Helton Says Menard Case Now Closed

NASCAR President Mike Helton said today that after reviewing audio and video footage of last Saturday's night's spin by Paul Menard at Richmond International Raceway, he see no basis for any penalties against Menard or his team, Richard Childress Racing.

Menard's spin with 16 laps remaining in Saturday's "Wonderful Pistachios 400" brought out a caution flag that erased the comfortable lead held by Jeff Gordon and gave Menard's RCR teammate, Kevin Harvick, an opportunity to take the lead on the ensuing restart. Harvick eventually passed Gordon and pulled away to win his fourth race of the 2011 season, prompting Gordon to question whether Menard's spin had been intentional.

Menard insists that his right-rear tire began going flat a lap before his Turn Four spin, and Harvick said he was told by team officials that the tire was "down to the cords." Childress has categorically denied any wrongdoing on the part of his team.

NASCAR's Helton said earlier today that the sanctioning body would investigate the spin, adding, "We're going to look into it and see if there's anything. A lot of it is going to be interpretation. Certainly, it's on us to understand exactly what all we can find as far as facts are concerned. It's on all of our shoulders to get the facts right, and if there's something there, we should find out about it and be sure that we've got it right."

After a close examination of the team's in-car audio and television footage of the spin, Helton said there is no concrete evidence of any wrongdoing, and that NASCAR considers the case closed.

Bowyer Will Drive For Michael Waltrip In 2012

Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Clint Bowyer is near agreement on a new, multi-year contract with Michael Waltrip Racing, with an announcement expected within the next 24-48 hours.

Bowyer will leave Richard Childress Racing at season's end, after being unable to come to terms with the team for which he has competed for his entire NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career. The Emporia, Kansas, native is reported to have spoken -- at least preliminarily -- with at least four teams; Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing. MWR emerged as the leading candidate within the last two weeks, and now, final details are being wrapped up that will put Bowyer in an MWR Toyota Camry next season as a teammate to Martin Truex, Jr., and David Reutimann. Sponsorship will come from Five Hour Energy,

The multi-year deal is in the final stages of negotiation, with an official announcement expected this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.

UPDATE: Michael Waltrip issued a statement Friday afternoon, commenting on Sirius-Speedway.com's report that Clint Bowyer will join Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012. "I can confirm we have had very productive conversations with Clint and a quality sponsor," said Waltrip. "Today, however, we don’t have anything finalized and we’re not in a position to make any formal announcements. Our goal has never changed. Rob (Kauffman) and I want to continue to improve the competitiveness of our team and be a consistent winner at NASCAR’s highest level. Pursuing Chase-proven personnel, including drivers, has been a priority. As soon as we have more information to share, we will.”

With Petty Out, Where Will Bowyer Land?

Richard Petty Motorsports majority owner Andrew Murstein says his team will not sign Clint Bowyer to drive a third RPM Ford in 2012. Murstein had previously made no secret of his desire to woo Bowyer away from Richard Childress Racing, and with negotiations between Bowyer and RCR now at a virtual standstill, Richard Petty Motorsports was thought by many to be the leading candidate for the Kansas native’s services.

“It’s no secret that I like Clint and Richard likes him,” said Murstein in late August. “I think he would be a great fit for our organization. We’d love to have him. We gave him an offer recently, and we’re waiting to hear back from him." However, multiple sources tell Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that talks never progressed beyond the preliminary stage, and that no official contract offer was ever made to Bowyer.

Murstein confirmed today that RPM is no longer in the running to sign Bowyer, telling FOXSports.com’s Lee Spencer, "We are no longer in discussions with Clint. We just feel that RPM is in a great place today, especially how far we have come since last year. Both Marcos (Ambrose) and A.J. (Allmendinger) are not only having career years, but they are both moving in the right directions and improving. Clint is a great driver and we wish him the best wherever he ends up.”

With RPM out of the picture, speculation abounds concerning where Bowyer might land in 2012. A return to Richard Childress Racing is highly unlikely, with the two parties now far apart on both salary and length of contract. Multiple reports have Bowyer in talks with Michael Waltrip Racing to become a teammate to Martin Truex, Jr., and David Reutimann next season, and Sirius Speedway has learned that preliminary discussions took place within the last seven days with both Roush Fenway and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Bowyer spent time with team owner Jack Roush last week at Richmond International Raceway, and has been seen at both the Waltrip and Earnhardt-Ganassi shops in the last week.

Bowyer failed to make the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup after being caught-up in an early crash and finishing a disappointing 22nd in Saturday night’s regular season finale at Richmond. He is currently ranked 14th in championship points, but remains the most sought-after free agent of 2011, on the basis of four career Sprint Cup wins and a reported $10-12-million dollar sponsorship pledge from Five Hour Energy.

Benson "Up To The Challenge" Of Truck Return

Johnny Benson left the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at the top of his game. After winning the 2008 series championship in a spirited battle with Ron Hornaday, Jr., the Grand Rapids, Michigan native saw his Bill David Racing team shut down during the off season. Left without a full-time ride, he made only eight starts the following season for Red Horse Racing, and has started just five events since then.

It was not the way Benson wanted his NASCAR career to end, and now, the veteran driver is taking matters into his own hands. He recently announced plans to return to the Truck Series in 2012 with financing from his home state. “It’s not all the way done yet, but we’re working really hard and we’ve got a lot of good things going on,” said Benson. “I’m excited about the 2012 season, for sure.”

