The NASCAR rumor mill is always churning. With that in mind, we've got your one-stop shop for all the latest news and rumors about driver and crew changes.
Find the latest buzz on: Earnhardt-Ganassi | Furniture Row Racing | Hendrick Motorsports | Joe Gibbs Racing | Red Bull Racing | Richard Childress Racing | Richard Petty Motorsports | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Roush Fenway Racing | Stewart-Haas Racing | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Michael Waltrip Racing
| Team | Car numbers | Make |
| Michael Waltrip Racing | 00, 47, 55, 56 | Toyota |
(Updated Nov. 6)
Just the facts: Martin Truex Jr. will join the organization in 2010, driving the No. 56 with sponsorship from NAPA. Pat Tryson, currently crew chief for Penske Racing's No. 2 car with Kurt Busch, will serve as crew chief. Michael Waltrip will shift to a partial schedule in the No. 55, driving in at least four events. For the final 12 races of the 2009 season, Gene Nead replaced "Bootie" Barker as Waltrip's crew chief. David Reutimann drives the 00 car and will have primary sponsorship from Aaron's and Tums in 2010. The JTG-Daugherty 47 car driven by Marcos Ambrose is a quasi third team, working out of the MWR garages and receiving cars, engineering, mechanical and other technical support. That relationship will continue through 2011. Little Debbie's will return as Ambrose's sponsor in 2010.
Rumblings: After more than two seasons as a car owner, Waltrip finally saw one of his cars in Victory Lane as Reutimann captured the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 on May 25. While Reutimann put himself in contention for a spot in the Chase and Ambrose has been above average, Waltrip has not enjoyed similar success. Waltrip hopes to drive in a few Cup races in 2010, but sponsorship issues may not allow it. Reportedly, Reutimann still needs sponsorship for up to 12 races and Waltrip says that is his top priority. There's a chance Waltrip may run a full Nationwide schedule next season. The organization has also joined the mix for Danica Patrick's services for a handful of Nationwide races. While JR Motorsports/Rick Hendrick have been talked about as her leading option, MWR has been coming on strong. The Truex hiring was one of the worst kept secrets in the garage, but rumors that he would join the team immediately were off base. Perhaps toward the end of the season something could be arranged for Truex to leave Earnhardt-Ganassi a few races early to get a head start on next season. MWR also signed Truex Jr.'s younger brother Ryan to a developmental deal. | ||
| Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing | 1, 8, 41, 42 | Chevrolet |
(Updated Nov. 3)
Just the facts: Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing merged following the 2008 season to form Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. The organization had hoped to field four cars for 2009, but sponsorship never materialized for the 41 car and it was left on the cutting room floor, leaving Aric Almirola (8), Juan Pablo Montoya (42) and Martin Truex Jr. (1) as its drivers to start the season. The organization could never find a full season sponsor for Almirola and the 8 team was shuttered after seven races. Truex is leaving for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010.
Rumblings: The merger has had a positive effect on Montoya, who made the Chase in the midst of the best season of his career, but Truex's team failed to show any improvement, hence the jump to MWR. Could Ganassi's IRL connections help land Danica Patrick? Unless he's just being coy, it doesn't sound as if there's anything in the works. Ganassi says that if Patrick is interested in NASCAR, there are better Cup teams for her to go to and also offered up that he's only mildly interested in adding her to his IndyCar team. It seems an odd stance to take as EG could certainly use the cash infusion Patrick would be sure to bring in sponsorship. Jamie McMurray, who started his Cup career with Ganassi, appears to be the leading candidate to replace Truex in the 1 car, though sponsor Bass Pro Shops reportedly isn't sold because he's not much of an outdoorsman. Chatter has also Bobby Labonte in the mix. Labonte almost joined the organization during the offseason, but jilted them at the last minute in favor of the ride at Hall of Fame Racing. You would think there might be some lingering hard feelings. Perhaps there could be room for both if the organization puts the 8 car back on the track in the Cup Series. Reportedly, the 8 car is close to a deal that would put it on the track in the Nationwide Series full-time with Jeffrey Earnhardt behind the wheel. You can probably forget Almirola as a candidate for an EGR ride as he filed notice on Oct. 16 in North Carolina Superior Court in a breach-of-contract dispute. Of course, the action could force EGR's hand ala Elliott Sadler at Richard Petty Motorsports. According to a FoxSports.com report, EGR is considering a switch of manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota. | ||
| Penske Championship Racing | 2, 12, 77 | Dodge |
(Updated Nov. 2)
Just the facts: Brad Keselowski, who had been driving for JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series the past two seasons, will replace David Stremme in the team's No. 12 Cup car in 2010. He'll get an early start too, taking the wheel for the final three races of the 2009 season. He will also compete full-time in the Nationwide Series. Kurt Busch (2) and Sam Hornish Jr. (77) complete the driver lineup for the Cup Series. Busch will have a new crew chief in 2010 as Pat Tryson is leaving the organization to work with Martin Truex Jr. at Michael Waltrip Racing.
