyone if Steve Wallace emerged as a candidate to replace Newman?

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

The fact that Ryan Newman did not renew his contract with Penske Racing speaks volumes. The performance at PRS has been downright brutal ever since the tail end of the 2005 season. Newman and Kurt Busch had their bright moments in 2007, but they were inconsistent.

The drivers are not to blame. If you question Newman's ability, take a look at the 2004 champion Busch. Busch's performances has mirrored Newman's ever since he replaced Rusty Wallace in 2006. Even Wallace had a difficult time in his final years at Penske.

The bottom line is that Penske has the resources to be a upper echelon team. However, they cannot seem to break out of mediocrity, and if they do, it is momentary. Other than a three or four year span in the 1990's with Wallace, and in 2003 with Newman, Penske has never been a threat to Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, or even RCR.

It is not abnormal for a powerhouse team to fall behind. It happened with RCR following the passing of the late Dale Earnhardt. Childress revamped his operation, and after a year and a half of struggles, they began to vastly improve. Penske has not displayed any similar signs.

Busch is growing tired of the mediocre performances, and his contract expires at the end of 2009. If Penske continues as an also-ran, Busch will head to greener pastures.

Casey Mears and David Stremme are possible replacements, but they are significant downgrades. Jamie McMurray is another driver that may emerge as a candidate, but he is a downgrade as well. Martin Truex Jr would be a solid replacement, but why would he leave one midpack team for another?

With potential sponsorship issues on the 12 car, Penske may soon find himself in the same boat as his IRL adversary, Chip Ganassi.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Other than the fact that Tony Stewart will drive one of his cars, we do not know much about Stewart Haas Racing specifics. Of course, there are always rumors. Supposedly, Office Depot and Old Spice will sponsor whichever car Stewart drivers. Jack Daniel's, Burger King, and UPS are possible sponsors for the second car that everyone expects Ryan Newman to drive.

The numbers, well, Stewart will probably go for the seldom-used 14 that personified his childhood hero, A.J. Foyt, for over three decades. The other number is likely Morgan-McClure Motorsports' former number 4. However, if Stewart lands Jack Daniel's, the number 7, 07, or 70 would be relevant.

According to multiple Internet sources, Newman will sign with Stewart Haas Racing. Until an official announcement or confirmation from Stewart, I would not count on it. Many acknowledge Newman and Stewart as two of the most cunning poker players in the NASCAR garage. Perhaps they want everyone to believe they will team up. Newman's name has surfaced as a candidate for the fourth RCR car as well as Stewart's replacement in the 20 Toyota. Stewart did not rule out the possibility of retaining Scott Riggs.

Joey Logano is reportedly a candidate to become Stewart's successor in the Home Depot Toyota. The 18 year old driver has impressed a lot of people, but as Clint Bowyer said last week at Daytona, a monkey could win in that 20 JGR Nationwide car. How would Logano fair if he were driving for Phoenix Racing or CJM Racing? There is no denying his talent, but the superior equipment is making him look like the best thing since 'sliced bread'.

Gibbs is a smart businessman, but recall another driver, J.J. Yeley, who had all the potential in the world. Perhaps he should seriously consider Ryan Newman or Martin Truex, Jr.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

On Monday, there were rumblings that Teresa Earnhardt is looking to sell Dale Earnhardt, Incorporated. On Tuesday those rumors were denied. The reports stated that Max Siegel, currently the President Of Global Operations, had contacted investors in an effort to purchase controlling interest in DEI. Teresa would still own the rights to 'Dale Earnhardt' and 'Intimidator'.

However, the reports were denied on Tuesday.

"We have not engaged Bear, Stearns or Goldman Sachs or anyone else," Siegel said. "We are contacted all the time by outside firms about getting involved in the sport. We are not for sale right now. Nothing is imminent. Are we constantly weighing that as an option? Does that make sense? Quite frankly, we don't know."

One report stated that Teresa Earnhardt is looking to exit the limelight. It is just a rumor, but there are details that insinuate that this could be more than just a rumor.

Meanwhile, DEI and Martin Truex Jr could be closing in on a deal that would keep the two-time Nationwide Series champion in the 1 car until 2012. With Mark Martin's impending departure, DEI can afford to offer Truex Jr a significant raise.

Also, Truex Jr and his DEI team could be facing a 150-point penalty for an infraction discovered last Thursday at Daytont during an inspection. Currently, Truex Jr is 88 points behind 12th place driver Tony Stewart. The rumored penalty would put a damper on his Chase hopes, as he would be a distant 238 points behind.

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Posted by Jeremy Dunn

The rumors were put to rest on Friday when an official announcement was made that Mark Martin will drive for Hendrick Motorsports full-time in 2009. In 2010, Martin could cut back to 26 races, but you never know with him. Initially, he was going to retire following the 2005 season. Three and a half years later, he is still going strong. Currently, Martin drives the 8 Chevrolet for DEI on a part-time basis, but he could not refuse the opportunity to drive for Hendrick Motorsports.

"It just was an opportunity that I absolutely could not, I just couldn't let it go by," Martin said. "I told Arlene when we talked about this that I'm pretty sure the last breath I took on my death bed would be, 'I should have drove Rick's car when I had the chance.'

Martin joins an all-star cast at Hendrick Motorsports- Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR confiscated the 1 car on Thursday as the car did not meet specifications.

"Something about the roof template. I don’t know. I guess NASCAR wasn’t happy with the way it fit. It’s their ballgame, it’s their call. They took the car. We’re trying to get our backup (car) ready, they had to put an engine in it and get everything ready,” said Martin Truex, Jr.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Dario Franchitti's much-heralded transition from IRL to NASCAR came to an abrupt ending on Tuesday when Chip Ganassi announced that the 40 team was shutting down. Franchitti was supposed to attract new sponsorship opportunities after Coors Light pulled out last year. Unfortunately, the 2007 IRL champion and Indianapolis 500 winner is on the sidelines.

Ganassi stated that he would like to retain Franchitti, at least in the Nationwide Series. Fastenal is the primary sponsor so Franchitti will get to race.

"This is a difficult decision for [co-owner] Felix [Sabates] and I that did not come without its share of anguish," Ganassi said in a news release. "In this tough business environment, continuing to run the car without proper funding has become increasingly difficult."

