Silly Season 2011 Discussion

[Burhead]

Free Agents
Jamie McMurray
Elliott Sadler
Scott Speed

What We Know

Brad Keselowski - Switching from the 12 to the Miller Lite Dodge next season.

Sam Hornish Jr. - Needs a sponsor since Mobil One is leaving. Penske says he'll be in Cup next year.

Kurt Busch - Resigned with Penske and will drive the 22 Shell/Pennzoil car.

Kevin Harvick - Re-signed with Richard Childress Racing, staying in the 29. Bud is going to sponsor the #29 for 20 points races, and the Gatorade Duels & Bud Shootout, and co-primary sponsor during the All-Star Race. Sponsor deal is for three years.

David Reutimann - Re-signed to a three year deal, Aarons is reupping for 30 more races as well.

Kasey Khane - Signed a multi-year contract to drive for Hendrick Motorsports starting in 2012. Signed to drive for Red Bull Racing for 2011, no word on what car or driver he is replacing. Driving a Toyota, Kenny Francis could come over as well. Red Bull open to three teams.

Stewart-Haas Racing - Will not be expanding to a three car team next season.

Paul Menard - Signed a three year contract with RCR starting next year. No word on crew chief or car number. Expected to run a partial NNS schedule next year. Splitting time between Harvick, Bowyer, and potentially Burton.

Bobby Labonte - Signed a one year deal to drive the #47 Toyota for JTG/Daughtery Racing next year. All current sponsors are returning, although five races need to be sold (have funding to run them out of pocket though). No word on if Frankie Kerr is staying on as crew chief.

Casey Mears - Replacing Max Papis in the #13 car for the rest of this year and in 2011 as well. Papis will run full time in the CWTS.

Marcos Ambrose has signed a multi-year deal to drive the #9 car for RPM starting in 2011, Stanley Tools is moving over from the #19 to the #9 next year.

Reagan Smith has signed a two year contract extension to stay in the #78.

Kevin Conway is likely going to stay in the the #7 car for RGM for the rest of the year and possibly next year as well.

RPM will downsize to two cars unless something comes together for a third car.

 

[TennesseeFan07]

Sadler says he's out following the season.

 

[TennesseeFan07]

NASCAR.COM - Sadler says he's out at RPM following 2010 season - Jul 9, 2010

 

[rbroyles]

Free Agents
Kasey Khane
A.J. Allmendinger
Bobby Labonte
Jamie McMurray
Paul Menard
Elliott Sadler

I would add to your list:
Casey Mears
Reed Sorenson

Kahne is signed by Hendrick - not a free agent.

 

[615 Vol]

I read that Mobil 1 would be going to Hendrick so I guess Quaker State is out. Also, Dupont wants to reduce their role as Gordon's primary sponsor so Mobil 1 may be his sponsor for some of the races.

Old Spice is leaving Stewart after 2010 also. Nothing against Stewart's results according to Old Spice rather a marketing change within their company.

Sorry if this is old news but thought it was appropriate in this thread for someone that didn't know it.

 

[615 Vol]

Free Agents
Kasey Khane
A.J. Allmendinger
Bobby Labonte
Jamie McMurray
Paul Menard
Elliott Sadler

I would add to your list:
Casey Mears
Reed Sorenson

Kahne is signed by Hendrick - not a free agent.

I hate it for them but I don't see Sadler, Sorenson or Mears landing with anyone in cup unless they plan on valet parking for Bobby Hillin after 20 laps.

 

[Burhead]

I don't know about that 615. Out of Mears, Sadler, and Sorenson, Reed has the best shot of landing a ride. He has a perfect chance at Red Bull to show he still has what it takes to be a Cup driver.

 

[SyxxSynse]

Kevin Harvick: Rumored that Bud could be close to signing a deal at RCR for next season.

I think Budweiser is sticking with Kahne wherever he goes. Kahne is supposed to make an announcement and he hinted that all his fans "shouldn't burn all their Bud gear just yet". Take that for what its worth.

 

[615 Vol]

I think Budweiser is sticking with Kahne wherever he goes. Kahne is supposed to make an announcement and he hinted that all his fans "shouldn't burn all their Bud gear just yet". Take that for what its worth.

I only saw that on the parody of the LeBron decision.

 

[SyxxSynse]

I only saw that on the parody of the LeBron decision.

Oh, I thought that was for real. Though now that you mention it, there was an awful lot of similarities between the two announcements that went over my head.

 

[volnSC]

I would still expect Bud stay with Kahne no matter where he goes. They have a good relationship with each other and he is a good spokes person for them.
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[615 Vol]

I would still expect Bud stay with Kahne no matter where he goes. They have a good relationship with each other and he is a good spokes person for them.
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Pepsi might have worded their contract in a way that excludes Hendrick from signing with any other beverage company, not completely sure though. Pepsi owns Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Amp which is why Johnson and Earnhardt have those sponsors.

PepsiCo Pepsi-Cola Brands | PepsiCo.com

 

[volnSC]

Pepsi might have worded their contract in a way that excludes Hendrick from signing with any other beverage company, not completely sure though. Pepsi owns Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Amp which is why Johnson and Earnhardt have those sponsors.

