After saying it would never happen, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is looking at moving JR Motorsports, his Nationwide Series race team, to the next level in 2009. The reason is the still-called Car of Tomorrow, which is scheduled to run in the second-tier series full time next season. The accrued costs of switching three Nationwide cars to the new model make it more workable to run in the Sprint Cup Series, where sponsors are more eager to pay high dollars for greater exposure and a higher return for the buck.

Earnhardt Jr. would like his race team to join the top-level series by the start of next season if the pieces fit-i.e., if a proven driver emerges and if his handlers can land a backer with deep enough pockets. A top-of-the-line racer seems unlikely, as Junior sees his team’s first year at the Cup level as a season of struggles.

JRM started out as a small shop in Mooresville with minimal expectations in 2005. The program merged with Hendrick Motorsports at the end of last season as a package deal when Junior left Dale Earnhardt Inc. Earnhardt Jr. expanded to three cars in ‘08, the No. 88 Chevrolet driven full time by Brad Keselowski, the 83 that Junior occasionally drives, and the 5 car shared by Junior, Casey Mears, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Landon Cassill, Ron Fellows and Martin Truex Jr. The team has been stronger from the start and runs consistently up front in every race. It got its first victory in March when Martin won at Las Vegas, and ran all three cars for the first time last weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Ignoring the learning curve, a new twist has Tony Stewart becoming a partner with Earnhardt Jr. and driving for JRM next year if he gets out of his Joe Gibbs Racing contract-an unlikely event according to JGR president J.D. Gibbs. Stewart will not confirm discussions with Earnhardt Jr., saying only that Hass CNC racing is one of several racing organizations offering him limited partnership and a chance to drive for his own team. Unless further developments occur, a Stewart-Junior pact is more probable in 2010.

Driving for one race team while owning another is nothing new in NASCAR. Dale Earnhardt Sr. drove for Richard Childress Racing while he owned DEI. Junior could do the same with his arrangement, although HMS is co-owner of JRM, making a perceived conflict of interest minimal on Dale Jr.’s part.

If JRM moves up, what will other Nationwide teams do? And if Dale Earnhardt Jr. has trouble finding backers for his Nationwide program, what kind of financial shape are others in?

Since Truex Jr. won back-to-back Busch Series crowns in 2004-05, Cup regulars have dominated the series and remain the only true contenders for a Nationwide championship. Assuming Junior follows through and other teams follow suit, NASCAR may want to rethink pushing the COT on its “minor league” circuit so soon, or else make the series a true farm system for aspiring drivers. That would make profitability an issue, and Nationwide Insurance Co. could threaten to pull out.

Brian France has some very hard decisions ahead.

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Only one driver has won three consecutive championships at NASCAR’s highest level, Cale Yarborough from 1976 - ‘78. Despite his worst start since entering the series full time in 2002, a three-peat is still possible for the 21st century’s top driver entering 2008.

With only one win and four top-five finishes through four months of racing, Jimmie Johnson’s two-year reign as king of NASCAR could be coming to a close were it not for the controversial Chase format. Johnson was a firm ninth in the standings prior to Dover and trailed leader Kyle Busch by 367 points.

Lofty expectations bring a series of disappointments if the rate of success dips, and Johnson’s grip is getting slippery. After a series leading 10 wins in ‘07, including four of the last five Nextel Cup events, the 48 Chevrolet was the logical choice to win again in ‘08. That dominance is no longer there and teammates Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears, and newcomer Dale Earnhardt Jr. are winless as well in ‘08.

JJ doesn’t seem worried.

The El Cajon, Californian also has two career series runner-ups and 34 wins to his credit, and a long history of rising to the top. Considering the incredible run he had in last year’s Chase, as long as he’s in the field he remains a solid contender.

