Oops, He Did It Again; Busch Confirms JGR Move To Toyota In 2008

Look at it this way, Kyle Busch may have saved his new team a lot of money.
There’s no need to invite a bunch of reporters to the Joe Gibbs Racing shops next Wednesday, no need to roll out the complimentary food and drinks, and no need to print up a bunch of pesky press releases.

Shrubby took care of all that today, confirming to a group of stunned media members here at California Speedway what is not scheduled to be officially announced until next week; that JGR will switch manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota next season.

"I feel fine with it," said Busch, declining to dance around an issue that has made him and the entire JGR operation look like the Ritz Brothers over the last 30 days. While team officials were still quoting the official “we don’t anticipate making any announcements this weekend” company line – Busch let the biggest cat in NASCAR out of the bag.

"I think it's something that's going to take Joe Gibbs Racing hopefully a step forward in the right direction,” he said. “They've got a great repertoire for being able to produce winning race cars and championship-contending teams, year in and year out, so I think they're going to be just fine.

“This is a business decision that they've done right."

Busch said he is confident the horsepower issues that have plagued Toyota this season can be solved, with JGR’s head engine builder, Mark Cronquist, leading the effort.

"I've met with him a few times, (and) he's a really cool guy,” said Busch. “When we were talking about Toyota, they brought him in because I had a bunch of questions about the motor. They've got the ...top-end power, but don't have bottom-end. Mark (said) they feel like the package they've had (with) Chevrolet…can translate to Toyota, and hopefully have a pretty good piece come January."

Note to J.D. Gibbs: you can cancel the finger sandwiches.

360 OTC Headed To Court Again

The company that distributes 360 OTC is the target of a third motorsports-related lawsuit this week, after Dirt Motor Sports -- sanctioning body for the World of Outlaws -- filed suit alleging that Rockford-Montgomery Labs failed to pay for its title sponsorship of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.

The three-year deal was supposed to be worth #4.8 million; $1.5 million this year, $1.6 million next season and $1.7 million in 2009. According to a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Georgia, Rockford-Montgomery Labs has not paid for the sponsorship, with an initial check for $150,000 bouncing in February.

Rockford-Montgomery is already being sued for non-payment by the company contracted to manage its motorsports marketing program, and by Morgan-McClure Motorsports, which is suing over a $10.1 million sponsorship deal signed in June of 2006 for the 2007 season. Rockford-Montgomery Labs backed out of that contract, saying that Morgan-McClure’s inability sign a driver left it with insufficient time to prepare promotional materials.

Bill Davis Racing team owner Bill Davis told Sirius Speedway earlier this week that he does not expect 360 OTC to return as a sponsor next season.

Junior By The Numbers

Hendrick Motorsports has applied to the United States Patent and Trademark Office for potential use of five numbers next season for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

The numbers under consideration are #38, #51, #81, #82 and #58. Filing with Patent and Trademark Office does not guarantee NASCAR approval to use any of those numbers, but does prevent an outside party from trademarking the specific font and graphic package used by Hendrick on its racecars, diecast collectibles and souvenirs.

Hendrick filed for the #81 on July 25th, with the most recent filing being for the #38 on August 9th. There have been reports that Hendrick is attempting to strike a deal with Robert Yates Racing for the #38 next season, but my sources tell me that the deal is not likely to happen.

Villeneuve Anxious For NASCAR Debut: Canadian Jacques Villeneuve says he needs a new challenge, and NASCAR is it.

"I need to do something at an extremely high level, which NASCAR is, but something different," said the former F1 World Champion. "I didn't look at IRL or Champ Car. I only concentrated on NASCAR. After Formula One, you want it to be at a top level. And in North America, the top level is NASCAR.”

Like Juan Pablo Montoya before him, Villeneuve says he is convinced that NASCAR is the correct move, despite negative feedback from the F1 community.

"It's really hard to explain to European fans, because in their mind (NASCAR is) only two corners," he said. "It looks like it's easy driving, flat out and that's it. What they don't realize is there is a lot of fine-tuning to do on the car. (There is a lot more) driving in traffic, a lot more than in open wheel racing where a lot happens at the start, and that's about it. Just watching it on TV won't give you the whole picture."

Villeneuve said he expects to have to earn the respect of the NASCAR veterans, and has been an interested observer of Montoya’s sometimes tumultuous indoctrination to the sport.

“Montoya was like that in Formula One; extremely aggressive and got on people's nerves," he said. "I guess he kept the same personality going into NASCAR. Once he settles in, it will be all right. He's driving hard, he's fast, and he's making a name for himself. Now he's earning respect, so that's fine. If and when I get in there, I'll figure it out."

Villeneuve will make his NASCAR debut in the Craftsman Truck Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 22nd, and will run the final seven races of the season in a Bill Davis Racing Toyota, with an eye toward the 2008 Daytona 500.

"Not So Fast" For Speed: While Villeneuve appears to be on NASCAR's fast track, the road from Formula One to NASCAR Nextel Cup may be longer than expected for American Scott Speed.

The 24-year old Speed is being projected as the latest Open Wheel driver to jump to stock cars, but sources close to the situation say a lack of oval course experience may prevent him from making the move as soon as expected.

Team Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has said he is interested in helping Speed – either by expanding his Nextel Cup team to three cars, or with sponsorship – but NASCAR has stringent guidelines that must be met before any driver is approved for competition. The sanctioning body is believed unlikely to approve Speed for even a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ride, without at least a few oval track starts on his resume.

Team Red Bull Director of Competition Elton Sawyer said this week that both Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger will return in 2008, with Speed as more of a long-term project. “Our two drivers will be back," he said. “Scott Speed is a Red Bull athlete, which means we'll do whatever we can to introduce him to this form of racing. But I don't think you'll see him in a Cup car with our team next year."

Braun To Make ARCA Debut: Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series star Colin Braun will drive in Friday night's ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Gateway International Speedway, steering a #99 Ford Fusion fielded by Roush Fenway Racing.

