Sources: NASCAR Nationwide Series Schedule Could Drop As Low As 30 Races In 2011

Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule could include as few as 30 races next season, a dramatic drop from the current slate of 35 events. NASCAR is expected to announce the 2011 schedules for its top three national series’ in the next 3-4 weeks, and its appears that the total number of races will drop to between 30 and 32. NASCAR President Mike Helton said recently that the idea of a reduced Nationwide Series schedule “has been bounced around. Obviously, there's players that have to be talked to in regards to that,” said Helton, “(including) Nationwide, ESPN, promoters and the competitors. There's a lot of movement going on in the three national series this year, trying to sort it all out."

Reliable sources say Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California will lose its February NASCAR race weekend to Kansas Speedway in 2011, eliminating that race from the Nationwide schedule. Gateway International Raceway announced recently that it will not host any Nationwide or Truck Series events next year -- trimming two more events from the Nationwide schedule – while sister track Nashville Superspeedway experienced extremely poor attendance at both of its races this season, putting at least one of its 2011 dates in jeopardy.

There are options to replace at least some of the lost events, if NASCAR chooses to do so. Iowa Speedway Vice President Craig Armstrong said this week that while his track has not formally requested a second NASCAR Nationwide Series race for 2011, he would take one if asked. "If a second race is offered to us, we will certainly consider it,” said Armstrong. “It is entirely NASCAR's decision, and we respect that."

In addition to a shorter schedule, expect a number of venue and date changes next season. Officials at Indianapolis Motor Speedway say they may ask NASCAR to move the Nationwide Series date currently belonging to O'Reilly Raceway Park to IMS next season, in an attempt to boost flagging attendance for their Brickyard 400 weekend. It initially appeared that New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s June NASCAR date might move to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011, but sources say that move has now been tabled until at least 2012, keeping the Nationwide Series in the Granite State for at least another year. There is also a possibility of weeknight racing on both the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series’ in 2011.

COMMENTARY: Pocono Crash Shows There's Still Room For Improvement

NASCAR has made great strides in recent seasons to ensure the safety of its drivers. The sanctioning body’s new Sprint Cup Series car is a quantum leap forward in terms of safety, with a larger driver’s compartment and impact absorbing door foam among the most obvious improvements. Major advances in seat technology have further safeguarded the athletes, as have the HANS and Hutchens devices. Speedways hosting events in NASCAR top three national series have all installed SAFER barriers on their outside retaining walls, providing an impact absorbing surface where before there was immovable concrete and steel.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are not allowed to “pick and choose” when it comes to safety. Their cars are constructed according to a strict series of safety guidelines, with seats, helmets, firesuits and other driver safety apparel also checked by NASCAR on a regular basis. HANS devices are mandatory, not recommended.

Unfortunately, NASCAR has not always held its host speedways to the same high standard. While all tracks in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series have installed SAFER barriers on their outside walls, a few -– Pocono Raceway among them -– have lagged behind when it comes to protecting drivers from inside wall contact. Elliott Sadler’s horrifying crash Sunday provided graphic proof that there is room for improvement.

"I'm a little sore from where the belts grabbed me,” said Sadler in the aftermath of a crash that saw him hurdle head-on into an immovable steel ARMCO barrier (backed with tons of earth) at over 160 mph. The impact tore the engine from his US Air Force Ford and demolished the car from the firewall forward. “It knocked the breath out of me pretty good,” said Sadler, who has been upside-down twice at Talladega in recent seasons. “It's definitely the hardest hit I've ever had in a race car.”

Drivers have long been critical of the grassy runoff areas and ARMCO barriers lining the inside of Pocono’s backstretch. As far back as 2001, drivers decried the dangerous conditions there, after drivers Steve Park and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., rode out a savage encounter with the antiquated Pocono steel. “He slammed into that damn guard rail,” said crewchief Todd Parrott after Sadler’s crash. “But the car obviously did its job. I just walked out of the infield care center with a guy that four or five years ago wouldn’t have lived through the wreck. Elliott is a very lucky man from everything I can see.”

Last month, Pocono president Brandon Igdalsky announced plans to add inside SAFER barriers at the track in time for the 2011 season. “We’re making the changes,” said Igdalsky. “We announced in June we were making the changes, and that’s all there is to it. We know it’s something that’s outdated and we’re stepping up and making the changes like we need to do.”

Unfortunately, Pocono is not the only track with room for improvement. Talladega, Daytona, Las Vegas and many other Sprint Cup Series venues still afford drivers an opportunity to hit immovable concrete walls at high speed. Perhaps it’s time for that situation to change.

Elliott Sadler’s crash proved just how far NASCAR has come in terms of safety. It also showed that there is still some work to do.

Silly Season Now Underway In Earnest

Kasey Kahne kicked off the 2011 edition of NASCAR Sprint Cup Silly Season more than a month ago, announcing that he will leave Richard Petty Motorsports at season’s end to fill an as-yet-unnamed seat in 2011, before replacing Mark Martin at the wheel of the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet the following year. Now, a number of other dominos are beginning to fall.

Rick Hendrick said last week that he intends to honor the final year of Martin's contract, but would not rule out Kahne driving the #5 Chevrolet next season. "If I tell you what I will do, (then) do something different because I haven't thought about it, you'll think I lied to you,” said Hendrick last week. “I'm keeping all options open (and) trying to make everybody happy.” Martin has repeatedly stated that he will return to the #5 car next season, and Hendrick said of Martin’s status, “Right now it's his seat and it's his call. Mark has made a heck of a contribution to our organization and I wish he could drive four or five more years."

He also apologized publically to Martin for igniting a storm of speculation about Martin’s future that has angered the veteran driver. "It pissed Mark off, and I take 100 percent (of the blame). I never signed a driver this early and you've got to make everything fit with the sponsors and everything else. It's a very complicated deal, (but) I've got ideas and I want to make it best for everybody involved.''

Marcos Ambrose announced last week that he will leave JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the 2010 campaign. "After five years, I personally felt it was time for a change,” said Ambrose. “We haven’t had the year we wanted to have, and I felt stale in what we were doing. I don’t want to impede JTG’s progress. I want to get out of their way and let them transition to their next driver with plenty of time left this year.” Ambrose said he has no “Plan B” in place for 2011 and could even return to his native Australia if another Sprint Cup opportunity does not surface, but multiple sources say a deal with Richard Petty Motorsports is nearly complete to put the popular Aussie in the #9 Ford next season, replacing Kahne.

Ford Racing Marketing Manager Tim Duerr declined to comment specifically on the report, but said the automaker has longstanding ties with Ambrose. “Marcos started with Ford and Ford brought him to NASCAR,” said Duerr. “He bleeds Ford blue, and we would love to see him back in a Ford next season. I don’t think that Marcos has a signed Sprint Cup ride for next season at present. It all depends on him, a sponsor and a team putting something together, but I am optimistic that we will see Marcos back in a Ford next season.”

A spokesman for Richard Petty Motorsports declined to comment, calling the report “speculation.”

Bobby Labonte will replace Ambrose at JTG Daugherty next season, after finalizing a deal with the team last week. Ambrose says he expects to finish the season in the #47 Toyota, but would step aside early, if asked to do so.

