Howard returning to #70 team: UPDATE: Not only would the #70 ML Motorsports team like to finish the 2009 season on a good note, but also take some momentum into the 2010 season. Howard and ML Motorsports are tentatively planning to run 22 Nationwide Series events together next season.(ML Motorsports PR)(11-20-2009)
UPDATE: ML Motorsports will buy their engines for the 2010 Nationwide Series season from Earnhardt-Childress Racing. ML Motorsports will also update its fleet of #70 Chevys, which will again be driven by Greenwood native Shelby Howard. The team will purchase new cars from Kevin Harvick Incorporated, as well as share information and setups with the KHI teams.(Times Union)(11-20-2009)

Changes possible at RWI? UPDATE 3: hearing that David Stremme could be looking to run at least a handful of races in 2010 with Rusty Wallace, Inc. and could bring some sponsorship. The #66-Steve Wallace team has sponsorship for 2010 from 5-Hour Energy, but the #62 is looking for additional money. No word on the status of driver Brendan Gaughan, but he has expressed an interest in staying full time in the Nationwide Series next season with RWI.(10-29-2009)
UPDATE: Brendan Gaughan told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Thursday that while his sponsorship situation for 2010 is uncertain, but that he expects to return to Rusty Wallace, Inc. Steve (Wallace) has sponsors signed full-time for next year, but I don't," he said. "We have a couple of races with the South Point Hotel and Casino, and a couple with Loan Max. We're working on the rest of schedule and all of RWI's marketing resources are going toward that. Rusty and I have always been straightforward with each other. I hadn't heard the Stremme rumor, but the bottom line is that we need sponsorship. Until we find that, I can't tell you for surw what's going to happen, but I'm certainly not calling any race teams saying, `I need a ride for next year.' My whole goal is to come back and race for RWI."(Sirius NASCAR Radio)(10-30-2009)
UPDATE 2: been told that additional sponsorship has yet to be secured for RWI's #62 team for the 2010 season. Hearing that crew members [including crew chiefs?] from both teams have been told that there could potentially be cutbacks at some point if full sponsorship is not in place soon. Although there are no layoffs planned at this time, employees have been told that they are welcome to look at employment opportunities with other teams if they arise.(11-11-2009)
UPDATE 2: Rusty Wallace Racing owner Rusty Wallace said Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway that he may have to cut back to one NASCAR Nationwide Series team car next season if more sponsorship isn't found for his #62 entry driven by Brendan Gaughan. Wallace said he has sold about 40 percent of the races for 2010, but that might not amount to enough to keep Gaughan in the car full time. Wallace said Michael Gaughan, Brendan's father, subsidizes sponsorship on the #62, but that he wants the full season. Wallace said he would run the #62 car part time in 2010, but it appears Gaughan would not be the driver under that scenario. Wallace's team has full sponsorship for the #66 entry and driver Steve Wallace, and the team announced this week it would switch to Toyota from Chevrolet next season. Wallace said Triad Racing Development would build the team's engines next year. The move to Toyota could be a precursor of a move to Cup in 2011 or beyond, as Wallace has wanted to take his team a step up.(SceneDaily)(11-20-2009)

Kenny Wallace returning to Jay Robinson: #28-Kenny Wallace twittered Friday that he will return to run the full 2010 Nationwide Series season in the #28 of Jay Robinson Racing.(11-20-2009)

Westerman on the #40: The Key Motorsports #40 Chevy will carry the familiar colors of Westerman Companies in the Ford 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race this Saturday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway as a thank you gesture for being a loyal sponsor of the team for the past three years. Key Motorsports team owner Curtis W. Key, Sr. announced the team's decision to honor Westerman Companies at the 2009 Nationwide Series season finale by painting the car in Westerman's green and white scheme as well as adding the Westerman logos to the quarter panels of #40.(Key Motorsports PR)(11-20-2009)

Phoenix TV Ratings: Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix aired live on ESPN2 and earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.1, down from the 1.3 rating earned for last year's race that also aired on ESPN2. The telecast averaged 1,419,953 viewers.(ESPN PR)(11-19-2009)

Rusty Wallace to Toyota: Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) announced that beginning with the 2010 season, RWR will field Toyota Camrys in its quest for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship. The team currently plans to enter the #66 and #62 Toyota Camrys in the 2010 Nationwide Series, piloted by Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan, respectively. Additionally, a separate agreement with RWR team owner, Rusty Wallace, will enable the racing legend, television analyst, and Toyota dealer to represent the Toyota brand on a national basis.(RWI PR)(11-19-2009)

