(Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Even though the season 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup series has yet to reach the half way point, there are several stories that have kicked the silly season into high gear. Here are some stories to keep tap on over the next several weeks and months.
1. Martin Truex Jr. You may or may not have heard yet, but earlier in the week, Truex said he will make the decision whether he will depart Earnhardt-Ganassi racing at the end of the 2009 season.
The former two-time Nationwide Series champ and his primary sponsor, Bass Pro Shops, are signed through the 2009 season. But, Truex has struggled in the last year and half with his team as he had no wins and missed the Chase in 2008, and has shown no real promise so far in 2009.
If Truex does jump ship, which all signs seem to indicate he will, where he ends up is a mystery. Many teams are locked in for 2009 and not many seats look like they may open up. This story will be worth keeping tabs because it may shake things up in the garage area.
2. Will Stewart-Haas add third team? So far for the 2009 season, Stewart-Haas racing has exceed everyone's expectations for a first year team. They have been contending for wins, placed both of their drivers (Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman) in the top 12 in points, and for Tony Stewart, brought home a win in NASCAR's All-Star Race.
With the five team rule going into full effect next season, many are beginning to wonder if Hendrick Racing, which provides about 60 percent of the equipment to Stewart-Haas, will possibly ask Stewart-Haas to take on a third full-time ride.
Since Mark Martin decided to keep driving the No. 5 Hendrick Car in 2010 full-time, Brad Keselowski has been left on the outside looking in.
In an interview last Saturday, Keselowski said he "would love to drive for Mr. Stewart full-time in 2010 in a cup car," indicating Hendrick may be courting Stewart-Haas to throw in a third car for 2010. Besides Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya or Kasey Kahne could be tapped to take over.
Adding a third car, likely Hendrick's "fifth car," will also shake up the garage area given several big name drivers may be looking for a new ride in 2010.
3. Penske to Toyota? This story has been back and forth the last few weeks, but seems to have died off as of lately. Many in the garage area are speculating Penske may be the next major NASCAR team to jump ship to the growing Toyota house.
Toyota wants Penske because like Joe-Gibbs Racing, they bring experience, sponsors, and at least one solid driver in Kurt Busch. Penske has denied all allegations, but with Chrysler going bankrupt, many are beginning to question Dodge's future in the series.
Penske has been the team to carry the Dodge banner so far in 2009, as they are the only Dodge team to record a win thus far, and more importantly, are the only team running the new R4 engine.
Several issues exist for this story to happen. First, a big one, is that Honda provides engines for Penske's IRL team. While Honda is "inviting" competition, it's hard to believe Honda wouldn't really dig Penske wheeling around cup cars with the Toyota emblem on them.
5 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete