Nascar Silly Season Rundown

[Mr. Ford95]

Tony Stewart left Gibbs to own and drive the former Haas/CNC Team

Joey Logano is replacing Stewart in the #20 at Gibbs

Ryan Newman left Penske to join Stewart's team

David Stremme is replacing Newman at Penske

Clint Bowyer is changing cars but not teams, he will stay with RCR but will drive the 33 Betty Crocker car

Casey Mears left Hendrick to drive RCR's 07 Jack Daniels car

Mark Martin is replacing Casey Mears in the 5 at Hendrick for 2 years

Aric Almirola will replace Mark Martin full time at DEI in the 8 car

Reed Sorenson left Ganassi and his Target sponsorship to join GEM

Dario Franchitti has left Nascar due to lack of sponsorship at Ganassi, he is going back to IRL full time to replace Dan Wheldon in a Ganassi car

Bobby Labonte, David Reutimann and Mike McDowell stayed put with their current teams

Patrick Carpentier, Scott Riggs, Jamie McMurray, JJ Yeley and possibly AJ Allmendinger are without a ride next year in Cup.

I see McMurray going back to Ganassi if he takes a sponsor with him, as it stands right now, Ganassi only has 1 driver and 1 sponsor. Montoya will drive the Target colors next year. If McMurray has no sponsor, I would not be surprised to see him driving Rusty Wallace's 2nd Busch car next year since Rusty has lost Stremme.

[Twilight Flyer]

Sounds like a bunch of politicians. :?

[Double L]

I love NASCAR but I feel every when Dale Sr. passed and when Winston stopped sponsoring NASCAR it went down hill into a popularity contest! The only real drivers left in NASCAR in my opinion is Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte, and Jeff Burton! Can't forget Bill Elliot! It seems like the drivers that can into NASCAR in 2001-present are just worried about being popular but that is my opinion.

[Mr. Ford95]

LL, it is because the sport is so d@mn sponsor driven these days. Earnhardt understood that back in the early 90's, this sport was going to go big in the near future and sponsor's would be everything. He was one of, if not the first to be so polished and up front in an office setting. The rest of the drivers looked like fools but Earnhardt understood it and embraced it. Jeff Gordon followed his footsteps and could have retired 5 years ago and lived the easy life until he died.

These guys today are so worried about what they look like on TV and they have to be for their sponsor's but I sure do miss seeing Yarborough climb out of the car looking like Tom Cruise from Days of Thunder and telling Waltrip to shut his mouth.

[Double L]

I agree and Dale Sr. will always be the best driver in NASCAR period. I'm sorry to say but Jr. doesn't really come close to being like his daddy. Now Tony Stewart reminds me more of a Dale Sr. but that is just me!

[Mr. Ford95]

You'll love this LL. I like Jim Hunter a lot and agree with most all of his comments. You never went to the races back in the day just for the race. It was a gimmick of, "Come for the race, stay for the wrestling afterwards."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;...yhoo&type=lgns

[Double L]

That was cool! 8)

[WildK9]

I agree and Dale Sr. will always be the best driver in NASCAR period. I'm sorry to say but Jr. doesn't really come close to being like his daddy. Now Tony Stewart reminds me more of a Dale Sr. but that is just me!

+1, sorry JR fans. (especially with the "personality" makeover, Hendrick style)


Most of the personalities have left NASCAR, due to all the "big bucks" to be made for the sponsors.