Silly Season Tracker – Updated 8/8
August 8, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Transactions:
- Hendrick Motorsports has announced the release of Casey Mears for next season.
- Richard Childress Racing has extended Clint Bowyer’s contract through 2011.
- Roush-Fenway Racing has extended Greg Biffle’s contract through 2011.
- Gillette-Evernham Motorsports has signed Elliott Sadler through 2010.
- Richard Childress Racing has announced the addition of the #33 car as a fourth Cup team in 2009.
- Petty Enterprises has signed Bobby LaBonte through 2012.
- Roush-Fenway Racing has signed Carl Edwards through 2011.
- Due to a lack of sponsorship, Chip Ganassi Racing is forced to shut down the no. 40 car driven by Dario Franchitti for the remainder of …read more
Martin Truex Jr. to Return to DEI in 2009
August 6, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
*Credit photo to Newscom.
Martin Truex Jr. finally put an end to the many rumors that surrounded a potential move for him to Stewart-Haas Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and Penske Racing in 2009 when he and the suits at Dale Earnhardt Inc. finally inked a deal on Wednesday that will have him returning to the no. 1 car next season.
It was reported over a week ago that Truex and DEI had reached a verbal agreement that would extend Truex with the organization through the 2010 racing season. Those rumors have not come to fruition, as Truex’ future beyond next year remains unclear, …read more
Casey Mears to Penske Racing is a Make Sense Deal
August 6, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Despite being handed his walking papers from Hendrick Motorsports when the team announced at the end of June that Casey Mears would no longer be the driver of the no. 5 car in 2009, it’s not exactly the end of world for Mears. Really, if it had to happen, it couldn’t have happened in a better year with seats still remaining open at Richard Childress Racing, Penske Racing, and technically, even Stewart-Haas Racing for next season.
With Roger Penske and Ryan Newman recently announcing their split at the end of the year, the no. 12 ride at Penske has now become …read more
Tony Stewart is Orchestrating NASCAR’s Twilight Zone
August 5, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Lately, it seems like all NASCAR fans want to talk about is what’s going on at Stewart-Haas Racing, and rightfully so ….. I mean, it’s a pretty big deal when a guy that’s won 2 championships in the last 7 years decides to end a 10-year tenure with his employer to venture off in the unkown world of team ownership.
So, I get it, but the more I think about it, the more it just seems like NASCAR’s version of the Twilight Zone. I mean, let’s put a few things into perspective:
1) Tony’s car next season is going to be sponsored …read more
Poll Results: Which Driver Will Have the Better 2009 Season?
August 4, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Back on July 21st, we asked our readers of the guys that will be moving teams in 2009, “Which Driver Will Have the Better 2009 Season?” We asked, and here’s how you responded:
A) Tony Stewart – 36%
B) Mark Martin – 30%
C) Ryan Newman – 29%
D) Casey Mears – 3%
Be sure to check out the sidebar for the newest poll at Do You NASCAR.
Newman Says Reports Are Wrong, No Deal Has Been Made … Yet
August 2, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
For the second time in just a week, ESPN.com has made a report on a premier driver’s plans for 2009 only to have NASCAR.com turn around the following day to refute those reports. Last week it was the reports suggesting that Martin Truex Jr. and DEI had come to terms on a two-year contract extension, which Truex very adamently refuted, stating that the report (David Newton) knowingly falsified his statements. That very same reporter then followed that story up with another, this time landing Ryan Newman in the seat of the no. 4 car for Stewart-Haas Racing next year with …read more
Randy Moss Runnin’ Loose in Turn 3 Along With Jimmie Johnson
August 1, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
I’d like to welcome Bruce Simmons back to the forum this week as he is now officially back from his trip. Bruce, it’s good to have ya back. I’d also like to thank Roc for stepping up to the plate for us last week in his absence and keeping this alive. And, of course, with us as always is Charlie Turner from On Pit Row. Now, let’s get started.
At the end of April, future NFL Hall of Famer, Randy Moss, announced that he was looking to break into NASCAR as a team owner, more specifically in the Craftsman Truck Series …read more
Gibbs Not Expanding to Four Teams; Not Adding Newman, Either
July 29, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Over the weekend, several sources reported that Joe Gibbs came right out and said that it was beginning to look very unlikely that his prominent organization, Joe Gibbs Racing, would expand to include a fourth team in the Cup Series next season. Gibbs told reporters that it was getting too late in the year to properly put together an expansion package that would make a fourth team competitive right off the bat, and I’m sure that losing Tony Stewart didn’t help their plans, either.
“You wouldn’t say never, but it doesn’t look right now that it will happen for us next …read more
Martin Truex Jr. Calls Bull… on ESPN.com
July 28, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Martin Truex Jr. has been one of the names mentioned these past few months as one of the top candidates to make a move to some of the vacated seats that teams are offering up for 2009, to include Stewart Haas Racing, RCR, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Penske. David Newton over at ESPN.com recently attempted to squash all of those rumors in an article that he posted stating that not only had Truex come to an agreement with his current team, Dale Earnhardt Inc, that would keep him in the no. 1 car in 2009, but that the deal would …read more
Stewart-Haas Racing; Ryan Newman Have Narrowed Their Options
July 25, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
As most predicted, Tony Stewart and Stewart Haas Racing’s announcement on Friday afternoon brought to a close at least two of the lingering mysteries surrounding the team’s future for 2009. Stewart announced that the side of his car next season would be labeled with the no. 14, previously made famous by his racing idol and longtime friend, AJ Foyt. They also announced that the second team car will carry the no. 4, which was the first car number Stewart raced with, way back when he was still racing Go-Karts.
Additionally, Stewart announced that the team has partnered with both Office Depot …read more




