By Marty Smith / ESPN.com
Longtime Sprint Cup Series team executive Jay Frye has been offered a contract by Stewart Haas Racing, and is mulling a departure from Team Red Bull before season's end to accept a management position at SHR, ESPN.com has learned.

Sources close to Stewart Haas confirmed Monday that Frye is the man they've targeted to run the organization's day-to-day operations. He is expected to accept, sources said, and would be titled vice president/general manager.

"He is a huge hire for Stewart Haas," one source close to SHR said on condition of anonymity. The source is not at liberty to discuss organizational matters.

Frye was unavailable for comment Monday, as he was flying to Austria to meet with Red Bull executives regarding the team's performance, his future, and the futures of drivers AJ Allmendinger and Scott Speed.

By moving to SHR, Frye would add yet another key Hendrick Motorsports wrinkle to Stewart Haas, a trend that began last month with the hiring of HMS engineer Darien Grubb.

Grubb will be announced as crew chief for team owner/driver Tony Stewart this weekend in Richmond, Va.

more @ www.racegear.com

Sure looks like Stewart is not doing this half azzed.

Lee

Posted by gfunkerror, Sep 2 2008

It used to be that when a new team started up in NASCAR, it had to earn its way into the first few races. This was the case when Tony Stewart's No. 20 team first hit the track, when Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 team made its debut, and so on. (In fact, I distinctly remember thinking Stewart's team was going to tank and miss the Daytona 500, based on his spotty Busch Series record ... he started second in that race and has won two titles since, so that prediction didn't quite pan out)

But with Richard Childress expanding to four cars next year, there seems to be something afoot that I find concerning. Casey Mears will take over the #07 car of Clint Bowyer, reportedly at the request of the sponsors, and Clint Bowyer will move to the new fourth team and the No. 33 car. So by logic, that would mean Bowyer will have to race his way into the first five races, right?

Perhaps not. While he wouldn't yet comment further, Childress sounded incredibly relaxed about the prospect of Bowyer qualifying for races. This has led to speculation that Childress may be preparing to work around that by buying the owners points of a car in the top 35 ... perhaps the No. 01 DEI car, which will likely cease operation after the season ends due to lack of sponsorship. This kind of finagling to guarantee a driver makes races is not new. Penske racing swapped owners points between the No. 77 and No. 2 cars this year, so Sam Hornish Jr. could take Kurt Busch's points and Busch could rely on his past champion provisional to start the year.

If this rumored purchase of owner points by RCR ends up happening, it will be unfair to all drivers on the bubble of being in the top 35 points. If the #01 shuts down, they should all move up a spot, and it's not fair that a brand new Childress team would be allowed to buy its way into the first five races.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/rumors/post/Childress-shouldn-t-be-able-to-buy-way-intop-Top;_ylt=AtYaqiiamE4GWc3.YGTsJJvov7YF?urn=nascar,103278

Posted by gfunkerror, Aug 27 2008

Hendrick engineer to become crew chief for Stewart
Jim Utter / The Charlotte Observer
Hendrick Motorsports engineering manager Darian Grubb has accepted a position as crew chief for driver Tony Stewart and his No. 14 Chevrolet next season, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.

Grubb, who works with the Nos. 5 and 88 teams at Hendrick, is expected to remain with that organization for the remainder of this season, sources said Tuesday.

Stewart is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the season to take 50 percent ownership in Stewart-Haas Racing, which will field Chevrolets for Stewart and teammate Ryan Newman.

Grubb was not immediately available for comment. A spokesman with Hendrick said the organization does not discuss the contract status of employees. Stewart-Haas Racing officials declined to comment.

More @ www.racegear.com

Posted by gfunkerror, Aug 26 2008

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- Joey Logano officially was named the driver of the No. 20 Home Depot car at Joe Gibbs Racing on Monday.

Logano will replace Tony Stewart, who is leaving after this season to be the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing.

The 18-year-old phenom not only will inherit the number and sponsor that Stewart drove to Sprint Cup titles in 2002 and 2005, he also will get crew chief Greg Zipadelli.

Logano will make his Cup debut on Sept. 6 at Richmond International Raceway in a fourth car prepared by JGR. He is scheduled to drive in five other races for Hall of Fame Racing, which gets its engines and chassis from Gibbs.

Logano made his Nationwide Series debut in June and won his first race in only his third start. He has one win, three top fives, seven top 10s and two poles in 10 races.