RPM has three additional holes to fill, with drivers AJ Allmendinger, Paul Menard and Elliott Sadler all in the final year of their respective contracts. Sadler has said he does not expect to be a part of the team’s lineup next season, though RPM Executive Director of Racing Operations Robbie Loomis said recently that Sadler is still on the team’s list of potential drivers for 2011.

Allmendinger, meanwhile, is believed to be close to a new, multi-year deal that will keep him in the team’s legendary #43 Ford in 2011 and beyond. “I have had some great conversations with the people here at Richard Petty Motorsports, and with other organizations,” said Allmendinger. “I’m confident that I’ll have something to announce in the fairly near future.”

Menard also has multiple options for next season. Richard Childress said this week that he is “looking at” the possibility of expanding to a four-car Sprint Cup operation again next year, after being forced to downsize to three cars when a sponsor could not be found to retain Casey Mears for 2010. He refused to comment on the possibility of signing Menard, but admitted that a fourth team is once again possible, pending sponsorship. Menard obviously comes fully sponsored, and is reportedly negotiating with both RCR and RPM.

Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing is working hard to sign Jamie McMurray to a new contract. The Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 winner signed a one-year deal with EGR during the offseason after leaving Roush-Fenway Racing, and when asked if he hoped to sign McMurray to a new, long-term pact, team owner Chip Ganassi joked, "I'm going to fire him. What do you think?" Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris has said that he is happy with both McMurray and the team, and expects the company to return as sponsor next season.

Finally, Red Bull Racing General Manager Jay Frye says a decision on the future of driver Scott Speed will be announced within the next month. Speed is currently ranked outside the Top 25 in championship points, with only two Top-10 finishes this season. Sources close to the team say the former Formula One driver has been informed that he must produce tangible results soon to save his job.

Frye admitted unhappiness with Speed’s performance recently, saying, "We need to perform. We need to do better. We started the year off pretty strong, (but) we kind of regressed.” Asked about his contract status, Speed said, "I don't know if I'm allowed to talk about it.”

SMI Expected To Announce Kentucky Sprint Cup Race August 10

Speedway Motorsports, Inc. CEO Bruton Smith said this week that a “big press conference” is scheduled for August 10 at Kentucky Speedway. Sources tell Sirius Speedway that the track will announce that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will compete at the Sparta oval next season.

Smith declined to discuss the specifics of the announcement, telling reporters, "Don’t try to get me to hold that press conference now. We’ll have a lot of things to announce when we’re there; lots of the changes that we’re making." Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip -- both leading players in the construction of the speedway -- are expected to be in attendance, as is former track owner Jerry Carroll.

Carroll also declined to confirm a 2011 Sprint Cup race in advance of the official announcement, but said, "If Bruton Smith is coming all the way up here and the governor is coming all the way up here, they’re not going to tell people bad news. Figure it from there."

NASCAR Vice President Steve O'Donnell confirmed last month that SMI has requested that NASCAR relocate at least one of its races next season, and last week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NASCAR Chairman France said the 2011 schedule should be announced within the next two weeks. Kentucky Speedway would be the first new addition to the schedule since the Chicagoland and Kansas Speedways in 2001.

Multiple sources tell Sirius Speedway that a second race will be transferred from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California to Kansas Speedway next season; both International Speedway Corporation properties. ISC will reportedly not be able to add a second Sprint Cup date at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, however, after NASCAR was unable to coordinate multiple date and venue changes to the satisfaction of all parties. That move will reportedly wait for at least another year, with SMI
transfering a single date from Atlanta Motor Speedway to Kentucky in 2011.

That would be good news to fans at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, who have been bracing for the possible loss of a race to Las Vegas.

Could Pocono Lose A Race? Mattioli Leaves Room For Doubt

Pocono Raceway co-owner Dr. Joseph Mattioli said today that two NASCAR Sprint Cup races per season is too many for some tracks, possibly including his own. Mattioli told Yahoo!Sports writer Brant James, “There’s a lot of empty seats, aren’t there? We’re oversaturated. It was good for all of us at one time. But now? No.”

Mattioli has always insisted that he will never sell the historic Pennsylvania speedway or relinquish either of its two annual Sprint Cup dates. But today’s comments, combined with rumors of a major Sprint Cup Series schedule shakeup in 2011, have put talk of Pocono’s status on the front burner once again.

UPDATE: Pocono Raceway co-owner Dr. Joseph Mattioli told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Thursday that he might be willing to give up one of his track’s two race dates, but not in the near future. He said he will retain his two Sprint Cup Series dates until at least 2013, when new NASCAR television contracts take effect. Asked if Pocono will be part of a rumored 2011 schedule shakeup, Mattioli replied, “absolutely not.”

Dover Motorsports Wants Nationwide/Truck Twinbills In Nashville

A day after announcing that they will not request a renewal of Gateway International Raceway’s NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series sanctioning agreements for 2001, parent company Dover Motorsports, Inc., is reportedly asking the sanctioning body to schedule a pair of Nationwide/Truck doubleheaders at Nashville Superspeedway next season.

The company has reportedly asked to host doubleheader weekends in both April and July, with Nashville relinquishing its traditional June date and assume Gateway’s July spot on the schedule. The move is subject to NASCAR approval, but sources say the sanctioning body is almost certain to endorse the move.

Gateway Opts Out Of 2011 NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series

Dover Motorsports, Inc. announced today that Gateway International Raceway has notified will not seek NASCAR sanctions in 2011for its two Nationwide Series and one Camping World Truck Series events.

The track’s Vice President and General Manager, Terry Harmeson said, “This was a difficult decision in light of the many years of earnest and continued efforts on everyone’s part to develop a viable market for these events in one of our nation’s greatest cities. We plan to explore various ways to change the economics at Gateway both from the revenue and expense side.” Harmeson said the track will fulfill the balance of its 2010 schedule, including an October 23rd NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

Dover Motorsports President & CEO Denis McGlynn said the company will evaluate all its options for this facility, including its possible sale.

Brandon Mudd, Director of Public Relations for Gateway International Raceway, called NASCAR “no longer an option for us to use as a profit center.” Asked if the track will be sold or re-purposed, Mudd said, “We really don’t know what the future holds. We are exploring all options. We still have a road course and drag strip on the property that are used heavily, so I’m not sure whether sale is an option. We will begin to look at what is viable for us; whether that is an outright sale, or to become a dragstrip with a test facility in the backyard. That decision should come to light in the near future.”

Mudd blamed rampant unemployment in the area for many of Gateway’s struggles, saying “the blue collar has been hit pretty hard here. We had a major auto plant in Fenton, Missouri close down recently, and other manufacturers have closed down either completely or partially. We certainly haven’t seen the (economic) upturn that some other areas have seen.”

Braig: Daytona Not Interested In Hosting Season Finales

Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said today that he has “no intention" of swapping the track’s traditional July 4 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series date for the final race of each season.

There has been speculation recently that NASCAR Chairman Brian France will move the season finales for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series from Homestead-Miami Speedway to either Daytona or Las Vegas Motor Speedway, beginning in 2011. Braig, however, told Sirius NASCAR Radio that he is happy with the track’s traditional “Coke Zero 400” in July and is not interested in changing dates.