Efland has 2010 deal: Nationwide Series driver Danny Efland announced a new partnership with M&W Motorsports to drive selected 2010 events in the NASCAR Nationwide series. The team, based in Columbia, South Carolina has purchased equipment from Richard Childress Racing and is currently equipping the shop. "This is a great opportunity for me," said Danny, "Our first race will probably be California since we don't have a Daytona car but we are looking." M&W Motorsports has watched Danny for a long time and think both can work together towards furthering Danny's career.(Danny Elfland PR)(11-19-2009)

Middle Tennessee State on the #05: Middle Tennessee State University and 31-W Insulation have teamed up to sponsor the #05 Day Enterprise Nationwide Series race car, with Mark Day of Clarksville, TN driving for the Ford 300 Nationwide Series Race at Homestead Miami Speedway. The MT logo will be on the hood, lower quarter panels, and TV panel with 31-W Insulation on the quarter panels. Middle Tennessee State University and 31-W Insulation will be teaming up again with the #05 team in the Spring at one of the Nashville Superspeedway races. (Day Enterprises PR), see an image of the car on the #05 team paint scheme page.(11-18-2009)

USPS on the #27: The United States Postal Service will be the primary sponsor on the #27 Baker Curb Ford and driver Jason Keller for the season finale at Homestead.(Baker Curb PR), see an image of the car on the #27 team paint scheme page.(11-18-2009)

Johns Mansville on the #98: Long time sponsor, Johns Manville will return to the hood of the #98 Johns Manville / Menards Ford for Paul Menard in this weekend's Ford 400.(Yates Racing PR)(11-18-2009)

Marks in the #10 with new sponsor: Justin Marks returns to the #10 at Homestead. He has made five career NASCAR Nationwide Series starts and four in 2009. His best career start of seventh came at Montreal (August, 2009). His earned his best finish of 24th this season at Memphis Motorsports Park. Borrell Electric Co. joins Construct Corps on board the #10 Toyota this weekend. Borrell Electric Co., Inc. is one of the largest and oldest commercial/industrial contractors in the Tampa Bay area.(Braun Racing PR)(11-18-2009)

Final GoDaddy race for JR Motorsports: #88-Brad Keselowski will make his final start for primary sponsor GoDaddy.com in Homestead. GoDaddy.com has been a JRM partner since the 2008 season with drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Ron Fellows in addition to Keselowski in 2009. This season, Keselowski has performed well with GoDaddy on the hood with three wins, 12 top-fives, 14 top-10s and an average finish of 6.7.(JR Motorsports PR)(11-17-2009)

Hefty Steel Sak back on the #24: Hefty Steel Sak will return to the #24 machine for the third and final time of the 2009 season. The black and silver paint scheme was previously run at Lowe's Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway where it garnered an 18th and 19th-place finish respectively.(Eric McClure PR), see an image of the car on the #24 team paint scheme page.(11-17-2009)

Call of Duty on the #20: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, will adorn the #20 this weekend, along with GameStop. The recently-released title is expected to be one of the biggest launches of the year for GameStop.(JGR PR)(11-17-2009)

GodSpeaks on the #11: Denny Hamlin will drive the #11-GodSpeaks.com Toyota at Homestead. See an image of the car on the #11 paint schemes page.(11-17-2009)

Homestead Rookie Notes:
" Justin Allgaier was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Able Body Labor 200 at Phoenix. Allgaier posted a 16th-place finish to earn Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the second time in the last three races and for the 11th time this season.
" Allgaier leads Brendan Gaughan by eight points (230-222) entering the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.
" Allgaier is sixth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings, 14 behind fifth-place Mike Bliss and 86 ahead of seventh-place Steve Wallace.
" Three Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings. Allgaier, Gaughan (ninth) and Michael Annett (tenth).
" Two Raybestos Rookies battling for 10th place: Annett is 10th in the standings, 41 points ahead of 11th-place Kenny Wallace and 44 ahead of 12th-place Tony Raines. Raybestos Rookie Michael McDowell is 13th in the standings, 49 points behind Annett.
" At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in 26 of 34 NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season.
" Bryan Clauson was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 Ford 300, collecting a 34th-place finish. He also led the race once for one lap.
" The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in the Ford 300 is third by Kyle Busch (2004) and Greg Biffle (2001).
" Casey Atwood (1998) and David Ragan (2007) are the only Raybestos Rookies to win pole positions at Homestead.
" A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-10 in four of the last five Nationwide Series races at Homestead.
" Only once in 14 previous Nationwide Series races at Homestead have two Raybestos Rookie finished in the top-five. In 2001, Greg Biffle place third just ahead of fellow Raybestos Rookie Scott Wimmer, who grabbed a fourth place finish.(Camp & Assoc. / Raybestos PR)(11-17-2009)

