| He's not gone yet, but Casey Mears is a lame duck | | | | for Richard Childress Racing in '09, although Mears is |
| driver for the rest of 2008. | | | | mired near the bottom of this year's Chase |
| Hendrick Motorsports knows how to get who it | | | | contenders and has not shown the improvement |
| wants and get rid of who it doesn't. Ask Kyle Busch, | | | | expected of a veteran racer driving for an elite race |
| who was forced out last season with a year left on | | | | team. |
| his contract to make room for Dale Earnhardt Jr. | | | | Childress has other options for a fourth ride, so |
| Now Mears, who drives Busch's old car and uses | | | | Mears may have to wait on other moves before he |
| Rowdy's former crew, gets a premature push after | | | | can switch gears for RCR. Ryan Newman has not |
| one top-five finish, three top-10s, three DNFs and | | | | re-signed with Penske Racing, Martin Truex Jr. is |
| 24th position in the point standings through the | | | | having closed-door discussions with Dale Earnhardt |
| season's first 16 races. Busch finished fourth in last | | | | Inc., and Jamie McMurray's future at Roush Fenway is |
| year's final standings. | | | | still unsettled. Then there's Joe Gibbs driver Tony |
| Under contract through '09, Mears had been on the | | | | Stewart, whose intentions are a bit murky. His |
| hot seat at HMS after a sub-par driving record with | | | | presence at HMS would create a heavy demand for |
| one of NASCAR's preeminent race teams. Into his | | | | resources on a team with a soaring payroll. After a |
| second season with Rick Hendrick, his only win in | | | | recent race, Juan Pablo Montoya asked reporters |
| more than five full seasons at the Cup level was in | | | | about the Mears situation as soon as he jumped out |
| last season's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor | | | | of his car. His contract with lesser-equipped Chip |
| Speedway. | | | | Ganassi Racing is about to run out, giving reason to |
| Mears, 30, was informed of his status in a June 15 | | | | wonder if he's in the running for the No. 5 Chevy. |
| face-to-face meeting after the No. 5 Chevrolet | | | | Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski of JRM |
| finished 30th at Michigan. Hendrick normally has a | | | | could also move up, possibly in a shared ride with |
| replacement in mind before he shows a driver the | | | | Martin. |
| door, and that appears to be Mark Martin this time. | | | | ESPN has reliable sources, but their NASCAR |
| Using inside and unnamed sources, ESPN had already | | | | reporting this year has not always been reliable. As |
| said that Martin is a Hendrick driver in waiting, and | | | | with the assurances we were given that Bobby |
| Mears would be elsewhere next season. Martin, a | | | | Labonte would be in a Childress car next year, |
| four-time series runner-up (most recently in '02), | | | | rumors are reported, though never confirmed until |
| raced three times with HMS in the '07 Busch Series | | | | they become verified facts. Deep-throated moles are |
| and has competed twice this season in a Nationwide | | | | not the best way to validate a story or publicize a |
| car with JR Motorsports, which merged Nationwide | | | | move that has yet to occur. |
| operations with HMS last year. | | | | This one proved accurate. Details of a possible |
| The latest rumor has the nephew of IndyCar legend | | | | buyout have not been reported. |
| Rick Mears-a close friend of Hendrick's-in a fourth car | | | | |