No Ride in '09: NASCAR Drivers without a Home (Part Two)

This is an update to the story I wrote on Jan. 10 titled "No Ride in '09: NASCAR Drivers without a Home."

Lots of things have changed since that day. We begin by looking at A.J. Allmendinger, who will now run the No. 44 car for Richard Petty Motorsports after a merger with Gillet-Evernham Motorsports.

Bobby Labonte signed with Hall of Fame Racing, who has merged with Yates and switched to Fords. With the merger, Labonte received points from the No. 38 Yates car and now is no longer looking in from outside. Labonte will be guaranteed a spot in the first five races of the Sprint Cup Series.

Kyle Petty ran in the Rolex No. 24 last season, but has not yet been named to a ride in 2009.

Ken Scrhader hasn't solidified a ride yet and will probably be working for SPEED TV this season, like he has in the past.

Tony Raines has signed with Front Row Motorsports after they merged with Earnhardt-Gannassi Racing on a full-time Nationwide Series team with a possibility for a Cup race or two.

Kenny Wallace will return to the Nationwide Series and also SPEED TV, where he is one of three hosts on the hit show NASCAR Race Day.

Johnny Sauter has agreed to run in the Camping World Truck Series.

Sterlin Marlin is expected to share the James Fitch Phoenix Racing No. 09 in the Cup Series with Brad Keselowski.

Jeremy Mayfield started a new endeavor as an owner of Jeremy Mayfield Enterprises using the Toyota No. 41.

Joe Nemecheck has also started his self-owned NEMCO Motorsports and will field Toyotas this season.

Scott Riggs signed with Tommy Baldwin Racing in the Cup Series.

Mike Wallace will drive in the Cup Series, Nationwide, and Truck Series in select races, and will help oversee his daughter Chrissy's racing career.

Steve Park will return to the Camping World East Series.

We have also seen Kirk Schelmerdine, Geoff and Todd Bodine, and Chad McCumbee all acquiring rides in '09.

This leaves the likes of Kyle Petty, J.J. Yeley, Patrick Carpetier, and Ken Schrader all without rides just a little more than a week before the Daytona 500. With rides almost full in the garage, one has to wonder where these names will end up.

As more and more rookies come up into the Cup Series, it's only going to get harder to find a part- or full-time ride in any of the top-three series.

Silly Season 2009 has been wild and it still has more than a week to go!