TRUEX APPEAL DENIED

The uphill struggle for Martin Truex Jr. and his #1 Bass Pro Shops team will continue as the National Stock Car Racing Commission has upheld penalties handed down following a failed inspection in the week leading up to the summer Daytona race.

Truex was docked 150 driver points, Dale Earnhardt Inc. the same in owner points, and both the car and crew chief were fined $100,000 and suspended for six races. The loss dropped Truex from 14th to 18th in points, and he currently sits an insurmountable 233 points out of the 12th and final Chase position.

A mere seven races remain until the Race for the Chase commences in New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 14.

Here's the complete text of the commission's ruling:

The Appellants did not contest the rules violations, but argued that the penalties were too severe for the infractions. The Appellants explained that rigorous checks and balances in the fabrication process were in place at DEI and could offer no explanation as to why the roof failed to meet the inspection templates. They argued that the infractions were minor in nature, not deliberate, and that the resulting lowered roof was a disadvantage according to their wind tunnel findings.

The Commission found that the infractions were clear-cut. The roof was low across a broad area. Accordingly, the penalties that were issued are warranted.

Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The periods of the suspensions are to be adjusted from the date of this hearing.

AS THE RUMOR MILL CHURNS, 7/16/08

As Stock Car Talk reported earlier in the week, and now buffeted by a recent CBS Sportsline.com report, Joe Gibbs Racing may not be entirely comfortable putting Joey Logano into the #20 car full-time in 2009. There continues to be serious talk within the organization about putting a veteran driver in the car for most of ’09, allowing Logano to run a full Nationwide schedule and a few select Cup races before going full-time with the big boys in 2010.

Based on conversations with various garage sources, it’s sounding more and more likely that David Stremme will replace Ryan Newman in the #12 Dodge next year. And just why would that be? Because Penske Racing’s top choice as the replacement for Newman, Martin Truex Jr., is very likely headed to Richard Childress Racing if the wrangling over his Dale Earnhardt Inc. contract can be worked out. Stremme currently conducts tests for Penske Racing, and has seen the organization take a shining to him over the course of the last couple of months.

Speaking of Truex, the whispers of his moving on to Stewart-Haas Racing and being the driver of a yet-to-be-formed third team will not go away. There is no concrete evidence that there will even be a third team at SHR in ’09, let alone with Truex behind the wheel, but the rumors of such a move are out there and slowly gaining momentum.

Much like the above-mentioned Truex rumor, the talk of Juan Pablo Montoya leaving Ganassi Racing at season’s end and moving to Penske will not go away either. While the Montoya speculation is out there, two well-placed sources called Montoya leaving his current team a very remote possibility at best.

One place Truex will not be headed in ’09? Penske Racing, and you can take that one to the bank and forget any rumors you hear which state otherwise. Truex has heard the talk regarding the inner-workings at Penske, and does not want to go from one dysfunctional organization to another.

Casey Mears, released from his Hendrick Motorsports’ contract effective at the end of the 2008 season, could very well land at DEI should the rumors of Truex leaving DEI for RCR/SHR and Stremme filling the #12 Dodge spot come to fruition. However, there is one source SCT speaks to on a regular basis who continues to insist that Mears will land at Penske when everything is all said and done. No offense to the source, but such an opinion is seemingly based on Mears’ and Penske’s open-wheel ties, with Casey’s uncle Rick Mears serving as a consultant to Penske being the impetus to such a rumor.

JUNIOR 'JUST SAYS NO' TO DEI OWNERSHIP

When all of the tumult surrounding the "would he, won't he" drama was shaking out early last year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. made one thing perfectly clear: he and his sister Kelley Earnardt Elledge wanted majority control of Dale Earnhardt Inc. as part of any new contract he would sign with his father's company.

Needless to say, said scenario did not come to pass as Junior moved on to the money-green, victory-laden pasture of Hendrick Motorsports.

Then, earlier this week, rumors surfaced of DEI being on the market and open for bidding. Or, at the very least, being open to bringing in a deep-pocketed investor.

Naturally, the question would be posed to Junior following these latest developments: do you still have an interest in owning DEI?

"I don’t mean this in a bad way, but I would not have any interest in purchasing it," Junior told the media in quotes relayed by Dustin Long in his online blog for the Virginian-Pilot.

(chuckle)

Junior went on to say that the current climate of NASCAR, with even the most well-heeled teams seeking a monetary injection from outside investors, could have his step-mother rethinking her stance of a year-and-half ago.

"I didn’t ever feel like she would be interested in selling the company, and I don’t think that’s in Teresa’s character to give that company up. She feels that strongly about it. She felt that strongly about it a couple of years ago. I would be surprised. But maybe she sees the trend and some of the other things that are happening in the sport with other owners and its changed her mind."

WRITER'S NOTE: The full name of the current owner of DEI will never, ever appear on this blog. Out of respect to the memory of the true force behind the creation of DEI. Just thought I should get that out there and out of the way.