Juan Pablo Montoya and Reed Sorenson are expected to remain with their respective teams, at least until the end of the 2008 season.

What is the future of Chip Ganassi's NASCAR program? A couple of months ago, there were rumors circulating the Ganassi and rival Roger Penske could merge. With both teams struggling and losing sponsors and drivers, this may not be too far-fecthed. Kurt Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya, Sam Hornish Jr, and Reed Sorenson could be the Penske/Ganassi driver lineup in 2009, if Sorenson is retained. Again, this is all speculation.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

For the last season and a half, veteran Mark Martin and youngster Aric Almirola have shared a ride at DEI driving the recognizable number 8 Chevrolet. However, DEI is ready to promote Almirola to a full-time Sprint Cup ride. Almirola has displayed flashes of potential throughout his young career, with both Joe Gibbs Racing and DEI. He finished 8th at Bristol in March. Everyone knows that Bristol is one of NASCAR's most arduous tracks.

With the possible departure of Martin Truex, Jr, Almirola may become the new face of DEI. He should benefit and emerge as one of NASCAR's top young drivers.

Mark Martin, on the opposite spectrum of his career, is expected to return to full-time competition for Hendrick Motorsports in 2009. Casey Mears was recently relieved of his driving duties for 2009. Martin came so close to winning the ultimate prize on several occasions throughout his career, but fell short. Hendrick Motorsports could provide him with last solid opportunity to win that elusive title.

Now, the NASCAR world is waiting for Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Martin Truex Jr.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

After two mediocre season with one of NASCAR's elite organizations, Rick Hendrick will show Casey Mears the door following the 2008 Sprint Cup season. Mears won the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte last May, but has failed to measure up to the other drivers that have driven for Hendrick Motorsports since his arrival. Mears' tenure with Hendrick Motorsports began in the 25 ride, and was transferred to the 5 car when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. arrived in 2008.

For some reason, things have not clicked for Mears and Hendrick. Now, Mears must search for another ride. There is speculation that Mears could end up at Richard Childress Racing, but I have a feeling that he is Childress' third or fourth choice. I think Ryan Newman is the driver that Childress covets, but things have yet to fall into place.

Despite the lack of consistency throughout his career, Mears has the ability to attract sponsor, which means that he could be a savior for a team that lacks solid sponsorship, such as DEI or Yates Racing. Also, Penske Racing is another team that may make a bid for Mears. Mears was one of the drivers that was rumored to replace Rusty Wallace three years ago.

Back to the 5 car, it looks as if Mark Martin is going to take over that ride on a full-time basis. Martin just cannot stay away from NASCAR. I think he underestimated his timetable for retirement when he first announced his retirement in 2005. He will warm the seat for Landon Cassill, who will likely take over the 5 ride in 2010. Brad Keselowski is RCR's third choice behind Newman and Martin Truex, Jr. He could end up at RCR or with Tony Stewart's upstart team.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Even though Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer stated that they plan to remain with their respective teams, silly season rumors have included both drivers. Over the past two months, Biffle has publicly declared his desire to remain at Roush Fenway Racing at least until 2011, and this became official today.

"I weighed, certainly, all of my options out and it felt like the 16 car is where I really wanted to spend my next three years driving."

A year ago, I thought Biffle was the odd-man out at Roush Fenway Racing, but his performance has thrown that notion out the window.

Meanwhile, Clint Bowyer's name somehow got thrown into the mix. Supposedly, Hendrick Motorsports courted last year's breakthrough driver. Bowyer is one of NASCAR's most consistent young drivers, and it is unlikely that Childress would allow Bowyer to leave. And why would Bowyer want to leave? He has a great relationship with both Childress and his two teammates Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Several years ago, Kevin Harvick took every opportunity to publicly blast Kurt Busch. Now that the rivalry has cooled off, Kurt's little brother Kyle has drawn the ire of Harvick. Last week, Kyle Busch made contact with Ron Hornaday, who drives for Kevin Harvick, Inc. The contact caused Hornaday to spin and his chances of victory vanished. Both Harvick and Hornaday approached Busch following the race, and the trio engaged in a heated discussion.

Hornaday practically promised retribution, and Harvick went off in a tangent about how young 'punks' disrespect the sport.

On Sunday, Harvick overdrove the hairpin turn while trying to pass David Gilliland; however, he ran into third place driver Jamie McMurray, which set off the domino effect as Tony Stewart was collected as well. Race-winner Kyle Busch enjoyed talking about Harvick's blunder.

"Everybody makes mistakes sometimes, but when Harvick comes up to me and runs his mouth like he did at Michigan [after an incident in a Craftsman Series truck race last weekend] and says all the stuff he did, he kind of stuck it right back in his mouth here this weekend. That was good to see," Busch said with pleasure.

As of now, Harvick has yet to respond, but it is just a matter of time before he let's the world know how he feels about Kyle Busch.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

The weekend produced some decent racing at Milwaukee and Sonoma, but it also produced more speculation regarding the future of several drivers. The latest rumor has Mark Martin replacing Casey Mears in the number 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Mears has yet to live up to the expectations that Hendrick had for him. In all fairness to Mears, Hendrick has not provided him with any sort of stability. Martin would either drive the car full-time in one last attempt at the Sprint Cup championship, or he would share driving duties with Brad Keselowski.

Also, Greg Biffle is close to a three-year deal with Roush Fenway Racing, which is less than surprising. Joey Logano is expected to run a handful of Sprint Cup events later this year, so he is in the running to replace Tony Stewart in the 20 Toyota if Stewart does leave Joe Gibbs Racing. Ryan Newman has set a deadline for Penske to improve the performance of the 12 car or he will sign with another organization. Richard Childress has expressed interest in Newman.

Childress has narrowed his driver search down to 3 or 4 drivers, which include Newman, Martin Truex, Jr., Scott Wimmer, and another undisclosed driver. He hopes to make an announcement by August 15th, which may coinside with the Newman/Penske deadline.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

According to Ryan Newman, NASCAR officials should have penalized Dale Earnhardt Jr after he passed the pace car. Conserving fuel with just a handful of laps to go in the LifeLock 400 at Michigan, Earnhardt Jr turned his engine off and coasted past the pace car. NASCAR officials warned Earnhardt Jr to allow the pace car to pass him and he complied. Still, drivers questioned why Earnhardt was not penalized.

