NASCAR Talk

As I posted last week, Hendrick Motorsports will be holding a press conference today centering around Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s primary sponsor and car number. It is now official that the Speed Channel will be breaking into their programming to bring viewers the announcement live at 1 pm ET and ESPNNews will begin coverage at 1:30 pm ET. The Hendrick Motorsports website gives these additional details about what will be shown on the Speed Channel:

Anchored by SPEED’s Steve Byrnes from the network’s Charlotte studio, Earnhardt will disclose additional information about his racing plans in 2008 with Hendrick Motorsports, including his sponsor and car number.

It has all but been confirmed by NASCAR.com reporter Marty Smith that Jr. will be driving the #88 car next year, as Robert Yates Racing has officially sold that number to Hendrick. Current rumors have the car with a split primary sponsorship between Mt. Dew and the National Guard, with Amp Energy Drink logos on both designs. Tune in to Speed Channel later today for full coverage.

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Kasey Kahne’s primary sponsor for 2008 is set to be announced today in a press conference from Gillett Evernham Motorsports headquarters in North Carolina. Sources have already confirmed last week that Budweiser will be making the jump to the #9 Dodge piloted by Kahne, but an official announcement has yet to be made. What is unclear is whether or not Budweiser will share primary sponsorship with another company as is rumored. It has been widely speculated that Kahne’s current sponsor, All State, will be featured on the hood of the car with a blue paint scheme for some races next season (yet to be determined). However, Budweiser is known to be somewhat selfish with primary sponsorship of their cars and this could possibly have been the reason for such a delay in the official announcement. The announcement will be made during a live webcast on the Gillett Evernham Motorsports website at 10 am ET.

What do you think of Kasey as the new Bud spokesman? Does it fit his image? There have been pictures of him partying with a Bud Light in his hand in the off season circulating on the internet, so he just may be the right man for the job. Leave your comments below.

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The Nextel Cup top 12 standings were all shaken up after the first race of the Chase in Loudon, but the Craftsman Truck series saw little movement in their traditional points championship. The Busch Series had the week off, so the standings stayed the same. All three series’ current point standings can be found after the jump.

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Clint Bowyer scores his first Nextel Cup victory from the pole and proves that he’s the donut king while celebrating after the race. Clint blew out his engine while doing burnouts, and had to walk to victory lane while waiting for his car to be towed there. The first race of the Chase was rather uneventful with 7 cautions and only 13 lead changes among 9 drivers. Bowyer makes the biggest jump in the standings from 12th to 4th, and Kurt Busch drops all the way into 12th. To see the full results, click on the title of the post above.

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My interest was piqued this morning, being the Elliott Sadler fan I am, when I was watching Kyle Petty on the Speed Channel. He mentioned that it was pretty much a done deal with Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) and Petty Enterprises for a sort of merger for the 2008 season. Both teams already run Dodges and share an engine program, so the next natural step will be a merger. Petty said that they will each continue to have their own shops and teams, but will consolidate information on the racing side and marketing efforts on the business front much like the new Yates-Rousch Fenway agreement.

SceneDaily quotes Petty Enterprises Vice President of Operations Robbie Loomis:

“It just makes sense from my side,” Loomis said. “For the crew chiefs, if we had the same chassis and the same engineering program, then when we’re at the track sharing and talking about trying to get the cars to drive better, it goes forward.

This seems to be the loophole in the new NASCAR rule about having only 4 cars maximum per team. It won’t be too long until it will be manufacturers’ teams instead of owners’ teams. What do you think about this type of agreement? Will it work? Will the teams improve, or is it just a way to complicate things even more? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Ron Hornaday is the first driver in the Craftsman Truck Series to win twice a New Hampshire International Speedway. Hornaday took the chekered flag, cruising to victory easily as the battle for second place behind him heated up. Ron Hornaday, who came into the race with a 4 point lead over Mike Skinner in the standings, increased his lead slightly to 29 points when Skinner came in third. There are still seven races left before the championship is decided. Here are the unofficial results of the New Hampshire 200:

There were 6 lead changes among 5 drivers and 4 caution flags for 19 laps.