Major sponsorship for the effort will come from Pure Michigan, an organization devoted to publicizing tourism in the Great Lakes State. “They sponsored the `Pure Michigan 400’ at Michigan International Speedway recently,” said Benson, “and they’re excited about racing as a way to bring people to the state. They’re helping us talk to some other (Michigan-based) corporations, and we’re happy to have them be a part of this. We’ve already talked to a bunch of companies that want to get involved next season. It’s pretty exciting, and we’re working hard trying to get the whole package put together.”

Benson said he does not currently have sufficient sponsorship for the entire 2012 campaign. “We’ve got a partial season at the moment,” he said. “The goal is to find enough to run for the championship, but we’re not there yet. Once things get going, I’m confident that we’re going to be able to make it happen.”

He said he will team with Stacy Compton’s Turn One Racing to field Chevrolet Silverados in his return to the sport. “Stacy has put a lot of effort into this, and it’s going to be neat to work with a competitor I raced with for many years on the Nationwide and Truck Series. He’s a racer himself, and we’re trying to help each other and move this deal forward.” Benson said he had originally hoped to drive a Turn One Racing Chevrolet in last month’s Camping World Truck Series race at MIS, but was unable to get the deal done in time. There is still a chance that he and Compton will field a Truck in a race before the end of the 2011 season, but “the main focus is on next year, for sure.”

Benson said he has no doubt that the Truck Series is where he wants to be. “The diversity of the series is what makes it so great,” he said. “They’ve got some talented young kids, a lot of veteran guys who know what it takes to win championships and a whole bunch of guys in between. It’s always been great racing. In my opinion – and I’m obviously biased – I think it’s the best racing in NASCAR. I love running with the Truck Series. (Series Director) Wayne Auton and his staff do a tremendous job, and they deserve a lot of credit for the races they put on.”

He acknowledged that the face of the Truck Series is changing, with a new guard of talented young drivers at the top of the point standings, but added “There no doubt in my mind that if we get back to the Truck Series with a program that allows us to run for points, those kids are going to have some problems.

“I’m up for the challenge,” he said. “You’ve known me for a long time, and you know I’ll race anything, anytime. I’ve been running Supermodifieds and Super Late Models this summer, and that’s pretty challenging. I’m in great shape, and we’ve won races. I won a championship in the Truck Series, and under the right circumstances, I see no reason why I can’t do it again.”

Peters, Red Horse Racing Ink New Sponsor

Red Horse Racing has announced a new partnership with TBC Retail Group to display TBC's tire and automotive retail brands: Service Central, Tire Kingdom, National Tire and Battery, Merchant's Tire and Auto Centers and Big O Tires on the #17 Toyota Tundra driven by Timothy Peters for five races this season and 10 more in 2012.

Peters currently sits third in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings, just 14 points behind leader James Buescher. He has recorded five Top-5 finishes in his last six starts, with a win at Lucas Oil Raceway in July. He will debut the Service Central colors this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, with additional starts at Kentucky, Talladega, Texas and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"It has been an exceptional year for our team at Red Horse Racing," said Peters. "With the support from TBC Retail and their tire and automotive retail brands, we know we can make a legitimate run at this year's Truck Series championship. We are excited about this new partnership, not only for what it will bring in 2011 but in years to come."

"We are proud to be aligned with Red Horse Racing and to have Timothy Peters represent Service Central and our family of automotive service brands," said Orland Wolford, President and CEO of TBC Retail Group. "Motorsports fans are like no other, they actively seek out their drivers and their sponsors. It is a great venue for us to learn about their wants and needs, and for the fans to learn about Service Central and what it brings to our retail stores. We are excited about this partnership and for the rest of the season."

Let's See Your Kid Build THIS!

LEGOLAND Florida unveiled a scale mock-up of Daytona International Speedway to the media this morning at LEGOLAND Florida. Daytona President Joie Chitwood III (L) joined his son, Joie IV and LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrian Jones for the grand unveiling today at Central Florida's newest theme park. Opening October 15 just outside Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida will provide interactive entertainment for families with children ages 2-12.

The mini Daytona International Speedway took more than three months to build and is complete with eight motorized LEGO cars. (LEGOLAND Florida Photo)

Can Kurt and Jimmie Call A Truce? Bet on It!

Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson will not be exchanging Christmas cards this off-season. They won’t be vacationing together on a Caribbean island, hunting elk in the Canadian wilderness or working on each other’s hot rods.

They also won’t be wrecking each other again this season.

Saturday’s night’s “Wonderful Pistachios 400” at Richmond International Raceway was littered with incidents involving the two former Sprint Cup Series champions. On the race track -– and even in the track’s Media Center -– the two could barely be around each other without sparks beginning to fly. With nothing to lose and little to gain, Busch and Johnson enjoyed a free-press to vent their respective spleens and pay off past debts, both real and imagined.

And pay off they did.

Busch dumped Johnson midway in Saturday’s night’s race, then called his rival “a five-time chump” when Johnson evened the score 60 laps later. For his part, Johnson climbed from his battered car after the race predicting he would “go find (Busch) and talk to him, he’ll run his mouth and we’ll go from there.”

In the post-race media briefing, Busch and Johnson sat at opposite ends of a four-man dais, doing their best to pretend the other wasn’t there. Queried by reporters about a post-race assertion that he was “in Johnson’s head,” Busch initially denied making any such statement. Provided with a written transcript of his comments, the 2004 Sprint Cup champion tore the paper in half and stalked from the room.

Now that’s love.

While Saturday’s tantrums were entertaining in the extreme, it is unlikely that they will continue any further. Fiery as each man may be in his own way, both Johnson and Busch understand that the stakes this weekend in Joliet, Ill., are infinitely higher than they were Saturday night in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Both Johnson and Busch understand that with only 10 races left to decide the 2011 Sprint Cup Series championship, there is no further room for fisticuffs. One bad finish in this year’s Chase will almost certainly mean the difference between hoisting the Sprint Cup trophy and failing to cross the stage at NASCAR’s annual post-season awards banquet.