The always candid Newman, who spent Tuesday at Kennedy Space Center where he received a commemorative green flag for winning the 50th running of the Daytona 500, said, "Based on the conversations we have in the driver's meeting almost every week (told not to pass the pace car), yes there was preferential treatment. It's a known fact, do not pass the pace car. Whether it's a caution or coming to pit lane, whatever, you do not pass the pace car."

The 2003 Cup champion Matt Kenseth nearly echoed Newman's sentiments.

"I didn't think you could pass the pace car," he said. "I thought you had to stay close up, but if I was in their position, obviously, I'd be doing the same thing, trying to make it to the end on fuel."

Folks, there is no conspiracy theory here. While I agree with Newman that NASCAR has its golden boys, I think they let this one slide only because Earnhardt Jr only needed one warning. Recall last year at Kansas when Greg Biffle ran out of fuel and allowed four cars to pass him before he crossed the finish line. Technically, Biffle did not maintain a reasonable speed, and Clint Bowyer should have won. NASCAR allowed Biffle to keep the win, and Biffle is not considered one of NASCAR's golden boys.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

After ten seasons sponsoring the 22 car for Bill Davis Racing, Caterpillar will join Richard Childress Racing in 2009, and replace the departing AT&T Wireless brand. Caterpillar was the former sponsor for Jeff Burton's brother Ward from 1999 to 2003. Caterpillar also sponsored Scott Wimmer and Dave Blaney.

AT&T, formerly Cingular Wireless, was a primary sponsor for RCR ever since 2002. So another piece of the silly season puzzle has been filled. RCR still has an opening for the number 33 car sponsored by General Mills. Ryan Newman appears to be the leading candidate for that job, although he has stated that he has received an offer from his current employer Roger Penske.

Bill Davis Racing is now searching for a sponsor for his one-car operation.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Could this be the beginning of the end for Reed Sorenson at Chip Ganassi Racing? If the report on Jayski is accurate, Scott Pruett will drive the number 41 Target Dodge for this weekend's Sprint Cup race at Infineon.

Sorenson enjoyed an abundance of success as a rookie in the Nationwide Series in 2005, but he has struggled since replacing Casey Mears in the 41 car. Now, Sorenson has become expendible, and may lose his ride before the season is complete. Sorenson would likely have no trouble finding another decent ride, as he is still young and marketable. But still, marketability can only get you so far in this sport. You still have to perform.

If Sorenson does leave Ganassi before the season's complete, and this is only speculation, Ganassi may finally learn from his past mistakes of rushing a driver's development. He seemed pleased with veteran Jeremy Mayfield's effort at Dover earlier in the month, and he could be a possibility.

Scott Pruett is a phenomenal road course racer, and should give the Cup boys a run for their money.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Joey Logano received a multitude of compliments as he embarked upon his Nationwide Series debut in Dover two weeks ago. He posted a solid sixth place finish, but he was far from satisfied. His disappointment showed that he is a true competitor.

In his second start at Nashville, he won the pole and led 64 laps before a four-tire stop dropped him out of the top ten. While trying to force his way back to the front, he spun out after contact from Greg Biffle while they were racing three-wide. Logano did not want to hit the wall so he came down on Biffle, who had the middle lane claimed. His comments following the wreck was troublesome.

He said that the four-tire pit stop 'put us back there in the 'trash'. Now, 'trash' could have meant the 'dirty air', but most drivers just say 'dirty air'. After the crew repaired the damage, Logano rode around and turned laps. He said, "You get out of everybody's way. You don't want to get in the mess, because you have nothing to gain. You don't feel like riding in the back with all the junk."

Isn't it just a little too early in his career to be taking shots at fellow competitors and their equipment? Biffle, a proven winner and 2002 Nationwide Series champion was back there with him. His teammate Kyle Busch was back there with him. There were lap cars in the mix, but to use the word trash is demeaning and disrespectful.

This is the last thing that NASCAR needs, another young arrogant punk thinking he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Wait, his nickname is 'sliced bread'. Mark Martin and the media are to blame as they stroked this kid's ego too much before he ever strapped into a Nationwide Series car.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

The 2008 season could not have began any sweeter for Ryan Newman and Roger Penske as they captured the Daytona 500. It has been sour ever since, as the 12 team has encountered one too many mechanical malfunctions in the first thirteen races.

Newman is at the end of his contract with Penske, who he has driven for since 2000. However, with all of the fuss regarding Tony Stewart and his possible availability, NASCAR's second top free agent has flew under the radar. The quiet yet candid driver is a hot commodity in the NASCAR garage. Not only does he boast a Daytona 500 trophy, but he has 12 additional wins, all which occurred in a four-year span.

In 2005, Newman was at the end of his contract, and was on Jack Roush's radar to replace Mark Martin in the famed number 6 Ford, but Newman remained loyal to Penske, re-signing for another three years. However, Alltel, Newman's only primary sponsor since he was in the ARCA Series in 2000, will merge with Verizon Wireless. Eventually, the Alltel brand will be phased out, which means that there will be no more blue and white Alltel Dodge circling the tracks.

As a top free agent, Newman's future is probably not at Penske. There are one too many question marks. Richard Childress Racing has a ride with a full-time sponsor. Sure, the team is not locked into the all-important top 35, but Newman is renowned for his qualifying prowess. Furthermore, somehow, that 33 team will be locked in. Money can buy points. The 20 ride could be vacant if Tony Stewart leaves his Joe Gibbs Racing team. Over the next couple of months, the blurry silly season picture will become clearer. Newman and Stewart will have the greatest impact on how silly season plays out.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Jamie McMurray's days at Roush Fenway Racing appear to be numbered. The Charlotte Observer reported that McMurray is already searching for future employment with another team. Although McMurray denied the report, there must be some truth to it. McMurray has underachieved ever since he made the transition from Chip Ganassi Racing to Roush Fenway Racing.

Following the 2009 season, Roush Fenway Racing must downscale to four teams. Currently at five teams, one driver will be the odd-man out. Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, and Matt Kenseth are three of the most talented drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage, so clearly, Roush and his staff will do everything they can to keep those drivers in the stable for the duration of their careers. That leaves the twenty-two year old David Ragan, who is beginning to show promise, and Jamie McMurray, who has been in the sport since 2002 and only has two career victories. Clearly, Ragan is the logical choice.

