SHR was in the market for a sponsor to replace Office Depot, which announced that it was leaving the No. 14 team at the end of the season earlier this year.

Bass Pro Shops was in its last year with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and the No. 1 Chevy driven by Jamie McMurray.

Bass Pro Shops will continue to sponsor Austin and Ty Dillon in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.

Quicken Loans also recently extended its partnership with SHR for the No. 39 Chevy and Ryan Newman. The US Army announced earlier this season that it would leave the team at season’s end. It appears that Quicken Loans has picked up the majority of the races that the Army gave up.

Related Stories

• Stewart Haas Racing Re-Signs Newman
• Office Depot Leaving SHR’s No. 14 At Season’s End
• SHR Expects To Field Three Teams In 2013
•  US Army To Leave SHR’s No. 39 At Season’s End

Per the team’s Facebook page:

The skill and tenacity [Newman] brings to our race team has helped us achieve a lot in a very short period of time, and we look forward to continued success with Ryan behind the wheel of our No. 39 Chevrolet.

This announcement is good news for a team that has been receiving bad news recently: losing sponsors Office Depot and US Army.

Update: Ryan Newman indicated that he signed a one-year deal with SHR, and took a pay cut to stay with the team.

Related Stories

• Office Depot Leaving SHR’s No. 14 At Season’s End
• SHR Expects To Field Three Teams In 2013
• US Army To Leave SHR’s No. 39 At Season’s End

SHR spokesman Mike Arning said:

Office Depot has notified SHR that they will not be renewing as the primary sponsor of the No. 14 team. However, SHR is in continued discussions with Office Depot regarding possible future roles the company could have with the team.

Mindy Kramer, of Office Depot, said:

The changing business landscape warrants a realignment of priorities and resources. That being said, Tony Stewart has been an exceptional ambassador for our brand, and he has gone above and beyond in everything that he has done for our company. Being a part of his legendary 2011 championship run was a moment of tremendous pride for everyone at Office Depot.

Office Depot does want to be involved with Stewart and the team, but in what capacity has yet to be determined.

Office Depot held primary sponsorship of the car in 22 of 38 races in 2012. Mobil 1 sponsors the car for the remaining 16 races. Mobil 1 will serve as primary sponsor for the same number of races in 2013.

This news comes as another blow, as SHR’s No. 39 Sprint Cup Chevy, driven by Ryan Newman, lost one of its primary sponsors when the US Army announced that it would be leaving the team at season’s end. Still, SHR expects to field three teams in 2013.

Related Stories

• SHR Expects To Field Three Teams In 2013
• US Army To Leave SHR’s No. 39 At Season’s End

The U.S. Army, which sponsored SHR’s No. 39 Chevy for 12 races this season, announced earlier this month that it was pulling its NASCAR sponsorship, opting to spend that money on other marketing initiatives.

Driver of the No. 39, Ryan Newman is not under contract for the 2013, though SHR would like to bring him back if sponsorship can be worked out. In addition to the Army, the No. 39 has been sponsored by Tornados, Quicken Loans,Outback Steakhouse, Wix Filters, and Aspen Dental. Bass Pro Shops also sponsored the team for one race.

Danica Patrick is slated to join the SHR stable full time in 2013 bringing with her sponsorship from GoDaddy, who has sponsored Patrick in the Indy Car Series, the ARCA Racing Series and the Nationwide Series.

No changes in sponsorship are expected for the No. 14, which is currently sponsored by Office Depot and Mobil 1. Bass Pro Shops appeared on that car for one race, as well.

There are rumors that Newman could leave SHR and join a new team formed by Michael Andretti, though Andretti called a move to the Sprint Cup Series in 2013 highly unlikely.

Related Stories

• US Army To Leave SHR’s No. 39 At Season’s End
• SHR Hires Car Chief For No. 10 Team, Patrick
• It’s Official: Patrick To NASCAR Full Time In 2012

Mobil 1 will appear as primary sponsor on the car for 11 races, and as an associate sponsor for the remaining 25 races. The team already has Office Depot signed as primary sponsor for 22 races.

Old Spice announced it would be leaving the team back in May. At the time, a spokesman for the sponsor cited a “change in our marketing strategies” as the reason.

Mobil 1 found itself looking for another team to sponsor after it was announced that Penske Racing signed a deal with Shell Pennzoil to sponsor the No. 22 and driver Kurt Busch next season.

As a result of that deal, Shell Pennzoil became the official motor oil provider of Penske, meaning Mobil 1 had to leave the team.

Nigel Searl, a VP of marketing at ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties Company, said:

With Mobil 1’s long tradition of partnering with world-class race teams around the globe, we are proud of our new association with one of NASCAR’s top drivers. We look forward to helping Stewart-Haas Racing secure a Sprint Cup Series championship and add to the list of successful teams that Mobil 1 has supported for more than 30 years.