Mike Wallace renews with JD Motorsports: Mike Wallace and J-D Motorsports have agreed they will compete together for a championship title run in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series. Mike Wallace said, "I enjoy working with the entire 01 J-D Motorsports Chevrolet team. Johnny and Lori Davis are true racers and will do whatever it takes to be competitive. First and foremost they are great and honest people. They have already ramped up the shop and competition development with NASCAR Nationwide driver Kertus Davis heading up the team's in-shop efforts. Ricky Viers, a veteran crew chief, brought his talents and efforts to help lead the team to respectable results. As we continue our search for marketing partners for the 2010 season, we invite companies that have the same goals in performance and perfection as J-D Motorsports".(JD Motorsports PR)(11-17-2009)

Bires making debut with JR Motorsports: JR Motorsports announced that Kelly Bires will make his team debut driving the #5 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 21 with primary sponsorship from Ragú. Ragú has been a season-long partner with JRM, but this marks its first primary paint scheme with the team. "We wanted to get Kelly in one of our cars before the season was out," said team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. "Ragú has been with us since the beginning of the year, and I appreciate them stepping up their involvement and helping us put this deal together. It's important that Kelly hit the ground running at Daytona next year, and this certainly helps."(JR Motorsports PR)(11-17-2009)

News/Notes from Phoenix:
Carl Edwards won the Able Body Labor 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Kyle Busch will win the 2009 Nationwide Series championship simply by starting next weekend at Homestead-Miami.
Edwards won his 25th Nationwide race in his 175th start, tying Matt Kenseth for sixth all-time. It was Edwards' fifth win in 2009 and his third win at Phoenix in his 10th series start there.
Roush Fenway Racing has won seven Nationwide races at Phoenix, the most of all teams. RFR won its 10th series race of 2009.
Edwards led twice for a race-high 109 laps, including the final 105. He led the most laps for only the second time in 2009.
Kevin Harvick (second) has finished in the top nine in his last nine series starts.
Reed Sorenson (third) finished in the top 10 for the fifth time in eight starts in 2009.
Clint Bowyer rebounded from a Lap 7 accident with Busch to finish fourth.
Points leader Busch finished ninth.
Brad Keselowski (fifth) has finished in the top 10 in the last 16 races.
Pole winner Denny Hamlin finished 12th after leading 91 of the first 95 laps.
Mike Bliss passed Justin Allgaier for fifth in the standings.
The 15 DNFs were a track record.
Justin Allgaier (16th) was the best-finishing rookie.(ESPN.com)(11-16-2009)

Andrews returns to the #31: Tim Andrews returns to the wheel of the #31 Rick Ware Racing entry at Miami-Homestead this weekend. Andrews is coming off an impressive race at Lowes Motor Speedway as well as a strong run at Dover International Speedway for Ware Racing and looks to make a mark at the close of the year for the organization.(RWR PR)(11-16-2009)

Fuller out at R3: Rob Fuller has been released from all duties at R3 Motorsports, effective immediately. Robert Richardson remains team owner of R3 Motorsports and Jeff Kirkendall will take over duties as interim crew chief on the #23 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the final race of the season. A permanent replacement for 2010 will be named at a later date.(R3 Motorsports PR)(11-16-2009)

Total Race Babe on the #81: Total Race Babe will be a part of#81 MacDonald Motorsports as an associate sponsor for the final Nationwide race of the season at Miami Homestead Speedway. They have had a long standing tie with the MacDonald Family, and hope to continue the association next year.(TRB PR)(11-16-2009)

Hamlin vows to retaliate against Keselowski: Joe Gibbs Racing's #20-Denny Hamlin vowed that he will retaliate against JR Motorsports' #88-Brad Keselowski during the Nationwide Series race next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway. After contact with Keselowski resulted in Hamlin spinning late in the Able Body Labor 200 on Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway, Hamlin and Keselowski had a discussion in the Nationwide Series garage. It was the third time in the last nine weeks that they were involved in an incident together. "I just wanted to say [to Keselowski], 'Hey, look, you wreck me at Watkins Glen last year, you wreck me at Dover this year, you force me into the three-wide wreck at California, how many times have I wrecked you? Zero. Never have I wrecked you. Until I get back in a Nationwide car,'" Hamlin said after the meeting. "It's a self-policing garage. NASCAR doesn't want to get in the middle of it. ... If it's the opinion of me or maybe one other guy, then, hey, maybe it's me. But every driver in the garage comes up to me and says, 'That guy is a complete whack job.' Not everyone is wrong and he's right. And the thing is, he says, 'What do you want me to say?' I say, 'You don't want to say you're sorry? Nothing? It's cool?' And he says, 'I'm cool.' And I said, 'All right, we're cool then.'" After the race, Keselowski didn't seem to think there should be any payback. Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said he would not approve of retaliation. "Race drivers, in the heat of battle, say a lot of things," Balash said. "We had a conversation. A lot of things were said. There will be a whole different scenario when we get to the race track next week. We've got a whole week to manage the expectations of next week. You never condone retaliation."(SceneDaily)(11-14-2009)

Bechtel Join Forces with MWR to Form Diamond-Waltrip Racing: Diamond Ridge Motorsports and Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced the formation of Diamond-Waltrip Racing which will enter a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series team starting in 2010 for driver Trevor Bayne. Diamond-Waltrip Racing, co-owned by majority owners, Gary and Blake Bechtel and owners, Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman, has purchased the assets and associated car owner benefits of Michael Waltrip Racing's #99 Toyota Camry team. Diamond-Waltrip Racing will field its team for Bayne out of Michael Waltrip Racing's Cornelius, N.C., facility and will continue to be managed by MWR personnel. The team has secured limited sponsorship and is seeking additional race sponsors for 2010. Bechtel jumped onto the NASCAR scene in 1990 when he formed Diamond Ridge Motorsports. Bobby Hamilton was slated as the first driver for Bechtel's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. His first race was in the 1990 Coca-Cola 600. Bechtel's success on the race track didn't come until he started his NASCAR Nationwide Series program in 1995. Steve Grissom was tabbed as Bechtel's first Nationwide Series driver. In only 15 races, he notched two wins, four top-five and seven top-10 finishes.(Diamond-Waltrip PR)(11-14-2009)

Bayne to return to MWR? UPDATE 3: Trevory Bayne made 13 starts in 2009, including 10 races for #99-Michael Waltrip Racing, where he is expected to drive next year. The 19-year-old Knoxville, Tenn.-native's best finish was seventh on two occasions. Once at O'Reilly Raceway Park and again at Richmond. Bayne also won the pole at ORP.(FoxSports)(11-6-2009)
UPDATE: Representative from Michael Waltrip will make an announcement about a new partnership and the plans for the #99 NASCAR Nationwide Series team Saturday mroning at Phoenix International Raceway. Attending will be: Michael Waltrip, Gary and Blake Bechtel, Trevor Bayne.(MWR PR)(11-13-2009)
UPDATE 2: Former NASCAR team owner Gary Bechtel has purchased a majority interest in Michael Waltrip Racing's Nationwide Series team and will put Trevor Bayne in the #99 Toyota full time next year, sources say. MWR will continue to operate the team out of its shop in Cornelius, N.C. Bechtel was the owner of Diamond Ridge Motorsports, which won 10 races in what is now the Nationwide Series and competed in 129 Cup events from 1990 through 1998. Bechtel's last full season in Cup was 1997, and he sold the assets of his operation following the 1998 season to Joe Gibbs Racing.(SceneDaily)(11-13-2009)
UPDATE 3: Diamond-Waltrip Racing (DWR) announced that Trevor Bayne has signed a multi-year contract to drive the #99 Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning in 2010. Additionally, MWR has signed a contract with Bayne to run a minimum of seven NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2011 with an eye on full-time Sprint Cup competition by 2012. Currently, Diamond-Waltrip Racing has limited sponsorship from Aaron's for the 2010 season and is still searching for additional sponsor support for the remaining races. "We are extremely excited to have Trevor behind the wheel of the #99 Toyota," said Gary Bechtel, co-owner of DWR. "Even though the No. 99 team is not fully sponsored, we are committed to running Trevor in the entire season so he can compete for the championship. He has shown a lot of promise this season and we expect him to be one of the frontrunners next year."(Diamond-Waltrip PR)(11-14-2009)