Rumblings: After a 2008 season in which none of its drivers made the Chase, at least one of its drivers has managed to rebound in 2009, with Busch making the Chase. Stremme and Hornish Jr., however, have met less success. In his second full season, Hornish has seen subtle improvement, notching seven top 10s through 33 races after having no top 10s in 2008, but he still has much to learn in his transition from the IRL to NASCAR. Stremme, in his first season with the team, had no top 10s in 33 races. Keselowski was reportedly offered the ride last year, but turned it down in hopes of remaining in the Hendrick Motorsports family. However, with Mark Martin returning to the 5 car in 2010, there was no room at Hendrick and sponsorship apparently wasn't coming together for a third team at Stewart-Haas. | ||
| Hendrick Motorsports | 5, 24, 48, 88 | Chevrolet |
(Updated Oct. 30)
Just the facts: Mark Martin has signed an extension to drive the 5 car on a full-time basis through 2011. Starting next season he'll have GoDaddy.com as his primary sponsor for at least 20 races. Jeff Gordon (24), Jimmie Johnson (48) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) are all under contract for next season. On May 28, it was announced that Lance McGrew would replace Tony Eury as crew chief for Earnhardt. On Oct. 30, Hendrick stated that McGrew would remain Earnhardt's crew chief for the 2010 season.
Rumblings: At the time of the crew chief change, Earnhardt had just three top 10s through the first 12 races of the season and was 19th in points. The final straw was the Coca-Cola 600 where Earnhardt ran at the back of the field all race long, finishing two laps down in 40th. Results after the change haven't exactly proven much better. Earnhardt has managed just two tops 10s with McGrew as crew chief through Oct. 30. NASCAR's four-car owner limit that begins in 2010 will prevent Hendrick from fielding a team for Brad Keselowski, who was seen as the possible successor to Martin. Keselowski, who has been driving for Earnhardt Jr.'s Nationwide Series team the past two seasons, will jump to Cup and join Penske Racing next year. Kelly Bires will replace Keselowski in the Nationwide Series car and if he performs at a high level, perhaps he'll be the eventual replace for Martin if he ever decides to retire. According to an SI.com report, owner Rick Hendrick is working on an arrangement with Earnhardt to have Danica Patrick in one of his cars on a part-time basis as well. Patrick has reportedly signed an extension with Andretti-Green to remain in the IndyCar Series full-time, but she remains interested in running stock cars on a limited basis. | ||
| Joe Gibbs Racing | 11, 18, 20 | Toyota |
(Updated Oct. 30)
Just the facts: Denny Hamlin (11) and Kyle Busch (18) are under contract through 2010. The contract status of Joey Logano (20) is unknown. Beginning at Texas on Nov. 8, Dave Rogers will replace Steve Addington as Busch's crew chief on the 18 car. Addington, who has served as crew chief for the No. 18 team for five seasons, will be reassigned.