Homestead-Miami Speedway has a long-term sponsorship contract with Ford Motor Company to host its annual "Ford Championship Weekend," but that contract is reportedly contingent on the track hosting the final races of the season for all three of NASCAR's national series.

Jack Roush Hurt In Wisconsin Plane Crash

Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush is hospitalized today following a plane crash at Wittman Air Field in OshKosh, Wisconsin at approximately 6:15 p.m. CT yesterday.

Roush was piloting his own Hawker Beechcraft Premier jet to an Experimental Aircraft Association show, was landing his when the accident occurred. Eyewitness Roger Florkiewicz told local television station WFRV-TV 5, “The right wing tip hit the grass to the right of the runway. Immediately after, the nose hit and it cartwheeled tail over nose, and then skidded to a stop."

A bloodied Roush exited the heavily damaged aircraft under his own power, as did his passenger, secretary Brenda Strickland. Both were transported to a local hospital. Roush is listed in serious but stable condition, while Strickland reportedly suffered non-life threatening injuries. Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith told the Associated Press that Roush’s injuries could require him to undergo surgery, but attending physician Dr. Kevin Wasco said those injuries were also non-life threatening.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, Roush’s second serious crash in the last eight years. In 2002, he was critically injured after crashing an experimental plane into a pond near Troy, Ala., on his 60th birthday. Retired Marine Larry Hicks witnessed that crash, paddled a boat to the scene and repeatedly dove through a layer of spilled jet fuel to pull Roush from the submerged wreckage and perform lifesaving CPR.

You can view CNN's video of Roush and Strickland exiting the aircraft by clicking HERE. Warning, the video is somewhat graphic and not suitable for some viewers.

Ambrose To RPM #9 Ford Next Season

Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Marcos Ambrose will replace Kasey Kahne in the #9 Ford at Richard Petty Motorsports next season.

Ambrose announced earlier today that he will leave JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the 2010 campaign, saying, "After five years, I personally felt it was time for a change. We haven’t had year we wanted to have, and I felt stale in what we were doing. I don’t want to impede JTG’s progress. I want to get out of their way and let them transition to their next driver with plenty of time left this year.”

Ambrose said he has no “Plan B” in place for 2011 and could even return to his native Australia if another Sprint Cup opportunity does not surface. Highly placed sources tell Sirius Speedway that a deal with RPM is “95 percent done,” though there is no definitive word on who might sponsor the effort.

Ford Racing Marketing Manager Tim Duerr declined to comment specifically on the report today, but said the automaker has longstanding ties with Ambrose. “Marcos started with Ford and Ford brought him to NASCAR,” said Duerr. “He bleeds Ford blue, and we would love to see him back in a Ford next season. I don’t think that Marcos has a signed Sprint Cup ride for next season at present. It all depends on him, a sponsor and a team putting something together, but I am optimistic that we will see Marcos back in a Ford next season.”

A spokesman for Richard Petty Motorsports declined to comment today, calling the report “speculation.”

Randy Moss Motorsports V.P. Says Reports Of Possible Sale "Inaccurate"

Randy Moss Motorsports Vice President Chip Wile denied that the team is on the auction block today, saying that no specific negotiations are ongoing, but admitting that “every team is probably for sale, at the right price.”

Sources tell Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that talks have taken place between RMM and Turner Motorsports owner Steve Turner about a merger or outright sale of the team, which fields Toyota Tundras for veterans Mike Skinner and David Starr. Moss reportedly declined to assume a larger role in the financial operation of the team recently, leaving co-owner David Dollar to handle the day-to-day funding and operation of the team by himself, with Moss serving as little more than a figurehead.

While declining to comment specifically on those reports, Wile said Randy Moss Motorsports is in better financial shape than many on the circuit. “We have been very fortunate,” he said. “With support from Toyota, International Trucks, Zachry, Monaco RV, PC MILER Navigator, Exide Batteries and others, we’ve been able to weather these tough economic times better than most.

“Conversations happen in this garage all the time,” he said. “People are always talking about how to streamline their operations or make things more efficient. Mergers are one way to accomplish that, and we are always interested in talking to anyone who might be able to make our team better. But saying that we are actively shopping this team for merger or sale would not be accurate.”

New Addition To The NASCAR Hall Of Fame

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s Wrangler retro-themed Nationwide Series car now resides (temporarily) in the NASCAR Hall Of Fame! NASCAR Historian Buz McKim joins us in Hour Three of today's show to talk about how it all happened.

They're tearing up the asphalt at Daytona International Speedway today, exposing the linestone base below. It'll all be gone and replaced in time for the 2011 Daytona 500!

Commentary: Mark Martin Deserves Better

Tony Stewart said last week that Stewart Haas Racing has no plans for a third NASCAR Sprint Cup team in 2011. There has been rampant speculation that SHR could be home for Kasey Kahne next season, filling the one-year gap between Kahne’s departure from Richard Petty Motorsports and his 2012 debut with Hendrick Motorsports. But Stewart said there was “probably a zero percent chance we'll expand to a third team for next year,” adding that the team is still seeking a sponsor to replace Old Spice, and that there are unsponsored races on Ryan Newman’s car, as well.

“We're talking to a lot of great people (and) there's a lot of good opportunities out there,” he said. “It's just a matter of finding a package that works for somebody.” He said Stewart Haas Racing could ramp up to three – or even four – cars very quickly, but not without having the proper funding in place.

With SHR apparently out of the running, where will Kahne end up in 2011? Rumors continue to circulate through the Sprint Cup garage that Rick Hendrick has offered Mark Martin options to vacate the seat in the #5 Chevrolet a year early for another ride, allowing Kahne to drive the car next season. Martin has repeatedly denied those reports, saying he intends to fulfill the balance of his contract with HMS.

“I had to quit following the sport because it kinda made me sick,” said Martin in an interview with NASCAR Race Hub scheduled to air tonight. “The media didn’t understand, didn’t get it and couldn’t seem to deliver the message correctly. They only delivered the message they wanted to deliver, which was sensationalized. It was disgusting.”

Martin’s Business Manager, Benny Ertel, called the reports “aggravating,” saying his driver has grown tired of answering the same questions, week after week. “It’s the same thing, over and over again,” he said. “We walk into the media center and someone immediately raises their hand and asks about where Mark will be racing next season. Mark has answered the question a thousand times and it’s always the same answer. `I will be driving the #5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports next season.’ That’s as simple as it is, but some reporters just don’t listen.”

“Randy Pemberton went on Sirius NASCAR Radio the other day and said Mark will be driving for Red Bull next season,” said Ertel. “There’s not a shred of truth to that statement, and he never bothered to ask Mark, Rick Hendrick or anyone else about it. If he had asked, he would have been told -- in no uncertain terms -- that it was a load of hooey.

“I don’t know what’s so difficult to understand,” said Ertel. “Mark Martin will drive the #5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports next season. Period.”

Sources with Hendrick Motorsports also denied reports of Martin’s departure today, and vowed that the #5 team will not allow the constant media speculation to become a distraction.

There is a rumor born every minute in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage, and the media has every right to investigate and report on each and every one of them. It seems clear, however, that Martin intends to finish out his contract with Hendrick Motorsports by driving the #5 Chevrolet next season. With that said, it seems that Kahne will only drive for Hendrick next season if Martin is forced out of the ride against his wishes. Rick Hendrick has been a team owner in NASCAR since 1984, and has never shown a propensity for that sort of cold-blooded backstabbing.