Paint schemes add images of the #12 Verizon Dodge and #22 Discount Tire Dodge to the 2010 Nationwide Series paint schemes page.(11-14-2009)

Danica to JR Motorsports not a done deal; partial schedule for #88 next year? Dale Earnhardt Jr. says a deal to put Danica Patrick in his Nationwide Series car isn't imminent, and even if it were, JR Motorsports wouldn't necessarily have the funding for the IndyCar Series' most popular driver. Multiple media outlets have reported in recent weeks that Patrick was on the verge of signing with JRM for a part-time Nationwide schedule next season while continuing to run the Indy Racing League. Patrick and JRM share a sponsor in GoDaddy.com, but Earnhardt says it doesn't make the deal a cinch. "We've had a relationship with GoDaddy, so that makes us look like a nice fit, but they're moving (next year), so we don't really have it anymore," Earnhardt said after Sprint Cup practice Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. "We're having to search around." JRM's #88 Chevy currently driven by Brad Keselowski is sponsored by GoDaddy.com, but the company will move to Cup next year to back the #5 Chevy of Mark Martin at Hendrick Motorsports, which has an alliance with JRM. Earnhardt says JRM has only "three-quarters to half a season" of sponsors for the #88 in 2010. "We basically started this summer with nothing for our program," he said. "I don't even have that car full, and it's worrying me, some of the programs we're trying to talk to just can't commit. So I'm not sure JR Motorsports will field a full time ride next year at all. Which is OK. "We'll still be able to keep employing the people who work there, and they'll go to the racetrack, just not every week. It wouldn't bother me to skip some of them tracks, anyway."(USA Today)(11-13-2009)

Latest on Sorenson: Reed Sorenson drove two full seasons in the Nationwide Series, finishing fourth and 10th in the points, in 2005 and 2006. He ran 19 races in 2007. He also has been a full-time Cup driver since 2006 but is a free agent for 2010. Sorenson is working on deals that would allow him to remain in the Cup Series and expand his Nationwide schedule with Braun, which has announced plans to expand from three to four cars next season. "I want to run as many races as I can," Sorenson said. "I want to be at the race track every week and want to be on the track in as many races as can be put together. We're definitely working on a few things in Cup. I'm pretty optimistic about it. It's not a Hendrick or a Gibbs, but there are some good teams out there, and there are some that would be challenging. And I'd look forward to those challenges. I'm just not sure how many Cup races we'll have. I definitely want to run more Nationwide and definitely am interested in running with Braun. I've known Todd a few years and never had an opportunity to race with him until this year. We started talking about running Gateway (where Sorenson has Nationwide wins in 2005 and 2007) and I told Todd I wanted to run some more and we planned a few more."(NASCAR.com)(11-13-2009)

New Gateway GM named: Gateway International Raceway announced that Terry Harmeson, a senior executive with the track's parent company Dover Motorsports, Inc., has been named interim Vice President and General Manager of Gateway International Raceway. Harmeson, who has more than 35 years of operational experience over a diversified range of business facets, most recently served as Vice President of Design and Construction with Dover Motorsports, Inc. in Dover, Del. for the last seven years. Prior to joining Dover Motorsports, Harmeson spent seven years as the Vice President and General Manager of the Rollins Environmental Services facility in Bridgeport, N.J., a $30 million-a-year operation with over 100 employees.(Gateway Raceway PR)(11-12-2009)

