Earnhardt Says JR Motorsports Sprint Cup Upgrade Unlikely

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday that he doubts his JR Motorsports team will move to Sprint Cup competition in 2010.

An online website reported last week that Earnhardt could be shuffled to JR Motorsports next season to make room for Danica Patrick in the Hendrick Motorsports stable, but Earnhardt said it would be "quite a challenge for anybody to find the kind of financial support you need" to move the team from Nationwide to Sprint Cup competition. It would also reportedly require team co-owner Rick Hendrick to divest his ownership stake, in order to comply with NASCAR’s four-car ownership cap.

Mayfield Back in Chi-Town?: Crewchief Tony Furr says the Mayfield Motorsports team could be back on track with less than two days notice. Furr and the rest of the team were laid off in the aftermath of Mayfield’s suspension from NASCAR, but said Saturday that if the sponsorship is there, the team can be reassembled quickly. “All the stuff is still there at the shop," he said. "We're a day-and-a-half away from having (the car) ready to go. I could have a team in place in less than an hour. Mayfield Motorsports has not competed since the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway on May 24. In an open letter to fans, friends and fellow competitors, Mayfield said he is working around the clock to try and secure the funding needed to take part in this weekend’s race at Chicagoland Speedway.

PRM/Dodge News: Richard Petty said Friday that Chrysler is working on a plan to pay some of the money it owes Richard Petty Motorsports. After seeing the cash pipeline shut down in recent weeks, Petty said all parties are working to determine what Chrysler can do to help eliminate the past-due balance. RPM is in the final year of its contract with Dodge, and Petty said he is open to talking with other manufacturers about 2010 and beyond.

Leffler's `09 Schedule Trimmed: Braun Racing has announced that Great Clips will remain on board as sponsor of its #38 NASCAR Nationwide Series team for the next three seasons. Jason Leffler will drive the #38 Great Clips Toyota Camry in 27 of the 35 races, with Kasey Kahne running the remaining eight. Leffler is currently fourth in Nationwide points, trailing only Kyle Busch, Carl Edewards and Brad Keselowski.

Thursday 1:15 ET: Mayfield Motorsports A Daytona No-Show

A total of 45 transporters rolled through the tunnel at Daytona International Speedway this morning, but Mayfield Motorsports Inc., was not among them.

Despite winning a temporary injunction yesterday allowing him back behind the wheel effective immediately, it appears that Jeremy Mayfield will not attempt to qualify for Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400. Mayfield said yesterday that he hoped to compete this weekend, but his attorney, Bill Diehl, told Sirius Speedway that preparing a car and getting it to Daytona in time for today’s opening round of practice would be “problematic.”

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Mayfield Motorsports has until 3 p.m. ET today to present a car for competition, and with less than two hours remaining, our sources at the speedway say he has not yet done so.

The hype surrounding Mayfield threatened to cross the line into outright silliness earlier today, when the Associated Press ran a breathless story announcing that team owners Larry Gunselman and Tommy Baldwin will not put Mayfield in their cars this weekend.

That really came as no surprise, since veteran Mike Wallace was already entered in Gunselman’s #64 Toyota, with Patrick Carpentier slated to steer Baldwin’s #36. Gunselman said that his sponsor wants no part of the controversy surrounding Mayfield, while Baldwin pointed out that he already had a driver for the weekend; Carpentier.

In a related (and equally vapid) story, Hendrick Motorsports, Roush-Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing all revealed today that they have no plans to replace any of their drivers with Mayfield, either.

BREAKING NEWS: Mayfield Wins Injunction, Cleared To Race At Daytona

U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen has granted Jeremy Mayfield’s request for a preliminary injunction, a decision that forced NASCAR – at least for now -- to lift his indefinite suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, reportedly methamphetamines.

That ruling does not necessarily mean that Mayfield will take part in Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. NASCAR is entitled to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., though spokesman Ramsey Poston said NASCAR does not plan to appeal, and will abide by the judge's ruling.

The sanctioning body had argued that Mayfield is not guaranteed the right to compete as a driver, pointing out that Mayfield Motorsports has fielded cars for driver J.J. Yeley in Mayfield’s absence. In their words, "While (Mayfield has) not suffered, and will not suffer, any harm that could not be compensated through a monetary award, reversing the suspension would create a real and serious risk of injury or death to others.”

