Reed Sorenson had a tough run Monday in Pocono, getting caught up in a wreck and then suffering carbon monoxide poisoning. Sorenson was so sick, that Richard Petty Motorsports contacted Jacque Villeneuve about piloting the No. 43 Dodge on the road course at Watkins Glen. Since then, Sorenson has recovered and Villeneuve will not be in the car.
News just confirmed Friday on SPEED channel about the crew chiefs and teams of the No. 43 and No. 44 RPM cars was only rumors the day before. Mike Shiplet, Chrt and the entire No. 43 team and fleet of cars are not paired with driver A.J. Allmendinger and Sammy Johns and the entire No. 44 team are now with Reed Sorenson. Both teams, especially Sorenson’s have struggled this season, prompting the change. A similar change occurred earlier in the year at Richard Childress Racing, with Casey Mears and Kevin Harvick’s teams being switched.
Lowe’s ends naming rights association with Charlotte Motor Speedway
The economy has taken its toll in many areas, but the home improvement industry has felt some of the most painful effects. On the heels of DeWalt Tools ending its decade-plus partnership with Matt Kenseth, Lowe’s announced that it was no longer going to hold the title sponsorship at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The partnership had lasted for over 10 years and the two sides could not come to terms on renewing the deal. Lowe’s will remain the full-time primary sponsor for three-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion No. 48 team and driver Jimmie Johnson.
Track officials have not announced if any other companies are interested in buying the title sponsorship, but did say that they had no plans to sell off the naming rights. Track officials also said that the ticket prices would not rise because of the loss of Lowe’s.
Stewart says expansion of SHR unlikely for 2010
Options for free agent drivers are starting to dwindle. Tony Stewart told reporters this week that Stewart Hass Racing is likely not in a position to expand from two teams to three next season, going against positive statements about team expansion made as recently as less than a month ago. Stewart says he made a promise to driver Ryan Newman and GM Bobby Hutchens that SHR would expand to four teams one day, but did say that he would need to have a definite sponsor and driver in place if the team wanted to expand next season.
This means that Brad Keselowski has one less option amongst the Cup teams he is looking at, though some reports say that Stewart was never interested in him. Keselowski, who won Talladega back in April, wants to race in Cup next season and has been rumored to be looking to SHR for a ride, since it is a satellite team of Hendrick Motorsports, which prepares his Cup cars and is partnered with his Nationwide Series team, JR Motorsports. Keselowski had been rumored to be looking to Team Red Bull for a ride, though that has been denied and still remains a possibility for Team Penske. If he goes to Penske, then he may not be able to race for Dale Eaernhardt Jr.’s Chevys in the Nationwide Series. No other free agent drivers have signed with new teams for 2010.
Road course ringers taking several seats at Watkins Glen
The Sprint Cup Series races on its 2nd road course race of the year Sunday and only one team inside the top 35 is switching drivers, since the race for the top 35 in points is not very close. Patrick Carpentier replaces Michael Waltrip in the No. 55 NAPA Toyota Sunday.
Other teams outside the top 35 are also changing drivers. TRG Motorsports is replacing David Gilliland in the No. 71 with Georgia resident Andy Lally. Gilliland will attempt the race in the team’s No. 70 Chevy. Ron Fellows assumes the driver’s position of the No. 09 car for Phoenix Racing, Tony Ave will be in the Front Row Motorsports No. 37, and Brian Simo will be behind the wheel of the No. 36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Toyota. Though Terry Labonte and his Past Champion’s provisional would be beneficial toward the No. 08 Carter/Simo Racing getting into Sunday’s show, road course expert Boris Said will be behind the wheel of the No. 08 car. P.J. Jones will attempt the race in Robby Gordon’s No. 04 Toyota, though that team did start and park back at Sonoma.
In the Nationwide Series, Boris Said replaces Georgia’s John Wes Townley in the No. 09 Ford Saturday, Chris Cook joining forces with MSRP’s No. 90 team (though it will probably start and park, Marcos Ambrose will return to the Nationwide Series in the JTG Daugherty No. 47 Toyota, Robby Gordon will drive his own No. 55 Toyota, and Scott Speed will be in the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 99 Toyota.
Bliss released from Phoenix Racing; Hamlin in No. 11 at CJM
Surprisingly and with no explanation given, driver Mike Bliss was released from the No. 1 Phoenix Racing Chevy this week and Ryan Newman will drive the entry Saturday at Watkins Glen. Bliss had one win and was 6th in points this season, marking one of the best efforts of Nationwide Series-only teams this year.
Scott Lagasse Jr.’s release from the No. 11 CJM Racing Toyota was announced a couple of weeks ago, but the departure starts this weekend. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin will pilot the car Saturday. The rest of the driver lineup for the No. 11 for the season has not been announced. JGR and CJM share a technical alliance.
Georgia drivers have lousy race week in Iowa and Pocono
The holdover at Pocono Raceway because of rain last weekend did not help any Georgia drivers. David Ragan ran midpack for much of the race, used pit strategy to get toward the front, but then helped cause a couple of wrecks and eventually finished 22nd. He is 30th in points. Reed Sorenson got caught up in one of Ragan’s wrecks and finished 35th, sending him to 28th in points.
At the inaugural Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway, John Wes Townley had issues and placed the No. 09 in 29th. Ken Butler III’s race ended early, after being caught up in a mid-race crash; he finished 33rd.
Listen to Doug at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Lakewood Speedway reunion on The Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury 120 this Saturday from 2-4 p.m. with host Captain Herb Emory, on News/Talk 750 WSB in Atlanta and online at wsbradio.com. You can also hear Doug weekly as a co-host for The Lead Lap: the leader in North Georgia racing news, Saturdays from 10-11 p.m., on ESPN 1240 The Ticket in Gainesville and online at racefanradio.com
