AS THE RUMOR MILL CHURNS, 7/15/08

With Craftsman leaving at the end of the 2008 season after a 14-year run, could Kobalt Tools replace them as the title sponsor of the truck series? Stanley Tools and NAPA have also been mentioned as possible sponsors for the series. – SOURCE: NASCAR.com

Lowe’s, with their close relationship with Kobalt Tools, could replace Home Depot as the official home improvement store of NASCAR. Home Depot is currently in the process of “reassessing” their substantial involvement in NASCAR. The company is signed on to be the primary sponsor of the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing team through 2009, while their status as the official home improvement store of the series is up at the end of this year. – SOURCE: Scenedaily.com

For those with an interest in the open-wheel side of racing, rumors are that Kodak and Subway are looking to become the Indy Racing League series’ title sponsor. There is a third, unnamed entity who could be in the running for title sponsor as well. – SOURCE: SceneDaily.com

AS THE RUMOR MILL CHURNS, 7/12/08

The newly-created Stewart-Haas Racing team could be going to three teams, with Martin Truex Jr. joining Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman to form a quasi-super team. Burger King and UPS could become primary sponsors for the second and third teams. -- Source: Captain Thunder Racing

Speaking of Truex and sponsorships, word from garage sources relayed to Stock Car Talk is that there is a strong possibility that Bass Pro Shops will follow Truex wherever he goes. Rumors of Truex's future have ranged from staying at DEI to moving on to Richard Childress Racing or Penske Racing.

Newman has been offered ownership in an undisclosed race team. Rumor has it that the team in question was Chip Ganassi Racing, but that's highly unlikely. No word yet on what percentage of ownership Newman has been offered.

Bass Pro Shops is also a possibility to become the primary sponsor of Newman at SHR should he end up leaving Penske. It's also reiterated that UPS is a possibility for the sponsor of Stewart's second car. -- Source: Justin Long of the Virginian Pilot

AS THE RUMOR MILL CHURNS, 7/11/08

We continue to hear rumblings from those inside the garage that Bass Pro Shops -- currently the sponsor of Martin Truex Jr.'s #1 DEI Chevy -- is considering joining Stewart-Haas Racing next year as the primary sponsor for Tony Stewart's second car. It's expected that Ryan Newman will be the driver of that second car, although there are some insiders who think that Truex Jr. could follow Bass Pro Shops to SHR. Truex enjoys a very solid relarionship with his current sponsor, which could lead them to push for adding Truex if they do bolt from DEI.

One industry source has told Stock Car Talk that Newman is #1 on Richard Childress' list to fill his recently-created Cheerios/General Mills team at Richard Childress Racing. Of course, that could lead to a battle of checkbooks between RCR and SHR, which will make the current driver of the #12 Dodge a very, very rich man when all of the dust settles.

Speaking of RCR, another name being floated as a possibility to fill their fourth team is current Michael Waltrip Racing driver David Reutimann. With his contract being up at the end of the year, as well as that of his primary sponsor UPS, Reutimann's name hit the rumor mill earlier this week when it was reported that he would replace Kyle Petty in the #45 Dodge. Both Reutimann and MWR vehemently denied that report.

Barack Obama, the presumptive presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, will be on the hood of the #49 BAM Racing Dodge for the Aug. 2 Pocono race. Obama would be the first presidential candidate to be the primary sponsor for a NASCAR race team, although it's expected to be only a one-race deal. -- Source: Tom Bowles of SI.com

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.