Two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart has been granted a release from the final year of his driving contract with Joe Gibbs Racing after 10 seasons with the team, sources close to Stewart confirmed for ESPN.com Tuesday night.
Stewart will formally announce his departure from the team Wednesday.

UPDATE:
Dale Earnhardt Inc. is not for sale — right now.
DEI president Max Siegel on Tuesday refuted an Internet report that company owner Teresa Earnhardt had commissioned investment banking firm Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. to locate a buyer or financial investment partner.

“We have not engaged Bear, Stearns or Goldman Sachs or anyone else,” Siegel said. [...]

NASCAR has docked Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver Martin Truex Jr. 150 points and suspended crew chief Kevin Manion and car chief Gary Putnam for six races apiece for presenting a car that did not meet NASCAR’s roof template for inspection last week at Daytona International Speedway.

Mark Martin’s new deal with Hendrick Motorsports will make it much easier for DEI to re-sign #1-Martin Truex Jr. Early Sunday morning, sources close to Truex Jr. said Martin’s release from the team at the end of the 2009 season would free up more than $8 million dollars. That money now appears to be spearheaded [...]

Shootout to get new name? There’s a chance the annual running of the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway could play the name game.