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Welcome to the
Rumors and News Page:
How to read: F = Fact, P =
Probable, Q = Questionable, D = Doubtful
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8/15/09
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Earnhardt speaks out about NASCAR
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday that NASCAR’s “Car of Tomorrow”
needs a tune-up.
Earnhardt, who was in Atlanta to promote the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta
Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend, said the car, which is now the
exclusive vehicle on the Sprint Cup circuit, is safer than the previous car,
but it’s not providing the close, competitive racing that fans have come
to expect.
But he said the problem can be fixed. Full story at ajc.com
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8/14/09
Q
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Kahne to Toyota? RPM Still
Talking To Toyota: Multiple sources at Richard Petty Motorsports tell Sirius
Speedway that RPM is still mulling the possibility of moving its entire
operation to the Toyota camp in 2010. RPM spokesmen have downplayed reports
of a possible manufacturer switch in recent weeks, but sources say that
talks are ongoing with both Dodge and Toyota. No decisions have been made,
but in an attempt to cover all their bases, the team recently had a series
of publicity photos taken of Kasey Kahne and a Budweiser-sponsored #9 Toyota
Camry. Sirius
Speedway
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8/14/09
F
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Tagliani
to start own IndyCar team Alex Tagliani will
become an IndyCar Series owner/driver in 2010. Tagliani, whose Conquest
Racing entry was headed for Victory Lane at Toronto last month until a
full-course caution fell badly with the team's pit stop strategy, has found
a Canadian investor, enabling him to purchase all of ex-IndyCar driver Marty
Roth's equipment which includes four race cars and one show car. Racer.com
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7/23/09
Q
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Chip Ganassi-Gibbs merger? is now the time that Chip
Ganassi bolts to Toyota? One hot rumor swirling around the garage was a
partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing to run Montoya in a fourth car similar to
the situation that Marcos Ambrose has with MWR. On Sunday, JGR president
J.D. Gibbs said, "No, no, no...," but the guess is his bottom line
could say "yes". FoxSports
The latest rumor is that Chip Ganassi somehow will merge
his Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing team with Joe Gibbs Racing, possibly
eliminating another owner. While a potential partnership would be great for
those EGR employees and hopefully save a bunch of jobs, it’not beneficial
for the overall health of the sport. SPEEDtv/Jimmy
Spencer
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7/14/09
Q
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Danica Patrick to drive in NASCAR Yet
another NASCAR team trying to snatch Danica Patrick up. Danica Patrick was a
guest of team owner Tony Stewart last fall at Phoenix. But the two-time Cup
champion was not available to be a guide Monday because he was at a Goodyear
tire test at Atlanta Motor Speedway. According to sources, Patrick was at
the Stewart shop yesterday and was introduced to Ryan Newman, crew chief
Tony Gibson, General Manager Bobby Hutchens and engineer Matt Borland. The
tour included stops in the fabrication shop and a look at the seven-post
shaker rig. FoxSports
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7/14/09
Q
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Harvick
to leave RCR, Kevin Harvick has told Richard Childress he would
like to leave after this season, according to multiple sources. Harvick has
one year remaining on his contract with RCR, but the Shell/Pennzoil
sponsorship deal on the No. 29 ends at the end of this season, and Harvick
is trying to move with it to Stewart-Haas.
