Hallam Departing MWR For Aussie Touring Cars

Michael Waltrip Racing Vice President of Competition Steve Hallam will leave the team to take a new post as Managing Director of Walkinshaw Racing, whose Toll Holden and Bundaberg Racing teams field factory Holden entries on the Australian V8 Supercar Series. Hallam has been with MWR since 2009, coming to the team after heading up McLaren’s Formula One program from 1998-2008 for drivers Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell and Mika Hakkinen.

“I have always considered the V8 Supercar series as one of the ‘classic’ racing series,” said Hallam of the move. "Having been fortunate to have worked with some of the great brands in motorsport, it is with real excitement I have accepted the role of Managing Director for Walkinshaw Racing. The Toll Holden Racing team has exceptional history and we have terrific talent throughout the organization. When this opportunity was presented, it was one that I couldn’t let pass. I look forward to getting on the ground in Australia, and start contributing to the future success of the team.”

In a FOXSports interview today, Walkinshaw Racing co-owner Ryan Walkinshaw said he is pleased to have Hallam taking the helm. “Someone with Steve’s pedigree in engineering and race operations, as well as has general management capabilities makes him a great leader for our organization,” said Walkinshaw. “Everyone in the team is looking forward to working with him. Steve’s wealth of experience with truly exceptional racing outfits is exactly what we were looking for when we began our search.”

Hallam replaces Craig Wilson, who left the Walkinshaw team earlier this season.

Patrick Announcement Expected Next Wednesday

The beating heart of NASCAR Nation is all a-flutter today, with news that Danica Patrick will finally announce her plans to become a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series -- and part-time Sprint Cup -- driver in 2012.

ESPN's Marty Smith reported today that an official announcement will come next week, confirming what has become the worst-kept secret in NASCAR, if not all of motorsports. Patrick will confirm that she will steer the #7 GoDaddy.com/JR Motorsports Chevrolet that she has driven in a limited schedule of Nationwide events this season, and will also contest a limited schedule of Sprint Cup starts, presumably in Chevrolets fielded by Stewart-Haas Racing. Plans reportedly call for a move to the Sprint Cup Series full-time in 2013.

Expect a press conference next Wednesday morning at GoDaddy's corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, with Patrick departing the Andretti Autosport IZOD IndyCar Series team following the final year of her contract.

Said: "We Settled Our Differences"

Boris Said told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he and Greg Biffle spoken via telephone Tuesday and cleared the air after their post-race confrontation at Watkins Glen international the previous day.

“We talked about it today, and I think we settled our differences,” said the California native, who threatened to “go see him at his house and (give him)... a freakin’ whooping” after Biffle confronted him following the race. “We had a long talk and I think we’re okay. Maybe now we’ll be lovers, not fighters.” Said insisted he was serious about fighting the Roush Fenway driver, saying, “If could have gotten to him (after the race), I’d have beat his ass. It’s a good thing I didn’t get to him. I had a bunch of people text me his address, and I would probably have been over there today if he hadn’t called me.

“There were two separate things that went on (Monday), and I just want to clarify them,” he said. “The (crash) with David Ragan had nothing to do with what happened with Greg Biffle. The thing with Ragan is what I’m most sorry about, and it really was just one of those racing deals. It was a product of double-file restarts and the green-white-checker. The way I see it – after talking with David and Jack (Roush) today – I gave him the inside in Turn One and we were drag racing toward Turn Two. Then his spotter cleared him and he came across my bow. It was a split-second decision and I couldn’t get out of the gas. I wasn’t even thinking about getting out of the gas, I was thinking about racing to the outside of him in Turn Two. It was unfortunate and I felt really bad about it.

“The issue with Biffle, I have big problems with,” repeated Said. “He was two laps down, and on one of the (earlier) restarts he was trying to wreck me. He told me I was `number one’ for an entire lap. He’s a good one-handed driver, that’s for sure. I wanted to wreck him, but I have a lot of respect for Jack Roush, (who) has helped me a lot over the years. I wasn’t going to wreck his car, so after I finally got by him, I told my spotter, `You tell Biffle that I’m going to come to his hauler after the race. I’m going to give him a free shot, then I’m going to whup his ass.’

“If had gotten to him, I’d have beat his ass,” said Said. “It’s a good thing I didn’t get to him. We talked about it today, and I think we settled our differences. We had a long talk and I think we’re okay. Maybe now we’ll be lovers, not fighters.

Said confirmed that he and Biffle had issues a year ago at WGI, after Biffle accused him of racing too hard and forcing a three-wide situation in Turn One. “He said I’m not a (Sprint Cup) regular and I shouldn’t be racing him hard,” recalled Said. “I could understand that if I was driving my own car, had a single trailer and was showing up to one or two races a year. But James Finch has a full-time team and he’s been writing checks to NASCAR for entry fees since long before Greg Biffle ever got there.

