ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT KYLE BUSCH’S COMMENTS EARLIER TODAY ABOUT YOUR CREW CHIEF SITUATION?: “Not really, that doesn’t really surprise me what Kyle (Busch) says. He’s always had a chip on his shoulder for me.

According to a report by Charlotte, N.C., television station WCNC, NASCAR suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield for testing positive for amphetamines.

UPDATE 2: Judge denies request A North Carolina Superior Court judge denied NASCAR driver/owner Jeremy Mayfield’s request for a temporary restraining order against NASCAR to have his indefinite suspension for a positive drug test overturned Friday afternoon.

Kyle Busch said it point-blank: “It’s never Junior; it’s always the crew chief.” Busch fired that opening volley of driver reaction Friday morning to Hendrick Motorsports’ dismissal of Tony Eury Jr. as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief on Thursday.

UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt, Jr comments on the crew chief change: “I don’t have an explanation for our situation this year and why it’s been as miserable as it’s been,” Earnhardt Jr. told reporters during an appearance to promote next month’s race at Michigan International Speedway. “We changed nothing from last year. Of course we tailed [...]

Mayfield Motorsports has apparently pulled their entry (with JJ Yeley driving) from Dover this weekend. The following was posted on Yeley’s website: ‘Mayfield Motorsports will not be taking the #41 Toyota to the Dover 400 this weekend. No reason was given at this time.’

UPDATED 2: Video interview with Tony George HERE

NASCAR has suspended Camping World Truck Series crew member Andrew Crnkovic indefinitely for violation of the sport’s substance-abuse policy. Crnkovic was a member of the No. 07 SS-Green Light Racing team.

NASCAR has issued penalties to the #7 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as a result of rules violations committed at Lowe’s Motor Speedway earlier this week. The #7 car, driven and owned by Robby Gordon, was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4I [...]

NASCAR chairman Brian France held two town hall meetings Tuesday with the sport’s “stakeholders” to discuss everything from its toughened drug policy to the economy, competition and fan interest. “I learned a long time ago if you get everybody involved, they can’t complain,” team owner Rick Hendrick said after exiting the morning session. “That’s what [...]

UPDATE 2: Team owner Rick Hendrick, who has previously said he doesn’t plan to make changes to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, wasn’t as definitive on Tuesday. “Could it change?” Hendrick said Tuesday following a meeting with NASCAR officials at the Research and Development Center. “We’re talking about things. We’re going to make decisions as the [...]

The word on the street is that Martin Truex to Michael Waltrip’s team in 2010 is a ‘done deal,’ but Truex and Ty Norris, the general manager for Waltrip’s operation, both insist their 2010 deals are still up in the air, for at least another three weeks. “We’ve been hearing the same things,” Norris concedes.