PepsiCo Pepsi-Cola Brands | PepsiCo.com

Yeah I guess it is a possibity that this could be the case. I really wouldn't see them standing in the way of a beer brand though, I mean its not like Bud is owned by Coke or anything.
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[TennesseeFan07]

Maybe JR Motorsports comes up for one year. Rick runs the operation with Kasey and at years end the team goes bye bye.

 

[volnSC]

I still think Kasey to the 09 with Bud as the sponsor and Kenny Francis as crew chief is the most likely, then again I've been wrong before.
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[Burhead]

I still think Kasey to the 09 with Bud as the sponsor and Kenny Francis as crew chief is the most likely, then again I've been wrong before.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

Yeah it makes too much sense for it not to happen let me lay out a few points;

1. James Finch and Rick have been friends for a long time, heck Finch bought the 09 from Rick...

2. Phoenix Racing is already a satellite/R&D team for HMS and has housed HMS developmental drivers before (Brad K last year & Landon Cassill this year.)

3. James has always wanted to run a full season at least once in his career, Rick needs a place close to home to stick Kasey, why not help an old friend out?

I don't buy for a second the denials from both Finch & Hendrick that both sides haven't had talks about sticking Khane there for next year at all. Also people claim the 09 is competitive but just look back to last year when Brad K drove for Finch, he won a race. It will be running up front if Khane is there.

Plus it sets up a place for Mark to wind down his career as a driver and potentially as an owner/driver similar to Tony if Finch is truly going to sell his team...

The only problem I see is sponsorship for a lame duck season. Would Bud be willing to sign on to do that? I'm pretty sure the pockets of Rick Hendrick and James Finch combined could be enough to run a full season once by just putting Hendrickcars.com and Phoenix Construction on the car week in and week out.

Anyways I'm mindlessly rambling but I'm still sticking to my idea we'll see KK in the 09 next year. I wonder if does go there does Kenny Francis continue on with KK?

Also small update but Steve Park is returning to the truck series starting at Darlington. Glad to see him making a come back.

PS.
Just a reminder Rick has already put Hendrickcars.com on the 09's hood when they had Jan Magnussen earlier this year.

 

[volnSC]

I really do think Kenny would go with Kahne. The Bud thing isn't that big a deal I don't think. They know that Rick will be the bucks behind the 09 and the Kahne will have it up front. Then in '12 they could be on the 5 and in the Nascar spotlight.
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[volinbham]

I know it's called the Silly Season but that sure is a pansy name for an auto racing situation.

 

[doozer]

am i the only person who doesn't care what happens to Kahne?

 

[BigPapaVol]

am i the only person who doesn't care what happens to Kahne?

I can tell you with 100% certainty that you're not.

 

[doozer]

I can tell you with 100% certainty that you're not.

that's a fan of NASCAR?

 

[ptclaus98]

I'm thinking Sam gets Verizon sponsorship, but that's probably just me.

 

[615 Vol]

I really do think Kenny would go with Kahne. The Bud thing isn't that big a deal I don't think. They know that Rick will be the bucks behind the 09 and the Kahne will have it up front. Then in '12 they could be on the 5 and in the Nascar spotlight.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

I'm hearing Jesus has fired Morgan Shepherd (poor performance) and is leaning toward sponsoring Kasey Kahne.

 

[volnSC]

I'm hearing Jesus has fired Morgan Shepherd (poor performance) and is leaning toward sponsoring Kasey Kahne.

Well the good thing would be that the car would be more than a start and park lol.
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[Burhead]

Here is a little theory I just started forming in my head;

Ray Evernham has said he wants to come back and help Rick in some form or fashion, potentially next year, and is waiting on some RPM contract clauses to be worked out if I'm not mistaken before he can do so. Let's say Ray, with backing from Rick, invests into Finch's Phoenix operation and gains 50% ownership. Under this theory Bobby Labonte would be retained for 2011 in the 09 car, Rick than allows Phoenix to lease the #25 for a season, Bobby would keep the 09 locked in by his PCP and Rick would only need to find OPs for the 25 car. Where could he get them? Let's see, Jeff is listed as the owner of the 48 so it that would satisfy the Nascar rule and allow Kasey to be locked in for the first five races as well. Why keep Bobby you ask? Well from what I understand the Labonte family and Finch go back a long time and James said he'd like to keep Bobby full time if funding could be had, and with Rick backing Phoenix they would get it too.

It would also allow an additional teammate for Kasey to bounce ideas back and forth with as well. I know its kinda far fetched idea for a team that hasn't even run a full season once with one car in its entire history suddenly field two full time cars for 2011 but with HMS backing any thing could possible. Oh and Ray did love working with KK. Then in 2012 it would then lead to the "hiring" of Mark Martin to drive the Phoenix Racing 25 Chevy after he steps away from Hendrick. In 2012 the driver stable at Phoenix would then be Mark Martin in the 25 and Bobby Labonte in the 09 with both locked in.

Anyways thoughts and opinions on my crazy little scheme?