Home Depot, which has sponsored JGR’s No. 20 since 1999, scaled back sponsorship this year, appearing on the car for 24 races this season. Next season, they will appear on the car in 19 races.

Dollar General will also sponsor JGR’s No. 20 Nationwide Series entry, which will be driven by Brian Vickers.

JGR is still seeking sponsorship to field a fourth Sprint Cup team.

Related Stories

• It’s Official: Kenseth To Join JGR In 2013
• It’s Official: Logano To Join Penske Racing In 2013
• Kenseth To Join Joe Gibbs Racing In 2013?
• Dollar General Moving To Joe Gibbs Racing In 2012

This time, though, the rumors have Home Depot headed to RFR and the No. 99 Ford Fusion. At this point, these are just rumors.

Joe Gibbs Racing expressed interest in Allmendinger, due to his on track results. He currently sits 20th in points, a little over 100 points out of the Chase.

There are conflicting reports as to whether JGR was interested in Allmendinger for a fourth team, or to replace a struggling Joey Logano in the Home Depot No. 20.

RPM is working to secure sponsorship for the No. 44 and Allmendinger. Hunt Brothers Pizza is rumored to be in discussions with the team.

Joe Gibbs Racing reportedly has inquired about Allmendinger’s status with RPM. He could possibly replace Joey Logano in the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota.

Allmendinger is currently 20th in points, with two top 10s and a top 5.

Sprint Nextel, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series sponsor, announced that it will be cutting about 15% of its workforce, or 8,000 employees. This move is expected to save the company $1.2 billion annually. Sprint has been losing customers to larger rivals AT&T and Verizon.

GM announced that it is eliminating about 2,000 jobs, as well as decreasing production at plants in the U.S. and Canada. Most of the cuts will affect plants in Michigan and Ohio.

Following a 32 percent drop in profits, Caterpillar, sponsor of Richard childress Racing’s No. 31 Chevy, driven by Jeff Burton, announced that it is cutting 20,000 jobs, or about 18% of its workforce. That includes 12,000 employees and 8,000 contractors. Caterpillar is also cutting production schedules and costs in light of the economic turmoil.

Home Depot, sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Toyota, and driver Joey Logano, announced that it will be cutting 7,000 jobs, or two percent of its workforce. It will also close nearly 50 stores.

Greg Zipadelli, current crew chief of the No. 20, will be Logano’s crew chief next season.

The team also announced that Logano will make his Sprint Cup debut at Richmond International Raceway in September driving the No. 02 Home Depot car.

Logano may also make a few starts in Hall of Fame Racing’s No. 96 before season’s end.

Logano made his Nationwide series debut earlier this season and posted his first victory in only his third start.

Kobalt Tools, a Lowe’s brand, is said to be the leading candidate to sponsor the truck series. Craftsman, a Sears brand, will not renew its sponsorship of the series.

Stanley Tools and NAPA have been rumored to be potential sponsors as well.

Should Kobalt reach and agreement to sponsor the series, it would replace Craftsman as the official tool of NASCAR. Lowe’s could also become the official home improvement store of NASCAR, replacing Home Depot.

Anheuser Acquired By InBev

Anheuser-Busch has agreed acquired by InBev for $52 billion. Under the deal, which will create the world’s largest brewer, Anheuser will receive two seats on the board of the new company. The takeover also contains a provision that requires either side of the agreement to pay a “breakup” fee of $1.25 billion if it was responsible for the breakup.

The deal shouldn’t affect the company’s NASCAR sponsorship. Budweiser has signed a multiyear agreement to remain as sponsor of the Budweiser Shootout.

Budweiser will also become primary sponsor on Kasey Kahne’s World of Outlaws team.

GM Woes Trickle Down To NASCAR

Chevrolet will not renew sponsorship agreements with two tracks that host Sprint Cup races next season. The company is also evaluating all levels of its motorsports operations.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway are the two tracks. GM has contracts with 12 of the 22 tracks where the Cup series races and is the title sponsor for the fall race at Richmond International Raceway. GM also is the official vehicle provider for Daytona International Speedway.

SK Telecom In Talks To Acquire Sprint

SK Telecom would solicit the help of private equity firms, which would provide the cash for the deal.

Sprint has been contemplating a sale as it struggles with subscriber losses and remaining competitve with Verizon, which recently acquire Alltel. Should Sprint decide against a sale, SK will not pursue on, sources say.

Of course a couple of days ago, Martin Truex Jr. was rumored to be going with Penske Racing with UPS. So, you just never know.

Moving from the 99 and Carl Edwards to the 00 with Michael McDowell seems absurd. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against MWR and McDowell, but come on, Roush is Roush. The only way this would make sense is if UPS offered to pay more to sponsor the 99. Then, heading to the 00 might not be such a bad idea for Office Depot. 

Sponsorship may prevent a lot of these rumored deals. Think about it, I’m sure that Kelloggs wants to stay on board with the 5 car. If Tony Stewart were to move to Hendrick Motorsports, do you think for a second Home Depot would not follow him? I believe they would. So, who wins? Kelloggs or Home Depot?

I don’t have an answer. In the end, though, I may be completely wrong. Last year, Budweiser let NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., get away.