The 18-year old Braun became the youngest driver to win a major North American motorsports event when he steered a Krohn Racing Daytona Prototype to victory in the Brumos 250 at Daytona International Speedway, and became the youngest podium finisher in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 24 with a second-place finish earlier this season.

Braun recently signed long-term contracts with Roush Fenway Racing and Ford, and will compete in selected ARCA events this season, before contesting the full ARCA schedule in 2008.

The Facts Don't Lie

Some of the more jaded members of NASCAR Nation have spent the last 48 hours bemoaning what they saw as a non-competitive “Sharpie 500” at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday night.

David Poole, the esteemed and generally grumpy co-host of Sirius NASCAR Radio's "The Morning Drive," spent four hours on his soapbox this morning, calling the race one of the worst he has ever seen at Bristol. He lamented the fact that there was just one pass for the lead Saturday night -- that coming when a dominant Carl Edwards took over from an almost-as-dominant Kasey Kahne on lap 371 -- conveniently ignoring the veritable smorgasbord of side-by-side racing that took place throughout the field, throughout the night.

If you're interested, you can get Poole's side of the story HERE. If not, suffice it to say that my friend Poole (and others like him, judging from the Monday morning internet chat rooms) somehow missed all the two and three-wide battling that took place at Thunder Valley Saturday night, apparently unable to concentrate without the constant sensory bombardment of a multi-car pileup every 8-12 laps.

They went to Bristol expecting the WWE to break out, as it usually does. Instead, they were forced to watch a darned good, side-by-side stock car race. And they're none too happy about it, believe me.

For all its volume, however, the "boring race" argument doesn't hold any water.

A quick look at NASCAR’s Loop Data -- compiled and released to the media after every Nextel Cup race -- reveals that a total of 2,147 green flag passes took place Saturday night. That compares to just 991 passes in the "Food City 500" there earlier this spring. For the mathematically impaired like myself, that's a 108-percent increase in green-flag passing from spring to fall.

108 freakin' percent.

Back in the spring, Kevin Harvick started 40th and finished fourth at Bristol, passing a race-best total of 52 cars along the way; more than anyone else on the track. That total would have tied him for 18th Saturday night, far behind J.J. Yeley's race-high total of 107.

Sorry folks, but the facts don't lie. Saturday night's race was a good one, despite offering up "only" eight caution flags for the demolition derby set to enjoy. The packed Bristol grandstands may not have had a dastardly "dump and run" winner to boo when it was over, but that does not mean they didn't see a good race.

Fourth-place finisher Tony Stewart -- frequently second only to Poole on the list of NASCAR insiders most in need of a bran muffin -- said of Saturday's race, “It’s the most fun I've had at Bristol in my career. I can't give it a better grade than an A-plus."

If it's good enough for Tony, it's good enough for me.

Dale Jr.: Get Off My Stepmom!

Just days after expressing his displeasure with his stepmother, DEI team owner Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., said this weekend that fans need to cut her some slack.

Last weekend at Michigan International Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. criticized his stepmother, saying he was “not all that surprised" that a deal could not be reached to transfer his familiar #8 to Hendrick Motorsports next season. "She either feels too personal about the number, or the rift between me and her is too personal," he said. "It's upsetting as hell and unfortunate, but that's just what happens sometimes. I knew I wasn't going to get the number a long time ago."

Earnhardt Jr. called Teresa’s demands “just ridiculous,” adding, "Maybe it's sort of a blessing in disguise to make a clean break. If I was to get the #8 and allow Teresa to still have control over it, I would still have to deal with it. That is not what I wanted. I have to let it go."

Earnhardt tempered his comments Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, however, saying, “It’s about time to give Teresa a break. She makes the decision on the number, because she owns it. And as much as I am disappointed and frustrated over the fact that I don't get to keep driving the #8, the stuff I read on the internet --the remarks about her -- I don't think anybody deserves that.

“If people just take a step back and look, she hasn't done anything intentionally that is detrimental to me. I have a good future. I have a good opportunity in my hands. She is doing what she needs to do. I think everybody needs to lay off a little bit, because she was married to my Daddy, and I know he wouldn't be too happy about…what is being said about her.

“It bothers me a little bit,” said Earnhardt. “I hate to see somebody crucified on the internet like Teresa has. It is just hard-core, man. People have been really, really rude, and really over the line -- way over the line -- on some of the things that have been said. Nobody deserves that, and it just isn't fair.”

In a related story, SPEED's Bob Dilner reported yesterday that Robert Yates Racing has asked NASCAR for permission to transfer its #38 to Hendrick Motorsports next season, for Earnhardt Jr. to drive. If approved, the transfer would allow Earnhardt to combine his current #8 with his father’s legendary #3.

There has been no confirmation of the report from either Yates or Hendrick, and no word on what number David Gilliland would use in 2008. Robert Yates Racing still has the rights to the #28, which it has not used since 2002.

Hornish To Ramp Up NASCAR Effort: Roger Penske said Saturday that Sam Hornish Jr. will run at least half of this season’s final 10 Nextel Cup Series races, as a prelude to a possible Rookie of the Year bid in 2008.

Hornish's first Cup race will likely come at New Hampshire International Speedway on September 16th, one week after the 2007 IRL IndyCar season finale. Penske said, "That's the game plan right now. Obviously, he's got to qualify, but he did a good job at Michigan, and if there is a chance to run every week, we'll see. I told him the more experience you get the better you're going to be.”

Haas Pleads Guilty To Tax Fraud: Haas CNC Racing owner Gene Haas has pleaded guilty to what the Internal Revenue Service called “deceptive and elaborate tax evasion schemes” that defrauded the government of $34.3 million in taxes.

