RPM looks to be on life support with possibly no relief in sight

Did Kasey Kahne’s departure from Charlotte Motor Speedway during last Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 signal the beginning of the end for Richard Petty Motorsports? The turmoil the organization is going through at the present time has been brewing for months, but Kahne’s actions on Saturday and then his parting ways with the team—unexpectedly to fans and others outside the RPM situation—on Wednesday night did definitely shed light on RPM’s plight.

Things started to look at least a little negative for Richard Petty Motorsports when three of its four drivers seemed to one by one look to jump ship. Kahne announced that he was leaving the team to ultimately drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, via a one-year stop at Red Bull Racing in 2011. Then Elliott Sadler announced he wouldn’t be returning to RPM next season, even though he didn’t have another ride lined up. Paul Menard followed suit soon after, announcing that he was heading to Richard Childress Racing at the end of the season.

Of course, Sadler didn’t seem to be wanted by the organization, anyway. The team tried to let him go awhile back, but Sadler threatened a lawsuit to stay, since he was still under contract. Now that the contract is running out, Sadler seems more than happy to pack his bags and look for employment elsewhere.

Maybe these three drivers saw the writing on the wall and opted to get out before it was too late. Kahne, whether it was his decision or RPM’s, couldn’t even wait until the end of the season to escape. He’s beginning his stint with Red Bull Racing this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.

To read more, visit Auto Racing Daily.

Photo of the No. 9 car by Amanda Vincent

McReynolds hopes to make Nationwide Series debut at Gateway

Brandon McReynolds, son of NASCAR on Fox broadcaster and former Cup Series crew chief Larry McReynolds, hopes to make his Nationwide Series debut Saturday in the 5-Hour Energy 250 at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis. He'll be driving a No. 42 car for Team 42 Racing Dodge, owned by Eddie Smith.

"For someone like myself, who has made my living and spent my entire life in the sport of NASCAR and other forms of racing, I can't put into words what it means to have my son competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race this weekend at Gateway International Raceway," Larry McReynolds said. "I am so thankful that people like Eddie Smith are able to recognize all of Brandon's talent, and I'm thrilled to see his first start this weekend."

Brandon McReynolds isn't guaranteed a starting spot in Saturday's race. Instead, he'll have to get his car in on time when Nationwide Series qualifying is held on Saturday morning (airing 10:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2).

To read more, visit Nationwide Series News, Notes & Rumors.

Photo of Brandon McReynolds courtesy of ARCA

Childress hopes crew swap will help title run

With Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 looking to be Richard Childress Racing's only shot at the Sprint Cup championship this season -- even though all three teams are in the Chase -- team owner Richard Childress made a crew swap with the hope that it'll improve the No. 29 team's performance in the final five races of the season.

"Those (pit road) issues have been addressed, and I believe everything will be fine this week," Harvick said during a press conference at Martinsville Speedway on Friday. "Richard made some huge changes this week."

The huge changes Harvick was referring to includied swapping the pit crews between the No. 29 team and the No. 33 team of driver Clint Bowyer, who is 12th in the Chase and out of championship contention.

To read more, visit Cup Series News and Notes.

Photo of No. 29 car courtesy of NASCAR Media.

Edwards, Keselowski battle to become last winner at Gateway

When the Nationwide Series takes to the track Saturday afternoon for the 5-Hour Energey 250, it'll mark the final NASCAR event at Gateway International Raceway -- at least for the foreseeable future -- as track officials opted not to seek NASCAR sanctioning for 2011, citing financial difficulties.

Saturday's race will be the second Nationwide event of the season for Gateway, with the earlier race playing host to a showdown between points leader Brad Keselowski and second-place Carl Edwards. Edwards wound up winning that duel after controversial contact with Keselowski and heads into this weekend looking to not only sweep Gateway for the season, but also to prevent Keselowski from clinching the series championship with three more races to go after Saturday's race.

To read more, visit NASCAR Nationwide Series Examiner.

Photo of Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski from their visit to Gateway earlier this season courtesy of NASCAR Media.

Kahne gone from No. 9 car sooner than expected

On Wednesday evening, Richard Petty Motorsports announced that it was parting ways with driver Kasey Kahne, effective immediately. Kahne announced months ago that he would leave RPM at the end of the season for a ride with Hendrick Motorsports to begin in 2012. Plans for 2011 has the driver piloting a car for Red Bull Racing.

Kahne's contract with RPM expires at the end of the season, but the organization opted to release him immediately, according to Wednesday's announcement. Current Camping World Truck Series competitor and part-time Nationwide Series driver Aric Almirola will drive RPM's No. 5 entry in Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Almirola was already scheduled to be at Martinsville this weekend, as the Truck Series competes at the same track on Saturday afternoon. The team is still searching for a driver to run the remaining four races on the Sprint Cup Series schedule.

Almirola was also expected to drive Red Bull's No. 83 car in the Sprint Cup event this weekend. With Almirola moving to the No. 9 and Kahne being slated as a Red Bull driver next season, Kahne is expected to be in the No. 83 car Sunday. Brian Vickers began the season as the regular driver in the No. 83 but was forced out of the car by treatment for blood clots. Vickers is expected to return to the team for 2011 to be a teammate to Kahne, and Scott Speed, current driver of Red Bull Racing's No. 82 entry, is assumed to be the odd man out with the organization.

To read more, visit Cup Series News & Notes.

Photo courtesy of NASCAR Media.

The No. 9 team needs to just hit fast forward and skip to 2011

Often times when drivers announce moves to different teams for the next season before the current season is over, or teams announce that their going to make driver changes during the offseason before the season is even over, drivers and teams alike insist that the plans for the upcoming changes will not hinder focus and efforts for the remainder of the season in progress. But are they really being honest with their fans, employees, etc., or themselves, for that matter?

The facade of “business as usual” for the remainder of the year with the No. 9 team at Richard Petty Motorsports developed a crack, or maybe even a downright hole, during the Bank of America at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

The Charlotte saga started with brake problems on the No. 9 car that resulted in a wreck that sent Kahne to the garage. As the team made repairs to the car, Kahne claimed he felt ill and left the racetrack. With its regular driver gone, the No. 9 team turned to J.J. Yeley to climb into the car to make laps once the car was repaired.

Was it a coincidence that the No. 9’s “gone at the end of the year” driver got sick while his team made repairs, or was this a case of a driver fed up and just not caring anymore, since he’s only with said team a few more weeks, anyway?

Truly, that’s something that I guess only Kahne knows the real answer to.

To read more, visit Auto Racing Daily.

Photo courtesy of NASCAR Media.

Brad Sweet ready for Nationwide Series debut

USAC driver and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series part-timer Brad Sweet is scheduled to make his Nationwide Series debut in the Five Hour Energy 250 on Saturday at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis. He'll be behind the wheel of the No. 11 Great Clips entry of Braun Racing/Turner Motorsports.

I'm looking forward to making my Nationwide Series debut in the great Clips Camry," Sweet said. "I've seen what Great Clips has done for Kasey (Kahne) in the Nationwide Series, and I've really enjoyed working with them in the Truck Series."

Sweet's regular gig is driving a Kasey Kahne-owned USAC midget. In that ride, he sits eighth in the 2010 USAC National Midget Championship points standings. He has also made eight starts in the Camping World Truck Series, driving an entry for Stringer Motorsports with backing from Great Clips.

To read more, visit Nationwide Series News, Notes & Rumors.

Photo of Brad Sweet courtesy of Stringer Motorsports