Truex deal done, but will the move put Silly Season into motion

There's a few things we know for sure about next season: Martin Truex will join MWR and drive the #56 NAPA Toyota, Roush Racing must delete one team (McMurray looking like the choice since Kenseth, Edwards & Biffle are resigned, one one driver could knock both McMurray & Regan out...Danica, anyway), the #1 Bass Pro Shops will need a driver. The easy fix would be for McMurray to join EGR and take over teh #1 Bass Pro Shops ride (which on Nascar Now Marty Smith reported McMurray is on the radar for EGR).

There's also a few rumblings that could really crank things up. Kevin Harvick could be a big part this year. His sponsor hasn't renewed and has fallen victim to the other Official Nascar sponsor Sunoco, limiting it's presence. Harvick has been rumored to possible move his team KHI up to Cup and a possbile driver for Stewart-Haas...along with Brad Keselowski. Brad's future will be determined by Junior and Hendrick. Junior would love to keep Brad at JR Motorsports and move the team up to Cup, but sponsorship has been hard to find, even with Junior.

Then there's the million dollar question...will she jump to Nascar? Danica can just about name her team & price...and sponsorship won't be a problem. JGR has an opening. Roush would dump Regan in a second to grab her, RCR can easily give Mears a pink slip or if Harvick leaves have room. Hendrick can easily add her to Stewart-Haas. The questions is will she?

The other looming question is manufacter swaps...Red Bull looks to be leaving Toyota, and RPM is looking to find anyone that will give support. EGR will loose Chevy's support. You could easily see teams looking to merge or join organizations with factory support. One things for sure, today's announcemnet will kick off Silly Season, atleast we made it half way without any major changes.

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Permalink Reply by brewski on July 8, 2009 at 1:36am
Right on Zoom , but you know Roush could run Danica in a limited amount of races in a fifth car as part of a driver development program per the nascar rule book. And then... JGR has been letting a lil buzz fly around about the coming of a fourth from their stable. I can imagine it now a cocky Shrub and a "hot" headed Dani as team mates.
Permalink Reply by Kevin Meyer on July 8, 2009 at 2:30am
Would McMurray want to go back to Ganassi (EGR)? Jamie got his first win with them, but as soon as another deal came along he jumped ship. I think a more likely move for McMurray would be to Yates. He'd be able to stay in the Roush fleet that way.

Would Kevin want KHI to move up to cup yet? They have never even attempted a race at the cup level. Why would Kevin want to leave RCR? He got his start there, and Richard is very understanding about Kevin running KHI on the side. It's the best of both worlds for him. RCR will work very hard to find sponsorship for Kevin, and they have a track record of being able to attract good full-time sponsorship. Perhaps RCR will limit their Nationwide program and bring use those sponsor dollars to run the #29 team.

Even though Danica has all the upper tier Cup teams courting her, and she would have her pick of where she wants to go, I don't think she is done with the IRL yet. Some team will pony up big bucks to keep the IRL's biggest "star" from leaving that circuit. That said, I bet she'll insist on having a clause in her new 2010 contract that allows her to race NASCAR events on her off weekends. Do you think Penske Racing would be a good home for her?

I don't understand why Red Bull is leaving Toyota. They seem to be pretty high up in the Toyota pecking order. But, if what they say is true about Red Bull getting into a engine leasing program with Hendrick, then I can't say I blame them.

What I am most interested in is what RGM is going to do the rest of the year and into 2010. Will something surprising happen? Will RGM expand to a second team? When is Paul Menard going to take his place at RGM? Why doesn't RGM sign Brian Ickler to a Nationwide program? Will Robby run anymore Nationwide races outside of the road courses? Will RGM partner up with TRG? Will Robby run in the Truck series again? Will Robby run the entire Primm race? Who is going to drive the 3rd and maybe 4th Hummer at the Dakar? Which races, if any, is Robby going to run in the TORC series? Will RGM pick up any new sponsors? Why is the grass green? Why is the sky blue? Why do some dogs hate cats but other dogs get along with cats just fine? Why is it if you flush a toliet in the northern hemisphere is goes counterclockwise and in the southern it goes clockwise but if you flush it on exactly the equator what will happen? Can God create a rock so large that he himself cannot lift it? Etc. Etc...

Even I am entitled to rant once in a while.. irregardless of what happens in Silly season, I hope they keep it interesting!!
Permalink Reply by Keith on July 8, 2009 at 8:07am
Roush started talking more of McMurray lately... David Ragan looks to be the out man.
Danica signs with Gannassi in the IRL and Chip throws her a few bones in CUP on the off weekends.
Gannassi splits with Teresa as there is no longer any reason to stay.
Harvick isn't going anywhere.
Tony still has the #39 not totally funded... the only way Kesolowski joins him is if Hendrick provides the backing.