Tony Stewart has said his team is interested in running a third car in
Sprint Cup in 2010. Adding Harvick in a package with a strong sponsor would
be a masterstroke. SI.com
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5/23/09
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Kahne to run new Dodge engine at Dover
Kasey Kahne will break in Dodge's new engine for Richard Petty
Motorsports next weekend at Dover International Speedway. RPM has been slow
in introducing the new R6P8 engine that the other Dodge organization, Penske
Racing, has used all season. Vice president of racing operations Robbie
Loomis said last month that the engine would be used at Dover, but he wasn't
sure which of RPM's four drivers would use it. Kahne was selected because
officials are confident in the engine's durability and believe the added
horsepower will help propel the driver into the Chase. Kahne is 16th in
points, 66 out of the top 12 that make the Chase, heading into Sunday's 50th
running of the Coca-Cola 600. "We feel where we're at he has a good
chance at the Chase," Loomis said. "More than anything we want the
performance." #44-A.J. Allmendinger and #19-Elliott Sadler are 25th and
26th, respectively, in points. #43-Reed Sorenson is 23rd. ESPN
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5/1/09
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Keselowski negotiating with Hendrick:
Brad Keselowski is exclusively negotiating with Hendrick Motorsports on a
long-term contract. NASCAR's newest Sprint Cup Series winner has no ride
lined up for next season. Rick Hendrick has considered him as an eventual
replacement for #5-Mark Martin, but it's not clear when Martin will stop
driving. Keselowski's surprise victory at Talladega Superspeedway last week
has increased interest in the 25-year-old driver. Keselowski drives
full-time in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, and has a
developmental deal with Hendrick. He's slated to run seven Cup races for
Hendrick this year, but the 2010 season has not been determined.
Keselowski's win last weekend was in a car owned by James Finch.(Associated
Press/ESPN)
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5/1/09
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Indy tire
problems still loom. Goodyear has added an
additional tire test for Indianapolis Motor Speedway in late May, but the
manufacturer’s general manager of worldwide racing, Stu Grant, said
progress was made during a test there Wednesday from a test a week earlier.
Goodyear has
had several tests since last years debacle that resulted in mandatory
caution every 12-13 laps, including two last October. At one of those tests
with 13 teams, Goodyear had a tire it felt comfortable with but was
concerned about the heat. It came back with a different tire a week later
that worked better in a one-car test.
Goodyear went back April 20-22 to Indianapolis and had
similar problems to those it did a year ago, but engineers were unsure if
that could be attributed to the track being green with no activity in nearly
six months. At the test this past Wednesday, Goodyear brought the tire that
worked well at the 13-team test last October.
“We went back with that right-side, and at first we got
the typical seven or eight laps and then cords and then 10-12 laps into the
cords and then all of a sudden, the track rubbered in and things looked
good,” Grant said Friday at Richmond International Raceway. “We had
projections to do about 30 laps, and then we ran a couple of 10-lap runs and
blistered the right sides.
“It was a classic situation: When the track is not
rubbered in, you can see the high wear and that gets rid of the high heat.
Once the track gets rubbered in and the wear goes away and the heat stays,
then we blistered some right-side tires. That’s not going to work, either.
Now we have to find something in the middle. The good news is we were able
to rubber in the race track.”
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4/17/09
F
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Helio
Castroneves Aquitted, will Race for Penske at Long Beach The
IndyCar Series today released the following statement from Brian Barnhart,
president of competition and racing operations for the Indy Racing League,
regarding Helio Castroneves return to Team Penske and the IndyCar Series:
“We couldn’t be happier for Team Penske, Helio Castroneves and his
family and look forward to having him back on the race grid at (name of
venue/event). Helio has played an integral part in the growth of the IndyCar
Series on and off the race track the past few years and has an incredible
legion of fans. He is a true star in every sense of the word and his
infectious personality, popularity and success on the race track is welcomed
back.”
Penske's Tim Cindric said he told Helio on the phone that "We have a
car ready for you," and a happy Helio responded "I'm coming
man."
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4/17/09
F
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Allmendinger signed thru 2010
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP)—AJ
Allmendinger has a guaranteed ride with Richard Petty Motorsports next
season. It’s this year that’s still in limbo.
Richard Petty Motorsports on Friday said Allmendinger will
drive for the team in 2010 but does not have a car number or sponsor details
finalized. View
full report at Yahoo Sports
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4/17/09
F
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Paul Tracy
lands Indy 500 ride KV Racing Technology
will field a car for open-wheel superstar Paul Tracy at the 93rd running of
the Indianapolis 500, May 24, 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in
Speedway, Indiana. It is also speculated that PT will also be in a car for
the two Canadian races at Toronto and Edmonton.
Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion, is one of
the most successful and exciting drivers in the history of open-wheel
racing. The 40-year-old Canadian will be sponsored by GEICO Insurance
and pilot the #15 GEICO - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry
during the 2009 Indianapolis 500. Tracy will team with Mario Moraes,
#5 KV Racing Technology - Votorantim Honda/Dallara/Firestone, in a two-car
effort for KVRT at this year's Indy 500, which marks the opening of the
Centennial Era for the Speedway and commemorates the 100th anniversary of
the facility. The 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race will
be in 2011.
"I am pleased to announce that Paul Tracy and GEICO
Insurance will be joining KV Racing Technology for the 2009 Indianapolis
500," said KVRT co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven. "Paul is one of
the greatest and most exciting drivers in the history of the sport, while
GEICO Insurance is an outstanding company and a leader in the industry.
I am confident that Paul, with the support of GEICO Insurance, will provide
KVRT with a very competitive entry in this year's Indy 500."
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04/11/09
Q
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Lewis Hamilton faces the threat of being banned from up to
three races when the World Motor Sport Council meet in Paris in 17 days’
time to hand out punishments following Formula One’s ‘Liargate’
scandal.Daily
Mail
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4/09/09
F
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RPM to add more races for Allmendinger
AJ Allmendinger picked up a sponsor Wednesday that will keep his
Richard Petty Motorsports entry running at least until September. Hunt
Brothers Pizza will sponsor six races and the All-Star event, ensuring the
No. 44 will stay on the track at least through the Sept. 12 race in
Richmond, Va.
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3/29/09
P
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Almirola to lose ride Series
watchers expect that Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will park its No. 8 Chevrolet
for Aric Almirola. Team owner Chip Ganassi said he won’t run the car
without a sponsor--the same stance he took last year when he closed down
former IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti’s team.
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3/29/09
P
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Ryan Hunter-Reay to drive for Vision acing.
IZOD's
multi-million dollar advertising and promotional program on Ryan Hunter-Reay
will not be lost as it's reported that Tony George agreed Thursday to
campaign the talented 27-year-old American in a second Vision Racing car for
the entire 2009 season.
A formal announcement is expected this weekend reports
SPEEDTV.com.
"It all happened yesterday and we're still getting
the contract squared away but the team is scrambling to put my car together
and thankfully I'm going to be racing Indy cars this year," said
Hunter-Reay. "I really can't tell you how thankful I am that Tony
stepped in because it was getting late and I know Terry Angstadt (IRL's
president of its commercial division) has been working real hard to help me
and I appreciate his efforts.
"The entire IRL marketing and commercial department
has been working relentlessly on several B to B deals as well as
sponsorships and I can't thank them enough. I'm just very grateful right
now. This will be a huge opportunity for me to race for Tony George at
Vision." SPEEDTV.com
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3/20/09
F
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Yates to close Kvapil's unspnsored team. See Yahoo
article here
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1/17/09
F
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Labonte to drive No. 96 Hall of Fame entry Bobby
Labonte is expected to drive for Hall of Fame Racing in the NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series this season, sources close to the situation confirmed.
The announcement of the hiring of the 2000 Cup champion is expected to come
Wednesday morning.
Hall of Fame Racing announced Tuesday that it had formed an alliance to have
Yates Racing operate its No. 96 car for the 2009 season.
The car is expected to have sponsorship from Texas Instruments DLP and
Ask.com. Scenedaily.com
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1/17/09
F
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Sadler stays, Allmendinger to #10 Differences have
been worked out and E Sadler will stay in his ride, moving AJ Allmendinger
to the underfunded #10. Unless additional sponsors are found, Allmendinger
may only be part time.
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1/05/09
P
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Petty
team gone? To merge with GEM Multiple sources have confirmed that
after 60 seasons of stock car racing and 10 championships, America's first
family of stock car racing will shut its doors and merge with the team
currently known as Gillett Evernham Motorsports. A deal was inked between
Petty Enterprises and team owner George Gillett on Christmas Eve, but the
terms of that agreement have yet to be divulged.