“When James hires me, he expects me to go 100-percent. He doesn’t expect me to let people by just because they’re in it for points. James is in it for points, too. That’s what I have a big disagreement about with Biffle. When Michael Waltrip runs two races a year, he doesn’t tell his sponsor, `Oh by the way, I’m going to have to pull over for all those (full-time) guys because I’m not running for points.’ I get disappointed and frustrated when I hear comments like that from guys like Biffle. I need to go out there and run as hard as I can, or people aren’t going to hire me to drive their cars. That’s what a guy like James Finch expects.”

Rockingham Installing SAFER Barriers; 2012 Camping World Truck Race Likely

Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that North Carolina’s Rockingham Speedway will begin installing SAFER Barrier technology within the next 30 days, likely as a precursor to hosting a race on the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Rockingham owner Andy Hillenburg confirmed today that he has secured financing for the project and will begin installation of the impact-absorbing barriers next month. The barriers will be installed in all four corners of the speedway, and on the inside of the backstretch, and should be completed in late December.

Hillenburg declined to discuss the possibility of a Camping World Truck Series race at the 46-year old facility, saying, “I don’t have anything like that to announce at this time." Multiple sources say that talks have taken place with NASCAR about placing Rockingham on the 2012 Truck Series schedule, however, with an spring date likely. The only stumbling block to a sanction agreement between Hillenburg and NASCAR was the installation of SAFER barriers, and with that hurdle now effectively cleared, sources say the deal could be done in a matter of days.

Rockingham has not hosted a NASCAR race since February 22, 2004, when Matt Kenseth drove his DeWalt Ford to Victory Lane in the Subway 400. Since then, the track has hosted events on the ARCA, USAR Pro Cup, CRA Late Model and Frank Kimmel Street Stock Series, and is home to Hillenburg’s Fast Track High Performance Driving School. The one-mile oval and companion half-mile short track – built in 2008 – are popular testing venues for many NASCAR teams.

Rockingham is not the only track interested in filling open dates on the 2012 Camping World Truck Series calendar. Mobile (AL) International Speedway promoter Rick Crawford confirmed today that he has spoken to NASCAR about the possibility of acquiring a spot on the 2012 schedule, as well. The former Truck Series driver said he would double his track’s current 9,000-seat capacity, in an effort to bring the Trucks back to what he called “their short-track roots. I think it would be a plus for everybody,” said Crawford. "We’re starving for NASCAR action down here on the Gulf Coast, and if we can get a race done, I’m sure it would be a hit.”

There is also a possibility that both the Nationwide and Truck Series could return to Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis next season. Options under consideration include a Truck/ARCA/USAC tripleheader during Brickyard 400 weekend at nearby Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and a return of the Nationwide Series to LOR the weekend before the Indianapolis 500. Sources say the track will agree to host a Camping World Truck Series event in 2012, but only if they also receive a date on the Nationwide schedule.

Leicht Teams With Tommy Baldwin Racing For Richmond Cup Start

Stephen Leicht will join Tommy Baldwin Racing for the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway September 10th. As an extension of Pepsi Max’s promotion with Golden Corral and TBR, Pepsi Max will adorn the hood of the No. 35 Pepsi Max Chevrolet piloted by Leicht.

Leicht made his NASCAR debut in 2005 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, ultimately making 71 starts in the series for Yates Racing and Richard Childress Racing. The Asheville, N.C., native scored his only Nationwide win in 2007 at Kentucky Speedway while driving for Yates Racing. That same year, he finished seventh in the Nationwide point standings. In his 71 series starts, Leicht collected three top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. The 24-year-old also made a start in the Sprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway with Yates Racing, qualifying 36th and finishing 33rd.

"I’ve always watched Stephen’s career," said Baldwin. “He did really well when we tested a Cup car together, and I was impressed. This opportunity came up, and we needed to fill the seat. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to give Stephen a shot at racing in the Cup series.”

“I’m very excited to be working with Tommy Baldwin Racing,” said Leicht. “I’ve known Tommy since back when I raced with Robert Yates Racing in 2007, and I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to compete in the Cup series.”

Pepsi Max is partnering with Golden Corral to promote the brand’s entrance into Golden Corral restaurants. Golden Corral has served Pepsi's line of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages in each of its 485 locations since 2007. “We are excited to expand our presence in the sport by partnering with Tommy Baldwin Racing for this unique Pepsi MAX promotion with Golden Corral,” said Rand Eyberg, Vice President National Restaurants, PepsiCo Foodservice.