Haas, who also owns Haas Automation, the nation’s largest machine tool manufacturer, changed his plea to guilty today, agreeing to serve a two-year jail term and pay a $5 million fine, fraud penalties of 40% and interest amounting to more than $70 million. The plea deal must still be approved by a Federal District Court judge.

Haas CNC Racing General Manager Joe Custer is now listed as the owner of the teams.

Villeneuve To BDR #36?: Bill Davis Racing General Manager Mike Brown confirmed this weekend that 1997 Formula One World Driving Champion Jacques Villeneuve is the leading candidate to replace Jeremy Mayfield in the team’s #36 Nextel Cup Toyota next season.

Villeneuve will undertake a six-week test program, with plans to take part in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and ARCA events at Talladega in October.

“That’s what we hope to do, (and) that’s what he feels like he’d like to do,” said Brown of Villneuve’s Nextel Cup aspirations. “Obviously, the whole NASCAR program is new to him, so we’re going to put together an aggressive test program for him. Obviously, he’s got to go through the validation process with NASCAR, so we’re looking at places we can run him in trucks, maybe in the ARCA series. (It will be) an aggressive test program, not only with the trucks, but with the COT.”

Brown said 360 OTC is not expected to return as sponsor next season, and team owner Bill Davis said he is still working on a sponsorship deal for Villeneuve. "It's not that hard to build racecars, said Davis. "It's getting them funded that's the hard part." Davis will joins us on Sirius Speedway to discuss his plans for 2008 today (Monday) at 3:40 p.m. ET.

Villeneuve To Test Craftsman Truck For Bill Davis Racing Monday

Former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will test a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Toyota Tundra fielded by Bill Davis Racing Monday at Chicagoland Speedway.

Villeneuve has not competed on an oval course since 1995, his final season in the CART Series. He jumped to Formula One the following year, winning four races and finishing second in the driver's championship to Williams teammate Damon Hill. He won the World Driving Championship in 1997, besting Michael Schumacher in a controversial final round at Spain's Jerez circuit. He ran for BAR, Renault and BMW-Sauber in subsequent seasons, but was never again able to approach his 1997 success. He was released by BMW at the midpoint of last season in favor of Robert Kubica.

The 36-year old has competed only sporadically since then, most notably driving for Peugeot in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The former CART and Indy 500 winner said of his new deal, “Bill Davis Racing was aware of my interest in NASCAR, and approached my management team (about) allowing me to test within its truck program. I’m glad we were able to work that out, and I am really looking forward to working with Bill and his staff. We have spent the last few months considering a number of NASCAR options, and we’re in agreement that the truck offers the closest reference point to the Car of Tomorrow.”

Burton Traveling Incognito At Bristol

Jeff Burton was sponsor-free at Bristol Motor Speedway today, rolling through inspection and practice without any sponsor logos on his orange-and-black #31 Chevrolet.

There was no identification of either AT&T or Cingular Wireless on the car this morning, after AT&T were unable to come to agreement on a logo package that would satisfy both parties. The #31 Chevrolet arrived at the track in a plain black hauler, and crewmembers wore gray Richard Childress Racing shirts instead of their usual AT&T uniforms. Burton wore an orange driver's suit with only associate sponsor logos.

NASCAR ordered that AT&T signage be removed from the car after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a previous decision allowing the team to display the AT&T logo until a lawsuit to settle the issue can be heard. AT&T will reportedly file a new injunction later today, asking for a court hearing in early September.

Team owner Richard Childress said he expects Burton to run tomorrow night’s race without the AT&T globe -- or any other cellular company identification -- on his quarterpanels. He made it clear, however, that he is not happy with the situation.

“My take on the whole thing is we've been here 14 weeks with AT&T," he said. "We've both lived together. The world isn't coming to an end. Hopefully, at the end of the day, we can figure out how we can all live by the same rules. Cingular was our sponsor, and we've got to do everything we can to keep them in the sport. Hopefully, something will come to a happy ending. Or maybe not happy. None of us may like it, but we can all live with it."

Scott Speed To NASCAR?

Fired Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Scott Speed may attempt to follow in the footsteps of Juan Pablo Montoya by undertaking a career in NASCAR.

Speed – until recently the only American driver on the Formula One grid – got the axe earlier this season from team bosses Franz Tost and Gerhard Berger for lack of performance, despite posting better numbers than teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi. Now, the 24-year old is being hyped for a possible NASCAR career by no less than Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz.

Mateschitz told a prominent German motorsports publication that NASCAR could be a good fit for the California native, saying, “Speed drove in Formula One against the world's best drivers. He is courageous, and his name is a marketer's dream. With a cowboy hat, it is perhaps complete. He would be an asset for us in NASCAR."

Mateschitz owns the Team Red Bull NASCAR Nextel Cup Series operation, fielding Toyota Camrys for Brian Vickers and A.J. Allmendinger. He did not say whether he is considering a third Nextel Cup entry, or whether Red Bull would merely contribute financial and sponsorship support to Speed’s effort.

Red Bull Director of Motorsports Helmut Marko confirmed this week that the company is interested in assisting Speed’s jump to NASCAR, saying that informal discussions are underway with at least one unnamed team. “NASCAR is a very special form of racing,” said Marko. “Even a guy like Montoya, with all his F1 experience and his Champ Car racing on ovals, can’t just jump in and be competitive. So they may look at some Busch races, and if that is going well, (move) him up to the Nextel Cup.”

"Red Army" Running Out Of Time...And Excuses

These are dark days indeed for the inhabitants of Earnhardt Nation.

Their hero, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., is leaving the team his late father built to join the hated Hendrick Motorsports empire. It’s the auto racing equivalent of Ernie Banks signing a free-agent deal with the White Sox, and many members of Earnhardt’s “Red Army” still have not come to terms with it.

Last week, they were bitterly disappointed when negotiations broke down between Hendrick and DEI that would have allowed Junior to take his venerated #8 with him when he goes. Junior reacted angrily, accusing stepmother/DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt of personal pettiness and greed. Earnhardt Nation went even further off the deep end, reacting as if Teresa had been accused of illegal dogfighting, rather than simply exercising her rights as a team owner.

