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 [...]]]>

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

The oft-talked about July 6th NASCAR-administered drug test given to Jeremy Mayfield came back positive for methamphetamine, according to NASCAR. This positive result, combined with allegations from Mayfield’s stepmom saying she witnessed the maligned driver use meth repeatedly, have bolstered NASCAR’s case against Mayfield and also hampered [...]]]>

The oft-talked about July 6th NASCAR-administered drug test given to Jeremy Mayfield came back positive for methamphetamine, according to NASCAR. This positive result, combined with allegations from Mayfield’s stepmom saying she witnessed the maligned driver use meth repeatedly, have bolstered NASCAR’s case against Mayfield and also hampered the Kentucky native’s effort to exonerate himself.

Mayfield, however, is not taking any accusations sitting down. In a phone interview that aired on Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Late Shift, Mayfield told hosts Nate Ryan and Buddy Baker that he has taken 15 to 16 drug tests on his own and tested negative for meth, since testing positive for the drug in early May. Mayfield also says that he and his buddies have been filming a documentary of the driver’s plight since the positive test and suspension, to help show that he is not a drug user.

Regarding the claims made by his stepmother of habitual meth use and sales by Mayfield, he called her ‘evil’ and went further to say that she was paid by NASCAR and was paid by the sport for her testimony and was bought easily, because Mayfield never gave her money. Mayfield then added that he believed his stepmother shot and killed his father, whose death in 2007 was ruled a suicide. Mayfield is in the process of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against her.

NASCAR and CEO Brian France, of course, did not go unscathed by Mayfield, as he accused the sport of trying to save face for its testing mistake and said that NASCAR wanted to make an example of a small driver and team, so they could prove their drug policy both worked and should not be reckoned with. Mayfield also insinuated that France may be a drug user, saying his hard-line stance on drugs was quite ironic.

NASCAR, meanwhile, is using this latest Mayfield test failure as the catalyst to reverse the Federal Court injunction that halted Mayfield’s suspension and technically allowed him to race. Mayfield Motorsports has not taken to the track since the ruling in the driver’s favor, because most of the employees have been laid off due to a lack of sponsorship. Mayfield’s final employee, GM Bobby Wooten, resigned from the team this week, saying he did not believe the team would race again.

While Mayfield claims that he did his best to comply with NASCAR’s test demands on July 6th, the sanctioning body disagrees. NASCAR says that Mayfield not only was late to the test, but also tried to doctor the results. Mayfield says that he was contacted less than 20 minutes before he was supposed to arrive for the test and wanted to be sure and get a test independently both before and after the test, to prove he is innocent.

For now, Mayfield is still allowed to go to the racetrack and could race, if he finds a ride. But Mayfield says that he is now focusing all of his efforts on fighting NASCAR, exposing its wrongs, and clearing his name.

With accusations of drug use and murder filling much of the NASCAR news hole, other big NASCAR stories this week lurk in the shadows…

Harvick wants out of No. 29; Childress says sponsor and driver will remain in 2010

Kevin Harvick, according to a report earlier this week, has asked to be released one year early from his contract at Richard Childress Racing. Having easily the worst season of his Sprint Cup career and winless in Cup points races since the 2007 Daytona 500, Harvick is rumored to be interested in the potential third Stewart Haas Racing team that many expect to run next season. The original report on Harvick’s demand stated that Shell, sponsor of the No. 29 since 2007, is at the end of its RCR contract and would travel with Harvick to wherever he ended up.

Team owner Richard Childress, however, says that both Harvick and Shell are signed through 2010 and will remain together on the No. 29. Neither Harvick nor any representative from Kevin Harvick Inc. has made a statement regarding the rumor.

Harvick ranks 25th in points with only two top 10s this year and has not posted a top 10 since the Atlanta race back in March. The veteran appeared displeased with Childress’ decision to completely switch the cars and the crews of the No. 29 and Casey Mears’ No. 07 team in April, after both teams had posted lackluster results. The move separated Harvick from longtime crew chief Todd Berrier.

Truex to field ARCA car; penalties announced after post-Chicagoland violations

Martin Truex Jr. is fielding a car for Saturday night’s ARCA race in Kentucky. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing developmental driver and NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate Jesus Hernandez will drive the No. 56 Chevy, making just his 2nd career start in the series and first since 2007. The 27 year-old’s crew consists of many Sprint Cup employees helping out during that series’ off week. Hernandez currently runs full-time for EGR in the NASCAR Camping World East Series.