At age 30, Kasey Kahne is the future of Hendrick Motorsports. Martin, at the ripe old age of 51, is not. But the Batesville, Arkansas native is still a valuable part of the team’s present, and he deserves better than

Congratulations to our girl Amber Colvin on her recent win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 2010 winner of NASCAR's Young Racer Award, Amber is now the top-ranked female Legends Semi-Pro racer in the country. Yet somehow, she has not been able to find anyone to sponsor her. Can your company help?

2011 Sprint Cup Schedule To Include Kansas, Kentucky Speedways

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule is expected to include at least two new events, in Kentucky and Kansas, after NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell said last week that both Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and International Speedway Corporation have submitted official requests to relocate races to those tracks in 2011.

Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith has repeatedly said he hopes to bring Cup racing to Kentucky and also add a second date at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. O’Donnell confirmed that a request has been made to move a race to Kentucky in 2001, but declined to comment on where that race will come from. Five SMI tracks -- Charlotte, Bristol, Texas, New Hampshire and Atlanta – host two Sprint Cup events each season, and multiple sources say the Kentucky race will come from New Hampshire Motor Speedway, leaving the Loudon oval with just one stop on the 2011 schedule. O’Donnell refused to comment on those reports, saying, “We’ve got a pretty long streak of great support in New Hampshire, but I’m not going to speculate on what may be out there.”

Rival International Speedway Corporation will also transplant a race next season, adding a second Sprint Cup date at Kansas Speedway. ISC is constructing a $521-million hotel and casino overlooking the track’s second turn, and the addition of a second Sprint Cup Series race there was listed as a contingency in their application for a Kansas Gaming License. ISC spokesman Lenny Santiago confirmed the move last weekend at Daytona International Speedway, saying, "We're hopeful. We've been working with NASCAR and recently made our formal request to them. We're not discussing the details of where the date may come from, but we have made the request and we'll wait for their decision."

ISC owns Daytona, Talladega, Auto Club, Martinsville, Richmond, Michigan, Phoenix, Watkins Glen, Darlington, Chicagoland and Homestead-Miami Speedways, with Auto Club, Martinsville and Michigan believed to be most likely to forfeit a date. Martinsville President Clay Campbell said recently that he has heard nothing from ISC about losing a race, and would almost certainly have been informed of such a move by now. MIS spokesmen say they too are proceding under the assumption that they will host two Cup dates next season. Multiple sources say the 2011 Kansas race will come from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, which has struggled to fill seats since adding a second Sprint Cup date a few years ago.

Santiago said he expects an answer on relocation from the sanctioning body by late summer. NASCAR traditionally meets with track operators in May to discuss the next season’s schedule, but this year’s meetings were tabled in anticipation of a decision in the Kentucky Speedway lawsuit. That suit was dismissed last month, clearing the way for SMI’s Smith to act. NASCAR traditionally releases its schedule for the coming season around Labor Day, but O’Donnell said there is still time to make adjustments to the proposed 2011 agenda. “Last year, we didn’t get the schedule (done) until early September,” he said. “We’ve got enough time to look at (the requests), make a decision and work with all the tracks out there.”

Moving races from track to track – while sometimes unpopular – is a relatively simple undertaking. Juggling the schedule to avoid conflicts and accommodate each track’s unique weather, logistical and financial characteristics will be far more difficult.

Kansas Speedway is physically incapable of hosting events in February or March, since the area is often adrift in snow at that time of year. The track already hosts a Sprint Cup race in early October, meaning that a second Sprint Cup date will probably have to be scheduled early in the season; in April or May. Kansas already hosts an Izod IndyCar Series event the first weekend of May, raising the possibility of a NASCAR/IRL doubleheader. In order for that to happen, however, Richmond’s May Sprint Cup event will have to be moved.

A more likely scenario involves eliminating the February race at Auto Club Speedway, moving the spring Phoenix International Raceway event to that weekend and giving Kansas PIR’s traditional April slot.

Kentucky’s scheduling logistics will be less difficult; a simple case of transferring New Hampshire’s late June date to the Bluegrass State. The track’s schedule will easily accommodate the move, since Kentucky currently hosts only a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series/IRL IndyCar doubleheader the first weekend in September.

There will be some public relations hurdles to be cleared, however. Northern New England race fans have snapped up virtually every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seat ever offered at the Magic Mile since it was added to the schedule in 1993, and they will not take the loss of one of their races sitting down. Smith is likely to use Loudon, NH, Police Chief Bob Fiske as a scapegoat for the move, blaming an ongoing dispute over the cost of police services for his decision to transfer a date, but public opinion in the Granite State has recently begun to sway heavily against the controversial track owner.

Sources say Smith met with NASCAR officials two weeks ago in New Hampshire to discuss proposed realignment scenarios, and ironically, it appears Granite State fans will lose one of their races the same way they required it. The Loudon oval added a second Sprint Cup event to its schedule in 1997, after Smith and then-NHMS owner Bob Bahre purchased the legendary North Wilkesboro Speedway, shuttered the venerable oval and moved its two NASCAR races to New Hampshire and Texas.

Dodge President Says Challenger Could Soon Race In Cup

Dodge President Ralph Gilles said today that the automaker may submit the Dodge Challenger for Sprint Cup competition at some point in the future, replacing the Dodge Charger.

Gilles said, “It's up to NASCAR,” adding "the fans will tell us" what they want to see. Ford’s North American Motorsports Manager, Jamie Allison said recently that the Blue Oval is considering bringing its Mustang brand to the Cup Series, if it performs well at the Nationwide level.

The new Nationwide car makes its competitive debut Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Goodyear To Salute Troops At Daytona

Goodyear spokesman Mike Siberini told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody today that the tire maker has manufactured special tires for the Independence Day weekend Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events at Daytona International Speedway.

Siberini said the Goodyear Eagle logo will be smaller, making way for a "Support Our Troops” message written in red, white and blue.

SMI Expected To Request Date Changes This Week

NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell said he expects Speedway Motorsports, Inc. CEO Bruton Smith to submit an official request this week to realign some of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race dates next season. Smith has repeatedly said he hopes to bring Sprint Cup racing to Kentucky Speedway and add a second date at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; moves that will require him to relocate races from other SMI tracks.

Five SMI tracks -- Charlotte, Bristol, Texas, New Hampshire and Atlanta – host two Sprint Cup events each season, and O’Donnell said, “We expect to hear something this coming week. Last year we didn’t get the schedule (done) until early September. We’ve got enough time to look at it, make a decision and work with all the tracks out there.”

O’Donnell declined to comment on where the Kentucky and Las Vegas races might come from, saying, “We’ve got a pretty long streak of great support in New Hampshire, but I’m not going to speculate on what may be out there.” He confirmed that International Speedway Corporation has submitted an official request to add a second Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway, but declined to say where that race would come from.

NASCAR usually meets with track operators in May to discuss the next season’s schedule, but postponed those meetings until a decision was handed down in the Kentucky Speedway lawsuit. That suit was dismissed last month, clearing the way for Smith to move a Sprint Cup race to Kentucky in 2011. Sources say he met with NASCAR officials Saturday in New Hampshire to discuss proposed realignment scenarios, and O’Donnell said Smith is “still within his time limit” for requesting a 2011 venue change.

