Let’s Talk Contracts
April 29, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Image details: Aaron’s 499 Qualifying served by picapp.com
It’s admittedly WAAAY too early in the season for NASCAR’s silly season to already have gotten as it deep as it has, that’s for sure … but, alas, I must do my small part in life to contribute to this nonsense, because – well, quite frankly it intrigues me.It all started just a few weeks into the ‘08 season when Richard Childress Racing announced the addition of a fourth team to their arsenal next year, and immediately everyone started pointing towards Bobby LaBonte to fill the seat in that ride due to his ties with RCR and Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. While nothing has come of that since then, RCR has gone ahead and already secured the current #1 sponsor over at Petty Enterprises in General Mills.
RCR got the ball rolling with contract talks, and then a small focus within the media shifted over to Roush-Fenway Racing. Roush will be forced to part ways with one of their team cars after 2009 due to a new rule that will be implemented in NASCAR that will limit to teams limiting no more than four cars. However, two of their five current Cup Series drivers – Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle – have contracts that currently run only through the end of this year. While there’s not really much speculation that Edwards has any plans of leaving the organization – and, may in fact actually nab one of NASCAR’s largest sponsors next season in UPS – Biffle was earlier reported to be about “90% done with his contract renewal.” Talks since then appear to have slowed a bit, and now there’s some minor speculation lingering out there that the Biff may be headed in a new direction. Of course, then you also have the notion that Roush may work out a deal with Yates Racing that would send one of their cars over to that organization in somewhat of a partnership deal, in which case Roush could essentially really wind up not losing anyone after next year.
Fast forward a bit, and then you’ve got Tony Stewart reportedly looking into all sorts of offers, though his contract doesn’t officially end at Joe Gibbs Racing until after the 2009 season. The most widely known offer that seems to be on the table right now for Stewart is a deal that would give up as much as 50% ownership at Haas CNC Racing, and would also return Smoke to his long-tenured relationship with General Motors. There’s been a lot of speculation that Tony has been trying to get out of his contract with JGR following this season, but both parties claim that no such talks have taken place. Additionally, Joe Gibbs himself has stated that their organization is pretty much set the way that it is in terms of ownership, but if that’s something that Tony was interested in, something could possibly be worked out that would set Stewart in the right direction for such a venture.
There was some question regarding Martin Truex Jr’s contract at Dale Earhardt, Inc, which only went through the end of this season. With the team struggling early on, there was a bit of doubt whether or not the organization would pick up the option they had on Martin for 2009, but they recently inked that deal earlier this week and our now working on a deal that would keep Truex at DEI beyond 2010.
Staying somewhat out of the public eye in terms of contract negotiations has been Ryan Newman, who has driven for Penske Racing since entering the Sprint Cup Series, but his contract also expires at the end of the year. Newman has stated that he hasn’t been talking to any other teams about potential options, but he also admitted that he has yet to sign a renewal with Penske and that they haven’t really talked about it. It’s also no huge secret that Newman hasn’t been happy with some of the engines that have been handed to him through the Penske garage, so who knows?
There are also some rumors that Casey Mears could be let go from his ride with Hendrick Motorsports, which would not only free up another driver for a potential signing, but would free up another seat for one of these other guys. And, let’s not forget the blowout that occurred within Chip Ganassi Racing not all that long ago. If Chip’s not happy with his race teams, then who knows who might be available for signing by the time we roll into 2009.There’s a lot of circumstantial talk within these rumors, and I’ll admit that this post is probably somewhat premature, but all the same – it looks like we’re going to have plenty to keep talking about as 2008 pushes forward.Current Rides Available:
#12 – Penske Racing (Ryan Newman)
#16 – Roush-Fenway Racing (Greg Biffle)
#21 – Wood Bros. (Bill Elliott / Jon Wood)
#33 – Richard Childress Racing (new team)
#43 – Petty Enterprises (Bobby LaBonte)
#70 – Haas CNC Racing (race-by-race)
#99 – Roush-Fenway Racing (Carl Edwards)
Rides That Could Become Available:
#5 – Hendrick Motorsports (Casey Mears)
#26 – Roush-Fenway Racing (Jamie McMurray)
#41 – Chip Ganassi Racing (Reed Sorenson)
#45 – Petty Enterprises (Kyle Petty)
#84 – Team Red Bull (AJ Allmendinger)
Other Drivers Available for 2009:
- Boris Said
- Jeremy Mayfield
- Johnny Sauter
- David Stremme
- Tony Raines
- Mike Skinner
- Johnny Benson
- Kenny Wallace
- Jeff Green
- Ken Schrader
- Sterling Marlin
DYN Imposes:
This week, Do You Nascar also asks its readers …
1) Who will RCR find to field the #33 car in 2009?
