Truex Jr. To Stay At DEI

ESPN is reporting that according to sources familiar with the matter, Martin Truex Jr. has agreed in principle to a deal that would keep him at Dale Earnhardt Inc. through the 2010 season.

Truex said about a potential extension:

We’re getting there, yeah. Things are going well right. I’m pretty happy.

This doesn’t come as a huge surprised to me. As I said back in May, Truex isn’t going anywhere.

McMurray To Stay With Roush

ESPN is reporting that Jamie McMurray said that he would be with Roush Fenway Racing next season with Crown Royal as a sponsor after his qualifying lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

McMurray has been involved in several rumors including being headed to the fourth Richard Childress Racing team, sponsored by General Mills, or heading to Stewart Haas Racing.

McMurray said:

Richard is looking for a driver and I’m somewhat flattered to have my name on the list that another owner would want you. But I will be in this car and not at Richard Childress Racing.

I’m surprised that McMurray is staying with Roush, if, in fact, he actually is staying. Because Roush Fenway Racing has to cut one team after the 2009 season, this doesn’t seem like a very smart move.

This silly season, there are a lot of competitive teams looking for drivers. With Roush re-signing Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, and with Matt Kenseth being Matt Kenseth, that leaves David Ragan and Jamie McMurray vying for the last ride.

Do you honestly believe that Ragan is in jeopardy? I doubt it. That would mean, no matter how you cut it, McMurray is going to be out of a ride next season. So, why not move to another team while the iron is hot?

McMurray should consider other teams now, while there are open seats. You never know what next season may bring, but it would make more sense to negotiate now while the seats are available instead of being stuck next season.

I’m sure loyalty factors into the equation, but at the end of the day, you have to take care of number one.

Benson Wins Power Stroke Diesel 200

Johnny Benson held off Ron Hornaday to win the Power Stroke Diesel 200 from O’Reilly Raceway Park. With this victory, Benson now has three on the season, and is the current points leader. He’s won three of the last four races.

Hornaday dominated the early part of the race, but a series of cautions kept him from pulling away. Benson passed him on lap 162 and held on to win.

Top 5: Benson, Hornaday, Erik Darnell, Matt Crafton, and Shelby Howard.

Brandan Gaughan, T.J. Bell, Kyle Busch, Donny Lia and Mike Skinner finished sixth through 10th, respectively.