Series watchers expect that Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will park its No. 8 Chevrolet for Aric Almirola. Team owner Chip Ganassi said he won’t run the car without a sponsor–the same stance he took last year when he closed down former IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti’s team.

Sprint remains committed to sponsoring NASCAR’s premier series through the duration of its contract that runs through 2013 despite tough economic conditions, director of Sprint entertainment and marketing Steve Gaffney said Wednesday.

Rick Hendrick hopes to know by July whether 50-year-old Mark Martin will drive full-time again in 2010. He also reiterated that he’s convinced there’s no better person than Martin, whose original deal called for him to drive a partial schedule next season, for the No. 5. “He’s delivered everything I thought and more,” Hendrick said [...]