The news for Truex has not all been positive this week, as the No. 1 team was penalized both points and money, after post-race inspectors found the Bass Pro Shops Chevy’s right-rear quarter panel was found to be too high in Chicagoland. Truex and No. 1 team were penalized 25 driver’s and owner’s points respectively and crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion has been fined $25,000 and placed on probation until December 31st.

Yates Racing hopes to retain Labonte and Menard and Ask.com

Yates Racing co-owner Max Jones said this week that, despite rumors stating otherwise, he is confident in team drivers Bobby Labonte and Paul Menard and hopes to keep them with the team in 2010. While Menard’s and namesake driver Paul Menard are signed to the No. 98 through next season, Ask.com is rumored to be shopping its sponsorship program to other teams. Both Labonte and Menard are having rough seasons, with Labonte having secured the team’s only top 10 this year. Yates Racing’s third car, the No. 28 of Travis Kvapil, had to shut down after only a few races, because of a lack of sponsorship.

The alliance with Hall of Fame racing, which fields the No. 96 team, is also only a one-year deal. Roush Fenway Racing, the team where Jones used to be the general manager, could potentially export one of its teams to Yates Racing, since RFR has to downsize from five teams to four next year. Jones and Roush both say that move depends on sponsorship and neither has announced those plans. Roush Fenway and Yates Racing do share an engine program and RFR assists Yates with some engineering help.

Cup off, but Nationwide and Truck Series in action this weekend

With the Sprint Cup Series off, race fans will still be able to satiate some of their fix with both the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series in action Saturday night. The Trucks are in Kentucky and can be seen at 6:30 p.m. on SPEED, while the Nationwide Series is in action at Gateway near St. Louis, Missouri at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. Both races are expected to have full fields.

Ragan doesn’t need slingshot to defeat Goliath, returns to roots on Georgia tracks

Unadilla, Georgia native David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 UPS Ford, met with a couple dozen NASCAR fans at Six Flags Thursday as part of a promotion with Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ragan rode The Goliath, Six Flags’s newest rollercoaster, and then spent time signing autographs and posing in pictures with the fans. Taking after Richard Petty, Ragan says he does not really consider Thursday’s events work, since he gets to ride rides and hang out with people.

On Thursday evening, Ragan and his crew of family and friends went to Atlanta Motor Speedway and finished 2nd in the Pro Division Legends race. Ragan cut his racing teeth in that same series on years ago.

Saturday night, Ragan will race in the Georgia Asphalt Series race at Watermelon Capital Speedway, not far from where he grew up. His uncle Marvin Ragan runs the track. Ragan will race in the popular, competitive series in a pro-late model car prepared by Georgia racing veteran Doug Stevens. Also in the race is Bill Elliott’s 13 year-old son Chase, who has run well in his first year in Late Models and won in the series back in May.

Townley has decent race last week; Georgians fair poorly in Cup Series

John Wes Townley has had a dismal rookie season in the Nationwide Series, but a ray of light shined on the yellow No. 09 Ford in last Friday night’s race in Chicagoland. Townley kept the Zaxby’s car off the wall and finished 21st. While he has finished better in some of the plate races, California, and Bristol, but otherwise has struggled. He will attempt to time-in to the race Saturday at Gateway. Ken Butler III is locked into the race in the No. 23 Aaron’s Chevy and Chase Miller will try to qualify for the race in the start and park, MSRP No. 91 Chevy, since regular parker Terry Cook will be in the Truck Series event. Reed Sorenson makes his 2009 Nationwide Series debut in the No. 32 Braun Racing Toyota Saturday night as well.

Speaking of, two Tucker boys will attempt the Camping World Truck Series race in Kentucky. Brothers Ryan and Shane Sieg will run in the No. 39 and No. 93 Chevy’s respectively for their family team.

The Georgia boys in the Sprint Cup Series Chicagoland race ran un-competitively. Bill Elliott qualified the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford in the top 10, but had a bad pit stop and was never able to recover. He finished 29th. David Ragan and Reed Sorenson also struggled and finished 24th and 25th.