In fact, both drivers said as much following Saturday night’s race.

“Time will tell,” said Johnson. “It’s in his hands. It is what it is. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t finish where we were supposed to tonight, but we’ll go to Chicago and we’ll have a good race.”

Busch was also focused on a clean, incident-free start to the 2011 Chase, saying, “I’m good with where we are. We raced hard, (and) we’ve got good cars that are not too terribly wrecked. He’s been able to beat guys the last five years just by out-driving them with what he has for equipment. If he wants to switch equipment, let’s see what we can do. But I’m going to beat him fair and square with my Penske Dodge.”

Saturday night provided an entertaining interlude of demolition derby in the midst of the Sprint Cup season. But now, it's time to get back to real racing.

Dillon Clarifies 2012 RCR Lineup

Richard Childress Racing General Manager Mike Dillon confirmed to Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that RCR will field three Nationwide Series teams next season and a pair of Camping World Trucks.

“The Nationwide deals are finalized,” said Dillon. “We’ll have Elliott Sadler in the #2, Austin Dillon in the #3 and RCR’s Cup drivers sharing the #33. On the Truck side, it’ll be Ty Dillon in the #3 and Joey Coulter in the #22.”

Dillon offered no new information on the status of Clint Bowyer’s talks with the team, joking. “I don’t think I’ve been briefed on that today.” He was not optimistic about Bowyer’s possible return, however, saying, “If I talk too much about that, I’m afraid I might cry.

"It’s not enough that we want Clint back, or that he wants to come back,” said Dillon. “Without the funding, it just doesn’t work.”

Thoughts and Prayers To The Fisher Family

FROM THE RAYEVERNHAM.COM NEWSROOM:

The Ray Evernham Enterprises race team extends our thoughts and prayers to crew chief Scott Fisher and his brother Douglas Fisher, who were both injured in an at-track incident on Saturday night at Bridgeport Speedway in Logan Township, NJ.

The team was working on its car in the pit area when an out-of-control race car missed its pit and struck the Ray Evernham Enterprises car in the pit area. Douglas Fisher was treated and released at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ. Scott Fisher remains in the hospital in serious condition. He is awake and alert, and is in good spirits with his family. The medical team is addressing serious injuries to his legs and feet. We are working closely with the medical team and the Fisher family to get Scott the care he needs.

We would like to offer our deepest gratitude to the fellow racers and the Iraq veteran who helped provide first aid measures on pit road Saturday night. You all helped save Scott’s life.

Scott Fisher’s wife Angela offers the following, “We are very grateful to everyone who helped Scott at the track and in the days afterward. Your thoughts, prayers and concerns are much appreciated, and we will provide updates as they are available. In the meantime, we ask for privacy as we focus on Scott’s recovery.”

Thank you,

Ray Evernham

Germain Facing 2012 Cutbacks, Employees Told To Seek Work Elsewhere

Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Germain Racing minority owners Mike Hillman, Sr., and Mike Hillman, Jr., told their NASCAR Camping World Truck Series employees today that they are free to pursue other options for the 2012 season.

Germain Racing currently fields a trio of Truck Series Toyota Tundras for former series champion Todd Bodine, Brendan Gaughan and Max Papis, in addition to a full-time Sprint Cup Series Toyota driven by Casey Mears and a start-and-park entry for Mike Skinner. Hillman, Jr. called a meeting this morning and told employees, “If you’ve got other offers for 2012, take them.” The team has struggled this season, with Bodine currently 10th in Truck Series points, Gaughan 13th and Papis 15th.

Mike Hillman, Sr., told Sirius Speedway today that uncertainty in the motorsports industry has the team proceding with caution. “With Kevin Harvick shutting down, Red Bull Racing potentially not coming back and some other teams uncertain for next year, this could be the roughest winter we’ve seen in racing for a long time,” he said.

Hillman revealed that financing for two of the team’s three Truck Series teams is uncertain at present. “Brendan (Gaughan) is not very happy here, and I think GEICO will be putting all their sponsorship eggs in the Sprint Cup basket next season,” he said. “Right now, with funding for the 62 and 9 trucks not in place for 2012, I thought it best to tell our employees where things stand. I had Mike Jr., tell everyone in our Monday morning meeting that anyone who has a good job offer come along, they need to take it now, rather than end up on unemployment in November when a lot of other people could be in same boat, looking for work.”

Hillman said there is still a chance that all three Camping World Truck Series teams could return next season. “We’re still putting all our stuff in place to see where we’re headed,” he said. “The 5 truck is good. We’re having good discussions with (current sponsors) International Truck and Georgia Boot, and hopefully, we can get everyone back on board. We’ve always figured out a way to make it work, but I don’t want to mislead anyone, either. If there is no funding for the other trucks…”

Hillman said he expects GEICO to shuffle the money currently earmarked for Max Papis’ Truck Series program into the #13 Sprint Cup Toyota driven by Casey Mears. “I’m 90% sure that money will go to the Cup team, to extend (GEICO’s) schedule to 24 or 25 races next season,” he said. “The 60 (Sprint Cup) car is under discussion, to figure out where we’ll head with that. We’d like to own our own motors next season and run that program like Tommy Baldwin runs his, allowing us to race more, and more often. And hopefully, Mike Skinner can sell some sponsorship so we can put him in a Truck a few times next year.”