Leicht will test a TBR Chevrolet Wednesday at Gresham Motorsports Park, in preparation for his return at Richmond.

Ambrose Set For Double Duty This Weekend

Hot off his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Watkins Glen International Monday, Marcos Ambrose will do double duty this weekend in Michigan and Montreal. The Richard Petty Motorsports driver will drive an RPM Ford Mustang in Saturday’s 200-mile NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with sponsorship from Stanley Tools.

Ambrose has flirted with Victory Lane in his previous Montreal outings, but has yet to win at the 2.709-mile track. Fellow Aussie Owen Kelly will practice and qualify the #9 Stanley Nationwide Ford Friday, while Ambrose attends to his Sprint Cup Series commitments in Michigan. Chad Norris will serve as crew chief. In addition to sponsoring Ambrose's Montreal entry, Stanley will donate $100,000 in Ambrose's name to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program.

Boris Said will drive the #30 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet in Montreal, joining Turner Motorsports teammate Jason Leffler under the Great Clips banner. In four career starts in Montreal, the Carlsbad, California native has captured a pair of Top-5 finishes, and will be seeking his second consecutive victory in the event. In his nine-year, part-time Nationwide career, Said has one win, six Top-5 and seven Top-10 finishes in 22 starts.

Scott Speed will wheel the #33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Nationwide Chevrolet at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with backing from Rheem. The California native has 13 career Nationwide starts with a pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2009 and eight Top-10 finishes.

And finally, Maryeve Dufault will become the first Canadian female to compete in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race, driving the Quebec Dodge Dealers Dodge Challenger for Randy MacDonald’s MacDonald Motorsports.

Marcos Ambrose Is A NASCAR Winner

Vindication is sweet for Marcos Ambrose.

Recognized as one of the most gifted road racers in the world, the former Australian V8 Supercar champion has flirted with victory in virtually all of his previous Sprint Cup Series road course starts. He gave away a sure win at Infineon Raceway last season after shutting his engine off under caution in an attempt to save fuel, only to have it refuse to restart. He has never finished worse than third at Watkins Glen, but those “close but no cigar” finishes did nothing to diminish the pressure he felt to perform.

In fact, they compounded it.

“I’ve felt the weight of expectation and pressure to win,” said Ambrose Sunday, just minutes after passing Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski with an all-or-nothing final lap charge to win the Heluva Good Sour Cream Dips at The Glen. “Sometimes that clouds judgment. I know I’ve tripped myself up once or twice, trying to get to Victory Lane here in the Cup Series.

“It’s not that I was worried, but the word ‘choke’ was starting to creep into the back of my mind.”

Ambrose was clearly the class of the field Monday, starting third and forging a comfortable lead in the early laps before surrendering the advantage as part of crewchief Todd Parrott’s “don’t beat ourselves” fuel strategy. He raced back through the field with surgical efficiency, leading four times for a total of 28 laps, then outgunned – and out-thought – Busch and Keselowski down the stretch to claim his much-anticipated first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win.

“We survived today,” said the beaming Aussie afterward, crediting a final caution for Paul Menard’s Turn Four crash for allowing him to cool his overworked brakes and prepare himself for an uncharacteristic miscue by leader Busch on the final restart. “I knew I was never going to out-brake the 18,” he said. “I tried to blend in behind him. He was going to saddle off there and try to win the race, and that’s exactly what he did.

“With Brad, I just got through the bus stop really good and forced the issue on him,” said the champagne-soaked Richard Petty Motorsports driver. “I never touched him, I don’t think. I got him aero free and I was able to slide past. It was just a dream day, and I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be here.”

It’s been a long and sometimes rocky road for Ambrose, who abandoned a lucrative career as perennial V8 Supercar titlist to take his shot at American stock car glory. Over the last four seasons, he has shown the potential to crack Victory Lane numerous times, but as the old saying goes, “Potential means you haven’t done it yet.”

Now, Ambrose is a winner at last, winning a race that ironically – like his NASCAR career – took a little extra time to complete.

Boris On Biffle: "He’s Going To Fight Me Like A Man Someday."

Greg Biffle and Boris Said took NASCAR’s “Boys Have At It” era to a new level Monday, engaging in a post-race scuffle that ended with Said promising to “go see him at his house and (give him)... a freakin’ whooping.”

Biffle lost a lap early in Monday’s rain delayed “Heluva Good Sour Cream Dips At The Glen” after running out of fuel under caution and having to be pushed back to the pits. He then angered Said by racing the road course specialist harder than Said thought necessary, leading to harsh words, pushing and shoving between the drivers and their teams after the race.

