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The Hot Pass: Silly season ready to heat up

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Lee Spencer

Lee Spencer is the senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com. She has provided award-winning coverage of auto racing over the last 15 years. Spencer has lent her expertise to both television and radio and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM Radio and the Performance Racing Network.

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Updated Aug 16, 2009 4:08 AM ET
     
 

BROOKLYN, Mich.

The expectation of silly season's full spin has been slowed due to a weak economy and sagging sponsorship. Many pundits believed that once the Martin Truex Jr. to Michael Waltrip Racing domino fell, many would follow. But there's been very little movement since the announcement. There are still plenty of players — some free agents, some not — that need to find a home for 2010.

Around the garage

Kahne
  • Is RPM Toyota bound?
  • Changes coming to The Glen
  • Busch, Vickers trade barbs after N'wide duel
    • Here are four drivers to follow over the next month:
  • Jamie McMurray — Roush Fenway Racing finally came clean that McMurray was the odd man out as the organization pares down to four cars for 2010. Is a ride at RFR's satellite Yates Racing a possible landing spot? Maybe. But who would want to go where the equipment is all hand-me-downs? A reunion with Chip Ganassi is a better solution for Mac ... and if he can bring crew chief Donnie Wingo along with him for the reunion, all the better.
  • Brad Keselowski — It's a shame there's no room at the Hendrick Inn for Special K in 2010 because the 25-year-old has reached a level in his development where he needs to drive in both the Cup and Nationwide Series. An offer is on the table to drive the No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge, but who would turn down an opportunity to race for Hendrick Motorsports? A satellite HMS program would be the best solution. Whether that team is placed at Phoenix Racing or Stewart-Haas Racing depends on if sponsorship can be found. Had Red Bull Racing made the move to Chevrolet, the solution would have been simple. One curious rumor that could add a strange twist to the scenario would be if Ganassi switched from Earnhardt Childress engines to Hendrick powerplants. Could we possibly see Keselowski reviving the No. 8?
  • Brian Vickers — Wasn't Red Bull close to announcing a contract extension for Vickers the last time the NASCAR tour traveled to Michigan? Well, here we are eight races and four poles later. Vickers has climbed from 17th to 14th in the point standings, but nothing has been finalized for 2010. On Friday, Red Bull GM Jay Frye said he "has every intention" of keeping Vickers in the No. 83 Toyota. On Friday, Vickers said, "it's been going on since October and I'm just burnt out about it. We agreed on everything and it just kept changing." Although Vickers' package might not be everything he had hoped, my bet is he stays put with Red Bull.
  • Elliott Sadler — Rumors persist that Sadler will move into the No. 07 Chevrolet next season. Jack Daniels wants to return, but for a limited schedule. Sadler would be a bargain for RCR. Another option? JTG Racing, if Tad Geschickter expands his operation. Sadler still has a year on his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports but would be doing that company a favor if he left. The organization would be stronger with a three-car squad than stretching resources to run four teams.

    RPM Toyota bound?

     Internet reports of Richard Petty Motorsports switching to Toyota after Kasey Kahne participated in a photo shoot with a No. 9 Budweiser Toyota were quickly dismissed this weekend.
    "I don't know what the deal is with that," Kahne said. "I did my Budweiser photo shoot and obviously you guys know that it was a Toyota. Why? I don't know why it was. I'm Dodge, man. I think I'll be Dodge next year, truthfully." Since last September, rumors have persisted of RPM making a move to Toyota. Certainly, the greatest indication was the delay by RPM in developing the new R6 Dodge engine. With the current state of the auto manufacturers, very few would entertain bringing on additional teams at this time. If Red Bull stays with Toyota — as all indications point to — moneys that possibly would have been freed up might not be now. The exception? Ford. Perhaps the next shoot for Kahne could be in the No. 9 Budweiser Ford. "We've publicly said we're interested in talking to teams that would be interested in coming over," said Doug Hervey, operations manager of Ford Racing North America. "It's getting late in the season, but there's still time."

    Changes in the making

     NASCAR officials carefully assessed the Turn 5 area at Watkins Glen International where Sam Hornish Jr. bounced off the tire barrier and back into traffic collecting Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton and Joey Logano in last Monday's rain-delayed race.

    SPIN CITY

    ALTTEXT Photos: Check out all the wild action from Michigan.
    NASCAR is working with the University of Nebraska, who initially developed the SAFER barrier, to devise a solution for that turn before the tour returns next season. Hornish said on Saturday he "felt fine." While no official impact numbers have been released from the black box data recorded in the No. 77 Dodge, initial reports showed three large spikes — first from the initial contact from Kasey Kahne, secondly from hitting the barrier and finally from Gordon's hit.

    Say what?

     Following a tantalizing finish in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race, where the lead changed twice over the final three laps as Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski battled for the win, the real fireworks began on pit road. Busch: Unfortunately, sometimes you race with idiots. Vickers: You know, I'm so sorry. I forgot it was the Kyle Busch Show ... I thought it was a Nationwide race.
    • Tagged: Michael Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers, Jeff Burton, Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr.

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