NASCAR Thread.

[Northstar]

So the most obvious situation for '11 would be Kahne in a 3rd SHR car?

Not sure that would be the best choice unless they plan on moving the whole team over to the 5 car for '12. Not to mention it's hard to start a new team and have it be competitive right off the bat(SHR wasn't a completely new team last year). I think another possible problem would be SHR securing a sponsor for him, Newman still doesn't have a full season's worth of sponsorship despite being in the chase last year and sitting 16th right now(Although it seems like Bass Pro Shops is going to be a primary sponsor next year(They are currently associate sponsors to both the 14 & 39)).

This is one of the things I love and hate about NASCAR, seems like a new storyline develops every week.

 

[Cale]

While SHR may seem like the obvious choice I think JRM could be a contender. Either way I foresee what ever team he goes to getting so much help/support from HMS it won't be much different than driving an actual HMS car... besides the people on the tea itself.

 

[RACECAR]

So the most obvious situation for '11 would be Kahne in a 3rd SHR car?

Not sure that would be the best choice unless they plan on moving the whole team over to the 5 car for '12. Not to mention it's hard to start a new team and have it be competitive right off the bat(SHR wasn't a completely new team last year). I think another possible problem would be SHR securing a sponsor for him, Newman still doesn't have a full season's worth of sponsorship despite being in the chase last year and sitting 16th right now(Although it seems like Bass Pro Shops is going to be a primary sponsor next year(They are currently associate sponsors to both the 14 & 39)).

I think Hendrick will most likely flip the bill for Stewart to field a third car and with (so far at least) a loyal sponsor for Kahne In Budweiser, sponsorship ought to be no trouble.

While SHR may seem like the obvious choice I think JRM could be a contender.

Jr Motorsports? They barely can keep two nationwide cars fielded (although technically, they only own one car since its just a merged operation of Jr and Rick Hendrick) so I cannot see how they could even try fielding a Cup car.

 

[Northstar]

Looks like the Nationwide race won't be getting in today, Cup race probably won't get going until 4CST at the earliest.

Guess I'll get to watch the IRL race after all.

Edit: Cup raced moved to 12PM ET tomorrow, Nationwide moved to 5PM ET tomorrow.

 

[Cale]

Ugh. I rushed home from a friend's house to get my picks in and then this.

 

[Viper_Maniac]

Almost thought Jr was gonna win today. Felt bad for Gordon. Tough break for him.

 

[RACECAR]

Speed is playing the living hell out of the Sprint Cup race. Comes on tomarrow again. Guess yo guys have no excuse to miss it, especially since it was replayed again today

 

[Cale]

Almost thought Jr was gonna win today. Felt bad for Gordon. Tough break for him.

I think if he had just squeezed through he could have had it. I'm surprised nobody tried to go way high on the restart.

 

[Viper_Maniac]

I think if he had just squeezed through he could have had it. I'm surprised nobody tried to go way high on the restart.

I know. I saw that and thought back to Daytona when he did that. I saw he tried twice to make a squeeze through. The last was an attempt to get his nose in on the bottom of turn 1 after the last restart(I think it was the last restart).

 

[opendriver]

Hell of a finish for the 48 car, even if he didnt win, still had a mad dash to the end. Nicely done by Hamlin too.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I have a correction to make. In the fantasy thread I blamed Stewart for the wreck with Gordon. After seeing the replay of the race last night, I take it back. Wasn't totally his fault, looks like a combination of him and Edwards that started the whole thing.

Nice to see a dominant Jeff Gordon again. Twice this year he had the car to beat and didn't win.

 

[Northstar]

Budweiser to MWR? Michael Waltrip Racing's Ty Norris was entertaining representatives from Budweiser this weekend at Texas. Norris has a history with Budweiser dating back to his Dale Earnhardt Inc. days when Budweiser was sponsoring the #8 Chevy. With Kasey Kahne parting ways wih Richard Petty Motorsports at the end of the season, it's likely that Budweiser will be entertaining offers.

The only way I could see them going to MWR is if NAPA moved to the 00. I would say a split sponsorship on the 56 but Bud has never done that IIRC.

 

[SR-71_Blackbird]

I have a correction to make. In the fantasy thread I blamed Stewart for the wreck with Gordon. After seeing the replay of the race last night, I take it back. Wasn't totally his fault, looks like a combination of him and Edwards that started the whole thing.

Nice to see a dominant Jeff Gordon again. Twice this year he had the car to beat and didn't win.

It was everyones fault. JR for moving stewart, gordon and edwards for bumping into stewart, stewart for going wide and getting his tires dirty.

 

[Northstar]

Woke up to a shocker this morning, Shell is leaving RCR for Penske(Which means Mobil 1 is leaving Penske). This is where is gets a tad bit complicated, Keselowski is moving to the 2 with Miller Lite and Busch is going to the 22(formerly 12) with Shell/Pennzoil sponsorship. Sam Hornish is kind of the unknown in this situation, I would guess his future depends on sponsorship.

Link because the articles are rather long.

