Dale Earnhardt Jr. still has a shot to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup. A longshot, granted. “I want [our fans and sponsors] to know that no matter what, me and the team are giving everything we got,” Earnhardt said. “We’re not going to lose focus or give up or pack it in.”

Tony Stewart, who earlier this year was so frustrated that he sarcastically talked about quitting, is anxious to sign an extension with Joe Gibbs Racing that will take him through the remainder of his Nextel Cup career.
“I’m not looking to retire anytime soon,” Stewart said during a Wednesday press conference to announce JGR’s move from [...]

Toyota statement on Gibbs signing:
“Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the most respected teams in NASCAR, a championship-caliber race team and a first-class organization,” said Jim Aust, vice president of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and president and CEO of TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development). “We are confident that partnering with the Gibbs team will [...]

Ryan Coniam has been hired as race engineer for Jacques Villeneuve in the 2008 Nextel Cup Series. Villeneuve, who was world driving champion in 1997, will start his NASCAR career at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 22 when he will partner Bill Davis Racing teammate Mike Skinner in a Craftsman Truck Series race. Villeneuve [...]

Statement from Brent Dewar; General Motors North America Vice President of Vehicle Sales, Service and Parts Regarding Joe Gibbs Racing’s decision to sign with another manufacturer:
“General Motors has been associated with Joe Gibbs Racing for 16 years working together winning races and championships. While we understand the business nature of racing, we are disappointed in [...]

Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), winners of three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championships and over 70 NASCAR races, will campaign Toyota Camrys in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Grand National Series beginning in 2008.
“We look forward to partnering with Toyota in NASCAR in 2008. Toyota will be hands-on with us as we become an [...]

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) and Coors Brewing Company announced that Coors Light will not return as a primary sponsor on the team’s #40 Dodge in 2008. “After much evaluation on both of our parts, we agreed that having Coors Light back as a sponsor on the #40 Dodge was not going to [...]

With the addition of Joe Gibbs Racing to the Toyota stable finalized, reports are surfacing that Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates could be next. Joe Gibbs Racing will announce Wednesday that they will switch to Toyota in 2008.

Not even Paris Hilton could help this time.
On the Wednesday prior to last Sunday’s race at California Speedway, the track held a glitzy only in Hollywood style party. Jeff Gordon, sporting a three-day growth of beard that’s considered chic among Hollywood’s elite, was doing doughnuts in the parking lot in a Corvette with singer Rihanna [...]

Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 along with some other notable drivers, going into the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8.
1 — Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)