“He was flipping me off, giving me the finger, (being) totally unprofessional, a few laps down,” said Said. “He’s a chump... the most unprofessional little scaredy cat I’ve ever seen in my life. He wouldn’t even fight me like a man. If somebody texts me his address, I’ll go see him Wednesday at his house and show him what he really needs. He needs a freakin’ whooping, and I’m going to give it to him.”

Said also played a leading role in a savage final-lap crash that saw David Ragan and David Reutimann slam head-on into the Turn Two guardrail, with Reutimann’s Michael Waltrip RacingToyota cartwheeling across the track and into the opposite guardrail before bursting briefly into flames. Neither driver was injured, but Biffle and Ragan immediately blamed Said for the crash. “He just hooked us,” said Ragan. “He certainly could have given a little more of a break and we all could have gotten through there and not torn up anything. But he was aggressive. We were all aggressive.’’

"I want to make sure everyone sees the wreck between David and David," said Biffle in a post-race Twitter posting. "That's coming from a guy (who) says I am unprofessional. Let me tell you something, Boris `the road course ringer’ caused that wreck. He did the same thing to me earlier in the race off the carousel. …Then Mr. Class pulls in behind my truck after the race today? Shouldn't you go check on David and David? How unprofessional and disrespectful!"

Said denied causing the crash, saying “The #6 car was getting into me a lot. I didn't want to wreck him, but I had to stay on the track and he didn't give me any room. We collided. That is the only thing I feel bad about.” He also accused Biffle of punching him immediately after the race, saying, “He wouldn't even let me get out of the car. He comes over and throws a few little baby punches, then when I get out, he runs away and hides behind some big guys.

“He won't hide from me long. I’ll find him. I won't settle it out on the track. It's not right to wreck cars. But he'll show up at a race with a black eye one of these days. I'll see him somewhere.”

In a post-race interview with Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, Said claimed that he and Biffle had issues dating back to last year’s race at The Glen. “Last year, I went down into Turn One three wide and passed him,” said Said. “He got mad because he says I’m not a regular and I shouldn’t be racing the regulars that hard. But I was racing the Red Bull car... and they pay me to drive at 100 percent, not to roll over for some regular. I’m not doing my job if I don’t try 100 percent. So he was still sore about that I guess... and he had a lot of time to think about it because he was two laps down.”

Said’s crew chief, Nick Harrison, said his driver was upset before the race ended, sending a message through his spotter that he would be looking for the Roush Fenway Racing driver after the checkered flag. "Biffle had run out of gas and was multiple laps down and was racing Boris,” said Harrison. “Boris thought that was dirty, so Boris relayed a message to the spotter he wanted to meet him after the race."

“I give guys respect when they deserve respect,” said Said. “As far as Greg Biffle’s concerned, I’m not going to be happy until I whomp him. And I am going to whomp him sometime when he least expects it. He’s going to fight me like a man someday. Not at the track, not where we get fined, but someday. He’s supposed to be a champion, (but) that’s a joke.”

Busch, Johnson Escalate Their War Of Words

It’s official, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch will not be exchanging Christmas cards this year.

Johnson and Busch engaged in a heated verbal confrontation following last week’s event at Pocono Raceway; each blaming the other for contact on the final lap and lobbing caustic remarks at each other through the media. Nearly a week after Johnson labeled Busch a "crybaby" and "smart ass," the love-fest continued at Watkins Glen Friday, with Johnson uncharacteristically lambasting Busch during his weekly media availability.

“Bottom line, he just started running his mouth,” said Johnson. "When you're having words with someone and the crowd starts to build around you, and that guy all of a sudden starts to get brave, and you…walk away and the guy gets real tough... I don't know about you, but that makes me mad. The crowd started to build, and his bravery started to build. I walked away and he got tough. That's the part that frustrates me. If you're not going to say something to the man's face, don't wait until he walks away.

“Look over the years at what his mouth has done for him,” said Johnson. “It got my biggest fan, Jimmy Spencer, to punch him in the face (and) it's led to issues with the NASCAR officials on pit road. I think we all tune in weekly and wonder what he's going to say to his crew guys, (and) look what he said to Roger Penske, his car owner. At the end of the day, I'm not going to let him run his mouth at me. That's just kind of how it is.”

Told of Johnson’s comments, Busch returned fire the following day, insisting that neither he nor the five-time Sprint Cup champion did anything wrong on the final lap at Pocono. He called their contact, “what champions need to do. We raced each other with a juke and jive and rubbing. That’s racing. I talked to my dad about it and (he said), `That’s racing, son. That’s how it works.’”