Rumblings: After a slow start to the 2009 season, Logano, who was 19 when the season, began, has picked up the pace, easing JGR's concerns that it may have been too quick to move him up to the Cup Series. It stands to reason that as long as he shows consistency and improvement, Logano will be in the 20 car for many years to come. Busch says he will not run the full Nationwide schedule in 2010. Considering that for the second consecutive year Busch's results have tailed off as the season has wound down, the crew chief change isn't all that surprising. What is a little surprising is that JGR didn't pair Busch with Greg Zipadelli, whose history working with the ornery Tony Stewart would seem to make him a perfect fit for Busch, who shares Stewart's passion and fire. It's still possible they could make that change during the offseason, though the press release did not indicate that this was a temporary move. Rogers has been serving as crew chief on JGR's No. 20 car in the Nationwide Series. In 2008, he led the team to JGR’s first Nationwide owner’s championship amassing nine victories, six poles, 16 top-fives and 26 top-10s despite utilizing four different drivers over the course of the season. Addington said he was surprised by the move and is looking at options inside and outside the organization. | ||
| Richard Petty Motorsports | 9, 19, 43, 44 | Ford (2010) |
(Updated Oct. 30)
Just the facts: On Sept. 10, it was announced that Richard Petty Motorsports would merge with Yates Racing in 2010 under the RPM name with Ford as the manufacturer. Yates' Paul Menard will join RPM's Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and AJ Allmendinger as the organization's four drivers. Reed Sorenson will not be retained after his lone season in the Petty No. 43 car. Though a contract is not yet signed, sealed and delivered between the two organizations, RPM is already beginning the transition to Ford. Sadler will be in a Ford at Talladega, while Allmendinger will drive the brand for the final three races of the season. Prior to the 2009 season, Gillett Evernham Motorsports merged with Petty Enterprises to form Richard Petty Motorsports. The team is co-owned by Richard Petty, Petty Holdings, which itself is owned by majority shareholder Boston Ventures, and Gillett Evernham Motorsports. The organization fields cars for Kahne (9), Sadler (19), Sorenson (43) and Allmendinger (44). On Aug. 11, ahead of the season's second race at Michigan, the organization announced a crew chief swap between Allmendinger and Sorenson. Allmendinger is now teamed with Mike Shiplett, while Sorenson is working with Sammy Johns. Kevin Buskirk was removed as Sadler's crew chief and replaced on an interim basis with Wally Rogers.
Rumblings: With Chrysler filing for bankruptcy, Petty had said the factory support from Dodge had all but dried up. In early June, the organization reduced salaries and laid off nine employees. The financial situation for RPM had reportedly become so bad that rumors circulating during the race at Michigan in mid-June were that the famed No. 43 team could be shut down before the end of the season. In late July there were reports that instead of shutting down the 43 car, Sorenson would be let go and Allmendinger would take the wheel. Neither rumor beared out, but the organization did swap crew chiefs between the two teams. However, ESPN.com reported that Sorenson has been racing for free since mid-summer. Given the option of accepting a buyout or racing without a salary, he chose to race. According to the press release announcing the merger, Sadler, who was released prior to the season, but then forced the organization's hand to keep him in the car, will return with the organization in 2010. Fox Sports had reported that Sadler could be an option for RCR as a replacement for Casey Mears in the 07 car or for JTG Racing if that organization chooses to expand to a second team. The merger with Yates would reunite Sadler with his former team. Sadler drove the 38 car for Robert Yates Racing from 2003 until leaving for Gillett Evernham (now RPM), midway through the 2006 season. However, according to a Fox Sports report, it won't necessarily be a happy reunion. If the former Yates team members had their choice, they'd prefer to bring in Jamie McMurray. Sadler's deal runs through 2010. The Sept. 10 announcement of the proposed merger made no mention of car numbers. As of Oct. 15, the two parties are still working out details of the merger. Even if the deal with Yates fall through, the team intends to run Fords. An arrest for DWI on Oct. 29 has clouded Allmendinger's future with the organization. RPM was reportedly in the midst of finalizing a deal to put Allmendinger in the 43 car next season with Best Buy as sponsor. Whether this arrest will impact the deal is unclear. NASCAR placed Allmendinger on probation through Dec. 31, while RPM fined him $10,000 with the proceeds going go charity. | ||
| Richard Childress Racing | 3, 07, 29, 31, 33 | Chevrolet |
(Updated Oct. 21)
Just the facts: Jeff Burton (31) and Kevin Harvick (29) are reportedly signed through 2010. Clint Bowyer (33) and Casey Mears are reportedly signed through 2011. Following race 9, Mears' crew chief Gil Martin and his crew moved to the No. 29 team with Harvick while Todd Berrier and his crew shifted over the No. 07 team with Mears. In addition to the crew chiefs, the transition included car chiefs, engineers, shock specialists, engine tuners, tire specialists, mechanics, transporter drivers and over-the-wall pit crews. On Sept. 21, Childress announced that Jack Daniels would not be back as the primary sponsor of the 07 car. On Oct. 21, RCR made yet another crew chief change, moving Berrier to the 31 car with Burton, while Doug Randolph was promoted from the Nationwide Series to work with Mears. Scott Miller, who had been working at Burton's crew chief, was promoted to director of competition.
