Lead Lap's NASCAR News » Samsung 500

EGR Suspends Operations For No. 8 Team

Michael J Smith — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:12:31 +0000

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has decided to suspend operations of its No. 8 team, and driver Aric Almirola, as has been expected for a few days now.

The team intended to run the full year, but EGR needed sponsorship to do so. The team said that it would run through last weekend’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, but would need more sponsorship to continue running. Apparently, sponsorship could not be found.

The team is 37th in owner’s points, 59 out of 35th place and guaranteed starting spot.

It’s been rumored that this could lead to Martin Truex Jr leaving the team for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Gordon Finally Wins At Texas

Michael J Smith — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:09:20 +0000

Jeff Gordon ended his winless streak both in the series (47 races) and at Texas Motor Speedway (16 races) by winning Sunday’s Samsung 500.

Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson finished second.

Top 5: Gordon, Johnson, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart, and Matt Kenseth.

Mark Martin, Juan Montoya, Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton, and Carl Edwards rounded out the top 10.

Notables: David Reutimann (11th), Denny Hamlin (12th), Ryan Newman (15th), Kyle Busch (18th), Kasey Kahne (19th), Dale Earnhardt Jr (20th), Clint Bowyer (22nd), Kevin Harvick (27th), and Bobby Labonte (40th).

Earnhardt Jr had an eventful day. On lap 221, Jr’s team missed a lugnut and he had to come back in. When he came back in, he missed his pit box and had to come around again. With about 40 laps to go, he was running in the top 10 when he scraped the wall and had to make a green flag pit stop. He went a lap down. He finished 20th.

Kyle Busch cut a tire after making contact with John Andretti. He also was hit with a pit road speeding violation later. He finished one lap down in 18th.

Truex To Joe Gibbs Racing?

Michael J Smith — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:06:51 +0000

If Earnhardt Ganassi Racing does not find a sponsor after this weekend’s Samsung 500, the team will have to shut down the No. 8, and sideline Aric Almirola.

If that happens, Martin Truex Jr could leave the team because he has a clause in his contract stating that he must have two teammates, or he can leave the team.

Add to that, the fact that Bass Pro Shops has a performance clause in its contract, and with Truex 28th in points, the sponsorship could be in jeopardy.

Chevy can also change its support, if EGR does not field three teams.

There’s a rumor circulating in the garage that Truex could replace Joey Logano in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Home Depot Toyota.

JGR President JD Gibbs said:

Joey’s our guy. We haven’t had any conversations with anyone. We’d like to have someone in line by summer time, but you have to sit down, look at what partner is available, what driver is available and who would be a good fit for the team. We had Hall of Fame [Racing's No. 96] last year and we don’t have it now. So we have room for a fourth team. We’d love to have it.

JGR plans on running a fourth car later this season, the No. 02 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota for three races later this season.

If Truex were to leave EGR, Bass Pro Shops could leave, too. It could land on Stewart Haas Racing’s No. 39, filling out some races later in the season.