Harvick said:

I’m looking forward to finishing out this season on a strong note with RCR and continuing to build our program going into the 2013 season with the ultimate goal of winning a championship. Anything beyond that, once I know what my future plans are set, I’ll let you know.

In 2014, Harvick will join the SHR stable, which includes Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Danica Patrick.

RCR owner Richard Childress wouldn’t talk about the rumor:

I’ve got a contract for 2013 and this is 2012. I’m not talking to you about nothing (regarding that).

Harvick has 18 career Sprint Cup victories, and has driven for RCR since his Cup career began, the week after Dale Earnhardt Sr was killed in a crash at Daytona International Speedway.

In 2010, Harvick considered leaving the team, but decided to stay in good faith. This time, he chose to leave because he thinks SHR will provide motivation that seems to be lacking at RCR.

RCR shrunk to three cars this season, after Clint Bowyer left due to a lack of sponsorship. Reports indicated that Bowyer had a sponsor lined up, but RCR wasn’t interested. As a result, Bowyer left to join Michael Waltrip Racing and had arguably the best season of his career.

Childress’ grandsons both drive in NASCAR’s lower levels. Austin Dillon is driving in the Nationwide Series, where he sits third in points. Dillon will drive the No. 33 in the Daytona 500 next season.

Ty Dillon drives in the Camping World Truck Series, where he sits second in points.

Childress is grooming RCR for his grandsons to eventually take over. While there is nothing to indicate that this has anything to do with Harvick’s decision, it is possible that it does.

Paul Menard and Jeff Burton have been struggling this season, with both out of the top 15 in the standings and winless.

Elliott Sadler, who drives the team’s Nationwide Series entry, is tied for the N’Wide series points lead. He will not return to RCR next season. He is rumored to be close to a deal with Joe Gibbs Racing. Ty Dillon could move up to the Nationwide Series next season.

Update: Stewart was asked to comment on the rumor. He said:

Well, it’s actually Dale, Jr. And (NASCAR reporter) Marty Smith is actually going to be in the fourth car. Yes, that’s where we are at. I will tell you this, when we have something to tell you guys, we’ll tell you. I’ve always said that. You guys can throw darts, but when we have something to tell you that’s different than what we’ve got going on, we’ll obviously tell you.

Update 2: Kevin Harvick is said to be taking Budweiser and Jimmy Johns with him to Stewart Haas Racing in 2014.

Related Stories

• Sadler Reportedly Close To Deal With JGR
• Sadler Not Returning To RCR In 2013
• It’s Official: MWR Signs Bowyer To Multi-Year Deal
• Bowyer To Leave RCR At Season’s End?

The team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4K (race equipment that has been previously certified or previously approved by NASCAR for use in an event, pursuant to sub-section 8-12, has been altered, modified, repaired or changed in any manner. Intentionally modifying frame rails for the purpose of deceiving NASCAR’s inspection gauges) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book.

As a result, crew chief Slugger Labbe and car chief Craig Smokstad have been suspended from NASCAR competition until October 3rd, which equates to six races. Both have also been placed on NASCAR probation until the end of the calendar year.

Paul Menard and team owner Richard Childress have each been penalized with the loss of 25 driver’s and owner’s points, respectively.

Gil Martin will replace Wilson as Harvick’s crew chief. Martin served as Harvick’s crew chief from 2009 until 2011, when he was replaced by Wilson.

Wilson will remain with the organization, but team owner Richard Childress indicated that he wasn’t sure in what capacity. Childress also called Martin’s position a “temporary situation,” indicating that Harvick could have a different crew chief in the future.

Harvick and Wilson struggled this season, though they sit eighth in the Sprint Cup Series standings. Harvick has three top 5s, and nine top 10s. After 23 races in 2011, Harvick was third in points, with three wins, six top 5s, and 11 top 10s. It has been 33 races since Harvick’s last win.

