Keselowski: "I'm Going To Make It Here, Whether People Want Me To Or Not."

Brad Keselowski said he does not regret his recent on-track skirmishes with Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch, and feels his aggressive driving style has allowed him to make his mark in the highly competitive world of NASCAR.

Commenting on his skirmish with Busch on the final lap of Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Keselowski told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody, "I dont think I could have avoided it, but I could be wrong. Kyle got a great run underneath me in Turns One and Two, and actually had me cleared by one or two inches. But he wasn't sure he was clear, so he stayed in the bottom lane. When he realized he was clear by that inch or two, he came up, but with such an abrupt manuever that he lost distance to me (causing contact). It was such an abrupt manuever that I don't feel like there was anything I could have done. But that's up for debate."

After taking the lead on the final lap, Keselowski said he "absolutely" expected retaliation from Busch, saying, "Kyle Busch never does anything that's his own fault."

The following night, Keselowski seized the microphone during pre-race driver introductions and announced, "I'm Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch is an ass." Asked if those comments were premeditated or spontaneous, Keselowski said, "Did I think about it all night long? Absolutely not. Did I think about it a minute beforehand? Yes.

"I was talking about it backstage with Juan Pablo Montoya and Martin Truex, and it just came out," he said. "It was all in good fun. I had fun with it, and I think at least 150,000 fans had fun with it, too."

The Nationwide Series point leader admitted that he, Edwards and Busch have a great deal to lose by allowing their personal animosity to impact their respective championship chases. "There's a lot at stake for all of us," he said. "I've got some thoughts on how I'm going to proceed moving forward, but I'm not necessarily going to share them right now.

"To be honest, there's a level of pride that the run-ins I'm having are with some of the best drivers in the sport," said Keselowski. "Kyle and Carl are two of the best drivers in NASCAR, and they're angry with me because I'm running up there with them and pushing and shoving them back. I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of, but by the same token, it's something that I have to be very smart with."

Keselowski said he is not interested in altering the hard-charging style that carried him to the top levels of NASCAR and made him a consensus pick for the 2010 Nationwide championship. "It's something that I've put a lot of thought into," he said. "I have definitely blazed a path that has gotten me attention; both positve and negative."

Keselowski said he paid special attention to the recent comments of former crewchief Ray Evernham, who helped guide Jeff Gordon through a spate of on-track incidents with the late Dale Earnhardt early in his career.

"I thought about (Ray's comments) for quite a while," said Keselowski. "His theory was that if you fight with a guy like Big E, it's going to end badly whether you win or lose. Ray made some great points... but I don't really think it applies to where I'm at.

"Look at the sport right now," he explained. "There are things you have to look at before you can comment on me, or the things I've done. Look where I'm at, how I got here and who else is making it in this sport. In the last three or four years, only two drivers have made it to the Sprint Cup level; me and Joey Logano. Does the path that Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards took to the top of this sport still apply? Does it still work today? The answer is `no.' It doesn't work today.

"With the testing ban that's in effect, the financial constraints that make sponsors unwilling to take chances on new drivers, and team owners who don't have the money to take chances on new drivers, you have to do something to set yourself apart. You have to stand out if you're going to make it at this level."

Keselowski said he realized early in his career that the only way to make it as a Sprint Cup driver was to "dig in, put my foot in the ground and say `I'm going to make it here whether other people want me to or not.' That's why I made it to the Sprint Cup level when other drivers with similar talent have not.

"It's easy to say, `The way Brad has done it is wrong,'" said the Michigan native. "But the sport has changed radically in the last three or four years. What Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon did to get themselves in the door won't get you in now."

The second-generation driver said that even with a 313-point lead in the Nationwide standings and a solid Sprint Cup ride with Penske Racing, he still worries that his NASCAR career could slip away. "On the Nationwide side, I guess I'm established," he said. "But in Sprint Cup, by no means (am I secure). I've only won one race, and I've got a lot more work to do before I become an established driver on the Cup side."

McDowell In, Yeley Out Of Whitney Motorsports #46

Michael McDowell will replace JJ Yeley in the #46 Whitney Motorsports Sprint Cup Series Dodge, effective immediately.

McDowell has been driving for Prism Motorsports, qualifying the team's #55 Toyota for 17 of 24 races in primarily been a start-and-park effort. He currently ranks 45th in championship points, and told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that the opportunity to run complete races for Whitney Motorsports was a major factor in his decision to change teams.

"That’s the main factor for me," he said. "Prism Motorsports was great and I appreciate everything they’ve done for me this year. But Dusty’s program will allow us to run full races, and that’s huge. We’ll run four or five full races the remainder of this season –- most likely Atlanta, Phoenix, Texas, Talladega and Homestead -- and we’re committed to run 15 full races next year. We’ll almost certainly run the first five races in 2011, then keep going as long as the sponsorship holds out, starting and parking when we’re not fully funded.

"I'm happy to join up with Dusty and Whitney Motorsports again," he said. "We worked together in the Nationwide Series last season and got along really well, so when he called and asked if I would be interested in driving his Cup car I jumped at it. He has a good group of guys and I can't wait to get to the track and work with Tony Furr. It's always good to be able to work with someone who has as much experience and has had the success Tony has."

McDowell said team owner Dusty Whitney will partner with Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines for this season's remaining intermediate track events, fielding Chevrolet Impalas at Atlanta, Kansas, California, Charlotte, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead. The team will continue to run Dodge Chargers at Richmond, Loudon, Dover, and Martinsville. Whitney Motorsports has been campaigning Dodges purchased from Richard Petty Motorsports this season, and has run most weeks without the benefit of major sponsorship. They recently secured a four-race sponsorship from Cash America International, Inc.

"We've got a Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the shop right now, and the deal is made to have ECR power under the hood. Horsepower has been an issue for the team this year, and they've moving to fill that void."

Yeley expressed unhappiness with the way the change was implemented, writing via Twitter, "I was happy with the 46 car and the crew guys were awesome. Everyone involved was great, just not happy with the way things have been handled. I know I have missed some races, but Whitney knew we were way short on power. Went and got my stuff today from the shop. Never heard from the owner at all."

Starr Parked For Next Two Races As Randy Moss Motorsports Regroups

David Starr’s #81 Randy Moss Motorsports Toyota will be sidelined for at least the next two races, as the team attempts to regroup.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a team source told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that Starr will not compete in the next two events at Chicagoland and Kentucky Speedways, with a possible return at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 18.

The team has suffered a number of crashed trucks in recent weeks -- most recently in a 23rd place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway -– and with Starr’s Zachry sponsorship covering only part of the season, the team has fallen behind financially and in terms of equipment. Some members of the #81 team were laid off this week, but others have been retained in hopes of returning to competition later this season.

Mike Skinner's #5 Toyota remains fully funded, and will not be effected by the decision.

COMMENTARY: Boo If You Want To, Kyle Busch Just Doesn't Care

Love him or hate him, Kyle Busch doesn’t care. He just wants to win.

NASCAR’s resident Peck’s Bad Boy did a lot of winning last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, becoming the first driver to sweep the Camping World Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup races in the same week. And through it all, he confounded NASCAR Nation by thumbing his nose at fellow drivers and fans alike.

Wednesday night, Busch started his own Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra last on the grid after a leaking valve cover forced him to forfeit the pole position. It was a minor setback at worst. He took the lead on Lap 91 and dodged a record 13 cautions to claim his third Truck Series win of the season, before delivering his now-trademark flourishing bow as the Bristol grandstands erupted in boos.

Friday night, he riled up the boo-birds once again, repaying a late race bump-and-run from Brad Keselowski by dumping the Nationwide Series point leader with 30 laps to go, then driving away to his ninth Nationwide win of the season. After the race, Busch and Keselowski lobbed verbal salvos at each other on radio, television and public address, raising the decibel level in the Bristol grandstands to levels unheard since the late Dale Earnhardt rattled Terry Labonte’s cage in October of 1999.