McMurray, once considered one of NASCAR's top rising stars, has stuggled to find any consistency with one of NASCAR's top teams. There is no doubting his talent, as he is typically competitive on tracks such as the road courses, restrictor plates, and short tracks, all tracks that require more from the driver. His struggles on the intermediate speedways could be due to the inability to verbally relay to the crew chief what the car needs to handle better.

If McMurray does leave Roush Fenway Racing after the season, he could land at Roush's sister team, Yates Racing, or perhaps DEI or Richard Childress Racing. McMurray probably has one chance left with a solid organization.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Office Depot will no longer sponsor Carl Edwards and the 99 Roush Fenway Racing entry following the 2009 season. Aflac, which is a secdonary sponsor, will replace the office supplies chain. Recently, UPS surfaced as a possible sponsor for Edwards as they appear to be shopping for a new driver to take on a marketable role, similar to Dale Jarrett.

UPS was also linked to Martin Truex, Jr and Penske Racing, not sure how that one started. Truex, Jr is currently under contract with DEI and with an option for 2009, but he is in no hurry to sign any dotted lines. Truex, Jr joining Penske could mean that a fourth team is on the horizon, or that Ryan Newman is leaving. Newman is arguably the top free agent that has no contract signed for 2009. Tony Stewart is not a free agent.

Jeremy Mayfield has returned from a 12-day tour in Iraq. Mayfield has flew under the radar ever since he parted ways with Haas CNC Racing in April. The five-time winner, and two-time Chase for the Championship participant should be a hot commodity, but his track record with car owners has lowered his stock just a bit. He will receive another opportunity at Dover as he will drive the number 40 Dodge for the currently injured Dario Franchitti. I'm not sure that driving for Chip Ganassi will showcase your potential, but it is a step up from Haas CNC Racing.

LMS track promoter Humpy Wheeler announced his retirement on Wednesday after 33 years. Wheeler is the long-time president of LMS and a legendary promoter. He also befriened several of NASCAR"s legends such as Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and David Pearson.

Doug Richert is out as the crew chief on DEI's 01 entry and is replced by Kevin Buskirk.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Juan Pablo Montoya's bump 'n', no let me rephrase, wreck 'n' run on his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Pruett highlighted the weekend in Mexico City last year. Unfortunately, the Colombian driver decided to relish one of his scarce Sprint Cup off-weekends.

Montoya has every right to savor his time off, but the race in Mexico City is designed to attract more Latino fans. Montoya is the top Latino driver in the world, all apologies to Adrian Fernandez. His apearance in this race would have really verfiied to the NASCAR world that this race was important, and that it has a future. Now there are whispers of scratching this race of the Nationwide Series agenda.

Love him or hate him, Montoya is a dang good driver, and provides plenty of excitement wherever he is on the track. Instead, Kyle Krisiloff is driving the second Chip Ganassi Racing entry.

Also absent from the Mexico City race is hometown favorites Jorge Geoters and Carlos Contreras. Canadian driver Ron Fellows is without a ride as well.

Kyle Busch is contemplating running a full Nationwide Series schedule. That would be bad news for Clint Bowyer and Carl Edwards. Bowyer and Edwards are expected to battle amongst themselves for the Nationwide title. If Busch were to run the full sked, it would throw a monkeywrench into the plans of Bowyer and Edwards.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

No longer is she only the IRL eye-candy that looks better than she races. Danica Patrick won her first IRL race in the rain delayed event at Twin Ring Motegi. She becomes the first female to win in the IndyCar Series, significant indeed. It was her 50th career start in IRL. Patrick was a rookie in 2005.

Patrick took advantage of fuel mileage after Scott Dixon pitted. She passed Helio Castroneves and pulled away to win by over 5.8 seconds.

"It's a long time coming, finally...I was managing to save fuel and keep the speed up and when I saw Helio, I knew he was the one to beat," said the euphoric winner.

Cynics have accused Danica Patrick of being the Anna Kournakova of auto racing. Sure, she has sex appeal, but can she win? Patrick answered those questions in Japan. It is time to take Patrick seriously.

And Helio, you got beat by a girl.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Penske hires David Stremme. This could turn out to be a brilliant move for Stremme. He presently drives for Rusty Wallace part-time in the Nationwide Series, and has enjoyed some solid showings. Instead of settling for a third-tier ride, he will test cars for Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman, 2004 champion Kurt Busch, and three-time IRL champion Sam Hornish, Jr.

Penske is a premier organization that may have an opening in the near future. Hornish, Jr.'s heart may still be in open-wheel racing, though he has denied that he will compete in the Indianapolis 500. If he returns to IRL, Stremme is the frontrunner for the 77. Newman is a free agent and may be exploring his options. Obviously, teams are going to throw some dollar bills at Newman. If Newman leaves Penske, then Stremme would hit the jackpot with the 12 team. Perhaps Penske is gearing up for a fourth team.

Ken Schrader will drive for Haas CNC at Talladega. Haas CNC Racing continues to serve as a revolving door for journeyman drivers. The team dumped Johnny Sauter after he produced a solid season with a rookie team. In comes Jeremy Mayfield, a proven winner, and after seven races, they show him the door. When is this team going to commit to a driver? Schrader will be the next ex-Haas driver.

Ganassi swaps crew chiefs on the 41 and 42. Ganassi lashed out at his underachieving teams at Texas, therefore, he made some changes. Well, the team he called pathetic, the 40 team driven by Dario Franchitti, was not a part of the reorganization. Montoya has carried the banner for Ganassi, and the 41 team has been decent, but they cannot escape bad luck. Donnie Wingo will now be the crew chief for Reed Sorenson, and Jimmy Elledge for Montoya.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

After qualifying for the Chase for the Championship in 2004 and 2005, Jeremy Mayfield appeared to have overcome the issues that plagued him while he was driving for Penske Racing. However, a feud with Ray Evernham in 2006, less than six months after he finished ninth in the championship standings, ended his tenure with the Evernham organization.

He moved on to Bill Davis Racing in 2007, but that ride ended in October before he joined Haas CNC Racing. Mayfield could not make the situation work and finds himself searching for another ride.

Johnny Sauter will replace Mayfield at Phoenix.