NASCAR also raised the spectre of Mayfield’s fellow drivers refusing to compete if he is on the track. “If other drivers refuse to race, it will harm the relationships that NASCAR has developed with its drivers, fans, sponsors and broadcasters over the last sixty years."

In his ruling, Judge Mullen said, "The harm to Mayfield substantially outweighs harm to NASCAR." He also ruled that Mayfield is subject to whatever drug testing NASCAR deems fit.

NASCAR’s Poston said Mayfield will be tested on a regular basis.

Tony George Out As Indy President/CEO

The Board of Directors of Hulman & Company and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Tuesday that a new management team comprised of veteran IMS executives W. Curtis Brighton and Jeffrey G. Belskus will head the Hulman-George companies
effective July 1. They will replace Tony George, who will no longer serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hulman-George companies but will remain a board member of the Hulman-George companies.

"Our board had asked Tony to structure our executive staff to create efficiencies in our business structure and to concentrate his leadership efforts in the Indy Racing League," said IMS Chairman of the Board Mari Hulman George. "He has decided that with the recent unification of open-wheel racing and the experienced management team IMS has cultivated over the years, now would be the time for him to concentrate on his team ownership of Vision Racing with his family and other personal business interests he and his family share.

"Tony will remain on the Board of Directors of all of our companies, and he will continue to work with the entire board to advance the interests of all of companies. Our family and the entire racing community are grateful to Tony for the leadership and direction he has provided since 1990. We are pleased that he will continue to be an important part of the Indy Racing League as a team owner and as a member of our Board of Directors, and we wish him every success."

Today’s announcement mirrored a report filed by SPEED TV’s Robin Miller two weeks ago; a report that was strongly denied by all parties.

By Popular Demand: The Secret Recipe For The Godfather's APPLE PIE MOONSHINE!

1 gallon apple juice
1/2 gallon apple cider
1 1/3 cup sugar
6 cinnamon sticks
Combine, bring to a boil, allow to cool
Add 1/2 liter of Everclear or other clear corn whiskey. (More to suit your taste)
Strain through cheesecloth or paper towels into mason jars or other container.

Enjoy in moderation!!!

Mayfield Failed Independent Test

ESPN.com is reporting today that tests performed by an independent laboratory support the original findings that led to Jeremy Mayfield’s indefinite suspension from NASCAR.

The name of the individual and the specific test results were blacked out in court documents, but a spokesman for NASCAR confirmed to ESPN that the findings were identical. Medtox Laboratories tested Mayfield’s "A" and "B" samples last week, and discovered the same banned substance originally found by Aegis Laboratories, which oversees NASCAR’s drug testing program.

Attorneys for both Mayfield and NASCAR testified in court two weeks ago that the substance in question is amphetamines.

Mayfield's attorneys contend that a second, independent lab should have been used to test Mayfield’s "B" sample in the first place, and that the sample was compromised when opened for testing by Aegis Labs. A hearing is set for tomorrow in U.S. District Court, as Mayfield seeks a temporary restraining order that would allow him to compete in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

Truex To Finish `09 With MWR: Despite published reports claiming that Martin Truex Jr. could move to Michael Waltrip Racing’s #55 Toyota as soon as next month’s race at Chicagoland Speedway, Sirius Speedway has learned that Truex will remain with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing for the remainder of the season.

Sources close to the situation say that while an agreement to move Truex to the Waltrip camp for the final few races of the season could still come to fruition, contractual and sponsorship issues will almost certainly keep Truex in the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for the rest of the year.

Waltrip, meanwhile, is expected to finish the 2009 campaign in his familiar NAPA Toyota. Sources say that Truex will steer a new, NAPA-backed #56 Camry in 2010, with Waltrip running a limited schedule of 10-12 races (including the season-opener at Daytona) in a companion #55.

Michael Waltrip Racing is expected to announce the moves in a press conference scheduled for July 7.

NASCAR Claiming Milwaukee Vendor Revenue: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported today that Wisconsin Motorsports, promoter of the Milwaukee Mile, owes NASCAR nearly $1.9 million dollars for the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck races held there this month.

Claude Napier, head of Wisconsin Motorsports, signed an agreement the day before the races were scheduled to take place, stating that he was unable to pay NASCAR’s sanction fee for the events, and agreeing that all revenue from the races would go directly to NASCAR. An attorney for NASCAR subsequently sent a letter to the track’s vendors, concessionaires and program sellers, instructing them to forward the money they owe Wisconsin Motorsports to NASCAR, instead.