And now, this.

Yesterday in the Irish Hills of Michigan, Earnhardt, Jr.’s hopes of qualifying for NASCAR’s “Chase For The Nextel Cup” suffered a crushing blow when he overshot his pit stall on a late-race pitstop, turning what appeared to be a sure top-five run into a shocking, 12th-place finish. He now stands a whopping 163 points out of the Chase with only three races to go, and his chances of making the post-season dance are twofold: slim and none.

Yes, “Little E” is still alive mathematically. Realistically, though, he’s a longshot, at best.

Earnhardt is struggling to finish races these days, while Busch -– the man he has to catch -- is winning them. Earnhardt must gain an average of 55 points per race on Busch in their next three starts, including Saturday night’s “Sharpie 500” at Bristol Motor Speedway. In 13 career Bristol starts, Busch has five wins. Earnhardt has only one victory in 15 attempts.

Simply put, it’s not looking good for the leader of the Red Army and his loyal foot soldiers. They’re running out of time, and also excuses.

Until Earnhardt forgot his parking space Tuesday afternoon, his followers had a convenient explanation for their sudden fade from title contention. Two crippling engine failures in the last three weeks offered incontrovertible proof that Teresa Earnhardt and the DEI engine shop were conspiring to knock NASCAR’s favorite son from the championship picture, while simultaneously elevating teammate Martin Truex, Jr., to #1 contender status. Yesterday, however, Junior shot himself in the foot, leaving Earnhardt Nation to face the distinct possibility of missing the Chase for the second time in three seasons, with nobody else to blame.

Worse of all, Earnhardt’s late-season swoon has coincided with an equally dramatic surge in fortune for rival Busch. As the Budweiser Chevrolet and its perennial Most Popular Driver go down in flames, the Miller Lite Dodge and its considerably less-beloved wheelman are rising from the ashes like a phoenix. Three weeks from now, Busch will likely be chasing his second Nextel Cup, while Junior will be bubbling about his 2008 prospects at Hendrick Motorsports.

It’s enough to make any self-respecting Junior Fan do a half-gainer from a tenth story window.

Photos From Here And There

Haas Automation's new "Rolling Road" wind tunnel, which simulates actual track conditions. Don't ask, you can't afford it.


Some listeners have asked about the old GATR (Great American Truck Racers) Series that ran in the mid- to late-1970s. Here's a shot of Ervin Carpenter's sharp #76 GMC at Pocono Raceway, courtesy of listener Lance Muscara.


E.J. Utley belches smoke as he accelerates off a turn.


Pennsylvania's Bob Bolus came to grief in a hard GATR crash at Pocono. Right-front tire failures plagued the series.


Did anyone notice the "DEI E-stripes" on Regan Smith's US Army Chevrolet at Watkins Glen? Here's a look, for those who missed it.

No Surprise, Shrub Signs With JGR

Joe Gibbs Racing has signed Kyle Busch to drive for the #18 Nextel Cup Series team, beginning in 2008. Busch will take over for J.J. Yeley at the end of the 2007 season, racing as a teammate to Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin.

Team President J.D. Gibbs announced the signing, saying, “We’re extremely pleased to have Kyle Busch as a part of the family here at Joe Gibbs Racing. Kyle is extremely talented, as his track record has proven, and he had a lot of teams to choose from in determining who would give him the best chance to win. Obviously, we’re glad he chose JGR, and he’ll have all the tools and resources he needs to win races and contend for championships.”

Busch said he is confident that he has made the right decision, after talking to as many as five top Nextel Cup teams. “After talking with a lot of different teams and visiting their shops, Joe Gibbs Racing is where I want to be,” said Busch, who signed a three-year contract, running through the 2010 season. “The moment I saw the shop and began talking with Joe and J.D. Gibbs, there was a level of comfort that made me feel like this is where I belong. I want to win races and championships, and Joe Gibbs Racing’s three-car/one-team philosophy gives me the best opportunity to do that.”

He stressed, however, that there is still work to do in his final 14 races for Hendrick Motorsports, saying, "While excited about my new opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing, I remain committed to finishing this year strong and running for the championship.”

There was no mention made of reports that JGR will switch to Toyota in 2008.

Notes From A Crazy Day At The Glen

Fight?!? I didn't see any fight!

Sunday's dust-up between Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya at Watkins Glen could aptly be called a confrontation, maybe even a shoving match. But a fight?

I don't think so.

I've seen plenty of fights; even taken part in a couple, back in my younger days. And every fight I've ever seen included at least one bonafide attempt to inflict bodily harm on another individual. Neither of yesterday's combatants seemed remotely interested in harming anyone. Any fight worth its salt also requires at least one actual blow to be struck, something that did not occur in yesterday's Harvick/Montoya square dance. What I saw -- admittedly from a distance -- was two drivers expressing their displeasure with each other, while attempting to decipher what the other guy was yelling through his helmet.

That's not a fight, that's a conversation with hand signals. NASCAR's John Darby had it exactly right when he said of the tiff, "I thought it was cool as hell."

"I got run over," said Harvick afterward. "I guess (Truex) ran over the 42. I just hate it. I'm frustrated with the No. 42. It just seems like he runs over somebody every week. I was talking about kicking his ass, because that's how I felt about it."

As expected, Montoya had a different take, saying, "I went to the inside to defend the No. 1 car, and he spun me from behind. When he spun me, I got backward into the 29. (Harvick) got out of the car, came out disrespectful, saying all kinds of things, grabbed me - and I don't appreciate that.

"I'll say 'I'm sorry,' when it's my fault, but when it's not my fault, I don't want him to come over and push me like that."