Unfortunately, Mayfield may have worn out his welcome in the Sprint Cup series. He was highly pursued after he left Penske Racing in 2001, and when his contract expired in 2003, several car owners courted the Kentucky native.

Ever since his feud with Evernham, Mayfield's reputation has suffered, as many blame him for his career downward spiral. However, there are two sides to every story. It seems that Mayfield lost every bit of confidence he had after the fallout with Evernham.

“Jeremy’s proven resume behind the wheel of a Cup car was a real benefit to our team,” Haas General Manager Joe Custer said. “He stepped into the seat and did everything we asked him to and more...Ultimately, we were unable to provide him with the right balance, handling and speed he needed to be successful. We wish Jeremy nothing but the best for his future.”

Unlike the Penske and Evernham fiasco, Mayfield has amicably parted ways with Haas and Bill Davis. Maybe he is not all that bad. It looks like Mayfield will end his career in the Nationwide Series, or Craftsman Truck Series.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Add Petty Enterprises to the ever growing list of teams that are searching for long-term sponsors. After nine years, General Mills will leave the Petty Enterprises organization and sponsor a fourth Richard Childress Racing team. Many are speculating that Bobby Labonte will follow his sponsor to RCR.

Labonte has spent the last three seasons with the Petty's driving the famed number 43 Dodge, and has built a strong friendship with that group. However, RCR has deeper pockets and is unarguably the better option. Additionally, Labonte drives for RCR part-time in the Nationwide Series, and has driven for Kevin Harvick in the past. Labonte is close friends with Jeff Burton and Harvick.

While Labonte is considered a loyal person, he is a competitor, and he possess that will to win.

Loyalty and alliances run deep in NASCAR, however, performance is key in this sport, especially this day in age.

The Petty's are currently in the process of lining up a partnership that would increase the cashflow. The company that has been mentioned is the Medallion Financial Group.

Kyle Petty will give up his seat at Texas as Chad McCumbee will step in. The 45 team is outside of the top 35 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup owner's standings, so the youngster must qualify his way in.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

The Jack Roush versus Toyota feud has turned ugly. They traded barbs a few weeks ago after Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards and his team failed post-race inspection as the lid on the oil reservoir was missing.

Lee White, Toyota Racing Development's General Manager, said, "I guarantee you the cover bolts didn't fall out, because if they fall, the engine leaks and you can't run. If you want something to fall off, you fix it so it can...If you have 21% more downforce, that's like having 50 (extra) horsepower. There's absolutely something going on there where someone knew what they were doing."

Of course, Roush provided us with a discourteous retort to his former employee's comments. He said, "Toyota and Lee White are besieged by the fact that they've wasted a bunch of money for two years, that they haven't gotten the results that they represented to their management."

Well, the battlelines were drawn and the Cat in the Hat has reportedly thrown out some serious accusations in an interview with ESPN The Magazine that would debase Toyota .

“We had a proprietary Roush Fenway part go missing from one of my race teams, and we recovered it from a Toyota team. I’m not going to say which team it is, but we are considering legal action, or getting NASCAR involved," said Roush.

Hopefully, this is false, because anything that can potentially destroy the integrity of the sport is difficult to overcome. And it would give fans another reason to detest Toyota.

It would be the second Toyota debacle...I'm sure everyone remembers the Mikey-gate at Daytona last year.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

The Goodyear versus Tony Stewart feud is not going away any time soon. Less than a week after Stewart lambasted Goodyear following the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta, the tire company has publicly stated that they have no plans to invite Stewart back to a tire test.

Goodyear representative Greg Stucker comfirmed that it was not because of Stewart's harsh criticism of the tire compound. Stewart participated in a tire test at Las Vegas in December and was supposedly less than thrilled to be involved.

“Tony (and other NASCAR drivers) was invited to the Las Vegas tire test in December because he was very vocal about his displeasure with the Las Vegas race track and our tire recommendation previously...He was there, but I would say he probably really wasn’t involved. He wasn’t into it … If he’s not going to be more constructive than he has been recently or was at that test, no, he won’t get another test. We look for people that want to be engaged that provide us with feedback, to be there to do what we need...Tony made it very clear that he would have (rather) been someplace else and he really wasn’t very cooperative as far as giving us feedback," said Stucker Friday morning at the Bristol Motor Speedway.

Stewart, who has never been a fan of testing, must provide the tire company his assessment of the tire at these tests. If he wants to call out the tire company, at least try to help the situation when given the opportunity. I really like Stewart, and there is a chance that Stucker is exaggerating. We'll see what Stewart's response it later when he addresses the media, because we all know that he will.

Goodyear is refusing to back down from NASCAR's most vocal driver.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Despite the family feud at DEI last season, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Martin Truex Jr have remained buddies. The two video game addicts spent a lot of time together during their time together at DEI. Truex Jr won two championship with Chance 2 Motorsports, the team formerly co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr and Teresa Earnhardt. In 2006, Truex Jr drove a couple of races for JR Motorsports, the team that Earnhardt Jr founded.

It was recently announced that Truex Jr will drive the #5 Chevrolet, now owned by JR Motorsports and supported by Hendrick Motorsports.

Last year, many fans were critical of Teresa Earnhardt as they felt as if she chased Earnhardt Jr away from DEI by refusing to sell him majority ownership. They became incensed when she decided not to allow the #8 to move to Hendrick Motorsports with Earnhardt Jr. But maybe she is not as wicked as everyone seems to think she is. Obviously, Truex Jr had to receive permission from Teresa, who is the boss lady, to drive a race for a rival team.

“We are extremely happy to have Martin in the No. 5 National Guard Chevrolet at Bristol, and we want to thank DEI for allowing him to drive for us,” said Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Earnhardt Jr's sister and vice president / general manager at JR Motorsports.

Martin Truex Jr will drive the JR Motorsports entry at Bristol Motor Speedway next weekend.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Robby Gordon's future as a NASCAR Sprint Cup owner just received some much-needed help as his 100-point penalty was overturned. He was initially penalized 100 driver and owner points, and his crew chief Frank Kerr was fined $100,000 and suspended for six races.

The penalties involving points were scratched and and the suspension was lifted; however, Kerr's fine was increased to $150,000 and he will remain on probation until December 31.