Sadler was slated to drive in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway in April, the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol in August, and the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville in October.

MWR needed to find a driver to cover the races Martin elected to skip, and Sadler was set to take five of those races. But, it appears that the deal fell through because, according to FoxSports.com, Chevy, whom Sadler drives for in the Nationwide Series (Richard Childress Racing) squashed the deal to prevent him from running a Toyota.

Update: Sadler said that after winning the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200, Richard Childress approached him about running the MWR Toyota. He said:

I was going to drive the 55 car for five races for MWR, but actually, after the race on Saturday, after Victory Lane, Richard and I went to his bus. And I think Richard, along with some of the executives that he has, have just decided that it’s probably not in our best interest to do that right now.

He later added that nothing was said about MWR being a Toyota team or RCR being a Chevy team. The concern, according to Sadler, was more about focusing on what the team is trying to do in the Nationwide Series.

The financial services institution will appear as primary sponsor on the car for five races in 2012: the March race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the April races at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond International Raceway, the May race at Darlington Raceway, and the June race at Dover International Speedway. BB&T will also be featured on a special paint scheme with Caterpillar during the Sprint All Star Race.

Team owner Richard Childress said:

BB&T has been a great partner of RCR over the years so we’re very pleased to renew our program with them. It’s always beneficial working with a partner like BB&T that has strong ties to the area.

Honestly, we’re still trying today. We both agreed if an opportunity comes for him he needs to take it. But yes, we’re still trying to put something together this week and last week.

If Bowyer does leave, there are four or five other drivers who Childress would consider putting in the car. While Childress wouldn’t mention any drivers, prime candidates are Brian Vickers, Mark Martin (who is rumored to be headed to Stewart Haas Racing) and possibly David Ragan if he loses his ride at Roush Fenway Racing due to a lack of sponsorship.

Childress didn’t rule out Austin Dillon for the ride. But, he would put another driver in the car, as well. The plan is for Dillon to drive in the Nationwide Series full time, with Childress’ other grandson Ty Dillon replacing him in the No. 3  Bass Pro Shops Chevy in the Camping World Truck Series.

If sponsorship cannot be found, the No. 33 team would most likely drop to the Nationwide Series for Dillon.

Team owner Richard Childress said:

Todd has been an important part of RCR’s success for many years. He is still employed and under contract and his role with RCR will be determined in the near future. … Luke will be the interim crew chief until further notice. He has a strong grasp of the job requirements and an established line of communication with Jeff (Burton) so we have every confidence that he will do a great job.

Lambert added:

I’m honored that Richard and Jeff have the confidence in me to lead the Cat Racing team. This is a talented group of guys who know what it takes and has been successful so there’s no reason to think we can’t be successful moving forward.

Burton and Berrier have struggled this season. Burton has no wins, no top 5s, and no top 10s thus far in the season, and he sits 25th in the Sprint Cup championship standings. He joins AJ Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, Juan Montoya, and Martin Truex Jr as drivers who have recently experienced crew chief changes.

Childress said:

We’re working really hard right now on sponsorship for him. We’re all wanting to stay together but we’re just looking for sponsorship. We’ve got some really good things going on but we’ve got to get them finalized. … I think you’ll see General Mills back next year.

It appears that Bowyer is/was a candidate for Red Bull Racing’s No. 4 Toyota. That team may not be around next season, but it was reported that he was being considered for that ride.

While on probation, Busch had an altercation with Richard Childress, owner of Harvick’s No. 29 Sprint Cup Chevy, over a post-race incident with Richard Childress Racing’s Camping World Truck Series driver Joey Coulter. Busch bumped Coulter’s truck on the cool-down lap — a bump he would later call congratulatory.

Childress apparently didn’t like this and was still hot over the fact that Busch turned Harvick’s empty car into the pit road wall after the Showtime Southern 500. He may have also blamed Busch for an incident with Harvick that resulted in Clint Bowyer (another RCR driver) getting spun into the inside wall at Darlington.

