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New Today: 5-12-2008
- DMIC Column: RCR to the dogs in 2009
- Kyle Busch wins Cup at Darlington
- Flip Flops for Darlington - Updated (DMIC wins!)
- Cup Standings /On the Bubble
- Photos from Weekend
   After winning the Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway, Kyle Busch gets doused by the No. 18 team in victory lane (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Flip Flops for Darlington Weekend
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Richard Childress Racing Going to the Dogs in 2009
5/12/08: SOZ Studios, MI - By Dennis Michelsen "DMIC" (RaceTalkRadio.com)
When the rumors started hitting that Bobby Labonte was headed to Richard Childress Racing for 2009 and beyond I just didn't see that happening. Even when Labonte's sponsor left Petty Enterprises for RCR I still didn't see Bobby following them to RCR. While sponsorship is up in the air for Labonte and he has not officially signed with Petty for next season I think he will be back. Childress would love to have Tony Stewart in his fourth Chevy next season but Tony will probably stay put at Joe Gibbs Racing. That leaves RCR still looking for a top-notch driver for next season and today I am hear to tell you who that will be with certainty! Drum roll please…Ryan Newman is headed to RCR for next season! Ryan Newman would be a perfect fit with RCR. The only thing holding Newman back is his equipment and he will be able to shine in RCR Chevys! Who let the dogs out? Richard Childress Racing is going to the dogs in 2009 and beyond!
NASCAR Traditions Don't Include Darlington at 200mph
5/9/08: SOZ Studios, MI - By Dennis Michelsen "DMIC" (RaceTalkRadio.com)
NASCAR's commercials have been talking a lot about the sport's traditions. Will 200mph speeds at a smoother Darlington be tradition? It seems all wrong to me to be racing 500 miles at Darlington in the Spring anyway. Wasn't that reserved for the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend? Open wheel racing has their own tradition on Memorial Day and stockcar racing used to have Labor Day. Now Darlington means Mother's Day weekend. Not that many years ago racing on this weekend was considered out of bounds by the sport's traditions. Maybe I am just in a looking back mode after my weekend at Rockingham at this time last week, but Darlington at 200mph is not a NASCAR tradition.
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Darrell Basham
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 Pictures: Darlington Weekend
 Kyle Busch celebrates winning his eight NASCAR National Series victory of the season, taking the top prize in the Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 With a bow to the fans, Kyle Busch celebrates winning the Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway (Photo Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 The No. 18 M&M's Indiana Jones Toyota shows the wear and tear after Kyle Busch's victory burnout following the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Polesitter Greg Biffle (No. 16) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. lead the field to the green flag of the Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway (Photo Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Elliott Sadler and Tony Stewart collide on Lap 2 of the Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race (Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
 Before the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway, Prilosec OTC Victory of a Lifetime Sweepstakes winner Kathryn Cooley and her husband meet Jeff Burton (center) (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Tony Stewart and his mother, Pam Boas, wave to the Darlington Raceway crowd during driver introductions for the Dodge Challenger 500 (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Ryan Newman and his mother Diane take part in driver introductions before the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Kurt (left) and Kyle (right) help their mother Gaye (center) off of the stage before the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Tammy Kahne and her son Kasey wave to the Darlington Raceway crowd before the Dodge Challenger 500 (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Carol Bickford and her son, Jeff Gordon, waves at the crowd at Darlington Raceway, where Gordon has won seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Elliott Sadler follows his mother Bell off of the stage before the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Dale Earnhardt Jr. follows his mother, Brenda Jackson, off of the stage before the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 Tony Stewart celebrates his first career win at Darlington Raceway as the No. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series team goes to victory lane for the sixth time this season (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 With Tony Stewart leading and three laps remaining, Mark Martin (No. 5) stalled in the second position on a restart, triggering a six-car wreck that forced a green-white-checkered finish (Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
 (Left to right) Crew chief Pat Tryson and Penske Racing teammates Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman debrief after NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at Darlington Raceway for the Dodge Challenger 500 (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
 (Left to right) Dario Franchitti meets in the Darlington Raceway garage with Sterling Marlin, who is filling in for the injured Franchitti in the No. 40 car (Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
 AJ Allmendinger was fastest in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, turning a lap at 178.679 mph, nearly five mph faster than the Darlington Raceway track record set by Ward Burton during qualifying for the 1996 spring race at the track. (Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
 Dale Earnhardt Jr. waits for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice to get under way at Darlington Raceway (Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
 Jimmie Johnson prepares to climb into his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car during practice at Darlington Raceway for Saturday's Dodge Challenger 500 (Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
News and Rumors from Jayski - SOZ says:
Issue No. 1: The following is a statement from J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, regarding the contract status of driver Tony Stewart: "There has been much speculation regarding the future of our driver, Tony Stewart. Tony is currently here through 2009, and from a Joe Gibbs Racing standpoint, we hope he drives for us longer than that and retires here. Tony is a great partner and a huge asset to Joe Gibbs Racing. Right now, we are focused on winning races and winning the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships under his current contract."
SOZ Says: Where there is "smoke" there is fire folks! It's no secret that Tony Stewart has been thinking about moving on from Joe Gibbs Racing. While he is a huge supporter of J.D. and Joe Gibbs - now that their future is bright with young-guns Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, I think Tony will move on and back to a team sporting Chevrolets. Will it be Haas? Not sure at this point, but don't count out some type of partnership with Kevin Harvick as these two could leap into Cup team ownership together.
Issue No. 2: If free agent-to-be #1-Martin Truex Jr. is considering employment with another team, the next two months should help him make up his mind. Starting with last year's spring race at Talladega, Truex shrugged off a slow start with finishes of 11th or better in six of nine races -- including a dominant win at Dover. During that stretch, Truex rose from 20th in the standings to ninth. But Truex's situation is much different this season. He's feeling the pressure to duplicate last year's performance and is unable to sneak up on competitors. The good news is that Truex may not have to worry about finding a new employer. His performance to date has been much better than in the first eight races of last year. If Truex decides to bolt, Richard Childress Racing's new fourth car would be a step up.
SOZ Says: It's time for many upcomers like Truex Jr., and Greg Biffle to think long and hard about their current situations. While I agree RCR would be the next best place to go - don't count out other team opportunities. I'm not sure Casey Mears' spot at Hendrick is all that safe and Truex Jr. could join his friend Dale Jr. over there. But at the end of the day, Truex is the top dog at DEI and it might just be in his best interest to stay. Then again, Dale Jr. didn't think DEI was worth his time and effort to stay - so this will be an interesting situation to follow.
Issue No. 3: Office Depot is in the final year of its three-year deal with the #99 team. Edwards and Roush Fenway appear to be in position to push the first of many sponsor dominoes in the coming four to six weeks. If Office Depot, which has used Edwards out front for its annual "Official Small Business of NASCAR" promotion, doesn't have a deal done by mid-May, industry sources say UPS will pursue sponsorship of Edwards' car. UPS has been considering several options, from staying at Michael Waltrip Racing to Edwards to Jeff Burton's #31, which is scheduled to lose AT&T as its primary sponsor at the end of this season, but sources said Edwards has emerged as the top option.
SOZ Says: Nothing better than a sponsorship fight for a big-time driver. Here's what I have been told - back when Carl was a young upcoming driver, Office Depot got a great deal in partnering with the No. 99 team. But now that Carl is winning races and running for the championship, his stock has risen to a point where Roush can ask for more CASH. UPS is wanting to pay it - but Office Depot has first option to meet or beat the going rate. No matter what happens, both Carl and Jeff Burton should walk away winners in the sponsorship lottery.
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