Gordon was penalized at Daytona as his car wsa found with an unapproved front bumper cover, which ended up being a manufacturer mistake. Gordon will move up from 37th to 21st in both the owner's and driver's championship standings.

Meanwhile, Carl Edwards, who had just won his second race, was penalized 100 driver points, and Jack Roush was penalized 100 owner points after the lid to the oil reservoir was missing in post-race inspection. Additionally, crew chief Bob Osborne was fined $100,000 and will sit out the next six races. Chris Andrews and Robbie Reiser will share the crew chief duties on the 99 car.

Edwards drops for 1st to 7th in the Sprint Cup championship standings.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

After posting a noteworthy 8th place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last week, Travis Kvapil has landed a sponsor for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. Zaxby's Restaurants will sponsor the Yates Racing number 28 Ford this weekend. The Zaxby's headquarters is located in Atlanta, and they are a sponsor on the #09 Roush Fenway Racing truck in the Craftsman Truck Series.

The hood and quarterpanel of the 28 Ford has been empty for the past two weeks as Yates Racing has searched for a primary sponsor. K&N Filters sponsored Kvapil at Daytona, but at California and Las Vegas, the car was plain white.

"I'm really thrilled to have Zaxby's as the sponsor of our #28 Ford Fusion for this weekend at Atlanta," stated Kvapil. "Having the opportunity to drive the Zaxby's Ford, and Atlanta being Zaxby's home base for the company, is a great tie-in. I know that we're going to have a lot of success for them on Sunday. Our Cup team has really been able to show our potential over the past few weeks, and I think that this is a great time for sponsors to jump on board to partner with our Yates Racing teams."

For now, this is a one-race deal, but with the way this team has performed over the last two weeks, the sponsor quest may be over soon.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Red Bull Racing has announced that Mike Skinner will replace A.J. Allmendinger in the Red Bull Toyota Camry for the time being as the team has yet to qualify for a race in 2008. Skinner drives for Bill Davis Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Davis also represents the Toyota brand.

Allmendinger's teammate Brian Vickers has qualified for all three Sprint Cup event thus far.

"We're at a crossroads where we need to make a change that will elevate the No. 84 team to success," said Jay Frye, the team's vice president and general manager. "A.J.'s our guy and he's a talented driver, but there's a lot being asked of him. In order for him to be successful, we have to get this team pointed in the right direction. We hope we can do that with the help of a veteran driver."

Allmendinger did test for Red Bull Racing at Phoenix on Monday.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Jon Wood will forego his 2008 Sprint Cup debut this weekend at Las Vegas and Johnny Sauter will drive the Wood Brothers Racing Ford Fusion. Wood, the grandson of team founder Glen Wood, was scheduled to race in the UAW-Dodge 400 before he admitted that he was not ready to compete in NASCAR's new car, formerly known as the Car of Tomorrow.

"Jon didn't feel he was ready," said Eddie Wood. "My gut told me to go with Johnny (Sauter). He ran well with the COT and he's a good qualifier. He tested at Vegas in the Nationwide car so he's familiar with the track. If it gets us into the show it will be great for everyone."

Wood is also scheduled to run eight other races throughout the season. Bill Elliott is the team's primary driver, however, he will not race as he will tend to other commitments.

What does this mean for Jon Wood? Last summer, he stepped out of his Nationwide Series ride after he encountered an adverse reaction to medication that he was taking. Kelly Bires assumed his ride. When Wood returned to the track later in the season, it was in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Wood appeared to be on the fast track to stardom when he began driving trucks for Roush Fenway Racing in 2002, however, he was never able to advance. He struggled in the Nationwide Series driving for the team that his family co-owned.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Auto Club 500 results

1. Carl Edwards, Ford

2. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet

3. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

4. Kyle Busch, Toyota

5. Matt Kenseth, Ford

6. Martin Truex Jr, Chevrolet

7. Tony Stewart, Toyota

8. Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet

9. Kasey Kahne, Dodge

10. Ryan Newman, Dodge

NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings

1. Kyle Busch- 335

2. Ryan Newman- 329

3. Tony Stewart- 316

4. Kurt Busch- 299

5. Carl Edwards- 296

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

The sponsorship quest can be daunting and Jacques Villeneuve is living proof. The established open-wheel veteran had no idea that finding adequate sponsorship support would be this challenging. Villeneuve has expressed his desire to compete in NASCAR's highest level of competition for several years now and finally had his chance with Bill Davis Racing and Toyota.

He was scheduled to compete the entire Sprint Cup schedule and vie for the Rookie of the Year honors along with Regan Smith and fellow open-wheelers Sam Hornish Jr, Dario Franchitti, and Patrick Carpentier. However, the sponsorship search has come up empty and Bill Davis Racing officials have announced that Johnny Benson and Mike Skinner will drive the #27 Toyota for the time being.

Villeneuve's plans are up in the air. He still hopes that a sponsorship package can be established for his Sprint Cup effort, but in the meantime, he is in limbo.

The IROC Series is on the verge of extinction as officials announced that they will auction off the cars and miscellaneous equipment. The IROC Series has produced some of the most exicting racing and has featured some of auto racing's best drivers.

“We’re all very sad to see IROC come to an end, but the competition for major corporate sponsorship is very tough and the car manufacturers have not shown any interest. We kept hope alive as long as we could but now it’s time to look forward and move on," said President Jay Signore.

The series has suffered through the same sponsorship tribulations as aspiring Sprint Cup driver Jacques Villeneuve.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Just like his daddy used to, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is spanking the field during Daytona Speedweeks. After winning the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday, Earnhardt, Jr. backed it up with a win the first Gatorade Duel race. He moved past Ryan Newman with less than 10 laps to go and held of Newman and Reed Sorenson.

Brian Vickers and Kenny Wallace raced their way into the field after posting top ten finishes. Bill Elliott, Carl Long, and Sterling Marlin will not race in Sunday's 50th running of the Daytona 500. It's a shame, Elliott deserves to be there.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Following their heated exchange on and off the track on Friday, NASCAR has placed Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch on probation.

Stewart ran into the back of Busch during practice causing damage to Busch's Dodge Charger. The 2004 champion retaliated by bumping Stewart several times as the two drivers headed towards pit road.

Both drivers were called to the NASCAR hauler where things continued to escalate. According to multiple sources, Busch insulted Stewart during their argument, which led to Stewart throwing a punch.

