A partnership with Nationwide Series Toyota team Braun Racing begins this weekend (with Elliott Sadler in the No. 10) for Richard Petty Motorsports and rumors are rampant about the future manufacturer of that team. Reports surfaced this week that RPM is considering putting marquee driver Kasey Kahne in a No. 9 Sprint Cup Series Toyota in the next month and a half, but those sources say that change likely will not happen midseason.
The focus of the rumors is now on a possible 2010 target departure of RPM from Chrysler and the Dodge Charger to Toyota Camry’s. The main reason for the talks is Chrysler’s infamous financial standing and government ownership. There are reports that the longtime Petty supporter also owes the already cash-strapped team payments and this instability could be cause for the team to move to foreign maker Toyota.
Richard Petty spoke with Dave Moody this week on Sirius Speedway and did not rule out any options the team is considering. The seven-time champ, whose famous No. 43 Plymouth won many races and championships, did not even rule out the possibility of RPM running multi-manufacturers. Petty, however, did not confirm any of the team’s future plans.
This being said, the fact remains that there is a large possibility that the Petty name could be on Toyota’s full-time next season. There are also rumors cycling around that Earnhardt Ganassi Racing could also make that switch to Toyota, if they are left with only one team next season, if Martin Truex Jr. and sponsor Bass Pro Shops defect for the team. Both of these rumors are preliminary and no real details have been confirmed.
On the Chevy side of the fence, General Motors’ financial dire straights have ignited questions about its ability to remain in the sport. Last week, GM announced it was cutting funding to its Nationwide and Truck Series teams next season, following Dodge and Ford’s abandonment of the NCWTS before this season. According to court documents, Richard Childress Racing, a longtime campaigner of GM vehicles in the Cup Series, has filed a document as part of GM’s bankruptcy proceedings, that states that GM owes the large NASCAR operation an approximately $2.5 million quarterly payment. RCR has clarified that it is not suing GM, but only filing papers as part of the ailing automaker’s bankruptcy proceedings.
Toyota’s Team Red Bull is at the end of their contract with the automaker and may be considering a move to Chevy, despite its financial struggles. Team GM Jay Frye did not rule that possibility out, saying that the ultimate decision lies at the team’s corporate headquarters in Austria. There were rumors in the garage last weekend that Toyota is considering following other manufacturers’ suits and cutting or completely withdrawing its funding in the Camping World and Nationwide Series.
Spec engines and Nationwide Series COT may be on the horizon
Though no word of this has come from anyone in the sport, NASCAR may be considering implementing “spec” or “crate” motors in the Camping World and Nationwide Series. These motors are used in many smaller racing series and help teams cut costs by being cold to teams sealed, so they are not allowed to take the motor apart and modify it. Implementation of these motors could save already struggling teams in these series a lot of money.
An opposite of cost-cutting measure could start as early as next season in the Nationwide Series. Nationwide Series director Joe Balash says NASCAR is considering running the new COT, which is supposed to resemble more of a muscle car than the current sedan design, on road courses and restrictor plate races, with hopes of full implementation by 2011. Balash says the rule book is being finalized.
Lamar and Whitt leave teams
One by force and the other voluntarily, Burney Lamar and Brandon Whitt are no longer the drivers of their respective teams. Braun Racing announced this week that Lamar has been released from the team’s No. 32 Dollar General Toyota, piloting to only one top 10 in nine races this year. Lamar was fired from Kevin Harvick Inc.’s No 77 Dollar General Chevy in 2006 after a fruitless stint there.
Brandon Whitt has decided to leave the No. 61 Specialty Racing Ford, after racing in that low-budget entry for most of the last two years with the team with no top 10s. There is no word on a future ride for the California driver and Specialty Racing has not announced a replacement for him.
Roush Fenway ramping up 2010 Nationwide Series plans
Jack Roush said in an interview last week that he would like to run Colin Braun and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. each full-time in the Nationwide Series in 2010, but that all depends on sponsorship. Both Braun and Stenhouse are in Roush’s developmental driver program and have achieved success in lower series, with Braun running the past two years (and winning two weeks ago) in the Truck Series and Stenhouse nearly winning the ARCA title last year. Roush says that if sponsorship cannot be found, he would try and run the talented up-and-comers part-time.
2007 Nationwide Series champ Carl Edwards says that he plans on running the full Nationwide Series schedule again in 2010 as well, meaning Roush could have as many as three-full time teams in NASCAR’s second biggest series.
Keselowski to meet with Hendrick soon about Cup plans; some teams could expand
Brad Keselowski was adamant after winning in Talladega that he wants to run full-time in Sprint Cup in 2010. The Nationwide Series JR Motorsports driver already is running 10-15 races this season with Hendrick Motorsports and Phoenix Racing. Keselowski and Rick Hendrick are meeting soon to discuss his future plans.
Originally, Keselowski was supposed to share the No. 5 HMS Chevy with veteran Mark Martin in 2010, but the ageless veteran has indicated he wants to run full-time. With HMS already at the NASCAR-mandated four-team limit, Hendrick has nowhere to put the driver.
This leaves Keselowski with the prospect of Stewart Hass Racing as a destination. Owner-driver Tony Stewart says that they may be looking at adding a third team, depending on money. There is also a chance that, with Chevy pulling its Nationwide Series funding, that Dale Earnhardt Jr. could move his JR Motorsports team to the Cup Series with Keselowski remaining his driver. For now, only speculation exists.
Ryan Sieg tops Georgia drivers after up and down Milwaukee and Infineon weekend
Ryan Sieg of Tucker had the run of the weekend for Georgia drivers, running a Kevin Harvick Inc.-built No. 39 Chevy to a 13th place finish at Milwaukee last Saturday. The team plans on running several more races this year. Ron Hornaday won the race.
In the Nationwide Series, Watkinsville’s John Wes Townley barely saw the night lights, failing to qualify the No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford for the race for the third time this year. Carl Edwards won that race, his first NASCAR victory of the year.
In the Cup Series race at Infineon, Unadilla’s David Ragan had pieced together a surprising top 10 run, before being spun out late in the event by teammate Carl Edwards. Ragan finished 33rd and sits 30th in points. Kasey Kahne won the event.
Joey Logano made contact with fellow rookie Scott Speed and had to forfeit at top 5 spot to pit. He rebounded to finish 19th. He is 24th in points.
Reed Sorenson broke a track bar early in the event and had to go to the garage for repairs. He is 27th in the standings.
Listen to Doug on The Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury 120 with Captain Herb Emory on News/Talk 750 WSB in Atlanta and online at wsbradio.com Saturdays, from 2-4 p.m.