Making It Official: A press conference is scheduled for tomorrow morning to confirm what Sirius Speedway first told you more than a week ago, that Kyle Busch will be the new driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s #18 car next season. Team president J.D. Gibbs confirmed the announcement yesterday, saying, “Before I say anything I want to have a done deal. Right now, we feel good about it and the direction we're going." Gibbs said Interstate Batteries will remain as at least an associate sponsor next season, but said additional backing could be added.

DEI Driver Search: The DEI driver search is now in full swing, as the team seeks a new driver to replace the departing Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

DEI had hoped to land Busch, but their attention has now shifted to a short list of drivers said to include Greg Biffle, Regan Smith, J.J. Yeley and David Reutimann. Biffle remains under contract with Roush Fenway Racing through next season, so any deal with him would have to include a buyout of his present deal. Reutimann is unable to talk officially to any other team until his one-year contract with Michael Waltrip Racing expires at the end of the year. Mark Martin is reportedly lobbying his new bosses hard for Smith, while Yeley said this weekend that he is talking to a number of teams about next season, including DEI. Martin could also be moved to the #8 Chevrolet along with part-timer Aric Almirola, with the new driver taking over the US Army #01.

Childress On Gibbs: "They're Gone": At least two fellow Chevrolet team owners say they now expect Joe Gibbs Racing to jump to the Toyota camp next season. Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said of Gibbs, “I'd say they're gone.”

Richard Childress said he also believes JGR’s departure is imminent. In his words, "It's pretty well written in stone." As a result, Childress said he no longer feels comfortable sharing information with Gibbs at Thursday's monthly partner’s meeting in Detroit. “We’re not going to discuss with them…things that we normally would discuss openly,” he said. “(We’re) working on stuff for next year, and we don't want them to take that and help out the competition."

DEI Director of Motorsports Richie Gilmore said, “If they're as far down the road as we're hearing, they should come up with an excuse (not to attend.) They're a very classy group. If they're that far down the road, I wouldn't expect them to show up."

Gilmore said the timing of Gibbs’ move is especially bad, adding, “We just developed a new engine, and all that technology is gone to another competitor.”

Wood Brothers To Top 35: It was “mission accomplished” for Boris Said and Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, after Said replaced Bill Elliott yesterday and drove the Little Debbie Ford to a 14th-place finish in the Centurion Boats at the Glen. That finish pushed the team to past Dave Blaney’s Bill Davis Racing/Caterpillar Toyota team and into the Top 35 in owners points, giving them a guaranteed starting spot this weekend at Michigan. Blaney finished a lap down in 35th, and now trails the No. 21 by 37 points in the owner’s standings.

BREAKING NEWS: Busch To JGR, Gibbs To Toyota, Yeley To Join Wood Brothers, Carpentier In #10 Dodge at Glen

Kyle Busch has decided where he will race next season, after agreeing to drive the #18 Interstate Batteries machine in 2008 and beyond. Informed sources tell Sirius Speedway that that Busch will replace J.J. Yeley, and that Yeley will move to Wood Brothers/JTG Racing next season to steer the #21 Ford Fusion. Yeley’s agent, Kyle Chapman, said there is currently no signed deal between his client and Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, and that Yeley is in discussion with a number of teams about possible rides for next season.

In addition, JGR will jump from the Chevrolet to the Toyota camp beginning in 2008, joining Michael Waltrip Racing, Bill Davis Racing and Team Red Bull on the list of teams running Toyota Camrys. Neither Busch nor Joe Gibbs Racing have made any official comment on the move, but published reports say that Gibbs officials have informed Hall of Fame Racing that they will not continue to provide the team with engines next season, prompting Hall Of Fame to contact Richard Childress Racing about a similar engine-supply deal for 2008. HOF spokesman Joe Crowley said today that there is no truth to those reports.

And finally, Canadian Patrick Carpentier will be announced tomorrow morning as the driver of Gillett-Evernham Racing's #10 Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge this weekend at Watkins Glen. Carpentier will replace Scott Riggs on a one-race basis.

So Funny, We Wish We Had Thought Of It Ourselves!

Check out this link to the ULTIMATE explanation of NASCAR driving technique. Do Tim Brewer and ESPN know about this???

Stewart's Brickyard Win Bad News For Competition

Don’t look now, but Tony Stewart is smokin’.

The Home Depot Chevrolet driver copped his second “Allstate 400 at the Brickyard” trophy in three years Sunday, surging past leader Kevin Harvick with less than 15 laps to go, then pulling away to a comfortable, three-second win and his second NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory in a row.

Stewart’s win is bad news for the rest of the Nextel Cup garage, since it signals a return of the momentum that is so much a part of the Stewart/Greg Zipadelli magic. No driver in NASCAR is streakier than Stewart. When things are going badly, he can brood and pout with the best of them. But when things are going well – and they are definitely going well right now – ole’ Smoke can get on a roll faster than any racer alive.

In his championship season of 2005, the Hoosier native ripped off a torrid streak of five wins in seven midseason starts – part of 13 consecutive top-eight finishes – that left the competition gasping in his wake. In the last three weeks, Stewart has virtually guaranteed himself a place in the 2007 Chase For The Nextel Cup, and ensured that he will begin the Chase within easy striking distance of the lead. The next few tracks on the Nextel Cup schedule have been good to Stewart in the past, so don’t be surprised to see Smoke riding his current wave of momentum all the way to the beach.

Johnson Stuck In Midsummer Swoon: While Stewart surges toward the top of the rankings, defending series champion Jimmie Johnson is heading in the other direction, fast. Sunday’s 39th-place finish at the Brickyard continued a recent run of bad luck that has seen the Lowe’s Chevrolet team plummet from third in points to ninth in the last few weeks. Johnson now stands just 265 points ahead of thirteenth-place Kurt Busch, and while his place in the Chase is not yet in serious jeopardy, things are definitely heading in the wrong direction.

Johnson and crewchief Chad Knauss will attempt to turn things around this weekend at Pocono Raceway.

