Silly Season 2008: Is it over yet?

Who looks better in the big brown truck? Newman, Truex, or Mears? / Graphic by TrackBunnyFilms.com / Photos by NASCAR & Getty Images.

We already know where Tony Stewart and Mark Martin will end up in 2009. Stewart will be joining Haas CNC Racing to form Stewart-Haas Racing and Mark Martin will be taking over the #5 Hendrick Motorsports car.

J.J. Yeley was kicked the curb today from Hall of Fame Racing. Road Course Ringer P.J. Jones will drive the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota this weekend in Watkins Glen. Starting in Michigan, Nationwide Series driver Brad Coleman will take over for Yeley.

There’s also rumblings around NASCAR that Mark Martin could be in the #5 Kelloggs / Carquest Chevy at Hendrick Motorsports as early as this season.

And what about Ryan Newman? The press has all but signed him to Stewart-Haas Racing but neither Stewart, Newman, or anybody else at Haas has confirmed it. J.D. Gibbs from Joe Gibbs Racing has counted Newman out from taking over the #20 Home Depot Toyota for Stewart. It’s rumored that Nationwide Series driver Joey Logano will take over that ride.

Martin Truex, Jr. has stated that he is close to announcing what his plans for the future are but when a report came out that Dale Earnhardt, Inc. had signed him to a new agreement, he all but spit and took a dump on the rumor.

So what do I see happening in 2009? Here are my predictions: (more…)

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Arena Racing is back!

Thanks to Rich who sent me this information:

For those who need a live racing fix this fall and winter you can see some possible stars of tomorrow at Cricket Arena in Charlotte. It’s called indoor Arena Racing. These are basically go carts with car bodies on a 1/10 mile track that acts like Bristol. Racers range in age from 14 to 50 somethings. Last years champion was 14 at the time. Tony stewart has a car that he sponsors and last year was driven by his Uncle Del. Chrissy Wallace also participated last season. The program is somehow affiliated with JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and is a very clean family type event. They race on Saturdays, some Fridays and is not expensive ($10 G/A $12 Resv) I don’t know kid pricing but I know that it is reduced. They do have an upcoming special of 4 tickets and 4 hotdogs for $40. There are 15 events scheduled for Charlotte and last Sat was #2 so you can see that this will get you through to Daytona. If you live or plan to be in Charlotte I highly recommend this fast paced entertainmant. Speeds are in the 40mph range which may not sound fast but there are frequent roll-overs, side by side and ‘bumping’ and some body slamming. Racing starts at 7pm and typically is over before 10 so it’s not a late nite for the little ones (should you have any).

I saw them last year in the inaugural race and it was awesome. As you can see with the picture above, Tony Stewart and JJ Yeley are helping Denny Hamlin with his car. Also there was JD Gibbs, Kyle Busch, and watching from the sidelines Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, and Tony Eury, Jr.  To see more pics, click here.

Posted in Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR | 3 Comments »

Busch Race - The Voo Doo worked!

More pictures on flickr!

Posted in Adventures, NASCAR, Photography | 1 Comment »

And in the last 2 hours…

A lot has happened! Jesus, I’m sitting here researching on questions to ask in an Interview tonight with Miss International 2007 and I go to Jayski and all hell has broken loose!

First off… JJ Yeley will be driving the #96 Hall of Fame Racing Car in 2008 (Toyota or Chevy? Who knows at this point). I’m okay with that decision since they’re still a part of Joe Gibbs Racing.

Secondly… Tony Eury, Jr. will be Dale Earnhardt Jr’s crew chief next year in the still unnumbered car, but seems to be the Mountain Dew / Amp Energy Drink / National Guard Chevrolet.

And Finally… Casey Mears will be moving to the #5 and Dale, Jr’s team will be the #25 team with a new number. Hm, how many numbers in how many years is this? This year it’s the 25. In 2006 it was the 42. The year before that… 41. He just keeps going lower and lower….

I don’t know what to make of all this? What next? Tony Stewart leaving JGR?

*looks around* *knocks on wood*

Posted in NASCAR, Silly Season | 5 Comments »

JJ’s Future & I Suck

So my math professor emailed me my test grade, out of 60 possible points, I got 31. I guess it’s better than half (even if it is one point) but I am never going to pass this class which means I will never graduate. What the hell is wrong with me and Math?