Listen to The Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury 120 with host Captain Herb Emory Saturday afternoons, from 2-4 p.m., on News/Talk 750 WSB in Altanta and online at wsbradio.com.

A federal judge ruled in Jeremy Mayfield’s favor Wednesday, granting the suspended driver a temporary injunction uplifting his suspension from NASCAR. Mayfield was seeking a restraining order against NASCAR to overturn the suspension and NASCAR delayed a legal decision on the matter, by having the case moved to [...]]]>

A federal judge ruled in Jeremy Mayfield’s favor Wednesday, granting the suspended driver a temporary injunction uplifting his suspension from NASCAR. Mayfield was seeking a restraining order against NASCAR to overturn the suspension and NASCAR delayed a legal decision on the matter, by having the case moved to a federal court.

In the U.S. District Court, senior Judge Graham Mullen said that the case has done more to harm Mayfield than it has NASCAR.

NASCAR suspended Mayfield in early May for failing a drug test. Mayfield has said all along that he was not on drugs and instead had taken a mixture of allergy medicine and ADHD medicine. ESPN reported a couple of weeks ago that Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamine, a fact NASCAR confirmed this week.

Mayfield and attorney Bill Diehl have taken issue with NASCAR’s testing methods, first saying that NASCAR did not inform Mayfield of what he tested positive for and then saying NASCAR tested his B urine sample without his permission.

Despite the temporary hold on his suspension, Mayfield Motorsports will not be on the track at Daytona this weekend. Diehl says that since the race is on Saturday, Mayfield does not have enough time to get his No. 41 Toyota team ready. There have been rumors that Mayfield might end up in Gunselman Motorsports’ No. 64 Toyota, but sponsor Fred’s says that they do not want Mayfield in the car. Restrictor plate-ringer Mike Wallace is listed as the team’s driver.

Bill Weber booted from booth for TNT’s final races, after hotel lobby blowup

TNT lead announcer Bill Weber will not be in the broadcast booth for TNT’s final races on its NASCAR schedule. Weber was noticeably absent from the booth last week in New Hampshire and pit road reporter Ralph Sheheen filled his role. Sheheen will be Weber’s replacement for this weekend’s Daytona race and next week’s Chicagoland race. TNT’s Saturday night coverage will be presented with limited commercial interruption, much like their broadcasts of the race the past two years.

TNT officials attributed Weber’s absence from the booth to “personal reasons” and said their policy is that they are not at liberty to discuss those matters. According to some published reports, Weber got into an altercation in the lobby of his hotel. There is no word on any other details regarding the matter, including Weber’s future with the network beyond this season.

TNT’s New Hampshire ratings were up over last year’s numbers, marking one of the only ratings increases for a television broadcast this season. Last week’s Infineon ratings were flat.

Earnhardt car among other NASCAR machines present at England’s Goodwood Festival

Several NASCAR teams will be participating in England’s annual Goodwood Festival this weekend. The West Sussex gathering celebrates historic cars and runs them on a 1.16 mile hill climb and on a 2.5 km road course. Dale Earnhardt’s 20 year-old daughter Taylor will drive the chassis that The Intimidator drove to his last career win in October 2000.

Landon Cassill will drive the “T-Rex” chassis that Jeff Gordon drove to victory in the 1998 All-Star race. The car’s radical chassis setup drew the ire of NASCAR and was banned from competition afterwards.

Also in the event are Mike Skinner in a Red Bull Toyota and Rusty Wallace in a No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge chassis.

Nationwide Series crew chief Berry’s suspension revised

NASCAR announced this week that No. 62 Rusty Wallace Racing crew chief Bryan Berry’s suspension has been revised and will be lifted July 7th. Berry was suspended for allegedly uttering a racial slur at black driver Marc Davis, after Davis got together with Berry’s driver Brendan Gaughan. Berry will remain on probation until the end of the year.

Milwaukee owes NASCAR funds for races held recently

The Milwaukee Mile race track, the longest-running track in the United States, owes NASCAR money for the races the sanctioning body held at the track in late June. Both the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series held races at the track and, according to court documents, the track owes NASCAR just under $2 million dollars.

Wisonsin Motorsports owns the track and its head, Claude Napier, says the NASCAR attendance numbers for the races were low and that they would not be able to pay the full amount that they owe NASCAR. According to documents, the track paid NASCAR all they received from vending profits, but apparently that still does not cover the tab.

Semi-Georgia boy Joey Logano brings in victory in New Hampshire

Joey Logano and crew chief Greg Zipadelli played perfect pit and weather strategy last weekend in New Hampshire, allowing the driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota to score his first career win and, at just over 19 years-old, surpass Kyle Busch as the youngest winner in Sprint Cup history. He is now 21st in points.

Peachtree City’s Reed Sorenson also ran well at the track, bringing his McCafe Dodge home 17th. He ran just outside the top 15 for most of the race and now is 26th in points.

David Ragan’s bad season continues, as the Unadilla native got caught up in a multi-car crash midway through the race and had to retire his No. 6 UPS Ford. He finished 38th and is 30th in points.

In the Nationwide Series New Hampshire race, the Georgian results were fairly disappointing, with Ken Butler III finishing 25th and John Wes Townley finishing 28th.

Listen to Doug on The Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury 120 racing show with Captain Herb Emory at a special time this Saturday, from 4-5 p.m. Doug will also be a pit road reporter for the Georgia Asphalt Series race broadcast live from Lanier Speedway this Friday at 8 p.m. live on racefanradio.com.

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 [...]]]>

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.

The promise that once blew strong in the sails of 2009’s Sprint Cup Series startup teams is nothing more than a whispering breeze now. The car count for the opening races of 2009 (excluding the outlier Daytona 500) was around 50 cars, but as the stronger of the [...]]]>

The promise that once blew strong in the sails of 2009’s Sprint Cup Series startup teams is nothing more than a whispering breeze now. The car count for the opening races of 2009 (excluding the outlier Daytona 500) was around 50 cars, but as the stronger of the teams started knocking the others out of races via qualifying, some of the teams that were planning on running a full schedule trimmed back their plans. Teams like the No. 27 of Kirk Schelmerdine Racing, the No. 64 of Gunselman Motorsports, the No. 51 of Black Jack Racing, the No. 73 owned by Mike Garvey had all at some point planned on full schedules, but then backed off of that goal.

Left over are the teams that were more successful at making races: the No. 36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing, the No. 87 of NEMCO Motorsports, the No. 66 of PRISM Motorsports, the No. 71 of TRG Motorsports, and the No. 41 of Mayfield Motorsports. These teams have been making races more consistently, especially as Sprint Cup car counts have been decreasing. Some of these teams became Cinderella stories, because of their ability to stay afloat, despite forming just before the start of the season, having little personnel, and having sparse sponsorship. Now these teams are barely even starting races, as they usually park their cars and drivers before the halfway mark, hoping to accumulate enough prize money through the year to become competitive.

Last weekend, the No. 41 team failed to attempt the race for a 2nd straight week and indications are that the team is for sale or about to fold. The other teams that have soldiered on each started the Pocono 500, but also each started and parked. Despite claims by NASCAR that the no-testing policy has made these teams more likely to be competitive, they are barely struggling to stay afloat. This week, the car count for the Michigan race is 44, which definitely begs many to question how long the Sprint Cup Series will run with full fields.

Mayfield says fumes, not meth, the cause of false positive

Beleaguered driver Jeremy Mayfield stated in court documents this week that he inhaled a large amount of fumes after wrecking at Talladega back in April, possibly triggering the positive reading on the drug test he failed a couple of weeks later in Richmond.

In court documents obtained by the Charlotte Observer, doctors asked Mayfield in the days surrounding the failed test if he had used any diet drugs or inhalers and an Aegis Labs doctor did confirm that Mayfield mentioned inhaling the fumes at some point just after learning of the test results.

NASCAR suspended Jeremy Mayfield May 9th for failing a drug test during the previous weekend’s race activities in Richmond. Since then, Mayfield has filed suit against NASCAR to overturn the suspension, has insisted he has taken only allergy medication and ADHD medicine, and has refused to go to rehab. NASCAR has responded by filing a countersuit against Mayfield, stating that the veteran, among other things, violated his driving contract with NASCAR, by using illegal substances. NASCAR has maintained throughout the ordeal that Mayfield’s substance abuse violation is serious and not a technicality.

On Tuesday, ESPN reported multiple sources not restrained by a court-imposed gag order said that the banned substance that Mayfield tested positive for was methamphetamine. Because of the gag order, both NASCAR and Mayfield could not comment.

Since Mayfield’s failed test, NASCAR’s drug policy and its ambiguity have been called into question. World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dr. Gary Wadler says that the major flaw in NASCAR’s drug policy is the absence of a specific list of banned substances. Wadler also says that there is a slight chance that since the ADHD medicine Mayfield claims he was taking contains amphetamines, there is a very small chance its combination with Claritin-D could trigger a false positive.

While the litigation process settles, Mayfield’s race team appears to be in dire financial straights. The No. 41 Mayfield Motorsports Toyota has withdrawn from the past two Sprint Cup Series events and is rumored to be for sale. Mayfield’s wife Shana has been the listed owner of the startup, independent team since the suspension.

Vickers re-ups with Red Bull

Brian Vickers will be driver of the No. 83 Team Red Bull Toyota for at least the next couple of years. According to sources with the team, according to ESPN, Vickers and the team have agreed upon a multi-year contract extension, solidifying a program that has been gaining steam after a rough inception in 2007.

Competing in his 6th full season and still only 25 years-old, Vickers and the No. 83 team have run fairly strong and sit 17th in points with three top 5s and six top 10s. The team has run much better wince adding crew chief Ryan Pemberton last season.

Benson’s No. 1 NCWTS closes; Peters to run truck with his sponsorship

Reigning Camping World Truck Series champ Johnny Benson is without a ride as the series runs this week at his home track in Michigan. Benson and crew chief Trip Bruce are attempting to find another ride after racing all of the season with No. 1 Tom Deloach’s Red Horse Racing team.

Benson won the 2008 championship with Bill Davis Racing’s No. 22 Toyota team, but left the team after financial woes at BDR compromised the team’s future. After Benson left the team, BDR folded and remaining drivers Mike Skinner and Taylor Malsam went to Randy Moss Motorsports.

Benson was unsure if his new team would run the full season without funding, but made do with the time he had and nursed the No. 1 up to 7th in points. Because of that success, Benson and Bruce were both shocked to learn of the No. 1’s operations cessation. Both driver and crew chief were outspoken and frustrated in the days after the announcement and those sentiments likely did not change after Deloach and driver Timothy Peters announced more plans.

Peters, his crew chief Chad Kendrick, and his Strutmasters sponsorship will move from Peters’ No. 17 team to the No. 1 team now, meaning that the team is no longer shut down. Their first race together is this weekend.

Said to run road course in Sonoma for Georgia’s EM Motorsports

Road course ringer Boris Said will not run his own entry at Infineon Raceway in a couple of weeks, but will drive for a team he partnered with at Daytona in February. Said has been tabbed by EM Motorsports to pilot the No. 08 Dodge in Sonoma, his first attempt of a Sprint Cup Series race since Daytona. Said’s plans to field his own team this season with new business partner Rick Clark have not come to fruition, because of a lack of sponsorship.

Clark, the first black majority owner of a Sprint Cup Series team since Sam Belnavis in 2003, had plans to eventually expand Said’s No Fear Racing No. 60 Ford team to a full-time team. No plans regarding the future of that team have been released.

Said has raced nine times in Infineon with four top 10s and one pole. He finished 41st there last season.

Carpentier also to run road course races in MWR No. 55

Patrick Carpentier, who recently has returned to NASCAR to drive for a couple of struggling teams, has been tapped by Michael Waltrip Racing to replace the team’s owner and namesake in the No. 55 NAPA Toyota in the Sprint Cup Series road course races. Carpentier was already scheduled to run the Nationwide Series Montreal road course race for MWR’s No. 99 as well.

Waltrip, not known for his road racing skills, is rumored to be mulling his retirement after next season (possibly with Martin Truex Jr. taking his place behind the wheel of the No. 55) and stepping out of his own car in favor of a better driver, despite being safe inside the top 35, is likely a step in that direction. Terry Labonte stepped into Waltrip’s No. 55 for both road course races in 2007, when the team was struggling mightily.

Carpentier, who raced for Gillett Evernham Motorsports in 2007 and 2008, has an average finish of 22nd in three Sprint Cup Series road course races and currently races part-time for Tommy Baldwin Racing.