More details on new Nationwide car: As the new Nationwide Series car gets rolled out for four races in 2010 before a full season in 2011, fans will likely hear feedback from veteran drivers who say the new Nationwide car handles better than the new Sprint Cup car. And that is how it is supposed to be. "The design and the rules package is meant to be that the trucks are the easiest to drive  they've got the most downforce, are the easiest to handle. Nationwide is second, and the Cup has got the least amount of downforce and the most horsepower," NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said during the new Nationwide car test at Talladega last week. "Those cars will always be a little more difficult to drive. It's easy to say this [new car] drives better than the old Nationwide car because we've worked on that, but it's also just a known fact that with much more downforce, it will drive better than a Cup car. The new Nationwide car will be used next July at Daytona, August at Michigan, September at Richmond and October at Charlotte. Teams will be allowed on track a day early for those events to test the new car, Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said. The chassis is virtually the same, as is the greenhouse area. But the suspension pieces are different, bump stops are not allowed, there is a spoiler instead of a wing at the rear, and the front of the car juts out more than two inches farther than the Cup car. The spoiler also is different than the current spoiler, having a 12-inch-by-2-inch extension at each of the ends. That extension will mean there will be no roof strip needed at the restrictor-plate tracks. The hood heights in the Nationwide cars are different, as is the template that runs from center line of the front bumper wrapping around to the top of the front tire. The lower section is similar, but there are unique openings for the radiator. The Nationwide Series will have its own "claw" inspection template that will be placed atop the cars, similar to the Sprint Cup Series template. The tolerances are still being evaluated as some Nationwide Series teams fear that they won't have time to get cars turned around after one event to be legal for the next one. Balash said there could be some leeway for teams. Pemberton said that NASCAR is considering limiting the number of cars a team can have certified at any one time. He didn't say what that number would be. There has been talk of teams looking at using only four or five cars, but it could take as many as eight or more just with the logistics of racing all over the country on a variety of tracks.(SceneDaily)(11-12-2009)

Parrott released from #09 team: RAB Racing announced today that Brad Parrott was released from his duties as crew chief on the #09 Zaxby's Ford in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, effective immediately. Car Chief Ben Gable will assume those responsibilities for the final two races of 2009. A permanent replacement for 2010 will be named at a later date.(RAB Racing PR)(11-10-2009)

Brian Scott joining Braun; team expanding to 4 cars: Braun Racing announced that it will be expanding its already successful organization to field four NASCAR Nationwide Series entries in 2010. Brian Scott, who has driven a select number of races for the team this season, has been named as driver of the team's fourth Toyota Camry. Sponsor, car number as well as crew chief and personnel for Braun Racing's fourth entry will be announced in the coming weeks.(Braun Racing PR)(11-9-2009)

Yeley back to Nationwide? More than three months after suffering a neck injury in a Midget race at Lakeside Speedway, J.J. Yeley isn't cleared to race a car just yet, but he was walking around without a neck brace talking to people about 2010 in the garage Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. Still focused on NASCAR, Yeley said he feels he has a good chance to secure a Nationwide Series ride for 2010.(SceneDaily)(11-6-2009)

Townley to RCR? UPDATE: official catchfence.com has learned that current RAB Racing with Brack Maggard driver John Wes Townley could be headed to Richard Childress Racing for the full 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season behind the wheel of a Zaxby's-sponsored Chevy. Townley currently is in his first full-season of NASCAR Nationwide Series competiton driving the #09 Zaxby's Ford.(Catchfence)(10-28-2009)
UPDATE: RAB Racing with Brack Maggard announced today that John Wes Townley, driver of the No. 09 Ford in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and sponsor, Zaxby's, will be moving on following the conclusion of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. "The rumors are true," stated Robby Benton, RAB Racing Co-Owner/General Manager. "I have been informed that both Zaxby's and driver John Wes Townley will be moving on. I'm sure they will make an announcement regarding their new home in the coming weeks," continued Benton, "I will leave that news for them to announce. The Townley's are great people and Zaxby's has been an outstanding partner over the past two years. We are grateful for the relationship we have had with them and wish both John Wes and Zaxby's the best of luck in their future endeavors." As for RAB Racing, "We are currently entertaining other opportunities for 2010 as we would like to remain a fulltime competitor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series," stated Benton. (RAB Racing PR)(10-29-2009)
UPDATE 2: Richard Childress Racing has partnered with Zaxby's, a southeast favorite for Buffalo wings and chicken fingers, to be the primary sponsor for a NASCAR Nationwide Series team in 2010 with John Wes Townley as their driver. The number to be used by RCR for the Zaxby's Chevy has yet to be determined.(RCR PR)(11-6-2009)

Bliss back in the #1 at Homestead: Mike Bliss, the Camping World Truck Series champion in 2002, also will drive for #11-CJM next week at Phoenix but will return to Phoenix Racing's #1 in the season finale.(< A HREF="http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/article/2009-11-05/bliss-finds-success-mind-boggling-season">Sporting News)(11-5-2009)

Nationwide COT test at Homestead? UPDATE: Though rumors continue to swirl that NASCAR will conduct another Nationwide new car test at Homestead on Monday Nov. 23, [Nationwide Series Director Joe] Balash declined to confirm any test dates. He said tracks will open one day early for practice next year during the five weekends when the new cars will be in competition.(Racin Today)(11-4-2009)
UPDATE: Hearing there is NOT a Nationwide Series new car test scheduled for Homestead on Monday Nov. 23. This date also conflicts with the NNS awards banquet.(11-5-2009), for all the information on the new Nationwide Car, see my Nationwide new car news page.