A call placed to Germain Racing majority owner Bob Germain today was not immediately returned. Germain bought-out brothers Steve and Rick Germain earlier this season, and said last month that he hopes to form a new NASCAR National Series team with Naples, Fla., resident O.B. Osceola, Jr. next year. Germain-Osceola Racing would field an entry on the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series for a still unnamed driver, with backing projected to come from a number of Native American nations. Germain said at the time that his new team would operate as a subsidiary of Germain Racing.

Gaughan declined to comment on his plans for 2012, saying, “I am 100% focused on winning the races we have left this season. I don’t know much about the business side of things at Germain Racing. My only worry right now is being as good as we can be on the racetrack.”

Benson Set For 2012 Truck Series Return

Johnny Benson will return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series full-time next season, competing for the series championship beginning at Daytona in February.

Benson will display the "Pure Michigan" logo on the hood of his Chevrolet Silverado, and said he is seeking additional Michigan-based sponsorship to back the effort. The former series champion left the circuit when Bill Davis Racing closed its doors following his championship 2008 season, and has been racing successfully in Super Late Model and Supermodified competition since then.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan, native says he is in "top condition" and ready to return to the Truck Series “as a contender for a championship."

Benson's racing resume' is lengthy and impressive. He claimed Rookie of the Year honors on the highly competitive American Speed Association circuit in 1993, before graduating to the NASCAR Busch Series. He won that circuit's Rookie title in 1994, and the series championship with BACE Motorsports the following year. He made his full-time Sprint Cup Series debut in 1996, once again winning Rookie of the Year honors, and claimed his lone Winston Cup checkered flag in the 2002 "Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400" at North Carolina Motor Speedway (Rockingham).

He won the Truck Series crown with Bill Davis in 2008 and was voted the circuit's Most Popular Driver in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Out On A Limb: Who Will Win The 2011 Sprint Cup

After 26 races over eight long months, the field is finally set for the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The points have been re-set, the drivers have seeded and NASCAR Nation is primed and ready for this weekend’s Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

Who will hoist the championship trophy after the final checkered flag flies at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20? It’s difficult to predict, which is exactly why we’re climbing out on an extremely long limb to register our prognostications for the 2011 championship. Here’s how we see it, with each driver ranked according to their seeding at the start of the Chase.

#1 Kyle Busch (2012 points) – Despite owning the #1 ranking and more regular-season wins (4) than any other driver, Busch is anything but a shoo-in when it comes to the championship. He has folded under the pressure of Chase competition in each of his last two attempts, finishing eighth in 2010 and 10th in 2008. The Joe Gibbs Racing engine program continues to struggle, with teammate Joey Logano exploding an engine -- under caution, no less -- at Richmond. Will Busch’s M&Ms Toyota have the reliable horsepower needed to contend for the title? Has Busch himself developed the mental toughness necessary to weather the rigors of the Chase? In this writer’s opinion, significant doubts remain. ODDS: 8:1

#2 Kevin Harvick (2012 points) – If Harvick wins the 2011 Sprint Cup championship, Saturday night’s win at Richmond may qualify as the turning point. After winning three times in their first 12 starts, Harvick and the Budweiser Chevrolet team struggled through a puzzling, mid-summer slump. “To be quite frank, we've run like crap,” admitted crew chief Gil Martin. “We got off our game trying to do things to just win races,” a tactic that produced just two Top-10 finishes in eight races. Harvick was back to his old, dominant self at Richmond, though, leading more laps than any other driver. Better yet, his oft-ridiculed crew put him in position to win with a smoking final pit stop that wrested the lead away from Jeff Gordon. Saturday’s victory was a potential game-changer for Harvick and his team, and if they can carry their regained momentum through the next 10 weeks, he’ll be a “Happy Harvick” indeed at Homestead-Miami Speedway. ODDS: 5:1

#3 Jeff Gordon (2009 points) – Jimmie Johnson may soon have company on the list of five-time Sprint Cup Series champions. Gordon and his Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet team wasted little time returning to Victory Lane, winning in Week Two of the season at Phoenix International Raceway. They didn’t crack the Top-10 in points until after a runner-up finish at Infineon Raceway in late June, but since then, they have steadily climbed the leader board with a lethal combination of speed and consistency. It will be difficult to claim the championship without winning races, and a trio of 2011 victories at Phoenix, Pocono and Atlanta prove that Gordon has regained his magic touch. Gordon is as confident as we’ve seen him in a long, long time, and the road to the 2011 championship almost certainly leads through the #24 camp. ODDS: EVEN

#4 Matt Kenseth (2006 points) – Again this year, Kenseth may be the “Silent Assassin” of the Chase. He and crew chief Jimmy Fennig have the experience necessary to contend for a title. They also have a pair of regular-season wins at Texas and Dover, but haven’t carried the checkered flag since Dover in mid-May. Consistency is a wonderful thing, but to win a championship in the Chase era, multiple wins in the final 10 races are a must. If Kenseth can crack Victory Lane again in the next 10 races, his consistency may be enough to outdistance the field. If not? Probably not. ODDS: 10:1

#5 Carl Edwards (2003 points) – Remember a few weeks ago, when Edwards led the championship points and was the consensus pick to end Jimmie Johnson’s five-year championship reign? Happy days may soon be here again. A surprising slide that saw Edwards finish outside the Top-10 four times in five weeks dropped him to fourth in the championship standings, but since then, Edwards and crew chief Bob Osborne seem to be rounding back into form. A solid, runner-up showing behind winner Kevin Harvick at Richmond indicates that Roush Fenway Racing may finally have solidified its short-track game. Added to an already potent intermediate program, Edwards may finally be ready to challenge for the Sprint Cup championship. ODDS: 5:1