Short of a major blow up at one of the super teams, the remaining list of available free agents reads like the 20th round of the NFL draft.

Ickler is now buddied up with Kyle Busch at Billy Ballews place. Kyle likes him. Look for that relationship to grow. Maybe some trial runs in a JGR Nationwide car?

Robby? If the last two years are the indicator, who knows. I doubt even he can say for sure.
Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on July 8, 2009 at 8:44am
The logical thing is for the odd car out at Rousch to slide over to Yates' sop and Rousch starts doing what Hendrick does with Stewart Haas. I know Rousch has a relationship with Yates, but he needs to step it up and become a de Facto 7 car team (as Nascar is allowing this with Hendrick Lite and their current 6 car mega team).

As for SH, Keselewski will bring sponsorship...so fully expect to see him as a 3rd car over at SH (Jr has already stated they, JR Motosports, are not moving to Cup). They will find full backing for the 39 as the economy should be somewhat better entering Speedweeks 2010.

Danica....if she ends up at Rousch she will spend 2 years in Trucks and Nationwide...Jack said so himself (was quite a comical bitch slapping comment letting her know who is boss). If she ever were to get good enough to race stock cars, I'm sure either Kenset or Ragan would be shown the door (one would think Ragan given current performance if he does not pick it up).

As for EGR, I think it becomes CGR again...lol. Aric Almirola IS NOT the answer...lol. Chip should buy Teresa out....attract the best driver he can for the #1 (or whatever they renumber to) to help Montoya (who is a legitimate Chase contender) and then look to expnad to 3 cars for 2011 if all goes well.

Over at RCR...if they cannot get all sponsors back on board I would think Mears gets the axe to keep Harvick there. I cannot see Jack Daniels as ..oh Casey is our man!!!! lol Even with all 4 sponsors coming back, I think Mears days are numbered. He's bad...not nowhere near JJ Yeley bad, but the guy has had some top notch equipment in his day and is routinely 20-30th in pts. now that he is not in Hendrick equipment...which made him a 15th place driver for 2 years.

Now for my pipe dream section of Silly Season.....In exchange for completely opening the Rousch playbook to Yates and giving them McMurray, Rousch wants a say in their driver lineup. Thye keep Labonte for the PCP and to keep Ask.com happy, but they go out and get a better driver to replace Paul...and Paul packs up with Daddy;s money and comes to RGM to make us a 2 car team...lol
Permalink Reply by Keith on July 8, 2009 at 10:18am
LOL @ the Danica comment.

I have gone on record that I would gladly volunteer to serve as her booster seat... She can drive and I'll do all the pedaling for her. ;)
Permalink Reply by vak7 on July 8, 2009 at 11:57am
Rousch has already said that his 5th team will move to Yates next year, just hasn't said who that would be. Harvick said last year he had no interest in moving his team to Cup, RCR had his loyalty there. A year can make a big difference but if anyone goes there, it has to be Mears. He couldn't win driving Hendcrap so never understood his move to RCR. Besides, my hubby is a Bowyer fan and tired of me claiming victory in the whiskey wars. He just doesn't smile as much when I feed him a bowl of Cheerios while I'm pouring Red Stag into my morning coffee.

Danica is merely trying to raise her IRL value with talks of NASCAR. I don't believe she'll make the switch, particularly if she has to train in trucks or Nationwide first. She wants the spotlight.

Kes will drive a Stewar/Haas/Hendcrap car. Theresa will go to sleep kicking herself for not selling the team to Jr, Mike Helton will have a close encounter with God and develop a conscience and the sun will rise tomorrow.
Permalink Reply by JoCo on July 8, 2009 at 1:18pm
Mears has won as many races at Hendrick as the Golden God of NASCAR, Dale Jr., has...

And also, what "Jr." was "offering" for DEI was an insult, he wanted it for free since he has his daddy's name. Teresa will never kick herself for not pissing away a profitable company.
Permalink Reply by vak7 on July 8, 2009 at 4:23pm
Profitable??? She ran it into the ground!
Permalink Reply by BILL MORAN on July 8, 2009 at 12:00pm
The thing I have not heard is does the 56 get the 55 points, and if so and good old POS falls out of the top 35, Truex gets the nervous bone up his azz
Permalink Reply by IndyTim on July 8, 2009 at 12:48pm
Bill...I read yesterday that the #56 will get the #55 points for next year......
Permalink Reply by BILL MORAN on July 8, 2009 at 1:01pm
ok , thnanks if POS falls out it will suck for truex
Permalink Reply by Keith on July 8, 2009 at 2:04pm
Unlike another certain driver we all know and love, Truex is a qualifier.
Regardless, I just don't see the 55 falling out. The odds are that the top 35 is pretty much set now.

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