Johnson disagreed, saying, "I made zero contact with Kurt at Pocono. Once he hit me, I leaned on him back. When I went to break the draft, I never touched him. Then he instigated the contact.”

Busch said he understands Johnson's post-race anger, but does not agree with it. "He was real amped up, and he felt like I did him wrong," said Busch. "(But) the response from people this week (has been), 'That was exciting. That's what we want to see. That's the intensity and the passion our sport is built off of.' This is a bunch of guys racing stock cars in the southeast. This isn't open-wheel racing where we're supposed to pass each other clean and be out front and leading by 10 seconds."

Both drivers stressed that they can continue to race together, despite the ill-will that clearly exists between them. “My first option is not to tear up race cars," said Johnson. "I have too much respect for the guys working on my race cars and too much respect for Roger Penske and his organization to take it out there (on the track). Shooting each other the bird on the straightaway… is fine. But when it turns into tearing up race cars, that part nobody wants to see happen."

The pair will face off in this afternoon’s NASCAR Nationwide Series “Zippo 200,” where neither has a stake in the championship and thus, little to lose. They’ll go at it again tomorrow in the Sprint Cup Series “Heluva Good Sour Cream Dips at the Glen.” Stayed tuned, race fans, this could get interesting.

JGR Planning New Nationwide, Truck Teams

Joe Gibbs Racing President JD Gibbs told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that as part of the team's new engine partnership with Toyota Racing Development, there could be new NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series entries fielded out of the JGR shops in 2012.

“If we can add a couple of Nationwide programs and a Truck program… I don’t think there’s a person here who will have to worry about their job,” he said. “That is one of the things that made this worth looking at. For a lot of our key guys who have been here for years, there will be roles in the shop or motor department that they can fill. A lot of them will still have their (previous) jobs, a few of them will probably go on the road with the teams, and some of them will have different roles that will allow us to do things better across the playing field.”

Gibbs said the proposed new Nationwide and Truck Series teams will run under the JGR banner. “We will continue to do all our (current) Nationwide teams, and if we add new teams, it will give us spots to put guys in so no one has to worry about their job.” He revealed that the new teams could be implemented quickly, saying, “Additional motor programs are one of the easiest things to do. The harder stuff is to build chassis, cars, parts and pieces and put them all together. The motors come (from TRD), you put them in, run them, take them out and send them back. (The new teams) are something we think we can add and do a good job with.”

Gibbs said plans for a fourth Sprint Cup team were not necessarily derailed when Carl Edwards opted to remain with Roush Fenway Racing, rather than jump to JGR. “In each of the last three years, we’ve looked around to see what kind of things pop-up that would allow us to make (a fourth team) work,” Gibbs said. “But it all has to come together. You have to have a driver, which is key. You needthe right partner to sponsor the team (and) you have to have the right crew. If all that comes together, we’re good to go. We can go quickly.

“But we’ve also learned that if all that doesn’t come together, we’re better off waiting, instead of trying to force something to go together. That’s where we are right now. We can go quiclyk if it all lines up, and that’s our hope.”

He admitted that a fourth Sprint Cup Series Toyota in 2012 is “probably a long shot, (since) we’re not lined up with the right partners. But I also wouldn’t rule it out. We don’t have to plan something out six months in advance. We can cut it a little closer and make it work. We’re in no hurry. There’s no panic and we’re not going to force it, but if the opportunity is there, we can take advantage of it quickly.”

With Edwards Signed, Stenhouse and Bayne Uncertain Of 2012 Plans

Carl Edwards' recent decision to remain with Roush Fenway Racing for another three years answered all the questions concerning his immediate NASCAR future. For youngsters Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., however, Edwards' decision threw everything into doubt.

Both Bayne and Stenhouse have run full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedules this season with Roush Fenway Racing, with Bayne also moonlighting in a part-time slate of Sprint Cup events with Wood Brothers Racing. Both drivers were in line to succeed Edwards had he succumbed to temptation and absconded to Joe Gibbs Racing. Now, however, both are faced with an uncertain -- and at present, unsponsored -- future.

Bayne and Stenhouse remain under contract with RFR for 2012, but there are no guarantees that either will return for another full-time Nationwide championship bid. Stenhouse, the elder statesman of the pair at age 23, has already racked up a pair of Nationwide wins this season, including a thriller of a finish last weekend at Iowa Speedway that saw him explode an engine coming off the final turn and crash (with Edwards) across the finish line. But while he currently leads the championship standings by 12 points over Reed Sorenson -- an impressive showing for a driver who only a year ago appeared to be in danger of losing his ride -- he has run most weekends with little or no sponsorship on the quarter panels of his Ford Mustang. The same is true of the 20-year old Bayne, and without an influx of backing in 2012, two of NASCAR's most promising young stars could find themselves relegated to a part-time schedule of events, or sidelined altogether.

