HMS Holdings Suing DEI Over Engine Contract

HMS Holdings, operator of Hendrick Motorsports’ engine shop, is suing Dale Earnhardt Inc. for $1.5 million as a fee for terminating the agreement between the shop and Ginn Racing, which DEI acquired, to supply Hendrick engines to Ginn.

When DEI and Ginn merged in 2007, the team signed a termination agreement regarding the engine contract. That agreement required a payment of $1.75 million last year and $1.5 million this year. Thus far, the second payment has not been made.

The suit seeks the $1.5 million, 12 percent interest, and an additional $225,000.

NASCAR Teams Make Job Cuts

The economic downturn is taking its tool on everyone, including NASCAR. As automakers struggle to stay afloat, and seek to secure bailout funds, NASCAR teams announce layoffs.

Since the end of the Sprint Cup season, Petty Enterprises, Wood Brothers Racing, and Bill Davis Racing have all laid off employees.

Even the larger teams, including Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Roush Fenway Racing, have cut some employees.

Many economists and analysts are predicting hard times for quite a while, which means we could see more cuts and more drastic measures.

NASCAR recently did away with testing in an effort to lower costs.

Edwards Wins Ford 400; Johnson Wins Sprint Cup

Carl Edwards gambled of fuel and ran out just as he crossed the finish line to win the Ford 400 from Homestead-Miami Speedway. Edwards did everything he could to win the championship, but Jimmie Johnson’s 15th-place finish secured him the Sprint Cup.

Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top 5.

Kasey Kahne, Travis Kvapil, Casey Mears, Tony Stewart, and Martin Truex Jr. finished sixth through 10th, respectively.

Notables: Denny Hamlin (13th), Johnson (15th), Greg Biffle (18th), Kyle Busch (19th), Jeff Burton (40th), and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (41st).

Bowyer Wins Nationwide Series Championship

Carl Edwards won the Ford 300 Nationwide Series race from Homestead-Miami Speedway, but a fifth-place finish by Clint Bowyer gave him the championship by 21 points.

Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowki, Jason Leffler, and Bowyer finished second through fifth, respectively.

Scott Wimmer, Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kelly Bires, and Joey Logano rounded out the top 10.

Logano’s 10th-place finish secured the owners’ championship for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Benson Wins CTS Championship

Johnny Benson finished seventh in the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, one spot ahead of Ron Hornaday to win his first Craftsman Truck Series championship.

Hornaday trailed Benson by four points heading into the race, and led early. But, a two-tire gamble by Benson put him in the lead, ahead of Hornaday. The two raced for the lead, with Hornaday eventually getting by him.

With 10 laps to go, the caution came out when Mike Skinner cut a tire. Hornaday pitted while Benson stayed out. Despite a green-white-checker finish, Hornaday could not pass Benson.

Benson won the championship by seven points.