Rumblings: RCR's teams came on strong in 2008 and were expected to be contenders in 2009, but none of its drivers made the Chase. A mid-summer report that Childress would have to scale back to as few two teams in 2010 doesn't appear as if it will bear out. Also, Childress and Harvick have shot down rumors that Harvick would be released from his contract -- ostensibly to join Stewart-Haas Racing. In a joint press release, both said that Harvick would remain behind the wheel of the No. 29 car in 2010. But after next season he appears all set to leave. A prerace interview Harvick gave before the race at California in October has led many to believe Harvick is all but gone following the 2010 season. In mid-August, Fox Sports reported that RCR was looking at Elliott Sadler to replace Mears in the 07 car. A more recent report from Fox Sports had RCR talking to Bobby Labonte as a possible replacement for Mears. However, with the news Jack Daniels won't be back, it's questionable whether the 07 team will even survive. Mears has actually seen an uptick in performance as the season winds down, but the fact that Childress opted to take Berrier away from Mears despite signs of improvement doesn't bode well. | ||
| Yates Racing | 28, 38, 96, 98 | Ford |
(Updated Oct. 5)
Just the facts: On Sept. 10 it was announced that Yates Racing would merge with Richard Petty Motorsports in 2010 under the RPM name with Ford as the manufacturer. Yates' Paul Menard will join RPM's Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and AJ Allmendinger as the organization's four drivers. Prior to the start of the 2009 season, the organization reached a deal with Hall of Fame Racing to operate and run the No. 96 car -- driven by Bobby Labonte -- out of its shop. Sponsorship from Ask.com was secured for 29 of 36 races. On Aug. 31, the organization announced that Erik Darnell, the 2006 Truck Series rookie of the year, would replace Labonte in seven of the season's final 12 races with sponsorship from Academy Sports & Outdoors for three races and from Northern Tool + Equipment for two races. The sponsor for Darnell's other two races was not announced.
Rumblings: According to Yates co-owner Max Jones, Labonte was not pulled from the 96 car for lack of results -- though they haven't been great -- but because the sponsors secured for the seven races that Ask.com wasn't sponsoring wanted Darnell in the car. Needless to say, Labonte wasn't pleased. All was not lost for Labonte, however, as he hooked up with TRG Motorsports, which fields Chevrolets, to drive the No. 71 car in the seven races he is out of the 96 car. The merger with RPM would reunite Sadler with his former team. Sadler drove the 38 car from 2003 until leaving for Gillett Evernham (now RPM), midway through the 2006 season. However, according to a FoxSports report, it won't necessarily be a happy reunion. If the former Yates team members had their choice, they'd prefer to bring in Jamie McMurray. Sadler's deal runs through 2010. The Sept. 10 announcement of the proposed merger made no mention of car numbers. Also, Menard isn't a lock to join the merged Yates-RPM team. Reportedly, the merger would render Menard's contract null and void and he may shop his services (and the sponsorship that comes with him). | ||
| Red Bull Racing | 83, 84 | Toyota |
(Updated Sept. 16)
Just the facts: Brian Vickers mans the No. 83 car, while Scott Speed is in his first full season driving the No. 84. Vickers earned the organization's first Cup win (in its third year in the series) on Aug. 16 at Michigan and a few days later signed a multi-year extension. On Sept. 16, the organization announced it has extended its partnership with Toyota.
Rumblings: It's a good news, bad news deal for Red Bull. The bad news is that Speed has struggled -- as one might expect -- failing to qualify for three races, though the team worked out a deal with Joe Nemechek, who had qualified, to put him in his car for two races. The good news is that Vickers qualified for the Chase, capturing one win and six poles during the season's first 26 races. For whatever reason, Red Bull took a while to present Vickers with a new deal, but even as he began to enjoy more success and his stock began to rise, he maintained there was no where else he wanted to be. "It is an interesting experience being with a team from the ground up -- going through the growing pains, then successes, together," Vickers said. "I am so proud to have been able to bring this team their first win." There had been speculation during the summer that Red Bull would not be back with Toyota, but they finally put that speculation to rest. | ||
| Roush Fenway Racing | 6, 16, 17, 26, 99 | Ford |
(Updated Sept. 13)
Just the facts: Greg Biffle (16), Carl Edwards (99) and Matt Kenseth (17) all signed extensions last year that should take them through the 2011 season. DeWalt will not renew its sponsorship of the 17 car in 2010, but Crown Royal, which had been sponsoring Jamie McMurray in the 26 car, will move over to fill the void. David Ragan drives the No. 6 car sponsored by UPS.