Rumor has it that Childress said, after Darlington, that if Busch touched any more of his equipment, Busch would get a “whuppin.”

The incident did not violate Busch’s probation, as Busch did not fight back.

A week later, during the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway, Harvick played with Busch on-track, blocking him, running him down to the inside wall, and bump-drafting him down the frontstretch.

NASCAR issued a warning to both drivers. Busch said he wasn’t fighting Harvick, and Harvick said he wanted Busch to know he has one coming.

Being that the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan International Speedway is the first race since the two drivers came off of probation, there is speculation that we could see some retaliation from Harvick. I doubt that Harvick will do anything to Busch this weekend.

We may see more of what we saw at Pocono, with Harvick racing Busch harder than he normally would. But, I doubt we’ll see Harvick wreck Busch the week after probation. Harvick seems more clever than that.

I think Harvick will wait either until it matters (say, in the Chase or closer to the Chase) or until it has been forgotten about.

I don’t think we’ll see Busch mess with Harvick because Busch probably doesn’t want to lose any more championship points. Busch knows how valuable points are, and he just lost six when his team was penalized for Poconos infractions. So, gaining points has to be the most important thing on his mind.

Transmission Troubles

Transmissions seemed to be a problem for many teams Sunday.  Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski, and Marcos Ambrose all had transmission issues during the race.

Stewart voiced his opinion during the race when he lost his third gear.  “I want to thank NASCAR for having us shift about 100 times”, Stewart said.  NASCAR allowed new gear ratios at Pocono that gave drivers more shifting options.  The increased shifting took a heavy toll on equipment, causing parts to break.

Harvick vs. Busch

The Kevin Harvick vs. Kyle Busch boxing match has been going on for weeks now.  Even more so after the off-track altercation between Harvick’s car owner Richard Childress and Kyle Busch.

On lap 17 of Sunday’s race, Busch attempted to pass Harvick. Harvick blocked him, running him down to the inside wall on the frontstretch.  Later, Harvick bump-drafted Busch down the frontstretch after Busch passed him. This battle carried on throughout the early part of the race.

NASCAR sent out a warning to the drivers to “Race the track, not each other.”  Busch said, “It’s not my fight.  He’s trying to turn it on me.”  Harvick said, “He knows he’s got one coming.  I just want him to think about it.”

Who’s side am I on?  Neither.  I think Richard Childress had the right idea of letting his fist do the talking.  In my opinion, NASCAR needs to have an off-track boxing ring so drivers can release their fustrations after the race.  That probably wouldn’t go over very well with NASCAR President Mike Helton though.

Hot Streaks

I feel like I am repeating myself every week when I talk about Dale Earnhardt Jr.  His team seems to gain more ground each week.  His team has such great chemistry, and is itching to get a win.

Earnhardt Jr started the race in 21st place and finished in sixth place.  The only thing the No. 88 team needs to work on now is qualifying.  If the team could start the race in a better position, he wouldn’t have to work so hard and long to get to the front of the pack — they also wouldn’t need to rely on pit strategy.

A win is right around the corner for this team.  In the meantime, it’s great to see that No. 88 car running in the top 10 every week, especially at tracks that have not been statistically good tracks for him.

It’s no secret that Kevin Harvick is unstoppable this season.  He sits solidly fourth in points, just eleven points behind leader Carl Edwards.  I think his off-track incident with Busch has overshadowed how well he has done this season.  With three wins so far this season, Harvick has proven he has his game face on.  I believe if anyone wants to win the title of the 2011 Sprint Cup Champion, they are going to have to beat Harvick to do it.

Jeff Gordon took home the win for the 5 Hour Energy 500, his second win this season.  This may lock in his position for the Sprint Cup Chase, because he is in top 20 in points and has two wins this year.  The victory ties Jeff Gordon with Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison on the all-time win list. each has 84 wins.