His atypical troubles continued recently at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, a track he has mastered in previous years. Career-wise, Johnson is peerless at LMS, statistically speaking. He ranks first in every major category at the Concord venue, besting rivals so convincingly that claims of a conspiracy-i.e., a Lowe’s car crushing the competition at a Lowe’s facility-routinely emerged. On May 25, the 48 car finished 39th in a field of 43 after engine trouble knocked JJ out of a race for the first time this season. Previously he had won seven times at the SMI-owned track and took three straight Coca-Cola 600s in 2003 - ‘05.

After rebounding in late March from a slow start, he came in fourth at Martinsville, followed by a runner-up spot at Texas and a win at Phoenix. He has slid again since then, and a general consensus is building that he’s mired in a season-long slump, much like his majority car owner (Gordon). Johnson says the reason for his drop is the Car of Tomorrow, now run at every series event. Gordon has also struggled in the wider car after Hendrick drivers won the first five COT races in ‘07. Johnson points out that his early wins from a year ago were in the old car and on shorter tracks. His five COT victories last season came at Richmond (.75-mile) and Martinsville (.526-mile)-two wins each-and at Phoenix (1-mile). He and the 48 crew are still figuring out how the heavier car handles on the bigger tracks in ‘08.

The edge Hendrick Motorsports had last season seems to be gone, through Johnson points out that other teams have simply caught up. If he can’t fare better at LMS of all places, where he has frequently excelled (he finished fourth in the May 17 All-Star race), he may be content to complete each race the rest of the way, win if he can, and qualify for NASCAR’s version of the postseason before making a strong move to the front.

Johnson has started well in previous years before going through a similar slide during the summer. He went 11 consecutive events without a win when the temperature rose in ‘06, and 14 straight weeks without a checkered flag in ‘07 before a late August win at California. This isn’t his first drought, but he has never struggled like this so soon. Still, he’s the only HMS driver with a win thus far.

Keep watch. The Hendrick team has never been down for too long.

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Today I would like to underline a topic that has always been on the mind of me as a Nascar fan an collector. For years and years Nascar has been a very competitive sport and each series (Sprint, Nationwide, and Craftsman) have their own racers and sponsors, even numbers!

The major factor I would like to discuss is the fact that each series offers different features for different skilled drivers and so forth. So would you come to the conclusion to say that series interchangeable drivers is fair? or unfair? By this I simply mean should drivers like Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick be able to drive in both the Sprint, and Nationwide Series (Also Craftsman, if applied)?

It has been my opinion for years that each series is different so that other people can get into the certain series and gain coverage to someday race the highest series which is currently the Sprint Cup Series. Although with that being said we still see a few drivers that race both series simultaneously and have been for years.

This factor seems very unfair in my eyes due to the conclusion and assumption that higher ranked series drivers have more of an edge due to their somewhat of a veteran status with the Nascar sport. Meaning that they have more track time, and ultimately more practice and expertise under their belt then the drivers in the Nationwide and Craftsman Nascar series. Seeing that all these variables are arguable I would like to hear your responses on the topic and if you think it is fair or unfair? So before you take off, let me outline the major reasons why I think interchangeable driving in multiple Nascar series (Sprint, Nationwide, and Craftsman) seems unfair.

-Higher series drivers seem to have a veteran status with the Nascar sport and may have expertise when it comes to certain instances, like tracks, care handling etc.

-Each series of Nascar (Sprint, Nationwide, and Craftsman) have their own individual sponsors, shouldn’t they have their own drivers? not repeats, this would be to allow talent to flow through the sport at a somewhat higher rate with more driver openings.

-Each series is meant for a certain driver, and if they made it into the Sprint, Nationwide, or Craftsman cup series then aren’t they where they are supposed to be?

-If each driver who interchanged or raced both stayed in only one Nascar Series (Sprint, Nationwide, or Craftsman) then they could better their chances of winning races by having more time to practice and optimize one car at one track instead of multiples.

-And lastly opportunity, give other rising Nascar race car drivers the ability to get into the Nascar series by sticking to one series to offer more open positions for upcoming drivers.