RPM lays off nine more employees and aligns with Braun Racing for NNS races

Richard Petty Motorsports, feeling the ill effects of a bankrupt manufacturer and gaping sponsorship holes, laid off nine employees in a cost-cutting measure earlier this week.

In brighter news this week for the team, RPM and Braun Racing have announced a partnership that will allow RPM drivers Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler to run some Nationwide Series races. Sadler will drive the No. 43 Auto Value Bumper to Bumper entry June 27th at New Hampshire and October 16th at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Kahne will run three races in the No. 9 entry with McDonald’s sponsoring the car July 9th in Daytona and August in Bristol and Fritos sponsoring Kahne September 5th at Atlanta. Since Braun Racing fields Toyotas, Sadler and Kahne, who race RPM Dodges in the Sprint Cup Series, will likely run Toyotas. This is fueling speculation that either Chrysler is soon about to back out of NASCAR or RPM is soon to drop Chrysler, in favor of Toyota.

RPM, formerly Gillett Everham Motorsports, had a Nationwide Series program for several years, but suspended its operations in favor of fielding a fourth Sprint Cup Series team.

Georgia drivers feel pain on the track last weekend

Reed Sorenson led the Georgia brigade in the Sprint Cup Series at Pocono last weekend, finishing 20th and remaining 24th in points. Joey Logano, a former Alpharetta resident, finished 23rd and is 25th in points and David Ragan’s season of disappointment continued, as he finished 26th.

In the Nationwide Series race in Nashville, John Wes Townley’s struggles surged on, as he crashed on the first lap and finished 42nd.

Chase Miller, in search of a NASCAR ride after racing for GEM last season, finished 16th in Saturday’s ARCA race at Pocono.

Listen to Doug on The Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury 120 with Captain Herb Emory this Saturday from 2-4 p.m., on News/Talk 750 WSB in Atlanta and online at wsbradio.com.

Tony Eury Jr.’s tumultuous tenure as crew chief for his cousin Dale Earnhardt Jr. is over. Thursday, Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, announced that Lance McGrew is replacing Eury Jr. on the No. 88 team just days after the National Guard Chevy finished a dismal 40th place [...]]]>

Tony Eury Jr.’s tumultuous tenure as crew chief for his cousin Dale Earnhardt Jr. is over. Thursday, Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, announced that Lance McGrew is replacing Eury Jr. on the No. 88 team just days after the National Guard Chevy finished a dismal 40th place at Lowe’s Motor Speedway with handling issues.

“Our performance hasn’t been where it should be,” Hendrick said. “It’s impossible to pin that on any one factor, but a change is the right decision at this point. We have a plan in place, and we’re going to move forward with it.”

That plan has McGrew assuming the lead point on the No. 88 team beginning next week at Pocono Raceway. For this weekend, team manager Brian Whitesell will serve as crew chief this weekend at Dover.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s HMS stint has been highly disappointing. The No. 88 began 2008 with high hopes and plans for a championship and started the season with impressive top 5 runs that faded into top 10s and top 15s, after adjustments made late in the race by Eury Jr. sent the handling of the racecars in the wrong direction. Earnhardt Jr. ended the season by finishing last in The Chase, with only one win (a fuel mileage gamble) at Michigan.

2009 has been nearly a nightmare for both the driver and the crew chief. The No. 88 team sits 19th in points, with only one top 5 and three top 10s and has only led 84 laps amongst three races. Junior has also infamously driven by his pit box several times this year, costing the team track position and further igniting the bickering between himself and Eury Jr. The rest of the Hendrick Motorsports teams sit in the top 12 in points.

Despite the struggles, Earnhardt Jr. has stuck by his cousin, even going as far to tell the media that having fun in his job and remaining with Eury Jr. is more important to him than winning a championship. Nevertheless, Junior infamously has also been very critical to his crew chief during in-race radio transmissions.