Earnhardt Calm In The Face Of The Storm: One might have expected Dale Earnhardt, Jr., to be upset in the aftermath of Sunday’s “Allstate 400 at the Brickyard,” when a late engine failure ruined what appeared to be a sure top-five finish. Instead, Junior was the model of decorum, thanking his team for giving him a good racecar, and taking an “aw shucks” attitude to the mechanical failure that left him just 13 points away from falling out of the Chase.

Why the kid gloves? It’s simple, really.

As a “lame duck” driver, it will take very little to turn Earnhardt’s relationship with his race team upside-down. Many in the DEI camp remain upset by the criticism he leveled at the team earlier this year when announcing his decision to bolt to the Hendrick Motorsports camp, and any further second-guessing on the part of NASCAR’s most popular driver would be like a dose of salt in those still-open wounds. Earnhardt could have lit-up the DEI engine shop yesterday, or criticized the mid-race “experiment” that left his chassis horribly out-to-lunch for a time, forcing him to battle back from outside the top-10. Instead, he bit his tongue, in the interest of keeping his team intact and unified for the final 16 races of his tenure at DEI.

Busch Still Ride Shopping: Both Kyle Busch and his agent have denied published reports that he is set to sign with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. at any moment. Busch says he still hasn’t decided which team he will race for next season, and that it may be two more weeks before he makes a decision. Shrubby is believed to have narrowed his Wish List to three teams; DEI, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Evernham Motorsports. He was scheduled to meet with DEI’s drivers and management Saturday in Indianapolis, and will reportedly do lunch with Ray Evernham later this week.

Another driver on the DEI radar is Chip Ganassi Racing's David Stremme. Sources say Stremme is high on DEI's list of potential replacement's for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., if Busch chooses to go elsewhere.

Bourdais To NASCAR?: In the aftermath of his merger with Champ Car’s Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing earlier this week, Robert Yates said three-time Champ Car king Sebastien Bourdais could end up driving for the new Yates-Newman-Hass-Lanigan Racing Team next season. Carl Haas confirmed that there have been discussions about making Bourdais the latest Open Wheel star to jump to NASCAR, but SeaBass himself said all the NASCAR talk is overblown. Bourdais has previously expressed interest in stock cars, but says his fondest dream is to drive for a competitive Formula One team. He reportedly has an offer on the table from Scuderia Toro Rosso, one of the worst teams in the F1 paddock.

Biffle Snit: Greg Biffle may be in line for a NASCAR-sanctioned penalty, after refusing to go to the media center and complete his post-race media obligations at O'Reilly Raceway Park Saturday night. Biffle spoke to network television and to the Motor Racing Network following the race, but refused repeated requests to visit the press box. You may recall that Tony Stewart was fined $10,000 and placed on probation earlier this season for failing to visit the media center after a race at Phoenix International Raceway.

BREAKING NEWS: Newman-Haas To Purchase Robert Yates Racing

Newman-Haas Racing co-owners Paul Newman and Carl Haas will add to their seven Champ Car World Series titles by branching out into NASCAR.

Newman-Haas has made an offer to purchase Robert Yates Racing, with an announcement possible as early as Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Newman-Haas currently leads the standings in search of their fourth consecutive Champ Car World Series crown, with driver Sebastien Bourdais.

Co–owner Carl Haas already has a NASCAR connection, owning (along with partner Michael Lanigan) the No. 14 Busch Series Ford driven by Kyle Krisiloff. Haas and also served as a partner in Carter-Haas Racing in 2002, fielding Nextel Cup Fords for Jimmy Spencer and Darrell Waltrip.

Robert Yates Racing currently fields a pair of Nextel Cup Fords for drivers David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd, as well as Stephen Leicht’s Busch Series entry. Gilliland is 27th in points, with Rudd 30th and Leicht eighth. Yates has spoken openly about the possibility of a sale for more than a year, after being unable to attract a suitable financial partner for the team. RYR has scheduled a press conference to discuss the future of the team for Friday at 2:40 pm ET at Indianpolis Motor Speedway.

DEI Purchases Ginn Racing

Following up on a story that Sirius Speedway first broke yesterday, Dale Earnhardt Inc. has announced that it is acquiring all the assets of Ginn Racing, effective immediately.

The move is being called a merger, but in reality, it appears to be a straight buyout of Ginn Racing by DEI. The team will continue to be known as Dale Earnhardt Inc., though Bobby Ginn will be listed as an ownership partner. His will serve as owner of record for the #01 US Army Chevrolet driven by Mark Martin and the #15 Menard’s Chevrolet driven by Paul Menard. DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt will continue as owner for the #8 Budweiser car driven (for now) by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and the #1 Bass Pro Shop/Tracker Boats Chevy of Martin Truex, Jr. All four cars will compete under the DEI banner in this weekend’s “Allstate 400 at the Brickyard” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Menard’s #15 car will assume the owner’s points from the Ginn Racing #14 formerly driven by Sterling Marlin, putting Menard in the Top-35 in owner’s points and guaranteeing him a spot in Sunday’s race. The #14 car is currently ranked 30th in Nextel Cup owner’s points. Rumors persist that a deal is still afoot to sell the owner’s points from the former Joe Nemechek-driven #13 Chevrolet to Furniture Row Racing owner Barney Visser, allowing Kenny Wallace to assume the 34th guaranteed starting spot for Sunday’s race in Indianapolis.

After facing repeated roadblocks in her efforts to expand the 100,000-square foot physical plant at DEI, Teresa Earnhardt will move the entire competitive side of the team to the 180,000-square foot Ginn Racing shops in Mooresville, N.C., possibly as soon as next week. The current DEI facility will likely serve as a museum and souvenir outlet for the team. Mark Martin has committed to running another part-time schedule of at least 22 races for DEI in 2008, and will serve as a mentor/coach for DEI’s developmental drivers.

