COUSIN CARL FACING NATIONWIDE PENALTIES

Following last night's Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway, NASCAR confiscated the brake calipers of Carl Edwards' #60 World Financial Group Ford.

According to NASCAR, the brakes used by the #60 team were not on the racing series' list of approved parts.

Edwards finished 16th in the Chicago race, two laps down from winner Kyle Busch. He currently stands fourth in the Nationwide standings, although penalties expected to be announced this coming Tuesday would drop him further back.

JUNIOR LOSES SPONSOR?

You know economic times are tough when arguably the most popular driver in the history of the sport is losing sponsorships.

Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press is reporting that JR Motorsports was informed last week that the U.S. Navy -- sponsor of the #88 Nationwide entry driven by Brad Keselowski -- will not renew their sponsorship following the end of the 2008 season.

Like all branches of the military involved in the three top levels of NASCAR, the Navy works under one-year sponsorship agreements with the respective teams. Navy has been a primary sponsor for JR Motorsports since 2005, the first year Dale Earnardt Jr. fielded a team in what was then the Busch series.

Even given this economic climate, Earnhardt Jr. and his company should have little or no problem finding a sponsor(s) for 2009. Keselowski is one of the brightest young stars in NASCAR and currently stands second in the Nationwide standings behind Cup regular Clint Bowyer.

Additionally, and arguably most importantly, the Earnardt name and Junior's popularity will likely have potential suitors beating down his Mooresville door in the very near future. If they haven't already, of course.