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Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet and the Hendrick Motorsports crew turned in the fastest Happy Hour practice lap at New Hampshire. (Photo: Jerry Markland/Getty Images) » More Photos
PENALTY? WHAT PENALTY? Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon were first and third, respectively, during "Happy Hour" practice Saturday for the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Apparently showing no ill effects from the suspensions of their respective crew chiefs, Johnson had a best lap of 127.062 miles per hour in his Chevrolet Impala SS, compared with 126.783 mph for Gordon. Between them was last weekend's race winner, Juan Pablo Montoya, at 126.897 mph in his Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Avenger. Rounding out the top five were Richard Childress Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer. Pole-sitter Dave Blaney was eighth, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was 21st.
Blaney on Friday gave Toyota its first Nextel Cup pole ever, which drew smiles from Andy Graves, senior manager for TRD U.S.A. Toyota's racing arm here. "For Toyota, it's another step in our process of slow gains that we're making every day," Graves said Saturday. "We get to see some big milestones and obviously this is one of those milestones as we continue to move forward. Hopefully, it will provide some momentum for all of our organizations as we get ready to move into the second half of the season."
DEI STILL CRANKING Max Siegel, president of worldwide operations for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., said Saturday that the team is still talking with Budweiser, still hoping to add a fourth NASCAR Nextel Cup car in 2008 and is still looking for a replacement for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the No. 8 next year. "We still have our existing commercial relationship with Bud, talking about what's best with everybody, still engaged in conversations with potential drivers," Siegel said Saturday at New Hampshire International Speedway. "Hopefully in the next four weeks we'll get something wrapped up here."
Of the team's car count next year, that's still up in the air, too. "We have a couple of unique situations that could give us a fourth (car in 2008)," Siegel said. "Realistically, by '09, definitely we'll be a four-car team."
NO BUSCH SPONSOR – YET NASCAR is still looking for a series sponsor to replace the outgoing Anheuser-Busch in its AAA division, the NASCAR Busch Series. A-B announced in December that it was dropping its sponsorship of the series after 25 years. NASCAR
Having the Boston Red Sox on Carl Edwards' No. 99 Lumber Liquidators/Red Sox Ford has provided some unforseen benefits for Jack Rousch. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR) » More Photos
ROUSH ROCKS RED SOX Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush said he had a ball at Fenway Park in Boston Friday night, where he threw out the first pitch in a Red Sox-Texas Rangers game. "Yeah, it was amazing to be in Fenway Park with all of the mystique and all of the history and prestige that goes with that ballpark and the things that happened within those hallowed walls, to be there and be part of it was a memorable experience," said Roush. "I embarrassed myself by throwing out the first pitch, but it was just an awesome thing. I expected a number of opportunities to open up that would change the dimension of our race team and maybe the whole sport by having John (Henry, team co-owner) and his representation from Major League Baseball involved, but I really hadn't thought it would get that personal and I wouldn't be as moved as much as I was."
GINN & JUICE As first reported by SPEED yesterday, Ginn Racing is looking for sponsors for the cars of Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin, both of which are running without benefit of commercial support this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. Ginn General Manager Jay Frye said the team is looking for sponsors for "a handful" of races for each car for the remainder of this season. As far as 2008, Frye said, that depends on money. The team will definitely run one full-time car for Regan Smith and a second that will be split between Mark Martin and a young, part-time driver still to be named. Whether Ginn runs a third full-time car in 2008, or whether Marlin, Nemechek or both return remains to be seen. If he does come back, Marlin will only race part-time, Frye said.
Frye also dismissed lingering rumors in the garage that Ginn was suffering from money problems. "Obviously, if you don't have sponsors that's not a good thing," Frye said, "but there certainly is no financial crisis or trouble or anything like that. We've got to get these teams funded. Obviously, it's very important. … Is there a money issue? No. But there's times where every team in this garage has a cash-flow situation. Every business does. You probably do at your house … that's what happens. Is there anything to worry about? Absolutely not."
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