#6 Jimmie Johnson (2003 points) – How do you pick against the five-time and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion? Here’s how. Johnson has won only one race this season -- back in April at Talladega – and twice recently, he’s come up short in the kind of late-season battle he always used to win. “Five Time” surrendered the lead to Kyle Busch in the final laps at Pocono, then failed to overhaul teammate Jeff Gordon down the stretch in Atlanta two weeks ago. He and crew chief Chad Knaus have not shown the speed that allowed them to dominate previous editions of the Chase, and Johnson has inexplicably allowed himself to be caught-up in a personal feud with Kurt Busch. The last thing you need in the Chase – when one bad finish can spell the end of a championship bid -- is an enemy. Jimmie looks distracted and half a step slow, and that’s a tough combination to overcome. ODDS: 4:1

#7 Kurt Busch (2003 points) – With apologies to Pastor Joe Nelms, Busch has a smokin’ hot Dodge and the ability to win just about any race he’s in. He’s also feuding with Johnson, nurturing a fragile relationship with the crew he cussed out in public not long ago, and threatening to beat up reporters who insist on asking him about his own, often misguided post-race comments. When you’re Kurt Busch, there always seem to be distractions. Too many distractions, in the end. ODDS: 12:1.

#8 Ryan Newman (2003 points) – The highlight of Newman’s season came when he drove to Victory Lane at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July. Since then, it’s been a rollercoaster ride for the Rocketman. Like his boss, Tony Stewart, Newman has been unable to string together the kind of consistent finishes that win championships. With no full-time Competition Director in place since Bobby Hutchens was released in early June, the problem is almost certainly institutional in nature. Unfortunately, it won’t be fixed in time to make Newman a title contender. ODDS: 15:1

#9 Tony Stewart (2000 points) – Where there’s Smoke, there’s not necessarily fire. Stewart’s customary midsummer surge never materialized this time around, leaving him winless through the 26-race regular season. That may change in the Chase, but by his own admission, the two-time Sprint Cup Series champion does not appear to be championship material in 2011. ODDS: 15:1

#10 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000 points) – Like Stewart, Junior has gone 0-for-26 in 2011 to date, extending his personal winless streak to 119 races. He got Earnhardt Nation all hot and bothered early, claiming the Daytona 500 pole, posting Top-5 finishes in five of the first eight races and climbing as high as third in points. Since then, though, it’s been a steady and agonizing downward slide for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. He dodged a major bullet Saturday night at Richmond, crashing early, making no less than 16 pit stops to repair a badly mangled race car, then limping into the Chase as the final Top-10 qualifier. He may be able to win a race before it’s over, but he has shown no signs of being a title contender. ODDS: 20:1

#11 Brad Keselowski (2000 points) – Keselowski hopes to join the Green Bay Packers and become the second Wild Card contender to win a major North American sports championship in 2011. And like the Packers, he may have the horses to do it. The second-year Penske Racing driver has been virtually unstoppable since breaking his ankle in a savage, early August testing crash at Road Atlanta, winning twice and finishing no worse than sixth in the ensuing five races. He and crew chief Paul Wolfe have everything it takes to win, including the experience earned in last year’s triumphant Nationwide Series title run. Can they win the Sprint Cup Chase? Probably not, at least in their first try. But they’ll be heard from, for sure. ODDS: 6:1

#12 Denny Hamlin (2000 points) – If the term “Wild Card” ever fit anyone, it fits Denny Hamlin this season. After challenging for the championship all the way to Homestead a year ago, Hamlin’s 2011 campaign has been maddeningly inconsistent. He has recorded three Top-10 finishes in a row – including a ninth at Richmond after overcoming an early crash and claiming the final spot in the Chase – but was 27th, 15th, 36th and 35th in the previous four races. That kind of inconsistency gets a guy nowhere fast in the Chase, and Hamlin will have to turn things around in a hurry to be a factor. ODDS: 18:1

The Godfather’s Top-10:
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Carl Edwards
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Kurt Busch
7. Matt Kenseth
8. Kyle Busch
9. Ryan Newman
10. Denny Hamlin
11. Tony Stewart
12. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Kurt, Jimmie Point Fingers After Latest Clash

Kurt Busch doesn’t like Jimmie Johnson, that’s abundantly clear. But following last night’s “Wonderful Pistachios 400” at Richmond International Raceway, KuBu turned into Cujo after questions from reporters about his latest clash with the five-time series champion.

Contact from Busch sent Johnson spinning into the Turn Two wall midway in Saturday night’s race. An admitted payback move by Johnson 60 laps later sent Busch for a similar loop. After calling Johnson “a five-time chump” after the race, Busch was asked about their feud by NASCAR.com reporter Joe Menzer. “Can either you or Jimmie win the Chase…” said Menzer, only to be interrupted by Busch. “How did I see you were going to come with that,” said the Penske Racing driver as he turned to walk away. “We’re good.”

Menzer countered that repeated incidents with Johnson made his question legitimate, prompting Busch to turn and yell a series of expletives, lunging toward Menzer before being physically restrained by his Shell-Pennzoil crew. Busch approached Menzer again prior to his mandatory, post-race Media Center interview, with additional heated words exchanged.

For his part, Johnson characterized the conflict as a simple case of payback. “I got run over going into Turn One,” he explained. “If you’re going to spin me out, I’m going to spin you out. It’s just part of it. I’m sure I’ll go find him and talk to him, he’ll run his mouth and we’ll go from there.”

“We raced down into Turn One and I locked up the left front trying to avoid him,” countered Busch. “When he came back to us, you could see (the payback) coming. That’s not something you see from Jimmie Johnson every day, so I know we’re in his head. If we’re going to race this way, he’s got to worry that there’s 10 other guys in this Chase, not just (me).”