All is not lost for fans of NASCAR's hottest young drivers, however. Bayne will almost certainly return to the Wood Brothers Ford next season for a partial schedule of Sprint Cup Series events. Sources in the Sprint Cup garage say Stenhouse could run as many as seven Sprint cup races in a fifth Roush Fenway Ford next season, if the team finds sufficient sponsorship to exercise its option and field a part-time, fifth entry for the rookie driver. He could even become a full-time Cup driver next season if Richard Petty Motorsports elects to expand its Sprint Cup operation to three cars; an option that is also wholly dependent on sponsorship.

Asked about his 2012 plans, Stenhouse said, "Right now we have no idea. If Carl was leaving... it sounded like somebody was going to have to run the #99 (Sprint Cup Ford). But they never talked to me for sure about it."

Stenhouse said his sole focus at present is the 2011 Nationwide Series championship; a title that would boost his stock as a driver and make him more marketable to potential sponsors. "We're focused on the championship," he said. "The ideal situation (would be) to run another full season in Nationwide and a part-time Cup deal. But I don't want to jump too early and get in over my head."

Like Stenhouse, Bayne steadfastly avoided talking about what might have been, had Edwards chosen to move on. "You're never disappointed to keep a good teammate that is going to help you, especially one you get along with really well," he said. "But when you have two developmental drivers running strong, sometimes you want to see a seat open up."

For now, both Bayne and Stenhouse will continue to make the most of their current situations, hoping they lead to more opportunities in 2012 and beyond.

Joe Gibbs Racing To Run TRD Engines In 2012

Joe Gibbs Racing will merge its engine-building operations with Toyota Racing Development next season, in an effort to solve ongoing reliability problems that have plagued the team in recent seasons. JGR President JD Gibbs and TRD President Lee White made that announcement in a conference call earlier today, saying the new, cooperative effort will make both parties stronger.

White called the agreement, "a great deal for both organizations as well as Michael Waltrip Racing," which also utilizes horsepower from TRD.

Gibbs said his team will "lean on TRD for their research and development. Over the past several years, we have done many projects with TRD and this is just sort of the last piece." He said he hopes to meld JGR’s horsepower with TRD’s superior durability; something that has proven problematic for the team in each of the last two seasons. Drivers Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano have all suffered an engine-related DNF in the first 21 races of 2011, in addition to numerous issues in practice and qualifying. “Mark (Cronquist, JGR head engine builder) and his team when it comes to horsepower and performance, they're really good,” said Gibbs. “I think TRD is good from a durability standpoint. So for us, I think it's just combining that."

Gibbs said JGR may not wait for 2012 to begin utilizing TRD horsepower. The team has built its own engines since joining the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 1993, and Gibbs said no employees will lose their jobs as a result of the change. "We're still going to have the motor shop and still have projects we're going do here,” he said. Not one person has to worry about being displaced in this partnership.”

Busch Replaces Keselowski For Saturday's Nationwide Race At Watkins Glen

Kurt Busch will substitute for injured Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski Saturday, driving the #22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International. Keselowski continues to recuperate from an avulsion fracture of the left ankle suffered in a testing crash last week, and Busch said he is happy to help his teammate out by allowing an extra day of healing before Sunday’s Sprint Cup race.

“I have always tried to be a great team player throughout my career,” sand Busch, “and with the incredible effort Brad put forth in winning Sunday’s race at Pocono, we think it’s a smart move to let him focus on just the Sprint Cup action this weekend.”

Keselowski also commented on the decision today in a Twitter post, saying that after a physical therapy session yesterday evening, it became obvious that he is progressing more slowly than hoped. While admittedly showing improvement, Sunday’s Good Sam RV Insurance 500 winner said driving continues to “severely aggravate” both his ankle and back. In his words, “Rather than take two steps forward with rehab and two back (by running both Nationwide and Sprint Cup this weekend, it’ll be) just Cup.”

Busch won the most recent Sprint Cup road race at California's Infineon Raceway in late June, and also carried the checkered flag in his last Nationwide start at Watkin's Glen in 2006. Penske Racing President Tim Cindric said, “Penske Racing is fortunate that Kurt, who is a former NNS winner at Watkins Glen, is in its stable of drivers. We appreciate him lending a hand during this time. We will continue to monitor Brad’s recovery. His NNS schedule will be determined on a race-by-race basis.”

CONFIRMED: Pocono Trims Races To 400 Miles

Less than 24 hours after saying the idea of reducing Pocono Raceway's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races from 500 miles to 400 was "being considered," track President Brandon Igdalski did exactly that.

