RCR to get new car number?: Rumor is that the No. 30 Chevy will change
sponsors and car number next season. Plausible sponsor: Jack Daniels. New
car number: 7 - for 'Old Lucky 7'.
Garage buzz indicates that Dave Blaney may fill the seat of the No. 30 when
Jeff Burton moves to the No. 31 at the end of the season. The No. 30 crew
is expected to follow Burton to the 31 ride.
Robby Gordon confirmed to PRN's Garage Pass this weekend, what has been
evident for several months; that he will not be returning to RCR next year.
Instead, he will concentrate on running his No. 55 Robby Gordon Motorsports
Chevy in the Busch Series, and most likely run a self-owned Cup effort.
Sadler pit crew donate winnings to charity: The No. 38 team pit crew, after
winning the PowerAde pit crew award last weekend at Charlotte donated
$10,000 to the Susan P. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation and The Autism
Society of America.
Kvapil makes good showing: Travis Kvapil attempting his first ever Cup
series start - hit one out of the ballpark landing the 5th starting
position for Sunday's Subway 500.
Kvapil is under a development deal with Penske Racing and is rumored to be
in consideration to replace Brendan Gaughan in the No. 77 Dodge next
season. Although team members deny that any driver change is imminent.
Jr. expected to win appeal: In Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s post qualifying press
conference on Friday, he commented that he was surprised that he did not
win the appeal to protest a 25 point loss for use of profanity in Victory
Lane at Talladega.
"I was really frustrated by the appeal," said Earnhardt. "I really felt
pretty strong about it. I wouldn't have went all the way down to Daytona if
I didn't feel like it was worth the trip. They made you feel like they were
listening to you while you were there. I think the decision was already
made from when the wheels hit the ground. The appeal system could use a
little revision but I'm not in charge of it.
"It was really pointless to have it. They just kind of made you feel like
they were listening to you the whole time you were there. It's a little
frustrating to go through all that. I feel kind of foolish now because I
felt like I was getting a fair trial. It was not quite fair I guess.
"It'd be like NASCAR losing at appeal that we held at DEI (laughs). It was
kind of tough. I've never done an appeal before so I didn't know what to
expect or how they work. The whole time I was going 'what's next?' and
'what's the next step, who are we talking to here and what do you do and
what influence does this particular instance have?'
"I tried to state my case. I thought exactly what I said and that anybody
would have turned it over on the drop of a hat. I guess I feel more
strongly about it than everybody else. I guess John Darby had a better
argument than I did anyways. It was fun. It was interesting."
Wallace paces first practice: Rusty Wallace would like nothing more than to
sweep both races at Martinsville this season. With a second place
qualifying effort and the fastest time in morning practice; he's a good bet
to make a good showing on Sunday.