Busch later tried to distance himself from his “we’re in his head” comment. Asked about it again by reporters, he insisted, “I didn’t say that tonight. Did not.’’ When a reporter showed him a transcript of his comments provided by Dodge Motorsports, Busch snatched the paper out of a reporter’s hand, tore it to pieces and stalked out of the room.

“Competition is competition,” said Johnson in his Media Center briefing. “There have been plenty of rivalries. I've been through a lot of it. The bottom line is we can race out there without running into each other. Unfortunately, (Kurt and I) have had a history over the years. We spoke a few minutes ago up on the stage, and I certainly hope it's behind us. I have no intention to run people over… (but) I'm just not going to let people run our race car over. There's been a lot of contact going on, and that's why I retaliated tonight. It was a good time to do it.”

Johnson said he hopes he and Busch can put their differences aside for the championship Chase. “We've raced together the last two (or) three weeks and been just fine on the racetrack,” he said. “We can do it. It can be done. It's possible, and I think it's in both of our best interests to get it behind us and go forward.’’

Saturday night’s incidents were not the first between Johnson and Busch this season. A last-lap fender banging duel at Pocono Raceway in August inspired harsh words from both drivers, with Busch saying the five-time champion expects kid-glove treatment from his fellow competitors. “I didn’t know we were supposed to pull over (with) five to go,” said Busch afterward. “I raced him hard, I raced him smart and I raced him clean. And he wants to come over here and bitch about it.”

Johnson offered a now-prophetic warning at Pocono, saying, “I just keep filing things away. I'll remember this stuff.”

Neither Johnson nor Busch had anything to lose Saturday night. Both arrived in the Commonwealth State locked into the 2011 Chase, making Richmond the perfect place to flex some muscle and settle an old score. Next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, however, the landscape will be dramatically different. With just 10 races remaining to contend for the Sprint Cup championship, there will be no room for feuding, ill-will or paybacks. Can Johnson and Busch table their personal issues and concentrate on the big picture? Or will their next “Clash of the Titans” signal the end of someone’s championship dream?

"Jimmie is too smart to mess with him during the Chase,” said Hendick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick. “Is Kurt smart enough? I don't know."

Harvick Weathers A Busy Friday

Kevin Harvick had a busy day Friday.

In a 24-hour period, he announced that his highly successful NASCAR Nationwide Series program will merge with Richard Childress Racing at season’s end, with KHI’s #2 and #33 Chevrolets being fielded out of the RCR shops in 2012. He announced the termination of his potent Camping World Truck Series operation, a move that will shut down a three-truck team that has showcased the talents of drivers Ron Hornaday, Jr. and Nelson Piquet, Jr., while also giving a number of Sprint Cup Series headliners occasional Truck Series starts.

Then Friday night, he strapped into his Rheem-sponsored #33 Nationwide Series Chevrolet and earned the ire of fellow drivers Jason Leffler and Trevor Bayne with a pair of controversial incidents.

His on-track exploits began on lap 79 of the Virginia 529 College Savings 250, when he drove into the back of driver Jason Leffler and sent the Turner Motorsports driver backward into the Turn Three retaining wall. Leffler – who has reportedly been told he will not return to the #38 Chevrolet next season – was clearly angered by the incident, swerving toward Harvick during the ensuing caution period.

Later, Leffler once again expressed his displeasure with Harvick, brake-checking his nemesis and causing Harvick to check-up unexpectedly. Left with nowhere to go, Bayne hit Harvick’s car from behind, hard enough to damage the nose of his own Roush Fenway Racing Ford. A lap later, Harvick and Bayne tangled again at the exit of Turn Tow, with Harvick brushing the outside wall before shooting back across the track and hooking Bayne in the right-rear tire. Bayne’s car slammed the Turn Three wall with sufficient force to end his day, and minced no words in criticizing Harvick afterward.

“(Harvick) was blocking me and I was way faster and trying to race him clean,” said Bayne.. “He catches (Leffler), who must have been mad at him. I don’t know what was going on. (Leffler) tried to wreck him and (Harvick) stopped in front of me and crushed our hood. Then he chopped me again off the corner and checked up. It got him sideways and he just wrecked us.

“I don’t understand what the deal is, or why he would race like that. Harvick is normally a way better racer than that.”

Harvick took the blame for the initial, Lap 79 crash, saying, ““I just got into Leffler. I got in there and rolled too fast and made a mistake. And when Trevor got into the back of me off of Turn Two, I got into the fence with the right rear, then I got in the fence with the right front, then I came back across the track and hit him.”

Bayne accused Harvick of having an ulterior motive, saying the KHI driver/owner was blocking for teammate Elliott Sadler, who is locked in a razor-close battle with Roush Fenway driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., for the Nationwide Series championship.

“He wants (Sadler) to win a championship,” said Bayne. “But (Stenhouse] is going to wear him out anyway, hopefully. It is frustrating when people race like that, when I am not even in points contention. I’m out there trying to win.”

Harvick scoffed at Bayne’s accusation, calling it “crazy. I was trying to keep from getting run over by the 38. He hit me in the back and he got himself wrecked. It’s just one of those deals. I hate the way that it all turned out, but all in all, it’s short-track racing I guess.”

Hamlin Faces A Sleepless Friday Night

Denny Hamlin has won the last two fall races at Richmond International Raceway. He sure could use a third.

Hamlin arrived at RIR this weekend clinging to the final Wildcard spot in the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. After challenging for the championship all the way to the final race of the 2010 campaign, the Fed Ex Toyota driver has been a model of inconsistency this season. He comes to Richmond ranked 12th in the championship standings and a 42-point deficit to 10th-place Tony Stewart makes him the longest of long shots to crack the Top-10. His best hope to make the Chase is via Wildcard berth, courtesy of his win at Michigan International Speedway in June.

