Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
Tanned, rested and ready.
- The NASCAR Insiders: What In The (Expletive) Is Going On?!?!
I was about to give a roundup of all the rumors going around all of a sudden about the world ending in NASCAR and encouraging calm and care before panicking, but the NASCAR Insiders beat me to it. So, instead of summarizing everything that is SUPPOSEDLY going on, go here. NOW.
- From the Marbles: Kahne-to-Toyota rumors — and denials — flying all over the place
One rumor I did want to single out was the thought that Kasey Kahne could be switched to Toyota power mid-season over at RPM. I don’t buy it for a second. Too expensive. RPM will spend this season trying to stay afloat long enough to get more sponsors and (hopefully, for them) Toyota money in the off-season. It’s also worth noting that George Gillett, who still has a big stake in the company, just sold the Montreal Canadiens for about $450 million (or “aboot” $550 million Canadian). I’m sure he didn’t have “keeping my NASCAR team afloat” as the #1 reason for doing that, but I wonder if there would be any kind of cash infusion there. Gillett is not exactly a hands-on NASCAR owner.
- SPEED: NNS: Vickers In, Lamar Out At Braun Racing
Burney Lamar is apparently out at Braun Racing in the Nationwide Series. Brian Vickers will stay on, but they haven’t decided who will be replacing Lamar for the rest of the Nationwide season. No word has been given on why the move was made.
- Dustin Long: Petty wins again; Hendrick on Junior; A comedic driver
One note Dustin Long mentioned regarded Roush Fenway and the status of the fifth team that has to go before next season. It basically sounds official now that the fifth team, whomever that may be (*cough*Jamie McMurray*cough*), will move over to Yates next year. Which, is not a surprise, but it is interesting to hear someone at Roush finally say so.
Tags: Braun Racing, Brian Vickers, Burney Lamar, George Gillett, Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne, mini, Nationwide Series, Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Yates Racing
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Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
Hewn from the finest ones and zeroes on the market today:
- Racin’ Today: Smashed Guitar Strikes Sour Chord In Music City
Yeah, all those quotes about Sam Bass being okay with Kyle Busch smashing his guitar? Yeah, not as much as the press-release-prepared quotes from Saturday. Also unhappy: Nashville Superspeedway and race sponsor Federated Auto Parts. (Not to mention Jimmy Spencer and Kyle Petty who both kind of tore him a new one during prerace shows at Pocono.) It’s also worth mentioning that Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing haven’t said a single word about it in their releases, which screams, “we’re hoping this goes away quietly.”
- AP: RPM lets 9 employees go and cuts salaries
Speaking of RPM, they’ve had to let nine employees go and have had salary cuts across the board. Apparently this is tied to the comments from Petty earlier this season about how Chrysler’s Chapter 11 filing has disrupted the financials of the organization. The rumors being floated are that RPM is in serious trouble and considering suspending a team to stay afloat. In addition, since this is the final year of their contract with Dodge, they could be considering making the leap to Toyota. Speaking of which…
- NASCAR.com: Petty, Braun teaming up for five Nationwide races
Braun Racing has worked out a deal with Richard Petty Motorsports to give Elliott Sadler and Kasey Kahne a few races in the Nationwide Series. Sadler will run for Braun at New Hampshire in a few weeks while Kahne will run four races starting at Daytona in July. Braun already fields the 38 car for Jason Leffler, the 32 car for Burney Lamar and Brian Vickers and the 10 car, which has split time between David Reutimann, Kelly Bires, Brian Scott and Marc Davis. They haven’t specified which car will be fielded for RPM, but it’s probably going to be that 10 car.
- The NASCAR Insiders: Is MWR The Best Place For Truex?
The biggest early silly season rumor that’s been floating for months, it seems like, is Martin Truex, Jr. going to Michael Waltrip Racing, possibly to replace Michael himself in the 55 car. NASCAR Insiders evaluates the move from a strategic perspective and considers it more of a “lateral” move. And in the interim, I can’t say I disagree. However, EGR is really a team that feels like it’s treading water, the increasing improvement of Juan Pablo Montoya being the lone bright spot of late. Whereas MWR feels like a team that will be getting better in the next few years (look at the progress they’ve already had this season). Not to mention the TRD support that MWR gets will keep making those Toyotas a lot better.
Tags: Braun Racing, Brian Scott, Brian Vickers, Burney Lamar, David Reutimann, Daytona International Raceway, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Elliott Sadler, Jason Leffler, Jimmy Spencer, Joe Gibbs Racing, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kasey Kahne, Kelly Bires, Kyle Busch, Kyle Petty, Marc Davis, Martin Truex Jr., Michael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing, mini, Nashville Superspeedway, Nationwide Series, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Richard Petty, Richard Petty Motorsports
Posted in NASCAR Link Roundup | No Comments »
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