Reiser Likely To Return As Kenseth's Crewchief Next Season

Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Robbie Reiser is likely to return as crewchief for Matt Kenseth’s #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford next season.

Team owner Jack Roush replaced Todd Parrott with veteran Jimmy Fennig last week, the second change of the season for the #17 team. “Matt and I shared a concern that we weren't getting the optimum number of changes in the garage (during practice) based on the plan and the preparation and the execution of the pre-race activities," explained Roush, adding that after an encouraging start to the season, “we kind of had a breakdown in team communication and the effectiveness… of getting ready for the race. I don't know if Matt stopped talking to (Parrott) or I stopped talking to him or what happened.”

Kenseth’s fifth crewchief since 2007, Fennig said last week that he expects to remain atop the pit box for the remainder of the 2010 campaign. However, sources tell Sirius Speedway that there is “a very strong possibility” that RFR General Manager Robbie Reiser will return to the post in 2011. “Robbie wants to come back,” said one source on condition of anonymity, “but he’s doing such a good job as GM that Jack can’t justify making a move right now. Next season, don’t be surprised to see Reiser back on the pit box, with Robbie Loomis succeeding him as General Manager.”

Kenseth admitted that consideration is being given to bringing Reiser back as crewchief, saying, "He probably would have filled in for the rest of the year (and tried) to do both, but there just are not enough hours in a day.”

Allmendinger To Finalize 2011 Plans Soon

A.J. Allmendinger told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Friday that he hopes to make a decision on where he will race next season within the next 30 days.

"I've had some great talks with the people at Richard Petty Motorsports," said Allmendinger. "I have also had some great talks with other teams. I can't tell you right now how it's all going to turn out, But I hope to have it all wrapped up by the middle or end of July."

Unconfirmed reports have the former Champ Car star in negotiation with Richard Childress Racing, among others, with RPM highly motivated to try and re-sign him to a multi-year contract. Allmendinger and teammates Elliott Sadler and Paul Menard are in the final years of their respective deals, and Kasey Kahne has already announced plans to race elsewhere in 2011 and beyond.

Refusing To Start And Park, Labonte Back On The Open Market

Bobby Labonte says he understands why TRG Motorsports chose to start and park its #71 Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet in three of the last five races.

He simply doesn’t want to be part of it.

The 2000 Sprint Cup Series champion severed ties with TRG Wednesday, saying, “I just don’t want to do the start-and-park thing.” While acknowledging “it’s tough out there for a lot of people,” Labonte said he has no stomach for showing up at the racetrack with no intention of racing.

“I thought we could grow into a lot of things,” said Labonte of his partnership with TRG owner Kevin Buckler. “It just didn’t quite work out like we anticipated.” Buckler signed Labonte last November, a move seen as a major coup for a team entering only its second season of Sprint Cup competition. He hoped Labonte’s star power would enable him to sign a full-time sponsor, and that cars and technology from Richard Childress Racing and a pit crew rented from Stewart-Haas Racing would make them competitive on the racetrack.

Neither proved to be the case.

The team has struggled to find sponsorship and failed to record a Top-20 finish this season. “These (Sprint Cup teams) are the best of the best,” explained Labonte. “(They) have four teams or six teams or more, and when you add it all up, there are 28 of those. When you’re 29th, you’re next in that line. We weren’t 29th all the time. On a bad day it was 35th, and on a good day it could be 20th.

“We didn’t have a teammate to lean on,” he said. “If we had a teammate and… more funding to get more technology into the race team, that would hopefully enhance the deal. But it takes a lot of money to run this series.”

In the end, the prospect of running a few token laps each week before retiring to the garage was more than Labonte’s competitive nature could stand. “I felt like I needed to find different opportunities that were going to allow me to race,” he said. “That’s what we were supposed to do to start with, and what we were doing up until (recently).”

The 21-time Cup winner will drive for Robby Gordon Motorsports this weekend in New Hampshire, before strapping in for Phoenix Racing owner James Finch at both Daytona and Chicagoland. Gordon has spoken in broad terms about possibly fielding a second RGM Toyota for Labonte in the Brickyard 400, as well, but beyond that, there are no concrete plans.

For now, Labonte will continue ride-hunting. He said his focus remains on finding a quality Sprint Cup drive, but admitted that he would consider a competitive Nationwide or even Camping World Truck Series opportunity. When he takes the green flag this weekend, Labonte will make his 599th career Sprint Cup start and his 597th in a row. That consecutive start streak is a source of pride for the 46-year old Labonte, and while he hopes to continue as a full-time racer for another season or three, he’ll quit altogether before he’ll start and park.

“I’m a racer,” he said. “I want to race. I want to win. There’s no more special feeling than winning races and being competitive. It’s the passion I have for this sport (and) the passion I have for racing that keeps me wanting to do this more and more.”

Nobody –- not even Labonte himself -– knows how many green flags remain to be waved in his Hall Of Fame-caliber career. For now, the Corpus Christi, Texas, native will concentrate on the immediate future, letting next season take care of itself. “We’ve just got to concentrate on what we’re doing right now,” he said. “It would be nice to not have to wait (to know what we’re doing next year, but you just make the best of what you have.”

BREAKING NEWS: Labonte Leaves TRG #71 for Rides With Robby Gordon, Phoenix Racing

Bobby Labonte has reportedly terminated his contract with TRG Motorsports, and will drive the Robby Gordon Motorsports #7 Toyota this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

TRG Motorsports owner Kevin Buckler said as recently as yesterday that there was no truth to reports that Labonte has parted company with the team, but Andy Lally is now slated to drive the TRG Motorsports #71 Chevrolet this weekend. An official announcement from the team could come later today. Crewchief Doug Randolph left the operation a few weeks ago.

In a related story, Phoenix Racing owner James Finch has announced that Labonte will run his #09 Chevrolet in next Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, and in the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 10th. Finch said of Labonte, “We’re going to run several (races). We’d like to run as many as we can to get sponsorship.”

Randy LaJoie: "I Screwed Up."

Two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Randy LaJoie told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Tuesday that he is guilty of violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy.

LaJoie won the then-NASCAR Busch Series championship in both 1996 and 1997, and has recently worked as an analyst for both ESPN and Sirius NASCAR Radio, in addition to manufacturing racing seats for his company, The Joie Of Seating. He said he expects an announcement from NASCAR within the hour confirming his suspension, but wanted to "get out in front of it" by speaking out now.

“I screwed up,” said LaJoie in an exclusive Sirius Speedway interview. “NASCAR tested me when I wanted to spot for someone at Nashville. I already have two NASCAR licenses, but they said I needed a spotter’s license, and that included taking a drug test. I took the test, and got a call a few days later saying I had tested positive for marijuana.”

LaJoie called the incident “a one-time, isolated situation,” saying he smoked marijuana just once, immediately following the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I'm not Cheech and Chong," he said. "I volunteer my time driving a golf cart taking people back and forth, and I dropped one group off in the campground after the race. There was a pretty good party going on and I did something I shouldn’t have done. I sure wish I had picked up a different bunch, but I don’t blame any of them. Nobody held a gun to my head. I blame myself. You can’t fix stupid.”

LaJoie said he will do whatever NASCAR requires in order to be reinstated. “I have already spoken to my own drug abuse counselor, and I am waiting for a call back from NASCAR’s doctor,” he said. “I’ll go wherever they tell me to go, and I’ll do what they tell me to do.”

Commentary: The Umpire May Be Blind, But He's Probably Not A Crook

Denny Hamlin called NASCAR on the carpet in the moments following the “Heluva Good Sour Cream Dips 400” at Michigan International Speedway, accusing officials of manufacturing a phantom caution to tighten up the field in the race’s final laps.

Hamlin held a huge lead with 15 laps remaining when a debris caution eliminated his 10-second advantage. He easily fended off the advances of Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch to claim his fifth win of the 2010 season, but climbed from his FedEx Ground Toyota and lambasted what he claimed was an attempt by the sanctioning body to intentionally manipulate the outcome of the race.

“This is show business,” said Hamlin, adding that he expected the late caution flag. His comments touched off the biggest avalanche of conspiracy theories since Tony Stewart’s ill-fated “WWE” analogy a few years back, and while some of his fellow drivers supported his claim, others did not. Second-place Michigan finisher Kahne said he observed debris on the track prior to the final caution, while Ryan Newman said he actually ran over the debris, causing damage to his car that helped drop him to a 32nd-place finish.

A week later, Hamlin was still in an accusatory mood.

“There is always debris around the track,” he said to reporters at Infineon Raceway. “You can call anything debris... and that it is a legitimate safety hazard, but I just think it’s the timing. (NASCAR says) ‘OK, there it is, let’s pick it up and regroup.’ For the sake of show, that’s OK. But for the sake of competition, it’s not always the right thing.”

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver tempered his comments somewhat, saying, “If NASCAR had let (the race) go, people were going to be talking about a boring race. That’s something we don’t want, either. I think that sometimes, they just don’t throw the caution. Sometimes they just kind of let it go, when maybe things are getting mixed up. Other times, when things are spread out, (they say) `Let’s tighten it back up.' You don’t have to be so smart to realize that these things are just by chance.”

To the surprise of no-one, NASCAR denied Hamlin’s claims, with spokesman Ramsey Poston saying officials throw caution flags for debris whenever they believe safety could be compromised.

“When we identify something, or there is something on the track that can’t be identified, we are going to err on the side of safety and throw the caution,” he said. “Cautions exist for the safety of the competitors and fans, and we take that very seriously. I suspect drivers would have a different point of view if they were to hit that piece of debris... and ruin their day, or worse.” He added that officials often receive false reports of debris on the track from drivers hoping to benefit from a late caution, further complicating their jobs.

Poston also said it is up to the drivers – not NASCAR -- to put on a good show. “The racing is in the hands of the drivers,” he said. “They are the ones who are responsible for putting on a good show by going out and racing as hard as they can. We can’t get goaded into going lax on safety, and we won’t.”

Second-guessing and complaining about the referee are common practices in every sport. But only in NASCAR do competitors accuse the officials of being – not only incompetent – but corrupt. Only in our sport do drivers like Denny Hamlin accuse the umpire of intentionally making an incorrect call, in an attempt to manipulate the outcome of the game. NASCAR could silence the conspiracy theorists by fining drivers who publically criticize officials. Every other professional sport does it, as does the NCAA. But NASCAR chooses to let its athletes vent, even when they put their own best interest ahead of the integrity of the sport itself.

Drivers openly admit “fudging” debris reports in an effort to draw late-race caution flags, and some have even created their own debris cautions by tossing items onto the racing surface. The athletes clearly cannot be trusted to provide honest, accurate information on track conditions, so the responsibility must necessarily fall on the officials.

Did NASCAR blow the call at Michigan? Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t. It’s all a matter of perspective and personal agenda, and nobody (NASCAR officials included) knows with 100% certainty where the truth lies.

In the end, perhaps we should adopt the same attitude embraced by fans of other professional sports. We don’t have to like the call, but we do have to accept it and trust that while the referee may be blind, he’s not a crook.

Sorenson To Replace Mears At Red Bull

Reed Sorenson will replace Casey Mears in Red Bull Racing's #83 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota, beginning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway next weekend.

Casey Mears replaced Brian Vickers last month after Vickers was diagnosed with season-ending blood clots in his lungs, but was released earlier this week after struggling in his four starts. Red Bull Racing Vice President and General Manager Jay Frye confirmed Sorenson's hiring today, saying, "Our unique situation has afforded us the opportunity to try some different things, and we're continuing to do that with Reed. We appreciate Casey's work and everything he's done the past five weeks."

Sorenson has driven in 10 of this season's 14 NASCAR Nationwide Series races for Braun Racing, with four Top-5 and eight Top-10 finishes, including a runnerup showing at Nashville Superspeedway. He is winless in 148 career Sprint Cup starts over six seasons, primarily with Ganassi Racing.

German Touring Car star Mattias Ekstrom will steer the #83 Camry this weekenbd at Infineon Raceway.

Sadler Signs 10-Race Nationwide Deal With JR Motorsports

Elliott Sadler has signed to drive 10 NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season in the #88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

Sadler will drive at New Hampshire, O’Reilly Raceway Park, Michigan, Richmond, Dover, Kansas, California, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami Speedways. Two of the 10 races will include sponsorship from Delta Apparel and Realtree Outfitters, with the other races sponsored by Grand Touring Vodka. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., is also scheduled to drive a Realtree Outfitters-sponsored car at Bristol Motor Speedway next month.

“Elliott is a really good buddy of mine, and I’m happy that he has agreed to race our cars on a limited basis this year,” said Earnhardt. “By now, everybody knows our situation. We are looking for (a) full-time replacement for the #88, but in the meantime, we’ve called upon some proven racers to keep it up front, capture points, and contend for wins.”

“I am grateful to Dale Jr. and Kelley (Earnhardt) for this opportunity,” said Sadler. “Dale Jr. and I have been friends since our days racing Late Models, so it’s a great opportunity for us to partner together in the Nationwide Series."

Sadler is in the final year of his Sprint Cup Series contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, and sources say this new, 10-race deal with JR Motorsports could expand into a full-time opportunity in 2011.

BREAKING NEWS: Casey Mears Will Not Return To #83 Red Bull Toyota

Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Casey Mears will not return to the #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota when the series returns to oval tracks at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 27. Road course expert Mattias Ekstrom will drive the car this weekend at Infineon Raceway, and no decision has been made on who will fill the seat for the remainder of the season. Mears took over the ride when Brian Vickers was sidelined by blood clots last month at Dover, with a best finish of 22nd and an average finish of 27.5 He finished 36th at Michigan last weekend after becoming involved in a crash with teammate Scott Speed.

COMMENTARY: Critical Times Ahead For Richard Petty Motorsports

With only 15 of 36 races complete, most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are fully focused on winning races, positioning themselves for a spot in the Chase and finishing the 2010 season on a high note.

Richard Petty Motorsports does not have that luxury.

Just eight months away from a return to Daytona Beach for SpeedWeeks 2011, RPM has no drivers signed for next season and no appreciable sponsorship. Their marquee driver, Kasey Kahne, announced recently that he will jump ship at the end of the season for an eventual spot in the Hendrick Motorsports stable, while teammates AJ Allmendinger, Elliott Sadler and Paul Menard all labor in the final year of their respective contracts.