That lone victory might be enough to get him into the Chase. Then again, it might not.

A win at his home track in tomorrow night’s “Wonderful Pistachios 400” would lock the Chesterfield, Va., native into the Chase and give his Joe Gibbs Racing team the boost of momentum they have been lacking all season. Hamlin could not have picked a better track at which to have his back against the wall. In addition to his two-race fall winning streak at RIR, he has also finished second -- to Kyle Busch – in the last two spring events there. A two-year average finish of 1.5 will give a guy all kinds of confidence, but as Hamlin learned in last year’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, confidence won’t fix a badly mangled race car.

Hamlin will chase his fate Saturday night with an elusive combination of conservatism and aggressiveness. A win eliminates all doubt about his Chase chances, but a cut tire suffered while battling for the lead leaves him on the outside of NASCAR’s playoffs, looking in.

“We need to go out there, get a solid finish and try to win,” said Hamlin with typical understatement. “We know we’re in if we win.”

It’s a perfect recipe for a sleepless Friday night

Childress: Bowyer Talks "Getting Tougher"

It’s looking less and less likely that Clint Bowyer will remain with Richard Childress Racing in 2012.

Team owner Richard Childress confirmed that negotiations between the two parties have deteriorated in recent weeks, saying talks are “getting tougher and tougher as the days go by.” Bowyer is rumored to have a multi-year commitment from Five Hour Energy in hand, and has said repeatedly that he would prefer to sign a new, three-year contract and remain with Childress. However, salary provisions and the length of the contract have reportedly become stumbling blocks, and Bowyer has reportedly been in talks with both Richard Petty Motorsports and Michael Waltrip Racing about possible 2012 rides with those organizations.

"We've worked really hard to put the deal together to keep Clint,” said Childress on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Tradin’ Paint Thursday. “It's not 100% off the table, but it's getting tougher and tougher as the days go by. Clint's got a couple of really good opportunities facing him (and)… it just didn't seem that we could get everything worked out. Clint's still a good friend. I want the best for him. I feel like that we've done a lot together and I hope that if we can't put him in a car next year, that he gets in a ride he's really good and happy with."

Childress said he will continue talks in an effort to salvage his relationship with the Emporia, Kansas, driver, but admitted he is now “looking at other options and trying to put some things together.” Bowyer characterized Childress’ comments as “fair,” and offered no further information on the status of his contract talks.

"There are opportunities we're trying to weigh out,” said Bowyer. “You've got to have all the stars line up. You can't just have one piece of the puzzle, or a couple pieces of the puzzle. You have to have the whole puzzle put together and that's how you do that in today's world. You're wasting your time talking about it to the media because you don't really have anything to deliver to them."

KHI Sued By Former Crew Chief

Kevin Harvick, Inc, announced last week that it had terminated its relationship with crewchief David Hyder, effective immediately. This week, Hyder filed suit in North Carolina Superior Court in Asheboro, accusing KHI of breach of contract.

In documents filed with the court on September 1, Hyder said his contract with the team ran called for him to be paid $150,000 per year in base salary and $12,500 per month in consulting fees through the end of the 2012 season. Hyder served as crewchief for KHI’s #33 NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevrolet and also served as a chassis consultant to the team. The #33 car is currently fourth in Nationwide Series owner points, but has been shut out of Victory Lane since the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February, with Tony Stewart at the wheel.

Team owner Kevin Harvick revealed this week that the team will effectively cease operations at the end of this season, transferring its two-car Nationwide Series operation to Richard Childress Racing as part of a newly announced merger and shutting down its three-truck Camping World Truck Series effort.

Harvick declined comment on the suit today, and it is not known whether Hyder’s firing was related to KHI’s plans to cease its in-house Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series teams. The veteran crewchief claims KHI terminated him without just cause, but gave no reason for the firing. The suit does not request specific monetary awards or damages.

Crafton, Sauter Re-Sign With ThorSport

ThorSport Racing announced today that Matt Crafton and Johnny Sauter will return to drive for the Sandusky, Ohio based team in 2012. Crafton and Sauter both signed new deals to keep them behind the wheel of their current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rides next season, under the ThorSport Racing banner, owned by Duke and Rhonda Thorson. The organization recently christened a new, 100,000-square foot racing facility in Sandusky, Ohio.

ThorSport has competed in the Truck Series since 1996, and has fielded at least one truck in more races than any NCWTS team. They are also the longest tenured team in the Series, and have accumulated. The team has six wins, 11 total poles and has led the Truck Series driver points 13 of 17 weeks in 2011 between Crafton and Sauter.

Crafton, the 35-year old driver of the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet Silverado, currently has 239 starts with ThorSport Racing and will be beginning on his 12th full-time season with the team. The Tulare, California native made his ThorSport Racing debut in the final event of the 2000 season, and currently holds the title of the longest relationship between an active driver and team in the series. He also extends the longest sponsor-team relationship in the series, signing for an 11th season with Menards. Crafton has earned two wins and six poles in his Truck Series career, with a career-best finish of second in the 2010 championship standings.

"I'm really proud to be extending my relationship with ThorSport Racing," said Crafton. "Team owners Duke and Rhonda Thorson and all the guys on my team have really become like a second family to me. When I first came to ThorSport, Duke promised me that this team would keep getting better every single year, and every year we continue to break records and raise the bar on the way to being what I believe is the best organization in the series. I'm really happy to continue to have the opportunity to race for them again next season."

Next season will be Sauter's fourth with the team. The 33-year-old driver from Necedah, Wisconsin took NCWTS Rookie of the Year honors in 2009 behind the wheel of the No. 13 Chevrolet. In his 67 starts for the team over the last three years, Sauter has three wins and four poles, and has led the point standings for 10 of 17 weeks this season. He has a career-best points finish of third (also in 2010), and his aggressive driving style has made him a mainstay of the series.

"It's an honor to drive for a fourth year with Duke and Rhonda Thorson," said Sauter, who is currently second in driver championship points with eight races to go. "They have progressively built championship-caliber teams over the course of 16 years. It's rare to find the support I've found here on the 13 team. I'm proud to have a home at ThorSport Racing, and I hope to continue that championship spirit in 2012."

"With all the exciting things we've had going on in the 2011 season, having all of our drivers back in 2012 continues the good news here at TSR," said David Pepper, Team Manager. "We feel as if we have two of the top competitors in the NCWTS in Matt Crafton and Johnny Sauter; and an outstanding young talent in rookie Dakoda Armstrong. We're excited about getting all of our drivers and teams together in 2012 so that we can compete for poles, race wins and top fives into the future."

Details regarding sponsorship of the No. 88 and No. 13 Chevrolet Silverados are forthcoming.

RCR-KHI Merger Raises Many Questions

Yesterday's announcement that Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick Incorporated will merge KHI's NASCAR Nationwide Series program with RCR next season raised as many questions as it answered.

Harvick is expected to meet with the media Friday at Richmond International Raceway to offer more details on the merger, but for now, speculation abounds as to the reasons behind the move and its impact on both organizations. Sources close to the team say Harvick may simply have tired of his dual role as Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series team owner and Sprint Cup Series driver. Both positions require a full-time commitment, and while Harvick's wife, DeLana, plays a major role in the day-to-day operation of KHI, the demands on Kevin Harvick's time have never been greater. In particular, the constant, unyielding search for additional sponsorship is said to have played a major role in Harvick's decision to scale-back operations at KHI.

Yesterday's announcement confirmed that KHI's #2 and #33 Nationwide Series teams will continue in 2012, with cars fielded by the merged RCR/KHI organization. Elliott Sadler will drive the #2 Chevrolet in a full-time championship bid, while a combination of RCR's Sprint Cup Series drivers shares time in the #33 Chevrolet. However, a number of important questions went unaddressed. No mention was made of young Austin Dillon -- grandson of Richard Childress -- who was expected to graduate to the Nationwide Series next year after completing his second full season in the Camping World Truck Series. Will RCR field an additional Nationwide Series entry for Dillon next season, independent of the KHI partnership? And if so, why was no mention made of it yesterday?

Dillon's younger brother, Ty, was expected to run a full season of Camping World Trucks in 2012, filling his brother's former seat in RCR's #3 Chevy Silverado. Those plans may be unaffected by yesterday's announcement, but there was no mention of Ty Dillon of the #3 Truck team in yesterday's announcement.

The status of KHI's highly successful Camping World Truck program was also left in limbo. The team currently fields three full-time Truck Series entries; the #33 Chevrolet driven by former series champion Ron Hornaday, Jr., the #8 Chevy wheeled by second generation driver Nelson Piquet, Jr. and the #2 Silverado that has had multiple drivers -- including Harvick, Sadler and Clint Bowyer -- at the wheel. Reports have circulated for weeks that Hornaday will not return in 2012, but the veteran driver said this week that he is still unsure of the team's status for 2012.

Multiple sources say KHI will scale back its Truck Series operation dramatically in 2012, fielding only a single truck for Harvick to drive in an extremely limited schedule of events. But again, no mention was made of the KHI Truck program in yesterday's media release.

There are also questions about where the newly merged RCR/KHI effort will be located. KHI currently operates out of a showplace, 80,000 square foot facility in Kernersville, N.C., while RCR is long established in Welcome, NC. It is expected that the merged Nationwide effort will be fielded out of the Childress shops, potentially leaving the Harvick compound empty, except for Harvick's own, part-time #33 Truck Series entry.

Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

RCR & KHI Merge For Nationwide Program

Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick Incorporated announced today that they have reached agreement on a collaborative effort that will have KHI's NASCAR Nationwide Series program merge with RCR next season.

KHI will continue to be involved on the business and competition sides with RCR, and Harvick said he and wife DeLana will remain extremely active in the newly merged Nationwide Series program. The #2 and #33 teams will continue, with Elliott Sadler driving the #2 Chevrolet in a full-time championship bid and a combination of RCR's Sprint Cup Series drivers sharing time in the #33 Chevrolet.

"KHI and RCR have worked together very closely over the last several years," said Kevin Harvick. "DeLana and I are fortunate that Richard has always been supportive of KHI over the last 10 years. We feel like this merger will benefit our on-track performance as well as provide our sponsors with more opportunity off track. We will still be very involved and are excited about the Nationwide team's new direction."

RCR and KHI have enjoyed more than a decade of success in the Nationwide Series. RCR earned 55 victories and five championships from 1999 to 2010, with Harvick responsible for 32 victories and three titles (overall in 2001 and 2006 and the owner's championship in 2003 with driver Johnny Sauter). KHI has earned 10 victories since beginning its independent program in 2004.

"A few years ago, Richard Childress Racing moved its NASCAR Nationwide Series efforts to Kevin Harvick, Incorporated to assist KHI in strengthening its overall program," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "When Kevin and DeLana decided they were interested in consolidating operations, it made sense to merge our efforts. RCR is committed to the Nationwide Series as part of our overall team and driver development efforts. This move will continue the close collaborative effort RCR and KHI have enjoyed for the past 10 years."