Since then, both drivers have said that the incident is behind them. However, NASCAR handed down punishments for both drivers, which is a six-race probation.

NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter plans to redefine the term probation and how it is utilized in NASCAR.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Tony Stewart clipped Kurt Busch late in Saturday evening's Budweiser Shooting, drawing the ire of the 2004 Sprint Cup champion. The two drivers banged on each other as they headed by towards pit road.

NASCAR officials summoned Busch and Stewart to the hauler where the tempers reportedly escalated. Rumors have surfaced that Stewart punched Busch after the discussion became heated. NASCAR officials neither confirmed nor denied the confrontation.

As things cooled off, both drivers said that they have put the incident behind them.

"We're going to move forward. We know we need to help each other out in the future so that doesn't happen again," said Kurt Busch.

Tony Stewart said, "The best thing to do is to go on and move forward and not let this linger between the two of us."

Penalties, if any, will be announced later this week.

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

The sponsor search continues for Yates Racing; however, some of the pressure was lifted when Experian Consumer Direct and FreeCreditReport.com announced that they would endorse the 38 Ford Fusion driven by David Gilliland for the Budweiser Shootout as well as the first six races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

This rumor surfaced about two weeks ago, and has become a done deal right in the nick of time. FreeCreditReport.com was the sponsor for David Gilliland in the Nationwide Series in 2007 when he competed in a partial schedule for Team Rensi.

Yates Racing is still searching for companies to represent the two-car operation. After the sixth race at Martinsville, there is a lot of uncertainty as far as the sponsor on the 38. The 28 car driven by Travis Kvapil is still without a primary sponsor.

Wake up corporate America! Who wouldn't want to sponsor the 28 in its return to NASCAR?

Haas CNC Racing has announced that Junior Johnson's brand of moonshine, Midnight Moon, will be the primary sponsor for Jeremy Mayfield in the Daytona 500. After that, sponsorship is still lacking for Mayfield and the 70 team.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

For the third consecutive season, Miller Brewing Company has challenged Anheiser-Busch to a friendly wager. Miller has wagered $25,000 on their driver Kurt Busch, placing full confidence that he will finish ahead of Budweiser driver Kasey Kahne in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.

Busch is favored to finish 8.5 spots ahead of Kahne in the standings based on the odds.

In addition, Miller has wagered $2,500 that Busch will finish ahead of Kahne in the Daytona 500.

All of the winnings goes to charitable organizations.

The betting lines were opened by The Palms Casino Resort.

So fans, who do you think will finish higher in the Daytona 500? The final Sprint Cup championship standings? Please let us know in the discussion forum!

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

In a rather surprising development, Robby Gordon and his single-car operation has signed a Technological and Marketing Agreement with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. The team co-owned by the Gillett family and Ray Evernham is considered one of the premier organizations in the sport, and Gordon envisions added benefits by collaborating with a team that possesses additional resources.

However, Gillett Evernham Motorsports fields Dodge Chargers, which means that Robby Gordon must quickly adapt to the new body style after a season of fielding Ford Fusions. Fortunately, with the new templates, formerly known as the Car of Tomorrow, there are more similarities with the body styles.

This alliance appears to be similar to that of Hall of Fame and Joe Gibbs Racing, or Roush Fenway Racing and Yates Racing. Clearly, this is a step in the right direction for Robby Gordon and his entire organization.

Gillett Evernham Motorsports fields three teams driven by Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, and Patrick Carpentier.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

NASCAR completed the second day of testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with Carl Edwards leading the morning practice session with a speed of 184.256 mph (29.307).

Juan Pablo Montoya led the afternoon practice session with a speed of 186.761 mph (28.914).

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Testing is under way at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. At first glance, the trio of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers are setting the pace. Denny Hamlin led the morning practice session with a speed of 178.265 mph (30.292). Kyle Busch paced the afternoon practice session with a speed of 183.580 mph (29.415).

Joe Gibbs Racing is fielding Toyota Camry's for the first time after a decade and a half of sporting General Motor products.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Pruett, and Memo Rojas capture the third consecutive Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona for Chip Ganassi Racing.

"Everybody on the team ... knows what they're capable of doing and achieving and it's just a matter of giving them the right tools to do it," said a victorious Chip Ganassi.

Pruett has now been involved in three Rolex 24 victories. Montoya was instrumental in last year's triumph as well. This is the first victory for Franchitti and Rojas.

Unfortunately, none of the Rolex 24 at Daytona victories translated into NASCAR Sprint Cup victories.

Kenny Wallace has signed with Fitz Racing to drive a second car for the Nationwide Series team. Wallace joins veteran Mike Bliss on the Fitz Racing driving roster.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Gillett Evernham Motorsports is in the process of finalizing their 2008 sponsorship plans. Valvoline and Auto Value/Bumper To Bumper will sponsor the #10 Dodge driven by rookie Patrick Carpentier for select races. Also, McDonald's will act as a primary sponsor for Elliott Sadler and the 19 team for eight races in 2008. McDonald's joins Best Buy and Stanley Tools as sponsors for Sadler.

Kenny Wallace will drive a second Furniture Row Racing car in the Daytona 500. Joe Nemechek is the team's primary driver.

Dale Jarrett will replace Rusty Wallace in the ESPN broadcasting booth. Jarrett will retire from driving following the sixth race of the season. Wallace will become ESPN's lead analyst on NASCAR Countdown and will appear on ESPN's NASCAR news show NASCAR Now. Veteran broadcaster Allen Bestwick will become ESPN's host of race telecasts.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

NASCAR took a step in the right direction when it comes to their whacked-out qualifying procedure. In the past, the top 35 teams were locked into the field and the rest had to qualify for the race based on their speeds. In 2007, with the addition of several new teams, several key drivers such as Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Jeremy Mayfield, Scott Riggs, and Brian Vickers missed numerous races.

On several occasions, the drivers would lay blame on their qualifying draw. On most tracks, the later the draw, the better, mainly due to the cooler temperatures and shade.

Yesterday, NASCAR Vice President of Competition announced that all drivers outside of the top 35 in owner's points will qualify as a group at the end of each qualifying session. This will level things out a bit and will allow the best prepared team in the show. Last season, Kenny Wallace or Kevin Lepage may out-qualify Brian Vickers or Scott Riggs based on their qualifying draw. This year, it will be more difficult for teams such as Front Row Motorsports, Furniture Row Racing, and BAM Racing to squeeze into the show.