 

[RACECAR]

Whaaattt??!! Silly Season really has kicked in, rather early too. I think Sam still has AAA as a sponsor (partial or full time, not sure) so he might be fine there. Interesting to here that Shell is leaving RCR as it seems (at least to me) to further indicate to me Harvick may not have a ride over there anymore(along with the fact Richard is in talks with him for 2011).

 

[Northstar]

Whaaattt??!! Silly Season really has kicked in, rather early too. I think Sam still has AAA as a sponsor (partial or full time, not sure) so he might be fine there. Interesting to here that Shell is leaving RCR as it seems (at least to me) to further indicate to me Harvick may not have a ride over there anymore(along with the fact Richard is in talks with him for 2011).

AAA is only the sponsor for a few races. I could see them moving Allgaier into the Cup series and cutting Hornish.

I also think it's more of a RCR not having a driver than Harvick not having a ride.

 

[RACECAR]

AAA is only the sponsor for a few races. I could see them moving Allgaier into the Cup series and cutting Hornish.

Or is that what you want them to do, Justin? Jokes aside, I do unfortunately think Hornish is out even with his improvement over the past few years and if he is cut, where does he go now? I doubt any team will accept him and Roger has no more room for him in Indycar. And speaking of Kurt in the 22, does this possibly mean Discount Tires might be on the car? maybe Ruby Tuesday?

I also think it's more of a RCR not having a driver than Harvick not having a ride.

If Harvick is out, where does he go? he can't go to stewart Haas because of Kasey Kahne's involvment with Hendrick and I can't see him siding with a none chevy team.


Also, Cup race is on again today for those of you that missed it monday.

 

[CodeRedR51]

According to NASCAR.com, Hornish isn't going anywhere.

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/headlines/cup/04/21/penske.committed.shornishjr/index.html

 

[Cale]

So is Steve going to be BK's crew chief? I like the sound of that...

 

[Viper_Maniac]

According to an ESPN source Harvick is currently in talks with RCR to stay with the team and find a new sponsor.

But it leaves Kevin Harvick, in the last year of his contract with Richard Childress Racing, without a sponsor. Shell/Pennzoil has been with Harvick since 2007. Miller Lite has been with Busch since 2006.

Harvick, who reportedly wanted out of his deal with RCR last season, is negotiating with RCR to find a new sponsor and stay with the company, according to a source. Harvick has been with RCR since he succeeded the late Dale Earnhardt in 2001.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=5121303

 

[Cale]

Maybe Budweiser?

 

[01GTP]

Maybe Budweiser?

Sounds good to me.

RCR is doing pretty well so if Bud wants a decent team then why not the #29.
If for some reason Bud likes Kahne and stays on for the duration then he will have some good offers for next year.

This depends on 2 things really.

Does Bud want to sign a deal for Kahne who has a questionable ride for 2011 and a great ride from 2012? or
Does Bud sign with a decent team (#29) that needs sponsorship starting in 2011?

And of course a 3rd, does Bud want to sponsor a NASCAR ride at all?

 

[RACECAR]

Its been fine before and from what the representatives say, they really like Kasey Kahne so I see Bud staying with Kasey while in 2011 he goes to Stewart-Haas(a great team) then in 2012 on to Hendrick(a supurb team).

 

[TS]

Woke up to a shocker this morning, Shell is leaving RCR for Penske(Which means Mobil 1 is leaving Penske). This is where is gets a tad bit complicated, Keselowski is moving to the 2 with Miller Lite and Busch is going to the 22(formerly 12) with Shell/Pennzoil sponsorship. Sam Hornish is kind of the unknown in this situation, I would guess his future depends on sponsorship.

Link because the articles are rather long.

WTF

Why are they moving Busch?

Makes more sense to leave Busch in the 2 and Brad in the 12 and just have Brad sport the Shell colors.

AAA is only the sponsor for a few races. I could see them moving Allgaier into the Cup series and cutting Hornish.

I also think it's more of a RCR not having a driver than Harvick not having a ride.

This.

I do unfortunately think Hornish is out even with his improvement over the past few years and if he is cut, where does he go now? I doubt any team will accept him and Roger has no more room for him in Indycar. And speaking of Kurt in the 22, does this possibly mean Discount Tires might be on the car? maybe Ruby Tuesday?

I think Hornish will leave Penske, but will stay in NASCAR, he's been away from open wheel too long and I don't think any IndyCar teams would see him as a good fit unless if he can do what Dario did and win right out of the box.

If Harvick is out, where does he go? he can't go to stewart Haas because of Kasey Kahne's involvment with Hendrick and I can't see him siding with a none chevy team.

I think if RCR doesn't re-sign Harvick, which at this point is highly unlikely, I think Harvick fields his own cars.

 

[Cale]

WTF

Why are they moving Busch?

Makes more sense to leave Busch in the 2 and Brad in the 12 and just have Brad sport the Shell colors.

Maybe Roger thinks Kurt could be more successful in a newer team than Brad. If Brad works out with the 2 car then Penske could have two really good running cars at least instead of just one good running car and a couple of mediocre ones.