NASCAR has reportedly paid all of its teams for the two events.

Truex Leaving EGR, Bass Pro Staying

Martin Truex, Jr., is expected to announce next week that he will leave Earhhardt-Ganassi Racing to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing next season. Even if Truex bolts, however, EGR President Steve Lauletta said this week that he expects his major sponsor -- Bass Pro Shops -- to remain with the team.

Lauletta confirmed that EGR has not re-signed Truex for 2010, but declined to comment on whether Aric Almirola or another driver would replace Truex at the wheel of the #1 Chevrolet.

Denials Aplenty: Hendrick Motorsports has strongly denied an internet report claiming that Dale Earnhardt, Jr., will be farmed out to a new JR Motorsports Sprint Cup team next season to make room for Danica Patrick.

The mikemulhern.net website reported yesterday that the battle for Patrick’s services has boiled down to Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing, with Hendrick “now the heavy favorite to sign Patrick.” Mulhern reported that the Patrick-Hendrick negotiations are “very close to being a 'done deal,'” and that Patrick could take Earnhardt's spot at Hendrick Motorsports, with Junior moving to a new JR Motorsports Cup operation.

NASCAR is denying another Mulhern report claiming that the sanctioning body is considering dramatic cuts in next year’s Camping World Truck Series schedule, and could abolish the series outright. NASCAR Vice President Steve O'Donnell reportedly addressed those rumors in the pre-race drivers’ meeting at Memphis Motorsports Park, assuring teams that NASCAR has no plans to scale-back or eliminate the series in 2010. He said he expects to see new owners, drivers and tracks on the series next season.

Milwaukee Mile Short On Cash: Updating a story we first reported last week, the Milwaukee Mile still owes NASCAR money from the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races held there two weekends ago.

Wisconsin Motorsports head Claude Napier declined to talk specifically about the situation this week, but acknowledged that the legendary speedway will lose money this year. In his words, “I don't want to get into specifics about what we owe and what we don't owe. We are working very closely with NASCAR and in particular we are working on the future."

NASCAR has reportedly paid its teams for the two events, and is working closely with the track to resolve the issue. Spokesmen for the IRL IndyCar Series have refused to say whether their teams have been paid for an event there the same weekend.

Commentary: Conflicting Reports Provide Valuable Insight

The ongoing discussion regarding Richard Petty Motorsports and its manufacturer affiliations has produced no shorage of headlines in the last 72 hours. Reports have been made, confirmed, denied and contradicted, leaving fans with little choice but to decided who they want to believe, and forget the rest.

If nothing else, the story provides an interesting look at how things happen behind the scenes in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.

I told you Monday that there was a strong possibility of Richard Petty Motorsports fielding Toyota Camrys for driver Kasey Kahne, as soon as mid-August. Despite being confirmed by multiple sources within the organization, the story was immediately and categorically denied by RPM.

Yesterday, team co-owner Richard Petty joined us on Sirius Speedway, and was asked whether the team had plans to field Toyotas later this year. He answered, “I don't really know. I don't think anybody knows right now exactly where we're sitting, what we're gonna do, (or) what's gonna happen three weeks from now, let alone the beginning of next year.”

Just hours earlier, Richard Petty Motorsports spokesman Drew Brown responded to the same question by saying, “Richard Petty Motorsports has no plans to switch manufacturers in 2009 with any of our Cup cars. Our people plan to keep winning races with Dodge like they did Sunday and later this year put Dodges in the Chase."

Is it any wonder that media outlets contradict each other? And is it any wonder that fans are confused about who -– and what -- to believe?

For the record, I have no problem being called on the carpet by a race team for reporting something they don’t want reported. Public relations representatives are under no obligation to tell the truth to the media. They can tell us the whole truth, a half-truth or an outright lie, as the case requires. In fact, there are times where they have to lie to us, in the best interest of their team.

Anyone who does a job like mine for any length of time has been called a damned liar – in so many words – on Monday, only to be proven correct a few days later when the official press conference takes place. It’s part of the job, and people generally don’t take it personally.

I certainly don’t.

As of now, nobody knows whether Kasey Kahne will drive a Toyota this season or not. I don’t know, you don’t know… King Richard himself says he doesn’t know! I guess we’ll just wait and see. Despite all the denials, however, it is clear that the possibility has been discussed at the highest levels of Richard Petty Motorsports.

