Knew this was coming but I hope he gets his life back in order. I guess Logano or Newman will take over the #22 depending on which one (if either) gets a sponsor with their current team. I think Vickers will wait for the #55 to come open when (or if) Mark Martin ever finally retires.
I guess Hornish could get the #22 but I don't see him as nearly good enough to have another full time ride. May not matter considering how loyal Penske is to him.
It seems like a lot of people are penciling Newman into that ride for next year, but I'd bet Tony figures out a way to keep him. (Frankly, if GoDaddy was smart they would sponsor Newman and then Danica would run a full Nationwide schedule in 2013. But they aren't and want Danica in Cup.) And I really think Joey Logano is going to be in a 4th car at JGR.
I really wonder if a guy like Jamie McMurray won't end up in the 22 next year. EGR has been terrible, and Jamie is extremely uncontroversial and has won races in the past.
If I had to put my money on it, I'd guess it's going to be Hornish in the 22 in 2013. Because if he's not...then what the heck is Penske even doing keeping him around in Nationwide? (Where he is having quite a good season.)
Other dark-horse choices: Elliott Sadler? Justin Allgaier?
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
I heard he pretty much got the deal done with Gibbs racing, only he can't talk about for the time being.
The way I see things going, with Kenseth at JGR, Logano is out of a ride unless he accepts a deal similar to Hornish with JGR and races primary in Nationwide. I think Stewart and Newman get along pretty well and Newman does win races from time to time even though he's inconsistent so I see him staying even when they bring up Danica next year to join Stewart-Hass. McMurray's not leaving, he loves Ganassi too much and he's won his big races for him. Besides, he's not quite good enough to join the big teams IMO. Same with Hornish, Penske loves him too much to let him go. He'll get another shot at least through the end of next year. And Vickers has earned himself a ride at MWR, whether replacing Martin or getting a 4th car in the shop.
The wild card in all of this I think is RCR. I like Jeff Burton but he has been very disappointing the last couple of years and I can't see him lasting much longer. Sadler was going to drive a couple of races this year for MWR but Childress put a stop to that, so I think that combined with his great performance in the Nationwide series, he's going to force Childress's hand in putting him back in a Sprint cup ride. That and/or the continuing drama of how the team is going to be organized once the Dillon boys join the Sprint cup and if they keep Menard around for the sponsor money. I would think Harvick would want a good teammate to help him with getting a championship and not just have a bunch of rookies in the stable, so I can see plenty of upheaval in the group in the near future.
I know it's not going to happen, but the guy who I think really needs a change of Scenery is Gordon. He's had about 5 pretty down years for him and two down years for alomost anyone. I wish we could see him in the 22.
But I think it will also be Hornish, although I don't think much of his skills.
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift
Kenseth at JGR would be awesome. I figure he was heading there when Roush said he was going to the dark side...meaning Toyota. I have no idea what the man has against Japanese engines - they're built in the US.
If anything, JGR could run a fourth team - lord knows Hendrick doesn't have problems with that.
I'm kinda hoping Busch returns to the 22. It'll never happen, though!
AWArulz is onto something with Gordon. I never thought I'd ever see the day that JG would be the weak link in that team.
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Wow and of all places Talladega. Gordon can now start to Chase Petty. Good to see the fans took it well. Lol http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=2853388