So what do you think? Comments are appreciated and will be responded to. Thanks for your patronage!

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Debris — crumpled paper, perhaps? — got in Bowyer’s grill early, forcing a pit stop 18 laps in, and he was playing catch-up the rest of the way. He finished 25th, which snapped his streak of top-15 finishes at eight.

Clint Bowyer fell victim to overheating issues in the early goings of Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, forcing the Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet to pit under green-flag conditions, just 18 laps in to the longest race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.

Bowyer’s black and white No. 07 Chevy picked up debris that had blown on to the race track blocking the front grill openings and causing the water and oil temperatures to spike. The untimely trip to pit lane ultimately cost him two laps that, despite a yeoman’s effort, he was unable to reclaim.

“We picked up some trash on the nose of the Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet, had to pit under green and lost two laps. In all honesty, going two laps down early is almost as bad as wrecking. All things considered, 25th isn’t too bad. Gil (crew chief Gil Martin) and all the guys did a great job getting the car to where I could drive it. We struggled during the All-Star race and really didn’t have a good handle on the car for most of this weekend. But, when the green flag dropped, the Jack Daniel’s Chevy was easily a top-10 car. If we wouldn’t have had that bad luck, I feel like we could have raced for the win. We’re going to Dover next weekend and that’s a track I really enjoy. We’re taking a good car so this team is looking to rebound from a tough couple of weeks.” - Clint Bowyer

Still, Bowyer held on to fifth in the Sprint Cup Series point standings where he holds a 40-point advantage over Carl Edwards in sixth and a 61-point margin over Richard Childress Racing teammate Kevin Harvick in seventh. Meanwhile, Bowyer is just 18 points behind Denny Hamlin in fourth.

If you are a fan of the races, you have probably at least entertained the thought of camping out at the race with other anticipating race fans. There is something about the vibe when camping at a NASCAR race that can’t be beat, especially for those die hard fans out there that are truly thrilled b y it all. Getting NASCAR tickets is one thing, but actually having the opportunity to be on the infield as the race is going on is a unique experience in itself, one that no real race fan should have to live without having experienced.

There are different types of camping that can be done at a NASCAR race. Most people have RVs that they like to camp with because they can hook them up and be able to use the water, the facilities, and have electricity in the camper. There are also camping sites for NASCAR races that do not offer hook ups at all, although many of these facilities will make other arrangements for you to dispose of your waste and get clean water. Of course, there is always the option of camping in a tent and that is often the favorite option amongst those who would rather do things simply. Whichever method of camping you choose should not be hard to accommodate.

Why Bother Camping at NASCAR Races?
Many people who travel to NASCAR don’t see the point in camping, and the truth is that it is not for everyone. There are many people who make a tradition out of traveling to races like the Coca Cola 600 and the Daytona 500 and camping with a huge group of friends and associates. Then there are people who fly to town and stay in luxury suites; obviously the latter group might not appreciate the experience. There is a camaraderie to be had at camp sites that goes well with the vibrant NASCAR atmosphere.

Camping at NASCAR Is One Big Party
People choose to camp at NASCAR rather than get a room or stay at a bed and breakfast because of the type of experience it offers. It is a great way for a lot of people who are interested in one thing to get together and celebrate it. There is often drinking, cookouts, parties, games, activities—you name it, it is done at a NASCAR campout. It is a good place to bring little ones who you want to enjoy the races with you and teach them how to have some good, wholesome fun.

Where to Camp at NASCAR
Depending on what race you are attending and what track you will be at, there are several different places to camp. Some tracks allow camping on the infield only, while some tracks allow camping inside the track and outside it as well. Other places have campsites very close to the track that are designated for camping NASCAR fans as well, so the venue can change accommodations from place to place and race to race. Check with your race in advance so that you can reserve a spot, and let your friends and loved ones know in advance, especially if there is a distance to be traveled to the race itself.

