The Dodge of Dario Franchitti has been parked due to lack of sponsorship. (Photo: Todd Warshaw, Getty images) » More Photos

SLIPPERY, SAYS SHRUB What’s the difference in racing at Daytona International Speedway in July vs. February? In a word, grip. Or more precisely, the lack of it in the summer. That’s according to NASCAR Sprint points leader Kyle Busch, who has had a firm grip on the Cup competition pretty much all season.

“The race track changes in the summertime because it gets so slick,” said Busch, who was runner-up to Jamie McMurray in last year’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. “Running the race at night helps, but there is still going to be some single-file action and some guys getting spread out because handling has been key with the new cars. So far, these cars have been hard to get the handle on, so it should be interesting how some of the drivers and crew chiefs are going to get their cars to handle when the race track will be much more slippery than February.”

WHOOPS! Tuesday’s late afternoon announcement that Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates was shutting down the No. 40 car driven by Dario Franchitti and firing about 70 employees caught several parties off-guard — and not just the folks who were let go at the team. As late as 4 p.m. Tuesday, the No. 40 was still on NASCAR’s official entry list for Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

Also caught unaware was Dodge, which did not learn that the team had been shut down until shortly before the general public did, sources told SPEEDTV.com. Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand and SRT Marketing and Communications, issued a statement that read, in part, “This does not change our commitment to Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and our objective to be the manufacturing leader in NASCAR’s premier series, win races and consistently contend for the Nextel (sic) Cup. Chip and Felix now have the opportunity to apply additional resources to areas that can directly impact the on-track performance of the teams of Reed Sorenson and Juan Pablo Montoya.”