The verbal jousting continued during Saturday night’s Sprint Cup Series driver introductions. Greeted by another torrent of catcalls, Busch spread his arms wide and announced, ”Y'all are so loving… I'm ready to win it again!" Four drivers later, Keselowski grabbed the microphone and declared, "I’m Brad Keselowski… and Kyle Busch is an ass," sending the Thunder Valley faithful into fits of delirium.

The party didn’t last long, however. Kyle made sure of that, leading 282 of 500 laps -- including the final 72 — to complete his historic, three-race sweep. “I’ve been trying to do this since I got to NASCAR,” said Busch in Victory Lane. “Fortunately, tonight I was able to get it done (and) be the first one to do it. I’m the first in a lot of things,” he quipped, summoning forth another thundering chorus of boos.

Busch seems not to mind the hatred that spews forth from the grandstands each week. Instead, he appears to channel that tidal wave of negative energy into the motivation needed to accomplish what other drivers never dream of. With 78 career victories in his first seven NASCAR seasons, Busch ranks far ahead of modern-day benchmarks Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson -- who won 47 and 40 times in their first seven seasons – and light years ahead of legends Richard Petty (37) and Dale Earnhardt (17).

He is without question the best pure wheelman in the sport today. Part Rembrandt, part Rocky Marciano, he can finesse his way to Victory Lane with amazing feats of car control, or stick you in the fence without a single qualm of conscience.

So go ahead and boo, if it makes you feel better. Roar your disapproval to the heavens, write a poison-pen letter to the editor, cuss him out on national radio shows and call him any name you like; drivers and fans alike. Knock yourself out, but don’t delude yourself into thinking your opinion matters. Kyle’s going to win, and when he does, he’s going to celebrate just long enough for photographers to capture it on film before turning his attention to what comes next.

“I'm hard on myself and I might be hard on my guys,” admitted Busch after his historic Bristol three-peat. “But it boils down to the desire to win, wanting to win, and just trying to work more towards our goal.”

Just moments after making history at Thunder Valley, Busch was already looking ahead to Atlanta Motor Speedway and his next challenge. “It's going to be a test for us to see how good we are at the mile and a half stuff,” he said. “Then we go to Richmond, another one of the racetracks that I tend to run well at. Then the Chase starts. We hit reset and we've got ten weeks to show what we've got.”

“Hopefully it's enough.”

"Kyle is one of the most awesome talents," said Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick in 2007, not long before his relationship with Busch came unglued (in part) because of Kyle’s challenging personality. "I compare Kyle to Tim Richmond, and that's saying a whole lot about car control. He's got that desire to win. He doesn't like to run second; he doesn't want to wait.”

Nationwide crewchief Dave Rogers called Busch, “a special driver and in my opinion the most talented driver on the circuit. There's a lot of fans out there booing him and some wise guys saying things that are somewhat unprofessional, but it's an absolute honor to work with Kyle Busch.”

As Busch completed his historic trifecta Saturday night, spotter Eddie D’Hondt quipped, “We are in the presence of greatness.”

Truer words were never spoken.

CONFIRMED: Papis Back To Trucks In 2011, Mears Takes Over Cup Ride at Atlanta

Max Papis confirmed today what Sirius Speedway first reported more than a week ago, that he will drive a #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series beginning in 2011. Papis has been racing for Germain Racing on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season, but has struggled to gain experience in a campaign filled with start-and-park efforts. He notched his first career Sprint Cup Series Top 10 with an eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen International last year.

Papis will turn his attention to the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra effective immediately, beginning tonight at Bristol Motor Speedway. He will compete in three additional Camping World Truck Series races this season, in an effort to lay a solid foundation for 2011. The Truck Series effort will also be fielded by Germain Racing, which currtently fields Toyota Tundras for point leader Todd Bodine.

"Since I came to NASCAR, one of my goals has been to have the opportunity to run a complete racing schedule," said Papis, whose resume includes wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans and CART (three times), two wins in the prestigeous Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Grand-Am Rolex Series championship in 2004. "When GEICO and Germain Racing approached me with an offer to represent them for a full season in the Camping World Truck Series, I saw it as a unique opportunity that I simply could not turn down.

"I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all the fans, both new and old, who have supported me throughout my career and who are an important part of the success I have experienced. I am very excited by this opportunity and you can bet on my doing everything I possibly can to bring success to GEICO and Germain Racing."

Casey Mears will take over the #13 GEICO Sprint Cup Toyota beginning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5.

Almirola Signs With JRM, Sources Say No Chase Coming For Nationwide

JR Motorsports announced today that Aric Almirola has signed a multi-year contract to drive the team’s #88 NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevrolet beginning next season. The 26-year old Almirola is currently second in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points, driving for Billy Ballew Motorsports, and has 32 career Nationwide starts. He resume includes one Nationwide win, after he started a race before giving way for driver Denny Hamlin, who went on to take the checkered flag.

JR Motorsports co-owner Kelley Earnhardt called Almirola “a quintessential JR Motorsports driver,” saying he meshes well with the team and its sponsors.

No NatWide Chase: ESPN.com is reporting that NASCAR officials are considering a Chase-style playoff for the NASCAR Nationwide Series that will exclude Sprint Cup drivers. Sources tell Sirius Speedway, however, that such a system has been considered, but will not be adopted.

NASCAR President Mike Helton met with owners, drivers and crewchiefs Monday here in Concord, N.C., to discuss possible changes to the series. But sources say those talks centered mostly on cost-containment – specifically limiting the number of team members allowed to travel each week -- and ways to insure that new drivers are allowed to develop and flourish. The possibility exists for NASCAR to stop awarding Nationwide championship points to any driver who ranks in the Top-35 in Sprint Cup points, beginning next season.

More Schedule News: Texas Motor Speedway’s spring Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events will go under the lights on April 8 and 9, 2011. The track’s November race weekend will continue to feature day racing for the Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series’ November 3-6. Track President Eddie Gossage hailed the advent of night racing in the Lone Star State, saying, "I’ve been around NASCAR racing at night my entire life — from attending night races in Nashville to promoting night races at Bristol and Charlotte — and I’ve always found them to be electric. We’ve always wanted one here and this year NASCAR presented us with the opportunity.”

Officials at Iowa Speedway have confirmed that they will host a pair of Nationwide Series races next season; on Sunday, May 22 and Saturday night, August 6. U.S. Cellular, which served as title sponsor for the track’s lone Nationwide races in both 2009 and 2010, will put its name on the August event, while a new sponsor being sought for the May race.

Budweiser, Childress, Harvick Team For 2011 Cup Chase

Anheuser-Busch made it official today, confirming that its iconic Budweiser brand will sponsor Kevin Harvick's #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolets on the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"It’s a great brand to be associated with," said Harvick today. "(It's) something that we’re really proud of, and says a lot about the job everybody’s done at RCR."

"Budweiser's involvement in NASCAR dates back more than three decades, and we're excited to have as successful a driver as Kevin Harvick to usher in a new era for Budweiser," said Mark Wright, Vice President of Media, Sports and Entertainment Marketing for Anheuser-Busch. "Kevin also benefits from the support of a highly respected owner in Richard Childress and the great people of Richard Childress Racing, who will help put the #29 Budweiser Chevy in a position to challenge for Sprint Cup championships."

The new, three-year pact will see Budweiser serve as primary sponsor on the #29 Chevrolet for 22 races, including the non-point Budweiser Shootout and Gatorade Duel at Daytona, as co-primary sponsor of the Sprint All-Star Race and associate backer for the remaining 16 events.

CONFIRMED: Ambrose To RPM In 2011

Richard Petty Motorsports confirmed today what Sirius Speedway first reported on July 27, that Marcos Ambrose will drive the team's #9 Fords beginning in 2011, with sponsorship from Stanley Tools. Ambrose replaces Kasey Kahne, who will drive for Red Bull Racing next season before moving to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012.

The former Australian V8 Supercar champion announced last month that he would not return to JTG Daugherty Racing next season, and said his decision to join RPM will "eliminate any question marks I’ve got about stuff around me and people around me. Hopefully, we will jell together well. All you can ask is to put yourself in these opportunities. If I can get in Victory Lane... there will be no question marks left. It’s very, very simple.

