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:

Mobil 1 was left looking for another team to sponsor after Penske Racing signed a deal with Shell Pennzoil to sponsor Kurt Busch next season.

SHR’s No. 39 will have the US Army and Tornado’s back on the car with part time schedules next season. They are currently in talks with Wix Filters about a partial sponsorship schedule next season.

He wrote:

Old Spice’s decision to leave the sport left a financial void at Stewart-Haas Racing. Mobil 1, who will leave Penske Racing at season’s end in the wake of the Shell-to-Kurt-Busch deal, is a likely replacement.

Old Spice decided to leave the team after this season, citing  a “change in our marketing strategies” as the reason. Office Depot will remain with the team next season.

As part of the Shell-Pennzoil-to-Penske-Racing deal, Shell would become the official oil of Penske, meaning Mobil 1 will have to leave the team. ExxonMobil said they would partner with another team next season.

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.

Joey Logano is expected to be the frontrunner for the No. 20. 

Ryan Newman will move from Penske Racing’s No. 12 to drive the second Haas CNC car.

Office Depot and Old Spice are expected to sponsor Stewart’s car, with Jack Daniels moving from Clint Bowyer’s Richard Childress Racing No. 07 to Newman’s car.

Bowyer’s RCR machine will be sponsored by UPS, which currently sponsors Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 44, currently driven by David Reutimann.

As Newman will vacate No. 12, Casey Mears and David Stremme are considering the two finalists for that seat. Mears, however, has been rumored to be going to RCR’s fourth car, sponsored by General Mills.

While Stewart has one year left on his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, and hasn’t asked to be released yet, sources familiar with the matter think the move is coming.

The unnamed source said:

[Tony's] talking to every major sponsor that is available out there for this Haas deal. I don’t know if it’s done, but it sounds like it’s very close.

Ryan Newman is rumored to be a potential driver for the second Haas CNC car. Office Depot and Old Spice are considered to be the front runners as potential sponsors.

Office Depot will leave Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 99 Ford at the end of the season. Aflac will take over sponsorship of the No. 99 next season.

Joe Custer, who has been running Haas CNC while owner Gene Haas is in prison for tax evasion, didn’t comment on the situation.

Custer said:

Nothing can happen until [JGR] let[s Stewart] out of his contract. They hold all the cards. Go figure out what they are going to do. When he becomes available we want to talk to him.

Custer did, however, mention that the team wouldn’t be too thrilled with having Stewart as a partner if he were still driving for JGR.

He noted:

It would be extremely helpful to have Tony Stewart or a franchise type player. Those folks have an enormous impact on a team. Would it help us? Yes. It would help us significantly.

SceneDaily features a commentary on Tony Stewart needing to make his decision, as he is holding up a lot of other moves in the Sprint Cup series.