Something to keep in mind about camping out at NASCAR races is that the more popular the race is and the bigger of a deal the event is, the harder it is going to be to get a space. Sometimes, they require that you reserve a camping space a year in advance or more and that is a bit too long for some people. A lot of things can change in a year, but usually the cost of reserving the space is not too much to ask to have the space reserved when demand for it is going to be so high once the event rolls around.

Camping at NASCAR takes organization. It takes planning, and most of all it takes the will to have a good time. There should only be one rule at a NASCAR camping event and it should be that non race fans and party poopers are not allowed!

About the Author
Steve Godlewski travels all over the country with his wife Jen, 2 Kids, 2 Dogs, and the cat. Feel free to join us and ride shotgun. Ride with us: http://www.roadwarriorslive.com

Insurance giant Aflac Inc. will become the primary sponsor of NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards’ No. 99 Ford Fusion next year, bumping Office Depot.

Aflac, the Georgia company known for humorous commercials starring its signature duck, would not disclose the terms of its multiyear deal with Roush Fenway Racing, Edwards’ race team. But it is believed to be for three years and worth $78 million.

Delray Beach-based Office Depot will continue as primary sponsor of Edwards’ car for the rest of this season, which runs until mid-November, including its fourth “Official Small Business of NASCAR” sweepstakes.

NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Sr - From Boy to Superstar
By Christopher DiCicco

Dale Earnhardt Sr. was born on April 29th, 1951 in Kannapolis, North Carolina and sadly died at aged 49 on February 18th, 2001 as a result of massive head trauma from a crash in the final lap of 2001 Daytona 500. Dale Sr. was also known as The Intimidator but those who knew him, would say differently. He was a philanthropist and never found the need for media coverage of his donations.

His father, Ralph Earnhardt, was one of the best known short-track drivers in North Carolina. He was not very encouraging of his son’s ambition of racing cars as well and even when he dropped out of high school to race, Ralph was hard on his son. Ralph did teach his son everything he knew and set the stage to make him the driver he turned into. His father realized that his driving skill came naturally and as such made his son view his mistakes as open mindedly as possible. Earnhardt Sr. appreciated everything his father did for him and missed his presence sorely when he died of a heart attack in 1973.

Although Sr. started racing professionally at age 23, he ran his first race at Metolina Fairgrounds in Charlotte in the 1970 season where he finished in 10th place. In 1971, he finally won his first race which would then bring about 26 more wins while still racing at Metolina and Concord Motor Speedway. After he had quit school, he worked at several places like for an insulation company and he was also a welder who did brake jobs as well. Dale’s decision to race for a career came about after his father’s death. He bought an asphalt-track car while still competing at Metrolina. Although money was tight, Earnhardt Sr. always found away to get through it.

He began his Winston Cup career in 1975. In 1978, things took a turn for the better when he met Teresa Houston who then helped pave the way for Dale’s path to NASCAR success. Once out of his rookie season, he started the season off with a win in the Busch Clash. He became the first and only driver thus far to have won Rookie of the year and then winning the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. He eventually went on to race for Richard Childress Racing in 1981 and then joined Bud Moore during the 1982 and 1983 season. After that he went back to Richard Childress Racing and in that time, managed to secure victory 6 times at Talladega, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol and Martinsville.

He went on to carve NASCAR history in the following two decades. It is talked about the bigger things that could have been achieved had Earnhardt Sr. survived the fatal crash that took away a NASCAR legend. His #3 car was retired by his team owner who has promised never to let another car on his team be designed similarly. Although he was both loved and hated in NASCAR, he has remained one of the sport’s most popular drivers. Dale made sure his private life was kept private. When he wasn’t on the tracks, he was with his family, hunting, fishing, working on his farm and known as generous giver amongst his friends. In 2004, his life story was made into a television movie, titled “3: The Dale Earnhardt Story” and in 2007, a documentary-style movie was released into theaters. Even in death, many still remember the great things Dale Sr. accomplished and tributes in song, movies and books have been dedicated to the passing to the brightest star of NASCAR.

For NASCAR Merchandise, Up to the minute News, and everything Dale Earnhardt Sr. including Dale Earnhardt Auto Accessories , Dale Earnhardt Decals and Dale Earnhardt Figures we have them at the best prices everyday! Not only am I the owner of NASCARsupershop.com but I am also the senior editor, website developer and a HUGE fan of NASCAR!

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NASCAR’s David Ragan - From Boy to Superstar
By Christopher DiCicco

To quote NEXTEL Cup driver Robert Pressley, a family friend of the Ragan family
“It’s like there’s a blood line down here with the Ragans and racing. They’re good. And whether you’re in Legends, or Busch, or NEXTEL cup, they take everything serious and that’s exactly right. If you take it serious, you’re going to be successful.” David, son of famed Ken Ragan, was born on December 24, 1985 in Unadilla, Georgia. The 6’s father is a former Winston Cup journeyman so it does not faze NASCAR enthusiasts that the younger Ragan has the same fire for racing as his father. Ragan is currently the director of 600 Racing and was a former NEXTEL Cup driver. During his career, Ken Ragan, made 50 Cup starts from 1982 to 1990. Ken also made five Busch Series starts in 1982 and 1983.

The younger Ragan started racing when he was 11 years old at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Bandoleer Series in 1997. He has been blessed with an extremely fruitful career ever since then. When he was 12 in 1998, he went on to win the National Champion Bandoleer Bandits division under the sponsorship of Rudy’s Farm. At the Atlanta Motor Speedway, he came in 2nd in the Thursday Thunder Series and won 12 Bandoleer features. From ages 13 to 14 (1999-2000), David won the National Champion in the Bandoleer Yu-Guns division, he came in 1st at the Wendy’s Summer Shootout at the Lowes Motor Speedway, managed to grab 19 Bandoleer wins, competed in Legends Cars, won the Young Lions division for the state of Georgia, the Semi-Pro Championship at Atlanta Motor Speedway, purchased Nascar Goods Dash car and won 17 Legend Car features. For someone so young, David achieved a lot in the short span of two years and went on to get more for himself. He gained experience working in Cam Strader’s Goodys Dash shop while on the tracks, he also worked on #6 NASCAR’s Goodys Dash car. On several occasions, he tested the Dash car. Later on, David and Strader’s team worked on two NASCAR Late Models that was used by him in 2002 during his first NASCAR series division. He continued to help Strader in the NASCAR Goodys Dash, Busch and ARCA events and raced ten Legends events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

By the time he was 18 and eligible for NASCAR divisions, he had driven for Mark Martin, won the “King of the Oval” thunder Roadster series championship with the national title. David Ragan became the youngest driver during Speedweeks in Daytona and he proved his nettle after getting a best finish of 2nd at the subsequent ARCA/Remax series at Kentucky Speedway. He gained a lot of experience when he qualified to compete in eight NASCAR Craftsman Truck events the year he reached the minimum age limit.

Even though he was a terror on the tracks, Ragan’s family made sure he was doing well in school. He was a student at the Eagle’s Landing High School which subsequently led him to a place in the UNC Motorsports Engineering program. He balanced both his professional and student life immaculately. Besides his father, David looks up to Mark Martin on the track. He regards Martin as a mentor who has along the way, given him advice especially when he was preparing for his shot in the Scotts truck.

As David Ragan matures and becomes more experienced on the NASCAR tracks, he is building a sound reputation on the tracks and he keeps looking forward to the next race. He has father, Ken Ragan, with him during all his races as Ken Ragan is also his manager. They share a tight bond, one that is cemented with the love of racing.

For NASCAR Merchandise, Up to the minute News, and everything NASCAR including NASCAR Figures , NASCAR Baby Items and NASCAR Jacket we have put together the largest selection all in one place! Not only am I the owner of NASCARsupershop.com but I am also the senior editor, website developer and a HUGE fan that loves NASCAR!

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NASCAR’s David Reutimann - From Boy to Superstar
By Christopher DiCicco

Born on the 2nd of March in 1970, David Reutimann grew up in Zephyrhills, Florida with the zeal of driving inborn within him. David’s family name resounds strongly within the old school races and various fans throughout the east coast. Their family name is notorious on the race tracks of Orlando, Florida. Buzzie and Wayne (David’s father and uncle) were legends amongst the old school racers throughout the east coast. Their presence commands respect on and off the tracks and such a tradition was instilled in young David. David was brought up with racing in his blood and he has made sure to continue the bloodline on the tracks.

David’s grandfather and father would tear down the tracks in their early 30s Chevys, trimmed in blue and white with the famous “00″ painted on red. They brought their game to the track and had their trophy in tow. Buzzie had the DIRT world in his hands after storm winning events all over the Eastern seaboard. David, at the beginning was very much like his father. He was driving modifieds and late models on dirt and paved tracks while building up his own reputation.

Although the transition from weekly tracks to big competitions was extremely hard, David proved the critics wrong. He was able to make the change smoothly and after getting noticed by Darrell Waltrip, the pieces fell into place. All of this took place when He moved up to the Slim Jim all Pro Series in 1997. He won Rookie of the year, finished in the top-ten eight times and had a fifth-place points finish. One would conclude that that was pretty good for such a large change in a short period of time. At the next season’s end, Reutimann grabbed a hold of the Sportsmanship award.

What probably was his biggest win was his daughter’s birth in 2001. Reutimann who now resides in Mooresville, North Carolina, set up house with his wife Lisa and young daughter Emilia with their mini-dachshunds, Roxie and Daisy.

It took him a few years after his debut onto the professional scene before he got his three wins in 2002 and with that, finished second in the overall championship standings. It was also that same year that the Florida native entered his first of four NASCAR Busch Series races. The car he raced in was owned by Joe Nemechek after getting some help from an old friend called Brian Pattie. Reutimann went on to finish at the 16th spot when he debuted at the Richmond International Raceway and later finished in the top 15 twice that same season. The next seasons, he ran seven Busch races for NEMCO. He also participated in the New England 300 and the Brickyard 400 in the Winston Cup Series in the #04 for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, but unfortunately failed to make the cut to qualify at both times.

David then signed on with Darrell Waltrip Motorsports in 2004 to race the NTN Bearings truck in the Craftsman Truck series. He won the pole in his second race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, David had four top-fives and with his finish in 14th place in points, he managed to snatch Rookie of the Year again into his bag. His first career race was won in 2005 at the Nashville Superspeedway. He then went on to make his cup debut at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and continued to make fifteen Busch starts and had four top tens.

Buzzie Reutimann still races till this very day. David Reutimann, though a third generation racer in his family, proved that racing can be strong within one’s genes and that it is possible to go to the big time even if you start out small.

For NASCAR Merchandise, Up to the minute News, and everything NASCAR including NASCAR Barbecue Items , NASCAR Blankets and NASCAR Sunglasses we have put together the largest selection all in one place! Not only am I the owner of NASCARsupershop.com but I am also the senior editor, website developer and a HUGE fan that loves NASCAR!

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10 Tips for Surviving NASCAR Season When You’re Not a Fan
By Heather L. Clark

It happens every year: NASCAR dominates your life every Sunday (and sometimes other days) from February through November. But what do you do when someone you live with is a Race Fan (RF) and you’re not? From coping with the temporarily impaired ability to carry on a coherent conversation (don’t worry - it usually is just temporary) to wondering why a 39 year old suddenly starts to behave like a 12 year old every time a race is on, here are some tips to help you cope with your very own RF, whether they’re 10 or 90 or somewhere in between.

Heather L. Clark is a Web writer and researcher who enjoys birthday cards, NASCAR and basketball.