"I never thought for one moment that I would ever have a friendship with The King or drive for him," said Ambrose. "It's a dream opportunity for me to solidify myself in NASCAR as a premier driver."

He said RPM offers an opportunity to succeed on all kinds of race tracks; something he lacks in his current ride. "We haven’t been fast enough (or) consistent enough on the intermediate ovals," he said. "That’s a primary reason why I thought I needed to make a change. I believe I’m as good as anybody out there and can win four championships just like Jimmie Johnson has done. Until you get to the point that you can prove or disprove what you’ve got, it’s very hard to be sure. We’ll find out in 2011.”

Ambrose said his is the latest in a series of announcements to come from the Petty camp in coming weeks. "I feel very secure in RPM and where they’re heading and the direction they’re taking. I’m just one of many good news stories that is going to come out of here in the next little while. (RPM is) definitely moving in the direction I want to head, and there’s no reason why we can’t be a major force in 2011."

His signing fills a second void in RPM's 2011 driver lineup, with two other slots still in doubt. AJ Allmendinger recently signed a two-year contract extension to remain in the #43 Ford, but both Kahne and Paul Menard are headed elsewhere in 2011 and Elliott Sadler said he has had no conversations with team officials about returning for next season.

GM Rep: Still No Plans For Camaro In NASCAR

Despite the positive buzz associated with the new Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger NASCAR Nationwide Series cars, Chevrolet officials said yesterday they remain firm in their decision to keep the new Camaro out of NASCAR, at least for now.

NASCAR encouraged Chevrolet to utilize the Camaro in the Nationwide ranks, but the automaker declined, feeling the race version of the car would not look enough like the stock, street edition.

General Motors Racing Director Mark Kent reaffirmed that view yesterday, saying, “NASCAR expressed an interest in having the Camaro, and we looked very hard at running the Camaro in Nationwide. But we have two cars within the Chevy lineup that have iconic lines: the Camaro and Corvette. We didn't want to take away from that by forcing (the Camaro) into a car that didn't meet our requirements."

He said GM will continue to work with NASCAR on future models, and would like to see more brand identity, particularly when viewed from the side.

Chitwood New Boss At Daytona

Joie Chitwood III has been named President of Daytona International Speedway, effective immediately. He replaces Robin Braig, who spent the last eight years at the helm of the speedway. Chitwood previously served as Vice President of Business Operations for International Speedway Corporation, and was previously responsible for the day-to-day operations of Indianapolis Motor Speedway as President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, he managed and oversaw the construction of Chicagoland Speedway.

“We are very fortunate to have a seasoned executive of Joie’s proven ability to step into this important position as President of Daytona International Speedway,” said ISC Chief Executive Officer Lesa France Kennedy. "Joie is highly respected throughout the industry and brings a lifetime of motorsports entertainment experience to Daytona. We will certainly benefit from his experience and knowledge of the motorsports industry which he has proved in his successful work over the years.

“I would also like to thank Robin for his passion and dedication to the speedway and to promoting motorsports. I wish him much success in his future endeavors.”

Red Bull VP Jay Frye: "This Team's Not Going Anywhere."

Red Bull Racing Vice President and General Manager Jay Frye told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that there is no truth to rumors that Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz may pull the plug on the team.

“There is a huge commitment from Austria to this program,” said Frye. “Red Bull came here in 2006 as an owner and a sponsor, and they have done everything right. It’s become a joke in our team meetings every month. I usually have to say, `Everything’s fine, don’t believe the rumors.’ I guess it’s a compliment that they’re talking about us, but it’s also bothersome.

"There is a long term commitment by Red Bull to doing this program," Frye said. "They want to win and compete at a high level. That’s their expectation, and we feel the same way. We still young with a ways to go, but getting a guy like Kasey Kahne -- even for one year -- makes us better. This team isn’t going anywhere.”

Frye also said that options exist for the team to field three Toyotas for Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Scott Speed, if necessary. Vickers is still months away from knowing whether he will be able to return to the cockpitin 2011, and Frye confirmed that the team is still evaluating Speed's performance, before making a final decision on his status for next season.

Menard Jumps To RCR In 2011

Paul Menard made it official today, confirming that he will leave Richard Petty Motorsports at season’s end to drive for Richard Childress Racing in 2011.

The move will bring RCR back to the NASCAR-mandated maximum of four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevrolets, after sclaing back to three cars this season due to lack of sponsorship. Menard called the decision “a no-brainer," and said he is looking forward to joining teammates Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer; all of whom are either qualified for or battling for a spot in the 2010 Chase. He is currently 23rd in championship points, with 51 top-10 finishes in 152 career Sprint Cup starts.

His decision is a blow for Richard Petty Motorsports, which is already set to lose lead driver Kasey Kahne at the end of this season. Elliott Sadler’s status remains uncertain, while AJ Allmendinger recently signed a contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2012 campaign. RPM is believed to be close to a deal to put Marcos Ambrose in the #9 Fords next year.

Stremme Quits Latitude 43 Motorsports

David Stremme has quit his ride with Latitude 43 Motorsports, alleging that team owner Bill Jenkins has failed to meet his financial obligations and is doing little to help the team improve.

“We’ve been trying to put that program together,” said Stremme. “We always had to do more with less, but in the last month and a half, ownership hasn’t really wanted to make things better. Bill Jenkins has not been willing to make the correct decisions, and it has affected the performance of the team. We’ve barely been making it to track the last few weeks. At Pocono, we didn’t even know if we were going to have tires to race on.

“I went to Bill and said `If things aren’t going to change, I don’t think I want to stay involved.’ We discussed a timeline for him to find another driver and agreed that we would look at things again after Bristol. But he immediately started calling around trying to replace me. He apparently wanted to find someone else right now, and that’s fine. It’s his choice.”

Jenkins admitted his first-year team has struggled to find sponsorship this season, saying, “We are in a funding fight every day, and we haven’t been able to fund the team at the level David expected. We’ve had some good things happen, and some bad things. We had to pull a sponsor off the car two weeks ago (GTW GPS) after a conflict emerged between their products and Sprint. We were counting on them to help get us over the hump, but those are the bumps in the road that you hit.”

Last week, former Latitude 43 Motorsports driver Boris Said revealed that he is unhappy with the way he was treated by Jenkins. “There’s no real polite way to say this, but Bill Jenkins owes me a bunch of money,” he said. Asked if he expects to have any relationship with the team going forward, Said replied, “(Jenkins) hasn’t returned my phone calls, so I guess not. It's a bad deal for me.”

Asked if he is owed money by Latitude 43, Stremme said, “There are obligations to both me and the team that have not been met, and that was a big part of my decision to leave. I don’t want to be involved with something like that. I dealt with (Jenkins) with respect, and was straightforward with him at all times. I didn’t get that in return.”

Jenkins declined to discuss Said and Stremme’s allegations, saying, “I don’t agree with them at all, but I’m not going to pursue that in the press. It’s not the right place. The best thing for me to do at this point is to not preclude David from pursuing any future opportunities. I have all the respect in the world for him. He is a great guy and I wish him all the best.”

“I had a lot of fun working with Frank Stoddard and the guys on that team,” said Stremme. “They’re honest, hard-working guys, and they have accomplishing a lot with nothing. But we missed Indy and Pocono, and it was not getting any better. It got to the point where I wasn’t having fun, so it’s time to do something different.”

Jenkins said Latitude 43 will likely put Patrick Carpentier in the #26 Ford this weekend at Michigan International Speedway, and vowed to run every race for the remainder of the season. “We absolutely will complete for the rest of this year, in every race. We will not start and park. We are here to race.”

Stremme, meanwhile, said he will begin his search “for whatever comes next,” with no apologies for his time with Latitude 43. “I was trying to make the team better,” he said, “but I don’t think the owner is trying. He has two investors he’s brought in, and they’re getting a bad taste of NASCAR because of the way things are being done.”

