Several sources, including a NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief and a manufacturer’s representative, have confirmed that the sanctioning body intends to replace carburetors with fuel injection on Sprint Cup engines in 2011. The move has been discussed for several years, but in a meeting between NASCAR representatives and representatives of the manufacturers held after the Talladega race, the plan was reportedly presented to those in attendance.

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Apparently, a one-year deal was inked last Wednesday between Jamie McMurray and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and is expected to be announced sometime on Tuesday. Kevin “Bono” Manion is expected to continue on as the crew chief.

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Rick Hendrick said Sunday he has no deal to bring IndyCar superstar Danica Patrick to NASCAR, and there’s no certainty she’ll even be driving stock cars next season. “I just think that they are not even close to making a decision on whether to even do it this year or next year,” Hendrick said of Patrick and her representatives at IMG. “You never know until it’s done. You never know until it’s signed. And anybody can change their mind. When you get down to the nitty gritty of any deal, it’s always complicated. There can always be someone who comes back and says `I can’t do it because of this.’ So until it’s done, it’s not done. And that’s the honest truth.” Continue reading ‘Hendrick denies deal with Danica’

NASCAR chairman Brian France and other top officials talked to rookie Brad Keselowski before Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway about his over-aggressive driving that has angered several drivers. “It’s hard to bust a guy for being aggressive, but there’s a fine line between being aggressive and destructive,” Series director John Darby said. “From listening and talking to people, he’s already got a few drivers upset. Continue reading ‘NASCAR meets with Keselowski’

Six pit crew workers for Dale Earnhardt Jr. were involved in a car accident Sunday morning on the way to Phoenix International Raceway, but all of them are expected to work the Checker Auto Parts 500 Sunday afternoon, team officials confirmed. All six men were treated and released at the PIR Infield Care Center after their vehicle was T-boned at an intersection near the track. Continue reading ‘Earnhardt crew treated after wreck’

Robby Gordon, who has run a full Sprint Cup schedule as a driver/owner since 2006, says he has enough sponsorship for only eight races in 2010. “I’m looking at a lot of weekends off,” a frustrated Gordon said Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. Gordon said he has two four-race commitments from sponsors for next season. One of his major sponsors, Jim Beam, announced earlier in the year that it would not return to the sport. “Nobody is spending money,” Gordon said. “Everybody is cutting the fat out of everything. To be in racing you have to be a pretty big company.” Continue reading ‘Gordon facing 8 race season’

Stewart Haas Racing is scheduled to make a sponsorship announcement regarding Ryan Newman in 2010 on Sunday morning. One possibility is Bass Pro Shops, though no announcement has been made of a decision by that company to leave Earnhardt Ganassi. Bass Pro Shops currently sponsors Martin Truex Jr.’s #1 Chevy. Truex is leaving for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010.

NASCAR This Week

Michael Waltrip Racing officials say the team is serious about the upcoming NASCAR test for former Toyota F1 driver Jarno Trulli. Trulli will be driving a Sprint Cup series Toyota Camry on November 16th & 17th at the half-mile New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, a test that he has stressed he will be doing just for fun. Mika Salo, also a former Toyota driver in the team’s debut season in Formula 1, will be joining him. Team owner Michael Waltrip is taking the opportunity to run Trulli in one of his cars seriously, even while reminding that the Italian’s intentions are initially just to sample stock cars and ovals for the first time. Continue reading ‘F1 driver Jarno Trulli to test for MWR’

Aric Almirola has filed a lawsuit in North Carolina Superior Court alleging that Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. have breached their contract with him. Almirola, who drove in seven Sprint Cup races this year for the team before his car was parked because of a lack of sponsorship, filed the complaint last Thursday. DEI had announced last year that Almirola would run a full season in 2009, but the organization later merged its Cup operation with Chip Ganassi Racing to form Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Continue reading ‘Almirola files lawsuit against Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’

The North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA) announced that Dale Earnhardt Sr. will be the 2010 Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award Recipient. Earnhardt will be honored on January 25th, 2010 at the NCMA’s 4th Annual Motorsports Industry Awards Banquet. Continue reading ‘Dale Earnhardt Sr. honored by NC Motorsports Association’

NASCAR announced penalties for the car No. 1 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for a violation that occurred during post-race inspection last Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. The team was penalized for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.8.1B (front of the car did not meet the required height specification; too low in post-race inspection). Continue reading ‘Truex docked 50 points for Texas violation’

The NASCAR workforce shrunk by 47 people on Monday as Richard Petty Motorsports took the first steps toward shutting down its engine department in Concord, NC. RPM is making reductions in its staff with the impending merger with Yates Racing. Additional cuts are expected in the car shop in Statesville, N.C. on Tuesday. Continue reading ‘RPM starts laying off crewmen’

The #1 Bass Pro Chevy driven by Martin Truex Jr. failed a post-race inspection when NASCAR officials found the height of the car was too low. The violation was discovered because the #1 Chevy was the random car selected for inspection after the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Truex finished 14th. Any penalties for the team will be announced on Tuesday, NASCAR officials confirmed. Continue reading ‘Martin Truex’s car fails post-race inspection’

Toyota and Richard Childress, who is part of the joint venture which currently supplies Chevrolet engines to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, gave co-team owner Chip Ganassi an ultimatum for a decision on manufacturers next year. Following several early morning meetings at Texas Motor Speedway, EGR opted to stay with Chevrolet. Continue reading ‘Earnhardt-Ganassi staying with Chevy’

What’s left of the original Evernham Motorsports engine shop is expected to shut down on Monday, according to multiple sources. Richard Petty Motorsports will retain the necessary personnel to complete the final two races of the season when engine duties will revert to Roush Yates engines with the move to Ford. Continue reading ‘RPM Engine shop to shut down’