Posted by 88TBone88, Aug 25 2008

Keselowski declines offer for Penske Cup ride in '09


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Jim Utter / The Charlotte Observer
JR Motorsports' Nationwide Series star Brad Keselowski has declined an opportunity to move to the Sprint Cup Series next season with Penske Racing, The Charlotte Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.

Keselowski, who won his second race of the season Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, spent last Tuesday visiting the Penske shop, where he met members of the organization and was offered the chance to drive the team's No. 12 Dodges next season, several sources confirmed Saturday.

more @ www.racegear.com

Posted by gfunkerror, Aug 25 2008

Well once again the spotters caused a huge wreck. how happy will Casey be to be out of the "Super Power" hendricks, "clear clear clear"... I think Casey is frustrated being treated like a 3rd world country at the Olympics, and then this happens... There has been quite a few major accidents where the spotters were the direct cause this year... sorry got kind of two topics going on here lol. LMAO at Clint's comments about waltrip after the accident though, i totally agree... (but wont repeat on IP).

Posted by HighOctane29, Aug 24 2008

Hornish gets new crew chief to help improve performance


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Lee Spencer / FoxSports.com
Former Penske Racing crew chief Chris Carrier says he was "pretty surprised" when he was told Monday morning that he was being "replaced" as the leader for the No. 77 Dodge with driver Sam Hornish.

"I was just told Monday morning that they were going to replace my position with someone else," Carrier, who as of Wednesday had not heard from either Hornish or team owner Roger Penske. "They said I was still employed and right now I will do whatever they ask. But I really miss the people. We have a great sponsor and great people.

Rest @: www.racegear.com

Posted by gfunkerror, Aug 22 2008

See Joe Gibbs statement on the penalties from NASCAR today

fzsports.net/2008/08/20/statement-from-joe-gibbs-regarding-nascar-penalties/

Posted by FanZone, Aug 20 2008

Not as big as the 18 & 20 Nwide teams...

Crew Chief For No. 41 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team Penalized For Infraction At Michigan International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 20, 200 – NASCAR has fined Donnie Wingo, crew chief of the No. 41 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, for a violation committed during the Aug. 17 race at Michigan International Speedway.

The No. 41 car driven by Reed Sorenson was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-W (improperly attached weight) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book.

As a result, Wingo has been fined $25,000 for the rule infraction.

-- NASCAR PR

from fzsports .net

Posted by FanZone, Aug 20 2008

BREAKING NEWS: 18 & 20 N’Wide teams penalized


No. 18 And No. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series Teams Penalized For Rule Violations At Michigan International Speedway (From NASCAR Media Press Release)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 20, 200 – NASCAR announced today that the No. 18 and No. 20 teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series have been penalized due to rule violations discovered by NASCAR inspectors prior to post-race testing on the chassis dynamometer Aug. 16 at Michigan International Speedway.

Both the No. 18 and No. 20 cars were found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 8-9 (competitive analysis – from time to time, NASCAR may determine, in the interest of competition, that it is necessary or appropriate to undertake an analysis of the performance capabilities of a car, car part, component or equipment. The Competitor shall take whatever steps are requested by NASCAR Officials for this purpose. NASCAR also has the right to seal or impound cars, car parts, components and/or equipment for this purpose); 12-4-Q (1): (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules, detailed in Section 20A of the 2008 NASCAR Rule Book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event, or is not required for the normal functional operation of the race car, or has been altered to detract from or compromise its integrity or effectiveness, whether operational or not); 12-4-K: (when NASCAR Officials mandate inspection during the Event, if any car, car parts, components, and/or equipment which have been used in the Event are taken from the racing premises without permission of a NASCAR Official, or are tampered with by any member of the team or anyone associated with the team: Magnetic spacer attached under the gas pedal with the intent of compromising the chassis dynamometer test).

Both of the drivers – Joey Logano of the No. 18 and Tony Stewart of the No. 20 – have been penalized with the loss of 150 championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2008. Joe Gibbs, owner of both of the cars, has likewise been penalized 150 championship owner points for each of those entries.

Both crew chiefs – Jason Ratcliff of the No. 18 and Dave Rogers of the No. 20 – have been fined $50,000 and indefinitely suspended from NASCAR.

From the No. 18 team, car chief Dorian Thorsen; engine tuner Michael Johnson; and crew member Toby Bigelow have been placed on indefinite suspension from NASCAR. From the No. 20 team, car chief Richard Bray and engine tuner Dan Bajek have been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR.

In addition, the entire No. 18 and No. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series teams have been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2008.

Posted by Bigdog333us, Aug 20 2008