Pos. (#) Driver
1 (33) Ron Hornaday
2 (99) Erik Darnell
3 (5) Mike Skinner
4 (30) Todd Bodine
5 (4) Mike Bliss
6 (14) Rick Crawford
7 (9) Ted Musgrave
8 (23) Johnny Benson
9 (21) Jon Wood
10 (15) Shane Sieg
11 (88) Matt Crafton
12 (75) Clay Rogers
12 (22) Ryan Mathews
14 (10) David Starr
15 (6) Travis Kvapil
16 (50) T.J. Bell
17 (18) Ken Schrader
18 (59) Terry Cook
19 (1) David Green
20 (36) Donny Lia
21 (16) Brian Scott
22 (09) Stacy Compton
23 (07) Tim Sauter *
24 (60) Jack Sprague
25 (77) Brendan Gaughan
26 (8) Chad McCumbee
27 (7) Jason White *
28 (13) Willie Allen *
29 (191) J C Stout
30 (08) Dennis Setzer
31 (129) Scott Lynch
32 (47) Aric Almirola
33 (51) Kyle Busch
34 (00) A.J. Allmendinger
35 (2) Clint Bowyer
36 (40) Chad Chaffin

*-denotes rookie

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In between the rain in New Hampshire, the Nextel Cup cars actually got in an entire field for qualifying. Here is the starting grid for the Sylvania 300:

Pos. (#) Driver
1 (07) Clint Bowyer
2 (1) Martin Truex Jr.
3 (2) Kurt Busch
4 (48) Jimmie Johnson
5 (12) Ryan Newman
6 (20) Tony Stewart
7 (19) Elliott Sadler
8 (29) Kevin Harvick
9 (16) Greg Biffle
10 (22) Dave Blaney
11 (99) Carl Edwards
12 (5) Kyle Busch
13 (41) Reed Sorenson
14 (11) Denny Hamlin
15 (25) Casey Mears
16 (01) Regan Smith
17 (15) Paul Menard #
18 (24) Jeff Gordon
19 (8) Dale Earnhardt Jr.
20 (00) David Reutimann #
21 (18) J.J. Yeley
22 (26) Jamie McMurray
23 (31) Jeff Burton
24 (96) Tony Raines
25 (9) Kasey Kahne
26 (43) Bobby Labonte
27 (88) Kenny Wallace
28 (4) Ward Burton
29 (10) Scott Riggs
30 (17) Matt Kenseth
31 (42) Juan Pablo Montoya #
32 (40) David Stremme
33 (66) Jeff Green
34 (21) Ken Schrader
35 (38) David Gilliland
36 (70) Johnny Sauter
37 (78) Joe Nemechek
38 (6) David Ragan #
39 (84) AJ Allmendinger #
40 (7) Robby Gordon
41 (45) Kyle Petty
42 (83) Brian Vickers
43 (98) Boris Said
DNQ (44) Dale Jarrett
DNQ (06) Sam Hornish, Jr.
DNQ (36) Jeremy Mayfield
DNQ (55) Michael Waltrip
DNQ (37) Kevin Lepage
DNQ (49) John Andretti

#-denotes rookie

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Qualifying for the trucks was rained out. This week’s starting grid was set by points for the first 30 trucks. The other six were determined by the rule book. Here is the Craftsman Truck Starting Grid for the New Hampshire 200:

Pos. (#) Driver
1 (33) Ron Hornaday Jr.
2 (5) Mike Skinner
3 (6) Travis Kvapil
4 (30) Todd Bodine
5 (23) Johnny Benson
6 (14) Rick Crawford
7 (9) Ted Musgrave
8 (1) David Green
9 (60) Jack Sprague
10 (88) Matt Crafton
11 (99) Erik Darnell
12 (10) David Starr
13 (09) Stacy Compton
14 (77) Brendan Gaughan
15 (18) Ken Schrader
16 (75) Clay Rogers
17 (4) Mike Bliss
18 (21) Jon Wood
19 (22) Ryan Mathews
20 (59) Terry Cook
21 (50) TJ Bell
22 (15) Shane Sieg
23 (00) AJ Allmendinger
24 (47) Aric Almirola
25 (8) Dennis Setzer
26 (07) Tim Sauter #
27 (13) Willie Allen #
28 (40) Chad Chaffin
29 (16) Brian Scott
30 (8) Chad McCumbee
31 (51) * Kyle Busch
32 (2) * Clint Bowyer
33 (7) * Jason White #
34 (91) * J.C. Stout
35 (29) * Scott Lynch
36 (36) * Donny Lia
DNQ-#03 Sean Caisse

*-Position set by rule book
#-denotes rookie

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Jeff Gordon obviously plotting his next kidnapping attempt.

Inmate Sues Jeff Gordon for Tying Him to the Bumper of Jeff’s Car

Many NASCAR fans would probably like to cite Jeff Gordon for “recklessly drivin’ his life crazy”, but Johnathan Lee Riches–an inmate in Williamsburg, SC–actually has. Riches is suing Gordon for, among other things, tying him to the bumper of his car at the Talladega race. Other highlights of the legal motion include:

* “I was physically kidnapped by Gordon’s pit crew. Tied up at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Gordon’s pit crew took turns driving over me.”
* “Plaintiff seeks 22 (Billion) dollars and Gordon’s #24 car for relief.”
* “Jeff Gordon told me, ‘I have secret plans to release exhaust pollution into the crowds at the next Lowe’s Motor Speedway race.”
* “Plaintiff’s life is in danger from Mr. Gordon and the #24. The daily trauma inflicted on me by Jeff Gordon is torture. Plaintiff prays for relief.”

