Keselowski, JR Motorsports To Cup?

Jayski is reporting via ESPN Insider that JR Motorsports may move to cup in 2010, with Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski behind the wheel.

In order for that to happen, Rick Hendrick would have to sell his ownership stake in the team, due to NASCAR’s car ownership limit, but that would be a formality.

Keselowski is negotiating exclusively with Hendrick Motorsports. HMS does not have an opening for a driver next year, which could lead to JRM moving to Cup.

Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr has said previously that it may be more economical to move to Cup, which is sure to fuel a lot of the rumors.

Another option mentioned would be putting Keselowski in a third Stewart Haas Racing car, which is powered by HMS engines and chassis.

The report speculates that Keselowski in a SHR Chevy would kill rumors than Martin Truex Jr will leave Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for SHR next year.

That may not be the case, however, because SHR could always expand to found cars.

Lead Lap Turns One Year Old

Last week, the Lead Lap quietly turned one year old. It’s hard to believe that it has been a year.

History

The concept for this blog started many years before in launched. I kicked the idea around for several years, but could never come up with a niche for my blog. Should I cover NASCAR news?  How will that be unique compared to all other NASCAR coverage?

Eventually, I settled on the idea that I would feature a synopsis and analysis of the media coverage of NASCAR. But, that idea quickly evolved into what the Lead Lap has become today: a mix of news, rumors, and opinions.

I wanted to create a blog that featured current NASCAR news interjected with my thoughts and opinions. I also wanted to bring in other types of stories that were tangentally related to NASCAR — for example the economic conditions and their affect on NASCAR, and the companies involved in NASCAR.

In one year’s time, I think I have acheived those goals. I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Future

In the future, I hope to continue to grow this blog, and maybe eventually expand to a full-blown website. I’m still kicking around ideas for what the website would feature and how it would fit in with other sites like Jayski and SceneDaily.

A redesign may also be coming. I’m hoping to give the Lead Lap a better look and feel.

Stats

Looking back at the last year, I’ve put together some stats I would like to share. In April 2007, the Lead Lap generated 41 views — most of those coming from my girlfriend. Since then, the Lead Lap has grown to an average of 832 views per month, with a high of 1,500 views in July of 2007.

When this blog was launched, the hottest NASCAR story was the speculation surrounding Tony Stewart’s 2009 plans. As a matter of fact, my first posting was on this very subject. At that time, it was unclear whether or not Stewart would be released from his contract.

Coincidentally, the Lead Lap’s top post by page views was the official announcement that Tony Stewart would be driving the Old Spice, Office Depot Chevy for Stewart Haas Racing. The number 2 post? Army sponsoring Ryan Newman and SHR.

Last week’s story on fans injured during Carl Edwards Talladega wreck was the most viewed non-SHR story. But, the Car and Driver hoax article story is right behind it, and is still closing the gap.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has visited, and continues to visit, this blog and those of you who share your insights and opinions via comments. I do my best to respond to each one, and will continue to do so. Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank my girlfriend who helped me get this blog off the ground and, even though she is not a NASCAR fan, still continues to check it out daily. Thanks.

Truex To Joe Gibbs Racing?

If Earnhardt Ganassi Racing does not find a sponsor after this weekend’s Samsung 500, the team will have to shut down the No. 8, and sideline Aric Almirola.

If that happens, Martin Truex Jr could leave the team because he has a clause in his contract stating that he must have two teammates, or he can leave the team.

Add to that, the fact that Bass Pro Shops has a performance clause in its contract, and with Truex 28th in points, the sponsorship could be in jeopardy.

Chevy can also change its support, if EGR does not field three teams.

There’s a rumor circulating in the garage that Truex could replace Joey Logano in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Home Depot Toyota.

JGR President JD Gibbs said:

Joey’s our guy. We haven’t had any conversations with anyone. We’d like to have someone in line by summer time, but you have to sit down, look at what partner is available, what driver is available and who would be a good fit for the team. We had Hall of Fame [Racing’s No. 96] last year and we don’t have it now. So we have room for a fourth team. We’d love to have it.

JGR plans on running a fourth car later this season, the No. 02 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota for three races later this season.

If Truex were to leave EGR, Bass Pro Shops could leave, too. It could land on Stewart Haas Racing’s No. 39, filling out some races later in the season.

Johnson Muscles His Way To Victory In Goodys Pain Relief 500

Jimmie Johnson bumped Denny Hamlin out of the way in the closing laps of the Goodys Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway and held on to win.

Hamlin was very diplomatic about the incident, saying he was “honored” being on the racetrack with Johnson, and the other leaders. He said that it was just short track racing, and that he would have done the same thing.

Top 5: Johnson, Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Clint Bowyer.

Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr, AJ Allmendinger, and Jamie McMurray rounded out the top 10.

Notables: Kevin Harvick (12th), Juan Pablo Montoya (13th), Jeff Burton (15th), Bobby Labonte (16th), Kurt Busch (18th), Kasey Kahne (19th), Matt Kenseth (23rd), Kyle Busch (24th), Carl Edwards (26th), Greg Biffle (28th), and Brian Vickers (33rd). 

Give a call to Michael Waltrip Racing. Michael Waltrip (13th), Marcos Ambrose (14th), and David Reutimann (20th) all finished in the top 20. Reutimann ran well and stayed on the lead lap for most of the race. A late-race incident with David Stremme led to a Reutimann spin, which put him a lap down.

Also, Stewart Haas Racing deserves a call for finishing with both cars in the top 6. Stewart finished third, while Newman finished sixth.

Kyle Busch did not like the handle of his car, and he got frustrated early. He drove into the corner a little too hard a spun. He collected Scott Speed in the crash. Busch lost two laps and never recovered. Speed finished 76 laps down in 39th.

JR Motorsports Considering Cup?

With the recent announcement of the driver lineup for the No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevy in the Nationwide Series, the rumors that the team is planning to move to Sprint Cup next season are starting to surface again.

Last year, team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr created a minor media frenzy when he implied that JR Motorsports would move to Cup if the Nationwide Series moved to a car of tomorrow.

At one point during the 2007 off-season, it was rumored that Dale Earnhardt Jr was going to drive for JR Motorsports with Martin Truex Jr as a teammate. Jr revealed that he would be driving for Hendrick Motorsports shortly thereafter.

As long as JR Motorsports stays in the Nationwide Series, these rumors will not go away. And, the announcement that Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart would be piloting JR Motorsports Chevys has heated that rumor up again.

While I do not doubt for an instant that Jr would consider taking his team to Cup level, I’m not sure he would do it next year.

His team is decent, but I would think he needs to see more consistency, and more wins before considering making the jump. He also is probably seeking a Nationwide Series championship first.

That said, he may look at a team like Stewart Haas Racing, and think that this might be the time to jump to Cup. SHR’s consistency and relatively good performance may make the idea more appealing.

The downside to him moving to Sprint Cup would be that he would lose Newman and Stewart, as they have Cup rides already. He does have Brad Keselowski, who has a lot of potential, and could be groomed into a consistent threat to win. But, Keselowski is green, and there’s more of a win now philosophy in NASCAR, especially with the economy the way it is and sponsors so hard to come by.

Add in the fact that if Jr turned Sprint Cup owner, the calls that Jr is too distracted to win a championship would only get louder.

At the end of the day, whether Jr decides to move to Sprint Cup or not, I would hope that his decision is based on more than just money.