A number of details remain to be worked out, most notably Ginn's engine deal with Hendrick Motorsports, which does not expire until the end of the 2008 campaign. Obviously, DEI (which has its own engine development program) will not continue to lease engines from Hendrick, meaning that a final-year buyout will almost certainly need to be negotiated. Martin will use Hendrick Motorsports engines this weekend at the Brickyard, before switching to DEI-Childress power next week at Pocono Raceway.

DEI President Max Siegel will continue to serve as second-in-command to Teresa Earnhardt. Ginn CEO Jay Frye will remain with the team through the transitionary period, but is not expected to stay involved beyond the next few weeks. Expect Frye -- who held a minority ownership stake in Ginn Racing -- to become a hot property himself in the coming days, as other Nextel Cup teams vie for his services.

What role Ginn himself will play in the new team is still unknown. Just 30 days ago, the wealthy resort and real estate entrepreneur spoke openly of attracting Dale Earnhardt, Jr., to his then three-car team. Things went downhill in a hurry, however, with Earnhardt announcing plans to move to Hendrick Motorsports next season, just weeks before Ginn was forced to release both Nemechek and Marlin when sponsorship for his #13 and #14 cars failed to materialize. Ginn also closed down his NASCAR Busch Series operation, trimming approximately 30 employees from the payroll. He recently announced plans to add youngster Aric Almirola to his driver lineup for the remainder of the season -- sharing the #01 car with Martin -- while elevating Regan Smith to full-time duty in the #14.

Almirola will continue to share time with Martin next season, as planned. Smith's future with the new team is unclear, and he is now scheduled to drive a Ginn Racing Chevrolet in Friday night's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at O'Reilly Raceway Park. A press release announcing the deal today said, "specific schedules for Martin, Smith and Almirola will be announced later." No mention was made of Smith. The status of Ginn developmental drivers Kraig Kinser, Ricky Carmichael and Jesus Hernandez is also unknown.

Today's announcement may mark the end of Bobby Ginn's brief tenure as a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series owner. At the very least, it will signal the end of his time as a major decision maker in the Cup garage. He purchased a controlling interest in the former MB2 Motorsports team last year, changed the name and made a number of sweeping changes, adding technology, equipment and funding to what had previously been a middle-of-the-pack team.

"When I purchased Ginn Racing last year, it was done with a goal of fielding a multi-car effort capable of winning races and championships," said Ginn. "We came very close to winning the season’s biggest race earlier this year, and today, we feel as if we have done one better by partnering with a company with the legacy of Dale Earnhardt Inc."

Reports: Edwards Hurt In Late Model Race

Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards was reportedly injured in accident during a Late Model event at Nebraska's I-80 Speedway Sunday night.

Edwards was transported to a local hospital with what sources say appeared to be a broken right thumb after getting caught up in a third lap crash during the 25 lap Super Late Model feature. A car reportedly slowed at the front of the pack, triggering a multi-car pileup that eventually involved 11 of the 28 cars in the race. Edwards walked from his wrecked racer to a waiting ambulance without assistance, and was later transported to Lakeside Hospital in West Omaha for precautionary x-rays. Hospital officials have declined to give specifics of Edward’s injuries, citing privacy concerns.

Carl's father, Carl Sr., said his son's hand "looked broken" after apparently getting caught in the steering wheel during the crash. More details as they become available.

The Good And The Bad Of JGR/Ginn Moves

This week’s moves involving the Joe Gibbs and Ginn Racing teams showcase what is best and worst about big-time professional motorsports.

Both teams confirmed today what Sirius Speedway first reported Monday; that JGR has granted Aric Almirola his release, allowing him to compete for Ginn on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series this season.

“This is a bittersweet moment for us,” said JGR President J.D. Gibbs. “Aric is a tremendous talent, and he had the opportunity to do more races in a shorter period of time than we could provide to him. Everyone at Ginn Racing was extremely professional in the way they expressed their desire to put Aric in their racecars. The fact that Aric will be mentored by Mark Martin made our decision much easier. We will always consider Aric to be a part of the JGR family, and we wish him the best in his new opportunity with Ginn Racing.”

In addition to sharing the #01 Chevrolet with Martin this season, Almirola will honor the remainder of his contract by running five more NASCAR Busch Series races for JGR.

Almirola’s move to Ginn Racing – and JGR’s decision to allow it, despite the presence of a signed contract – is a prime example of decency overriding pure business sense. JGR is in the enviable position of having too many talented young drivers in its stable. With Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and JJ Yeley already filling three Nextel Cup seats, and 17-year old superstar-in-the-making Joey Logano tearing up the Busch East Series, Almirola was clearly the odd man out at JGR.

Even if Gibbs elected to expand to four Nextel Cup teams in the near future – something team officials have said they are in no hurry to do – Almirola ranked no better than fifth on the depth charts. By freeing their young protege to accept a Nextel Cup opportunity with Ginn Racing, JGR did what was best for Almirola, if not for themselves.

Almirola expressed appreciation for the move, saying, “I can’t thank Joe Gibbs Racing enough for what they’ve done for me. They saw what this opportunity with Ginn Racing meant to me, and they didn’t stand in the way. Joe Gibbs Racing will always have a special place in my heart.

“They allowed me to get to this position by giving me a chance at a time when I had a lot of desire, but little money. The equipment they gave me and the people they surrounded me with made me a better racecar driver, and a better person.”

While JGR’s decision to grant Almirola his release showcases what is best about the sport, the termination of veterans Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek offers a glimpse into the harder side of NASCAR racing.

Marlin, 50, confirmed to Sirius Speedway yesterday that he and Nemechek have both been relieved of their driving duties, with Marlin being replaced by 23-year old Regan Smith.

“I talked to (Ginn Racing CEO) Jay Frye at Daytona,” said Marlin. “He said, `everything’s fine,’ but it obviously wasn’t. They called me late (Monday) and told me what was going on, and it caught me by surprise. They’ve got to do what they’ve got to do, but I have a valid contract with them. As long as they do everything they say they’re going to do (contractually), everything’s going to be fine.”