The Sprint Cup Series will begin this procedure at California, as the qualifying for the Daytona 500 is based on two qualifying races. The qualifying rule will be in place for the Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series as well. However, the top 30 drivers and teams are locked in as opposed to the top 35.

Other changes announced by NASCAR can be viewed here.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Here is a list of the cumulative speeds for both Daytona 500 testing sessions.

Kasey Kahne led the Wednesday testing session with a speed of 189.111 mph (47.591). Denny Hamlin, Dario Franchitti, Regan Smith, and Ryan Newman rounded out the top ten.

The buzz around the garage is that NASCAR may be considering increasing the age limit for drivers in the Sprint Cup series. Currently, the minimum age is 18; however, NASCAR may raise it to 21.

NASCAR is also considering altering the gear rule before the Daytona 500. As of now, teams can opt for a 370 or 375 gear. NASCAR would like to lower the RPM.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Dale Earnhardt Jr topped the Tuesday morning practice charts with a speed of 185.820 mph (48.434), followed by Toyota drivers Michael Waltrip, Brian Vickers, Dale Jarrett, and Tony Stewart. The Tuesday afternoon session was the first drafting session of the week. Penske Racing driver Ryan Newman led the way with a speed of 188.013 mph (47.869).

Clint Bowyer and Juan Pablo Montoya participated in a Goodyear tire test at Texas Motor Speedway on Tuesday.

"There's definitely things that feel different, but I was pleasantly surprised, I really was," said Bowyer.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Week two of Daytona 500 testing is underway and the Toyota boys are fast. In Monday morning's testing session, Michael Waltrip Racing driver Dale Jarrett led the way with a speed of 184.987 mph (48.652). Hendrick Motorsports newbie Dale Earnhardt Jr was right behind Jarrett with a speed of 184.646 mph (48.742).

Bill Davis Racing driver Dave Blaney paced the afternoon practice session with a speed of 185.445 mph (48.532). Once again, Dale Earnhardt Jr was second fastest with a speed of 185.426 mph (48.537).

Boris Said and his SOBE No Fear team plans to run five NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2008. The five races include both Daytona races, both road course races, and the fall race at Talladega.

Ken Schrader is expected to drive the #49 BAM Racing Dodge throughout Daytona SpeedWeeks, including the Daytona 500. Schrader drove for BAM Racing from 2003 to 2005.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Morgan-McClure Motorsports will not run the Daytona 500 due to lack of sponsorship. The #4 team has three Daytona 500 titles with Ernie Irvan and Sterling Marlin.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

The loss of Dale Earnhardt, Jr has not curtailed DEI's ability to attract sponsorship. Steak-umm and Cub Cadet were added as associate sponsors for DEI. Steak-umm will serve as one of the associates on the #8 car driven by Mark Martin and Aric Almirola.

Cub Cadet will serve as the associate sponsor on the #1 car driven by Martin Truex Jr.

Regan Smith, driver of the #01 DEI team, was spotted sporting the Principal Financial logo on his uniform. No official announcement has been made regarding the sponsor on the #01 car. It is speculated that several companies will share sponsorship for Regan Smith.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced that Stanley Tools will be the primary sponsor for Elliott Sadler and the 19 team for 12 races as well as the All-Star event in May at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Stanley Tools recently shared sponsorship with Valvoline on the #10 Gillett Evernham Motorsports team in 2006 and 2007 with Scott Riggs behind the wheel. Riggs has left the organization to driver for Haas CNC Racing. Patrick Carpentier will take over driving duties in the #10 car. Valvoline will remain the sponsor for select races.

Stanley Tools and Best Buy will share the sponsorship for Elliott Sadler on the 19 car for the majority of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Best Buy will be on the hood for 15 races.

“We are excited about our increased involvement with Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Elliott Sadler,” said Scott Bannell, Vice President, Brand Marketing at Stanley Works. “We are optimistic about the 2008 season and look forward to seeing the Stanley Tools Dodge at the front of the field.”

"Stanley has been a great partner to the entire Gillett Evernham Motorsports program and I’m honored they will now be one of my primary sponsors,” said Sadler.

autoracing@suite101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Jimmie Johnson dominated the first half of the week's first testing session while Kyle Busch dominated the last half. Busch, formerly a teammate of Jimmie Johnson at Hendrick Motorsports, is starting his first season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing and their fleet of Toyota Camry's. In the first testing session Wednesday morning, Kyle Busch led the way with a speed of 187.786 mph (47.927). In the Wednesday afternoon session, Busch led the way with a speed of 188.830 mph (47.662).

In other news, Red Bull Racing has hired Kevin Hamlin to take over the crew chief role for Brian Vickers and 83 team. Hamlin recently served as the crew chief for Dave Blaney on the Bill Davis Racing #22 team. Hamlin was also the Dale Earnhardt's last crew chief before his death at Daytona in 2001. Hamlin became Earnhardt's crew chief in the summer of 1998. He also worked with Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton in his tenure with Richard Childress Racing. This is not the first time that Vickers has had the pleasure of working a former crew chief of Dale Earnhardt. Last season, Doug Richert worked with Vickers and the 83 team. Richert was 20 years old when he helped lead Earnhardt to his first Cup championship in 1980 with Rod Osterlund.

The Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals will be televised on Pay-Per-View on Saturday. Also, NASCAR.com and Foxsports.com will streamline the qualifying session on Friday night at 10:30 PM. Sprint Cup drivers Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne will be among those competing in the Chili Bowl as well as Nationwide Series driver Jason Leffler.

autoracing@sutie101.com

Posted by Jeremy Dunn

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson led the Tuesday morning practice session with a speed of 184.763 mph (48.711) followed by rookie Jacques Villeneuve with at speed of 184.456 mph (48.792).

Hall of Fame driver J.J. Yeley posted the top speed in the Tuesday afternoon practice session with a speed of 187.359 (48.036). In the afternoon session, the drivers and teams worked on their drafting setups, which is the reason behind the significantly faster speeds.

In other news, Joe Gibbs resigned from his head coaching position with the Washington Redskins. Gibbs formed Joe Gibbs Raci