We Watch NASCAR

So last year Reutimann wasn't allowed to keep his points when he took over Dale Jarrett's car yet this year Keselowski is going to drive a few races for some startup team and use points from a DEI team? - Adam from Bookmarklet

While I agree with Bruton that there are a few drivers who try to avoid fans, I think Junior probably hit on some of the bigger problems. When hotels in Daytona cost $400 a night, with 5 night minimums it's pretty easy to see why some fans may stay home. - Adam from Bookmarklet

Nice to at least see the name stick around. - Adam from Bookmarklet

Labonte in and someone is going to be out. Gilliand assumes it's him. - Adam from Bookmarklet

And he's back. How crazy has this been? Heard that Best Buy and McDonalds weren't thrilled with the dumping of Elliott in the first place so maybe they put pressure on GEM to take him back. - Adam from Bookmarklet

It's a good thought (about the salary) but I don't know if I buy it completely. It just seems like a big mess. First of all, AJ's reps seem to be the leakers of all of the information. It never seemed like we saw GEM quotes at all about the situation. The only thing we heard from Sadler's reps was the lawsuit information. It's just weird. I don't think we've heard the last of it, that's for sure. - tarahog1980

What the heck? Where is Sadler going??? - tarahog1980

Uh oh. I hope the new wife kept her job as a teacher. - Adam

Good for Sadler! I don't necessarily agree with Allmendinger being named as a defendant but that may be a formality. Also, if Sadler hasn't officially been told he is out (which is what this article says), why did they file a lawsuit??? I'm doubtful it is a misunderstanding but it's odd he'd go that far if he hasn't spoken to GEM about it. - tarahog1980

It will be a sad day if it's announced that Petty Enterprises is no more. - Adam from Bookmarklet

I keep wondering if we're moving back to the days of domination by a handful of drivers, with the rest just fighting to stay competitive. These days it's not quite as bad as Cale, Petty and Pearson vs. everyone else ... but we're getting there. The top 12 is pretty much just a competition to see which of the "superteam" cars won't make it. As well as they did last year it's pretty hard to believe that guys like Vickers or Reutimann could make the top 12, much less win a race. - Adam from Bookmarklet

LOL! This is cute! Singing NASCAR drivers. - Dr. Rus Jeffrey from Bookmarklet

NASCAR complains because sponsors are leaving, then Nationwide gives GEICO the boot. Typical. If I had Nationwide as an insurance agent, I would dump them! - Dr. Rus Jeffrey from Bookmarklet

Ask a guy nicknamed "Gentleman Ned" if he thinks drivers should act like jerks? Brilliant. - Adam from Bookmarklet

I'm not sure how Goodyear would feel about it, but it would be nice if NASCAR picked the teams that go to these events and gave these to the less-funded teams. Or at the very least rotated it around so that all teams got a shot. - Adam from Bookmarklet

"The new policy will not keep teams from testing at non-NASCAR tracks." - Adam from Bookmarklet

By the way, NASCAR Scene story says no testing at any NASCAR track - "...eliminating the ability for teams in its premier series to test at any track that hosts Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Truck, East or West series races." - Adam

Associate sponsor and primary for 4 races. - Adam from Bookmarklet

Unless a miracle happens, I don't foresee Wood Brothers lasting much longer. - rivensky

Yeah, it will be a sad day when they close down but it does seem inevitable. Maybe they can be another team that gets "assistance" from Roush, like Yates. Wonder if Woods would be too proud to essentially become another Roush car? - Adam

Smart plan to get #84 into the race and give it the best shot to finish the season in the top 35, which would make the beginning of next season so much easier. Definitely helps that both cars are owned and sponsored by the same company. - Adam from Bookmarklet

Not sure all the owners would want it, but it seems like franchising them would save the owners and perhaps level things a bit. In the NFL there's no way Green Bay could compete with Dallas without franchising. All the owners give a portion of their earnings to the pot and it's redistributed. That way a team like Petty could continue to function by almost being subsidized by Hendrick and the other big money-making teams. Also guessing that it would mean NASCAR itself could make less money since it would have to contribute as well and it doesn't seem like that would be something they would want to do. - Adam from Bookmarklet

NASCAR has never liked spending their own money. I think that's part of the problem. They have always wanted the teams to pay for everything. I wonder how much money NASCAR spent back in the days of Bill Sr and Jr. I suspect it wasn't until the 80's or 90's that the money really started to fatten their pockets. - msphotogirl

Let's start the [ESPN] blog with a bang and throw out the latest rumor going around the Cup garage area. Will plans to have rookie Joey Logano replace Tony Stewart next season in the #20 Toyota change? Speculation is Joe Gibbs Racing officials are trying to work out a deal to get #1-Martin Truex Jr. from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to drive the #20 car next year. If JGR can't get Truex, they might make a run at #2-Kurt Busch, who wants out of his deal with Penske Racing. - Penni

A quick warning: Rumors are rampant these days in NASCAR because of the difficult economic times. So here's another rumor: JGR president J.D. Gibbs is expected to arrive at Phoenix today and possibility address this issue to deny all of it. The Logano/Truex gossip started because of DEI's tenuous situation right now on sponsorship, and growing concerns that the 18-year-old Logano might... more... - Penni

DEI picked up the 2009 option on Truex's contract in August, but another rumor floating through the garage is that Bass Pro Shops, the primary sponsor of Truex's car at DEI, may join Stewart-Haas Racing next year as the second sponsor for #39-Ryan Newman. DEI has discussed merger possibilities with Chip Ganassi Racing and Petty Enterprises. Will any of this actually happen? Probably not, but it shows how crazy things are these days on the speculation about the future for NASCAR teams and drivers.(ESPN blog) - Penni

"We've all known it was coming for a while, but he seems a lot more ready to step out of the spotlight than I thought. Part of me is sad that he won't be a crew chief or something like that, but I'm also envious that he has enough money to just do whatever he wants to do, whether that's broadcasting or working on cars with his son." - Adam