 

[01GTP]

Maybe Roger thinks Kurt could be more successful in a newer team than Brad. If Brad works out with the 2 car then Penske could have two really good running cars at least instead of just one good running car and a couple of mediocre ones.

And don't forget the previous champions provisionals.

 

[Cale]

I'm sure the points from the 12 will carry over. Anyways I'm excited to see what Addington and BK can do.

 

[Northstar]

If Harvick is out, where does he go? he can't go to stewart Haas because of Kasey Kahne's involvment with Hendrick and I can't see him siding with a none chevy team.

Don't count out EGR, McMurray only signed a 1 year deal(I think).

While it may be hard to see him in a non-Chevrolet team, it's not exactly the strangest thing. Look at Mark Martin, he drove Fords for basically all of his career until recently when he has been in Chevrolet's.

WTF

Why are they moving Busch?

Makes more sense to leave Busch in the 2 and Brad in the 12 and just have Brad sport the Shell colors.

It sounds like Penske knew Mobil 1 was leaving, pitched the team to Shell and they wanted Busch more than Keselowski(understandable). This is a sponsor driven sport, they typically get their driver they see fit. It also makes sense that they want it to be 22 instead of the 12 as well since the 12 is sort of synonymous with Mobil 1.

I think Hornish will leave Penske, but will stay in NASCAR, he's been away from open wheel too long and I don't think any IndyCar teams would see him as a good fit unless if he can do what Dario did and win right out of the box.

I could see him going to RPM(which could possibly have all 4 seats open after this year).

I think if RCR doesn't re-sign Harvick, which at this point is highly unlikely, I think Harvick fields his own cars.

On one hand I could see him doing this because of his success in the Truck series and the Nationwide series. On the other hand though it would be a hard move to make unless he could wind up a sponsor before hand.

 

[RACECAR]

Good grief, Ford have to be the biggest morons in Nascar. They keep running their new engine only at restrictor plate tracks all the while the other makes are way ahead with running thier new engine each week. And people wonder why none of the fords are capable of winning.

Don't count out EGR, McMurray only signed a 1 year deal(I think).

While it may be hard to see him in a non-Chevrolet team, it's not exactly the strangest thing. Look at Mark Martin, he drove Fords for basically all of his career until recently when he has been in Chevrolet's.

Thing is though unlike Martin, Kevin actually campaigns nothing but Chevys in two series so for the most part (at least it would appear) he is dedicated to chevy. Of course that is a good point for EGR though.

I think if RCR doesn't re-sign Harvick, which at this point is highly unlikely, I think Harvick fields his own cars.

Only problem I see with this is (as Justin pointed out) is getting a sponsor onboard with it and then comes trying to aquire the chassis and bodies for the COT. Even more of a deciding factor is Nationwide has its own COT coming soon, which will be by far more expensive then the old cup cars currently in that series.

 

[Northstar]

Apparently there is some bitter feelings between Harvick & RCR.

Harvick: Burned Bridges with RCR?: Richard Childress Racing has probably lost its faint chance to keep Kevin Harvick on the heels of Wednesday's devastating announcement that Shell/Pennzoil is moving to Penske Racing in 2011 to sponsor Kurt Busch in the Sprint Cup Series. RCR already faced a serious, uphill challenge in trying to retain Harvick, who is in the final year of his contract, even if it had managed to hold onto Pennzoil, sponsor of Harvick's #29 since 2007. Harvick, according to multiple sources reached by SI.com but never confirmed by the driver, wanted out of RCR at the end of last season, but team owner Richard Childress held him to the contract. The duo came out strong out of the gate this season -- they led the points after five races and are currently fourth, 141 behind Jimmie Johnson -- but the sour feelings between the two haven't changed. "Kevin has burned all his bridges here," said a source requesting anonymity following the news of Shell's departure. The source reiterated the chances of Childress and Harvick dissolving their marriage were close to 100%. Harvick is the top free agent driver on the market. His preferred destination is Stewart-Haas Racing, where he'd have Hendrick equipment. Tony Stewart is on the record as wanting to expand to three cars next season, dependent upon sponsorship. With Harvick to sell and the broad range of commercial possibilities available through the team's partner-like association with Hendrick, Stewart-Haas has far greater ability to find a sponsor for Harvick. Kasey Kahne's decision to join Rick Hendrick's organization in 2012 has led to widespread speculation that he'll be at Stewart-Haas in 2011. Kahne certainly will be in Hendrick equipment next season and it's the logical place. The other possibility would be for Hendrick to ask Mark Martin to vacate the #5 a year early to go to Stewart-Haas. In either situation, it would require Stewart-Haas to run four cars in 2011. That 's not beyond the team's reach and it's where Stewart wants to get eventually.(Sports Illustrated), so which team would be better?
Hendrick: Gordon, Johnson, Earnhardt Jr. & Martin...or
Stewart Haas: Stewart, Newman. Kahne & Harvick?(4-22-2010)

I could see SHR going to 4 cars, just as long as the sponsorship is there.
Stewart-Office Depot/Old Spice
Newman-U.S. Army/Bass Pro Shops(BPS is already an associate for the team)
Kahne- Budweiser
Harvick-???