2) Will Roush-Fenway Racing go into 2009 with the same driver lineup they have now?
3) Will any of the drivers I’ve listed in my “Other Drivers Available” list land a ride with a competitive team in the Cup Series next year?
4) What will be the biggest impact move for 2009?
I’ve taken care of the linkback problem so the Digest shouldn’t post linkbacks in the comment section anymore. It looks too much like spam, and some sites have gotten mad at us for that.
I didn’t realize that was happening, and I thought the option to block linkbacks in the comment section was up to the owner of the blogs.
Anyway, for DYN imposes:
1. Scott Wimmer. He already has some Cup experience, and has proven himself a winner already this season against the Claim Jumpers.
2. Less Jamie McMurray, unless Biffle goes somewhere else. I think Edwards will stay, and, as you mentioned, McMurray could go to Yates. If Biffle leaves, then McMurray stays, at least for one year. But, then Newman may be available, so if he replaces Biffle, McMurray is with Yates.
3. A competitive team? That depends on so much. Stremme is signed with GEM as a test driver, and subbing for Franchitti for Ganassi. I’m still wondering about the possibility of a Biffle/Newman exchange, which really changes possibilities. Oh, my answer is David Stremme.
4. Labonte to Hendrick? heh heh heh.
Well rev jim pretty much sums up everything from 1-3 that i had written down. But lobante to gibbs and newman to hendrick would be a good move for him and hendrick mears isn’t showing much just like mcmurray is the weak link for rousch.
My hubby, Postman, brought up an interesting scenario that even I didn’t think up. Tony to DEI if Martin Truex leaves? and here’s the kicker, what if they are willing to give some ownership to him? How would that play out? I don’t see it happening b/c well…she would give his children what they wanted as far as ownership, but you never know.
But as you know…this is just the beginning of the silly season…it’s definitely going to be very interesting to see where everyone lands.
i forgot about truex what about him as jr. teammate again.
DEI’s actually already picked up the option on Truex for next year, and it sounds like they’re working on something long-term. I agree with RevJim that Edwards probably won’t be going anywhere, but Newman and Biffle are definitely interesting possibilities for a move … and, LaBonte is a nice wild card to throw in that mix as well. I think a lot of what happens will be determined by who gets released from their current teams between now and the 2009 Daytona 500.
I’m worried for my man, Ryan Newman. Penske has signed David Stremme to be an exclusive test driver for them, but I have to wonder if it’s not a leverage move for contract negotiations with Newman..
As much as I like Newman, he isn’t the hottest commodity and I do wonder if he will indeed keep his No 12 ride under him or not.
I wish he’d crank it up, but is he capable and does he have the equipment to do it with? Ug.
Bruce, I think Newman’s still a very capable driver. He’s looked solid at quite a few races so far this year where his car just failed him. If he leaves Penske, I think that will be his decision.
1. Jeremy Mayfield
2. Yes
3. Mayfield, and possibly Stremme depending on what happens with Newman at Penske
4. Newman leaves Penske
Almost forgot to answer myself …
1. I want to say Sauter or Stremme, but the thing is that they’ve already experimented with Sauter, and Stremme seems to be locked away with Penske. I think the possibility of Mayfield is very feasible, but I’m gonna go with Kenny Wallace on a one year deal.
2. Yup. I really don’t see anything changing there until they have to drop a team from the lineup following the ‘09 season.
3. I’m sure somebody will pickup Mayfield. I’ve already stated that I can see Wallace in the fourth RCR car. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Tony Raines back in a Cup car next year, though probably nothing too competitive.
4. RCR adding a fourth team will be the big bang, regardless of who’s driving. Most of these other guys will stay put, unless Hendrick drops Mears.