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1/05/09
Q
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Doornbos to the IRL in '09 "I've been
talking to HVM, but Newman/Haas/Lanigan are the team I've been in contact
with the most," said Doornbos. "I want to be in the best
team possible and I hope to have a deal signed this week, but I don't know
who that will be with," he said. "I hope I can bring my ING
relationship to the IRL in 2009."
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1/05/09
P
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Bobby Labonte will drive the #41 Target Chevrolet for
Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing in 2009, joining Martin Truex, Jr., Juan Pablo
Montoya and Aric Almirola as part of a newly merged, four-car team. Labonte
has not commented since announcing his split from Petty Enterprises last
week, and the new Earnhardt-Ganassi operation remains in a virtual media
lockdown. However, multiple sources close to the situation tell Sirius
Speedway that a deal to put Labonte in the #41 is signed, sealed and
delivered, after receiving the approval of sponsor Target. Work has already
begun on the necessary promotional infrastructure -- photo shoots, marketing
campaigns, ancillary programs, etc. -- for the coming season. Sirius
Speedway/Motorsports Soapbox
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1/05/09
Q
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Sebastian Bourdais could return to USA/IRL Sebastian
Bourdais told Autosport magazine this week that he is considering a return
to racing in North America if he is left without a drive in Formula One next
season.
"I'm pretty open," he told Autosport. "Right now I need a
good program and America would be an interesting option.
"I have been looking at alternatives (to F1) because that's my job. I
need to find a way to make a living, but that's not easy right now -
everybody is not willing to commit to any programs."
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1/05/09
P
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Petty
to drive for Wood Brothers? Now that Kyle Petty has been axed by
Petty Enterprises, he said would be open to running a part time schedule and
there is some speculation that he may be in line for one of the Wood
Brothers part time teams in 2009. The Wood Brothers recently announced that
they would only campaign in 12 races next season primarily at the larger
tracks where they have had good performances in the past. Although veteran
Bill Elliott was originally named as the driver for those 12 races, now that
Petty has thrown his hat into the ring, there could be a possibility that
Petty may share the seat with Elliott.
In 86 starts with the Wood Brothers, Petty scored 2
victories, 17 top 5 and 40 top-10 finishes. Cupscene.com
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1/05/09
Q
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Truex/Bass Pro Shops could leave DEI Sirius
Speedway has learned that DEI-Ganassi Racing is making a serious push to add
another sponsor to its lineup, in an effort to avoid the possible loss of
driver #1-Martin Truex, Jr., and sponsor, Bass Pro Shops. Language in the
contracts of both Truex and Bass Pro Shops reportedly requires DEI to field
at least two fulltime teammates for Truex next season, and with only Aric
Almirola’s unsponsored #8 car likely to return, sources say DEI had little
choice but to merge with Ganassi, in an effort to retain their only funded
driver. The merged DEI-Ganassi stable now includes Truex’s Bass Pro
Shops-sponsored #1, Juan Pablo Montoya’s #42 with partial sponsorship from
Wrigley’s, the #41 car with Target sponsorship, and Almirola’s
unsponsored #8. Sources say the [Ganassi] team made a major push recently to
upgrade Fastenal’s Nationwide Series sponsorship to a Sprint Cup deal, but
were left high and dry when Fastenal declined the offer in order to begin
discussions with another major NASCAR team [no word who].
Speculation centers on Stewart-Haas Racing getting Truex and Bass Pro Shops,
with Truex teaming with #14-Tony Stewart and #39-Ryan Newman. Stewart said
weeks ago that his team is not looking to field a third car next season, and
team spokesman Mike Arning echoed those thoughts today. “We would
obviously have to take a good, hard look at a situation like that, but I
think we would be hard-pressed to make it happen,” said Arning. “We have
a lot to prove to people next year; specifically that we can compete right
out of the box as a two-car team. Adding a third car at this late date would
be extremely difficult, and while it’s obviously not my call, my guess is
that it might be too much to take on.” Sirius
Speedway/Motorsports Soapbox
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