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JENSEN: Sharpie 500 Blog
Written by: Tom Jensen   
08/22/2008
Bristol, Tenn.
 
Michael Waltrip drives during practice for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo Courtesy of Toyota Motorsports) ยป More Photos

SPEEDtv.com's Tom Jensen blogs the latest news heading into the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Check back for updates and don't forget to leave your comments below!


Blog Post: Friday, August 22, 2008 3:53 PM Eastern

NEW FACES COMING Between now and the end of the 2008 season, Joey Logano and Scott Speed likely will make their NASCAR Sprint Cup debuts. In Speed’s case, Red Bull Racing will probably employ its test team – which includes veteran Cup crew chief Richard “Slugger” Labbe — for a third car for Speed, said team Vice President and General Manager Jay Frye said Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Red Bull is still deciding whether or not to run two or three full-time cars next season, or two full- and one part-time cars, and whether it will retain AJ Allmendinger in its No. 84 Toyota. Speed, who has a chance to win the ARCA RE/MAX Series title this year, has been exceptionally impressive transitioning to stock cars, while Allmendinger has shown huge improvement since the start of the season. Frye said he hopes to have 2008 plans finalized in October.

Logano, meanwhile, is expected to get his feet wet in a few races with the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing team, which in the last four weeks has employed Ken Schrader, Brad Coleman, P.J. Jones and the since-sacked J.J. Yeley. Nothing is firmed up, HoF sources said, but a Logano debut later this season is likely as a prelude to the 18-year-old phenom taking over Tony Stewart’s No. 20 ride at Joe Gibbs Racing next season.

DREAM DEAL FOR WALTRIP Michael Waltrip Racing now has sponsorship in place for half of its three-cart NASCAR Sprint Cup team, following the announcement Friday that Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership, the largest division of Aaron Rents, Inc., will sponsor driver David Reutimann and the No. 00 Toyota for 18 Sprint Cup races next season. Aaron’s will also sponsor the MWR No. 99 NASCAR Nationwide Series car for 10 races in 2008.

Team owner Waltrip and his No. 55 Toyota will continue to be backed by NAPA next year, which leaves the team still looking to finalize deals for the remaining 18 races with Reutimann and the team’s third car. Waltrip said the team was close to wrapping up the rest of Reutimann’s car, with plans for the third car to be announced
at a later date.

MOVING UP Kasey Kahne said Friday his Gillett Evernham Motorsports team isn’t where it needs to be yet, but it’s in a much better spot than it was a year ago. “I think our consistency has been there. I haven’t looked at results in a long time, but I feel like we’ve been from about seventh to 15th since we’ve won those races (All-Star and Coca-Cola 600). Maybe not every one, but there are a lot that have been right in that area.”

Kahne, who suffered through a dreadful 2007, said he’s a lot happier with his team’s performance this season. “Our team has done a great job,” he said. “It takes time. Last year at this time, we were 28th in points and didn’t have a shot at anything. I think we’ve come a long ways as team and our consistency from seventh or eighth to 15th has been really good as far as I’m concerned.”

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel

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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