Sadler appears the least likely to return in 2011. RPM majority owner George Gillett attempted to deep-six the Emporia, Va., veteran last winter, before relenting under the threat of a lawsuit. Sources close to the team say Sadler routinely gets the oldest, heaviest cars in the RPM stable, and he stood a disappointing 29th in the championship standings prior to Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway. He continues to say all the right things, touting team unity and expressing happiness with the hard work of his team, but a return to the RPM fold in 2011 appears to be a long shot, at best.

Menard has been one of 2010’s “Cinderella stories,” running solidly in the Top-10 early, and still ranking as RPM’s top point driver going into Michigan. While his performance has silenced any remaining talk about “daddy’s money,” his unsigned status – and the fact that he comes fully-sponsored -- is already earning him attention from other teams, months before NASCAR’s annual free agent “Silly Season” ramps up in earnest.

Allmendinger seems ready to become RPM’s “go to” driver in 2011, if the team can re-sign him. Richard Petty himself is reportedly pushing Allmendinger to sign a new, multi-year contract, hoping to use the former Champ Car star to firm-up sponsorship for the legendary #43 Ford. Unfortunately, Petty and Gillett find themselves in a textbook “Catch 22” situation. They need a quality wheelman to attract sponsorship, but very few drivers are willing to sign multi-year deals with unsponsored teams.

Sources in the Sprint Cup garage say Allmendinger has had informal conversations with a number of other teams, including Richard Childress Racing. And while the California native says his top priority is to continue raising the bar at RPM, he – like Menard – will almost certainly be courted by new suitors this offseason.

Kahne, meanwhile, will spend six difficult months as a lame-duck driver before departing RPM at the end of the year. That’s a difficult role for any driver to fill, and since cracks have already begun to show in the foundation. He and Allmendinger clashed last week in the aftermath of an incident at Pocono Raceway, when Allmendinger ran his teammate into the grass on the final lap, causing a violent, multi-car wreck.

"I don't know what AJ was doing there," said Kahne after climbing from his battered Budweiser Ford. “I don’t ever really talk to him much, and I doubt I will be talking to him this week.” Allmendinger, who quickly accepted blame for the crash, agreed that the incident did little to damage what was already a shaky relationship between the two teammates.

“Kasey has no (desire) to talk to me usually, and I’m cool with that,” he said. “Our race teams work well enough. I’ve got six or seven other Ford guys that I can talk to and ask questions. So it’s fine.”

Allmendinger said their strained relationship stems from Kahne’s belief that the former Champ Car driver is too aggressive on the racetrack. “I’m a hard racer (and) sometimes I race too hard with people I’m not supposed to race hard with,” he said. “(Kasey) has accused me of racing him too hard at times, and that’s fine. We both have our own opinions. I’m fighting for every inch, and if he doesn’t like me at times, I understand that.”

"(The Pocono crash) looked worse because it was my teammate,” said Allmendinger. “But I would have done the same thing, no matter who it was. I was trying to defend my spot and I misjudged it.

“I respect (Kasey) 100-percent on the race track. I think that he’s one of the best guys out there. As a teammate, I love going up against him because I know if I can run with him, I’m doing something great. I don’t go out of my way to avoid (talking to) him, and we do talk every now and then at the race track about the cars.

“But are we holding hands, skipping along and having ice cream together? No.”

Kahne threw another log on the fire at Michigan, telling reporters, “(I’m looking forward to) working with teammates that want to work together. I’ve never had that. I think it’ll be great to have that with all the teammates, not just say one or two like we have at Petty Motorsports.”

The coming weeks are critical for Richard Petty Motorsports. On-track performance must continue to improve, and progress must be made toward solidifying driver and sponsor lineups for 2011. Only then can an air of stability replace the atmosphere of competitive and managerial upheaval that has dogged the operation in recent seasons.

Front Row Motorsports Penalties Announced, Team Promises To Appeal

NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to the #38 Front Row Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, in the aftermath of rules infractions found during last Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway.

The team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-10.7J (unapproved modification to valve stem hardware) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. Crewchief Steven Lane has been fined $100,000, suspended for the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, suspended from NASCAR until Sept. 15 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Carchief Richard Bourgeois and tire specialist Michael Harrold have also been suspended from the next 12 Cup races, suspended from NASCAR until Sept.15 and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

Driver Travis Kvapil and owner Doug Yates have been penalized with the loss of 150 driver and 150 owner points, which drops the team outside the Top-35 in owner points and will require them to qualify on time this weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

The team released a statement today, saying, “Front Row Motorsports supports NASCAR in its efforts to enforce competition rules and to maintain integrity throughout the sport. Therefore, Front Row accepts that NASCAR must penalize the team for a rules infraction regarding valve stem caps on the No. 38 car at Pocono Raceway on June 6.

Team owner Bob Jenkins said, "It was not our intent to put unapproved valve stem caps on our car at Pocono, a track where such a maneuver would clearly not provide any advantage. We are conducting our own internal investigation to determine how those parts got into our inventory and onto our car last weekend. While we recognize we have to pay for our mistake, this was an unintentional, isolated incident,” adding that he will appeal the penalty to the National Stock Car Racing Commission.

All three Front Row Motorsports cars will compete this weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

Stenhouse Out Of Roush #6 Nationwide Ford For Michigan?

Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., may not drive the #6 Roush Fenway Racing Nationwide Series Ford this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, and could be demoted to a part-time schedule or removed from the ride entirely.

Stenhouse failed to qualify for last weekend’s race at Nashville Superspeedway, dropping to 25th place in the Nationwide championship standings. He has only one Top-10 finish this season, with an average starting position of 13.6 and an average finish of 28.5.

Team owner Jack Roush made no mention of a driver change in a NASCAR video teleconference Tuesday afternoon, but sources close to the team say an official announcement is forthcoming that Stenhouse will be replaced by Brian Ickler at Kentucky this weekend, and perhaps beyond.

The move is be the latest in what has been a tumultuous season for RFR, with rookie Colin Braun demoted to part-time status after a series of early season crashes, including one with Stenhouse. Crewchief Eddie Pardue was fired last week after members of the #16 Nationwide Series team were involved in an incident at a Daytona Beach, Fla. strip club while testing at Daytona International Speedway.

Sirius Speedway has also learned that NASCAR discovered hidden air pressure bleeder valves on Travis Kvapil’s #38 Front Row Motorsports car Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

Following a rain delay that postponed the start of the race, NASCAR officials observed two soft tires on the rear of Kvapil’s car and prevented him from rolling back onto the track for the start of the race. Closer examination of those tire and wheel assemblies revealed illegal bleeder valves, which purge excess air pressure from the tires as it accumulates under race conditions.

If confirmed, the team will likely face a major NASCAR penalty -- possibly the biggest in the history of the sport -- since tires are considered to be one of the sanctioning body's “Holy Trinity" of untouchable items, along with engines and fuel. Expect a penalty announcement from NASCAR later today.

Allmendinger, Kahne “Not Having Ice Cream Together”

Less than 24 hours after a last-lap crash with Kasey Kahne at Pocono Raceway, AJ Allmendinger said the incident did little to damage what was already a shaky relationship between the two Richard Petty Motorsports teammates.