Papis Out, Mears In GEICO Toyota At Atlanta: Mad Max To Trucks In 2011

Sirius Speedway has learned that Casey Mears will replace Max Papis in the #13 Germain Racing GEICO Sprint Cup Series Toyota, beginning at Atlanta Motor Speedway September 5.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source close to the team said the deal should be complete and contracts signed within the next 48 hours. The car will “start and park” at both Michigan and Bristol with drivers TBA, before Mears takes over at Atlanta. He will also drive the car in the full 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.

Papis will run the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series slate next season in a GEICO-sponsored Toyota, also out of the Germain Racing stable. Papis has also been tabbed to drive Kevin Harvick, Inc.’s #33 Nationwide Series Chevrolet at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal later this month. “Mad Max” won the inaugural race at the Montreal course and is also a former winner on the road course at Watkins Glen.

The Trouble With Junior

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fans, it wasn’t supposed to be like this.

After an abysmal 2009 campaign that saw him finish 25th in points while his Hendrick Motorsports teammates claimed the top three spots in the championship standings, 2010 was supposed be a season of vindication for the man known simply as “Junior.” Team owner Rick Hendrick made “fixing the 88 team” his number-one offseason project, and when the AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet began the season with a runner-up finish in the Daytona 500, it looked like he had made good on that promise.

Since then, however, it’s been one long, downward spiral for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. With just four races remaining until the 2010 Chase field is set, it’s becoming clear that Earnhardt will once again be on the outside, looking in. With just two Top-5 and six Top-10 finishes in 22 starts this season, he left Watkins Glen 16th in points; 121 behind 12th place Mark Martin. Based on the performance of his #88 team lately, it’s an insurmountable deficit.

A month ago, there seemed to be a chance. Back-to-back Top-10 finishes at New Hampshire and Daytona provided a brief infusion of momentum and inspired hope that Earnhardt and crewchief Lance McGrew could rally the troops for a late drive to the Chase. Ignore the fact that his Daytona finish came only after a late-race melee eliminated a dozen cars and elevated him from the mid-teens to fourth. A lackluster 23rd at Chicagoland brought the team back to earth, and was followed by 27th-place showings at Indianapolis and Pocono and a woeful 26th last week at Watkins Glen after qualifying 40th.

“We’re not a good race team,” said Earnhardt recently, voicing an opinion the rest of NASCAR Nation adopted some time ago.

How things have changed since the start of the season, when Earnhardt expressed confidence, optimism and an air of bravado that energized his fan base. "Our goal is to win as many races as we can, win a championship, challenge for the championship," said Earnhardt at the time. "I think anything less than three (wins) this year, I'd be a little disappointed."

Disappointment doesn’t begin to describe it.

Earnhardt drove like a beaten man Sunday, calling his car “the worst I have ever driven." He jousted feebly with drivers like Travis Kvapil, David Gilliland and Regan Smith; all of whom have a tiny fraction of his financing, manpower and resources at their disposal. He looked like a man counting the days until another nightmare season can be put in the rearview mirror, not the man who vowed before a fawning SpeedWeek crowd to be “ruthless from the first lap to the last."

Diehard Earnhardt fans insist that his 16th-place championship standing is nine positions better than a year ago. And that, they say, qualifies as progress. But when your name is Earnhardt, “better” isn’t good enough. Nothing short of “best” will do.

A long line of scapegoats has walked the plank on Earnhardt’s behalf in recent seasons. It began with Teresa Earnhardt, the Evil Stepmother who refused to provide him with the resources necessary to win. The DEI engine department took its share of the blame after a slew of motor failures prevented Junior from taking his rightful place at the head of the NASCAR class. Tony Eury, Jr., was pilloried for his inability to provide Earnhardt with winning racecars, much the way McGrew is criticized today. Even Hendrick himself is now subject to scrutiny, as fans wonder how their driver can continue to struggle so horribly.

"I don't really put a whole lot of pressure on myself,” said Earnhardt once. “I've already accomplished more and gotten further in the sport than I ever dreamed." And on that point, perhaps he is correct.

Perhaps there’s nothing wrong with being a 12th to 15th-place driver at the highest level of the sport, even if your name is Earnhardt. Perhaps it’s okay to be a two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, rather than a seven-time Sprint Cup king.

Maybe the problem isn’t Dale Earnhardt, Jr., after all.

Maybe the problem is us, and our expectations.

Golly, What Could It Mean??

The Kentucky Speedway website now includes a not-so-subtle hint on what Monday's Press Conference might be about.

CONFIRMED: Atlanta Motor Speedway To Lose Sprint Cup Race In 2011

Officials at Atlanta Motor Speedway confirmed today what Sirius Speedway first told you back on the 29th of June; that the track will host only one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in 2011.

Atlanta will retain its fall race weekend on September 2-4, with its other date going to another Speedway Motorsports, Inc. facility; reportedly Kentucky Speedway. SMI will hold a press conference Monday at Kentucky, and Chairman Bruton Smith said this week that he is confident that the track will be on the 2001 Sprint Cup Series schedule.

Atlanta Motor Speedway has a pair of Sprint Cup events each year for more than half a century. Track President Ed Clark said of the move, "Atlanta Motor speedway has provided top-quality racing entertainment to spectators from across the nation and around the world for 50 years. While our schedule will change, our commitment to the racing fans who have been the heart and soul of Atlanta Motor Speedway through these years will be stronger than ever. Our entire staff will be even more driven to produce the top annual sporting event in Georgia for many years to come."

Former Owner: Ambrose Return Down-Under Is "Real Long Shot."

Marcos Ambrose says he still has no deal in place to remain in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season, but his former Australian V8 Supercar team owner told a Brisbane (AUS) newspaper that Ambrose is unlikely to return to his native Australia and is close to signing with another NASCAR team.

Sirius Speedway first reported on July 27 that Ambrose was close to a deal to drive the #9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2011. Ambrose insists that no deal is imminent with RPM or anyone else, but his Australian media manager, Mark Walker, seemed to confirm the Sirius Speedway report this week. “The hot tip is that he could sign with Richard Petty Motorsports replacing Kasey Kahne or Elliott Sadler,” said Walker. “We'll be talking about it in the next couple of weeks.”

Ambrose won the 2003 and 2004 Australian V8 Supercar championships with Stone Brothers Racing, and team manager Ross Stone told the Brisbane Courier-Mail it is “highly unlikely” that his former driver will race down under next season. “I believe he's close to signing with another team (in the United States),” said Stone. “I'm going over in two weeks and I'm pretty sure the next deal is done over there. I think (Ambrose returning to Australia) is a real long shot.”

Allmendinger Re-Ups With Richard Petty Motorsports

Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Richard Petty Motorsports will announce later this week that AJ Allmendinger has signed a new contract to remain with the team through the 2012 season.

The two-year pact was finalized earlier this week, with an official announcement to come on Friday at Watkins Glen International. A Richard Petty Motorsports spokesman confirmed that a press conference will be held Friday at 10 AM in the Watkins Glen Media Center, but declined to comment on the specifics of the announcement.

Allmendinger is currently ranked 22nd in Sprint Cup Series points with a pole and three Top-10 finishes this season, coming off a 24th place showing last weekend at Pocono Raceway. His signing frees the team to ramp-up negotiations with current sponsor Best Buy, which reportedly underwent a change in upper management recently and has not yet finalized its plans for the 2011 NASCAR season.

Said: Latitude 43 "A Bad Deal For Me."

Boris Said says he does not expect to drive the #26 Latitude 43 Motorsports Fords again this season. Said will drive the #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota in Sunday’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, and told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody, “There’s no real polite way to say this, but (team owner) Bill Jenkins owes me a bunch of money. I got a better offer from Red Bull, so I took it.”

Asked if he expects to have any relationship with Latitude 43 Motorsports going forward, Said replied, “(Jenkins) hasn’t returned my phone calls all week, so I guess not. It's a bad deal for me, but it's a great deal for David Stremme. He's a good racer and a nice guy, so I hope it works out for him."

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.