Buescher to drive #1 in 2010: The 2010 NASCAR season will prove to be a busy one for current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) competitor James Buescher. The 19-year-old will compete full-time for Phoenix Racing, piloting the #1 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In addition to the 35-race schedule for NASCAR's second-tier series, Buescher will drive the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Motorsports, LLC in a minimum of 19 Truck Series events.(Buescher PR)(11-4-2009)

Milwaukee Mile promoter pulls out: UPDATE: Tony Machi, whose investor group wanted to promote races at the Milwaukee Mile, told Wisconsin State Fair Park officials on Tuesday that his group is pulling out. Machi's decision means the future of the historic racetrack is in jeopardy. The 106-year-old track is the oldest continuously operated speedway in the country. Machi said Tuesday that his group, which includes local businessman Jim Beaudoin, could not reach agreement with NASCAR. NASCAR has scheduled two races next summer at the track, but wanted Machi's group, Historic Mile LLC, to pay sanction fees run from last summer's races as well as the fees for the two races next summer. Machi said he had funding for the 2010 races, but could not come up with funds to pay NASCAR. With Historic Mile out, the focus now shifts to the Giuffre brothers, local businessmen who have promoted races at the track before. The Giuffres had made their intentions known months ago, but State Fair officials elected to negotiate with Historic Mile first.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(11-4-2009)
UPDATE: Despite the latest setback in dealings to save big-time racing at the Milwaukee Mile, NASCAR hasn't given up hope of coming back next year. "We're in touch with the Fair board, and Milwaukee is a very important market to us and we're considering every option available," Ramsey Poston, managing director of corporate communications for NASCAR, said Wednesday. Poston refused to place any sort of timeline on the decision-making process. Most observers have been surprised to see NASCAR keep Milwaukee on its 2010 Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series schedules this long. But there isn't a huge demand for those dates, and many of the options would result in the need to shuffle other races around on the schedules.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(11-4-2009)

Full time ride for Eggleston: hearing that Chris Eggleston will be racing for Keith Duesenburg and Leik Racing full time in the Nationwide Series for the 2010 Season. Chris is the 2009 ASA North Champion driving for 5K motorsports. No word on sponsorship or what the car number will be. The Duesenburg and Leik team debuted in 2006 with the #01 and merged with Johnny Davis in 2007.(11-4-2009)

Nationwide New Car test on Monday: UPDATES: The first superspeedway test for the NASCAR Nationwide Series new car will be held Monday, November 2 from 11am-5pm at Talladega Superspeedway. The new car previously tested in 2008 at Richmond International Raceway and Lowe's Motor Speedway. Drivers scheduled to participate include: #12Justin Allgaier (Dodge); #16-Colin Braun (Ford); #17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Ford); #29-Jeff Burton (Chevy); #33-Kevin Harvick (Chevy); #88-Kelly Bires (Chevy); #99-Trevor Bayne (Toyota).(NASCAR PR)(10-31-2009)
UPDATE: One more Chevy in the mix at NNS new car test: James Buescher in the #1 for Phoenix Racing(NASCAR)(11-2-2009)
UPDATE 2: According to Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, the purpose of today's six-hour test was to gather information relative to the size of the tapered spacer that the car will need in order to achieve its desired speed at tracks such as Talladega and Daytona International Speedway  where the new car will make its points-racing debut in July, 2010. Additionally, the test helped to better identify the proper gear ratio that the new car will need to generate the proper RPM. The first few hours of the test were spent in single runs, followed by drafting during the afternoon. Following its debut next summer at Daytona, the NASCAR Nationwide Series new car also will compete in points races at Michigan International Speedway in August, at Richmond in September and at Lowe's Motor Speedway in October. Full integration for the new car into the series is targeted for 2011.(NASCAR PR), see images of all the COT cars on my 2010 paint schemes pages.(11-2-2009)