Igdalski told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Tuesday, "We’re looking at things, but we haven’t made that decision quite yet.” Today, the venerable Pennsylvania tri-oval announced that beginning with the June 10, 2012 event, all Sprint Cup races at Pocono will be shortened to 400 miles.

"The 400 mile distance will make NASCAR racing at Pocono even more exciting,” said Igdalsky. “Race strategies will change, fuel mileage calculations will be altered and I firmly believe that our fans will be treated to outstanding racing at the 400 mile distance.”

NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O'Donnell commented on the move, saying, "NASCAR supports Pocono Raceway’s move to two 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 2012. We believe this will be a good transition for the fans and competitors. It will provide the teams with a new type of strategy and should make for even more exciting competition at a unique facility that has a long-standing history in our sport.”

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will continue to run companion events at Pocono in both June and August, with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returning for its third Pocono appearance during the August race weekend.

Crew Members Arrested On Multiple Drug Charges

Two Earnhardt Ganassi Racing crew members -– including the front tire changer on Juan Pablo Montoya’s #42 Target Chevrolet -– are jailed on multiple drug charges today after being arrested by police in Huntersville, N.C.

Front tire changer Trevor Lysne is charged with trafficking marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a dwelling to distribute marijuana. Earnhardt Ganassi mechanic Jerome Frey is charged with trafficking marijuana and possession with intent to sell and deliver. The Mecklenburg County (NC) Sheriff's Department said Lysne and Frey were released after posting bond of $30,000 and $25,000, respectively

The arrests came after the Huntersville Police Department intercepted a package containing more than 10 pounds of marijuana that had been shipped to the pair from California. While NASCAR has not yet commented publicly on their arrests, Lysne and Frye are expected to be suspended indefinitely by the sanctioning body for violation of its substance abuse policy, which reads in part, “NASCAR members are prohibited from using, possessing, purchasing, selling and/or participating in the distribution of any drug that is illegal to possess, use and/or distribute by the laws of the United States of America... regardless of the amount, at any time."

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing co-owner Chip Ganassi said of the arrests, “I am extremely disappointed with the news that we received about two of our crew members. We have a zero tolerance policy in this organization and effective immediately both individuals’ employment has been terminated.”

Pocono's Igdalski: 400 Milers "Being Considered"

Pocono Raceway President Brandon Igdalski told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that cutting the track’s two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races from 500 miles to 400 next season is “being considered. We’re looking at things, but we haven’t made that decision quite yet,” said Igdalski. “We’re looking at it for the future, whether it’s this year, next year, or a couple of years down the road. It’s a different sport and a different time than it was years ago, and we’re always looking at things.”

Igdalski took the helm of the historic tri-oval when his grandfather, track founder Dr. Joseph Mattioli, announced his retirement Friday. Igdalski said he was unaware of his grandfather’s plans, adding, “We got a call about 30 minutes beforehand saying, `Be in the Media Center in half an hour.’ I had no idea he was going to retire. My jaw hit the ground.”

Igdalski said he will gradually implement some new ideas and more modern fan amenities at Pocono over time, after traveling the circuit and seeing what other promoters have done.

Sauter Penalized, Dillon New Truck Series Leader

Johnny Sauter forfeited his spot at the top of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings today, after being penalized for a rule violation last weekend at Pocono Raceway. Sauter’s truck failed to meet the maximum post race right-rear bed panel height requirement as mandated in the 2011 NASCAR rule book.

The truck in question was the team’s backup truck, after Sauter hit the wall in qualifying Saturday. His crew was forced to transfer much of the trucks suspension and running gear from truck to truck, finishing mere minutes before pushing to the grid for the start of the race. Crew chief Joe Shear has been fined $5,000, and Sauter and owner Mike Curb have been docked six championship driver and owner points. The penalty pushes Austin Dillon into the series championship lead by a single point over Sauter.

Ricky Stenhouse’s championship leading Roush Fenway Racing Nationwide Series team and Eric McClure’s # 14 Tri Star Motorsports teams were also penalized for infractions at Iowa Speedway last weekend. Both cars were found in pre-race inspection with lug nuts that were less than the minimum specified thickness. Michael Kelly, crew chief for Stenhouse’s #6 Ford and Gary Cogswell, crew chief for McClure’s #14, were each fined $2,500 and placed on NASCAR probation until Sept. 21.

Report: Ryan Truex To Make Six Starts With JGR

ThatsRacin.com’s Jim Utter is reporting that Ryan Truex will run six races on NASCAR Nationwide Series this season with Joe Gibbs Racing. Truex began the year with Pastrana Waltrip Racing, running 10 races before sponsorship evaporated and he was forced to the sidelines. The two-time K&N Pri Series East champion posted just one Top-10 finish in that span, an eighth at Richmond International Raceway. Truex will return to the circuit on Sept. 3 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with subsequent starts scheduled at Richmond, Chicagoland, Dover, Kansas and Phoenix.

Mary Hendrick Passes

Mary Hendrick, mother of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, passed away this afternoon at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Mrs. Hendrick, a native of Palmer Springs, Va., was 88.

Fondly referred to as “Miss Mary,” Mrs. Hendrick was the car owner of the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from 2005-2007. In 2008, she became the owner of the No. 5 Chevrolet. She won seven races as a car owner, with Mark Martin notably recording five of those wins during the 2009 season. That year, Martin drove the No. 5 Chevrolet to a runner-up finish in the championship standings, giving Mrs. Hendrick her best season as a car owner.

In June 2004, Gov. Mike Easley presented Papa Joe and Mary Hendrick with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine -- the state of North Carolina’s highest honor bestowed on a citizen for dedication and extended length of service to his or her organization.

The family requests privacy at this time as arrangements are being finalized. Details will be released when available.

Keselowski Is NASCAR's New Ironman

The next time some pampered, turf-toe nursing NFL loudmouth pops off about NASCAR drivers not being “real athletes,” tell them the story of Brad Keselowski at Pocono Raceway.

Just four days after suffering an avulsion fracture of his left ankle, multiple contusions and abrasions in a savage testing crash at the Road Atlanta road course, Keselowski strapped into his Miller Lite Dodge and gave new meaning to the term “gut check.” Shifting and braking with a broken and horribly swollen left ankle, he wrestled the lead away from Kyle Busch with just 15 laps remaining, then withstood a final, determined challenge from the Joe Gibbs Racing driver to win the “Good Sam RV Insurance 500” at Pocono. The win came after a doctor drained blood from the Michigan native’s battered leg during a lengthy mid-race rain delay.

“I wasn’t getting out of the car,” said Keselowski afterward. “This was an `earn-it’ weekend. Nobody gave us anything. I’ve always wanted to win a Cup race and earn it. Not with fuel mileage, not (drafting) at Talladega, (but) a real win. And today feels like that.”

Keselowski refused to dwell on the pain of his 500-mile ironman grind, saying, “I came here to win. When you let pain get into your head so far that you don't believe you can win anymore, you'll never win. As far as a pain scale, I don’t know. I’m not real good at pain scales. I just know it hurt.”

His ability to play through pain Sunday left heads shaking throughout the Sprint Cup Series garage. “It’s amazing what the body can do,” said teammate Kurt Busch after finishing third. “For him to go through that wreck, get back on his horse right away and find success, that’s only going to make Brad Keselowski a better racer.”

The win catapulted Keselowski to 18th in championship points and back to the top of an ever-changing Sprint Cup Series wildcard picture. While conceding that his Pocono triumph was “probably really good for our Chase hopes,” he steadfastly refused to call the job complete. “(It) gives us pretty high odds if we were playing poker,” he said, “but nothing is 100 percent until it's 100 percent. Lots of races left. Keep plugging away. If we keep running like this, maybe we can get a third win and be damn near immune.”

In Victory Lane, the third-generation racer did his best to duck the spotlight, speaking at length about the 31 U.S. Navy SEALs killed Saturday when their helicopter was shot down by Taliban forces in Afghanistan. “I have a cousin in the Navy SEALs,” he said, after carrying an oversized American flag during his post-race victory burnout. “One of the guys who died over there was someone he was friends with. He told me a little bit about this week and it kind of put things in perspective.

“I might not be feeling great, but those are the guys that are really making sacrifices. We're just driving race cars for a living. It was inspirational for me. Whenever I felt like ‘This hurts, I don't want to do this, I want to get out,’ they gave me inspiration on what it means to man up and make it happen. It's really not that bad.”

Keselowski now has a few precious days to heal before hobbling off to Watkins Glen International for a race even tougher on his battered left ankle than Sunday’s Pocono outing. Most drivers would run a few tentative laps to qualify for championship points before turning over the wheel to a road course ringer, but Brad Keselowski is not “most drivers.”

He’s a tough SOB from a family of tough SOBs; the son of 25-time ARCA and Camping World Truck Series driver Bob Keselowski, a man who threatened a year ago – at age 60 – to “get my own damn uniform back out” and settle a series of on-track disputes between his son and rival Carl Edwards.

Keselowski is a racer in the truest sense of the word, and in the grand and glorious family tradition, he will grit his teeth again Sunday and drive his Miller Lite Dodge, all the way to the checkered flag.