Eury Jr. has worked with Earnhardt Jr. for many years and has been his crew chief since late in 2005, when the pair still worked at DEI and the No. 8 team. Eury Jr.’s father, Tony Eury Sr., served as Earnhardt Jr.’s Cup Series crew chief from 2000-2004. After winning six races during the 2004 season, DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt decided to switch the personnel and equipment for the No. 8 and No. 15 teams, because of the infamous bickering between Dale Jr. and the Eury’s. The switch did not work well, as Junior missed The Chase and won only one race, while the No. 15 and driver Michael Waltrip (paired with Tony Eury Jr. as crew chief) struggled even more. Before the end of the year, Eury was back with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 8 and followed NASCAR’s most popular driver over to Hendrick Motorsports, when he decided to leave DEI.

Tony Eury Sr. currently works as crew chief for Brad Keselowski and Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Nationwide Series team.

McGrew served as Brian Vickers’ crew chief during his Nationwide Series championship-winning run in 2003 and moved to the Cup Series with the young driver and the No. 25 HMS team. McGrew served as crew chief for that team, until being replaced atop the pit box by Darian Grubb just before the beginning of the 2007 season. The No. 25 team became the No. 88 team that Earnhardt Jr. drives for. McGrew had one win, 10 top 5s, and 23 top 10s in three full seasons as Vickers’ Cup crew chief. He has remained at HMS in several capacities since then.

NASCAR town hall meeting Tuesday leaves drivers and owners relieved

At the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina on Tuesday, NASCAR held two town hall meetings with select owners and drivers to discuss the state of the sport. With several questions hanging in the air about declining ratings, the ailing economy, the Car of Tomorrow, and the ambiguous drug policy, drivers that commented after the meeting seemed satisfied with what NASCAR had to say.

Outspoken about some questions he had about the drug policy before the meeting, No. 5 driver Mark Martin said he felt much more comfortable with the limited substance list that NASCAR provided drivers.

NASCAR officials said that many drivers brought up issues with the current racecar, but that there are no plans to change its setup and that it puts on a good show for the fans.

Third place finish for Robby Gordon ruined by rear-end housing penalty

Robby Gordon’s pit strategy to snag a third place finish in Monday’s Coca-Cola 600 helped boost the No. 7 team in the owner’s points standings, but a NASCAR penalty for improper toe settings in the Jim Beam Toyota’s rear-end housing bit into the newfound points cushion.

Tuesday, NASCAR officials announced punishments for the No. 7 team for the rear-end violations. Gordon loses 50 owner’s and driver’s points and crew chief Kirk Almquist has been fined $50,000 and placed on probation until December 31st. Gordon and the No. 7 team still remain 34th in owner’s points, just ahead of the Front Row Motorsports No. 34 team.

Truex to MWR? Penske going to four teams? Silly Season rumors starting up

A rumor surfaced late last week that had Martin Truex Jr. close to signing a contract to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing. Equally as intriguing as Truex Jr. considering driving for a semi-proven team is the fact that he could replace a retiring Michael Waltrip. MWR official Ty Norris said that nothing has been finalized for 2010 and negotiations with Waltrip and the No. 55’s sponsor NAPA are ongoing about the future plans of the auto parts giant and the team. Waltrip said earlier this year that 2009 may be his last season, if he does not qualify for The Chase. Waltrip sits 31st in points. Truex has said that he wants to have a decision very soon about his future plans and many believe he will not remain with the struggling No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team.

Another rumor swirling around in the rain in Charlotte last weeks was that Penske Racing was considering upping its Cup effort to four teams, with Justin Allgaier possibly running a limited schedule later this season. No word on any details or sponsorship agreements has surfaced.

TomTom finds a home on Truex No. 1

TomTom, a popular GPS device company, will serve as the primary sponsor for the EGR No. 1 Chevy and driver Martin Truex Jr. for two races this season and as an associate sponsor for the rest of the year as well. Tom Tom is scheduled as a primary sponsor for the June 7 Pocono race and the New Hampshire race a couple of weeks later. TomTom will also sponsor Ganassi’s Indy Car entries and served as Aric Almirola’s sponsor in the No. 8 EGR Chevy at Las Vegas back in March, before the team folded.

Riggs out at TBR; Skinner will run majority of rest of the races

Scott Riggs and Tommy Baldwin Racing have mutually agreed to part ways. Riggs and Baldwin made the decision prior to the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend, mainly because Riggs took issue with the team starting and parking in some races. While Riggs likely will have to look in either the Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series for rides, Truck Series driver Mike Skinner will take his place in the No. 36 Toyota. Skinner, who has not run full-time in the Cup Series for several years, has run races off and on, while competing full-time in the Truck Series. Skinner will run all of the Cup Series races that run at the same races as the trucks. Patrick Carpentier, who raced most of last season in the No. 10 Dodge for Gillett Evernham Motorsports, will run the other non-road course races and Brian Simo will race at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen.