Earlier this year, team owner Bobby Ginn pledged that Marlin could drive for the team as long as he wanted. Yesterday, asked if he felt betrayed by his former car owner, Marlin said, “You can read between the lines. I can look in the mirror and know I done everything right. That’s not the case on the other side, and I’ll just leave it at that.”

Asked if Ginn’s problems can be solved with a simple driver change, Marlin said, “We’ve had a pretty good car at times this year – better than last year – but they’ve had a lot of problems on their side that still need to be addressed. Maybe now, they will. I know I can get up in the morning and look in the mirror knowing that I drove my heart out and done all I could do.

“I’ve got nothing to hang my head about. I done all I could do with what I had.”

For his part, Frye said the team is looking to the future by moving to a younger driver lineup.

“We are starting our future now,” said Frye. “(Aric Almirola and Regan Smith) are the groundwork for future success. We appreciate everything that Joe and Sterling have done for us. They have been a class act.”

Both Marlin and Nemechek are among the most popular drivers in the Nextel Cup garage. When word of their firings became public yesterday, internet message boards lit up with comments critical of Ginn Racing. Ginn’s own Fan Forum was shut down late Tuesday, after fans clogged it with scathing criticism of the team.

Unfortunately, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series racing is about results, not popularity.

One year ago, the #01 U.S. Army Chevrolet (driven by Joe Nemechek) languished in 29th place in Nextel Cup points. Today, the same team ranks ninth in points, with the only significant personnel change being the change in drivers.

Nemechek has recorded just one top-10 finish in 19 starts this season -- a fifth in the Daytona 500 – en route to 33rd place in points. Marlin stands 29th in points, with a season-best 13th place finish at Darlington. Neither driver has proven attractive to sponsors, as evidenced by the team’s blank quarterpanels in a number of races this season.

As hard-hearted as it may sound, in the big-time world of NASCAR Nextel Cup racing, poor on-track results, plus an inability to attract sponsorship equals unemployment. Whether your name is Nemechek, Marlin or Earnhardt, those are the harsh realities of the business.

Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek aren’t the first to feel the harsh sting of that reality, and they won’t be the last.

Notes From The Nextel Cup Garage

Kyle Busch is keeping mum on his future plans, but it appears his list of potential 2008 employers is now down to four. Richard Childress Racing, Evernham Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Joe Gibbs Racing. Our sources tell us that it’s probably down to DEI and RCR at this point, with a possibility of Busch running Nextel Cup races for DEI next season, and Busch races for RCR.

Team owner Rick Hendrick quashed rumors that Busch will be released from the #5 Chevrolet before the end of this season, pointing out that the team is currently qualified for the Chase For The Nextel Cup, and solidly in championship contention. However, he admitted frustration with Busch’s recent criticism of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, saying, "It just doesn't make sense to me. We're working as hard as we can."

Hendrick’s PR staff is refusing virtually all interview requests for Busch these days, but once he arrives at the racetrack, he is a prime (and apparently willing) target for the media hordes. Contrary to published reports, agent Jeff Dickerson said Busch is not close to signing a deal, and will have nothing to announce at Indy next weekend.

Ginn Shakeup Could Come Today: As we first reported yesterday, Aric Almirola will jump from Joe Gibbs Racing to Ginn within the next few days, replacing Regan Smith as part-time driver (along with Mark Martin) of the #01 U.S. Army Chevrolet. Smith will move to the #14 Chevrolet for the remainder of the season, replacing Sterling Marlin.

Both Marlin and Joe Nemechek are expected to be pick-slipped this week (in fact, it may have already happened), as Ginn scales back to a two-car operation for the remainder of the season.

CEO Jay Frye has had little luck attracting sponsorship for his two veteran drivers, and when a seemingly airtight deal with Panasonic fell apart at the beginning of the season, the team found itself in a major sponsorship crunch. Both Nemechek and Marlin ran with plain black quarterpanels recently at New Hampshire International Speedway, and the odds of finding additional backing for Nemechek (age 44) and Marlin (50) are not encouraging.

Sources say Smith will be moved to the #14 Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in two weeks, while the #13 will be sold to Dale Earnhardt, Inc., which covets the car’s Top-35 standing in owners’ points for driver Paul Menard.

Back To The Future For BAM: Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau hope a dose of nostalgia will be just what the doctor ordered for their struggling NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team.

BAM Racing has announced that former crewchief David Hyder will return to the fold this week, reuniting with former driver Kenny Schrader.

Schrader has been on the Nextel Cup sidelines since being replaced in the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Ford by Bill Elliott a few weeks ago. He will reunite with Hyder at BAM, beginning at the Brickyard 400 in two weeks. Hyder – the undeclared scapegoat of the Michael Waltrip Racing “fuelgate” controversy at Daytona – had a quick cup of coffee with Jeremy Mayfield’s Bill Davis Racing team before heading back to BAM this week.

"I'm going to build a team from the ground up," said Hyder of his return. "I want to put all the right pieces together."

Keselowski Impresses In JR Debut: Young Brad Keselowski boosted his stock another notch Saturday, steering Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s NAVY Chevrolet to a 14th-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway.

Despite battling an ill-handling racer from the drop of the green flag, Keselowski was the top-finishing rookie of the race. He has two more confirmed starts with JR Motorsports; this Saturday at Gateway International Raceway, and at O'Reilly Raceway Park next weekend.

Keselowski is the third driver to wheel the JR Motorsports NAVY car in the last two seasons, after Shane Huffman was unceremoniously fired two weeks ago. Huffman was 13th in Busch Series points – fifth among “Busch only” drivers -- leading some to wonder whether expectations in the JR Motorsports camp are unrealistically high at present. Earnhardt himself drove the NAVY car at Daytona, but managed only a 14th place finish after battling chassis issues of his own.