While Penske will consider using the No. 22 in the future to align with the Nos. 2 and 12, the team will move the points over to the No. 77, and driver Sam Hornish Jr., locking the No. 77 into the Daytona 500.

No word on how this affects Marty Gaunt and Mike Held, who recently bought the No. 22 team from BDR.

The No. 66 entry will be sponsored by Window World for the 500, and the company is looking at sponsoring additional races with the team.

Following the 500, Dave Blaney, former driver of Bill Davis Racing’s No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge, then Toyota, will take over in the No. 66.

Labonte is second in line for the past champions provisional behind Tony Stewart.

Prism has also formed a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing.

Triad Racing Technologies will continue to supply engines, chassis, and bodies for all three of NASCAR’s major series.

The team has not committed to fielding the No. 22 Toyota for the 2009 season, but the new owners said that they hope to field the car. Expect an announcement of the team’s plan in January.

Davis will remain with the team as a consultant.

Since the end of the Sprint Cup season, Petty Enterprises, Wood Brothers Racing, and Bill Davis Racing have all laid off employees.

Even the larger teams, including Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Roush Fenway Racing, have cut some employees.

Many economists and analysts are predicting hard times for quite a while, which means we could see more cuts and more drastic measures.

NASCAR recently did away with testing in an effort to lower costs.

Mike Delahanty, of Dodge Motorsports, refuted the rumors that GEM would leave Dodge. He said:

Dodge and Gillett Evernham have a long history that dates to our return to Sprint Cup racing (2001). Dodge and GEM have a long-term contract in place. We plan to continue as partners in NASCAR. We’re aware and have had discussion about GEM’s interest in adding a fourth car, but there’s never been discussion about running anything but a Dodge. Anything beyond that, we classify as pure speculation.

Patrick Carpentier is officially a free agent. GEM informed Carpentier that the team could not secure sponsorship for next season. While GEM could still find a sponsor, it’s not likely.

He is reporting that Reed Sorenson may be out of the Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 41 Dodge at the end of the season.

He wrote:

Sorenson appears to have sealed his fate by missing at least one very important sponsorship appearance, combined with lackluster performances on the track, and by what some Ganassi employees see as lack of dedication by a talented driver who may have been given too much too soon and won’t appreciate that fact until he’s on the street looking for his next ride.

Menzer also has some interesting info on Casey Mears’ situation. As reported, Mears does appear to be on his way out of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevy. But, Menzer writes that he seems to be headed to Richard Childress Racing’s fourth car to be sponsored by General Mills.

Commenting on the situation surrounding the U.S. Army sponsorship he writes:

[Do] you think the U.S. Army is going to plaster its logo all over the front of the Toyotas that are fielded by Red Bull [Racing] or [Bill Davis Racing]? It’s just not going to happen.

The column also covers Tony Stewart’s situation at Joe Gibbs Racing and the rumors surrounding Haas CNC, and Mark Martin’s situation at Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the potential move to Hendrick, where he may share a seat with Brad Keselowski.

A very interesting column and worth the read.

In all seriousness, the end of this season could seem like the Twilight Zone to Dale Earnhardt Inc., if a lot of the rumors that are circulating turn out to be true.

First, it was rumored that Martin Truex Jr. would be leaving DEI to go to Haas CNC, where Tony Stewart would become part owner. If that happened, it was rumored that Bass Pro Shops would go with him to the team. 

Now, I know that it was reported that DEI picked up his option for next year, but as of yet, it has not been officially confirmed. I believe, at last report, that they were still working out the final details.

So, if he were to leave, that would leave the No. 1 Chevy without a driver, and possibly without a sponsor.

It’s also being reported that Mark Martin is looking to leave at the end of the season. Not a big deal, considering the team plans to put Aric Almirola in the No. 8 Chevy next season. I’ll take this time to point out that Aric Almirola has one Nationwide series win to his credit (even though Denny Hamlin actually won the race.)

But, now it seems Army is looking around at other teams for 2009. If it heads to Bill Davis Racing or Red Bull Racing, as has been rumored, that would leave the No. 8 without a sponsor.

Add in the recent reports that if DEI does not find sponsorship for the No. 01, which has struggled mightily this season, then it could eliminate that team.

So, after all of that, Paul Menard seems to be the only one who is safe. Or, maybe the word is safer.

Now, this is assuming a lot of rumors, so don’t put much stock into it. But, could you imagine…?