Although there is a lot of speculation, Bobby Labonte is keeping quiet about his plans for the 2009 season. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images Photo)

Another key free agent is two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Martin Truex Jr., who is in the final year of his contract. Truex has been mentioned as a possibility for RCR’s fourth car next year. Truex and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are close friends and would welcome the chance to be teammates again, though there are no openings at the moment at Hendrick Motorsports, where Earnhardt now drives.

Bobby Labonte’s contract with Petty Enterprises is up at the end of 2008, and Labonte has said that he will not talk about his plans until he’s ready to make a formal announcement. Since his current sponsor, General Mills, is moving to RCR’s fourth car, it was assumed that Labonte would move there, too, although that appears far from certain now.

Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman is in the final year of his contract with Penske Racing as well, although his name has not been out there as much as some of the other free agents this season.

While speculation and rumors continue to run rampant, as they do at Silly Season every year at this time, the one given is that next year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup owner/driver/sponsor lineup will again have some big changes.

Tom Jensen is the Senior NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the President of the National Motorsports Press Association. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to

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