Goodyear plans to test tires two more times at Indy before the Brickyard 400

After a disastrous race last year and tire testing sessions hampered by rain and poor results, Goodyear will hold a tire test at Indy next week on June 1-3 and again June 15-17. Approximately a dozen teams will test at each session.

Entry lists show several changes amongst the top three series at Dover

49 cars will attempt Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Dover. Some items on the list worth noting include Mike Skinner replacing Scott Riggs in the No. 36, David Starr returning for another attempt in the Boys Racing No. 06, Brad Keselowski running a 5th Hendrick car (the No. 25), Derrike Cope attempting the race in his own No. 75 team, Regan Smith and Furniture Row Racing attempting another leg of their partial 2009 schedule, John Andretti returning to the Front Row Motorsports No. 34 and his two-race replacement Tony Raines returning to the No. 37 to attempt the race, and Max Papis and the No. 13 Geico Toyota of Germain Racing attempting yet another race in their partial schedule, also. All full-time teams outside the top 35 that were at last week’s race return to Dover this week.

There are lots of Nationwide Series changes on the entry blank. David Green, recently released from the No. 07 SK Motorsports team, will run for JM Motorsports in the No. 04 and Patrick Carpentier will race in the No. 07. Ryan Newman will attempt his first race for JR Motorsports and the No. 5 Chevy and Jeffrey Earnhardt (son of Kerry) and DEI have purchased a spot in the Rick Ware Racing No. 31 Chevy to attempt the Dover race. Bobby Hamilton Jr., despite owning the No. 25 Rensi-Hamilton team, will race in the No. 81 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge. The No. 36 Marc Davis Racing team has withdrawn, but driver Davis and his sponsors have moved to the Braun Racing No. 10 Toyota (he will run that car for six races this season), replacing Kelly Bires. The No. 42 team and driver David Gilliland have also withdrawn.

Withdrawals have been a big problem in the Truck Series this season. This week, the Nos. 22 and 40 have withdrawn from the event. Other changes of note include J.R. Fitzpatrick, recently departed from TRG Motorsports, making his debut in the No. 4 KHI Chevy; David Gilliland is returning to the No. 7 TRG truck, despite rumors of that team’s demise and the departure of crew chief Butch Hylton; Max Papis is making a start in the No. 9 Geico Toyota; Brandon Whitt will race in the No. 76 Ray Hackett Racing truck as a teammate to Ryan Hackett. Tim Bainey Jr. and the No. 00 Aaron’s Chevy make their debut this season.

Georgia boys up and down at Lowe’s; Butler bouncing a baby

Joey Logano, who cut his teeth racing on tracks in Georgia, had the best week of the Georgia driver brigade. In the Coke 600, Logano placed the No. 20 Toyota in 9th place, scoring that finish for the third time in four races. He now sits 25th in points and finished 5th in the Nationwide Series race won by Mike Bliss.

David Ragan struggled at yet another race track, placing the No. 6 UPS Ford 24th in Monday’s race; he is sitting an astounding 32nd in points. Ragan did finish 7th in Saturday night’s Nationwide Series race.

Reed Sorenson struggled the entire race and finished 35th; he sits 24th in points. Bill Elliott ran a solid race in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford and finished 15th, a great run for the team he started running for two years ago at that same race.

John Wes Townley failed to qualify for the Nationwide Series race, his second DNQ of the year.

Part-time Nationwide Series driver Ken Butler III and his wife Jamie celebrated the birth of their first child last Saturday afternoon. Butler III, whose grandfather Ken is the COO of Aaron’s had a big weekend, as he became both a grandfather and a first-time Cup Series winner (Aaron’s sponsored David Reutimann, who won the Coke 600 Monday) in the same weekend.

Listen to Doug on The Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury 120 racing show with host Captain Herb Emory on News/Talk 750 WSB in Atlanta and online on wsbradio.com this Saturday, from 2-4 p.m.