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JENSEN: Coke Zero 400 Blog
Written by: Tom Jensen   
07/05/2008
Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
The Stewart announcement about his future could come at Chicago next week or at Indianapolis in three weeks. (Geoff Burke/Getty Images Photo) ยป More Photos

SPEEDtv.com's Tom Jensen blogs the latest news heading into the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Check back for updates and don't forget to leave your comments below!


Blog Post: Saturday, July 5, 2008 5:08 PM Eastern

SILLY SEASON UPDATE Among the hot but unconfirmed rumors making the rounds in the Sprint Cup garage this week are that Richard Childress Racing will land UPS as a sponsor for Clint Bowyer’s No. 07 Chevrolet. Multiple sources indicated that Bowyer’s car was the favorite to take the sponsorship over from Michael Waltrip Racing and David Reutimann. One source close to the negotiations said RCR initially offered UPS Jeff Burton, 41, but the delivery company wanted a younger driver with whom it could create a long-term identity and Bowyer is just 29. Burton, instead, will be sponsored next year by Caterpillar.

Elsewhere, the available sponsors and drivers on the market are waiting to see what Tony Stewart does. Stewart is widely expected to move to Haas-CNC Racing as an owner/driver, with some combination of Office Depot and Old Spice as primary sponsors. The team’s second car could be driven by Ryan Newman or Martin Truex Jr., perhaps with Bass Pro Shops sponsorship. Stewart, who is under contract with Joe Gibbs Racing through the end of 2009, still needs to be released from his contract for any of these moves to take place next season.

Roush Fenway Racing officials confirmed Sunday that David Ragan will be back behind the wheel of the No. 6 Ford next season. Sponsor negotiations to replace AAA on the No. 6 are awaiting the completion of Stewart’s deal, though team sources confirmed that Office Depot will not be back at Roush Fenway Racing next season.

Once the Stewart situation is finalized, expect Yates Racing and several other mid-pack teams to complete their sponsor deals for 2009. The Stewart announcement could come at Chicago next week or at Indianapolis in three weeks, but rumors of an announcement this coming Monday are false, according to Stewart’s representative.

The U.S. Army sponsorship, which has been at Dale Earnhardt Inc. and is now up for its annual review, should be awarded within the next month, sources close to the situation confirmed to SPEEDTV.com.

MONEY WOES? With Detroit’s Big Three automakers in dire straights this year, rumors continue to fly about
a reduced level of involvement in NASCAR next season. One place Big Three budgets might be cut is in the level of support given to teams in the NASCAR Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series. There is nothing definite yet, but there is concern in the garage that corporate budgets in the lower-tier series might be cut sharply.

Toyota’s utter dominance of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, where it has won 13 of 19 races so far this season, could be a turn off for GM, Ford and Chrysler as well.

BRIEFLY NOTED Old School Racing will host its inaugural event July 18 at Music City Motorplex in Nashville. Drivers scheduled to compete include Harry Gant, Lake Speed, Sterling Marlin, Geoff Bodine, Dave Marcis and many others. Info at racersreunion.com. … The Home Depot has donated $410,000 to the NASCAR Foundation as a result of funds raised through an in-store promotion to support the 2008 NASCAR Day campaign. … Tony Stewart’s No. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series entry will carry a special paint scheme in the Aug. 16 race at Michigan International Speedway. The paint scheme, designed, by 14-year-old Emily Marsala, recognizes Give Kids The World, which provides weeklong resort for vacations for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. … After each Sprint Cup race, Goodyear will present the winning team owner, crew chief and driver a three-inch medallion to commemorate the victory. Goodyear also will give 100 two-inch medallions to winning team members. Fans can also purchase Goodyear Eagle Race Win Medallion set through the Racing Collectibles Club of America.

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 television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the President of the National Motorsports Press Association. Jensen is the 1997 National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year and has won numerous national and state awards for news reporting, columns and feature writing. 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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