Rumblings: The Crown Royal move to Kenseth's car pretty much seals McMurray's fate with Roush having to cut a team to reach NASCAR's four-car limit which goes into effect in 2010. In an interview with SIRIUS XM's Claire B. Lang at Indianapolis, Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith said Biffle, Edwards and Ragan were set for 2010, which would leave McMurray as the odd man out. Though Ragan is having a disappointing season (29th in points through 25 races) after showing so much promise in 2008, it appears UPS isn't ready to cut ties as it wants a little stability in the driver it supports. McMurray has been given the green light to shop his services. Most figured that Yates Racing, which had basically become a satellite operation of Roush, would be a good landing spot for McMurray, but with Yates' proposed merger with Richard Petty Motorsports, which was announced on Sept. 10, it appears he's may be out of luck. Unless there are other manueverings with the merged RPM's driver lineup, it said it plans to run with AJ Allmendinger, Kasey Kahne, Paul Menard and Elliott Sadler. Roush Fenway president Geoff Smith said the organization doesn't want to shutter the 26 team and his hopeful of finding a new home for the team and its workers with another organization. | ||
| Tommy Baldwin Racing | 36 | Toyota |
|
(Updated Sept. 11) Rumblings: TBR figured to have some growing pains as it slogged through the 2009 season and Riggs' best finish in the car was 25th. It's hard to envision any other driver who slips behind the wheel this season will have much more success. Through Sept. 11, the 36 car has failed to qualify for nine of 25 events. | ||
| Stewart-Haas Racing | 14, 39 | Chevrolet |
(Updated Sept. 6)
Just the facts: Tony Stewart drives the 14 car, while Ryan Newman mans the wheel of the 39.
Rumblings: It appears Stewart may have something in the works with IRL darling Danica Patrick. She has made a couple of visits to Stewart's race shop over the past few weeks and at Atlanta in the beginning of September, Stewart said he expects Patrick to make the jump to NASCAR ... eventually. Stewart insists he has no plans to expand to a third team in 2010, but according to an ESPN.com report it appears he'll play an integral part in her development. Patrick reportedly would continue to run full-time in the IndyCar Series next year, while doing part-time duty in the ARCA, Truck and Nationwide series. While Stewart doesn't have Truck or Nationwide teams, his good friend Kevin Harvick does. Earlier this year, Harvick was rumored to have asked Richard Childress out of his contract to join Stewart-Haas in 2010. Childress would not oblige.That's not to say Harvick doesn't eventually wind up at Stewart-Haas. Harvick's contract with RCR expires at the end of the 2010 season and he and Stewart and have a pretty good relationship, with Stewart having driven in the Nationwide Series in Harvick-owned cars over the years. Hence the speculation Patrick could wind up driving for Harvick in the Truck and Nationwide series. JR Motorsports could be another partner option. This season has gone off better than Stewart ever imagined. He won the All-Star Race and through 24 races had three wins and led the point standings. Newman is in good shape to earn a spot in the Chase as well. | ||
| Furniture Row Racing | 78 | Chevrolet |
|
(Updated Aug. 22) Just the facts: After running a part-time schedule in 2009, Furniture Row will attempt to run the entire 36-race schedule in 2010 with Regan Smith behind the wheel of the 78 car. Furniture Row is based out of Denver, Colo., the only team headquartered west of the Mississippi. Rumblings: Furniture Row has been the little team that could since in arrived on the scene in 2006. It ran full seasons from 2006-08 before cutbacks this year. Still, through Aug. 16, it has qualified for every race it has attempted in 2009. Smith, the 2008 Cup rookie of the year when he drove for Dale Earnhardt Inc., has never failed to finish a Cup race. The organization says the decision to return to a full-time schedule was based on the positive effect the race team along with NASCAR's popularity have had on the Furniture Row Companies marketing and advertising programs. It will even consider expansion if it can find sponsorship. | ||
