Nascar Racing

Guest Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:22 am

I know we have a couple Nascar fans on here!

Tony Stewart is my favorite driver!!!!!!!!!

**scrubsfans** Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:53 am

WOOHOO!!

I was waiting for you to start a thread for us to chat about NASCAR..

Just over two months and were back to racing!!!

Guest Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:07 am

I bitch and moan all season but I always miss it when it's gone.

**LexCorinthos** Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:11 am

Guest Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:23 am

Thanks for posting that for me Lex! IDK why it wouldn't let me.......

**scrubsfans** Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:19 am

Best finish EVER

Guest Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:38 am

scrubsfans wrote:Best finish EVER

It really was! I don't know if we will ever see anything like that again.

Guest Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:34 am

Bobby Labonte has been released from Petty.

**JohnnyAngel** Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:52 am

WWWWWWWWHHHHHAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTT?????????????

Guest Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:59 am

luckygirl wrote:WWWWWWWWHHHHHAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTT?????????????

That's what I thought. He just signed a new deal and he get fired? scratch

Guest Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:06 am

Here is the full story......

Labonte leaves cash-strapped Petty Enterprises

Thursday, December 11, 2008 10:24 AM EST
The Associated Press
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bobby Labonte has been released from his contract with Petty Enterprises, which is trying to negotiate a deal with Gillett Evernham Motorsports that would solidify the future of its famed No. 43 Dodge.
Petty Enterprises has been unable to find sponsorship for Labonte, a former NASCAR champion, and is in danger of eventually closing its storied organization if it can't work out a merger with GEM.
David Zucker, who took over as CEO of Petty Enterprises when Boston Ventures purchased majority interest of the organization in June, said Petty would run the No. 43 as a single-car team in 2009 if a merger with GEM is not completed.
"Gillett Evernham Motorsports is a first class team with great drivers, sponsors and management," Zucker said in a statement Thursday. "We look forward to improved performance and maintaining the Richard Petty legacy, with the King front and center."
The organization has been anything but for the last two decades, as the 60-year-old team fell far behind the competition. It took steps over the past few years to strengthen the organization, signing Labonte, creating a testing team and moving its shop from its longtime home in Randelman to Mooresville to be closer to the NASCAR hub.
But sponsorship woes still hindered the team, which lost General Mills to Richard Childress Racing. Needing an infusion of cash, Richard Petty sold controlling interest to Boston Ventures in hopes the private equity firm could shore up his family business.
Labonte, also believing Boston Ventures could bring the organization back to prominence, signed a four-year contract extension to remain behind the wheel of Richard Petty's legendary car.
Only nothing has materialized in the six months since the sale, and Petty Enterprises has had two rounds of layoffs, letting go at least 70 employees since last month's season finale.
After "serious and sincere discussions" with Petty Enterprises, Labonte said he reached the difficult decision to leave the team.
"In over 15 years of racing in the Sprint Cup Series, I can't remember a time when the sport's landscape looks as it does today," said Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion. "I am, and will always be, very appreciative of what Richard Petty and the Petty family, every employee of Petty Enterprises and members of Boston Ventures did to invest in bettering my career the past three seasons."
Labonte said he does not have a job lined up for next season, and Chip Ganassi's No. 41 is the only open ride with full-time sponsorship already secured. Ganassi recently partnered with Dale Earnhardt Inc., and has taken his time filling his vacant seat.
Labonte, who has 21 Cup victories, was winless in his three years with Petty Enterprises. He had just 13 top-10 finishes and finished no higher than 18th in the final season standings. But Petty praised his work.
"Bobby is a true champion who never failed to give everything he had when he was behind the wheel of one of our race cars," Petty said.

**jasefan** Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:56 am

Thanks for posting.. I'm missing Nascar.. Can't wait till it comes back on.. I like Carl Edwards and Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Burton and Casey Mears and Dale Jr.. is my FAVORITE!! I have many others that I like too.. So can't wait till Nascar comes back on!!!

Guest Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:22 am

Team Stewart/Hass racing for 09!

Guest Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:59 am

Driver	Race winnings	NASCAR/Sprint	Special awards	Total
1. Jimmie Johnson	$7,354,861	$7,225,603	$590,000	$15,170,464
2. Carl Edwards	$8,095,200	$3,094,010	$175,000	$11,364,210
3. Greg Biffle	$4,906,164	$2,338,324	0	$7,244,488
4. Kevin Harvick	$5,603,654	$2,015,796	0	$7,619,450
5. Clint Bowyer	$4,514,595	$1,773,901	0	$6,288,496
6. Jeff Burton	$5,542,181	$1,612,637	$111,312	$7,266,130
7. Jeff Gordon	$5,944,145	$1,451,373	0	$7,395,518
8. Denny Hamlin	$5,494,359	$1,419,121	0	$6,913,480
9. Tony Stewart	$6,268,432	$1,368,868	0	$7,665,300
10. Kyle Busch	$6,617,595	$1,544,615	$114,515	$8,276,725
11. Matt Kenseth	$5,526,955	$967,528	0	$6,494,526
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	$4,611,290	$838,571	0	$5,449,861
13. David Ragan	$3,980,813	$806,000	0	$4,786,813
14. Kasey Kahne	$6,272,459	$757,460	0	$7,030,099
15. Martin Truex Jr.	$4,663,447	$725,400	0	$5,388,847
16. Jamie McMurray	$4,056,446	$693,160	0	$4,749,606
17. Ryan Newman	$6,179,561	$660,920	$100,000	$6,940,481
18. Kurt Busch	$4,469,511	$628,680	0	$5,098,191
19. Brian Vickers	$3,630,340	$588,380	0	$4,218,720
20. Casey Mears	$3,941,470	$451,360	0	$4,392,830
21. Bobby Labonte	$4,668,831	$306,280	0	$4,975,111
22. David Reutimann	$3,341,320	$145,080	0	$3,486,310
23. Travis Kvapil	$4,250,752	$274,040	0	$4,524,792
24. Elliott Sadler	$4,446,243	$257,920	0	$4,724,163
25. Juan Pablo Montoya	$4,409,363	$241,800	0	$4,651,163