Take all the hubbub and confusion of the last few days, file it away and remember it the next time you're faced with wildly conflicting media reports on a major NASCAR story. At times like this, the bottom line is simple. Reporters have a job to do, and PR people have a job to do. Sometimes, those jobs put us at loggerheads.

It happens.

Petty On Dodge/Toyota Combo: "Nobody Knows What's Going To Happen."

Richard Petty left little doubt yesterday that discussions have taken place about converting at least part of the Richard Petty Motorsports stable to Toyota power.

In an exclusive Sirius Speedway interview, the seven-time Sprint Cup Series champion was asked about reports that his team will field Toyotas for driver Kasey Kahne as soon as mid-August. "It's all swirling around," said Petty. "I don't really know, and I don't think anybody knows right now exactly where we're sitting, what we're gonna do, (or) what's gonna happen... three weeks from now, let alone the beginning of next year.

"We're like everybody else," he said. "We're trying to put ourselves together with our sponsor deals, make sure we've got (the money) to be able to go. Then we're going to look at whatever we think is going to be best for Richard Petty Motorsports in the short run and the long run.

"After being here for 50 or 60 years, I'm not looking for a quick fix," said Petty. "We're trying to put stuff together so that we can go on down the road next year, the year after next (and) the year after that."

"We're open about anything right now. So we're going to put everything on the table and... hope we make the right decisions on where we go."

Asked about his longtime loyalty to the Dodge brand, Petty replied that loyalty is a two-way street.

"You've got to look at it from the standpoint of; can Dodge be loyal to us now that the government owns Chrysler? I don't know if the people (in Washington) are race fans. If they are, then that's going to be great. But if they're not, it affects so many people. There's so much going on out there -- under the table or under the ground -- that we don't know about. So what Dodge does next year -- or Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota or whoever -- we're just going to have to wait and let the dust settle. Then we're going to run in there and pick up the best thing we can."

Petty admitted that discussions have taken place about the challenges of fielding two different brands of race car out of the same shop.

"I've asked the same question," he laughed. "Really, I have. I said, 'What if?' And I think that's what we're gonna have to do. We're gonna have to say, 'What if?' and see...(what it would take) to be able to do something like that."

Petty said he sees at least one major roadblock to the two-manufacturer system: the engine shop.

"The cars have got the same wheels, same brakes, same chassis snd same basic body, so all that stuff would be easy. The big deal is how could you do the motor situation? That would be the big question mark. I don't know if it's ever been done, but if it could be done, we could probably do it."

BREAKING NEWS: Dodge Back On Top Of RPM Derby

It's a full-time job keeping up with the behind-the-scenes maneuvering at Richard Petty Motorsports these days.

As we first reported yesterday, sources inside the walls at RPM say plans have been made to field Toyota Camrys for Kasey Kahne beginning in mid-August, as soon as team officials finalize a financial settlement package with Dodge. Those negotiations have reportedly taken a sudden turn in recent days, though, with the possibility now existing for Kahne and his RPM teammates to remain in the Dodge camp, after all.

Nobody seems to know exactly what turned the tide back in Dodge’s favor. Speculation ranges from a juicy incentive package offered by Dodge, to a bit of hardball by the automaker holding RPM to its existing contracts. The “juicy incentive” option is highly unlikely considering Chrysler’s recent bankruptcy filing, and Dodge previously allowed Chip Ganassi Racing to move to the Chevrolet camp after its merger with Dale Earnhardt. Inc., despite an existing contract.

The most likely explanation for RPM’s sudden about-face is Richard Petty’s personal loyalty to Dodge. Sources say that Reed Sorenson’s #43 would have remained a Dodge even after Kahne’s manufacturer switch, forcing RPM to construct two different makes of cars under the same roof. While such an undertaking is less daunting today than in the past -- due to common body templates and chassis -- the logistics are still considerable.

King Richard may not be the sole decision-maker for his team anymore, but his influence within the walls of RPM is still considerable. Sources say his insistence on remaining (at least partially) a Dodge Boy played a major role in this week’s reversal.

In the end, after a serious flirtation with Toyota – the second in as many years for team co-owner George Gillett – it now appears that Richard Petty Motorsports may remain in the Dodge camp, after all.