In other news…. courtesy of Jayski per ESPN.com:

J.J. Yeley said Friday he should have a decision within two weeks about which team he will drive for next season. Yeley has spoken with Robert Yates about the opening in the #88 Ford. He also has talked to Richard Childress about the possibility of running a fourth car for RCR next season. Yeley also may be in the running to replace Scott Riggs in the #10 Dodge for Gillett Evernham Motorsports. What happens with that car depends on what Valvoline officials want. Valvoline is the co-owner of the #10 Dodge and has a major input in who drives the car.(ESPN.com)

JJ teammates with Kasey and Elliott… I could live with that, but could Penni?

Posted in NASCAR, School, Silly Season | 12 Comments »

Is Tuesday the day?

Before I start getting ready for class tomorrow, a 8am newspaper meeting, and bed… a little news. First though, I want to ask all the racing fans an opinion on something.

Do you think that there’s a possibly of an inside job to make sure that Dale, Jr. doesn’t make the Chase? I think it’s funny that it’s mostly Junior having the engine problems. Sure, Truex has had one… but Childress has been FINE. Think the evil step-mother might be doing a little dirty business on the side? *enter soap opera music* (more…)

Posted in NASCAR, Silly Season | 2 Comments »

A whole new light to the JJ situation…

J.J. Yeley says he will leave JGR at end of season: While Kyle Busch would not confirm reports that he has a deal to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, it became clearer that is the case when J.J. Yeley acknowledged he is out of the #18 car Busch is expected to drive. Yeley said he’s leaving JGR but wouldn’t go as far as to say Busch would be his replacement. Yeley acknowledged having talked to officials at DEI, RCR, Robert Yates Racing and the Wood Brothers, but wouldn’t elaborate on how serious they are. RCR owner Richard Childress said Yeley is a serious prospect to be his fourth driver. “J.J.’s a good racer,” he said. “He’d do a good job.” Ganassi Racing, Hall of Fame Racing and Evernham Motorsports also could be in the mix. Yeley hopes wherever he lands the owner will give him more support than he got at JGR this season. “We never made huge changes to see if there was something out there that was going to help the program,” he said. Yeley asked team president J.D. Gibbs a month ago if he was considering changes to bring the #18 up to par with the teams of Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. “[He said] there were not going to be any changes,” Yeley said. There could be plenty of changes for that team next season, from the switch to Busch to possibly a change in manufacturer and primary sponsor. “I think they’re going to do everything that’s in their best interest that they feel is right, and you know if they feel Chevrolet is their manufacturer of choice then more power to them,” Busch said. “If they feel like Ford, Toyota or Dodge is their best interest, then more power to them. You know, they’ve got their own engine program, they’ve got a lot of great resources. I think they’re still in that decision-making process. They’re looking at all of the cars, laying them out. Just as I was to pick a team, they’re doing it for a manufacturer.” (ESPN.com per Jayski)

Posted in NASCAR, Silly Season, Tony Stewart | 1 Comment »

The Slow Death of a JGR Fan…

So I guess Kyle WILL be going to the 18 car. He’s going to look like a real elf now in that green outfit unless he has another sponsor. I bet it all comes down to sponsorship, I’m willing to bet you. This just… I don’t know. I love JJ… and yes, he may not be the best driver out there on the track but he is proven that he can run with the best of them and he’s close to getting his first win. He’s already got poles, he’ll be in the Shootout next year…that’s more than I can say for some of the top drivers. Has Tony gotten a pole this year? I don’t think so. JJ Yeley is this generation’s Richard Petty… meaning with the fans, he’s always so nice and funny and takes his time when you approach him, etc.

And now he will be tossed in the wind. He’s not Jason Leffler and he shouldn’t be treated like Jason was by getting kicked out of his ride. And yes, that’s my personal picture to the right

Yeley’s agent, Kyle Chapman, said there is currently no signed deal between his client and Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, and that Yeley is in discussion with a number of teams about possible rides for next season. But sources with knowledge of the situation say Yeley will indeed be out of the #18 next season, and behind the wheel of the #21 Ford.(Motorsports Soapbox)(8-7-2007)

Posted in Silly Season | 3 Comments »