CUP: Silly Season Roundup: Sadler, Hornish Jr. Still Looking

Sprint Cup

CUP: Silly Season Roundup: Sadler, Hornish Jr. Still Looking

Plenty of drivers seek sponsorship for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season...

Bob Pockrass | http://www.scenedaily.com | Posted August 25, 2010 Charlotte, NC

Elliott Sadler will compete for Kevin Harvick Inc in 2011. (Photo Getty Images)

ANALYSIS

With 12 races left in the 2010 season, most teams have their plans set for 2011. But there are plenty of drivers – such as Elliott Sadler and Sam Hornish Jr. – still trying to figure out what they’ll be doing in 2011.

Here is a look at the drivers who have made changes for next season and the drivers with significant question marks for 2011.

Kevin Harvick – Harvick, who currently leads the points standings, will have a new sponsor next year in Budweiser. But Budweiser is only funding 20 points races and Richard Childress Racing needs to find a sponsor for the other 16. Childress indicated last week that a sponsor deal for the other races should be solidified soon. Harvick’s current sponsor, Shell/Pennzoil, is moving to Penske Racing and Kurt Busch next season.

Jeff Gordon – Gordon knows he’s going to continue driving the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports car next year. What he doesn’t know is which companies he will thank when he climbs out of the car. Sponsor DuPont is looking to scale back its number of races and the organization continues to look for sponsorship. Walmart is a possibility but not a definite backer at this point.

Tony Stewart – Stewart doesn’t have to worry about the owner firing him (he is a co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing) but he does need a partial-season sponsor to replace Old Spice, which is leaving the sport after this year. Sources say Mobil, which currently sponsors Hornish, is the most likely candidate to share the hood with Office Depot next season.

Jamie McMurray – McMurray and sponsors Bass Pro Shops and McDonalds are not signed with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for 2011, but there doesn’t seem to be any reason they won’t be back together next year. McMurray has won two of the biggest races of the season in the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400.

Kasey Kahne – Kahne knows where he’s going in 2011 – Red Bull Racing – but he doesn’t know who will be his crew chief. Kenny Francis, his current crew chief at Richard Petty Motorsports, declined comment about his future when asked about it last week at Bristol Motor Speedway. Much like Kahne was the biggest free agent on the market this year, Francis is the top name being tossed around as far as crew chiefs moving to another team.

AJ Allmendinger – Allmendinger has signed to return to the No. 43 car at Richard Petty Motorsports but the team has not yet announced sponsorship. The team has been courting Best Buy, Allmendinger’s current sponsor, to return.

Paul Menard – Menard has announced he is headed to Richard Childress Racing next year. Menard’s current crew chief, Richard “Slugger” Labbe, has had his option picked up by RPM, so as of now he won’t be moving with Menard to RCR.

David Ragan – He’s on here only because he’s been in the rumor mill of late. But Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith said in May that Ragan and UPS will be back in 2011, and he has not wavered from that stance in recent weeks.

Marcos Ambrose – Ambrose has signed with RPM and will have sponsorship from Stanley Tools for the majority of the races. RPM still needs to fill out the season sponsorship and also might need to find a replacement for Francis.

Scott Speed – Although he has a contract that prohibits him from negotiating with another team, he appears to be the odd man out at Red Bull unless the organization moves to a three-car operation. Brian Vickers announced Saturday that he has been cleared to return to racing and the team. That gives Red Bull three drivers – Vickers, Kahne and Speed – and currently only two cars.

Sam Hornish Jr. will be in a Penske car for a partial schedule of NASCAR Nationwide Series races. (Photo: Getty Images)

Sam Hornish – He currently has one of the most lucrative rides in the garage with Roger Penske, but has no sponsor for next season. Penske said a couple of weeks ago that he’s committed to finding a sponsor, but Hornish has said that if a sponsor is not found, he’d have to consider other NASCAR options. Hornish’s current sponsor, Mobil, goes away after this season as Penske has landed the Shell/Pennzoil sponsorship for Kurt Busch. If Penske can find a sponsor, the former three-time IndyCar Series champion will be back in the No. 77 next year. If a potential sponsor wants another driver, Hornish could be looking. A key component could be whether Penske needs to field three Cup cars as part of its Dodge contract.

Elliott Sadler – Sadler said last week that he does not know what he’ll be doing in 2011. He has had success driving in the Nationwide and Truck series for Kevin Harvick Inc. and could very well be back with KHI next year. As far as what will happen to the No. 19 car, RPM currently is seeking sponsorship to field that car next year and have at least three cars on the track.

Regan Smith – Smith is not signed for next year but it appears he will re-sign with Furniture Row Racing.

SceneDaily.com • Elliott Sadler unsure of 2011 Cup plans, ‘having a ball’ driving for KHI in Nationwide, Truck series