Stewart added:

As a team owner, I’m absolutely thrilled to add such a respected technology partner to our race team. And as a driver, it’s exciting to partner with a brand that has such an incredible racing pedigree. ExxonMobil is committed to producing the highest-quality racing motor oil and shares the same winning attitude that champions must have to succeed at this level.

The car:

History

The concept for this blog started many years before in launched. I kicked the idea around for several years, but could never come up with a niche for my blog. Should I cover NASCAR news?  How will that be unique compared to all other NASCAR coverage?

Eventually, I settled on the idea that I would feature a synopsis and analysis of the media coverage of NASCAR. But, that idea quickly evolved into what the Lead Lap has become today: a mix of news, rumors, and opinions.

I wanted to create a blog that featured current NASCAR news interjected with my thoughts and opinions. I also wanted to bring in other types of stories that were tangentally related to NASCAR — for example the economic conditions and their affect on NASCAR, and the companies involved in NASCAR.

In one year’s time, I think I have acheived those goals. I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Future

In the future, I hope to continue to grow this blog, and maybe eventually expand to a full-blown website. I’m still kicking around ideas for what the website would feature and how it would fit in with other sites like Jayski and SceneDaily.

A redesign may also be coming. I’m hoping to give the Lead Lap a better look and feel.

Stats

Looking back at the last year, I’ve put together some stats I would like to share. In April 2007, the Lead Lap generated 41 views — most of those coming from my girlfriend. Since then, the Lead Lap has grown to an average of 832 views per month, with a high of 1,500 views in July of 2007.

When this blog was launched, the hottest NASCAR story was the speculation surrounding Tony Stewart’s 2009 plans. As a matter of fact, my first posting was on this very subject. At that time, it was unclear whether or not Stewart would be released from his contract.

Coincidentally, the Lead Lap’s top post by page views was the official announcement that Tony Stewart would be driving the Old Spice, Office Depot Chevy for Stewart Haas Racing. The number 2 post? Army sponsoring Ryan Newman and SHR.

Last week’s story on fans injured during Carl Edwards Talladega wreck was the most viewed non-SHR story. But, the Car and Driver hoax article story is right behind it, and is still closing the gap.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has visited, and continues to visit, this blog and those of you who share your insights and opinions via comments. I do my best to respond to each one, and will continue to do so. Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank my girlfriend who helped me get this blog off the ground and, even though she is not a NASCAR fan, still continues to check it out daily. Thanks.

The Old spice/Office Depot driver has finished on the lead lap in all four races, posting three top 10 finishes. In the one race he didn’t finish in the top 10, he was running in the top 5 most of the day, before a problem caused him to finish 26th.

He sits sixth in points, comfortably in a guaranteed starting spot for each race. Not that he really needed to worry, considering that he has a few championship provisionals to fall back on.

Following the third race of the season, Stewart was quoted as saying:

I think from the physical pieces and parts standpoint, we knew we had what we needed. It was just a matter of how long was it going to take for the package to gel. I think we’re all pleasantly surprised at how quick that’s come.

Now that Stewart has established that he is consistently competitive, the focus must be on improving his teammate, Ryan Newman’s performance.

Newman has yet to finish on the lead lap this season. His best finish came in the Kobalt Tools 500 from Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he finished 22nd.

Newman sits 32nd in points, 48 points out of 36th place, where he would have to qualify based on time. Not that qualifying on time would really be a problem considering that Newman has 43 poles to his credit.

While it is still early in the season, Stewart’s got to be pleased with his team’s performance thus far.

Office Depot will have a 60 percent share of sponsorship, while Old Spice will have the other 40 percent.

Stewart, who has always admired AJ Foyt, picked the number because Foyt made it famous in his career in open-wheel racing.

Stewart said:

A.J. has always been my hero and will always be No. 1 on my hero list, with the best part being that we are really good friends. We obviously have a tremendous amount of respect for one another. I remember him calling me after I won my first Cup championship in 2002 and I remember how much it meant to have him call that night and congratulate me. We really do have similar pasts and carry a lot of characteristics that are the same. He is one of the greatest icons in racing worldwide and to be compared to him in any way is always a huge honor.

In a possibly related story, Ryan Newman said he has selected which team he plans to drive for in 2009. He offered no indication of which team it will be, and said that it is just a matter of getting the paperwork finalized.

No word on when an announcement is expected.

Old Spice and Office Depot are set to sponsor Tony Stewart’s car, but sources are saying that Burger King and UPS are also working on a deal to sponsor two cars for Stewart Haas Racing.

Sources also say that Stewart is trying to convince Martin Truex Jr. to join Stewart Haas. Truex is said to have been furious with the penalty at Daytona, and that may influence whether he decides to stay with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevy.