“Richard Childress Racing has a multi-year contract with Shell-Pennzoil that includes the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Shell-Pennzoil remains a great partner for RCR and Kevin Harvick as well as our sport overall. RCR also has a multi-year contract with Kevin Harvick that includes the 2010 season. That said, Shell will be the sponsor and Kevin will be the driver of RCR’s No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS in 2010.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 14, 2009) – NASCAR announced today that Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, crew chief Kevin Manion and car owner Teresa Earnhardt have been penalized for rule violations during last weekend’s event at Chicagoland Speedway.

Truex was penalized 25 points in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver standings. Manion was fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2009. Earnhardt was penalized 25 points in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner standings.

The three were penalized for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); Section 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and Section 20-12.8.1C (right rear quarter panel height did not meet the required specifications; too high in post-race inspection).

We discuss the full recap of Chicagoland for Cup and NNS.  A rundown of Mark Martin’s 2009 stats, Kyle Busch’s car must have REALLY been bad.  A debate on which is easier, open wheel cars, or NASCAR. Plus a preview of Gateway and Kentucky for this coming weekend.  Hosted by Kerry Murphey & Paul Northrop

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Jimmie Johnson has teamed up with Funny or Die to make a brand new video called “NASCAR Champ Jimmie Johnson’s Self Help DVD.” In it he teaches you how to be a winner, just like him. The video also features football player Jason Sehorn and former boy band star/Mr. Jessica Simpson Nick Lachey.

http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c8ecaa6dd4/nascar-champ-jimmie-johnson-s-self-help-dvd

Time To Play Hardball

Just as the All-Star Game represents the halfway point in the Major League Baseball season, the NASCAR Nationwide Series stand-alone season begins its second half this weekend at Gateway. And with both events in the St. Louis area, there’s a fitting analogy. The next three races, starting Saturday, represent the pennant drive for those in the mix for the series championship.

PHOTO CREDIT: CIA STOCK PHOTO

Standings leader Kyle Busch has a comfortable advantage heading into this crucial trio of races that also includes O’Reilly Raceway Park and Iowa Speedway. Now, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Jason Leffler, second through fourth, respectively, need to channel the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals, who overcame an 11-game deficit in late August to catch the Philadelphia Phillies.

Last year entering Gateway, the drivers in second through fourth were 183, 217 and 254 points out of first. The furthest back of those three? Edwards. This time around, the Columbia, Mo., native is 192 points behind Busch and comes home to Gateway where he’s the defending winner.