Newman Agrees To Drive For Stewart Haas, Sources Say

ESPN.com has learned that Ryan Newman had agreed in principle to drive for Stewart Haas Racing next season. But, the deal could take up to a month to finalize due to negotiations with sponsors, sources say.

The deal reunites Newman with his former crew chief, with whom he has had some success, Matt Borland, who is the competition director of Stewart Haas Racing. It will also make Newman and Tony Stewart teammates.

Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Petty Enterprises, Richard Childress Racing, and Joe Gibbs Racing all pursued Newman since he announced his intention to leave Penske Racing following the end of this season.

Talks with JGR feel through when the team wasn’t able to secure sponsorship for the fourth car, and it abandoned plans to start a fourth team.

UPS was rumored to be the sponsor of the No. 4 car that Newman will drive.

Johnson To Drive Truck For Randy Moss At Bristol

The Boston Herald’s Motorsports Blog is reporting that Jimmie Johnson will make his Craftsman Truck Series debut driving the No. 81 Randy Moss Motorsports Chevy Silverado Aug. 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Johnson said:

I have never run a truck race so it should be fun. Heck, my brother Jarit has run more than me, but it’s going to be a good time. I’m excited to run Randy’s truck. Hopefully we can get them a good finish.

Johnson will also run in the Nationwide Series race on Aug. 9 at Watkins Glen International in the No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevy.

Truex, DEI’s Siegel In Shouting Match

After it was reported that Martin Truex Jr. agreed to a two-year extension with Dale Earnhardt Inc., Truex immediately denied the report, saying:

It’s [expletive]. I don’t know what the hell [the reporter] is talking about. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

Following his denial, Truex reportedly had a shouting match with DEI’s president of global operations, Max Siegel. Truex is said to believe that Siegel leaked the story to ESPN.com’s David Newton.

Despite all of these rumors, I still don’t think Truex is going anywhere. I had some doubts following the No. 1 team’s penalties, but I still maintain that Truex will carry the banner for DEI next season.

Newman Not Heading To JGR

ESPN is reporting that Ryan Newman is not heading to Joe Gibbs Racing next season to fill the No. 20 being vacated by Tony Stewart at the end of the season.

In comments before the Allstate 400 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, JGR president J.D. Gibbs said of Newman:

Another time, another day, maybe. He’s a great individual. You would love to have him on your team. It’s just all those ducks aren’t in a row.

Newman has been most strongly associated to Stewart Haas Racing, which is where a source at Richard Childress Racing thinks he is headed.

Johnson Wins The Allstate 400

Jimmie Johnson held off Carl Edwards on the final shootout to win the Allstate 400 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Because of excessive tire wear, NASCAR decided to throw competition cautions throughout the race, keeping the runs between 10 and 12 laps.

With about 10 laps to go, NASCAR threw the final competition caution setting the stage for a seven lap shootout. Johnson’s crew got him out of the pits with the lead, with Edwards on his back bumper.  Johnson held off Edwards for the final seven laps.

Top 5: Johnson, Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Elliott Sadler, and Jamie McMurray.

Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, and AJ Allmendinger finished sixth through 10th, respectively.

Notables: Mark Martin (11th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12th), Ryan Newman (13th), David Ragan (14th), Kyle Busch (15th), Clint Bowyer (19th), Tony Stewart (23rd), Martin Truex Jr. (24th), Kevin Harvick (37th), and Matt Kenseth (38th).

Harvick got collected early, when Kurt Busch spun. He suffered damage and had to go to the garage for repairs. His 37th place finish dropped him to 13th in points, out of the Chase. Harvick’s problems were good for his Richard Childress Racing teammate, Clint Bowyer, he moved to 12th in the standings, putting him in the Chase.

Kenseth blew a tire early, which ripped the right rear quarter panel off his car. His 38th place finish dropped him to 11th in points.