Apparently, Mr. Riches has filed many lawsuits against celebrities, including, most recently, Michael Vick for stealing his dogs. I guess jail gets really boring.

This week, the Craftsman Trucks (New Hampshire 200) and Nextel Cup Series (Sylvania 300) invade New Hampshire International Speedway in Louden, NH, while the Busch Series takes the weekend off. Here is a little history at the track and what to look for this weekend:

Craftsman Truck Series New Hampshire 200
Airs Saturday 2:30 PM ET on Speed Channel

Johnny Benson won the New Hampshire 200 last year, but can he do it again? There has never been a repeat winner at Louden in the Truck Series, so he has his work cut out for him. There is sure to be a lot of tension in the Pits for current points leader Ron Hornaday whose lead over Mike Skinner is a measley 4 points. Skinner, who holds the track qualifying record, will be looking to make those few points up and take the lead, so be on the lookout for a great battle there.

Nextel Cup Series Sylvania 300
Airs Sunday 1:00 PM ET on ABC

Denny Hamlin won at this track back in July and Kevin Harvick won last year’s Sylvania 300. With both guys in the Chase, that has to be welcome news to those teams. Can they get it done and win again? Let’s not count out fellow RCR driver and Chase contender, Jeff Burton, who holds the current track race record (117.134 in July 1997). It’s anybody’s race as the Chase begins.

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Hendrick Motorsports has put out a press release detailing a press conference to be held next Wednesday September 19th in Dallas, TX. The subject of the event will be Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s new number, paint scheme, and sponsors for the 2008 season at the Pepsi headquarters. Mountain Dew and Amp Energy Drink, which are both Pepsi products, have already been confirmed as two of the primary sponsors, but if either will be the main sponsor has yet to be revealed.

As for the number, it is known that Casey Mears will be moving to the #5 car and the #25 car is being eliminated. ESPN is reporting that there will be an 8 involved in some fashion:

Hendrick Motorsports has requested trademarks from the U.S. Patent Office for five numbers that include an 8 — 81, 82, 38, 58 and 28. The number 28 was requested last week, which led to speculation it’s the choice, but Earnhardt previously said he liked 81.

What do you think it will be? Can it be the 28 or 38? Doesn’t RYR own those numbers? I’m putting my money on the 81. Junior drives the 81 sometimes when he Busch Whacks and would already be associated with the number in some ways. I’m also guessing that Mountain Dew will be the main sponsor. Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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The top twelve were set after last week’s race at Richmond. Richard Childress racing is looking strong with all three of its primary cars making the chase (even though they are 10th, 11th, and 12th right now). Hendrick is strong as always with three of their four cars in and Gibbs Racing gets two of their three cars aiming for the championship. Rousch-Fenway, after having all five cars in the first year of the Chase, is disappointed again with their hopes resting on the shoulders of Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth. DEI was able to get Martin Truex, Jr. his first taste of the Chase, and Kurt Busch for Penske rounds out the field. Here are the current standings for the top twelve after factoring in wins for the season (indicated after the points total in parentheses):

1 Jimmie Johnson, 5,060 (6)
2 Jeff Gordon, 5,040 (4)
3 Tony Stewart, 5,030 (3)
4 Carl Edwards, 5,020, (2)
5 Kurt Busch, 5,020 (2)
6 Denny Hamlin, 5,010 (1)
7 Martin Truex Jr., 5,010 (1)
8 Matt Kenseth, 5,010 (1)
9 Kyle Busch, 5,010 (1)
10 Jeff Burton, 5,010 (1)
11 Kevin Harvick, 5,010 (1)
12 Clint Bowyer, 5,000 (0)

What do you think? Do you like the extra points for wins, or should they not count for more? Did your favorite driver make it into the Chase? Leave some comments below.

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Hello, and welcome to NASCAR Talk Online! My name is Heather and I’m your new guide to everything NASCAR. I’m going to try to include as much Busch Series and Craftsman Truck news as I can find, along with the Nextel Cup action. I’ll start with the new information tomorrow. For today, I’ll point you in the direction of some NASCAR articles I’ve written in the past.

Crew Chief Shuffle
Meet the Car of Tomorrow
NASCAR News and Views
How to Find NASCAR Tickets

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you in Victory Lane!

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