Forced into the grass when Allmendinger blocked a final-lap move on the Long Pond straightaway, Kahne’s Budweiser Ford careened into traffic and ignited a multi-car crash that eventually involved the cars of Greg Biffle, Mark Martin, Marcos Ambrose, Elliott Sadler and others.

“I came off Turn One and got under (Sam) Hornish, and Kasey had a run,” explained Allmendinger. “I didn’t think he was as quick as he was, and when I moved over to defend, he was in the grass. I’m sorry for the race teams that got involved in it. It’s not something that I wanted to be a part of. We raced clean all day and I was `give and take’ all day. But (at that point), it was time to go. I’ve been moved over more often than not on these green-white-checker finishes, and I wasn’t taking it anymore.”

“It looked worse because it’s my teammate,” said Allmendinger. “But I would have done the same thing, no matter who it was. I was trying to defend my spot and I misjudged it.”

“I don’t know what AJ was doing there,” said Kahne after the crash. “I don’t ever really talk to him much, and I doubt I will be talking to him this week.”

Allmendinger confirmed that he and Kahne are not close, saying, “Kasey has no (desire) to talk to me usually, and I’m cool with that. Our race teams work well enough. I’ve got six or seven other (Ford) guys that I can go talk to and ask questions. So it’s fine.”

Asked what has strained their relationship, Allmendinger said, “I’m a hard racer (and) sometimes I race too hard with people I’m not supposed to race hard with. (Kasey) has accused me of racing him too hard at times, and that’s fine. We both have our own opinions. I’m fighting for every inch, and if he doesn’t like me at times, I understand that.”

Allmendinger said he met with RPM officials after the race to discuss the crash, and expected the criticism he received. “The team... wanted to make sure I know that we should race our teammates a little different,” he said. “That’s fine, I understand that (and) I agree 100 percent. I `fessed up (after the race) and said I misjudged it. It wasn’t something that would have been different if there was somebody else behind me.

“We had our talk about it, I’m cool with it, and now we’ll move on.”

Allmendinger said he will try to be the best teammate he can to Kahne and his fellow Ford drivers, but has no plans to change his hard-driving style. He also said he does not expect his relationship with Kahne to improve.

“I respect (Kasey) 100-percent on the race track,” he said. “I think that he’s one of the best guys out there. As a teammate, I love going up against him because I know if I can run with him, I’m doing something great. I don’t go out of my way to avoid (talking to) him, and we do talk every now and then at the race track about the race cars.

“But are we holding hands, skipping along and having ice cream together? No.”

Jeff Burton Shows Some Fire

NASCAR’s new “Boys Have At It” policy seems to be standing the test of time, and recently, it gave NASCAR Nation an unprecedented look inside the heart and mind of veteran driver Jeff Burton.

In January, the sanctioning body responded to criticism that it had become too sterile by giving its drivers freedom to settle their own on-track issues. NASCAR rescinded restrictions on bump-drafting at Daytona and Talladega, vowed to assess fewer penalties for last lap contact and took a distinct “hands off” policy regarding verbal jousting between competitors. While some doubted NASCAR’s sincerity at first, those doubts have almost certainly been erased.

Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski took the gloves off at Atlanta, with Keselowski flying upside-down into the catch fence after an intentional takeout by Edwards. NASCAR levied only a three-race probation to Edwards. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have clashed -- both on and off the racetrack -- with no response from NASCAR, as have Joe Gibbs Racing compatriots Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. Busch threatened to “kill Denny Hamlin” on his in-car radio two weeks ago without so much as a peep from the sanctioning body, and Joey Logano had some pointed words for Kevin Harvick (and his wife) following a late-race crash at Pocono yesterday.

Last week, Burton took his turn. The Richard Childress Racing driver got up in Busch’s grille after contact between the two in the final laps of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. Burton suffered a flat left-rear tire that spoiled an almost-certain Top-5 finish, and an overheating temper that led him straight to Busch’s pit at race’s end.

“Use your f---ing head, (or) I’ll punt your ass next time” said Burton in a finger-pointing pit road tirade replayed dozens of times by media outlets happy to exploit NASCAR’s newest feud. The blow-up was surprising, coming as it did from one of NASCAR’s most thoughtful, understated veterans. Burton has recorded 21 wins in 18 seasons of Sprint Cup competition, with insufficient angry outbursts to count on the fingers of one hand.

“I was pissed,” said Burton to reporters. “I like racing with Kyle, (but) when he gets overaggressive and I pay the price, I am not going to tolerate it. I don’t mind racing with him, or mind him being aggressive, but I’m not going to be the victim of it.”

“It’s the last restart,” replied Busch. “You’ve got to go.” While eventually taking responsibility for the incident after watching television replays, Busch insisted he had no idea there had been contact between the two, saying, “I didn’t know what (Jeff) was mad about. I thought he still ran sixth or seventh… so I was like, ‘Where did this guy come from?’”

By the time the Sprint Cup Series raised its tents at Pocono Raceway four days later, both drivers were attempting to put the issue behind them. Burton said he has no interest in spawning a feud with Busch, adding, "I'm not interested in a weekly confrontation. I don't like yearly confrontations, much less weekly.”

While admitting that he may have been a bit too animated in expressing his displeasure, Burton stopped short of an apology, saying simply, "I felt better."

"I was a lot madder about it last week than I am today,” said the Caterpillar Chevrolet driver. “(I don’t believe) Kyle set out to ruin my night. He didn't mean to get into me. He was being aggressive and made a mistake. I was mad because we've had great race cars, been in position to win a lot of races… with not a lot to show for it. It's just getting frustrating.

“It's nothing personal,” Burton said. “Like I told you all two weeks ago, I like racing with Kyle. We won't have any problems moving forward. He knows exactly how I feel and we can talk about it. (But) honestly, there's not a whole lot to talk about."

Burton said he and Busch had not spoken since their Charlotte post-race confrontation. “(It’s) not because I'm avoiding him, or I think he's avoiding me,” he explained. “I was at Watkins Glen doing a tire test for Goodyear the last two days and have honestly been really busy.” Burton even complimented Busch on his handling of the situation, saying, “It was heated, (and) to his credit, he handled it pretty well. It's hard when somebody is in your face. He handled it well and his crew handled it well."

“I didn't go looking for a fight,” Burton said. “I was just pissed off. I had 15 laps to get calmed down and I didn't. I felt like I needed to handle it and address it right then. I was just mad and it's not more complicated than that."

Burton vowed that he will race Busch the same in the future as he has in the past, adding, “I'm here to race Pocono and win… and that is what he's here to do, too. I won't race him any differently, and I don't think he'll race me any differently. We're both professionals.”

With his 43rd birthday just days away, there won’t be many more chances for Burton to claim the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. There may never be a better opportunity than he enjoys this season. This is no time to back down in the face of an aggressive youngster intent on pushing himself to the front of the pack, and if that means giving the world a taste of the competitive fire that still burns in his gut, Burton is more than willing to do it.

"This is my best shot ever to win a championship,” said Burton last week. “I really believe that. I work hard at what I do. I don't play golf on Tuesdays, I work. I'm here for a reason and it's not to be part of a game. It's to win it.”
Burton, have at it.