Sadler Committed To Honoring RPM Contract

Elliott Sadler is downplaying a published report that he will jump from Richard Petty Motorsports to Richard Childress Racing next season, replacing Casey Mears in the #07 Chevrolet.

FOXSports.com’s Lee Spencer reported this week that Sadler could move to RCR next season, with part-time sponsorship from Jack Daniels. Sadler declined to comment specifically on the story today, saying simply, “I am committed to my race team, and have a contract through the end of the 2010 season.”

While Childress and the Emporia, Va., driver do speak from time to time, it’s generally about hunting, not racing. And well-placed sources at sources at RCR tell Sirius Speedway that there have been no talks about bringing Sadler to the team in 2010.

Testing, Testing, 1-2-3: NASCAR took 11 engines to its Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. for analysis following yesterday’s race at Michigan International Speedway; part of an ongoing series of tests to monitor the horsepower and torque being produced by the various teams and manufacturers.

NASCAR will test the engines of Chevrolet’s Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer and Juan Pablo Montoya, Toyota’s Brian Vickers, David Reutimann and Denny Hamlin, Ford drivers Carl Edwards, and Greg Biffle, and Dodge’s Sam Hornish Jr. and Elliott Sadler.

Accavitti Pledges Support: Dodge CEO Mike Accavitti said this weekend that the automaker remains committed to NASCAR, and will remain involved in the sport even if it loses Richard Petty Motorsports to Toyota.

Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, Accavitti called Dodge’s involvement in NASCAR “a match made in heaven." He refused to speculate on the future of Richard Petty Motorsports, which continues to negotiate with both Dodge and Toyota about the 2010 season. He did say, however, that the team has been paid everything it is owed, erasing some past-due bills resulting from the automaker’s recent bankruptcy filing. He also confirmed that the Dodge could remain in the Sprint Cup Series with only the three Penske Racing teams, if necessary.

In his words, "You really only need a couple of good cars."

More Jerry Springer, Coming Right Up: After a two weeks of relative calm on the Jeremy Mayfield front, Catawba, NC, police officials now confirm that they were called to Mayfield's home Saturday to answer a trespassing complaint that involved Mayfield’s former stepmother, Lisa Mayfield.

Jeremy Mayfield phoned police Saturday, alleging that Lisa Mayfield was drunk, banging on his door and threatening to kill him. Lisa Mayfield testified recently that she witnessed her former stepson snorting methamphetamine on numerous occasions, then sued him for slander after he called her a whore and a gold-digger. Mayfield has promised to file a wrongful death lawsuit against her, saying he believes she played a role in the 2007 death of his father; a death that was officially ruled a suicide.

Phoenix Sets NNS Lineup: Phoenix Racing Team Manager Marc Reno, said Friday that Sprint Cup drivers Ryan Newman, Reed Sorenson, Max Papis and Martin Truex Jr will drive the team’s #1 NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevrolet, replacing the recently fired Mike Bliss. Sorenson will reportedly steer the car at Michigan and Bristol, with Papis running the road course in Montreal, Newman driving at Atlanta, and Truex Jr. at the controls at both Richmond and Dover. Ironically, Bliss drove the Phoenix Racing #09 Sprint Cup entry Sunday at Michigan, finishing 38th.