Truex Jr. To RCR?

Despite published reports that Martin Truex Jr. has agreed in principle to a two year extension with Dale Earnhardt Inc., it is now being reported by Jayski that Truex is in talks with Richard Childress Racing to drive his fourth car, the No. 33 sponsored by General Mills.

This is just the latest rumor in the on-going saga with Truex Jr. and DEI. First, it was reported that DEI picked up Truex’s option for 2009. A few days later, it was being reported that Truex was headed to Penske Racing to drive the No. 12 with UPS asa sponsor.

In May, despite all of the rumors circulating, I speculated that Truex would stay with DEI next season, at least. Then, Truex was rumored to be on RCR’s list of drivers for his fourth car.

After that, Truex was said to be headed to Stewart Haas Racing. But, i still believed that he would, at the very least, honor his contract with DEI this year. Of course, that was before his team was penalized.

Then, he was said to be finalizing a deal with DEI with Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos; joining Stewart Haas again; agreeing to stay at DEI; denying the reported extension; and fighting with DEI’s Max Siegel.

Now, he’s close to a deal with RCR. With so much stuff being reported and leaked these days, it’s hard to figure out the bull from the reality. So, I’m going to go out on a limb and still say that I think despite being linked to every team (including JR Motorsports last year the day before Dale Earnhardt Jr signed with Hendrick Motorsports) that Truex Jr. will finish his contract out with DEI next season.

After that, who knows? But, I doubt DEI, who has already lost Mark Martin, will give up Truex early.

Fellows Wins Rain-Shortened NAPA Auto Parts 200

Ron Fellows was in the right place at the right time; leading the NAPA Auto Parts 200 when the race was called due to rain, earning the victory at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada, in JR Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevy.

Fellows took advantage of Marcos Ambrose’s pit road speeding penatly to earn the lead.

History was also made, when NASCAR called a caution and teams switched to rain tires, and added a windshield wiper, for the first points-paying race run on grooved Goodyear rain tires.

Top 5: Fellows, Patrick Carpentier, Ambrose, Ron Hornaday, and Boris Said.

Carl Edwards, Jason Leffler, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, and Scott Wimmer finished sixth through 10th respectively.

Notables: Brad Keselowski (12th), David Ragan (13th), Jacques Villeneuve (15th), Joey Logano (16th), David Reutimann (18th), Max Papis (20th), and Scott Pruett (22nd).

Villeneuve and Logano both had trouble seeing, as not all teams added windshield wipers, both wrecked under caution. Villeneuve was running sixth when he ran into the back of another car.